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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* 278 279 280 281 282 283This etext was prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia 284and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome. 285 286 287 288 289 290THE HOLY BIBLE 291 292 293 294 295Translated from the Latin Vulgate 296 297 298Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek, 299and Other Editions in Divers Languages 300 301 302THE OLD TESTAMENT 303First Published by the English College at Douay 304A.D. 1609 & 1610 305 306and 307 308THE NEW TESTAMENT 309First Published by the English College at Rheims 310A.D. 1582 311 312 313With Annotations 314 315 316The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with 317the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner 318A.D. 1749-1752 319 320 321 322VOLUME II: THE SECOND PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT 323 324 325 326 327CREDITS 328 329 330Without the assistance of many individuals and groups, this text of the 331Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible would not be available for the 332Project Gutenberg collection. Our most grateful and sincere thanks goes 333to those at 'Catholic Software' who have provided the electronic plain 334texts of the 73 books of the Bible. 'Catholic Software' also produces a 335Douay Bible program on CD-ROM that features a fully searchable Douay- 336Rheims Bible, footnotes, Latin text and dictionary, topical index, maps, 337Biblical art gallery, and other features. For more information of this 338and many other products contact: 339 340Catholic Software 341Box 1914 342Murray, KY 42071 343(502) 753-8198 344http://www.catholicity.com/market/CSoftware/ 345waubrey@aol.com 346 347Additional production assistance has been provided by volunteers from 348the Atlanta Council of the Knights of Columbus. Tad Book compiled and 349reformatted the texts to Project Gutenberg standards. Dennis McCarthy 350assisted Mr. Book and transcribed selections from the first editions 351included as appendices. 352 353 354 355 356HISTORY 357 358 359This three volume e-text set comes from multiple editions of Challoner's 360revised Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible. The division of the Old 361Testaments into two parts follows the two tome format of the 1609/1610 362printing of the Old Testament. In 1568 English exiles, many from 363Oxford, established the English College of Douay (Douai/Doway), Flanders, 364under William (later Cardinal) Allen. In October, 1578, Gregory Martin 365began the work of preparing an English translation of the Bible for 366Catholic readers, the first such translation into Modern English. 367Assisting were William Allen, Richard Bristow, Thomas Worthington, and 368William Reynolds who revised, criticized, and corrected Dr. Martin's 369work. The college published the New Testament at Rheims (Reims/Rhemes), 370France, in 1582 through John Fogny with a preface and explanatory notes, 371authored chiefly by Bristol, Allen, and Worthington. Later the Old 372Testament was published at Douay in two parts (1609 and 1610) by Laurence 373Kellam through the efforts of Dr. Worthington, then superior of the 374seminary. The translation had been prepared before the appearance of the 375New Testament, but the publication was delayed due to financial 376difficulties. The religious and scholarly adherence to the Latin Vulgate 377text led to the less elegant and idiomatic words and phrases often found 378in the translation. In some instances where no English word conveyed the 379full meaning of the Latin, a Latin word was Anglicized and its meaning 380defined in a glossary. Although ridiculed by critics, many of these 381words later found common usage in the English language. Spellings of 382proper names and the numbering of the Psalms are adopted from the Latin 383Vulgate. 384 385In 1749 Dr. Richard Challoner began a major revision of the Douay and 386Rheims texts, the spellings and phrasing of which had become increasingly 387archaic in the almost two centuries since the translations were first 388produced. He modernized the diction and introduced a more fluid style, 389while faithfully maintaining the accuracy of Dr. Martin's texts. This 390revision became the 'de facto' standard text for English speaking 391Catholics until the twentieth century. It is still highly regarded by 392many for its style, although it is now rarely used for liturgical 393purposes. The notes included in this electronic edition are generally 394attributed to Bishop Challoner. 395 396The 1610 printing of the second tome of the Old Testament includes an 397appendix containing the non-canonical books 'Prayer of Manasses,' 'Third 398Booke of Esdras,' and 'Fourth Booke of Esdras.' While not part of 399Challoner's revision, the 1610 texts are placed in the appendices of 400Vol. II of this e-text set. Also included are the original texts of two 401short books, 'The Prophecie of Abdias' (Vol. II) and 'The Catholike 402Epistle of Iude the Apostle' (Vol. III), to give the reader a sense of 403the language of the first editions in comparison to the Challoner 404revision. Further background on the Douay-Rheims version may be found in 405a selection from the preface to the 1582 edition and the original 406glossary included in the appendices of Vol. III. 407 408 409 410 411CONTENTS 412 413 414The Second Part of the Old Testament 415 416 Book of Psalms 417 Book of Proverbs 418 Ecclesiastes 419 Solomon's Canticle of Canticles 420 Book of Wisdom 421 Ecclesiasticus 422 Prophecy of Isaias 423 Prophecy of Jeremias 424 Lamentations of Jeremias 425 Prophecy of Baruch 426 Prophecy of Ezechiel 427 Prophecy of Daniel 428 Prophecy of Osee 429 Prophecy of Joel 430 Prophecy of Amos 431 Prophecy of Abdias 432 Prophecy of Jonas 433 Prophecy of Micheas 434 Prophecy of Nahum 435 Prophecy of Habacuc 436 Prophecy of Sophonias 437 Prophecy of Aggeus 438 Prophecy of Zacharias 439 Prophecy of Malachias 440 First Book of Machabees 441 Second Book of Machabees 442 443 444Appendices 445 446 The Prayer of Manasses 447 The Third Booke of Esdras 448 The Fourth Booke of Esdras 449 450 The Prophecie of Abdias 451 452 453 454 455 456THE BOOK OF PSALMS 457 458 459 460The psalms are called by the Hebrews TEHILLIM, that is, Hymns of 461Praise. The author, of a great part of them at least, was king David: 462but many are of opinion that some of them were made by Asaph, and 463others whose names are prefixed in the titles. 464 465 466 467Psalms Chapter 1 468 469 470Beatus vir. 471 472The happiness of the just and the evil state of the wicked. 473 4741:1. Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the 475ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of 476pestilence: 477 4781:2. But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall 479meditate day and night. 480 4811:3. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running 482waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf 483shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper. 484 4851:4. Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind 486driveth from the face of the earth. 487 4881:5. Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: nor sinners 489in the council of the just. 490 4911:6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the 492wicked shall perish. 493 494 495 496Psalms Chapter 2 497 498 499Quare fremuerunt. 500 501The vain efforts of persecutors against Christ and his church. 502 5032:1. Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? 504 5052:2. The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, 506against the Lord, and against his Christ. 507 5082:3. Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke 509from us. 510 5112:4. He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall 512deride them. 513 5142:5. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his 515rage. 516 5172:6. But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, 518preaching his commandment. 519 5202:7. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I 521begotten thee. 522 5232:8. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, 524and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. 525 5262:9. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in 527pieces like a potter's vessel. 528 5292:10. And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that 530judge the earth. 531 5322:11. Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling. 533 5342:12. Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you 535perish from the just way. 536 5372:13. When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all 538they that trust in him. 539 540 541 542Psalms Chapter 3 543 544 545Domine, quid multiplicati. 546 547The prophet's danger and delivery from his son Absalom: mystically, the 548passion and resurrection of Christ. 549 5503:1. The psalm of David when he fled from the face of his son Absalom. 551 5523:2. Many say to my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God. 553 5543:4. But thou, O Lord, art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of 555my head. 556 5573:5. I have cried to the Lord with my voice: and he hath heard me from 558his holy hill. 559 5603:6. I have slept and have taken my rest: and I have risen up, because 561the Lord hath protected me. 562 5633:7. I will not fear thousands of the people surrounding me: arise, O 564Lord; save me, O my God. 565 5663:8. For thou hast struck all them who are my adversaries without 567cause: thou hast broken the teeth of sinners. 568 5693:9. Salvation is of the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people. 570 571 572 573Psalms Chapter 4 574 575 576Cum invocarem. 577 578The prophet teacheth us to flee to God in tribulation, with confidence 579in him. 580 5814:1. Unto the end, in verses. A psalm for David. 582 583Unto the end. . .Or, as St. Jerome renders it, victori, to him that 584overcometh: which some understand of the chief musician; to whom they 585suppose the psalms, which bear that title, were given to be sung: we 586rather understand the psalms thus inscribed to refer to Christ, who is 587the end of the law, and the great conqueror of death and hell, and to 588the New Testament.--Ibid. In verses, in carminibus. . .In the Hebrew, it 589is neghinoth, supposed by some to be a musical instrument, with which 590this psalm was to be sung.--Ibid. For David, or to David. . .That is, 591inspired to David himself, or to be sung. 592 5934:2. When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me: when I was 594in distress, thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy on me: and hear my 595prayer. 596 5974:3. O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you 598love vanity, and seek after lying? 599 6004:4. Know ye also that the Lord hath made his holy one wonderful: the 601Lord will hear me when I shall cry unto him. 602 6034:5. Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be 604sorry for them upon your beds. 605 6064:6. Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many 607say, Who sheweth us good things? 608 6094:7. The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast 610given gladness in my heart. 611 6124:8. By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they rest: 613 6144:9. In peace in the self same I will sleep, and I will rest: 615 6164:10. For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope. 617 618 619 620Psalms Chapter 5 621 622 623Verba mea auribul. 624 625A prayer to God against the iniquities of men. 626 6275:1. Unto the end, for her that obtaineth the inheritance. A psalm for 628David. 629 630For her that obtaineth the inheritance. . .That is, for the church of 631Christ. 632 6335:2. Give ear, O Lord, to my words, understand my cry. 634 6355:3. Hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God. 636 6375:4. For to thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my 638voice. 639 6405:5. In the morning I will stand before thee, and I will see: because 641thou art not a God that willest iniquity. 642 6435:6. Neither shall the wicked dwell near thee: nor shall the unjust 644abide before thy eyes. 645 6465:7. Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity: thou wilt destroy all 647that speak a lie. The bloody and the deceitful man the Lord will abhor. 648 6495:8. But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy 650house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear. 651 6525:9. Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct 653my way in thy sight. 654 6555:10. For there is no truth in their mouth: their heart is vain. 656 6575:11. Their throat is an open sepulchre: they dealt deceitfully with 658their tongues: judge them, O God. Let them fall from their devices: 659according to the multitude of their wickednesses cast them out: for 660they have provoked thee, O Lord. 661 6625:12. But let all them be glad that hope in thee: they shall rejoice 663for ever, and thou shalt dwell in them. And all they that love thy name 664shall glory in thee. 665 6665:13. For thou wilt bless the just. O Lord, thou hast crowned us, as 667with a shield of thy good will. 668 669 670 671Psalms Chapter 6 672 673 674Domine, ne in furore. 675 676A prayer of a penitent sinner, under the scourge of God. The first 677penitential psalm. 678 6796:1. Unto the end, in verses, a psalm for David, for the octave. 680 681For the octave. . .That is, to be sung on an instrument of eight 682strings. St. Augustine understands it mystically, of the last 683resurrection, and the world to come; which is, as it were, the octave, 684or eighth day, after the seven days of this mortal life: and for this 685octave, sinners must dispose themselves, like David, by bewailing their 686sins, whilst they are here upon earth. 687 6886:2. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation, nor chastise me in thy 689wrath. 690 6916:3. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my 692bones are troubled. 693 6946:4. And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long? 695 6966:5. Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's 697sake. 698 6996:6. For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: and who 700shall confess to thee in hell? 701 7026:7. I have laboured in my groanings, every night I will wash my bed: I 703will water my couch with my tears. 704 7056:8. My eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old amongst 706all my enemies. 707 7086:9. Depart from em, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath 709heard the voice of my weeping. 710 7116:10. The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my 712prayer. 713 7146:11. Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled: let 715them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily. 716 717 718 719Psalms Chapter 7 720 721 722Domine, Deus meus. 723 724David, trusting in the justice of his cause, prayeth for God's help 725against his enemies. 726 7277:1. The psalm of David, which he sung to the Lord, for the words of 728Chusi, the son of Jemini. 729 7307:2. O Lord, my God, in thee have I put my trust; same me from all them 731that persecute me, and deliver me. 732 7337:3. Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is 734no one to redeem me, nor to save. 735 7367:4. O Lord, my God, if I have done this thing, if there be iniquity in 737my hands: 738 7397:5. If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly 740fall empty before my enemies. 741 7427:6. Let the enemy pursue my soul, and take it, and tread down my life, 743on the earth, and bring down my glory to the dust. 744 7457:7. Rise up, O Lord, in thy anger: and be thou exalted in the borders 746of my enemies. And arise, O Lord, my God, in the precept which thou 747hast commanded: 748 7497:8. And a congregation of people shall surround thee. And for their 750sakes return thou on high. 751 7527:9. The Lord judgeth the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my 753justice, and according to my innocence in me. 754 7557:10. The wickedness of sinners shall be brought to nought; and thou 756shalt direct the just: the searcher of hearts and reins is God. Just 757 7587:11. Is my help from the Lord; who saveth the upright of heart. 759 7607:12. God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day? 761 7627:13. Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword; he hath 763bent his bow, and made it ready. 764 7657:14. And in it he hath prepared to instruments of death, he hath made 766ready his arrows for them that burn. 767 768For them that burn. . .That is, against the persecutors of his saints. 769 7707:15. Behold he hath been in labour with injustice: he hath conceived 771sorrow, and brought forth iniquity. 772 7737:16. He hath opened a pit and dug it: and he is fallen into the hole 774he made. 775 7767:17. His sorrow shall be turned on his own head: and his iniquity 777shall come down upon his crown. 778 7797:18. I will give glory to the Lord according to his justice: and will 780sing to the name of the Lord the most high. 781 782 783 784Psalms Chapter 8 785 786 787Domine, Dominus noster. 788 789God is wonderful in his works; especially in mankind, singularly 790exalted by the incarnation of Christ. 791 7928:1. Unto the end, for the presses: a psalm for David. 793 794The presses. . .In Hebrew, Gittith, supposed to be a musical instrument. 795 7968:2. O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! 797For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens. 798 7998:3. Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected 800praise, because of thy enemies, that thou mayst destroy the enemy and 801the avenger. 802 8038:4. For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon 804and the stars which thou hast founded. 805 8068:5. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that 807thou visitest him? 808 8098:6. Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast 810crowned him with glory and honour: 811 8128:7. And hast set him over the works of thy hands. 813 8148:8. Thou hast subjected all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen: 815moreover, the beasts also of the fields. 816 8178:9. The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through 818the paths of the sea. 819 8208:10. O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! 821 822 823 824Psalms Chapter 9 825 826 827Confitebor tibi, Domine. The church praiseth God for his protection 828against her enemies. 829 8309:1. Unto the end, for the hidden things of the Son. A psalm for David. 831 832The hidden things of the Son. . .The humility and sufferings of Christ, 833the Son of God; and of good Christians, who are his sons by adoption; 834are called hidden things, with regard to the children of this world, 835who know not the value and merit of them. 836 8379:2. I will give praise to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will 838relate all thy wonders. 839 8409:3. I will be glad, and rejoice in thee: I will sing to thy name, O 841thou most high. 842 8439:4. When my enemy shall be turned back: they shall be weakened, and 844perish before thy face. 845 8469:5. For thou hast maintained my judgment and my cause: thou hast sat 847on the throne, who judgest justice. 848 8499:6. Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles, and the wicked one hath perished; 850thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever. 851 8529:7. The swords of the enemy have failed unto the end: and their cities 853thou hast destroyed. Their memory hath perished with a noise: 854 8559:8. But the Lord remaineth for ever. He hath prepared his throne in 856judgment: 857 8589:9. And he shall judge the world in equity, he shall judge the people 859in justice. 860 8619:10. And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor: a helper in due 862time in tribulation. 863 8649:11. And let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not 865forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord. 866 8679:12. Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: declare his ways among 868the Gentiles: 869 8709:13. For requiring their blood, he hath remembered them: he hath not 871forgotten the cry of the poor. 872 8739:14. Have mercy on me, O Lord: see my humiliation which I suffer from 874my enemies. 875 8769:15. Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, that I may 877declare all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion. 878 8799:16. I will rejoice in thy salvation: the Gentiles have stuck fast in 880the destruction which they prepared. Their foot hath been taken in the 881very snare which they hid. 882 8839:17. The Lord shall be known when he executeth judgments: the sinner 884hath been caught in the works of his own hands. 885 8869:18. The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget 887God. 888 8899:19. For the poor man shall not be forgotten to the end: the patience 890of the poor shall not perish for ever. 891 8929:20. Arise, O Lord, let not man be strengthened: let the Gentiles be 893judged in thy sight. 894 8959:21. Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: that the Gentiles may know 896themselves to be but men. 897 898Here the late Hebrew doctors divide this psalm into two, making ver. 22 899the beginning of Psalm 10. And again they join Psalms 146 and 147 into 900one, in order that the whole number of psalms should not exceed 150. 901And in this manner the psalms are numbered in the Protestant Bible. 902 903Psalm 10 according to the Hebrews. 904 9059a:1. Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us 906in our wants, in the time of trouble? 907 9089a:2. Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are 909caught in the counsels which they devise. 910 9119a:3. For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the 912unjust man is blessed. 913 9149a:4. The sinner hath provoked the Lord, according to the multitude of 915his wrath, he will not seek him: 916 9179a:5. God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy 918judgments are removed form his sight: he shall rule over all his 919enemies. 920 9219a:6. For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from 922generation to generation, and shall be without evil. 923 9249a:7. His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: 925under his tongue are labour and sorrow. 926 9279a:8. He sitteth in ambush with the rich, in private places, that he may 928kill the innocent. 929 9309a:9. His eyes are upon the poor man: he lieth in wait, in secret, like 931a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush, that he may catch the poor man: 932so catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him. 933 9349a:10. In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when 935he shall have power over the poor. 936 9379a:11. For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned 938away his face, not to see to the end. 939 9409a:12. Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor. 941 9429a:13. Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his 943heart: He will not require it. 944 9459a:14. Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou 946mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou 947wilt be a helper to the orphan. 948 9499a:15. Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin 950shall be sought, and shall not be found. 951 9529a:16. The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye 953Gentiles shall perish from his land. 954 9559a:17. The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard 956the preparation of their heart. 957 9589a:18. To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no 959more presume to magnify himself upon earth. 960 961 962 963Psalms Chapter 10 964 965 966In Domino confido. 967 968The just man's confidence in God in the midst of persecutions. 969 97010:1. Unto the end. A psalm to David. 971 97210:2. In the Lord I put my trust: how then do you say to my soul: Get 973thee away from hence to the mountain, like a sparrow. 974 97510:3. For, lo, the wicked have bent their bow: they have prepared their 976arrows in the quiver, to shoot in the dark the upright of heart. 977 97810:4. For they have destroyed the things which thou hast made: but what 979has the just man done? 980 98110:5. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven. 982His eyes look on the poor man: his eyelids examine the sons of men. 983 98410:6. The Lord trieth the just and the wicked: but he that loveth 985iniquity, hateth his own soul. 986 98710:7. He shall rain snares upon sinners: fire and brimstone, and storms 988of winds, shall be the portion of their cup. 989 99010:8. For the Lord is just, and hath loved justice: his countenance 991hath beheld righteousness. 992 993 994 995Psalms Chapter 11 996 997 998Salvum me fac. 999 1000The prophet calls for God's help against the wicked. 1001 100211:1. Unto the end: for the octave, a psalm for David. 1003 100411:2. Save me, O Lord, for there is now no saint: truths are decayed 1005from among the children of men. 1006 100711:3. They have spoken vain things, every one to his neighbour: with 1008deceitful lips, and with a double heart have they spoken. 1009 101011:4. May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips, and the tongue that 1011speaketh proud things. 1012 101311:5. Who have said: We will magnify our tongue: our lips are our own: 1014who is Lord over us? 1015 101611:6. By reason of the misery of the needy, and the groans of the poor, 1017now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will set him in safety: I will deal 1018confidently in his regard. 1019 102011:7. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried by the 1021fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times. 1022 102311:8. Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve us: and keep us from this generation 1024for ever. 1025 102611:9. The wicked walk round about: according to thy highness, thou hast 1027multiplied the children of men. 1028 1029 1030 1031Psalms Chapter 12 1032 1033 1034Usquequo, Domine. 1035 1036A prayer in tribulation. 1037 103812:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou 1039forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me? 1040 104112:2. How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all 1042the day? 1043 104412:3. How long shall my enemy be exalted over Me? 1045 104612:4. Consider, and hear me, O Lord, my God. Enlighten my eyes, that I 1047never sleep in death: 1048 104912:5. Lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They 1050that trouble me, will rejoice when I am moved: 1051 105212:6. But I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy 1053salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea, I 1054will sing to the name of the Lord, the most high. 1055 1056 1057 1058Psalms Chapter 13 1059 1060 1061Dixit insipiens. 1062 1063The general corruption of man before our redemption by Christ. 1064 106513:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: 1066There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their 1067ways: there is none that doth good, no not one. 1068 106913:2. The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, 1070to see if there be any that understand and seek God. 1071 107213:3. They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: 1073there is none that doth good: no not one. Their throat is an open 1074sepulchre; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of 1075asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and 1076bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and 1077unhappiness in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: 1078there is no fear of God before their eyes. 1079 108013:4. Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people 1081as they eat bread? 1082 108313:5. They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for 1084fear, where there was no fear. 1085 108613:6. For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the 1087counsel of the poor man; but the Lord is his hope. 1088 108913:7. Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord 1090shall have turned away the captivity of his people, Jacob shall 1091rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. 1092 1093 1094 1095Psalms Chapter 14 1096 1097 1098Domine, quis habitabit. 1099 1100What kind of men shall dwell in the heavenly Sion. 1101 110214:1. A psalm for David. Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or 1103who shall rest in thy holy hill? 1104 110514:2. He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice: 1106 110714:3. He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in 1108his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a 1109reproach against his neighbours. 1110 111114:4. In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he 1112glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, 1113and deceiveth not; 1114 111514:5. He that hath not put out his money to usury, nortaken bribes 1116against the innocent: He that doth these things, shall not be moved for 1117ever. 1118 1119 1120 1121Psalms Chapter 15 1122 1123 1124Conserva me, Domine. 1125 1126Christ's future victory and triumph over the world and death. 1127 112815:1. The inscription of a title to David himself. Preserve me, O Lord, 1129for I have put my trust in thee. 1130 1131The inscription of a title. . .That is, of a pillar or monument, 1132staylographia: which is as much as to say, that this psalm is most 1133worthy to be engraved on an everlasting monument. 1134 113515:2. I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need 1136of my goods. 1137 113815:3. To the saints, who are in his land, he hath made wonderful all my 1139desires in them. 1140 114115:4. Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste. I 1142will not gather together their meetings for bloodofferings: nor will I 1143be mindful of their names by my lips. 1144 114515:5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is 1146thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me. 1147 114815:6. The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance 1149is goodly to me. 1150 115115:7. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover, 1152my reins also have corrected me even till night. 1153 115415:8. I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, 1155that I be not moved. 1156 115715:9. Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: 1158moreover, my flesh also shall rest in hope. 1159 116015:10. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; nor wilt thou give 1161thy holy one to see corruption. 1162 116315:11. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me 1164with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand are delights even to 1165the end. 1166 1167 1168 1169Psalms Chapter 16 1170 1171 1172Exaudi, Domine, justitiam. 1173 1174A just man's prayer in tribulation against the malice of his enemy. 1175 117616:1. The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my 1177supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from 1178deceitful lips. 1179 118016:2. Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes 1181behold the things that are equitable. 1182 118316:3. Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast 1184tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me. 1185 118616:4. That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the 1187words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways. 1188 118916:5. Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not 1190moved. 1191 119216:6. I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline 1193thy ear unto me, and hear my words. 1194 119516:7. Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust 1196in thee. 1197 119816:8. From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy 1199eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings. 1200 120116:9. From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies 1202have surrounded my soul: 1203 120416:10. They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly. 1205 1206Their fat. . .That is, their bowels of compassion: for they have none 1207for me. 1208 120916:11. They have cast me forth, and now they have surrounded me: they 1210have set their eyes bowing down to the earth. 1211 121216:12. They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a 1213young lion dwelling in secret places. 1214 121516:13. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul 1216from the wicked one; thy sword 1217 121816:14. From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few 1219of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden 1220stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little 1221ones the rest of their substance. 1222 1223Divide them from the few, etc. . .That is, cut them off from the earth, 1224and the few trifling things thereof; which they are so proud of, or 1225divide them from the few; that is, from thy elect, who are but few; 1226that they may no longer have it in their power to oppress them. It is 1227not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; but, as many other the like 1228passages in the psalms, by way of a prediction, or prophecy of what 1229should come upon them, in punishment of their wickedness. Ibid. Thy 1230hidden stores. . .Thy secret treasures, out of which thou furnishest 1231those earthly goods, which, with a bountiful hand thou hast distributed 1232both to the good and the bad. 1233 123416:15. But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I 1235shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear. 1236 1237 1238 1239Psalms Chapter 17 1240 1241 1242Diligam te, Domine. 1243 1244David's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies. 1245 124617:1. Unto the end, for David, the servant of the Lord, who spoke to 1247the Lord the words of this canticle, in the day that the Lord delivered 1248him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he 1249said: 1250 125117:2. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength: 1252 125317:3. The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is 1254my helper, and in him will I put my trust. My protector, and the horn 1255of my salvation, and my support. 1256 125717:4. Praising, I will call upon the Lord: and I shall be saved from my 1258enemies. 1259 126017:5. The sorrows of death surrounded me: and the torrents of iniquity 1261troubled me. 1262 126317:6. The sorrows of hell encompassed me: and the snares of death 1264prevented me. 1265 126617:7. In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: 1267And he heard my voice from his holy temple: and my cry before him came 1268into his ears. 1269 127017:8. The earth shook and trembled: the foundations of the mountains 1271were troubled and were moved, because he was angry with them. 1272 127317:9. There went up a smoke in his wrath: and a fire flamed from his 1274face: coals were kindled by it. 1275 127617:10. He bowed the heavens, and came down, and darkness was under his 1277feet. 1278 127917:11. And he ascended upon the cherubim, and he flew; he flew upon the 1280wings of the winds. 1281 128217:12. And he made darkness his covert, his pavilion round about him: 1283dark waters in the clouds of the air. 1284 128517:13. At the brightness that was before him the clouds passed, hail 1286and coals of fire. 1287 128817:14. And the Lord thundered from heaven, and the Highest gave his 1289voice: hail and coals of fire. 1290 129117:15. And he sent forth his arrows, and he scattered them: he 1292multiplied lightnings, and troubled them. 1293 129417:16. Then the fountains of waters appeared, and the foundations of 1295the world were discovered: At thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the 1296spirit of thy wrath. 1297 129817:17. He sent from on high, and took me: and received me out of many 1299waters. 1300 130117:18. He delivered me from my strongest enemies, and from them that 1302hated me: for they were too strong for me. 1303 130417:19. They prevented me in the day of my affliction: and the Lord 1305became my protector. 1306 130717:20. And he brought me forth into a large place: he saved me, because 1308he was well pleased with me. 1309 131017:21. And the Lord will reward me according to my justice; and will 1311repay me according to the cleanness of my hands: 1312 131317:22. Because I have kept the ways of the Lord; and have not done 1314wickedly against my God. 1315 131617:23. For all his judgments are in my sight: and his justices I have 1317not put away from me. 1318 131917:24. And I shall be spotless with him: and shall keep myself from my 1320iniquity. 1321 132217:25. And the Lord will reward me according to my justice: and 1323according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes. 1324 132517:26. With the holy thou wilt be holy; and with the innocent man thou 1326wilt be innocent: 1327 132817:27. And withe the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse 1329thou wilt be perverted. 1330 133117:28. For thou wilt save the humble people; but wilt bring down the 1332eyes of the proud. 1333 133417:29. For thou lightest my lamp, O Lord: O my God, enlighten my 1335darkness. 1336 133717:30. For by thee I shall be delivered from temptation; and through my 1338God I shall go over a wall. 1339 134017:31. As for my God, his way is undefiled: the words of the Lord are 1341fire-tried: he is the protector of all that trust in him. 1342 134317:32. For who is God but the Lord? or who is God but our God? 1344 134517:33. God, who hath girt me with strength; and made my way blameless. 1346 134717:34. Who hath made my feet like the feet of harts: and who setteth me 1348upon high places. 1349 135017:35. Who teacheth my hands to war: and thou hast made my arms like a 1351brazen bow. 1352 135317:36. And thou hast given me the protection of thy salvation: and thy 1354right hand hath held me up: And thy discipline hath corrected me unto 1355the end: and thy discipline, the same shall teach me. 1356 135717:37. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; and my feet are not 1358weakened. 1359 136017:38. I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will 1361not turn again till they are consumed. 1362 136317:39. I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand: they 1364shall fall under my feet. 1365 136617:40. And thou hast girded me with strength unto battle; and hast 1367subdued under me them that rose up against me. 1368 136917:41. And thou hast made my enemies furn their back upon me, and hast 1370destroyed them that hated me. 1371 137217:42. They cried, but there was none to save them, to the Lord: but he 1373heard them not. 1374 137517:43. And I shall beat them as small as the dust before the wind; I 1376shall bring them to nought, like the dirt in the streets. 1377 137817:44. Thou wilt deliver me from the contradictions of the people; thou 1379wilt make me head of the Gentiles. 1380 138117:45. A people which I knew not, hath served me: at the hearing of the 1382ear they have obeyed me. 1383 138417:46. The children that are strangers have lied to me, strange 1385children have faded away, and have halted from their paths. 1386 138717:47. The Lord liveth, and blessed by my God, and let the God of my 1388salvation be exalted. 1389 139017:48. O God, who avengest me, and subduest the people under me, my 1391deliverer from my enraged enemies. 1392 139317:49. And thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: 1394from the unjust man thou wilt deliver me. 1395 139617:50. Therefore will I give glory to thee, O Lord, among the nations, 1397and I will sing a psalm to thy name. 1398 139917:51. Giving great deliverance to his king, and shewing mercy to 1400David, his anointed: and to his seed for ever. 1401 1402 1403 1404Psalms Chapter 18 1405 1406 1407Coeli enarrant. 1408 1409The works of God shew forth his glory: his law is greatly to be 1410esteemed and loved. 1411 141218:1. Unto the end. A Psalm for David. 1413 141418:2. The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament 1415declareth the work of his hands. 1416 141718:3. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. 1418 141918:4. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not 1420heard. 1421 142218:5. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words 1423unto the ends of the world. 1424 142518:6. He hath set his tabernacle in the sun: and he as a bridegroom 1426coming out of his bridechamber, Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the 1427way: 1428 142918:7. His going out is from the end of heaven, And his circuit even to 1430the end thereof: and there is no one that can hide himself from his 1431heat. 1432 143318:8. The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony 1434of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones. 1435 143618:9. The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the 1437commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. 1438 143918:10. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: the 1440judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves. 1441 144218:11. More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and 1443sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. 1444 144518:12. For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a 1446great reward. 1447 144818:13. Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord: 1449 145018:14. And from those of others spare thy servant. If they shall have 1451no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: and I shall be 1452cleansed form the greatest sin. 1453 145418:15. And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the 1455meditation of my heart always in thy sight. O Lord, my helper and my 1456Redeemer. 1457 1458 1459 1460Psalms Chapter 19 1461 1462 1463Exaudiat te Dominus. 1464 1465A prayer for the king. 1466 146719:1. Unto the end. A psalm for David. 1468 146919:2. May the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of 1470the God of Jacob protect thee. 1471 147219:3. May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of 1473Sion. 1474 147519:4. May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole 1476burntoffering be made fat. 1477 147819:5. May he give thee according to thy own heart; and confirm all thy 1479counsels. 1480 148119:6. We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we 1482shall be exalted. 1483 148419:7. The Lord fulfil all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord 1485hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the 1486salvation of his right hand is in powers. 1487 1488The salvation of his right hand is in powers. . .That is, in strength. 1489His right hand is strong and mighty to save them that trust in him. 1490 149119:8. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon 1492the name of the Lord, our God. 1493 149419:9. They are bound, and have fallen: but we are risen, and are set 1495upright. O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall 1496call upon thee. 1497 1498 1499 1500Psalms Chapter 20 1501 1502 1503Domine, in virtute. 1504 1505Praise to God for Christ's exaltation after his passion. 1506 150720:1. Unto the end. A psalm for David. 1508 150920:2. In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation 1510he shall rejoice exceedingly. 1511 151220:3. Thou hast given him his heart's desire: and hast not withholden 1513from him the will of his lips. 1514 151520:4. For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou 1516hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. 1517 151820:5. He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for 1519ever and ever. 1520 152120:6. His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt 1522thou lay upon him. 1523 152420:7. For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou 1525shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance. 1526 152720:8. For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the 1528most High he shall not be moved. 1529 153020:9. Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find 1531out all them that hate thee. 1532 153320:10. Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy 1534anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour 1535them. 1536 153720:11. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed 1538from among the children of men. 1539 154020:12. For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised 1541counsels which they have not been able to establish. 1542 154320:13. For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou 1544shalt prepare their face. 1545 1546In thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face. . .Or thou shalt set thy 1547remnants against their faces. That is, thou shalt make them see what 1548punishments remain for them hereafter from thy justice. Instead of 1549remnants, St. Jerome renders it funes, that is, cords or strings, viz., 1550of the bow of divine justice, from which God directs his arrows against 1551the faces of his enemies. 1552 155320:14. Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength: we will sing and 1554praise thy power. 1555 1556 1557 1558Psalms Chapter 21 1559 1560 1561Deus Deus meus. 1562 1563Christ's passion: and the conversion of the Gentiles. 1564 156521:1. Unto the end, for the morning protection, a psalm for David. 1566 156721:2. O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? Far from 1568my salvation are the words of my sins. 1569 1570The words of my sins. . .That is, the sins of the world, which I have 1571taken upon myself, cry out against me, and are the cause of all my 1572sufferings. 1573 157421:3. O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by 1575night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me. 1576 157721:4. But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel. 1578 157921:5. In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and thou hast 1580delivered them. 1581 158221:6. They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, 1583and were not confounded. 1584 158521:7. But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast 1586of the people. 1587 158821:8. All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken 1589with the lips, and wagged the head. 1590 159121:9. He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, 1592seeing he delighteth in him. 1593 159421:10. For thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from 1595the breasts of my mother. 1596 159721:11. I was cast upon thee from the womb. From my mother's womb thou 1598art my God, 1599 160021:12. Depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is 1601none to help me. 1602 160321:13. Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me. 1604 160521:14.They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and 1606roaring. 1607 160821:15. I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My 1609heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels. 1610 161121:16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath 1612cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of 1613death. 1614 161521:17. For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant 1616hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet. 1617 161821:18. They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared 1619upon me. 1620 162121:19. They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they 1622cast lots. 1623 162421:20. But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; 1625look towards my defence. 1626 162721:21. Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the 1628hand of the dog. 1629 163021:22. Save me from the lion's mouth; and my lowness from the horns of 1631the unicorns. 1632 163321:23. I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the 1634church will I praise thee. 1635 163621:24. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, 1637glorify him. 1638 163921:25. Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not 1640slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he 1641turned away his face form me: and when I cried to him he heard me. 1642 164321:26. With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in 1644the sight of them that fear him. 1645 164621:27. The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise 1647the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever. 1648 164921:28. All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted 1650to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his 1651sight. 1652 165321:29. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over 1654the nations. 1655 165621:30. All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all 1657they that go down to the earth shall fall before him. 1658 165921:31. And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him. 1660 166121:32. There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and 1662the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be 1663born, which the Lord hath made. 1664 1665 1666 1667Psalms Chapter 22 1668 1669 1670Dominus regit me. 1671 1672God's spiritual benefits to faithful souls. 1673 167422:1. A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. 1675 1676Ruleth me. . .In Hebrew, Is my shepherd, viz., to feed, guide, and 1677govern me. 1678 167922:2. He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on 1680the water of refreshment: 1681 168222:3. He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of 1683justice, for his own name's sake. 1684 168522:4. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I 1686will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they 1687have comforted me. 1688 168922:5. Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict 1690me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which 1691inebreateth me, how goodly is it! 1692 169322:6. And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I 1694may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days. 1695 1696 1697 1698Psalms Chapter 23 1699 1700 1701Domini est terra. 1702 1703Who are they that shall ascend to heaven: Christ's triumphant ascension 1704thither. 1705 170623:1. On the first day of the week, a psalm for David. The earth is the 1707Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell 1708therein. 1709 171023:2. For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon 1711the rivers. 1712 171323:3. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall 1714stand in his holy place? 1715 171623:4. The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his 1717soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. 1718 171923:5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his 1720Saviour. 1721 172223:6. This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek 1723the face of the God of Jacob. 1724 172523:7. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal 1726gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. 1727 172823:8. Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the 1729Lord mighty in battle. 1730 173123:9. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal 1732gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. 1733 173423:10. Who is this King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of 1735Glory. 1736 1737 1738 1739Psalms Chapter 24 1740 1741 1742Ad te, Domine, levavi. 1743 1744A prayer for grace, mercy, and protection against our enemies. 1745 174624:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. To thee, O Lord, have I lifted 1747up my soul. 1748 174924:2. In thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. 1750 175124:3. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on 1752thee shall be confounded. 1753 175424:4. Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause. 1755Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths. 1756 175724:5. Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my 1758Saviour; and on thee have I waited all the day long. 1759 176024:6. Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that 1761are from the beginning of the world. 1762 176324:7. The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember. According 1764to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. 1765 176624:8. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to 1767sinners in the way. 1768 176924:9. He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his 1770ways. 1771 177224:10. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek 1773after his covenant and his testimonies. 1774 177524:11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt pardon my sin: for it is 1776great. 1777 177824:12. Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He hath appointed him a 1779law in the way he hath chosen. 1780 178124:13. His soul shall dwell in good things: and his seed shall inherit 1782the land. 1783 178424:14. The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant 1785shall be made manifest to them. 1786 178724:15. My eyes are ever towards the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet 1788out of the snare. 1789 179024:16. Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am alone and 1791poor. 1792 179324:17. The troubles of my heart are multiplied: deliver me from my 1794necessities. 1795 179624:18. See my abjection and my labour; and forgive me all my sins. 1797 179824:19. Consider my enemies for they are multiplied, and have hated me 1799with an unjust hatred. 1800 180124:20. Deep thou my soul, and deliver me: I shall not be ashamed, for I 1802have hoped in thee. 1803 180424:21. The innocent and the upright have adhered to me: because I have 1805waited on thee. 1806 180724:22. Deliver Israel, O God, from all his tribulations. 1808 1809 1810 1811Psalms Chapter 25 1812 1813 1814Judica me, Domine. 1815 1816David's prayer to God in his distress, to be delivered, that he may 1817come to worship him in his tabernacle. 1818 181925:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. Judge me, O Lord, for I have 1820walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall 1821not be weakened. 1822 182325:2. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; burn my reins and my heart. 1824 182525:3. For thy mercy is before my eyes; and I am well pleased with thy 1826truth. 1827 182825:4. I have not sat with the council of vanity: neither will I go in 1829with the doers of unjust things. 1830 183125:5. I have hated the assembly of the malignant; and with the wicked I 1832will not sit. 1833 183425:6. I will wash my hands among the innocent; and will compass thy 1835altar, O Lord: 1836 183725:7. That I may hear the voice of thy praise: and tell of all thy 1838wondrous works. 1839 184025:8. I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house; and the place 1841where thy glory dwelleth. 1842 184325:9. Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my life with 1844bloody men: 1845 184625:10. In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with 1847gifts. 1848 184925:11. But as for me, I have walked in my innocence: redeem me, and 1850have mercy on me. 1851 185225:12. My foot hath stood in the direct way: in the churches I will 1853bless thee, O Lord. 1854 1855 1856 1857Psalms Chapter 26 1858 1859 1860Dominus illuminatio. 1861 1862David's faith and hope in God. 1863 186426:1. The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light 1865and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my 1866life: of whom shall I be afraid? 1867 186826:2. Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My 1869enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have 1870fallen. 1871 187226:3. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart 1873shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I 1874be confident. 1875 187626:4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that 1877I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I 1878may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple. 1879 188026:5. For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; in the day of evils, he 1881hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle. 1882 188326:6. He hath exalted me upon a rock: and now he hath lifted up my head 1884above my enemies. I have gone round, and have offered up in his 1885tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation: I will sing, and recite a psalm 1886to the Lord. 1887 188826:7. Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee: have 1889mercy on me and hear me. 1890 189126:8. My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee: thy face, O 1892Lord, will I still seek. 1893 189426:9. Turn not away thy face from me; decline not in thy wrath from thy 1895servant. Be thou my helper, forsake me not; do not thou despise me, O 1896God my Saviour. 1897 189826:10. For my father and my mother have left me: but the Lord hath 1899taken me up. 1900 190126:11. Set me, O Lord, a law in thy way, and guide me in the right 1902path, because of my enemies. 1903 190426:12. Deliver me not over to the will of them that trouble me; for 1905unjust witnesses have risen up against me; and iniquity hath lied to 1906itself. 1907 190826:13. I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the 1909living. 1910 191126:14. Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, 1912and wait thou for the Lord. 1913 1914 1915 1916Psalms Chapter 27 1917 1918 1919Ad te, Domine, clamabo. 1920 1921David's prayer that his enemies may not prevail over him. 1922 192327:1. A psalm for David himself. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord: O my 1924God, be not thou silent to me: lest if thou be silent to me, I become 1925like them that go down into the pit. 1926 192727:2. Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; 1928when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple. 1929 193027:3. Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers 1931of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but 1932evils are in their hearts. 1933 193427:4. Give them according to their works, and according to the 1935wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands 1936give thou to them: render to them their reward. 1937 193827:5. Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the 1939operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build 1940them up. 1941 194227:6. Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my 1943supplication. 1944 194527:7. The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart 1946confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, 1947and with my will I will give praise to him. 1948 194927:8. The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the 1950salvation of his anointed. 1951 195227:9. Save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance: and rule 1953them and exalt them for ever. 1954 1955 1956 1957Psalms Chapter 28 1958 1959 1960Afferte Domino. 1961 1962An invitation to glorify God, with a commemoration of his mighty works. 1963 196428:1. A psalm for David, at the finishing of the tabernacle. Bring to 1965the Lord, O ye children of God: bring to the Lord the offspring of 1966rams. 1967 196828:2. Bring to the Lord glory and honour: bring to the Lord glory to 1969his name: adore ye the Lord in his holy court. 1970 197128:3. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of majesty hath 1972thundered, The Lord is upon many waters. 1973 197428:4. The voice of the Lord is in power; the voice of the Lord in 1975magnificence. 1976 197728:5. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars: yea, the Lord shall 1978break the cedars of Libanus. 1979 198028:6. And shall reduce them to pieces, as a calf of Libanus, and as the 1981beloved son of unicorns. 1982 1983Shall reduce them to pieces, etc. . .In Hebrew, shall make them to skip 1984like a calf. The psalmist here describes the effects of thunder (which 1985he calls the voice of the Lord) which sometimes breaks down the tallest 1986and strongest trees; and makes their broken branches skip, etc. All 1987this is to be understood mystically of the powerful voice of God's word 1988in his church; which has broken the pride of the great ones of this 1989world, and brought many of them meekly and joyfully to submit their 1990necks to the sweet yoke of Christ. 1991 199228:7. The voice of the Lord divideth the flame of fire: 1993 199428:8. The voice of the Lord shaketh the desert: and the Lord shall 1995shake the desert of Cades. 1996 199728:9. The voice of the Lord prepareth the stags: and he will discover 1998the thick woods: and in his temple all shall speak his glory. 1999 200028:10. The Lord maketh the flood to dwell: and the Lord shall sit king 2001for ever. The Lord will give strength to his people: the Lord will 2002bless his people with peace. 2003 2004 2005 2006Psalms Chapter 29 2007 2008 2009Exaltabo te, Domine. 2010 2011David praiseth God for his deliverance, and his merciful dealings with 2012him. 2013 201429:1. A psalm of a canticle, at the dedication of David's house. 2015 201629:2. I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast upheld me: and hast not 2017made my enemies to rejoice over me. 2018 201929:3. O Lord my God, I have cried to thee, and thou hast healed me. 2020 202129:4. Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from hell: thou hast 2022saved me from them that go down into the pit. 2023 202429:5. Sing to the Lord, O ye his saints: and give praise to the memory 2025of his holiness. 2026 202729:6. For wrath is in his indignation; and life in his good will. In 2028the evening weeping shall have place, and in the morning gladness. 2029 203029:7. And in my abundance I said: I shall never be moved. 2031 203229:8. O Lord, in thy favour, thou gavest strength to my beauty. Thou 2033turnedst away thy face from me, and I became troubled. 2034 203529:9. To thee, O Lord, will I cry: and I will make supplication to my 2036God. 2037 203829:10. What profit is there in my blood, whilst I go down to 2039corruption? Shall dust confess to thee, or declare thy truth? 2040 204129:11. The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became 2042my helper. 2043 204429:12. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into joy: thou hast cut my 2045sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness: 2046 204729:13. To the end that my glory may sing to thee, and I may not regret: 2048O Lord my God, I will give praise to thee for ever. 2049 2050 2051 2052Psalms Chapter 30 2053 2054 2055In te, Domine, speravi. 2056 2057A prayer of a just man under affliction. 2058 205930:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy. 2060 206130:2. In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: 2062deliver me in thy justice. 2063 206430:3. Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me 2065a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me. 2066 206730:4. For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake 2068thou wilt lead me, and nourish me. 2069 207030:5. Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for 2071me: for thou art my protector. 2072 207330:6. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O 2074Lord, the God of truth. 2075 207630:7. Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I 2077have hoped in the Lord: 2078 207930:8. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou hast regarded 2080my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses. 2081 208230:9. And thou hast not shut me up in the hands of the enemy: thou hast 2083set my feet in a spacious place. 2084 208530:10. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: my eye is troubled 2086with wrath, my soul, and my belly: 2087 208830:11. For my life is wasted with grief: and my years in sighs. My 2089strength is weakened through poverty and my bones are disturbed. 2090 209130:12. I am become a reproach among all my enemies, and very much to my 2092neighbours; and a fear to my acquaintance. They that saw me without 2093fled from me. 2094 209530:13. I am forgotten as one dead from the heart. I am become as a 2096vessel that is destroyed. 2097 209830:14. For I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about. While 2099they assembled together against me, they consulted to take away my 2100life. 2101 210230:15. But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my 2103God. 2104 210530:16. My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my 2106enemies; and from them that persecute me. 2107 210830:17. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy. 2109 211030:18. Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. 2111Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to hell. 2112 211330:19. Let deceitful lips be made dumb. Which speak iniquity against 2114the just, with pride and abuse. 2115 211630:20. O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which 2117thou hast hidden for them that fear thee! Which thou hast wrought for 2118them that hope in thee, in the sight of the sons of men. 2119 212030:21. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy face, from the 2121disturbance of men. Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle from the 2122contradiction of tongues. 2123 212430:22. Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewn his wonderful mercy to me 2125in a fortified city. 2126 212730:23. But I said in the excess of my mind: I am cast away from before 2128thy eyes. Therefore thou hast heard the voice of my prayer, when I 2129cried to thee. 2130 213130:24. O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord will require 2132truth, and will repay them abundantly that act proudly. 2133 213430:25. Do ye manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that 2135hope in the Lord. 2136 2137 2138 2139Psalms Chapter 31 2140 2141 2142Beati quorum. 2143 2144The second penitential psalm. 2145 214631:1. To David himself, understanding. Blessed are they whose 2147iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 2148 214931:2. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in 2150whose spirit there is no guile. 2151 215231:3. Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all 2153the day long. 2154 2155Because I was silent, etc. . .That is, whilst I kept silence, by 2156concealing, or refusing to confess my sins, thy hand was heavy upon me, 2157etc. 2158 215931:4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in my 2160anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened. 2161 2162I am turned, etc. . .That is, I turn and roll about in my bed to seek 2163for ease in my pain whilst the thorn of thy justice pierces my flesh, 2164and sticks fast in me. Or, I am turned: that is, I am converted to 2165thee, my God, by being brought to a better understanding by thy 2166chastisements. In the Hebrew it is, my moisture is turned into the 2167droughts of the summer. 2168 216931:5. I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not 2170concealed. I said I will confess against my self my injustice to the 2171Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin. 2172 217331:6. For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee in a 2174seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come 2175nigh unto him. 2176 217731:7. Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: my 2178joy, deliver me from them that surround me. 2179 218031:8. I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this 2181way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix my eyes upon thee. 2182 218331:9. Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no 2184understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not 2185near unto thee. 2186 218731:10. Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encompass 2188him that hopeth in the Lord. 2189 219031:11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and glory, all ye 2191right of heart. 2192 2193 2194 2195Psalms Chapter 32 2196 2197 2198Exultate, justi. 2199 2200An exhortation to praise God, and to trust in him. 2201 220232:1. A psalm for David. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise 2203becometh the upright. 2204 220532:2. Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the 2206psaltery, the instrument of ten strings. 2207 220832:3. Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise. 2209 221032:4. For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done 2211with faithfulness. 2212 221332:5. He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of 2214the Lord. 2215 221632:6. By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the 2217power of them by the spirit of his mouth: 2218 221932:7. Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying 2220up the depths in storehouses. 2221 222232:8. Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of 2223the world be in awe of him. 2224 222532:9. For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were 2226created. 2227 222832:10. The Lord bringeth to nought the counsels of nations; and he 2229rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of 2230princes. 2231 223232:11. But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of 2233his heart to all generations. 2234 223532:12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he 2236hath chosen for his inheritance. 2237 223832:13. The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of 2239men. 2240 224132:14. From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon 2242all that dwell on the earth. 2243 224432:15. He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who 2245understandeth all their works. 2246 224732:16. The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be 2248saved by his own great strength. 2249 225032:17. Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the 2251abundance of his strength. 2252 225332:18. Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on 2254them that hope in his mercy. 2255 225632:19. To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine. 2257 225832:20. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and 2259protector. 2260 226132:21. For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have 2262trusted. 2263 226432:22. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hooped in thee. 2265 2266 2267 2268Psalms Chapter 33 2269 2270 2271Benedicam Dominum. 2272 2273An exhortation to the praise, and service of God. 2274 227533:1. For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who 2276dismissed him, and he went his way. [1 Kings 21.] 2277 227833:2. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in 2279my mouth. 2280 228133:3. In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and 2282rejoice. 2283 228433:4. O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together. 2285 228633:5. I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all 2287my troubles. 2288 228933:6. Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be 2290confounded. 2291 229233:7. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of 2293all his troubles. 2294 229533:8. The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear 2296him: and shall deliver them. 2297 229833:9. O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that 2299hopeth in him. 2300 230133:10. Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them 2302that fear him. 2303 230433:11. The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that 2305seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good. 2306 230733:12. Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the 2308Lord. 2309 231033:13. Who is the man that desireth life: who liveth to see good days? 2311 231233:14. Keep thy tongue form evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 2313 231433:15. Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it. 2315 231633:16. The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their 2317prayers. 2318 231933:17. But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil 2320things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 2321 232233:18. The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out 2323of all their troubles. 2324 232533:19. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he 2326will save the humble of spirit. 2327 232833:20. Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will 2329the Lord deliver them. 2330 233133:21. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he 2332will save the humble of spirit. 2333 233433:22. The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the 2335just shall be guilty. 2336 233733:23. The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them 2338that trust in him shall offend. 2339 2340 2341 2342Psalms Chapter 34 2343 2344 2345Judica, Domine, nocentes me. 2346 2347David, in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors: 2348prophetically foreshewing the punishments that shall fall upon them. 2349 235034:1. For David himself. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: 2351overthrow them that fight against me. 2352 235334:2. Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me. 2354 235534:3. Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that 2356persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation. 2357 235834:4. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let 2359them be turned back and be confounded that devise evil against me. 2360 236134:5. Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the 2362Lord straiten them. 2363 236434:6. Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the 2365Lord pursue them. 2366 236734:7. For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto 2368destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul. 2369 237034:8. Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net 2371which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall. 2372 237334:9. But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in 2374his salvation. 2375 237634:10. All my bones shall say: Lord, who is like to thee? Who 2377deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are stronger than he; 2378the needy and the poor from them that strip him. 2379 238034:11. Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not. 2381 238234:12. They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul. 2383 238434:13. But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed 2385with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be 2386turned into my bosom. 2387 238834:14. As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one 2389mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled. 2390 239134:15. But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were 2392gathered together upon me, and I knew not. 2393 239434:16. They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they 2395scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 2396 239734:17. Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou my soul from 2398their malice: my only one from the lions. 2399 240034:18. I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee 2401in a strong people. 2402 240334:19. Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who 2404have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes. 2405 240634:20. For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger 2407of the earth they devised guile. 2408 240934:21. And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well 2410done, well done, our eyes have seen it. 2411 241234:22. Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not 2413from me. 2414 241534:23. Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and 2416my Lord. 2417 241834:24. Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them 2419not rejoice over me. 2420 242134:25. Let them not say in their hearts: It is well, it is well, to our 2422mind: neither let them say: We have swallowed him up. 2423 242434:26. Let them blush: and be ashamed together, who rejoice at my 2425evils. Let them be clothed with confusion and shame, who speak great 2426things against me. 2427 242834:27. Let them rejoice and be glad, who are well pleased with my 2429justice, and let them say always: The Lord be magnified, who delights 2430in the peace of his servant. 2431 243234:28. And my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day 2433long. 2434 2435 2436 2437Psalms Chapter 35 2438 2439 2440Dixit injustus. 2441 2442The malice of sinners, and the goodness of God. 2443 244435:1. Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself. 2445 244635:2. The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is 2447no fear of God before his eyes. 2448 244935:3. For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may 2450be found unto hatred. 2451 2452Unto hatred. . .That is, hateful to God. 2453 245435:4. The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not 2455understand that he might do well. 2456 245735:5. He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every 2458way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated. 2459 246035:6. O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth even to 2461the clouds. 2462 246335:7. Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great 2464deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord: 2465 246635:8. O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! But the children of 2467men shall put their trust under the covert of thy wings. 2468 246935:9. They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou 2470shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure. 2471 247235:10. For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall 2473see light. 2474 247535:11. Extend thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy justice to them 2476that are right in heart. 2477 247835:12. Let not the foot of pride come to me, and let not the hand of 2479the sinner move me. 2480 248135:13. There the workers of iniquity are fallen, they are cast out, and 2482could not stand. 2483 2484 2485 2486Psalms Chapter 36 2487 2488 2489Noli aemulari. 2490 2491An exhortation to despise this world; and the short prosperity of the 2492wicked; and to trust in Providence. 2493 249436:1. Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity. 2495 249636:2. For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green 2497herbs shall quickly fall. 2498 249936:3. Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou 2500shalt be fed with its riches. 2501 250236:4. Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy 2503heart. 2504 250536:5. Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it. 2506 250736:6. And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy 2508judgment as the noonday. 2509 251036:7. Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Envy not the man who 2511prospereth in his way; the man who doth unjust things. 2512 251336:8. Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil. 2514 251536:9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, 2516they shall inherit the land. 2517 251836:10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: and thou 2519shalt seek his place, and shalt not find it. 2520 252136:11. But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in 2522abundance of peace. 2523 252436:12. The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him 2525with his teeth. 2526 252736:13. But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foreseeth that his day 2528shall come. 2529 253036:14. The wicked have drawn out the sword: they have bent their bow. 2531To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart. 2532 253336:15. Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow 2534be broken. 2535 253636:16. Better is a little to the just, than the great riches of the 2537wicked. 2538 253936:17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken in pieces; but the 2540Lord strengtheneth the just. 2541 254236:18. The Lord knoweth the days of the undefiled; and their 2543inheritance shall be for ever. 2544 254536:19. They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days 2546of famine they shall be filled: 2547 254836:20. Because the wicked shall perish. And the enemies of the Lord, 2549presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to 2550nothing and vanish like smoke. 2551 255236:21. The sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just sheweth 2553mercy and shall give. 2554 255536:22. For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse 2556him shall perish. 2557 255836:23. With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall 2559like well his way. 2560 256136:24. When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth 2562his hand under him. 2563 256436:25. I have been young and now am old; and I have not seen the just 2565forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread. 2566 256736:26. He sheweth mercy, and lendeth all the day long; and his seed 2568shall be in blessing. 2569 257036:27. Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever. 2571 257236:28. For the Lord loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: 2573they shall be preserved for ever. The unjust shall be punished, and the 2574seed of the wicked shall perish. 2575 257636:29. But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for 2577evermore. 2578 257936:30. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue 2580shall speak judgment. 2581 258236:31. The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be 2583supplanted. 2584 258536:32. The wicked watcheth the just man, and seeketh to put him to 2586death, 2587 258836:33. But the Lord will not leave him in his hands; nor condemn him 2589when he shall be judged. 2590 259136:34. Expect the Lord and keep his way: and he will exalt thee to 2592inherit the land: when the sinners shall perish thou shalt see. 2593 259436:35. I have seen the wicked highly exalted, and lifted up like the 2595cedars of Libanus. 2596 259736:36. And I passed by, and lo, he was not: and I sought him and his 2598place was not found. 2599 260036:37. Keep innocence, and behold justice: for there are remnants for 2601the peaceable man. 2602 260336:38. But the unjust shall be destroyed together: the remnants of the 2604wicked shall perish. 2605 260636:39. But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their 2607protector in the time of trouble. 2608 260936:40. And the Lord will help them and deliver them: and he will rescue 2610them from the wicked, and save them because they have hoped in him. 2611 2612 2613 2614Psalms Chapter 37 2615 2616 2617Domine, ne in furore. 2618 2619A prayer of a penitent for the remission of his sins. The third 2620penitential psalm. 2621 262237:1. A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath. 2623 2624For a remembrance. . .Viz., of our miseries and sins: and to be sung on 2625the sabbath day. 2626 262737:2. Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy 2628wrath. 2629 263037:3. For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong 2631upon me. 2632 263337:4. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no 2634peace for my bones, because of my sins. 2635 263637:5. For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden 2637are become heavy upon me. 2638 263937:6. My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness. 2640 264137:7. I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I 2642walked sorrowful all the day long. 2643 264437:8. For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in 2645my flesh. 2646 264737:9. I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the 2648groaning of my heart. 2649 265037:10. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not 2651hidden from thee. 2652 265337:11. My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of 2654my eyes itself is not with me. 2655 265637:12. My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against 2657me. And they that were near me stood afar off: 2658 265937:13. And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought 2660evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long. 2661 266237:14. But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening 2663his mouth. 2664 266537:15. And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no 2666reproofs in his mouth. 2667 266837:16. For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my 2669God. 2670 267137:17. For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and 2672whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me. 2673 267437:18. For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before 2675me. 2676 267737:19. For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin. 2678 267937:20. But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate 2680me wrongfully are multiplied. 2681 268237:21. They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I 2683followed goodness. 2684 268537:22. For sake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me. 2686 268737:23. Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation. 2688 2689 2690 2691Psalms Chapter 38 2692 2693 2694Dixi custodiam. 2695 2696A just man's peace and patience in his sufferings; considering the 2697vanity of the world, and the providence of God. 2698 269938:1. Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. 2700 270138:2. I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my 2702tongue. I have set a guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against 2703me. 2704 270538:3. I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: 2706and my sorrow was renewed. 2707 270838:4. My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall 2709flame out. 2710 271138:5. I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is 2712the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me. 2713 271438:6. Behold thou hast made my days measurable. and my substance is as 2715nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man 2716living. 2717 271838:7. Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in 2719vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these 2720things. 2721 272238:8. And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is 2723with thee. 2724 272538:9. Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a 2726reproach to the fool. 2727 272838:10. I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done 2729it. 2730 273138:11. Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made 2732me faint in rebukes: 2733 273438:12. Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his 2735soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted. 2736 273738:13. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my 2738tears. Be no silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as 2739all my fathers were. 2740 274138:14. O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be 2742no more. 2743 2744 2745 2746Psalms Chapter 39 2747 2748 2749Expectans expectavi. 2750 2751Christ's coming, and redeeming mankind. 2752 275339:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. 2754 275539:2. With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive 2756to me. 2757 275839:3. And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery 2759and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my 2760steps. 2761 276239:4. And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many 2763shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord. 2764 276539:5. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and 2766who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies. 2767 276839:6. Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in 2769thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have 2770spoken they are multiplied above number. 2771 277239:7. Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast 2773pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not 2774require: 2775 277639:8. Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written 2777of me 2778 277939:9. That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy 2780law in the midst of my heart. 2781 278239:10. I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not 2783restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it. 2784 278539:11. I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy 2786truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth 2787from a great council. 2788 278939:12. Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy 2790and thy truth have always upheld me. 2791 279239:13. For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have 2793overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the 2794hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me. 2795 2796My iniquities. . .That is, the sins of all mankind, which I have taken 2797upon me. 2798 279939:14. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me. look down, O Lord, to help 2800me. 2801 280239:15. Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my 2803soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that 2804desire evils to me. 2805 280639:16. Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: 'T is 2807well, t' is well. 2808 2809'T is well. . .The Hebrew here is an interjection of insult and 2810derision, like the Vah. Matt. 27.49. 2811 281239:17. Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such 2813as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified. 2814 281539:18. But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art 2816my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack. 2817 2818 2819 2820Psalms Chapter 40 2821 2822 2823Beatus qui intelligit. 2824 2825The happiness of him that shall believe in Christ; notwithstanding the 2826humility and poverty in which he shall come: the malice of his enemies, 2827especially of the traitor Judas. 2828 282940:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. 2830 283140:2. Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the 2832poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day. 2833 283440:3. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed 2835upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. 2836 283740:4. The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his 2838couch in his sickness. 2839 284040:5. I said: O Lord, be thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have 2841sinned against thee. 2842 284340:6. My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and 2844his name perish? 2845 284640:7. And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart 2847gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same 2848purpose. 2849 285040:8. All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils 2851to me. 2852 285340:9. They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth 2854rise again no more? 2855 285640:10. For even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my 2857bread, hath greatly supplanted me. 2858 285940:11. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise my up again: and I 2860will requite them. 2861 286240:12. By this I know, that thou hast had a good will for me: because 2863my enemy shall not rejoice over me. 2864 286540:13. But thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast 2866established me in thy sight for ever. 2867 286840:14. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. 2869So be it. So be it. 2870 2871 2872 2873Psalms Chapter 41 2874 2875 2876Quemadmodum desiderat. 2877 2878The fervent desire of the just after God: hope in afflictions. 2879 288041:1. Unto the end, understanding for the sons of Core. 2881 288241:2. As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul 2883panteth after thee, O God. 2884 288541:3. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I 2886come and appear before the face of God? 2887 288841:4. My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to 2889me daily: Where is thy God? 2890 289141:5. These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I 2892shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the 2893house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one 2894feasting. 2895 289641:6. Why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou trouble me? Hope 2897in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my 2898countenance, 2899 290041:7. And my God. My soul is troubled within my self: therefore will I 2901remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, from the little 2902hill. 2903 290441:8. Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of thy flood-gates. All thy 2905heights and thy billows have passed over me. 2906 290741:9. In the daytime the Lord hath commanded his mercy; and a canticle 2908to him in the night. With me is prayer to the God of my life. 2909 291041:10. I will say to God: Thou art my support. Why hast thou forgotten 2911me? and why go I mourning, whilst my enemy afflicteth me? 2912 291341:11. Whilst my bones are broken, my enemies who trouble me have 2914reproached me; Whilst they say to me day by day: Where is thy God? 2915 291641:12. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet 2917me? Hope thou in God, for I will still give praise to him: the 2918salvation of my countenance, and my God. 2919 2920 2921 2922Psalms Chapter 42 2923 2924 2925Judica me, Deus. 2926 2927The prophet aspireth after the temple and altar of God. 2928 292942:1. A psalm for David. Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from 2930the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful 2931man. 2932 293342:2. For thou art God my strength: why hast thou cast me off? and why 2934do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? 2935 293642:3. Sent forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted me, and 2937brought me unto thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles. 2938 293942:4. And I will go in to the altar of God: to God who giveth joy to my 2940youth. 2941 294242:5. To thee, O God my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art 2943thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? 2944 294542:6. Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation 2946of my countenance, and my God. 2947 2948 2949 2950Psalms Chapter 43 2951 2952 2953Deus auribus nostris. 2954 2955The church commemorates former favours, and present afflictions; under 2956which she prays for succour. 2957 295843:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core, to give understanding. 2959 296043:2. We have heard, O God, with our ears: our fathers have declared to 2961us, The work thou hast wrought in their days, and in the days of old. 2962 296343:3. Thy hand destroyed the Gentiles, and thou plantedst them: thou 2964didst afflict the people and cast them out. 2965 296643:4. For they got not the possession of the land by their own sword: 2967neither did their own arm save them. But thy right hand and thy arm, 2968and the light of thy countenance: because thou wast pleased with them. 2969 297043:5. Thou art thyself my king and my God, who commandest the saving of 2971Jacob. 2972 297343:6. Through thee we will push down our enemies with the horn: and 2974through thy name we will despise them that rise up against us. 2975 297643:7. For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me. 2977 297843:8. But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put 2979them to shame that hate us. 2980 298143:9. In God shall we glory all the day long: and in thy name we will 2982give praise for ever. 2983 298443:10. But now thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame: and thou , O 2985God, wilt not go out with our armies. 2986 298743:11. Thou hast made us turn our back to our enemies: and they that 2988hated us plundered for themselves. 2989 299043:12. Thou hast given us up like sheep to be eaten: thou hast 2991scattered us among the nations. 2992 299343:13. Thou hast sold thy people for no price: and there was no 2994reckoning in the exchange of them. 2995 299643:14. Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoff and 2997derision to them that are round about us. 2998 299943:15. Thou hast made us a byword among the Gentiles: a shaking of the 3000head among the people. 3001 300243:16. All the day long my shame is before me: and the confusion of my 3003face hath covered me, 3004 300543:17. At the voice of him that reproacheth and detracteth me: at the 3006face of the enemy and persecutor. 3007 300843:18. All these things have come upon us, yet we have not forgotten 3009thee: and we have not done wickedly in thy covenant. 3010 301143:19. And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned 3012aside our steps from thy way. 3013 301443:20. For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the 3015shadow of death hath covered us. 3016 301743:21. If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread 3018forth our hands to a strange god: 3019 302043:22. Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the 3021secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day 3022long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 3023 302443:23. Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to 3025the end. 3026 302743:24. Why turnest thou thy face away? and forgettest our want and our 3028trouble? 3029 303043:25. For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to 3031the earth. 3032 303343:26. Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name's sake. 3034 3035 3036 3037Psalms Chapter 44 3038 3039 3040Eructavit cor meum. 3041 3042The excellence of Christ's kingdom, and the endowments of his church. 3043 304444:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of 3045Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. 3046 3047For them that shall be changed. . .i.e., for souls happily changed, by 3048being converted to God.--Ibid. The Beloved. . .Viz., Our Lord Jesus 3049Christ. 3050 305144:2. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king: 3052My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly. 3053 305444:3. Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad 3055in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. 3056 305744:4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty. 3058 305944:5. With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, 3060and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right 3061hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. 3062 306344:6. Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the 3064hearts of the king's enemies. 3065 306644:7. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy 3067kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. 3068 306944:8. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy 3070God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 3071 307244:9. Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory 3073houses: out of which 3074 307544:10. The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The 3076queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with 3077variety. 3078 307944:11. Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget 3080thy people and thy father's house. 3081 308244:12. And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord 3083thy God, and him they shall adore. 3084 308544:13. And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among 3086the people, shall entreat thy countenance. 3087 308844:14. All the glory of the king's daughter is within in golden 3089borders, 3090 309144:15. Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be 3092brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee. 3093 309444:16. They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be 3095brought into the temple of the king. 3096 309744:17. Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make 3098them princes over all the earth. 3099 310044:18. They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. 3101Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever. 3102 3103 3104 3105Psalms Chapter 45 3106 3107 3108Deus noster refugium. 3109 3110The church in persecution trusteth in the protection of God. 3111 311245:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden. 3113 311445:2. Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which 3115have found us exceedingly. 3116 311745:3. Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and 3118the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea. 3119 312045:4. Their waters roared and were troubled: the mountains were 3121troubled with his strength. 3122 312345:5. The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most 3124High hath sanctified his own tabernacle. 3125 312645:6. God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help 3127it in the morning early. 3128 312945:7. Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: he uttered 3130his voice, the earth trembled. 3131 313245:8. The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector. 3133 313445:9. Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath 3135done upon earth, 3136 313745:10. Making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall 3138destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in 3139the fire. 3140 314145:11. Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the 3142nations, and I will be exalted in the earth. 3143 314445:12. The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our 3145protector. 3146 3147 3148 3149Psalms Chapter 46 3150 3151 3152Omnes gentes, plaudite. 3153 3154The Gentiles are invited to praise God for the establishment of the 3155kingdom of Christ. 3156 315746:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core. 3158 315946:2. O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice 3160of joy, 3161 316246:3. For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth. 3163 316446:4. He hath subdued the people under us; and the nations under our 3165feet. 3166 316746:5. He hath chosen for us his inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which 3168he hath love. 3169 317046:6. God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of 3171trumpet. 3172 317346:7. Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing 3174ye. 3175 317646:8. For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely. 3177 317846:9. God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne. 3179 318046:10. The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of 3181Abraham: for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted. 3182 3183 3184 3185Psalms Chapter 47 3186 3187 3188Magnus Dominus. 3189 3190God is greatly to be praised for the establishment of his church. 3191 319247:1. A psalm of a canticle, for the sons of Core, on the second day of 3193the week. 3194 319547:2. Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of 3196our God, in his holy mountain. 3197 319847:3. With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the 3199sides of the north, the city of the great king. 3200 320147:4. In her houses shall God be known, when he shall protect her. 3202 320347:5. For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: they 3204gathered together. 3205 320647:6. So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were 3207moved: 3208 320947:7. Trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in 3210labour. 3211 321247:8. With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of 3213Tharsis. 3214 321547:9. As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of 3216hosts, in the city of our God: God hath founded it for ever. 3217 321847:10. We have received thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 3219 322047:11. According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the 3221ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice. 3222 322347:12. Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; 3224because of thy judgments, O Lord. 3225 322647:13. Surround Sion, and encompass her: tell lye in her towers. 3227 322847:14. Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, that 3229ye may relate it in another generation. 3230 323147:15. For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: 3232he shall rule us for evermore. 3233 3234 3235 3236Psalms Chapter 48 3237 3238 3239Audite haec, omnes gentes. 3240 3241The folly of worldlings, who live on in sin, without thinking of death 3242or hell. 3243 324448:1. Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core. 3245 324648:2. Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants 3247of the world. 3248 324948:3. All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and 3250poor together. 3251 325248:4. My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart 3253understanding. 3254 325548:5. I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on 3256the psaltery. 3257 325848:6. Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall 3259encompass me. 3260 3261The iniquity of my heel. . .That is, the iniquity of my steps or ways: 3262or the iniquity of my pride, with which as with the heel, I have 3263spurned and kicked at my neighbours: or the iniquity of my heel, that 3264is, the iniquity in which I shall be found in death. The meaning of 3265this verse is, Why should I now indulge those passions and sinful 3266affections, or commit now those sins, which will cause me so much fear 3267and anguish in the evil day; when the sorrows of death shall compass 3268me, and the perils of hell shall find me? 3269 327048:7. They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude 3271of their riches, 3272 3273They that trust, etc. . .As much as to say, let them fear that trust in 3274their strength or riches: for they have great reason to fear: seeing no 3275brother or other man, how much a friend soever, can by any price or 3276labour rescue them from death. 3277 327848:8. No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to 3279God his ransom, 3280 328148:9. Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for 3282ever, 3283 3284And shall labour for ever, etc. . .This seems to be a continuation of 3285the foregoing sentence: as much as to say no man can by any price or 3286ransom prolong his life, that so he may still continue to labour here, 3287and live to the end of the world. Others understand it of the eternal 3288sorrows, and dying life of hell, which is the dreadful consequence of 3289dying in sin. 3290 329148:10. And shall still live unto the end. 3292 329348:11. He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: 3294the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave 3295their riches to strangers: 3296 3297He shall not see destruction, etc. . .Or, shall he not see destruction? 3298As much as to say, however thoughtless he may be of his death, he must 3299not expect to escape; when even the wise and the good are not exempt 3300from dying. 3301 330248:12. And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their 3303dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by 3304their names. 3305 3306They have called, etc. . .That is, they have left their names on their 3307graves, which alone remain of their lands. 3308 330948:13. And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared 3310to senseless beasts, and is become like to them. 3311 331248:14. This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards 3313they shall delight in their mouth. 3314 3315They shall delight in their mouth. . .Notwithstanding the wretched way 3316in which they walk, they shall applaud themselves with their mouths, 3317and glory in their doings. 3318 331948:15. They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. 3320And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their 3321help shall decay in hell from their glory. 3322 3323In the morning. . .That is, in the resurrection to a new life; when the 3324just shall judge and condemn the wicked. Ibid. From their 3325glory. . .That is, when their short-lived glory in this world shall be 3326past, and be no more. 3327 332848:16. But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall 3329receive me. 3330 333148:17. Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rick, and when the 3332glory of his house shall be increased. 3333 333448:18. For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his 3335glory descend with him. 3336 333748:19. For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise 3338thee when thou shalt do well to him. 3339 334048:20. He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall 3341never see light. 3342 334348:21. Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been 3344compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them. 3345 3346 3347 3348Psalms Chapter 49 3349 3350 3351Deus deorum. 3352 3353The coming of Christ: who prefers virtue and inward purity before the 3354blood of victims. 3355 335649:1. A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he 3357hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down 3358thereof: 3359 336049:2. Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty. 3361 336249:3. God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep 3363silence. A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be 3364round about him. 3365 336649:4. He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his 3367people. 3368 336949:5. Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before 3370sacrifices. 3371 337249:6. And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge. 3373 337449:7. Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify 3375to thee: I am God, thy God. 3376 337749:8. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt 3378offerings are always in my sight. 3379 338049:9. I will not take calves out of thy house: nor he goats out of thy 3381flocks. 3382 338349:10. For all the beasts of the woods are mine: the cattle on the 3384hills, and the oxen. 3385 338649:11. I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of 3387the field. 3388 338949:12. If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is 3390mine, and the fulness thereof. 3391 339249:13. Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? or shall I drink the blood of 3393goats? 3394 339549:14. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the 3396most High. 3397 339849:15. And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and 3399thou shalt glorify me. 3400 340149:16. But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my 3402justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth? 3403 340449:17. Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind 3405thee. 3406 340749:18. If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with 3408adulterers thou hast been a partaker. 3409 341049:19. Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed 3411deceits. 3412 341349:20. Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a 3414scandal against thy mother's son: 3415 341649:21. These things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest 3417unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and 3418set before thy face. 3419 342049:22. Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you 3421away, and there be none to deliver you. 3422 342349:23. The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way 3424by which I will shew him the salvation of God. 3425 3426 3427 3428Psalms Chapter 50 3429 3430 3431Miserere. 3432 3433The repentance and confession of David after his sin. The fourth 3434penitential psalm. 3435 343650:1. Unto the end, a psalm of David, 3437 343850:2. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with 3439Bethsabee. [2 Kings 12.] 3440 344150:3. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And 3442according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity. 3443 344450:4. Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3445 344650:5. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. 3447 344850:6. To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that 3449thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art 3450judged. 3451 345250:7. For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my 3453mother conceive me. 3454 345550:8. For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things 3456of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me. 3457 345850:9. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou 3459shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 3460 346150:10. To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones 3462that have been humbled shall rejoice. 3463 346450:11. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 3465 346650:12. Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit 3467within my bowels. 3468 346950:13. Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit 3470from me. 3471 347250:14. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with 3473a perfect spirit. 3474 347550:15. I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be 3476converted to thee. 3477 347850:16. Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my 3479tongue shall extol thy justice. 3480 348150:17. O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy 3482praise. 3483 348450:18. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given 3485it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted. 3486 348750:19. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and 3488humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 3489 349050:20. Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the 3491walls of Jerusalem may be built up. 3492 349350:21. Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and 3494whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar. 3495 3496 3497 3498Psalms Chapter 51 3499 3500 3501Quid gloriaris. 3502 3503David condemneth the wickedness of Doeg, and foretelleth his 3504destruction. 3505 350651:1. Unto the end, understanding for David, 3507 350851:2. When Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul: David went to the house 3509of Achimelech. 3510 351151:3. Why dost thou glory in malice, thou that art mighty in iniquity? 3512 351351:4. All the day long thy tongue hath devised injustice: as a sharp 3514razor, thou hast wrought deceit. 3515 351651:5. Thou hast loved malice more than goodness: and iniquity rather 3517than to speak righteousness. 3518 351951:6. Thou hast loved all the words of ruin, O deceitful tongue. 3520 352151:7. Therefore will God destroy thee for ever: he will pluck thee out, 3522and remove thee from thy dwelling place: and thy root out of the land 3523of the living. 3524 352551:8. The just shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, and say: 3526 352751:9. Behold the man that made not God his helper: But trusted in the 3528abundance of his riches: and prevailed in his vanity. 3529 353051:10. But I, as a fruitful olive tree in the house of God, have hoped 3531in the mercy of God for ever, yea for ever and ever. 3532 353351:11. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I 3534will wait on thy name, for it is good in the sight of thy saints. 3535 3536 3537 3538Psalms Chapter 52 3539 3540 3541Dixit insipiens. 3542 3543The general corruption of man before the coming of Christ. 3544 354552:1. Unto the end, for Maeleth, understandings to David. The fool said 3546in his heart: There is no God. 3547 3548Maeleth. . .Or Machalath. A musical instrument, or a chorus of 3549musicians, for St. Jerome renders it, per chorum. 3550 355152:2. They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is 3552none that doth good. 3553 355452:3. God looked down from heaven on the children of men: to see if 3555there were any that did understand, or did seek God. 3556 355752:4. All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable together, there 3558is none that doth good, no not one. 3559 356052:5. Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people 3561as they eat bread? 3562 356352:6. They have not called upon God: there have they trembled for fear, 3564where there was no fear. For God hath scattered the bones of them that 3565please men: they have been confounded, because God hath despised them. 3566 3567God hath scattered the bones, etc. . .That is, God has brought to 3568nothing the strength of all those that seek to please men, to the 3569prejudice of their duty to their Maker. 3570 357152:7. Who will give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when God shall 3572bring back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel 3573shall be glad. 3574 3575 3576 3577Psalms Chapter 53 3578 3579 3580Deus, in nomine tuo. 3581 3582A prayer for help in distress. 3583 358453:1. Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. 3585 358653:2. When the en of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David 3587hidden with us? [1 Kings 23.19] 3588 358953:3. Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength. 3590 359153:4. O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth. 3592 359353:5. For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have 3594sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes. 3595 359653:6. For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my 3597soul. 3598 359953:7. Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy 3600truth. 3601 360253:8. I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to 3603thy name: because it is good: 3604 360553:9. For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath 3606looked down upon my enemies. 3607 3608 3609 3610Psalms Chapter 54 3611 3612 3613Exaudi, Deus. 3614 3615A prayer of a just man under persecution from the wicked. It agrees to 3616Christ persecuted by the Jews, and betrayed by Judas. 3617 361854:1. Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. 3619 362054:2. Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication: 3621 362254:3. Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and 3623am troubled, 3624 362554:4. At the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. 3626For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were 3627troublesome to me. 3628 362954:5. My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen 3630upon me. 3631 363254:6. Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered 3633me. 3634 363554:7. And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly 3636and be at rest? 3637 363854:8. Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the 3639wilderness. 3640 364154:9. I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, 3642and a storm. 3643 364454:10. Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen 3645iniquity and contradiction in the city. 3646 364754:11. Day and night shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in 3648the midst thereof are labour, 3649 365054:12. And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its 3651streets. 3652 365354:13. For if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with 3654it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would 3655perhaps have hidden my self from him. 3656 365754:14. But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar, 3658 365954:15. Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God 3660we walked with consent. 3661 366254:16. Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. 3663For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. 3664 3665Let death, etc. . .This, and such like imprecations which occur in the 3666psalms, are delivered prophetically; that is, by way of foretelling the 3667punishments which shall fall upon the wicked from divine justice, and 3668approving the righteous ways of God: but not by way of ill will, or 3669uncharitable curses, which the law of God disallows. 3670 367154:17. But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me. 3672 367354:18. Evening and morning, and at noon I will speak and declare: and 3674he shall hear my voice. 3675 367654:19. He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: 3677for among many they were with me. 3678 3679Among many, etc. . .That is, they that drew near to attack me were many 3680in company all combined to fight against me. 3681 368254:20. God shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is 3683no change with them, and they have not feared God: 3684 368554:21. He hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled his 3686covenant, 3687 368854:22. They are divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart 3689hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are 3690darts. 3691 3692They are divided, etc. . .Dispersed, scattered, and brought to nothing, 3693by the wrath of God; who looks with indignation on their wicked and 3694deceitful ways. 3695 369654:23. Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall 3697not suffer the just to waver for ever. 3698 369954:24. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of 3700destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their 3701days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord. 3702 3703 3704 3705Psalms Chapter 55 3706 3707 3708Miserere mei, Deus. 3709 3710A prayer of David in danger and distress. 3711 371255:1. Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance form the 3713sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when 3714the Philistines held him in Geth. 3715 371655:2. Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all 3717the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me. 3718 371955:3. My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many 3720that make war against me. 3721 372255:4. From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in 3723thee. 3724 3725The height of the day. . .That is, even at noonday, when the sun is the 3726highest, I am still in danger. 3727 372855:5. In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will 3729not fear what flesh can do against me. 3730 3731My words. . .The words or promises God has made in my favour. 3732 373355:6. All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were 3734against me unto evil. 3735 373655:7. They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As 3737they have waited for my soul, 3738 373955:8. For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break 3740the people in pieces. O God, 3741 3742For nothing shalt thou save them. . .That is, since they lie in wait to 3743ruin my soul, thou shalt for no consideration favour or assist them, 3744but execute thy justice upon them. 3745 374655:9. I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set me tears in thy 3747sight, As also in thy promise. 3748 374955:10. Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall 3750call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God. 3751 375255:11. In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his 3753speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me. 3754 375555:12. In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to 3756thee: 3757 375855:13. Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from 3759falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the 3760living. 3761 3762 3763 3764Psalms Chapter 56 3765 3766 3767Miserere mei, Deus. The prophet prays in his affliction, and praises 3768God for his delivery. 3769 377056:1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a 3771title, when he fled from Saul into the cave. [1 Kings 24.] 3772 3773Destroy not. . .Suffer me not to be destroyed. 3774 377556:2. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth 3776in thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity 3777pass away. 3778 377956:3. I will cry to God the most high; to God who hath done good to me. 3780 378156:4. He hath sent from heaven and delivered me: he hath made them a 3782reproach that trod upon me. God hath sent his mercy and his truth, 3783 378456:5. And he hath delivered my soul from the midst of the young lions. 3785I slept troubled. The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, 3786and their tongue a sharp sword. 3787 378856:6. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above 3789all the earth. 3790 379156:7. They prepared a snare for my feet; and they bowed down my soul. 3792They dug a pit before my face, and they are fallen into it. 3793 379456:8. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and 3795rehearse a psalm. 3796 379756:9. Arise, O my glory, arise psaltery and harp: I will arise early. 3798 379956:10. I will give praise to thee, O Lord, among the people: I will 3800sing a psalm to thee among the nations. 3801 380256:11. For thy mercy is magnified even to the heavens: and thy truth 3803unto the clouds. 3804 380556:12. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above 3806all the earth. 3807 3808 3809 3810Psalms Chapter 57 3811 3812 3813Si vere utique. 3814 3815David reproveth the wicked, and foretelleth their punishment. 3816 381757:1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a 3818title. 3819 382057:2. If in very deed ye speak justice: judge right things, ye sons of 3821men. 3822 382357:3. For in your heart you work iniquity: your hands forge injustice 3824in the earth. 3825 382657:4. The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray 3827from the womb: they have spoken false things. 3828 382957:5. Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the 3830deaf asp that stoppeth her ears: 3831 383257:6. Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard 3833that charmeth wisely. 3834 383557:7. God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord 3836shall break the grinders of the lions. 3837 383857:8. They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent 3839his bow till they be weakened. 3840 384157:9. Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen 3842on them, and they shall not see the sun. 3843 384457:10. Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, 3845as alive, in his wrath. 3846 3847Before your thorns, etc. . .That is, before your thorns grow up, so as 3848to become strong briers, they shall be overtaken and consumed by divine 3849justice, swallowing them up, as it were, alive in his wrath. 3850 385157:11. The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall 3852wash his hands in the blood of the sinner. 3853 3854Shall wash his hands, etc. . .Shall applaud the justice of God, and take 3855occasion from the consideration of the punishment of the wicked to wash 3856and cleanse his hands from sin. 3857 385857:12. And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there 3859is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth. 3860 3861 3862 3863Psalms Chapter 58 3864 3865 3866Eripe me. 3867 3868A prayer to be delivered from the wicked, with confidence in God's help 3869and protection. It agrees to Christ and his enemies the Jews. 3870 387158:1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a 3872title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him. [1 Kings 19.] 3873 387458:2. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them 3875that rise up against me. 3876 387758:3. Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody 3878men. 3879 388058:4. For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in 3881upon me: 3882 388358:5. Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity 3884have I run, and directed my steps. 3885 388658:6. Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God 3887of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no 3888mercy on all them that work iniquity. 3889 389058:7. They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: 3891and shall go round about the city. 3892 389358:8. Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their 3894lips: for who, say they, hath heard us? 3895 389658:9. But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the 3897nations to nothing. 3898 389958:10. I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector: 3900 390158:11. My God, his mercy shall prevent me. 3902 390358:12. God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any 3904time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, 3905O Lord, my protector: 3906 390758:13. For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let 3908them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they 3909shall be talked of, 3910 391158:14. When they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and 3912they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, 3913and all the ends of the earth. 3914 391558:15. They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: 3916and shall go round about the city. 3917 391858:16. They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they 3919be not filled. 3920 392158:17. But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the 3922morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of 3923my trouble. 3924 392558:18. Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my 3926defence: my God my mercy. 3927 3928 3929 3930Psalms Chapter 59 3931 3932 3933Deus, repulisti nos. 3934 3935After many afflictions, the church of Christ shall prevail. 3936 393759:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the inscription 3938of a title, to David himself, for doctrine, 3939 394059:2. When he set fire to Mesopotamia of Syria and Sobal: and Joab 3941returned and slew of Edom, in the vale of the saltpits, twelve thousand 3942men. 3943 394459:3. O God, thou hast cast us off, and hast destroyed us; thou hast 3945been angry, and hast had mercy on us. 3946 394759:4. Thou hast moved the earth, and hast troubled it: heal thou the 3948breaches thereof, for it has been moved. 3949 395059:5. Thou hast shewn thy people hard things; thou hast made us drink 3951the wine of sorrow. 3952 395359:6. Thou hast given a warning to them that fear thee: that they may 3954flee from before the bow: That thy beloved may be delivered. 3955 395659:7. Save me with thy right hand, and hear me. 3957 395859:8. God hath spoken in his holy place: I will rejoice, and I will 3959divide Sichem; and will mete out the vale of tabernacles. 3960 396159:9. Galaad is mine, and Manasses is mine: and Ephraim is the strength 3962of my head. Juda is my king: 3963 396459:10. Moab is the pot of my hope. Into Edom will I stretch out my 3965shoe: to me the foreigners are made subject. 3966 3967The pot of my hope. . .Or my watering pot. That is, a vessel for meaner 3968uses, by being reduced to serve me, even in the meanest 3969employments.--Ibid. Foreigners. . .So the Philistines are called, who 3970had no kindred with the Israelites; whereas the Edomites, Moabites, etc., 3971were originally of the same family. 3972 397359:11. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into 3974Edom? 3975 397659:12. Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O 3977God, go out with our armies? 3978 397959:13. Give us help from trouble: for vain is the salvation of man. 3980 398159:14. Through God we shall do mightily: and he shall bring to nothing 3982them that afflict us. 3983 3984 3985 3986Psalms Chapter 60 3987 3988 3989Exaudi, Deus. 3990 3991A prayer for the coming of the kingdom of Christ, which shall have no 3992end. 3993 399460:1. Unto the end, in hymns, for David. 3995 399660:2. Hear, O God, my supplication: be attentive to my prayer. 3997 399860:3. To thee have I cried from the ends of the earth: when my heart 3999was in anguish, thou hast exalted me on a rock. Thou hast conducted me; 4000 400160:4. For thou hast been my hope; a tower of strength against the face 4002of the enemy. 4003 400460:5. In thy tabernacle I shall dwell for ever: I shall be protected 4005under the covert of thy wings. 4006 400760:6. For thou, my God, hast heard my prayer: thou hast given an 4008inheritance to them that fear thy name. 4009 401060:7. Thou wilt add days to the days of the king: his years even to 4011generation and generation. 4012 401360:8. He abideth for ever in the sight of God: his mercy and truth who 4014shall search? 4015 401660:9. So will I sing a psalm to thy name for ever and ever: that I may 4017pay my vows from day to day. 4018 4019 4020 4021Psalms Chapter 61 4022 4023 4024Nonne Deo. 4025 4026The prophet encourageth himself and all others to trust in God, and 4027serve him. 4028 402961:1. Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of David. 4030 403161:2. Shall not my soul be subject to God? for from him is my 4032salvation. 4033 403461:3. For he is my God and my saviour: he is my protector, I shall be 4035moved no more. 4036 403761:4. How long do you rush in upon a man? you all kill, as if you were 4038thrusting down a leaning wall, and a tottering fence. 4039 404061:5. But they have thought to cast away my price; I ran in thirst: 4041they blessed with their mouth, but cursed with their heart. 4042 404361:6. But be thou, O my soul, subject to God: for from him is my 4044patience. 4045 404661:7. For he is my God and my saviour: he is my helper, I shall not be 4047moved. 4048 404961:8. In God is my salvation and my glory: he is the God of my help, 4050and my hope is in God. 4051 405261:9. Trust in him, all ye congregation of people: pour out your hearts 4053before him. God is our helper for ever. 4054 405561:10. But vain are the sons of men, the sons of men are liars in the 4056balances: that by vanity they may together deceive. 4057 4058Are liars in the balances, etc. . .They are so vain and light, that if 4059they are put into the scales, they will be found to be of no weight; 4060and to be mere lies, deceit, and vanity. Or, They are liars in their 4061balances, by weighing things by false weights, and preferring the 4062temporal before the eternal. 4063 406461:11. Trust not in iniquity, and cover not robberies: if riches 4065abound, set not your heart upon them. 4066 406761:12. God hath spoken once, these two things have I heard, that power 4068belongeth to God, 4069 407061:13. And mercy to thee, O Lord; for thou wilt render to every man 4071according to his works. 4072 4073 4074 4075Psalms Chapter 62 4076 4077 4078Deus Deus meus, ad te. 4079 4080The prophet aspireth after God. 4081 408262:1. A psalm of David while he was in the desert of Edom. 4083 408462:2. O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my 4085soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways! 4086 408762:3. In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in 4088the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory. 4089 409062:4. For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips will praise. 4091 409262:5. Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will 4093lift up my hands. 4094 409562:6. Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth 4096shall praise thee with joyful lips. 4097 409862:7. If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in 4099the morning: 4100 410162:8. Because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the 4102covert of thy wings: 4103 410462:9. My soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received 4105me. 4106 410762:10. But they have fought my soul in vain, they shall go into the 4108lower parts of the earth: 4109 411062:11. They shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall 4111be the portions of foxes. 4112 411362:12. But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised 4114that swear by him: because the mouth is stopped of them that speak 4115wicked things. 4116 4117 4118 4119Psalms Chapter 63 4120 4121 4122Exaudi Deus orationem. 4123 4124A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God that he will bring to 4125nought the machinations of persecutors. 4126 412763:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. 4128 412963:2. Hear O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to thee: deliver 4130my soul from the fear of the enemy. 4131 413263:3. Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from 4133the multitude of the workers of iniquity. 4134 413563:4. For they have whetted their tongues like a sword; they have bent 4136their bow a bitter thing, 4137 413863:5. To shoot in secret the undefiled. 4139 414063:6. They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are 4141resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have 4142said: Who shall see them? 4143 414463:7. They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their 4145search. Man shall come to a deep heart: 4146 4147A deep heart. . .That is, crafty, subtle, deep projects and designs; 4148which nevertheless shall not succeed; for God shall be exalted in 4149bringing them to nought by his wisdom and power. 4150 415163:8. And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their 4152wounds: 4153 4154The arrows of children are their wounds. . .That is, the wounds, 4155stripes, or blows, they seek to inflict upon the just, are but like the 4156weak efforts of children's arrows, which can do no execution: and their 4157tongues, that is, their speeches against them come to nothing. 4158 415963:9. And their tongues against them are made weak. All that saw them 4160were troubled; 4161 416263:10. And every man was afraid. And they declared the works of God, 4163and understood his doings. 4164 416563:11. The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him: and 4166all the upright in heart shall be praised. 4167 4168 4169 4170Psalms Chapter 64 4171 4172 4173Te decet. 4174 4175God is to be praised in his church, to which all nations shall be 4176called. 4177 417864:1. To the end, a psalm of David. The canticle of Jeremias and 4179Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out. 4180 4181Of the captivity. . .That is, the people of the captivity of Babylon. 4182This is not in the Hebrew, but is found in the ancient translation of 4183the Septuagint. 4184 418564:2. A hymn, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to 4186thee in Jerusalem. 4187 418864:3. O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee. 4189 419064:4. The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt 4191pardon our transgressions. 4192 419364:5. Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall 4194dwell in thy courts. We shall be filled with the good things of thy 4195house; holy is thy temple, 4196 419764:6. Wonderful in justice. Hear us, O God our saviour, who art the 4198hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar off. 4199 420064:7. Thou who preparest the mountains by thy strength, being girded 4201with power: 4202 420364:8. Who troublest the depth of the sea, the noise of its waves. The 4204Gentiles shall be troubled, 4205 420664:9. And they that dwell in the uttermost borders shall be afraid at 4207thy signs: thou shalt make the outgoings of the morning and of the 4208evening to be joyful. 4209 421064:10. Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it; 4211thou hast many ways enriched it. The river of God is filled with water, 4212thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation. 4213 421464:11. Fill up plentifully the streams thereof, multiply its fruits; it 4215shall spring up and rejoice in its showers. 4216 421764:12. Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of thy goodness: and thy 4218fields shall be filled with plenty. 4219 422064:13. The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow fat: and the 4221hills shall be girded about with joy, 4222 422364:14. The rams of the flock are clothed, and the vales shall abound 4224with corn: they shall shout, yea they shall sing a hymn. 4225 4226 4227 4228Psalms Chapter 65 4229 4230 4231Jubilate Deo. 4232 4233An invitation to praise God. 4234 423565:1. Unto the end, a canticle of a psalm of the resurrection. Shout 4236with joy to God, all the earth, 4237 423865:2. Sing ye a psalm to his name; give glory to his praise. 4239 424065:3. Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord! in the 4241multitude of thy strength thy enemies shall lie to thee. 4242 424365:4. Let all the earth adore thee, and sing to thee: let it sing a 4244psalm to thy name. 4245 424665:5. Come and see the works of God; who is terrible in his counsels 4247over the sons of men. 4248 424965:6. Who turneth the sea into dry land, in the river they shall pass 4250on foot: there shall we rejoice in him. 4251 425265:7. Who by his power ruleth for ever: his eyes behold the nations; 4253let not them that provoke him be exalted in themselves. 4254 425565:8. O bless our God, ye Gentiles: and make the voice of his praise to 4256be heard. 4257 425865:9. Who hath set my soul to live: and hath not suffered my feet to be 4259moved: 4260 426165:10. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us by fire, as 4262silver is tried. 4263 426465:11. Thou hast brought us into a net, thou hast laid afflictions on 4265our back: 4266 426765:12. Thou hast set men over our heads. We have passed through fire 4268and water, and thou hast brought us out into a refreshment. 4269 427065:13. I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee 4271my vows, 4272 427365:14. Which my lips have uttered, And my mouth hath spoken, when I was 4274in trouble. 4275 427665:15. I will offer up to thee holocausts full of marrow, with burnt 4277offerings of rams: I will offer to thee bullocks with goats. 4278 427965:16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what 4280great things he hath done for my soul. 4281 428265:17. I cried to him with my mouth: and I extolled him with my tongue. 4283 428465:18. If I have looked at iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear 4285me. 4286 428765:19. Therefore hath God heard me, and hath attended to the voice of 4288my supplication. 4289 429065:20. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his 4291mercy from me. 4292 4293 4294 4295Psalms Chapter 66 4296 4297 4298Deus misereatur. 4299 4300A prayer for the propagation of the church. 4301 430266:1. Unto the end, in hymns, a psalm of a canticle for David. 4303 430466:2. May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of 4305his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us. 4306 430766:3. That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation in all 4308nations. 4309 431066:4. Let people confess to thee, O God: let all people give praise to 4311thee. 4312 431366:5. Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for thou judgest the people 4314with justice, and directest the nations upon earth. 4315 431666:6. Let the people, O God, confess to thee: let all the people give 4317praise to thee: 4318 431966:7. The earth hath yielded her fruit. May God, our God bless us, 4320 432166:8. May God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him. 4322 4323 4324 4325Psalms Chapter 67 4326 4327 4328Exurgat Deus. 4329 4330The glorious establishment of the church of the New Testament, 4331prefigured by the benefits bestowed on the people of Israel. 4332 433367:1. Unto the end, a psalm of a canticle for David himself. 4334 433567:2. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered: and let them 4336that hate him flee from before his face. 4337 433867:3. As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away: as wax melteth 4339before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 4340 434167:4. And let the just feast, and rejoice before God: and be delighted 4342with gladness. 4343 434467:5. Sing ye to God, sing a psalm to his name, make a way for him who 4345ascendeth upon the west: the Lord is his name. Rejoice ye before him: 4346but the wicked shall be troubled at his presence, 4347 4348Who ascendeth upon the west. . .Super occasum. St. Gregory understands 4349it of Christ, who after his going down, like the sun, in the west, by 4350his passion and death, ascended more glorious, and carried all before 4351him. St. Jerome renders it, who ascendeth, or cometh up, through the 4352deserts. 4353 435467:6. Who is the father of orphans, and the judge of widows. God in his 4355holy place: 4356 435767:7. God who maketh men of one manner to dwell in a house: Who 4358bringeth out them that were bound in strength; in like manner them that 4359provoke, that dwell in sepulchres. 4360 4361Of one manner. . .That is, agreeing in faith, unanimous in love, and 4362following the same manner of discipline. It is verified in the servants 4363of God, living together in his house, which is the church. 1 Tim. 43643.15.--Ibid. Them that were bound, etc. . .The power and mercy of God 4365appears in his bringing out of their captivity those that were strongly 4366bound in their sins: and in restoring to his grace those whose 4367behaviour had been most provoking; and who by their evil habits were 4368not only dead, but buried in their sepulchres. 4369 437067:8. O God, when thou didst go forth in the sight of thy people, when 4371thou didst pass through the desert: 4372 437367:9. The earth was moved, and the heavens dropped at the presence of 4374the God of Sina, at the presence of the God of Israel. 4375 437667:10. Thou shalt set aside for thy inheritance a free rain, O God: and 4377it was weakened, but thou hast made it perfect. 4378 4379A free rain. . .the manna, which rained plentifully from heaven, in 4380favour of God's inheritance, that is, of his people Israel: which was 4381weakened indeed under a variety of afflictions, but was made perfect by 4382God; that is, was still supported by divine providence, and brought on 4383to the promised land. It agrees particularly to the church of Christ 4384his true inheritance, which is plentifully watered with the free rain 4385of heavenly grace; and through many infirmities, that is, crosses and 4386tribulations, is made perfect, and fitted for eternal glory. 4387 438867:11. In it shall thy animals dwell; in thy sweetness, O God, thou 4389hast provided for the poor. 4390 4391In it, etc. . .That is, in this church, which is thy fold and thy 4392inheritance, shall thy animals, thy sheep, dwell: where thou hast 4393plentifully provided for them. 4394 439567:12. The Lord shall give the word to them that preach good tidings 4396with great power. 4397 4398To them that preach good tidings. . .Evangelizantibus. That is, to the 4399preachers of the gospel; who receiving the word from the Lord, shall 4400with great power and efficacy preach throughout the world the glad 4401tidings of a Saviour, and of eternal salvation through him. 4402 440367:13. The king of powers is of the beloved, of the beloved; and the 4404beauty of the house shall divide spoils. 4405 4406The king of powers. . .That is, the mighty King, the Lord of hosts, is 4407of the beloved, of the beloved; that is, is on the side of Christ, his 4408most beloved son: and his beautiful house, viz., the church, in which 4409God dwells forever, shall by her spiritual conquests divide the spoils 4410of many nations. The Hebrew (as it now stands pointed) is thus 4411rendered, The kings of armies have fled, they have fled, and she that 4412dwells at home (or the beauty of the house) shall divide the spoils. 4413 441467:14. If you sleep among the midst of lots, you shall be as the wings 4415of a dove covered with silver, and the hinder parts of her back with 4416the paleness of gold. 4417 4418If you sleep among the midst of lots (intermedios cleros, etc.). . .Viz., 4419in such dangers and persecutions, as if your enemies were casting 4420lots for your goods and persons: or in the midst of the lots, 4421(intermedios terminos, as St. Jerome renders it,) that is, upon the 4422very bounds or borders of the dominions of your enemies: you shall be 4423secure nevertheless under the divine protection; and shall be enabled 4424to fly away, like a dove, with glittering wings and feathers shining 4425like the palest and most precious gold; that is, with great increase of 4426virtue, and glowing with the fervour of charity. 4427 442867:15. When he that is in heaven appointeth kings over her, they shall 4429be whited with snow in Selmon. 4430 4431Kings over her. . .That is, pastors and rulers over his church, viz., 4432the apostles and their successors. Then by their ministry shall men be 4433made whiter than the snow which lies on the top of the high mountain 4434Selmon. 4435 443667:16. The mountain of God is a fat mountain. A curdled mountain, a fat 4437mountain. 4438 4439The mountain of God. . .The church, which, Isa. 2.2, is called The 4440mountain of the house of the Lord upon the top of mountains. It is here 4441called a fat and a curdled mountain; that is to say, most fruitful, and 4442enriched by the spiritual gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost. 4443 444467:17. Why suspect, ye curdled mountains? A mountain in which God is 4445well pleased to dwell: for there the Lord shall dwell unto the end. 4446 4447Why suspect, ye curdled mountains?. . .Why do you suppose or imagine 4448there may be any other such curdled mountains? You are mistaken: the 4449mountain thus favoured by God is but one; and this same he has chosen 4450for his dwelling for ever. 4451 445267:18. The chariot of God is attended by ten thousands; thousands of 4453them that rejoice: the Lord is among them in Sina, in the holy place. 4454 4455The chariot of God. . .Descending to give his law on mount Sina: as also 4456of Jesus Christ his Son, ascending into heaven, to send from thence the 4457Holy Ghost, to publish his new law, is attended with ten thousands, 4458that is, with an innumerable multitude of joyful angels. 4459 446067:19. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; 4461thou hast received gifts in men. Yea for those also that do not 4462believe, the dwelling of the Lord God. 4463 4464Led captivity captive. . .Carrying away with thee to heaven those who 4465before had been the captives of Satan; and receiving from God the 4466Father gifts to be distributed to men; even to those who were before 4467unbelievers. 4468 446967:20. Blessed be the Lord day by day: the God of our salvation will 4470make our journey prosperous to us. 4471 447267:21. Our God is the God of salvation: and of the Lord, of the Lord 4473are the issues from death. 4474 4475The issues from death. . .The Lord alone is master of the issues, by 4476which we may escape from death. 4477 447867:22. But God shall break the heads of his enemies: the hairy crown of 4479them that walk on in their sins. 4480 448167:23. The Lord said: I will turn them from Basan, I will turn them 4482into the depth of the sea: 4483 4484I will turn them from Basan, etc. . .I will cast out my enemies from 4485their rich possessions, signified by Basan, a fruitful country; and I 4486will drive them into the depth of the sea: and make such a slaughter of 4487them, that the feet of my servants may be dyed in their blood, etc. 4488 448967:24. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thy enemies; the 4490tongue of thy dogs be red with the same. 4491 449267:25. They have seen thy goings, O God, the goings of my God: of my 4493king who is in his sanctuary. 4494 4495Thy goings. . .Thy ways, thy proceedings, by which thou didst formerly 4496take possession of the promised land in favour of thy people; and shalt 4497afterwards of the whole world, which thou shalt subdue to thy Son. 4498 449967:26. Princes went before joined with singers, in the midst of young 4500damsels playing on timbrels. 4501 4502Princes. . .The apostles, the first converters of nations; attended by 4503numbers of perfect souls, singing the divine praises, and virgins 4504consecrated to God. 4505 450667:27. In the churches bless ye God the Lord, from the fountains of 4507Israel. 4508 4509From the fountains of Israel. . .From whom both Christ and his apostles 4510sprung. By Benjamin, the holy fathers on this place understand St. 4511Paul, who was of that tribe, named here a youth, because he was the 4512last called to the apostleship. By the princes of Juda, Zabulon, and 4513Nephthali, we may understand the other apostles, who were of the tribe 4514of Juda; or of the tribes of Zabulon, and Nephthali, where our Lord 4515began to preach, Matt. 4.13, etc. 4516 451767:28. There is Benjamin a youth, in ecstasy of mind. The princes of 4518Juda are their leaders: the princes of Zabulon, the princes of 4519Nephthali. 4520 452167:29. Command thy strength, O God confirm, O God, what thou hast 4522wrought in us. 4523 4524Command thy strength. . .Give orders that thy strength may be always with 4525us. 4526 452767:30. From thy temple in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to 4528thee. 4529 453067:31. Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, the congregation of bulls 4531with the kine of the people; who seek to exclude them who are tried 4532with silver. Scatter thou the nations that delight in wars: 4533 4534Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds. . .or the wild beasts, which lie 4535hid in the reeds. That is, the devils, who hide themselves in order to 4536surprise their prey. Or by wild beasts, are here understood 4537persecutors, who, for all their attempts against the Church, are but as 4538weak reeds, which cannot prevail against them who are supported by the 4539strength of the Almighty. The same are also called the congregation of 4540bulls (from their rage against the Church) who assemble together all 4541their kine, that is, the people their subjects, to exclude if they can, 4542from Christ and his inheritance, his constant confessors, who are like 4543silver tried by fire. 4544 454567:32. Ambassadors shall come out of Egypt: Ethiopia shall soon stretch 4546out her hands to God. 4547 4548Ambassadors shall come, etc. . .It is a prophecy of the conversion of 4549the Gentiles, and by name of the Egyptians and Ethiopians. 4550 455167:33. Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth: sing ye to the Lord: Sing 4552ye to God, 4553 455467:34. Who mounteth above the heaven of heavens, to the east. Behold he 4555will give to his voice the voice of power: 4556 4557To the east. . .From mount Olivet, which is on the east side of 4558Jerusalem.--Ibid. The voice of power. . .That is, he will make his voice 4559to be a powerful voice: by calling from death to life, such as were 4560dead in mortal sin: as at the last day he will by the power of his 4561voice call all the dead from their graves. 4562 456367:35. Give ye glory to God for Israel, his magnificence, and his power 4564is in the clouds. 4565 456667:36. God is wonderful in his saints: the God of Israel is he who will 4567give power and strength to his people. Blessed be God. 4568 4569 4570 4571Psalms Chapter 68 4572 4573 4574Salvum me fac, Deus. 4575 4576Christ in his passion declareth the greatness of his sufferings, and 4577the malice of his persecutors the Jews; and foretelleth their 4578reprobation. 4579 458068:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed; for David. 4581 4582For them that shall be changed. . .A psalm for Christian converts, to 4583remember the passion of Christ. 4584 458568:2. Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul. 4586 4587The waters. . .Of afflictions and sorrows. My soul is sorrowful even 4588unto death. Matt. 26.38. 4589 459068:3. I stick fast in the mire of the deep and there is no sure 4591standing. I am come into the depth of the sea, and a tempest hath 4592overwhelmed me. 4593 459468:4. I have laboured with crying; my jaws are become hoarse, my eyes 4595have failed, whilst I hope in my God. 4596 459768:5. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head, who hate me 4598without cause. My enemies are grown strong who have wrongfully 4599persecuted me: then did I pay that which I took not away. 4600 4601I pay that which I took not away. . .Christ in his passion made 4602restitution of what he had not taken away, by suffering the punishment 4603due to our sins, and so repairing the injury we had done to God. 4604 460568:6. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my offences are not 4606hidden from thee: 4607 4608My foolishness and my offences. . .which my enemies impute to me: or the 4609follies and sins of men, which I have taken upon myself. 4610 461168:7. Let not them be ashamed for me, who look for thee, O Lord, the 4612Lord of hosts. Let them not be confounded on my account, who seek thee, 4613O God of Israel. 4614 461568:8. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my 4616face. 4617 461868:9. I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to the sons 4619of my mother. 4620 462168:10. For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches 4622of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. 4623 462468:11. And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to 4625me. 4626 462768:12. And I made haircloth my garment: and I became a byword to them. 4628 462968:13. They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank 4630wine made me their song. 4631 463268:14. But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy 4633good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the 4634truth of thy salvation. 4635 463668:15. Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me 4637from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. 4638 463968:16. Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep water 4640swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. 4641 464268:17. Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is kind; look upon me according 4643to the multitude of thy tender mercies. 4644 464568:18. And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in 4646trouble, hear me speedily. 4647 464868:19. Attend to my soul, and deliver it: save me because of my 4649enemies. 4650 465168:20. Thou knowest my reproach, and my confusion, and my shame. 4652 465368:21. In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath 4654expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve 4655together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort 4656me, and I found none. 4657 465868:22. And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me 4659vinegar to drink. 4660 466168:23. Let their table become as a snare before them, and a recompense, 4662and a stumblingblock. 4663 4664Let their table, etc. . .What here follows in the style of an 4665imprecation, is a prophecy of the wretched state to which the Jews 4666should be reduced in punishment of their wilful obstinacy. 4667 466868:24. Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and their back 4669bend thou down always. 4670 467168:25. Pour out thy indignation upon them: and let thy wrathful anger 4672take hold of them. 4673 467468:26. Let their habitation be made desolate: and let there be none to 4675dwell in their tabernacles. 4676 467768:27. Because they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and 4678they have added to the grief of my wounds. 4679 468068:28. Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not come 4681into thy justice. 4682 468368:29. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; and with the 4684just let them not be written. 4685 468668:30. But I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, O God, hath set me 4687up. 4688 468968:31. I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will 4690magnify him with praise. 4691 469268:32. And it shall please God better than a young calf, that bringeth 4693forth horns and hoofs. 4694 469568:33. Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall 4696live. 4697 469868:34. For the Lord hath heard the poor: and hath not despised his 4699prisoners. 4700 470168:35. Let the heavens and the earth praise him; the sea, and every 4702thing that creepeth therein. 4703 470468:36. For God will save Sion, and the cities of Juda shall be built 4705up. And they shall dwell there, and acquire it by inheritance. 4706 4707Sion. . .The catholic church. The cities of Juda, etc., her places of 4708worship, which shall be established throughout the world. And there, 4709viz., in this church of Christ, shall his servants dwell, etc. 4710 471168:37. And the seed of his servants shall possess it; and they that 4712love his name shall dwell therein. 4713 4714 4715 4716Psalms Chapter 69 4717 4718 4719Deus in adjutorium. 4720 4721A prayer in persecution. 4722 472369:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David, to bring to remembrance that the 4724Lord saved him. 4725 472669:2. O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. 4727 472869:3. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek my soul: 4729 473069:4. Let them be turned backward, and blush for shame that desire 4731evils to me: Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame that 4732say to me: 'Tis well, 'tis well. 4733 4734'T is well, 't is well. . .Euge, euge. St. Jerome renders it, vah, vah! 4735which is the voice of one insulting and deriding. Some understand it as 4736a detestation of deceitful flatterers. 4737 473869:5. Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; and let such 4739as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified. 4740 474169:6. But I am needy and poor; O God, help me. Thou art my helper and 4742my deliverer: O lord, make no delay. 4743 4744 4745 4746Psalms Chapter 70 4747 4748 4749In te, Domine. 4750 4751A prayer for perseverance. 4752 475370:1. A psalm for David. Of the sons of Jonadab, and the former 4754captives. In thee, O Lord, I have hoped, let me never be put to 4755confusion: 4756 4757Of the sons of Jonadab. . .The Rechabites, of whom see Jer. 35. By this 4758addition of the seventy-two interpreters, we gather that this psalm was 4759usually sung in the synagogue, in the person of the Rechabites, and of 4760those who were first carried away into captivity. 4761 476270:2. Deliver me in thy justice, and rescue me. Incline thy ear unto 4763me, and save me. 4764 476570:3. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of strength: that 4766thou mayst make me safe. For thou art my firmament and my refuge. 4767 476870:4. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the sinner, and out of 4769the hand of the transgressor of the law and of the unjust. 4770 477170:5. For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth. 4772 477370:6. By thee have I been confirmed from the womb: from my mother's 4774womb thou art my protector. Of thee I shall continually sing: 4775 477670:7. I am become unto many as a wonder, but thou art a strong helper. 4777 477870:8. Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; 4779thy greatness all the day long. 4780 478170:9. Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall 4782fail, do not thou forsake me. 4783 478470:10. For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that watched my 4785soul have consulted together, 4786 478770:11. Saying: God hath forsaken him: pursue and take him, for there is 4788none to deliver him. 4789 479070:12. O God, be not thou far from me: O my God, make haste to my help. 4791 479270:13. Let them be confounded and come to nothing that detract my soul; 4793let them be covered with confusion and blame that seek my hurt. 4794 479570:14. But I will always hope; and will add to all thy praise. 4796 479770:15. My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day 4798long. Because I have not known learning, 4799 4800Learning. . .As much as to say, I build not upon human learning, but 4801only on the power and justice of God. 4802 480370:16. I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be 4804mindful of thy justice alone. 4805 480670:17. Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will 4807declare thy wonderful works. 4808 480970:18. And unto old age and grey hairs: O God, forsake me not, Until I 4810shew forth thy arm to all the generation that is to come: Thy power, 4811 481270:19. And thy justice, O God, even to the highest great things thou 4813hast done: O God, who is like to thee? 4814 481570:20. How great troubles hast thou shewn me, many and grievous: and 4816turning thou hast brought me to life, and hast brought me back again 4817from the depths of the earth: 4818 481970:21. Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou 4820hast comforted me. 4821 482270:22. For I will also confess to thee thy truth with the instruments 4823of psaltery: O God, I will sing to thee with the harp, thou holy one of 4824Israel. 4825 482670:23. My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I shall sing to thee; and my 4827soul which thou hast redeemed. 4828 482970:24. Yea and my tongue shall meditate on thy justice all the day; 4830when they shall be confounded and put to shame that seek evils to me. 4831 4832 4833 4834Psalms Chapter 71 4835 4836 4837Deus, judicium tuum. 4838 4839A prophecy of the coming of Christ, and of his kingdom: prefigured by 4840Solomon and his happy reign. 4841 484271:1. A psalm on Solomon. 4843 484471:2. Give to the king thy judgment, O God, and to the king's son thy 4845justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment. 4846 484771:3. Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills 4848justice. 4849 485071:4. He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the 4851children of the poor: and he shall humble the oppressor. 4852 485371:5. And he shall continue with the sun and before the moon, 4854throughout all generations. 4855 485671:6. He shall come down like rain upon the fleece; and as showers 4857falling gently upon the earth. 4858 485971:7. In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till 4860the moon be taken away. 4861 486271:8. And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the 4863ends of the earth. 4864 486571:9. Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down: and his enemies shall 4866lick the ground. 4867 486871:10. The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the 4869kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts: 4870 487171:11. And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all nations shall 4872serve him. 4873 487471:12. For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy 4875that had no helper. 4876 487771:13. He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls 4878of the poor. 4879 488071:14. He shall redeem their souls from usuries and iniquity: and their 4881names shall be honourable in his sight. 4882 488371:15. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of 4884Arabia, for him they shall always adore: they shall bless him all the 4885day. 4886 488771:16. And there shall be a firmament on the earth on the tops of 4888mountains, above Libanus shall the fruit thereof be exalted: and they 4889of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth. 4890 4891A firmament on the earth, etc. . .This may be understood of the church 4892of Christ, ever firm and visible: and of the flourishing condition of 4893its congregation. 4894 489571:17. Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before 4896the sun. And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all 4897nations shall magnify him. 4898 489971:18. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful 4900things. 4901 490271:19. And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever: and the whole 4903earth shall be filled with his majesty. So be it. So be it. 4904 490571:20. The praises of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. 4906 4907Are ended. . .By this it appears that this psalm, though placed here, 4908was in order of time the last of those which David composed. 4909 4910 4911 4912Psalms Chapter 72 4913 4914 4915Quam bonus Israel Deus. 4916 4917The temptation of the weak, upon seeing the prosperity of the wicked, 4918is overcome by the consideration of the justice of God, who will 4919quickly render to every one according to his works. 4920 492172:1. A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of 4922a right heart! 4923 492472:2. But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped. 4925 492672:3. Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the 4927prosperity of sinners. 4928 492972:4. For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in 4930their stripes. 4931 493272:5. They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged 4933like other men. 4934 493572:6. Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their 4936iniquity and their wickedness. 4937 493872:7. Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they 4939have passed into the affection of the heart. 4940 4941Fatness. . .Abundance and temporal prosperity, which hath encouraged 4942them in their iniquity: and made them give themselves up to their 4943irregular affections. 4944 494572:8. They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken 4946iniquity on high. 4947 494872:9. They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath 4949passed through the earth. 4950 495172:10. Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be 4952found in them. 4953 4954Return here. . .or hither. The weak among the servants of God, will be 4955apt often to return to this thought, and will be shocked when they 4956consider the full days, that is, the long and prosperous life of the 4957wicked; and will be tempted to make the reflections against providence 4958which are set down in the following verses. 4959 496072:11. And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the 4961most High? 4962 496372:12. Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they 4964have obtained riches. 4965 496672:13. And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed 4967my hands among the innocent. 4968 496972:14. And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath 4970been in the mornings. 4971 497272:15. If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the 4973generation of thy children. 4974 4975If I said, etc. . .That is, if I should indulge such thoughts as these. 4976 497772:16. I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my 4978sight: 4979 498072:17. Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning 4981their last ends. 4982 498372:18. But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were 4984lifted up thou hast cast them down. 4985 4986Thou hast put it to them. . .In punishment of their deceits, or for 4987deceiving them, thou hast brought evils upon them in their last end, 4988which, in their prosperity they never apprehended. 4989 499072:19. How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to 4991be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity. 4992 499372:20. As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou 4994shalt bring their image to nothing. 4995 499672:21. For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed: 4997 499872:22. And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not. 4999 500072:23. I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee. 5001 500272:24. Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast 5003conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me. 5004 500572:25. For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire 5006upon earth? 5007 500872:26. For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the 5009God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever. 5010 501172:27. For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast 5012destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee. 5013 501472:28. But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the 5015Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the 5016daughter of Sion. 5017 5018 5019 5020Psalms Chapter 73 5021 5022 5023Ut quid, Deus. 5024 5025A prayer of the church under grievous persecutions. 5026 502773:1. Understanding for Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off unto 5028the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture? 5029 503073:2. Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the 5031beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: 5032mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt. 5033 503473:3. Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what 5035things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. 5036 503773:4. And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of 5038thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs, 5039 5040Their ensigns, etc. . .They have fixed their colours for signs and 5041trophies, both on the gates, and on the highest top of the temple: and 5042they knew not, that is, they regarded not the sanctity of the place. 5043This psalm manifestly foretells the time of the Machabees, and the 5044profanation of the temple by Antiochus. 5045 504673:5. And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. 5047As with axes in a wood of trees, 5048 504973:6. They have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and 5050hatchet they have brought it down. 5051 505273:7. They have set fire to thy sanctuary: they have defiled the 5053dwelling place of thy name on the earth. 5054 505573:8. They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let 5056us abolish all the festival days of God from the land. 5057 505873:9. Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and he will 5059know us no more. 5060 506173:10. How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to 5062provoke thy name for ever? 5063 506473:11. Why dost thou turn away thy hand: and thy right hand out of the 5065midst of thy bosom for ever? 5066 506773:12. But God is our king before ages: he hath wrought salvation in 5068the midst of the earth. 5069 507073:13. Thou by thy strength didst make the sea firm: thou didst crush 5071the heads of the dragons in the waters. 5072 5073The sea firm. . .By making the waters of the Red Sea stand like firm 5074walls, whilst Israel passed through: and destroying the Egyptians 5075called here dragons from their cruelty, in the same waters, with their 5076king: casting up their bodies on the shore to be stripped by the 5077Ethiopians inhabiting in those days the coast of Arabia. 5078 507973:14. Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon: thou hast given him to 5080be meat for the people of the Ethiopians. 5081 508273:15. Thou hast broken up the fountains and the torrents: thou hast 5083dried up the Ethan rivers. 5084 5085Ethan rivers. . .That is, rivers which run with strong streams. This was 5086verified in Jordan, Jos. 3, and in Arnon, Num. 21.14. 5087 508873:16. Thine is the day, and thine is the night: thou hast made the 5089morning light and the sun. 5090 509173:17. Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the 5092spring were formed by thee. 5093 509473:18. Remember this, the enemy hath reproached the Lord: and a foolish 5095people hath provoked thy name. 5096 509773:19. Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to thee: and 5098forget not to the end the souls of thy poor. 5099 510073:20. Have regard to thy covenant: for they that are the obscure of 5101the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity. 5102 5103The obscure of the earth. . .Mean and ignoble wretches have been filled, 5104that is, enriched, with houses of iniquity, that is, with our estates 5105and possessions, which they have unjustly acquired. 5106 510773:21. Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and 5108needy shall praise thy name. 5109 511073:22. Arise, O God, judge thy own cause: remember thy reproaches with 5111which the foolish man hath reproached thee all the day. 5112 511373:23. Forget not the voices of thy enemies: the pride of them that 5114hate thee ascendeth continually. 5115 5116 5117 5118Psalms Chapter 74 5119 5120 5121Confitebimur tibi. 5122 5123There is a just judgment to come: therefore let the wicked take care. 5124 512574:1. Unto the end, corrupt not, a psalm of a canticle for Asaph. 5126 5127Corrupt not. . .It is believed to have been the beginning of some ode or 5128hymn, to the tune of which this psalm was to be sung. St. Augustine and 5129other fathers take it to be an admonition of the spirit of God, not to 5130faint or fail in our hope: but to persevere with constancy in good: 5131because God will not fail in his due time to render to every man 5132according to his works. 5133 513474:2. We will praise thee, O God: we will praise, and we will call upon 5135thy name. We will relate thy wondrous works: 5136 513774:3. When I shall take a time, I will judge justices. 5138 5139When I shall take a time. . .In proper times: particularly at the last 5140day, when the earth shall melt away at the presence of the great Judge: 5141the same who originally laid the foundations of it, and as it were 5142established its pillars. 5143 514474:4. The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein: I have 5145established the pillars thereof. 5146 514774:5. I said to the wicked: Do not act wickedly: and to the sinners: 5148Lift not up the horn. 5149 515074:6. Lift not up your horn on high: speak not iniquity against God. 5151 515274:7. For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert 5153hills: 5154 515574:8. For God is the judge. One he putteth down, and another he lifteth 5156up: 5157 515874:9. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of strong wine full of 5159mixture. And he hath poured it out from this to that: but the dregs 5160thereof are not emptied: all the sinners of the earth shall drink. 5161 516274:10. But I will declare for ever: I will sing to the God of Jacob. 5163 516474:11. And I will break all the horns of sinners: but the horns of the 5165just shall be exalted. 5166 5167 5168 5169Psalms Chapter 75 5170 5171 5172Notus in Judaea. 5173 5174God is known in his church: and exerts his power in protecting it. It 5175alludes to the slaughter of the Assyrians, in the days of king 5176Ezechias. 5177 517875:1. Unto the end, in praises, a psalm for Asaph: a canticle to the 5179Assyrians. 5180 518175:2. In Judea God is known: his name is great in Israel. 5182 518375:3. And his place is in peace: and his abode in Sion: 5184 518575:4. There hath he broken the powers of bows, the shield, the sword, 5186and the battle. 5187 518875:5. Thou enlightenest wonderfully from the everlasting hills. 5189 519075:6. All the foolish of heart were troubled. They have slept their 5191sleep; and all the men of riches have found nothing in their hands. 5192 519375:7. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, they have all slumbered that 5194mounted on horseback. 5195 519675:8. Thou art terrible, and who shall resist thee? from that time thy 5197wrath. 5198 5199From that time, etc. . .From the time that thy wrath shall break out. 5200 520175:9. Thou hast caused judgment to be heard from heaven: the earth 5202trembled and was still, 5203 520475:10. When God arose in judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. 5205 520675:11. For the thought of man shall give praise to thee: and the 5207remainders of the thought shall keep holiday to thee. 5208 520975:12. Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your God: all you that are round 5210about him bring presents. To him that is terrible, 5211 521275:13. Even to him who taketh away the spirit of princes: to the 5213terrible with the kings of the earth. 5214 5215 5216 5217Psalms Chapter 76 5218 5219 5220Voce mea. 5221 5222The faithful have recourse to God in trouble of mind, with confidence 5223in his mercy and power. 5224 522576:1. Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph. 5226 522776:2. I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he 5228gave ear to me. 5229 523076:3. In the days of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up 5231to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be 5232comforted: 5233 523476:4. I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my 5235spirit swooned away. 5236 523776:5. My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not. 5238 523976:6. I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal 5240years. 5241 524276:7. And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was 5243exercised and I swept my spirit. 5244 524576:8. Will God then cast off for ever? or will he never be more 5246favourable again? 5247 524876:9. Or will he cut off his mercy for ever, from generation to 5249generation? 5250 525176:10. Or will God forget to shew mercy? or will he in his anger shut 5252up his mercies? 5253 525476:11. And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right 5255hand of the most High. 5256 525776:12. I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy 5258wonders from the beginning. 5259 526076:13. And I will meditate on all thy works: and will be employed in 5261thy inventions. 5262 526376:14. Thy way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like 5264our God? 5265 526676:15. Thou art the God that dost wonders. Thou hast made thy power 5267known among the nations: 5268 526976:16. With thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people the children of Jacob 5270and of Joseph. 5271 527276:17. The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: and they were 5273afraid, and the depths were troubled. 5274 527576:18. Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound. 5276For thy arrows pass: 5277 527876:19. The voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened 5279the world: the earth shook and trembled. 5280 528176:20. Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters: and thy 5282footsteps shall not be known. 5283 528476:21. Thou hast conducted thy people like sheep, by the hand of Moses 5285and Aaron. 5286 5287 5288 5289Psalms Chapter 77 5290 5291 5292Attendite. 5293 5294God's great benefits to the people of Israel, notwithstanding their 5295ingratitude. 5296 529777:1. Understanding for Asaph. Attend, O my people, to my law: incline 5298your ears to the words of my mouth. 5299 530077:2. I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from 5301the beginning. 5302 5303Propositions. . .Deep and mysterious sayings. By this it appears that 5304the historical facts of ancient times, commemorated in this psalm, were 5305deep and mysterious: as being figures of great truths appertaining to 5306the time of the New Testament. 5307 530877:3. How great things have we heard and known, and our fathers have 5309told us. 5310 531177:4. They have not been hidden from their children, in another 5312generation. Declaring the praises of the Lord, and his powers, and his 5313wonders which he hath done. 5314 531577:5. And he set up a testimony in Jacob: and made a law in Israel. How 5316great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same 5317known to their children: 5318 531977:6. That another generation might know them. The children that should 5320be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children. 5321 532277:7. That they may put their hope in God and may not forget the works 5323of God: and may seek his commandments. 5324 532577:8. That they may not become like their fathers, a perverse and 5326exasperating generation. A generation that set not their heart aright: 5327and whose spirit was not faithful to God. 5328 532977:9. The sons of Ephraim who bend and shoot with the bow: they have 5330turned back in the day of battle. 5331 533277:10. They kept not the covenant of God: and in his law they would not 5333walk. 5334 533577:11. And they forgot his benefits, and his wonders that he had shewn 5336them. 5337 533877:12. Wonderful things did he do in the sight of their fathers, in the 5339land of Egypt, in the field of Tanis. 5340 534177:13. He divided the sea and brought them through: and he made the 5342waters to stand as in a vessel. 5343 534477:14. And he conducted them with a cloud by day: and all the night 5345with a light of fire. 5346 534777:15. He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as 5348out of the great deep. 5349 535077:16. He brought forth water out of the rock: and made streams run 5351down as rivers. 5352 535377:17. And they added yet more sin against him: they provoked the most 5354High to wrath in the place without water. 5355 535677:18. And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their 5357desires. 5358 535977:19. And they spoke ill of God: they said: Can God furnish a table in 5360the wilderness? 5361 536277:20. Because he struck the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the 5363streams overflowed. Can he also give bread, or provide a table for his 5364people? 5365 536677:21. Therefore the Lord heard, and was angry: and a fire was kindled 5367against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel. 5368 536977:22. Because they believed not in God: and trusted not in his 5370salvation. 5371 537277:23. And he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the 5373doors of heaven. 5374 537577:24. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them 5376the bread of heaven. 5377 537877:25. Man ate the bread of angels: he sent them provisions in 5379abundance. 5380 538177:26. He removed the south wind from heaven: and by his power brought 5382in the southwest wind. 5383 538477:27. And he rained upon them flesh as dust: and feathered fowls like 5385as the sand of the sea. 5386 538777:28. And they fell in the midst of their camp, round about their 5388pavilions. 5389 539077:29. So they did eat, and were filled exceedingly, and he gave them 5391their desire: 5392 539377:30. they were not defrauded of that which they craved. As yet their 5394meat was in their mouth: 5395 539677:31. And the wrath of God came upon them. And he slew the fat ones 5397amongst them, and brought down the chosen men of Israel. 5398 539977:32. In all these things they sinned still: and they behaved not for 5400his wondrous works. 5401 540277:33. And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years in 5403haste. 5404 540577:34. When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and 5406came to him early in the morning. 5407 540877:35. And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high 5409God their redeemer. 5410 541177:36. And they loved him with their mouth: and with their tongue they 5412lied unto him: 5413 541477:37. But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted 5415faithful in his covenant. 5416 541777:38. But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not 5418destroy them. And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not 5419kindle all his wrath. 5420 542177:39. And he remembered that they are flesh: a wind that goeth and 5422returneth not. 5423 542477:40. How often did they provoke him in the desert: and move him to 5425wrath in the place without water? 5426 542777:41. And they turned back and tempted God: and grieved the holy one 5428of Israel. 5429 543077:42. They remembered not his hand, in the day that he redeemed them 5431from the hand of him that afflicted them: 5432 543377:43. How he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field 5434of Tanis. 5435 543677:44. And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that 5437they might not drink. 5438 543977:45. He sent amongst them divers sorts of flies, which devoured them: 5440and frogs which destroyed them. 5441 544277:46. And he gave up their fruits to the blast, and their labours to 5443the locust. 5444 544577:47. And he destroyed their vineyards with hail, and their mulberry 5446trees with hoarfrost. 5447 544877:48. And he gave up their cattle to the hail, and their stock to the 5449fire. 5450 545177:49. And he sent upon them the wrath of his indignation: indignation 5452and wrath and trouble, which he sent by evil angels. 5453 545477:50. He made a way for a path to his anger: he spared not their souls 5455from death, and their cattle he shut up in death. 5456 545777:51. And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the 5458firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham. 5459 546077:52. And he took away his own people as sheep: and guided them in the 5461wilderness like a flock. 5462 546377:53. And he brought them out in hope and they feared not: and the sea 5464overwhelmed their enemies. 5465 546677:54. And he brought them into the mountain of his sanctuary: the 5467mountain which his right hand had purchased. And he cast out the 5468Gentiles before them: and by lot divided to them their land by a line 5469of distribution. 5470 547177:55. And he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles. 5472 547377:56. Yet they tempted, and provoked the most high God: and they kept 5474not his testimonies. 5475 547677:57. And they turned away, and kept not the covenant: even like their 5477fathers they were turned aside as a crooked bow. 5478 547977:58. They provoked him to anger on their hills: and moved him to 5480jealousy with their graven things. 5481 548277:59. God heard, and despised them, and he reduced Israel exceedingly 5483as it were to nothing. 5484 548577:60. And he put away the tabernacle of Silo, his tabernacle where he 5486dwelt among men. 5487 548877:61. And he delivered their strength into captivity: and their beauty 5489into the hands of the enemy. 5490 549177:62. And he shut up his people under the sword: and he despised his 5492inheritance. 5493 549477:63. Fire consumed their young men: and their maidens were not 5495lamented. 5496 549777:64. Their priests fell by the sword: and their widows did not mourn. 5498 549977:65. And the Lord was awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty 5500man that hath been surfeited with wine. 5501 550277:66. And he smote his enemies on the hinder parts: he put them to an 5503everlasting reproach. 5504 550577:67. And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the 5506tribe of Ephraim: 5507 550877:68. But he chose the tribe of Juda, mount Sion which he loved. 5509 551077:69. And he built his sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which he 5511founded for ever. 5512 5513As of unicorns. . .That is, firm and strong like the horn of the 5514unicorn. This is one of the chiefest of the propositions of this psalm, 5515foreshewing the firm establishment of the one, true, and everlasting 5516sanctuary of God, in his church. 5517 551877:70. And he chose his servant David, and took him from the flocks of 5519sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young, 5520 552177:71. To feed Jacob his servant and Israel his inheritance. 5522 552377:72. And he fed them in the innocence of his heart: and conducted 5524them by the skilfulness of his hands. 5525 5526 5527 5528Psalms Chapter 78 5529 5530 5531Deus, venerunt gentes. 5532 5533The church in time of persecution prayeth for relief. It seems to 5534belong to the time of the Machabees. 5535 553678:1. A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy 5537inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made 5538Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. 5539 554078:2. They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for 5541the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the 5542earth. 5543 554478:3. They have poured out their blood as water, round about Jerusalem 5545and there was none to bury them. 5546 554778:4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorn and derision 5548to them that are round about us. 5549 555078:5. How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be 5551kindled like a fire? 5552 555378:6. Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and 5554upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 5555 555678:7. Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place. 5557 555878:8. Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily 5559prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor. 5560 556178:9. Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O 5562Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name's sake: 5563 556478:10. Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And 5565let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the 5566revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed: 5567 556878:11. Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According 5569to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them 5570that have been put to death. 5571 557278:12. And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the 5573reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 5574 557578:13. But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give 5576thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation 5577and generation. 5578 5579 5580 5581Psalms Chapter 79 5582 5583 5584Qui regis Israel. 5585 5586A prayer for the church in tribulation, commemorating God's former 5587favours. 5588 558979:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, a testimony for 5590Asaph, a psalm. 5591 559279:2. Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph 5593like a sheep. Thou that sittest upon the cherubims, shine forth 5594 559579:3. Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and 5596come to save us. 5597 559879:4. Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved. 5599 560079:5. O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the 5601prayer of thy servant? 5602 560379:6. How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us 5604for our drink tears in measure? 5605 560679:7. Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and 5607our enemies have scoffed at us. 5608 560979:8. O God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be 5610saved. 5611 561279:9. Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the 5613Gentiles and planted it. 5614 561579:10. Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst 5616the roots thereof, and it filled the land. 5617 561879:11. The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the 5619cedars of God. 5620 562179:12. It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs 5622unto the river. 5623 562479:13. Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they 5625who pass by the way do pluck it? 5626 562779:14. The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild 5628beast hath devoured it. 5629 563079:15. Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and 5631visit this vineyard: 5632 563379:16. And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon 5634the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself. 5635 563679:17. Things set on fire and dug down shall perish at the rebuke of 5637thy countenance. 5638 5639Things set on fire, etc. . .So this vineyard of thine, almost consumed 5640already, must perish, if thou continue thy rebukes. 5641 564279:18. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son 5643of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself. 5644 5645The man of thy right hand. . .Christ. 5646 564779:19. And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will 5648call upon thy name. 5649 565079:20. O Lord God of hosts, convert us and shew thy face, and we shall 5651be saved. 5652 5653 5654 5655Psalms Chapter 80 5656 5657 5658Exultate Deo. 5659 5660An invitation to a solemn praising of God. 5661 566280:1. Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself. 5663 5664For the winepresses, etc. . .Torcularibus. It either signifies a musical 5665instrument, or that this psalm was to be sung at the feast of the 5666tabernacles after the gathering in of the vintage. 5667 566880:2. Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob. 5669 567080:3. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant psaltery 5671with the harp. 5672 567380:4. Blow up the trumpet on the new moon, on the noted day of your 5674solemnity. 5675 567680:5. For it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of 5677Jacob. 5678 567980:6. He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of the 5680land of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not. 5681 568280:7. He removed his back from the burdens: his hands had served in 5683baskets. 5684 568580:8. Thou calledst upon me in affliction, and I delivered thee: I 5686heard thee in the secret place of tempest: I proved thee at the waters 5687of contradiction. 5688 5689In the secret place of tempest. . .Heb., Of thunder. When thou soughtest 5690to hide thyself from the tempest: or, when I came down to mount Sina, 5691hidden from thy eyes in a storm of thunder. 5692 569380:9. Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee: O Israel, if thou 5694wilt hearken to me, 5695 569680:10. there shall be no new god in thee: neither shalt 5697thou adore a strange god. 5698 569980:11. For I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of 5700Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 5701 570280:12. But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to 5703me. 5704 570580:13. So I let them go according to the desires of their heart: they 5706shall walk in their own inventions. 5707 570880:14. If my people had heard me: if Israel had walked in my ways: 5709 571080:15. I should soon have humbled their enemies, and laid my hand on 5711them that troubled them. 5712 571380:16. The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: and their time shall 5714be for ever. 5715 5716Their time shall be forever. . .Impenitent sinners shall suffer for 5717ever. 5718 571980:17. And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with 5720honey out of the rock. 5721 5722 5723 5724Psalms Chapter 81 5725 5726 5727Deus stetit. 5728 5729An exhortation to judges and men in power. 5730 573181:1. A psalm for Asaph. God hath stood in the congregation of gods: 5732and being in the midst of them he judgeth gods. 5733 573481:2. How long will you judge unjustly: and accept the persons of the 5735wicked? 5736 573781:3. Judge for the needy and fatherless: do justice to the humble and 5738the poor. 5739 574081:4. Rescue the poor; and deliver the needy out of the hand of the 5741sinner. 5742 574381:5. They have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all 5744the foundations of the earth shall be moved. 5745 574681:6. I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most 5747High. 5748 574981:7. But you like men shall die: and shall fall like one of the 5750princes. 5751 575281:8. Arise, O God, judge thou the earth: for thou shalt inherit among 5753all the nations. 5754 5755 5756 5757Psalms Chapter 82 5758 5759 5760Deus, quis similis. 5761 5762A prayer against the enemies of God's church. 5763 576482:1. A canticle of a psalm for Asaph. 5765 576682:2. O God, who shall be like to thee? hold not thy peace, neither be 5767thou still, O God. 5768 576982:3. For lo, thy enemies have made a noise: and they that hate thee 5770have lifted up the head. 5771 577282:4. They have taken a malicious counsel against thy people, and have 5773consulted against thy saints. 5774 577582:5. They have said: Come and let us destroy them, so that they be not 5776a nation: and let the name of Israel be remembered no more. 5777 577882:6. For they have contrived with one consent: they have made a 5779covenant together against thee, 5780 578182:7. The tabernacle of the Edomites, and the Ishmahelites: Moab, and 5782the Agarens, 5783 578482:8. Gebal, and Ammon and Amalec: the Philistines, with the 5785inhabitants of Tyre. 5786 578782:9. Yea, and the Assyrian also is joined with them: they are come to 5788the aid of the sons of Lot. 5789 579082:10. Do to them as thou didst to Madian and to Sisara: as to Jabin at 5791the brook of Cisson. 5792 579382:11. Who perished at Endor: and became as dung for the earth. 5794 579582:12. Make their princes like Oreb, and Zeb, and Zebee, and Salmana. 5796All their princes, 5797 579882:13. Who have said: Let us possess the sanctuary of God for an 5799inheritance. 5800 580182:14. O my God, make them like a wheel; and as stubble before the 5802wind. 5803 580482:15. As fire which burneth the wood: and as a flame burning 5805mountains: 5806 580782:16. So shalt thou pursue them with thy tempest: and shalt trouble 5808them in thy wrath. 5809 581082:17. Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O 5811Lord. 5812 581382:18. Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: and let them 5814be confounded and perish. 5815 581682:19. And let them know that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the 5817most High over all the earth. 5818 5819 5820 5821Psalms Chapter 83 5822 5823 5824Quam dilecta. 5825 5826The soul aspireth after heaven; rejoicing in the mean time, in being in 5827the communion of God's church upon earth. 5828 582983:1. Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for the sons of Core. 5830 583183:2. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 5832 583383:3. my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart 5834and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God. 5835 583683:4. For the sparrow hath found herself a house, and the turtle a nest 5837for herself where she may lay her young ones: Thy altars, O Lord of 5838hosts, my king and my God. 5839 584083:5. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall 5841praise thee for ever and ever. 5842 584383:6. Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath 5844disposed to ascend by steps, 5845 5846In his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps, etc. . .Ascensiones in 5847corde suo disposuit. As by steps men ascended to the temple of God 5848situated on a hill; so the good Christian ascends towards the eternal 5849temple by certain steps of virtue disposed or ordered within the heart: 5850and this whilst he lives as yet in the body, in this vale of tears, the 5851place which man hath set: that is, which he hath brought himself to: 5852being cast out of paradise for his sin. 5853 585483:7. In the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set. 5855 585683:8. For the lawgiver shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue 5857to virtue: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion. 5858 585983:9. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. 5860 586183:10. Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ. 5862 586383:11. For better is one day in thy courts above thousands. I have 5864chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in 5865the tabernacles of sinners. 5866 586783:12. For God loveth mercy and truth: the Lord will give grace and 5868glory. 5869 587083:13. He will not deprive of good things them that walk in innocence: 5871O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 5872 5873 5874 5875Psalms Chapter 84 5876 5877 5878Benedixisti, Domine. 5879 5880The coming of Christ, to bring peace and salvation to man. 5881 588284:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core, a psalm. 5883 588484:2. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast turned away the 5885captivity of Jacob. 5886 588784:3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: thou hast covered 5888all their sins. 5889 589084:4. Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: thou hast turned away from the 5891wrath of thy indignation. 5892 589384:5. Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off thy anger from us. 5894 589584:6. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy 5896wrath from generation to generation? 5897 589884:7. Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall 5899rejoice in thee. 5900 590184:8. Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation. 5902 590384:9. I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak 5904peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are 5905converted to the heart. 5906 590784:10. Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him : that glory 5908may dwell in our land. 5909 591084:11. Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have 5911kissed. 5912 591384:12. Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down 5914from heaven. 5915 591684:13. For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her 5917fruit. 5918 591984:14. Justice shall walk before him: and ,shall set his steps in the 5920way. 5921 5922 5923 5924Psalms Chapter 85 5925 5926 5927Inclina, Domine. 5928 5929A prayer for God's grace to assist us to the end. 5930 593185:1. A prayer for David himself. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: 5932for I am needy and poor. 5933 593485:2. Preserve my soul, for I am holy: save thy servant, O my God, that 5935trusteth in thee. 5936 5937I am holy. . .I am by my office and profession dedicated to thy service. 5938 593985:3. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to thee all the day. 5940 594185:4. Give joy to the soul of thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, I have 5942lifted up my soul. 5943 594485:5. For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to 5945all that call upon thee. 5946 594785:6. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer: and attend to the voice of my 5948petition. 5949 595085:7. I have called upon thee in the day of my trouble: because thou 5951hast heard me. 5952 595385:8. There is none among the gods like unto thee, O Lord: and there is 5954none according to thy works. 5955 595685:9. All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, 5957O Lord: and they shall glorify thy name. 5958 595985:10. For thou art great and dost wonderful things: thou art God 5960alone. 5961 596285:11. Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: 5963let my heart rejoice that it may fear thy name. 5964 596585:12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I 5966will glorify thy name for ever: 5967 596885:13. For thy mercy is great towards me: and thou hast delivered my 5969soul out of the lower hell. 5970 597185:14. O God, the wicked are risen up against me, and the assembly of 5972the mighty have sought my soul: and they have not set thee before their 5973eyes. 5974 597585:15. And thou, O Lord, art a God of compassion, and merciful, 5976patient, and of much mercy, and true. 5977 597885:16. O look upon me, and have mercy on me: give thy command to thy 5979servant, and save the son of thy handmaid. 5980 598185:17. Shew me a token for good: that they who hate me may see, and be 5982confounded, because thou, O Lord, hast helped me and hast comforted me. 5983 5984 5985 5986Psalms Chapter 86 5987 5988 5989Fundamenta ejus. 5990 5991The glory of the church of Christ. 5992 599386:1. For the sons of Core, a psalm of a canticle. The foundations 5994thereof are the holy mountains: 5995 5996The holy mountains. . .The apostles and prophets. Eph. 2.20. 5997 599886:2. The Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of 5999Jacob. 6000 600186:3. Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God. 6002 600386:4. I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon knowing me. Behold the 6004foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, these were 6005there. 6006 6007Rahab. . .Egypt, etc. To this Sion, which is the church of God, many 6008shall resort from all nations. 6009 601086:5. Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? and the 6011Highest himself hath founded her. 6012 6013Shall not Sion say, etc. . .The meaning is, that Sion, viz., the church, 6014shall not only be able to commemorate this or that particular person of 6015renown born in her, but also to glory in great multitudes of people and 6016princes of her communion; who have been foretold in the writings of the 6017prophets, and registered in the writings of the apostles. 6018 601986:6. The Lord shall tell in his writings of peoples and of princes, of 6020them that have been in her. 6021 602286:7. The dwelling in thee is as it were of all rejoicing. 6023 6024 6025 6026Psalms Chapter 87 6027 6028 6029Domine, Deus salutis. 6030 6031A prayer of one under grievous affliction: it agrees to Christ in his 6032passion, and alludes to his death and burial. 6033 603487:1. A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for 6035Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. 6036 6037Maheleth. . .A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one 6038another.--Ibid. Understanding. . .Or a psalm of instruction, composed by 6039Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name. 6040 604187:2. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in 6042the night before thee. 6043 604487:3. Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my 6045petition. 6046 604787:4. For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to 6048hell. 6049 605087:5. I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a 6051man without help, 6052 605387:6. Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, 6054whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. 6055 605687:7. They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in 6057the shadow of death. 6058 605987:8. Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought 6060in upon me. 6061 606287:9. Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me 6063an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth: 6064 606587:10. My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, 6066O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee. 6067 606887:11. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to 6069life, and give praise to thee? 6070 607187:12. Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth 6072in destruction? 6073 607487:13. Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the 6075land of forgetfulness? 6076 607787:14. But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer 6078shall prevent thee. 6079 608087:15. Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy 6081face from me? 6082 608387:16. I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have 6084been humbled and troubled. 6085 608687:17. Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me. 6087 608887:18. They have come round about me like water all the day: they have 6089compassed me about together. 6090 609187:19. Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my 6092acquaintance, because of misery. 6093 6094 6095 6096Psalms Chapter 88 6097 6098 6099Misericordias Domini. 6100 6101The perpetuity of the church of Christ, in consequence of the promise 6102of God: which, notwithstanding, God permits her to suffer sometimes 6103most grievous afflictions. 6104 610588:1. Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite. 6106 610788:2. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth 6108thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation. 6109 611088:3. For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the 6111heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them. 6112 611388:4. I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my 6114servant: 6115 611688:5. Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne 6117unto generation and generation. 6118 611988:6. The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in 6120the church of the saints. 6121 612288:7. For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among 6123the sons of God shall be like to God? 6124 612588:8. God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and 6126terrible above all them that are about him. 6127 612888:9. O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O 6129Lord, and thy truth is round about thee. 6130 613188:10. Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of 6132the waves thereof. 6133 613488:11. Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the 6135arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies. 6136 613788:12. Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth: the world and the 6138fulness thereof thou hast founded: 6139 614088:13. The north and the sea thou hast created. Thabor and Hermon shall 6141rejoice in thy name: 6142 614388:14. Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy 6144right hand exalted: 6145 614688:15. Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy 6147and truth shall go before thy face: 6148 614988:16. Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. They shall walk, 6150O Lord, in the light of thy countenance: 6151 615288:17. And in thy name they shall rejoice all the day, and in thy 6153justice they shall be exalted. 6154 615588:18. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy good 6156pleasure shall our horn be exalted. 6157 615888:19. For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one 6159of Israel. 6160 616188:20. Then thou spokest in a vision to thy saints, and saidst: I have 6162laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of 6163my people. 6164 616588:21. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed 6166him. 6167 616888:22. For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him. 6169 617088:23. The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of 6171iniquity have power to hurt him. 6172 617388:24. And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that 6174hate him I will put to flight. 6175 617688:25. And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name 6177shall his horn be exalted. 6178 617988:26. And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the 6180rivers. 6181 618288:27. He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the 6183support of my salvation. 6184 618588:28. And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the 6186earth. 6187 618888:29. I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful 6189to him. 6190 619188:30. And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his throne 6192as the days of heaven. 6193 619488:31. And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my 6195judgments: 6196 619788:32. If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments: 6198 619988:33. I will visit their iniquities with a rod and their sins with 6200stripes. 6201 620288:34. But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will I suffer my 6203truth to fail. 6204 620588:35. Neither will I profane my covenant: and the words that proceed 6206from my mouth I will not make void. 6207 620888:36. Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: 6209 621088:37. His seed shall endure for ever. 6211 621288:38. And his throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for 6213ever, and a faithful witness in heaven. 6214 621588:39. But thou hast rejected and despised: thou hast been angry with 6216my anointed. 6217 621888:40. Thou hast overthrown the covenant of thy servant: thou hast 6219profaned his sanctuary on the earth. 6220 6221Overthrown the covenant, etc. . .All this seems to relate to the time of 6222the captivity of Babylon, in which, for the sins of the people and 6223their princes, God seemed to have set aside for a while the covenant he 6224made with David. 6225 622688:41. Thou hast broken down all his hedges: thou hast made his 6227strength fear. 6228 622988:42. All that pass by the way have robbed him: he is become a 6230reproach to his neighbours. 6231 623288:43. Thou hast set up the right hand of them that oppress him: thou 6233hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 6234 623588:44. Thou hast turned away the help of his sword; and hast not 6236assisted him in battle. 6237 623888:45. Thou hast made his purification to cease: and thou hast cast his 6239throne down to the ground. 6240 624188:46. Thou hast shortened the days of his time: thou hast covered him 6242with confusion. 6243 624488:47. How long, O Lord, turnest thou away unto the end? shall thy 6245anger burn like fire? 6246 624788:48. Remember what my substance is: for hast thou made all the 6248children of men in vain? 6249 625088:49. Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall 6251deliver his soul from the hand of hell? 6252 625388:50. Lord, where are thy ancient mercies, according to what thou 6254didst swear to David in thy truth? 6255 625688:51. Be mindful, O Lord, of the reproach of thy servants (which I 6257have held in my bosom) of many nations: 6258 625988:52. Wherewith thy enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they 6260have reproached the change of thy anointed. 6261 626288:53. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it. So be it. 6263 6264 6265 6266Psalms Chapter 89 6267 6268 6269Domine, refugium. 6270 6271A prayer for the mercy of God: recounting the shortness and miseries of 6272the days of man. 6273 627489:1. A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our refuge 6275from generation to generation. 6276 627789:2. Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was 6278formed; from eternity and to eternity thou art God. 6279 628089:3. Turn not man away to be brought low: and thou hast said: Be 6281converted, O ye sons of men. 6282 6283Turn not man away, etc. . .Suffer him not quite to perish from thee, 6284since thou art pleased to call upon him to be converted to thee. 6285 628689:4. For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday, which is 6287past. And as a watch in the night, 6288 628989:5. Things that are counted nothing, shall their years be. 6290 629189:6. In the morning man shall grow up like grass; in the morning he 6292shall flourish and pass away: in the evening he shall fall, grow dry, 6293and wither. 6294 629589:7. For in thy wrath we have fainted away: and are troubled in thy 6296indignation. 6297 629889:8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thy eyes: our life in the 6299light of thy countenance. 6300 630189:9. For all our days are spent; and in thy wrath we have fainted 6302away. Our years shall be considered as a spider: 6303 6304As a spider. . .As frail and weak as a spider's web; and miserable 6305withal, whilst like a spider we spend our bowels in weaving webs to 6306catch flies. 6307 630889:10. The days of our years in them are threescore and ten years. But 6309if in the strong they be fourscore years: and what is more of them is 6310labour and sorrow. For mildness is come upon us: and we shall be 6311corrected. 6312 6313Mildness is come upon us, etc. . .God's mildness corrects us; inasmuch 6314as he deals kindly with us, in shortening the days of this miserable 6315life; and so weaning our affections from all its transitory enjoyments, 6316and teaching us true wisdom. 6317 631889:11. Who knoweth the power of thy anger, and for thy fear 6319 632089:12. Can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known: and men 6321learned in heart, in wisdom. 6322 632389:13. Return, O Lord, how long? and be entreated in favour of thy 6324servants. 6325 632689:14. We are filled in the morning with thy mercy: and we have 6327rejoiced, and are delighted all our days. 6328 632989:15. We have rejoiced for the days in which thou hast humbled us: for 6330the years in which we have seen evils. 6331 633289:16. Look upon thy servants and upon their works: and direct their 6333children. 6334 633589:17. And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and 6336direct thou the works of our hands over us; yea, the work of our hands 6337do thou direct. 6338 6339 6340 6341Psalms Chapter 90 6342 6343 6344Qui habitat. 6345 6346The just is secure under the protection of God. 6347 634890:1. The praise of a canticle for David. He that dwelleth in the aid 6349of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob. 6350 635190:2. He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: 6352my God, in him will I trust. 6353 635490:3. For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from 6355the sharp word. 6356 635790:4. He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings 6358thou shalt trust. 6359 636090:5. His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be 6361afraid of the terror of the night. 6362 636390:6. Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh 6364about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil. 6365 636690:7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right 6367hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. 6368 636990:8. But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward 6370of the wicked. 6371 637290:9. Because thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou hast made the most High 6373thy refuge. 6374 637590:10. There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come 6376near thy dwelling. 6377 637890:11. For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in 6379all thy ways. 6380 638190:12. In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot 6382against a stone. 6383 638490:13. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt 6385trample under foot the lion and the dragon. 6386 638790:14. Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him 6388because he hath known my name. 6389 639090:15. He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in 6391tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. 6392 639390:16. I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my 6394salvation. 6395 6396 6397 6398Psalms Chapter 91 6399 6400 6401Bonum est confiteri. 6402 6403God is to be praised for his wondrous works. 6404 640591:1. A psalm of a canticle on the sabbath day. 6406 640791:2. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to thy name, O 6408most High. 6409 641091:3. To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth in the 6411night: 6412 641391:4. Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery: with a 6414canticle upon the harp. 6415 641691:5. For thou hast given me, O Lord, a delight in thy doings: and in 6417the works of thy hands I shall rejoice. 6418 641991:6. O Lord, how great are thy works! thy thoughts are exceeding deep. 6420 642191:7. The senseless man shall not know: nor will the fool understand 6422these things. 6423 642491:8. When the wicked shall spring up as grass: and all the workers of 6425iniquity shall appear: That they may perish for ever and ever: 6426 642791:9. But thou, O Lord, art most high for evermore. 6428 642991:10. For behold thy enemies, O lord, for behold thy enemies shall 6430perish: and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 6431 643291:11. But my horn shall be exalted like that of the unicorn: and my 6433old age in plentiful mercy. 6434 643591:12. My eye also hath looked down upon my enemies: and my ear shall 6436hear of the downfall of the malignant that rise up against me. 6437 643891:13. The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up 6439like the cedar of Libanus. 6440 644191:14. They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in 6442the courts of the house of our God. 6443 644491:15. They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be 6445well treated, 6446 644791:16. That they may shew, That the Lord our God is righteous, and 6448there is no iniquity in him. 6449 6450 6451 6452Psalms Chapter 92 6453 6454 6455Dominus regnavit. 6456 6457The glory and stability of the kingdom; that is, of the church of 6458Christ. 6459 6460Praise in the way of a canticle, for David himself, on the day before 6461the sabbath, when the earth was founded. 6462 646392:1. The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is 6464clothed with strength, and hath girded himself. For he hath established 6465the world which shall not be moved. 6466 646792:2. My throne is prepared from of old: thou art from everlasting. 6468 646992:3. The floods have lifted up, O Lord: the floods have lifted up 6470their voice. The floods have lifted up their waves, 6471 647292:4. With the noise of many waters. Wonderful are the surges of the 6473sea: wonderful is the Lord on high. 6474 647592:5. Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: holiness 6476becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days. 6477 6478 6479 6480Psalms Chapter 93 6481 6482 6483Deus ultionum. 6484 6485God shall judge and punish the oppressors of his people. 6486 6487A psalm for David himself on the fourth day of the week. 6488 648993:1. The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth: the God of revenge 6490hath acted freely. 6491 649293:2. Lift up thyself, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to 6493the proud. 6494 649593:3. How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory? 6496 649793:4. Shall they utter, and speak iniquity: shall all speak who work 6498injustice? 6499 650093:5. Thy people, O Lord, they have brought low: and they have 6501afflicted thy inheritance. 6502 650393:6. They have slain the widow and the stranger: and they have 6504murdered the fatherless. 6505 650693:7. And they have said: The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God 6507of Jacob understand. 6508 650993:8. Understand, ye senseless among the people: and, you fools, be 6510wise at last. 6511 651293:9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the 6513eye, doth he not consider? 6514 651593:10. He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke: he that 6516teacheth man knowledge? 6517 651893:11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vain. 6519 652093:12. Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord: and shalt 6521teach him out of thy law. 6522 652393:13. That thou mayst give him rest from the evil days: till a pit be 6524dug for the wicked. 6525 6526Rest from the evil days. . .That thou mayst mitigate the sorrows, to 6527which he is exposed, during the short and evil days of his mortality. 6528 652993:14. For the Lord will not cast off his people: neither will he 6530forsake his own inheritance. 6531 653293:15. Until justice be turned into judgment: and they that are near it 6533are all the upright in heart. 6534 6535Until justice be turned into judgment, etc. . .By being put in 6536execution; which will be agreeable to all the upright in heart. 6537 653893:16. Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers? or who shall 6539stand with me against the workers of iniquity? 6540 654193:17. Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in 6542hell. 6543 654493:18. If I said: My foot is moved: thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me. 6545 654693:19. According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy 6547comforts have given joy to my soul. 6548 654993:20. Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, who framest labour in 6550commandment? 6551 6552Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, etc. . .That is, wilt thou, O 6553God, who art always just, admit of the seat of iniquity: that is, of 6554injustice, or unjust judges, to have any partnership with thee? Thou 6555who framest, or makest, labour in commandment, that is, thou who 6556obligest us to labour with all diligence to keep thy commandments. 6557 655893:21. They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn 6559innocent blood. 6560 656193:22. But the Lord is my refuge: and my God the help of my hope. 6562 656393:23. And he will render them their iniquity : and in their malice he 6564will destroy them: the Lord our God will destroy them. 6565 6566 6567 6568Psalms Chapter 94 6569 6570 6571Venite exultemus. 6572 6573An invitation to adore and serve God, and to hear his voice. 6574 6575Praise of a canticle for David himself. 6576 657794:1. Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God 6578our saviour. 6579 658094:2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a 6581joyful noise to him with psalms. 6582 658394:3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 6584 658594:4. For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of 6586the mountains are his. 6587 658894:5. For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry 6589land. 6590 659194:6. Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that 6592made us. 6593 659494:7. For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture 6595and the sheep of his hand. 6596 659794:8. To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts: 6598 659994:9. As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the 6600wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my 6601works. 6602 660394:10. Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I 6604said: These always err in heart. 6605 660694:11. And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath 6607that they shall not enter into my rest. 6608 6609 6610 6611Psalms Chapter 95 6612 6613 6614Cantate Domino. 6615 6616An exhortation to praise God for the coming of Christ and his kingdom. 6617 661895:1. A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the 6619captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all 6620the earth. 6621 6622When the house was built, etc. . .Alluding to that time, and then 6623ordered to be sung: but principally relating to the building of the 6624church of Christ, after our redemption from the captivity of Satan. 6625 662695:2. Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation 6627from day to day. 6628 662995:3. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all 6630people. 6631 663295:4. For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be 6633feared above all gods. 6634 663595:5. For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made 6636the heavens. 6637 663895:6. Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his 6639sanctuary. 6640 664195:7. Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to 6642the Lord glory and honour: 6643 664495:8. Bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and 6645come into his courts: 6646 664795:9. Adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved 6648at his presence. 6649 665095:10. Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath 6651corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people 6652with justice. 6653 665495:11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea 6655be moved, and the fulness thereof: 6656 665795:12. The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then 6658shall all the trees of the woods rejoice 6659 666095:13. before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he 6661cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and 6662the people with his truth. 6663 6664 6665 6666Psalms Chapter 96 6667 6668 6669Dominus regnavit. 6670 6671All are invited to rejoice at the glorious coming and reign of Christ. 6672 667396:1. For the same David, when his land was restored again to him. The 6674Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad. 6675 667696:2. Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are 6677the establishment of his throne. 6678 6679Clouds and darkness. . .The coming of Christ in the clouds with great 6680terror and majesty to judge the world, is here prophesied. 6681 668296:3. A fire shall go before him, and shall burn his enemies round 6683about. 6684 668596:4. His lightnings have shone forth to the world: the earth saw and 6686trembled. 6687 668896:5. The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at 6689the presence of the Lord of all the earth. 6690 669196:6. The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory. 6692 669396:7. Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, and that 6694glory in their idols. Adore him, all you his angels: 6695 669696:8. Sion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, 6697because of thy judgments, O Lord. 6698 669996:9. For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: thou art 6700exalted exceedingly above all gods. 6701 670296:10. You that love the Lord, hate evil: the Lord preserveth the souls 6703of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner. 6704 670596:11. Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart. 6706 670796:12. Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the 6708remembrance of his holiness. 6709 6710 6711 6712Psalms Chapter 97 6713 6714 6715Cantate Domino. 6716 6717All are again invited to praise the Lord, for the victories of Christ. 6718 671997:1. A psalm for David himself. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: 6720because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for 6721him salvation, and his arm is holy. 6722 672397:2. The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his 6724justice in the sight of the Gentiles. 6725 672697:3. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of 6727Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 6728 672997:4. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and 6730sing. 6731 673297:5. Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the 6733voice of a psalm: 6734 673597:6. With long trumpets, and sound of cornet. Make a joyful noise 6736before the Lord our king: 6737 673897:7. Let the sea be moved and the fullness thereof: the world and they 6739that dwell therein. 6740 674197:8. The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice 6742together 6743 674497:9. At the presence of the Lord: because he cometh to judge the 6745earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with 6746equity. 6747 6748 6749 6750Psalms Chapter 98 6751 6752 6753Dominus regnavit. 6754 6755The reign of the Lord in Sion: that is, of Christ in his church. 6756 675798:1. A psalm for David himself. The Lord hath reigned, let the people 6758be angry: he that sitteth on the cherubims: let the earth be moved. 6759 6760Let the people be angry. . .Though many enemies rage, and the whole 6761earth be stirred up to oppose the reign of Christ, he shall still 6762prevail. 6763 676498:2. The lord is great in Sion, and high above all people. 6765 676698:3. Let them give praise to thy great name: for it is terrible and 6767holy: 6768 676998:4. And the king's honour loveth judgment. Thou hast prepared 6770directions: thou hast done judgment and justice in Jacob. 6771 6772Loveth judgment. . .Requireth discretion.--Ibid. Directions. . .Most 6773right and just laws to direct men. 6774 677598:5. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is 6776holy. 6777 6778Adore his footstool. . .The ark of the covenant was called, in the Old 6779Testament, God's footstool: over which he was understood to sit, on his 6780propitiatory, or mercy seat, as on a throne, between the wings of the 6781cherubims, in the sanctuary: to which the children of Israel paid a 6782great veneration. But as this psalm evidently relates to Christ, and 6783the New Testament, where the ark has no place, the holy fathers 6784understand this text, of the worship paid by the church to the body and 6785blood of Christ in the sacred mysteries: inasmuch as the humanity of 6786Christ is, as it were, the footstool of the divinity. So St. Ambrose, 6787L. 3. De Spiritu Sancto, c. 12. And St. Augustine upon this psalm. 6788 678998:6. Moses and Aaron among his priests: and Samuel among them that 6790call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heard them: 6791 6792Moses and Aaron among his priests. . .By this it is evident, that Moses 6793also was a priest, and indeed the chief priest, inasmuch as he 6794consecrated Aaron, and offered sacrifice for him. Lev. 8. So that his 6795pre-eminence over Aaron makes nothing for lay church headship. 6796 679798:7. He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his 6798testimonies, and the commandment which he gave them. 6799 680098:8. Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to 6801them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions. 6802 6803All their inventions. . .that is, all the enterprises of their enemies 6804against them, as in the case of Core, Dathan, and Abiron. 6805 680698:9. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore at his holy mountain: for 6807the Lord our God is holy. 6808 6809 6810 6811Psalms Chapter 99 6812 6813 6814Jubilate Deo. 6815 6816All are invited to rejoice in God the creator of all. 6817 681899:1. A psalm of praise. 6819 682099:2. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with 6821gladness. Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy. 6822 682399:3. Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we 6824ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. 6825 682699:4. Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and 6827give glory to him. Praise ye his name: 6828 682999:5. For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth 6830to generation and generation. 6831 6832 6833 6834Psalms Chapter 100 6835 6836 6837Misericordiam et judicium. 6838 6839The prophet exhorteth all by his example, to follow mercy and justice. 6840 6841100:1. A psalm for David himself. Mercy and judgment I will sing to 6842thee, O Lord: I will sing, 6843 6844100:2. And I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come 6845to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house. 6846 6847I will understand, etc. . .That is, I will apply my mind, I will do my 6848endeavour, to know and to follow the perfect way of thy commandments: 6849not trusting to my own strength, but relying on thy coming to me by thy 6850grace. 6851 6852100:3. I will not set before my eyes any unjust thing: I hated the 6853workers of iniquities. 6854 6855100:4. The perverse heart did not cleave to me: and the malignant, that 6856turned aside from me, I would not know. 6857 6858100:5. The man that in private detracted his neighbour, him did I 6859persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an unsatiable heart, I 6860would not eat. 6861 6862100:6. My eyes were upon the faithful of the earth, to sit with me: the 6863man that walked in the perfect way, he served me. 6864 6865100:7. He that worketh pride shall not dwell in the midst of my house: 6866he that speaketh unjust things did not prosper before my eyes. 6867 6868100:8. In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the land: that I 6869might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord. 6870 6871 6872 6873Psalms Chapter 101 6874 6875 6876Domine, exaudi. 6877 6878A prayer for one in affliction: the fifth penitential psalm. 6879 6880101:1. The prayer of the poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out 6881his supplication before the Lord. 6882 6883101:2. Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee. 6884 6885101:3. Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, 6886incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear 6887me speedily. 6888 6889101:4. For my days are vanished like smoke, and my bones are grown dry 6890like fuel for the fire. 6891 6892101:5. I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I 6893forgot to eat my bread. 6894 6895101:6. Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my 6896flesh. 6897 6898101:7. I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a 6899night raven in the house. 6900 6901A pelican, etc. . .I am become through grief, like birds that affect 6902solitude and darkness. 6903 6904101:8. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the 6905housetop. 6906 6907101:9. All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised 6908me did swear against me. 6909 6910101:10. For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with 6911weeping. 6912 6913101:11. Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up 6914thou hast thrown me down. 6915 6916101:12. My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like 6917grass. 6918 6919101:13. But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all 6920generations. 6921 6922101:14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have 6923mercy on it, for the time is come. 6924 6925101:15. For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they 6926shall have pity on the earth thereof. 6927 6928101:16. All the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings 6929of the earth thy glory. 6930 6931101:17. For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his 6932glory. 6933 6934101:18. He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not 6935despised their petition. 6936 6937101:19. Let these things be written unto another generation: and the 6938people that shall be created shall praise the Lord: 6939 6940101:20. Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from 6941heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth. 6942 6943101:21. That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that 6944he might release the children of the slain: 6945 6946101:22. That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his 6947praise in Jerusalem; 6948 6949101:23. When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the 6950Lord. 6951 6952101:24. He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the 6953fewness of my days. 6954 6955He answered him in the way of his strength. . .That is, the people, 6956mentioned in the foregoing verse, or the penitent, in whose person this 6957psalm is delivered, answered the Lord in the way of his strength: that 6958is, according to the best of his power and strength: or when he was in 6959the flower of his age and strength: inquiring after the fewness of his 6960days: to know if he should live long enough to see the happy 6961restoration of Sion, etc. 6962 6963101:25. Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto 6964generation and generation. 6965 6966101:26. In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the 6967heavens are the works of thy hands. 6968 6969101:27. They shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall 6970grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and 6971they shall be changed. 6972 6973101:28. But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail. 6974 6975101:29. The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed 6976shall be directed for ever. 6977 6978 6979 6980Psalms Chapter 102 6981 6982 6983Benedic, anima. 6984 6985Thanksgiving to God for his mercies. 6986 6987102:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that 6988is within me bless his holy name. 6989 6990102:2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for 6991thee. 6992 6993102:3. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases. 6994 6995102:4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with 6996mercy and compassion. 6997 6998102:5. Who satisfieth thy desire with good things: thy youth shall be 6999renewed like the eagle's. 7000 7001102:6. The Lord doth mercies, and judgment for all that suffer wrong. 7002 7003102:7. He hath made his ways known to Moses: his wills to the children 7004of Israel. 7005 7006102:8. The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and 7007plenteous in mercy. 7008 7009102:9. He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever. 7010 7011102:10. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded 7012us according to our iniquities. 7013 7014102:11. For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he 7015hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him. 7016 7017102:12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our 7018iniquities from us. 7019 7020102:13. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord 7021compassion on them that fear him: 7022 7023102:14. For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust: 7024 7025102:15. Man's days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he 7026flourish. 7027 7028102:16. For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he 7029shall know his place no more. 7030 7031102:17. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity 7032upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children's children, 7033 7034102:18. To such as keep his covenant, And are mindful of his 7035commandments to do them. 7036 7037102:19. The lord hath prepared his throne in heaven: and his kingdom 7038shall rule over all. 7039 7040102:20. Bless the Lord, all ye his angels: you that are mighty in 7041strength, and execute his word, hearkening to the voice of his orders. 7042 7043102:21. Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts: you ministers of his that do 7044his will. 7045 7046102:22. Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion, 7047O my soul, bless thou the Lord. 7048 7049 7050 7051Psalms Chapter 103 7052 7053 7054Benedic, anima. 7055 7056God is to be praised for his mighty works, and wonderful providence. 7057 7058103:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, 7059thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on praise and beauty: 7060 7061103:2. And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out 7062the heaven like a pavilion: 7063 7064103:3. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the 7065clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the winds. 7066 7067103:4. Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire. 7068 7069103:5. Who hast founded the earth upon its own bases: it shall not be 7070moved for ever and ever. 7071 7072103:6. The deep like a garment is its clothing: above the mountains 7073shall the waters stand. 7074 7075103:7. At thy rebuke they shall flee: at the voice of thy thunder they 7076shall fear. 7077 7078103:8. The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place 7079which thou hast founded for them. 7080 7081103:9. Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither 7082shall they return to cover the earth. 7083 7084103:10. Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of 7085the hills the waters shall pass. 7086 7087103:11. All the beasts of the field shall drink: the wild asses shall 7088expect in their thirst. 7089 7090103:12. Over them the birds of the air shall dwell: from the midst of 7091the rocks they shall give forth their voices. 7092 7093103:13. Thou waterest the hills from thy upper rooms: the earth shall 7094be filled with the fruit of thy works: 7095 7096103:14. Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of 7097men. That thou mayst bring bread out of the earth: 7098 7099103:15. And that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the 7100face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man's heart. 7101 7102103:16. The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of 7103Libanus which he hath planted: 7104 7105103:17. There the sparrows shall make their nests. The highest of them 7106is the house of the heron. 7107 7108103:18. The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the 7109irchins. 7110 7111103:19. He hath made the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going 7112down. 7113 7114103:20. Thou hast appointed darkness, and it is night: in it shall all 7115the beasts of the woods go about: 7116 7117103:21. The young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their 7118meat from God. 7119 7120103:22. The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together: and they shall 7121lie down in their dens. 7122 7123103:23. Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labour until the 7124evening. 7125 7126103:24. How great are thy works, O Lord ? thou hast made all things in 7127wisdom: the earth is filled with thy riches. 7128 7129103:25. So is this great sea, which stretcheth wide its arms: there are 7130creeping things without number: Creatures little and great. 7131 7132103:26. There the ships shall go. This sea dragon which thou hast 7133formed to play therein. 7134 7135103:27. All expect of thee that thou give them food in season. 7136 7137103:28. What thou givest to them they shall gather up: when thou 7138openest thy hand, they shall all be filled with good. 7139 7140103:29. But if thou turnest away thy face, they shall be troubled: thou 7141shalt take away their breath, and they shall fail, and shall return to 7142their dust. 7143 7144103:30. Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: 7145and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 7146 7147103:31. May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: the Lord shall 7148rejoice in his works. 7149 7150103:32. He looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble: he troubleth 7151the mountains, and they smoke. 7152 7153103:33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise 7154to my God while I have my being. 7155 7156103:34. Let my speech be acceptable to him: but I will take delight in 7157the Lord. 7158 7159103:35. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the unjust, so 7160that they be no more: O my soul, bless thou the Lord. 7161 7162 7163 7164Psalms Chapter 104 7165 7166 7167Confitemini Domino. 7168 7169A thanksgiving to God for his benefits to his people Israel. 7170 7171Alleluia. 7172 7173104:1. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his 7174deeds among the Gentiles. 7175 7176104:2. Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous 7177works. 7178 7179104:3. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that 7180seek the Lord. 7181 7182104:4. Seek ye the lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore. 7183 7184104:5. Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, 7185and the judgments of his mouth. 7186 7187104:6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen. 7188 7189104:7. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. 7190 7191104:8. He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he 7192commanded to a thousand generations. 7193 7194104:9. Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac: 7195 7196104:10. And he appointed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for 7197an everlasting testament: 7198 7199104:11. Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan, the lot of 7200your inheritance. 7201 7202104:12. When they were but a small number: yea very few, and sojourners 7203therein: 7204 7205104:13. And they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to 7206another people. 7207 7208104:14. He suffered no man to hurt them: and he reproved kings for 7209their sakes. 7210 7211104:15. Touch ye not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets. 7212 7213104:16. And he called a famine upon the land: and he broke in pieces 7214all the support of bread. 7215 7216104:17. He sent a man before them: Joseph, who was sold for a slave. 7217 7218104:18. They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul, 7219 7220104:19. Until his word came. The word of the Lord inflamed him. 7221 7222104:20. The king sent, and he released him: the ruler of the people, 7223and he set him at liberty. 7224 7225104:21. He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his 7226possession. 7227 7228104:22. That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his 7229ancients wisdom. 7230 7231104:23. And Israel went into Egypt: and Jacob was a sojourner in the 7232land of Cham. 7233 7234104:24. And he increased his people exceedingly: and strengthened them 7235over their enemies. 7236 7237104:25. He turned their heart to hate his people: and to deal 7238deceitfully with his servants. 7239 7240He turned their heart, etc. . .Not that God (who is never the author of 7241sin) moved the Egyptians to hate and persecute his people; but that the 7242Egyptians took occasion of hating and envying them, from the sight of 7243the benefits which God bestowed upon them. 7244 7245104:26. He sent Moses his servant: Aaron the man whom he had chosen. 7246 7247104:27. He gave them power to shew them signs, and his wonders in the 7248land of Cham. 7249 7250104:28. He sent darkness, and made it obscure: and grieved not his 7251words. 7252 7253Grieved not his words. . .That is, he was not wanting to fulfil his 7254words: or he did not grieve Moses and Aaron, the carriers of his words: 7255or he did not grieve his words, that is, his sons, the children of 7256Israel, who enjoyed light whilst the Egyptians were oppressed with 7257darkness. 7258 7259104:29. He turned their waters into blood, and destroyed their fish. 7260 7261104:30. Their land brought forth frogs, in the inner chambers of their 7262kings. 7263 7264104:31. He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies and sciniphs in 7265all their coasts. 7266 7267Sciniphs. . .See the annotation, Ex.8.16. 7268 7269104:32. He gave them hail for rain, a burning fire in the land. 7270 7271104:33. And he destroyed their vineyards and their fig trees: and he 7272broke in pieces the trees of their coasts. 7273 7274104:34. He spoke, and the locust came, and the bruchus, of which there 7275was no number. 7276 7277Bruchus. . .An insect of the locust kind. 7278 7279104:35. And they devoured all the grass in their land, and consumed all 7280the fruit of their ground. 7281 7282104:36. And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of 7283all their labour. 7284 7285104:37. And he brought them out with silver and gold: and there was not 7286among their tribes one that was feeble. 7287 7288104:38. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them lay 7289upon them. 7290 7291104:39. He spread a cloud for their protection, and fire to give them 7292light in the night. 7293 7294104:40. They asked, and the quail came: and he filled them with the 7295bread of heaven. 7296 7297104:41. He opened the rock, and waters flowed: rivers ran down in the 7298dry land. 7299 7300104:42. Because he remembered his holy word, which he had spoken to his 7301servant Abraham. 7302 7303104:43. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with 7304gladness. 7305 7306104:44. And he gave them the lands of the Gentiles: and they possessed 7307the labours of the people: 7308 7309104:45. That they might observe his justifications, and seek after his 7310law. 7311 7312His justifications. . .That is, his commandments; which here, and in 7313many other places of the scripture, are called justifications, because 7314the keeping of them makes man just. The Protestants render it by the 7315word statutes, in favour of their doctrine, which does not allow good 7316works to justify. 7317 7318 7319 7320Psalms Chapter 105 7321 7322 7323Confitemini Domino. 7324 7325A confession of the manifold sins and ingratitudes of the Israelites. 7326 7327Alleluia. 7328 7329105:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth 7330for ever. 7331 7332105:2. Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? who shall set forth 7333all his praises? 7334 7335105:3. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all 7336times. 7337 7338105:4. Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people: visit us with 7339thy salvation. 7340 7341105:5. That we may see the good of thy chosen, that we may rejoice in 7342the joy of thy nation: that thou mayst be praised with thy inheritance. 7343 7344105:6. We have sinned with our fathers: we have acted unjustly, we have 7345wrought iniquity. 7346 7347105:7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt: they remembered 7348not the multitude of thy mercies: And they provoked to wrath going up 7349to the sea, even the Red Sea. 7350 7351105:8. And he saved them for his own name's sake: that he might make 7352his power known. 7353 7354105:9. And he rebuked the Red Sea and it was dried up: and he led them 7355through the depths, as in a wilderness. 7356 7357105:10. And he saved them from the hand of them that hated them: and he 7358redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 7359 7360105:11. And the water covered them that afflicted them: there was not 7361one of them left. 7362 7363105:12. And they believed his words: and they sang his praises. 7364 7365105:13. They had quickly done, they forgot his works: and they waited 7366not for his counsel. 7367 7368105:14. And they coveted their desire in the desert: and they tempted 7369God in the place without water. 7370 7371105:15. And he gave them their request: and sent fulness into their 7372souls. 7373 7374105:16. And they provoked Moses in the camp, Aaron the holy one of the 7375Lord. 7376 7377105:17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the 7378congregation of Abiron. 7379 7380105:18. And a fire was kindled in their congregation: the flame burned 7381the wicked. 7382 7383105:19. They made also a calf in Horeb: and they adored the graven 7384thing. 7385 7386105:20. And they changed their glory into the likeness of a calf that 7387eateth grass. 7388 7389105:21. They forgot God, who saved them, who had done great things in 7390Egypt, 7391 7392105:22. Wondrous works in the land of Cham: terrible things in the Red 7393Sea. 7394 7395105:23. And he said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his 7396chosen stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he 7397should destroy them. 7398 7399105:24. And they set at nought the desirable land. They believed not 7400his word, 7401 7402105:25. And they murmured in their tents: they hearkened not to the 7403voice of the Lord. 7404 7405105:26. And he lifted up his hand over them: to overthrow them in the 7406desert; 7407 7408105:27. And to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter 7409them in the countries. 7410 7411105:28. They also were initiated to Beelphegor: and ate the sacrifices 7412of the dead. 7413 7414Initiated. . .That is, they dedicated, or consecrated themselves to the 7415idol of the Moabites and Madianites, called Beelphegor, or Baal-Peor. 7416Num. 25.3.--Ibid. The dead. . .Viz., idols without life. 7417 7418105:29. And they provoked him with their inventions: and destruction 7419was multiplied among them. 7420 7421105:30. Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter 7422ceased. 7423 7424105:31. And it was reputed to him unto justice, to generation and 7425generation for evermore. 7426 7427105:32. They provoked him also at the waters of contradiction: and 7428Moses was afflicted for their sakes: 7429 7430105:33. Because they exasperated his spirit. And he distinguished with 7431his lips. 7432 7433He distinguished with his lips. . .Moses, by occasion of the people's 7434rebellion and incredulity, was guilty of distinguishing with his lips; 7435when, instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded, he said to 7436the people, with a certain hesitation in his faith, Hear ye, rebellious 7437and incredulous: Can we from this rock bring out water for you? Num. 743820.10. 7439 7440105:34. They did not destroy the nations of which the Lord spoke unto 7441them. 7442 7443105:35. And they were mingled among the heathens, and learned their 7444works: 7445 7446105:36. And served their idols, and it became a stumblingblock to them. 7447 7448105:37. And they sacrificed their sons, and their daughters to devils. 7449 7450105:38. And they shed innocent blood: the blood of their sons and of 7451their daughters which they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan. And the 7452land was polluted with blood, 7453 7454105:39. And was defiled with their works: and they went aside after 7455their own inventions. 7456 7457105:40. And the Lord was exceedingly angry with his people: and he 7458abhorred his inheritance. 7459 7460105:41. And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they 7461that hated them had dominion over them. 7462 7463105:42. And their enemies afflicted them: and they were humbled under 7464their hands: 7465 7466105:43. Many times did he deliver them. But they provoked him with 7467their counsel: and they were brought low by their iniquities. 7468 7469105:44. And he saw when they were in tribulation: and he heard their 7470prayer. 7471 7472105:45. And he was mindful of his covenant: and repented according to 7473the multitude of his mercies. 7474 7475105:46. And he gave them unto mercies, in the sight of all those that 7476had made them captives. 7477 7478105:47. Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among the nations: 7479That we may give thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise. 7480 7481105:48. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, from everlasting to 7482everlasting: and let all the people say: So be it, so be it. 7483 7484 7485 7486Psalms Chapter 106 7487 7488 7489Confitemini Domino. 7490 7491All are invited to give thanks to God for his perpetual providence over 7492men. 7493 7494Alleluia. 7495 7496106:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth 7497for ever. 7498 7499106:2. Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he 7500hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the 7501countries. 7502 7503106:3. From the rising and from the setting of the sun, from the north 7504and from the sea. 7505 7506106:4. They wandered in a wilderness, in a place without water: they 7507found not the way of a city for their habitation. 7508 7509106:5. They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them. 7510 7511106:6. And they cried to the Lord in their tribulation: and he 7512delivered them out of their distresses. 7513 7514106:7. And he led them into the right way, that they might go to a city 7515of habitation. 7516 7517106:8. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful 7518works to the children of men. 7519 7520106:9. For he hath satisfied the empty soul, and hath filled the hungry 7521soul with good things. 7522 7523106:10. Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death: bound in 7524want and in iron. 7525 7526106:11. Because they had exasperated the words of God: and provoked the 7527counsel of the most High: 7528 7529106:12. And their heart was humbled with labours: they were weakened, 7530and there was none to help them. 7531 7532106:13. Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he 7533delivered them out of their distresses. 7534 7535106:14. And he brought them out of darkness, and the shadow of death; 7536and broke their bonds in sunder. 7537 7538106:15. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his 7539wonderful works to the children of men. 7540 7541106:16. Because he hath broken gates of brass, and burst iron bars. 7542 7543106:17. He took them out of the way of their iniquity: for they were 7544brought low for their injustices. 7545 7546106:18. Their soul abhorred all manner of meat: and they drew nigh even 7547to the gates of death. 7548 7549106:19. And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he 7550delivered them out of their distresses. 7551 7552106:20. He sent his word, and healed them: and delivered them from 7553their destructions. 7554 7555106:21. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his 7556wonderful works to the children of men. 7557 7558106:22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of praise: and declare his 7559works with joy. 7560 7561106:23. They that go down to the sea in ships, doing business in the 7562great waters: 7563 7564106:24. These have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the 7565deep. 7566 7567106:25. He said the word, and there arose a storm of wind: and the 7568waves thereof were lifted up. 7569 7570106:26. They mount up to the heavens, and they go down to the depths: 7571their soul pined away with evils. 7572 7573106:27. They were troubled, and reeled like a drunken man; and all 7574their wisdom was swallowed up. 7575 7576106:28. And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he brought 7577them out of their distresses. 7578 7579106:29. And he turned the storm into a breeze: and its waves were 7580still. 7581 7582106:30. And they rejoiced because they were still: and he brought them 7583to the haven which they wished for. 7584 7585106:31. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his 7586wonderful works to the children of men. 7587 7588106:32. And let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise 7589him in the chair of the ancients. 7590 7591106:33. He hath turned rivers into a wilderness: and the sources of 7592waters into dry ground: 7593 7594106:34. A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them 7595that dwell therein. 7596 7597106:35. He hath turned a wilderness into pools of waters, and a dry 7598land into water springs. 7599 7600106:36. And hath placed there the hungry; and they made a city for 7601their habitation. 7602 7603106:37. Anti they sowed fields, and planted vineyards: and they yielded 7604fruit of birth. 7605 7606106:38. And he blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly: and 7607their cattle he suffered not to decrease. 7608 7609106:39. Then they were brought to be few: and they were afflicted 7610through the trouble of evils and sorrow. 7611 7612106:40. Contempt was poured forth upon their princes: and he caused 7613them to wander where there was no passing, and out of the way. 7614 7615106:41. And he helped the poor out of poverty: and made him families 7616like a flock of sheep. 7617 7618106:42. The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and all iniquity shall 7619stop her mouth. 7620 7621106:43. Who is wise, and will keep these things; and will understand 7622the mercies of the Lord? 7623 7624 7625 7626Psalms Chapter 107 7627 7628 7629Paratum cor meum. 7630 7631The prophet praiseth God for benefits received. 7632 7633107:1. A canticle of a psalm for David himself. 7634 7635107:2. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and 7636will give praise, with my glory. 7637 7638107:3. Arise, my glory; arise, psaltery and harp: I will arise in the 7639morning early. 7640 7641107:4. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing 7642unto thee among the nations. 7643 7644107:5. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth even 7645unto the clouds. 7646 7647107:6. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory over 7648all the earth: 7649 7650107:7. That thy beloved may be delivered. Save with thy right hand and 7651hear me. 7652 7653107:8. God hath spoken in his holiness. I will rejoice, and I will 7654divide Sichem and I will mete out the vale of tabernacles. 7655 7656107:9. Galaad is mine: and Manasses is mine and Ephraim the protection 7657of my head. Juda is my king: 7658 7659107:10. Moab the pot of my hope. Over Edom I will stretch out my shoe: 7660the aliens are become my friends. 7661 7662107:11. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into 7663Edom? 7664 7665107:12. Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off ? and wilt not thou, 7666O God, go forth with our armies? 7667 7668107:13. O grant us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. 7669 7670107:14. Through God we shall do mightily: and he will bring our enemies 7671to nothing. 7672 7673 7674 7675Psalms Chapter 108 7676 7677 7678Deus, laudem meam. 7679 7680David in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors; more 7681especially the traitor Judas: foretelling and approving his just 7682punishment for his obstinacy in sin and final impenitence. 7683 7684108:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. 7685 7686108:2. O God, be not thou silent in my praise: for the mouth of the 7687wicked and the mouth of the deceitful man is opened against me. 7688 7689108:3. They have spoken against me with deceitful tongues; and they 7690have compassed me about with words of hatred; and have fought against 7691me without cause. 7692 7693108:4. Instead of making me a return of love, they detracted me: but I 7694gave myself to prayer. 7695 7696108:5. And they repaid me evil for good: and hatred for my love. 7697 7698108:6. Set thou the sinner over him: and may the devil stand at his 7699right hand. 7700 7701Set thou the sinner over him, etc. . .Give to the devil, that 7702arch-sinner, power over him: let him enter into him, and possess him. 7703The imprecations, contained in the thirty verses of this psalm, are 7704opposed to the thirty pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed our 7705Lord; and are to be taken as prophetic denunciations of the evils that 7706should befall the traitor and his accomplices the Jews; and not 7707properly as curses. 7708 7709108:7. When he is judged, may he go out condemned; and may his prayer 7710be turned to sin. 7711 7712108:8. May his days be few: and his bishopric let another take. 7713 7714108:9. May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. 7715 7716108:10. Let his children be carried about vagabonds, and beg; and let 7717them be cast out of their dwellings. 7718 7719108:11. May the usurer search all his substance: and let strangers 7720plunder his labours. 7721 7722108:12. May there be none to help him: nor none to pity his fatherless 7723offspring. 7724 7725108:13. May his posterity be cut off; in one generation may his name be 7726blotted out. 7727 7728108:14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered in the sight of 7729the Lord: and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 7730 7731108:15. May they be before the Lord continually, and let the memory of 7732them perish from the earth: 7733 7734108:16. because he remembered not to shew mercy, 7735 7736108:17. But persecuted the poor man and the beggar; and the broken in 7737heart, to put him to death. 7738 7739108:18. And he loved cursing, and it shall come unto him: and he would 7740not have blessing, and it shall be far from him. And he put on cursing, 7741like a garment: and it went in like water into his entrails, and like 7742oil in his bones. 7743 7744108:19. May it be unto him like a garment which covereth him; and like 7745a girdle with which he is girded continually. 7746 7747108:20. This is the work of them who detract me before the Lord; and 7748who speak evils against my soul. 7749 7750108:21. But thou, O Lord, do with me for thy name's sake: because thy 7751mercy is sweet. Do thou deliver me, 7752 7753108:22. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me. 7754 7755108:23. I am taken away like the shadow when it declineth: and I am 7756shaken off as locusts. 7757 7758108:24. My knees are weakened through fasting: and my flesh is changed 7759for oil. 7760 7761For oil. . .Propter oleum. The meaning is, my flesh is changed, being 7762perfectly emaciated and dried up, as having lost all its oil or 7763fatness. 7764 7765108:25. And I am become a reproach to them: they saw me and they shaked 7766their heads. 7767 7768108:26. Help me, O Lord my God; save me; according to thy mercy. 7769 7770108:27. And let them know that this is thy hand: and that thou, O Lord, 7771hast done it. 7772 7773108:28. They will curse and thou wilt bless: let them that rise up 7774against me be confounded: but thy servant shall rejoice. 7775 7776108:29. Let them that detract me be clothed with shame: and let them be 7777covered with their confusion as with a double cloak. 7778 7779108:30. I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth: and in the 7780midst of many I will praise him. 7781 7782108:31. Because he hath stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my 7783soul from persecutors. 7784 7785 7786 7787Psalms Chapter 109 7788 7789 7790Dixit Dominus. 7791 7792Christ's exaltation and everlasting priesthood. 7793 7794109:1. A psalm for David. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my 7795right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. 7796 7797109:2. The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: 7798rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. 7799 7800109:3. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the 7801brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot 7802thee. 7803 7804109:4. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest 7805for ever according to the order of Melchisedech. 7806 7807109:5. The Lord at thy right hand hath broken kings in the day of his 7808wrath. 7809 7810109:6. He shall judge among nations, he shall fill ruins: he shall 7811crush the heads in the land of many. 7812 7813109:7. He shall drink of the torrent in the way: therefore shall he 7814lift up the head. 7815 7816 7817 7818Psalms Chapter 110 7819 7820 7821Confitebor tibi, Domine. 7822 7823God is to be praised for his graces, and benefits to his church. 7824 7825Alleluia. 7826 7827110:1. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; in the council 7828of the just, and in the congregation. 7829 7830110:2. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his 7831wills. 7832 7833110:3. His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth 7834for ever and ever. 7835 7836110:4. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a 7837merciful and gracious Lord: 7838 7839110:5. He hath given food to them that fear him. He will be mindful for 7840ever of his covenant: 7841 7842110:6. He will shew forth to his people the power of his works. 7843 7844110:7. That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works 7845of his hands are truth and judgment. 7846 7847110:8. All his commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, 7848made in truth and equity. 7849 7850110:9. He hath sent redemption to his people: he hath commanded his 7851covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name: 7852 7853110:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good 7854understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and 7855ever. 7856 7857 7858 7859Psalms Chapter 111 7860 7861 7862Beatus vir. 7863 7864The good man is happy. 7865 7866Alleluia, of the returning of Aggeus and Zacharias. 7867 7868Of the returning, etc. . .This is in the Greek and Latin, but not in the 7869Hebrew. It signifies that this psalm was proper to be sung at the time 7870of the return of the people from their captivity; to inculcate to them, 7871how happy they might be, if they would be constant in the service of 7872God. 7873 7874111:1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight 7875exceedingly in his commandments. 7876 7877111:2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the 7878righteous shall be blessed. 7879 7880111:3. Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice 7881remaineth for ever and ever. 7882 7883111:4. To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is 7884merciful, and compassionate and just. 7885 7886111:5. Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall 7887order his words with judgment: 7888 7889111:6. Because he shall not be moved for ever. 7890 7891111:7. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear 7892the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord: 7893 7894111:8. His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look 7895over his enemies. 7896 7897111:9. He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice 7898remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory. 7899 7900111:10. The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with 7901his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. 7902 7903 7904 7905Psalms Chapter 112 7906 7907 7908Laudate, pueri. 7909 7910God is to be praised for his regard to the poor and humble. 7911 7912Alleluia. 7913 7914112:1. Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord. 7915 7916112:2. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for 7917ever. 7918 7919112:3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the 7920name of the Lord is worthy of praise. 7921 7922112:4. The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above the 7923heavens. 7924 7925112:5. Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: 7926 7927112:6. and looketh 7928down on the low things in heaven and in earth? 7929 7930112:7. Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out 7931of the dunghill: 7932 7933112:8. That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his 7934people. 7935 7936112:9. Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother 7937of children. 7938 7939 7940 7941Psalms Chapter 113 7942 7943 7944In exitu Israel. 7945 7946God hath shewn his power in delivering his people: idols are vain. The 7947Hebrews divide this into two psalms. 7948 7949Alleluia. 7950 7951113:1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a 7952barbarous people: 7953 7954113:2. Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 7955 7956113:3. The sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back. 7957 7958113:4. The mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like the lambs of 7959the flock. 7960 7961113:5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee: and thou, 7962O Jordan, that thou wast turned back? 7963 7964113:6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye hills, like 7965lambs of the flock? 7966 7967113:7. At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence 7968of the God of Jacob: 7969 7970113:8. Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hill into 7971fountains of waters. 7972 7973113:1. Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory. 7974 7975113:2. For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake: lest the Gentiles 7976should say: Where is their God? 7977 7978113:3. But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he 7979would. 7980 7981113:4. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the 7982hands of men. 7983 7984113:5. They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not. 7985 7986113:6. They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not. 7987 7988113:7. They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: 7989neither shall they cry out through their throat. 7990 7991113:8. Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as 7992trust in them. 7993 7994113:9. The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper 7995and their protector. 7996 7997113:10. The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper 7998and their protector. 7999 8000113:11. They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their 8001helper and their protector. 8002 8003113:12. The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us. He hath 8004blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron. 8005 8006113:13. He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great. 8007 8008113:14. May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your 8009children. 8010 8011113:15. Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 8012 8013113:16. The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given 8014to the children of men. 8015 8016113:17. The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go 8017down to hell. 8018 8019113:18. But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for 8020ever. 8021 8022 8023 8024Psalms Chapter 114 8025 8026 8027Dilexi. 8028 8029The prayer of a just man in affliction, with a lively confidence in 8030God. 8031 8032Alleluia. 8033 8034114:1. I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer. 8035 8036114:2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will 8037call upon him. 8038 8039114:3. The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell 8040have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: 8041 8042114:4. And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. 8043 8044114:5. The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy. 8045 8046114:6. The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and he 8047delivered me. 8048 8049114:7. Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful 8050to thee. 8051 8052114:8. For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my 8053feet from falling. 8054 8055114:9. I will please the Lord in the land of the living. 8056 8057 8058 8059Psalms Chapter 115 8060 8061 8062Credidi. 8063 8064This in the Hebrew is joined with the foregoing psalm, and continues to 8065express the faith and gratitude of the psalmist. 8066 8067Alleluia. 8068 8069115:10. I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have 8070been humbled exceedingly. 8071 8072115:11. I said in my excess: Every man is a liar. 8073 8074115:12. What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things that he 8075hath rendered to me? 8076 8077115:13. I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the 8078name of the Lord. 8079 8080115:14. I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: 8081 8082115:15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 8083 8084115:16. O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of 8085thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds: 8086 8087115:17. I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will 8088call upon the name of the Lord. 8089 8090115:18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people: 8091 8092115:19. In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O 8093Jerusalem. 8094 8095 8096 8097Psalms Chapter 116 8098 8099 8100Laudate Dominum. 8101 8102All nations are called upon to praise God for his mercy and truth. 8103 8104Alleluia. 8105 8106116:1. O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. 8107 8108116:2. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord 8109remaineth for ever. 8110 8111 8112 8113Psalms Chapter 117 8114 8115 8116Confitemini Domino. 8117 8118The psalmist praiseth God for his delivery from evils: putteth his 8119whole trust in him; and foretelleth the coming of Christ. 8120 8121Alleluia. 8122 8123117:1. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth 8124for ever. 8125 8126117:2. Let Israel now say, that he is good: that his mercy endureth for 8127ever. 8128 8129117:3. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for 8130ever. 8131 8132117:4. Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for 8133ever. 8134 8135117:5. In my trouble I called upon the Lord: and the Lord heard me, and 8136enlarged me. 8137 8138117:6. The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man can do unto me. 8139 8140117:7. The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies. 8141 8142117:8. It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have 8143confidence in man. 8144 8145117:9. It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in 8146princes. 8147 8148117:10. All nations compassed me about; and, in the name of the Lord I 8149have been revenged on them. 8150 8151117:11. Surrounding me they compassed me about: and in the name of the 8152Lord I have been revenged on them. 8153 8154117:12. They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among 8155thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them. 8156 8157117:13. Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord 8158supported me. 8159 8160117:14. The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my 8161salvation. 8162 8163117:15. The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles 8164of the just. 8165 8166117:16. The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right 8167hand of the Lord hath exalted me: the right hand of the Lord hath 8168wrought strength. 8169 8170117:17. I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the 8171Lord. 8172 8173117:18. The Lord chastising hath chastised me: but he hath not 8174delivered me over to death. 8175 8176117:19. Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go in to them, and 8177give praise to the Lord. 8178 8179117:20. This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it. 8180 8181117:21. I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art 8182become my salvation. 8183 8184117:22. The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the 8185head of the corner. 8186 8187117:23. This is the Lord's doing , and it is wonderful in our eyes. 8188 8189117:24. This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and 8190rejoice therein. 8191 8192117:25. O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success. 8193 8194117:26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We have 8195blessed you out of the house of the Lord. 8196 8197117:27. The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us. Appoint a solemn 8198day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the altar. 8199 8200117:28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, and I 8201will exalt thee. I will praise thee, because thou hast heard me, and 8202art become my salvation. 8203 8204117:29. O praise ye the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth 8205for ever. 8206 8207 8208 8209Psalms Chapter 118 8210 8211 8212Beati immaculati. 8213 8214Of the excellence of virtue consisting in the love and observance of 8215the commandments of God. 8216 8217Alleluia. 8218 8219ALEPH. 8220 8221Aleph. . .The first eight verses of this psalm in the original begin 8222with Aleph, which is the name of the first letter of the Hebrew 8223alphabet. The second eight verses begin with Beth, the name of the 8224second letter of the Hebrew alphabet; and so to the end of the whole 8225alphabet, in all twenty-two letters, each letter having eight verses. 8226This order is variously expounded by the holy fathers; which shews the 8227difficulty of understanding the holy scriptures, and consequently with 8228what humility, and submission to the Church they are to be read. 8229 8230118:1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the 8231Lord. 8232 8233118:2. Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with 8234their whole heart. 8235 8236His testimonies. . .The commandments of God are called his testimonies, 8237because they testify his holy will unto us. Note here, that in almost 8238every verse of this psalm (which in number are 176) the word and law of 8239God, and the love and observance of it, is perpetually inculcated, 8240under a variety of denominations, all signifying the same thing. 8241 8242118:3. For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways. 8243 8244118:4. Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently. 8245 8246118:5. O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications. 8247 8248118:6. Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy 8249commandments. 8250 8251118:7. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have 8252learned the judgments of thy justice. 8253 8254118:8. I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake 8255me. 8256 8257BETH. 8258 8259118:9. By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy 8260words. 8261 8262118:10. With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray 8263from thy commandments. 8264 8265118:11. Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against 8266thee. 8267 8268118:12. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications. 8269 8270118:13. With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth. 8271 8272118:14. I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all 8273riches. 8274 8275118:15. I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy 8276ways. 8277 8278118:16. I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy 8279words. 8280 8281GIMEL. 8282 8283118:17. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep 8284thy words. 8285 8286118:18. Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of 8287thy law. 8288 8289118:19. I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from 8290me. 8291 8292118:20. My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all 8293times. 8294 8295118:21. Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from 8296thy commandments. 8297 8298118:22. Remove from me reproach and contempt: because I have sought 8299after thy testimonies. 8300 8301118:23. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was 8302employed in thy justifications. 8303 8304118:24. For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications 8305my counsel. 8306 8307DALETH. 8308 8309118:25. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according 8310to thy word. 8311 8312118:26. I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy 8313justifications. 8314 8315118:27. Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I 8316shall be exercised in thy wondrous works. 8317 8318118:28. My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in 8319thy words. 8320 8321118:29. Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have 8322mercy on me. 8323 8324118:30. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not 8325forgotten. 8326 8327118:31. I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame. 8328 8329118:32. I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge 8330my heart. 8331 8332HE. 8333 8334118:33. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: 8335and I will always seek after it. 8336 8337118:34. Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will 8338keep it with my whole heart. 8339 8340118:35. Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have 8341desired. 8342 8343118:36. Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness. 8344 8345118:37. Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me 8346in thy way. 8347 8348118:38. Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear. 8349 8350118:39. Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy 8351judgments are delightful. 8352 8353118:40. Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy 8354justice. 8355 8356VAU. 8357 8358118:41. Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation 8359according to thy word. 8360 8361118:42. So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I 8362have trusted in thy words. 8363 8364118:43. And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: 8365for in thy words, I have hoped exceedingly. 8366 8367118:44. So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever. 8368 8369118:45. And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy 8370commandments. 8371 8372118:46. And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not 8373ashamed. 8374 8375118:47. I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved. 8376 8377118:48. And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: 8378and I was exercised in thy justifications. 8379 8380ZAIN. 8381 8382118:49. Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast 8383given me hope. 8384 8385118:50. This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath 8386enlivened me. 8387 8388118:51. The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from 8389thy law. 8390 8391118:52. I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was 8392comforted. 8393 8394118:53. A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that 8395forsake thy law. 8396 8397118:54. Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of 8398my pilgrimage. 8399 8400118:55. In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept 8401thy law. 8402 8403118:56. This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications. 8404 8405HETH. 8406 8407118:57. O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep thy law. 8408 8409118:58. I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me 8410according to thy word. 8411 8412118:59. I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy 8413testimonies. 8414 8415118:60. I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy 8416commandments. 8417 8418118:61. The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not 8419forgotten thy law. 8420 8421118:62. I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of 8422thy justification. 8423 8424118:63. I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy 8425commandments. 8426 8427118:64. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy 8428justifications. 8429 8430TETH. 8431 8432118:65. Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy 8433word. 8434 8435118:66. Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have 8436believed thy commandments. 8437 8438118:67. Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy 8439word. 8440 8441118:68. Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications. 8442 8443118:69. The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I 8444will seek thy commandments with my whole heart. 8445 8446118:70. Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy 8447law. 8448 8449118:71. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn 8450thy justifications. 8451 8452118:72. The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and 8453silver. 8454 8455JOD. 8456 8457118:73. Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, 8458and I will learn thy commandments. 8459 8460118:74. They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad : because I 8461have greatly hoped in thy words. 8462 8463118:75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth 8464thou hast humbled me. 8465 8466118:76. O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto 8467thy servant. 8468 8469118:77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy 8470law is my meditation. 8471 8472118:78. Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly 8473towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments. 8474 8475118:79. Let them that fear thee turn to me: and they that know thy 8476testimonies. 8477 8478118:80. Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not 8479be confounded. 8480 8481CAPH. 8482 8483118:81. My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I 8484have very much hoped. 8485 8486118:82. My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou 8487comfort me? 8488 8489118:83. For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not 8490forgotten thy justifications. 8491 8492118:84. How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute 8493judgment on them that persecute me? 8494 8495118:85. The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law. 8496 8497118:86. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, 8498do thou help me. 8499 8500118:87. They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not 8501forsaken thy commandments. 8502 8503118:88. Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the 8504testimonies of thy mouth. 8505 8506LAMED. 8507 8508118:89. For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven. 8509 8510118:90. Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, 8511and it continueth. 8512 8513118:91. By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee. 8514 8515118:92. Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps 8516perished in my abjection. 8517 8518118:93. Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast 8519given me life. 8520 8521118:94. I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications. 8522 8523118:95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have 8524understood thy testimonies. 8525 8526118:96. I have seen an end of all perfection: thy commandment is 8527exceeding broad. 8528 8529MEM. 8530 8531118:97. O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the 8532day. 8533 8534118:98. Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my 8535enemies: for it is ever with me. 8536 8537118:99. I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy 8538testimonies are my meditation. 8539 8540118:100. I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought 8541thy commandments. 8542 8543118:101. I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep 8544thy words. 8545 8546118:102. I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set 8547me a law. 8548 8549118:103. How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my 8550mouth. 8551 8552118:104. By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I 8553hated every way of iniquity. 8554 8555NUN. 8556 8557118:105. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths. 8558 8559118:106. I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy 8560justice. 8561 8562118:107. I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me 8563according to thy word. 8564 8565118:108. The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and 8566teach me thy judgments. 8567 8568118:109. My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten 8569thy law. 8570 8571118:110. Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from 8572thy precepts. 8573 8574118:111. I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: 8575because they are the joy of my heart. 8576 8577118:112. I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, 8578for the reward. 8579 8580SAMECH. 8581 8582118:113. I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law. 8583 8584118:114. Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have 8585greatly hoped. 8586 8587118:115. Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the 8588commandments of my God. 8589 8590118:116. Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me 8591not be confounded in my expectation. 8592 8593118:117. Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on 8594thy justifications. 8595 8596118:118. Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; 8597for their thought is unjust. 8598 8599118:119. I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: 8600therefore have I loved thy testimonies. 8601 8602118:120. Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy 8603judgments. 8604 8605AIN. 8606 8607118:121. I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that 8608slander me. 8609 8610118:122. Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me. 8611 8612118:123. My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of 8613thy justice. 8614 8615118:124. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy 8616justifications. 8617 8618118:125. I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy 8619testimonies. 8620 8621118:126. It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law. 8622 8623118:127. Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the 8624topaz. 8625 8626118:128. Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated 8627all wicked ways. 8628 8629PHE. 8630 8631118:129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought 8632them. 8633 8634118:130. The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth 8635understanding to little ones. 8636 8637118:131. I opened my mouth, and panted: because I longed for thy 8638commandments. 8639 8640118:132. Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me according to the 8641judgment of them that love thy name. 8642 8643118:133. Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity 8644have dominion over me. 8645 8646118:134. Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy 8647commandments. 8648 8649118:135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy 8650justifications. 8651 8652118:136. My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have 8653not kept thy law. 8654 8655SADE. 8656 8657118:137. Thou art just, O Lord: and thy judgment is right. 8658 8659118:138. Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth 8660exceedingly. 8661 8662118:139. My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy 8663words. 8664 8665118:140. Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved 8666it. 8667 8668118:141. I am very young and despised; but I forget not thy 8669justifications. 8670 8671118:142. Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth. 8672 8673118:143. Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my 8674meditation. 8675 8676118:144. Thy testimonies are justice for ever: give me understanding, 8677and I shall live. 8678 8679COPH. 8680 8681118:145. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy 8682justifications. 8683 8684118:146. I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments. 8685 8686118:147. I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy 8687words I very much hoped. 8688 8689118:148. My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might 8690meditate on thy words. 8691 8692118:149. Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and 8693quicken me according to thy judgment. 8694 8695118:150. They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they 8696are gone far off from thy law. 8697 8698118:151. Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth. 8699 8700118:152. I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: 8701that thou hast founded them for ever. 8702 8703RES. 8704 8705118:153. See my humiliation and deliver me for I have not forgotten thy 8706law. 8707 8708118:154. Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy 8709word's sake. 8710 8711118:155. Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought 8712thy justifications. 8713 8714118:156. Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy 8715judgment. 8716 8717118:157. Many are they that persecute me and afflict me; but I have not 8718declined from thy testimonies. 8719 8720118:158. I beheld the transgressors, and pined away; because they kept 8721not thy word. 8722 8723118:159. Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou 8724in thy mercy. 8725 8726118:160. The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy 8727justice are for ever. 8728 8729SIN. 8730 8731118:161. Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath 8732been in awe of thy words. 8733 8734118:162. I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great 8735spoil. 8736 8737118:163. I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law. 8738 8739118:164. Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the 8740judgments of thy justice. 8741 8742118:165. Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is 8743no stumbling. block. 8744 8745118:166. I looked for thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy 8746commandments. 8747 8748118:167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies and hath loved them 8749exceedingly. 8750 8751118:168. I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all 8752my ways are in thy sight. 8753 8754TAU. 8755 8756118:169. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me 8757understanding according to thy word. 8758 8759118:170. Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according 8760to thy word. 8761 8762118:171. My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy 8763justifications. 8764 8765118:172. My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy 8766commandments are justice. 8767 8768118:173. Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy 8769precepts. 8770 8771118:174. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my 8772meditation. 8773 8774118:175. My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments 8775shall help me. 8776 8777118:176. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy 8778servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments. 8779 8780 8781 8782Psalms Chapter 119 8783 8784 8785Ad Dominum. 8786 8787A prayer in tribulation. 8788 8789A gradual canticle. 8790 8791A gradual canticle. . .The following psalms, in number fifteen, are 8792called gradual psalms, or canticles, from the word gradus, signifying 8793steps, ascensions, or degrees: either because they were appointed to be 8794sung on the fifteen steps, by which the people ascended to the temple: 8795or, that in the singing of them the voice was to be raised by certain 8796steps or ascensions: or, that they were to be sung by the people 8797returning from their captivity and ascending to Jerusalem, which was 8798seated amongst mountains. The holy fathers, in a mystical sense, 8799understand these steps, or ascensions, of the degrees by which 8800Christians spiritually ascend to virtue and perfection; and to the true 8801temple of God in the heavenly Jerusalem. 8802 8803119:1. In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me. 8804 8805119:2. O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a deceitful 8806tongue. 8807 8808119:3. What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, to 8809a deceitful tongue? 8810 8811119:4. The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals that lay waste. 8812 8813119:5. Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with 8814the inhabitants of Cedar: 8815 8816119:6. My soul hath been long a sojourner. 8817 8818119:7. With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them 8819they fought against me without cause. 8820 8821 8822 8823Psalms Chapter 120 8824 8825 8826Levavi oculos. 8827 8828God is the keeper of his servants. 8829 8830A gradual canticle. 8831 8832120:1. I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help 8833shall come to me. 8834 8835120:2. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 8836 8837120:3. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber 8838that keepeth thee. 8839 8840120:4. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. 8841 8842120:5. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy 8843right hand. 8844 8845120:6. The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. 8846 8847120:7. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. 8848 8849120:8. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from 8850henceforth now and for ever. 8851 8852 8853 8854Psalms Chapter 121 8855 8856 8857Laetatus sum in his. 8858 8859The desire and hope of the just for the coming of the kingdom of God, 8860and the peace of his church. 8861 8862121:1. A gradual canticle. 8863 8864I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the 8865house of the Lord. 8866 8867121:2. Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem. 8868 8869121:3. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. 8870 8871121:4. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the 8872testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. 8873 8874121:5. Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house 8875of David. 8876 8877121:6. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and 8878abundance for them that love thee. 8879 8880121:7. Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. 8881 8882121:8. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace 8883of thee. 8884 8885121:9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good 8886things for thee. 8887 8888 8889 8890Psalms Chapter 122 8891 8892 8893Ad te levavi. 8894 8895A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God. 8896 8897A gradual canticle. 8898 8899122:1. To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven. 8900 8901122:2. Behold as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their 8902masters, As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: 8903so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. 8904 8905122:3. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly 8906filled with contempt. 8907 8908122:4. For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, 8909and contempt to the proud. 8910 8911 8912 8913Psalms Chapter 123 8914 8915 8916Nisi quia Domini. 8917 8918The church giveth glory to God for her deliverance, from the hands of 8919her enemies. 8920 8921123:1. A gradual canticle. If it had not been that the Lord was with 8922us, let Israel now say: 8923 8924123:2. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up 8925against us, 8926 8927123:3. Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was 8928enkindled against us, 8929 8930123:4. Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up. 8931 8932123:5. Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had 8933passed through a water insupportable. 8934 8935123:6. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their 8936teeth. 8937 8938123:7. Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of 8939the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. 8940 8941123:8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 8942 8943 8944 8945Psalms Chapter 124 8946 8947 8948Qui confidunt. 8949 8950The just are always under God's protection. 8951 8952124:1. A gradual canticle. They that trust in the Lord shall be as 8953mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth 8954 8955124:2. In Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round 8956about his people from henceforth now and for ever. 8957 8958124:3. For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of 8959the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity. 8960 8961124:4. Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of 8962heart. 8963 8964124:5. But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with 8965the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel. 8966 8967 8968 8969Psalms Chapter 125 8970 8971 8972In convertendo. 8973 8974The people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity. 8975 8976125:1. A gradual canticle. When the Lord brought back the captivity of 8977Sion, we became like men comforted. 8978 8979125:2. Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with 8980joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great 8981things for them. 8982 8983125:3. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful. 8984 8985125:4. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south. 8986 8987125:5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 8988 8989125:6. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. 8990 8991125:7. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their 8992sheaves. 8993 8994 8995 8996Psalms Chapter 126 8997 8998 8999Nisi Dominus. 9000 9001Nothing can be done without God's grace and blessing. 9002 9003126:1. A gradual canticle of Solomon. Unless the Lord build the house, 9004they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he 9005watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 9006 9007126:2. It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have 9008sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to 9009his beloved, 9010 9011It is vain for you to rise before light. . .That is, your early rising, 9012your labour and worldly solicitude, will be vain, that is, will avail 9013you nothing, without the light, grace, and blessing of God. 9014 9015126:3. Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the 9016fruit of the womb. 9017 9018126:4. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them 9019that have been shaken. 9020 9021126:5. Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he 9022shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate. 9023 9024 9025 9026Psalms Chapter 127 9027 9028 9029Beati omnes. 9030 9031The fear of God is the way to happiness. 9032 9033127:1. A gradual canticle. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: 9034that walk in his ways. 9035 9036127:2. For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, 9037and it shall be well with thee. 9038 9039127:3. Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy 9040children as olive plants, round about thy table. 9041 9042127:4. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 9043 9044127:5. May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good 9045things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 9046 9047127:6. And mayst thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel. 9048 9049 9050 9051Psalms Chapter 128 9052 9053 9054Saepe expugnaverunt. 9055 9056The church of God is invincible : her persecutors come to nothing. 9057 9058128:1. A gradual canticle. Often have they fought against me from my 9059youth, let Israel now say. 9060 9061128:2. Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could 9062not prevail over me. 9063 9064128:3. The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their 9065iniquity. 9066 9067128:4. The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: 9068 9069128:5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion. 9070 9071128:6. Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth 9072before it be plucked up: 9073 9074128:7. Who with the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth 9075sheaves his bosom. 9076 9077128:8. And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord 9078be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord. 9079 9080 9081 9082Psalms Chapter 129 9083 9084 9085De profundis. 9086 9087A prayer of a sinner, trusting in the mercies of God. The sixth 9088penitential psalm. 9089 9090129:1. A gradual canticle. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O 9091Lord: 9092 9093129:2. Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of 9094my supplication. 9095 9096129:3. If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. 9097 9098129:4. For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of 9099thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his 9100word: 9101 9102129:5. my soul hath hoped in the Lord. 9103 9104129:6. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the 9105Lord. 9106 9107129:7. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful 9108redemption. 9109 9110129:8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 9111 9112 9113 9114Psalms Chapter 130 9115 9116 9117Domine, none est. 9118 9119The prophet's humility. 9120 9121130:1. A gradual canticle of David. Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor 9122are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in 9123wonderful things above me. 9124 9125130:2. If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that 9126is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul. 9127 9128130:3. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever. 9129 9130 9131 9132Psalms Chapter 131 9133 9134 9135Memento, Domine. 9136 9137A prayer for the fulfilling of the promise made to David. 9138 9139131:1. A gradual canticle. O Lord, remember David, and all his 9140meekness. 9141 9142131:2. How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob: 9143 9144131:3. If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go 9145up into the bed wherein I lie: 9146 9147131:4. If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, 9148 9149131:5. Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a 9150tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 9151 9152131:6. Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the 9153fields of the wood. 9154 9155We have heard of it in Ephrata. . .When I was young, and lived in 9156Bethlehem, otherwise called Ephrata, I heard of God's tabernacle and 9157ark, and had a devout desire of seeking it; and accordingly I found it 9158at Cariathiarim, the city of the woods: where it was till it was 9159removed to Jerusalem. See 1 Par. 13. 9160 9161131:7. We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where 9162his feet stood. 9163 9164131:8. Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which 9165thou hast sanctified. 9166 9167131:9. Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints 9168rejoice. 9169 9170131:10. For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thy 9171anointed. 9172 9173131:11. The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it 9174void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne. 9175 9176131:12. If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies 9177which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit 9178upon thy throne. 9179 9180131:13. For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his 9181dwelling. 9182 9183131:14. This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I 9184have chosen it. 9185 9186131:15. Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with 9187bread. 9188 9189131:16. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall 9190rejoice with exceeding great joy. 9191 9192131:17. There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a 9193lamp for my anointed. 9194 9195131:18. His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my 9196sanctification flourish. 9197 9198 9199 9200Psalms Chapter 132 9201 9202 9203Ecce quam bonum. 9204 9205The happiness of brotherly love and concord. 9206 9207132:1. A gradual canticle of David. Behold how good and how pleasant it 9208is for brethren to dwell together in unity: 9209 9210132:2. Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the 9211beard, the beard of Aaron, Which ran down to the skirt of his garment: 9212 9213132:3. As the dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon mount Sion. For 9214there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore. 9215 9216 9217 9218Psalms Chapter 133 9219 9220 9221Ecce nunc benedicite. 9222 9223An exhortation to praise God continually. 9224 9225133:1. A gradual canticle. Behold now bless ye the Lord, all ye 9226servants of the Lord: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts 9227of the house of our God. 9228 9229133:2. In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless 9230ye the Lord. 9231 9232133:3. May the Lord out of Sion bless thee, he that made heaven and 9233earth. 9234 9235 9236 9237Psalms Chapter 134 9238 9239 9240Laudate nomen. 9241 9242An exhortation to praise God: the vanity of idols. 9243 9244134:1. Alleluia. Praise ye the name of the Lord: O you his servants, 9245praise the Lord: 9246 9247134:2. You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the 9248house of our God. 9249 9250134:3. Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good: sing ye to his name, 9251for it is sweet. 9252 9253134:4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself: Israel for his own 9254possession. 9255 9256134:5. For I have known that the Lord is great, and our God is above 9257all gods. 9258 9259134:6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased he hath done, in heaven, in earth, 9260in the sea, and in all the deeps. 9261 9262134:7. He bringeth up clouds from the end of the earth: he hath made 9263lightnings for the rain. He bringeth forth winds out of his stores: 9264 9265134:8. He slew the firstborn of Egypt from man even unto beast. 9266 9267134:9. He sent forth signs and wonders in the midst of thee, O Egypt: 9268upon Pharao, and upon all his servants. 9269 9270134:10. He smote many nations, and slew mighty kings: 9271 9272134:11. Sehon king of the Amorrhites, and Og king of Basan, and all the 9273kingdoms of Chanaan. 9274 9275134:12. And gave their land for an inheritance, for an inheritance to 9276his people Israel. 9277 9278134:13. Thy name, O Lord, is for ever: thy memorial, O Lord, unto all 9279generations. 9280 9281134:14. For the Lord will judge his people, and will be entreated in 9282favour of his servants. 9283 9284134:15. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of 9285men's hands. 9286 9287134:16. They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they 9288see not. 9289 9290134:17. They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there any breath 9291in their mouths. 9292 9293134:18. Let them that make them be like to them: and every one that 9294trusteth in them. 9295 9296134:19. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of 9297Aaron. 9298 9299134:20. Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: you that fear the Lord, bless 9300the Lord. 9301 9302134:21. Blessed be the Lord out of Sion, who dwelleth in Jerusalem. 9303 9304 9305 9306Psalms Chapter 135 9307 9308 9309Confitemini Domino. 9310 9311God is to be praised for his wonderful works. 9312 9313135:1. Alleluia. Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy 9314endureth for ever. 9315 9316Praise the Lord. . .By this invitation to praise the Lord, thrice 9317repeated, we profess the Blessed Trinity, One God in three distinct 9318Persons, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 9319 9320135:2. Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9321 9322135:3. Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9323 9324135:4. Who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9325 9326135:5. Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endureth 9327for ever. 9328 9329135:6. Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy 9330endureth for ever. 9331 9332135:7. Who made the great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9333 9334135:8. The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9335 9336135:9. The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endureth 9337for ever. 9338 9339135:10. Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth 9340for ever. 9341 9342135:11. Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth 9343for ever. 9344 9345135:12. With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy 9346endureth for ever. 9347 9348135:13. Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for 9349ever. 9350 9351135:14. And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy 9352endureth for ever. 9353 9354135:15. And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy 9355endureth for ever. 9356 9357135:16. Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth 9358for ever. 9359 9360135:17. Who smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9361 9362135:18. And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9363 9364135:19. Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9365 9366135:20. And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9367 9368135:21. And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy 9369endureth for ever. 9370 9371135:22. For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy 9372endureth for ever. 9373 9374135:23. For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy 9375endureth for ever. 9376 9377135:24. And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for 9378ever. 9379 9380135:25. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 9381 9382135:26. Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for 9383ever. 9384 9385135:27. Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for 9386ever. 9387 9388 9389 9390Psalms Chapter 136 9391 9392 9393Super flumina. 9394 9395The lamentation of the people of God in their captivity in Babylon. 9396 9397A psalm of David, for Jeremias. 9398 9399For Jeremias. . .For the time of Jeremias, and the captivity of Babylon. 9400 9401136:1. Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we 9402remembered Sion: 9403 9404136:2. On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments. 9405 9406136:3. For there they that led us into captivity required of us the 9407words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a 9408hymn of the songs of Sion. 9409 9410136:4. How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? 9411 9412136:5. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. 9413 9414136:6. Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I 9415make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy. 9416 9417136:7. Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem: 9418Who say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 9419 9420136:8. O daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall 9421repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us. 9422 9423136:9. Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against 9424the rock. 9425 9426Dash thy little ones, etc. . .In the spiritual sense, we dash the little 9427ones of Babylon against the rock, when we mortify our passions, and 9428stifle the first motions of them, by a speedy recourse to the rock 9429which is Christ. 9430 9431 9432 9433Psalms Chapter 137 9434 9435 9436Confitebor tibi. 9437 9438Thanksgiving to God for his benefits. 9439 9440137:1. For David himself. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole 9441heart: for thou hast heard the words of my mouth. I will sing praise to 9442thee in the sight of the angels: 9443 9444137:2. I will worship towards thy holy temple, and I will give glory to 9445thy name. For thy mercy, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy 9446holy name above all. 9447 9448137:3. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me: thou shalt 9449multiply strength in my soul. 9450 9451137:4. May all the kings of the earth give glory to thee: for they have 9452heard all the words of thy mouth. 9453 9454137:5. And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the 9455glory of the Lord. 9456 9457137:6. For the Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he 9458knoweth afar off. 9459 9460137:7. If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken 9461me: and thou hast stretched forth thy hand against the wrath of my 9462enemies: and thy right hand hath saved me. 9463 9464137:8. The Lord will repay for me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for 9465ever: O despise not the works of thy hands. 9466 9467 9468 9469Psalms Chapter 138 9470 9471 9472Domine, probasti. 9473 9474God's special providence over his servants. 9475 9476138:1. Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and 9477known me: 9478 9479138:2. Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. 9480 9481138:3. Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line 9482thou hast searched out. 9483 9484138:4. And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my 9485tongue. 9486 9487There is no speech, etc. . .Viz., unknown to thee: or when there is no 9488speech in my tongue; yet my whole interior and my most secret thoughts 9489are known to thee. 9490 9491138:5. Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those 9492of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me. 9493 9494138:6. Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I 9495cannot reach to it. 9496 9497138:7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from 9498thy face? 9499 9500138:8. If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, 9501thou art present. 9502 9503138:9. If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the 9504uttermost parts of the sea: 9505 9506138:10. Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand 9507shall hold me. 9508 9509138:11. And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be 9510my light in my pleasures. 9511 9512138:12. But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be 9513light all the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are 9514alike to thee. 9515 9516138:13. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from 9517my mother's womb. 9518 9519138:14. I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful 9520are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well. 9521 9522138:15. My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in 9523secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth. 9524 9525138:16. Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall 9526be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them. 9527 9528138:17. But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: 9529their principality is exceedingly strengthened. 9530 9531138:18. I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the 9532sand, I rose up and am still with thee. 9533 9534138:19. If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart 9535from me: 9536 9537138:20. Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in 9538vain. 9539 9540Because you say in thought, etc. . .Depart from me, you wicked, who plot 9541against the servants of God, and think to cast them out of the cities 9542of their habitation; as if they have received them in vain, and to no 9543purpose. 9544 9545138:21. Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pined away 9546because of thy enemies? 9547 9548138:22. I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become 9549enemies to me. 9550 9551I have hated them. . .Not with an hatred of malice, but a zeal for the 9552observance of God's commandments; which he saw were despised by the 9553wicked, who are to be considered enemies to God. 9554 9555138:23. Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my 9556paths. 9557 9558138:24. And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in 9559the eternal way. 9560 9561 9562 9563Psalms Chapter 139 9564 9565 9566Eripe me, Domine. 9567 9568A prayer to be delivered from the wicked. 9569 9570139:1. Unto the end, a psalm of David. 9571 9572139:2. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust 9573man. 9574 9575139:3. Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long 9576they designed battles. 9577 9578139:4. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of 9579asps is under their lips. 9580 9581139:5. Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust 9582men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps: 9583 9584139:6. The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out 9585cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the 9586wayside. 9587 9588139:7. I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of 9589my supplication. 9590 9591139:8. O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast 9592overshadowed my head in the day of battle. 9593 9594139:9. Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have 9595plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph. 9596 9597139:10. The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips 9598shall overwhelm them. 9599 9600139:11. Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down 9601into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand. 9602 9603139:12. A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: 9604evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction. 9605 9606139:13. I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will 9607revenge the poor. 9608 9609139:14. But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the 9610upright shall dwell with thy countenance. 9611 9612 9613 9614Psalms Chapter 140 9615 9616 9617Domine, clamavi. 9618 9619A prayer against sinful words, and deceitful flatterers. 9620 9621A psalm of David. 9622 9623140:1. I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when 9624I cry to thee. 9625 9626140:2. Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting 9627up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. 9628 9629140:3. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my 9630lips. 9631 9632140:4. Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. 9633With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the 9634choicest of them. 9635 9636140:5. The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: 9637but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer shall 9638still be against the things with which they are well pleased: 9639 9640Let not the oil of the sinner, etc. . .That is, the flattery, or 9641deceitful praise.--Ibid. For my prayer, etc. . .So far from coveting 9642their praises, who are never well pleased but with things that are 9643evil; I shall continually pray to be preserved from such things as they 9644are delighted with. 9645 9646140:6. Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They 9647shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: 9648 9649Their judges, etc. . .Their rulers, or chiefs, quickly vanish and 9650perish, like ships dashed against the rocks, and swallowed up by the 9651waves. Let them then hear my words, for they are powerful and will 9652prevail; or, as it is in the Hebrew, for they are sweet. 9653 9654140:7. As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: 9655Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. 9656 9657140:8. But to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my 9658trust, take not away my soul. 9659 9660140:9. Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from 9661the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity. 9662 9663140:10. The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass. 9664 9665I am alone, etc. . .Singularly protected by the Almighty, until I pass 9666all their nets and snares. 9667 9668 9669 9670Psalms Chapter 141 9671 9672 9673Voce mea. 9674 9675A prayer of David in extremity of danger. 9676 9677141:1. Of understanding for David, A prayer when he was in the cave. [1 9678Kings 24.] 9679 9680141:2. I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made 9681supplication to the Lord. 9682 9683141:3. In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my 9684trouble: 9685 9686141:4. When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths. In this 9687way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me. 9688 9689141:5. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that 9690would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath 9691regard to my soul. 9692 9693141:6. I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in 9694the land of the living. 9695 9696141:7. Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me 9697from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 9698 9699141:8. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the 9700just wait for me, until thou reward me. 9701 9702 9703 9704Psalms Chapter 142 9705 9706 9707Domine, exaudi. 9708 9709The psalmist in tribulation calleth upon God for his delivery. The 9710seventh penitential psalm. 9711 9712142:1. A psalm of David, when his son Absalom pursued him. [2 Kings 17.] 9713Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: 9714hear me in thy justice. 9715 9716142:2. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight 9717no man living shall be justified. 9718 9719142:3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my 9720life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that 9721have been dead of old: 9722 9723142:4. And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is 9724troubled. 9725 9726142:5. I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I 9727meditated upon the works of thy hands. 9728 9729142:6. I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without 9730water unto thee. 9731 9732142:7. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not 9733away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the 9734pit. 9735 9736142:8. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I 9737hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have 9738lifted up my soul to thee. 9739 9740142:9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled: 9741 9742142:10. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit 9743shall lead me into the right land: 9744 9745142:11. for thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. 9746Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble: 9747 9748142:12. And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt 9749cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. 9750 9751 9752 9753Psalms Chapter 143 9754 9755 9756Benedictus Dominus. 9757 9758The prophet praiseth God, and prayeth to be delivered from his enemies. 9759No worldly happiness is to be compared with that of serving God. 9760 9761A psalm of David against Goliath. 9762 9763143:1. Blessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands to fight, and 9764my fingers to war. 9765 9766143:2. My mercy, and my refuge: my support, and my deliverer: My 9767protector, and I have hoped in him: who subdueth my people under me. 9768 9769143:3. Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son 9770of man, that thou makest account of him? 9771 9772143:4. Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow. 9773 9774143:5. Lord, bow down thy heavens and descend: touch the mountains, and 9775they shall smoke. 9776 9777143:6. Send forth lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: shoot out thy 9778arrows, and thou shalt trouble them. 9779 9780143:7. Put forth thy hand from on high, take me out, and deliver me 9781from many waters: from the hand of strange children: 9782 9783143:8. Whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the 9784right hand of iniquity. 9785 9786143:9. To thee, O God, I will sing a new canticle: on the psaltery and 9787an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to thee. 9788 9789143:10. Who givest salvation to kings: who hast redeemed thy servant 9790David from the malicious sword: 9791 9792143:11. Deliver me, And rescue me out of the hand of strange children; 9793whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the right hand 9794of iniquity: 9795 9796143:12. Whose sons are as new plants in their youth: Their daughters 9797decked out, adorned round about after the similitude of a temple: 9798 9799143:13. Their storehouses full, flowing out of this into that. Their 9800sheep fruitful in young, abounding in their goings forth: 9801 9802143:14. Their oxen fat. There is no breach of wall, nor passage, nor 9803crying out in their streets. 9804 9805143:15. They have called the people happy, that hath these things: but 9806happy is that people whose God is the Lord. 9807 9808 9809 9810Psalms Chapter 144 9811 9812 9813Exaltabo te, Deus. 9814 9815A psalm of praise, to the infinite majesty of God. 9816 9817144:1. Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and 9818I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever. 9819 9820144:2. Every day will I bless thee: and I will praise thy name for 9821ever; yea, for ever and ever. 9822 9823144:3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his 9824greatness there is no end. 9825 9826144:4. Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall 9827declare thy power. 9828 9829144:5. They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy 9830holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works. 9831 9832144:6. And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and 9833shall declare thy greatness. 9834 9835144:7. They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: 9836and shall rejoice in thy justice. 9837 9838144:8. The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in 9839mercy. 9840 9841144:9. The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all 9842his works. 9843 9844144:10. Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints 9845bless thee. 9846 9847144:11. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of 9848thy power: 9849 9850144:12. To make thy might known to the sons of men: and the glory of 9851the magnificence of thy kingdom. 9852 9853144:13. Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth 9854throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and 9855holy in all his works. 9856 9857144:14. The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are 9858cast down. 9859 9860144:15. The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord: and thou givest them meat 9861in due season. 9862 9863144:16. Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living 9864creature. 9865 9866144:17. The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works. 9867 9868144:18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that 9869call upon him in truth. 9870 9871144:19. He will do the will of them that fear him: and he will hear 9872their prayer, and save them. 9873 9874144:20. The Lord keepeth all them that love him; but all the wicked he 9875will destroy. 9876 9877144:21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh 9878bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever. 9879 9880 9881 9882Psalms Chapter 145 9883 9884 9885Lauda, anima. 9886 9887We are not to trust in men, but in God alone. 9888 9889145:1. Alleluia, of Aggeus and Zacharias. 9890 9891145:2. Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I 9892will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in 9893princes: 9894 9895145:3. In the children of men, in whom there is no salvation. 9896 9897145:4. His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: 9898in that day all their thoughts shall perish. 9899 9900145:5. Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose 9901hope is in the Lord his God: 9902 9903145:6. Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in 9904them. 9905 9906145:7. Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that 9907suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that 9908are fettered: 9909 9910145:8. The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that 9911are cast down: the Lord loveth the just. 9912 9913145:9. The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless 9914and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy. 9915 9916145:10. The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation 9917and generation. 9918 9919 9920 9921Psalms Chapter 146 9922 9923 9924Laudate Dominum. 9925 9926An exhortation to praise God for his benefits. 9927 9928146:1. Alleluia. Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God 9929be joyful and comely praise. 9930 9931146:2. The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the 9932dispersed of Israel. 9933 9934146:3. Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises. 9935 9936146:4. Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by 9937their names. 9938 9939146:5. Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom 9940there is no number. 9941 9942146:6. The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even 9943to the ground. 9944 9945146:7. Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp. 9946 9947146:8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the 9948earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the 9949service of men. 9950 9951146:9. Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that 9952call upon him. 9953 9954146:10. He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take 9955pleasure in the legs of a man. 9956 9957146:11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him: and in them 9958that hope in his mercy. 9959 9960 9961 9962Psalms Chapter 147 9963 9964 9965Lauda, Jerusalem. 9966 9967The church is called upon to praise God for his peculiar graces and 9968favours to his people. In the Hebrew, this psalm is joined to the 9969foregoing. 9970 9971Alleluia. 9972 9973147:12. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion. 9974 9975147:13. Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath 9976blessed thy children within thee. 9977 9978147:14. Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the 9979fat of corn. 9980 9981147:15. Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth 9982swiftly. 9983 9984147:16. Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes. 9985 9986147:17. He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the 9987face of his cold? 9988 9989He sendeth his crystal. . .That is, his ice. Some understand it of hail, 9990which is, as it were, ice, divided into particles or morsels. 9991 9992147:18. He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall 9993blow, and the waters shall run. 9994 9995147:19. Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments 9996to Israel. 9997 9998147:20. He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his 9999judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia. 10000 10001 10002 10003Psalms Chapter 148 10004 10005 10006Laudate Dominum de caelis. 10007 10008All creatures are invited to praise their Creator. 10009 10010Alleluia. 10011 10012148:1. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high 10013places. 10014 10015148:2. Praise ye him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts. 10016 10017148:3. Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and 10018light. 10019 10020148:4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that 10021are above the heavens 10022 10023148:5. Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: 10024he commanded, and they were created. 10025 10026148:6. He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: he hath 10027made a decree, and it shall not pass away. 10028 10029148:7. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all ye deeps: 10030 10031148:8. Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds, which fulfil his word: 10032 10033148:9. Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars: 10034 10035148:10. Beasts and all cattle: serpents and feathered fowls: 10036 10037148:11. Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of 10038the earth: 10039 10040148:12. Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the 10041name of the Lord: 10042 10043148:13. For his name alone is exalted. 10044 10045148:14. The praise of him is above heaven and earth: and he hath 10046exalted the horn of his people. A hymn to all his saints to the 10047children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia. 10048 10049 10050 10051Psalms Chapter 149 10052 10053 10054Cantate Domino. 10055 10056The church is particularly bound to praise God. 10057 10058Alleluia. 10059 10060149:1. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the 10061church of the saints. 10062 10063149:2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of 10064Sion be joyful in their king. 10065 10066149:3. Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the 10067timbrel and the psaltery. 10068 10069149:4. For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt 10070the meek unto salvation. 10071 10072149:5. The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their 10073beds. 10074 10075149:6. The high praises of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged 10076swords in their hands: 10077 10078149:7. To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the 10079people: 10080 10081149:8. To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles 10082of iron. 10083 10084149:9. To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is 10085to all his saints. Alleluia. 10086 10087 10088 10089Psalms Chapter 150 10090 10091 10092Laudate Dominum in sanctis. 10093 10094An exhortation to praise God with all sorts of instruments. 10095 10096Alleluia. 10097 10098150:1. Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the 10099firmament of his power. 10100 10101150:2. Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to 10102the multitude of his greatness. 10103 10104150:3. Praise him with the sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery 10105and harp. 10106 10107150:4. Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and 10108organs. 10109 10110150:5. Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of 10111joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia. 10112 10113 10114 10115 10116THE BOOK OF PROVERBS 10117 10118 10119 10120This Book is so called, because it consists of wise and weighty 10121sentences: regulating the morals of men: and directing them to wisdom 10122and virtue. And these sentences are also called PARABLES, because great 10123truths are often couched in them under certain figures and similitudes. 10124 10125 10126 10127Proverbs Chapter 1 10128 10129 10130The use and end of the proverbs. An exhortation to flee the company of 10131the wicked: and to hearken to the voice of wisdom. 10132 101331:1. The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, 10134 101351:2. To know wisdom, and instruction: 10136 101371:3. To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the 10138instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity: 10139 101401:4. To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and 10141understanding. 10142 101431:5. A wise man shall hear, and shall be wiser: and he that 10144understandeth shall possess governments. 10145 101461:6. He shall understand a parable and the interpretation, the words of 10147the wise, and their mysterious sayings. 10148 101491:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise 10150wisdom and instruction. 10151 101521:8. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the 10153law of thy mother: 10154 101551:9. That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy 10156neck. 10157 101581:10. My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them. 10159 101601:11. If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, 10161let us hide snares for the innocent without cause: 10162 101631:12. Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that 10164goeth down into the pit. 10165 101661:13. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses 10167with spoils. 10168 101691:14. Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse. 10170 101711:15. My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their 10172paths. 10173 101741:16. For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 10175 101761:17. But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have 10177wings. 10178 101791:18. And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise 10180deceits against their own souls. 10181 101821:19. So the ways of every covetous man destroy the souls of the 10183possessors. 10184 101851:20. Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets: 10186 101871:21. At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the 10188gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying: 10189 101901:22. O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet 10191those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate 10192knowledge? 10193 101941:23. Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and 10195will shew you my words. 10196 101971:24. Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and 10198there was none that regarded. 10199 102001:25. You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my 10201reprehensions. 10202 102031:26. I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that 10204shall come to you which you feared. 10205 102061:27. When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a 10207tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come 10208upon you: 10209 102101:28. Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall 10211rise in the morning, and shall not find me: 10212 102131:29. Because they have hated instruction, and received not the fear of 10214the Lord, 10215 102161:30. Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof. 10217 102181:31. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be 10219filled with their own devices. 10220 102211:32. The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the 10222prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 10223 102241:33. But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall 10225enjoy abundance, without fear of evils. 10226 10227 10228 10229Proverbs Chapter 2 10230 10231 10232The advantages of wisdom: and the evils from which it delivers. 10233 102342:1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my 10235commandments with thee, 10236 102372:2. That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: incline thy heart to know 10238prudence. 10239 102402:3. For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to 10241prudence: 10242 102432:4. If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a 10244treasure: 10245 102462:5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find 10247the knowledge of God: 10248 102492:6. Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh 10250prudence and knowledge. 10251 102522:7. He wilt keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that 10253walk in simplicity, 10254 102552:8. Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints. 10256 102572:9. Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and 10258every good path. 10259 102602:10. If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy 10261soul: 10262 102632:11. Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee, 10264 102652:12. That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man 10266that speaketh perverse things: 10267 102682:13. Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways: 10269 102702:14. Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the most 10271wicked things: 10272 102732:15. Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous. 10274 102752:16. That thou mayst be delivered from the strange woman, and from the 10276stranger, who softeneth her words; 10277 102782:17. And forsaketh the guide of her youth, 10279 102802:18. And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house 10281inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. 10282 102832:19. None that go in unto her, shall return again, neither shall they 10284take hold of the paths of life. 10285 102862:20. That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of 10287the just. 10288 102892:21. For they that are upright, shall dwell in the earth; and the 10290simple shall continue in it. 10291 102922:22. But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that 10293do unjustly, shall be taken away from it. 10294 10295 10296 10297Proverbs Chapter 3 10298 10299 10300An exhortation to the practice of virtue. 10301 103023:1. My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments. 10303 103043:2. For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and 10305peace. 10306 103073:3. Let not mercy aud truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and 10308write them in the tables of thy heart. 10309 103103:4. And thou shalt find grace, and good understanding before God and 10311men. 10312 103133:5. Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon 10314thy own prudence. 10315 103163:6. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps. 10317 103183:7. Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil: 10319 103203:8. For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones. 10321 103223:9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of 10323all thy fruits; 10324 103253:10. And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses 10326shall run over with wine. 10327 103283:11. My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint 10329when thou art chastised by him: 10330 103313:12. For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the 10332son he pleaseth himself. 10333 103343:13. Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and is rich in prudence: 10335 103363:14. The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, 10337and her fruit than the chief and purest gold: 10338 103393:15. She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are 10340desired, are not to be compared to her. 10341 103423:16. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches 10343and glory. 10344 103453:17. Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable. 10346 103473:18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that 10348shall retain her is blessed. 10349 103503:19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the 10351heavens by prudence. 10352 103533:20. By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow 10354thick with dew. 10355 103563:21. My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law 10357and counsel: 10358 103593:22. And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth. 10360 103613:23. Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall 10362not stumble: 10363 103643:24. If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy 10365sleep shall be sweet. 10366 103673:25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked 10368falling upon thee. 10369 103703:26. For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that 10371thou be not taken. 10372 103733:27. Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art 10374able, do good thyself also. 10375 103763:28. Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will 10377give to thee: when thou canst give at present. 10378 103793:29. Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in 10380thee. 10381 103823:30. Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no 10383evil. 10384 103853:31. Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways. 10386 103873:32. For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his 10388communication is with the simple. 10389 103903:33. Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the 10391habitations of the just shall be blessed. 10392 103933:34. He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace. 10394 103953:35. The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace. 10396 10397 10398 10399Proverbs Chapter 4 10400 10401 10402A further exhortation to seek after wisdom. 10403 104044:1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend, that 10405you may know prudence. 10406 104074:2. I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law. 10408 104094:3. For I also was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the 10410sight of my mother: 10411 104124:4. And he taught me, and said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep 10413my commandments, and thou shalt live. 10414 104154:5. Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the 10416words of my mouth. 10417 104184:6. Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her, and she shall 10419preserve thee. 10420 104214:7. The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession 10422purchase prudence. 10423 104244:8. Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be 10425glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her. 10426 104274:9. She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee 10428with a noble crown. 10429 104304:10. Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be 10431multiplied to thee. 10432 104334:11. I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths 10434of equity: 10435 104364:12. Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be 10437straitened, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not meet a 10438stumblingblock. 10439 104404:13. Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is 10441thy life. 10442 104434:14. Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way 10444of evil men please thee. 10445 104464:15. Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it. 10447 104484:16. For they sleep not, except they have done evil: and their sleep 10449is taken away unless they have made some to fall. 10450 104514:17. They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity. 10452 104534:18. But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards, and 10454increaseth even to perfect day. 10455 104564:19. The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall. 10457 104584:20. My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings. 10459 104604:21. Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy 10461heart: 10462 104634:22. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all 10464flesh. 10465 104664:23. With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out 10467from it. 10468 104694:24. Remove from thee a froward mouth, and let detracting lips be far 10470from thee. 10471 104724:25. Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy 10473steps. 10474 104754:26. Make straight the path for thy feet, and all thy ways shall be 10476established. 10477 104784:27. Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy 10479foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right 10480hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will 10481make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace. 10482 10483 10484 10485Proverbs Chapter 5 10486 10487 10488An exhortation to fly unlawful lust, and the occasions of it. 10489 104905:1. My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence, 10491 104925:2. That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve 10493instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman. 10494 104955:3. For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her 10496throat is smoother than oil. 10497 104985:4. But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword. 10499 105005:5. Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell. 10501 105025:6. They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and 10503unaccountable. 10504 105055:7. Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of 10506my mouth. 10507 105085:8. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her 10509house. 10510 105115:9. Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel. 10512 105135:10. Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in 10514another man's house, 10515 105165:11. And thou mourn at the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh 10517and thy body, and say; 10518 105195:12. Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to 10520reproof, 10521 105225:13. And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not 10523inclined my ear to masters? 10524 105255:14. I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of 10526the congregation. 10527 105285:15. Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own 10529well: 10530 105315:16. Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide 10532thy waters. 10533 105345:17. Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers 10535with thee. 10536 105375:18. Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth: 10538 105395:19. Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her 10540breasts inebriate thee at all times: be thou delighted continually with 10541her love. 10542 105435:20. Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art 10544cherished in the bosom of another? 10545 105465:21. The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his 10547steps. 10548 105495:22. His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with 10550the ropes of his own sins. 10551 105525:23. He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in 10553the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived. 10554 10555 10556 10557Proverbs Chapter 6 10558 10559 10560Documents on several heads. 10561 105626:1. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast 10563thy hand to a stranger, 10564 105656:2. Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy 10566own words. 10567 105686:3. Do, therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because 10569thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, 10570stir up thy friend: 10571 105726:4. Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber. 10573 105746:5. Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the 10575hand of the fowler. 10576 105776:6. Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn 10578wisdom: 10579 105806:7. Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain, 10581 105826:8. Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her 10583food in the harvest. 10584 105856:9. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of 10586thy sleep? 10587 105886:10. Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt 10589fold thy hands a little to sleep: 10590 105916:11. And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a 10592man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a 10593fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. 10594 105956:12. A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a 10596perverse mouth, 10597 105986:13. He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with 10599the finger. 10600 106016:14. With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth 10602discord. 10603 106046:15. To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall 10605suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy. 10606 106076:16. Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his 10608soul detesteth: 10609 106106:17. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 10611 106126:18. A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run 10613into mischief, 10614 106156:19. A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth 10616discord among brethren. 10617 106186:20. My son, keep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the 10619law of thy mother. 10620 106216:21. Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck. 10622 106236:22. When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let 10624them keep thee, and when thou awakest, talk with them. 10625 106266:23. Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and 10627reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 10628 106296:24. That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the 10630flattering tongue of the stranger. 10631 106326:25. Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks: 10633 106346:26. For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman 10635catcheth the precious soul of a man. 10636 106376:27. Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? 10638 106396:28. Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? 10640 106416:29. So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife, shall not be clean 10642when he shall touch her. 10643 106446:30. The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth 10645to fill his hungry soul: 10646 10647The fault is not so great, etc. . .The sin of theft is not so great, as 10648to be compared with adultery: especially when a person pressed with 10649hunger (which is the case here spoken of) steals to satisfy nature. 10650Moreover the damage done by theft may much more easily be repaired, 10651than the wrong done by adultery. But this does not hinder, but that 10652theft also is a mortal sin, forbidden by one of the ten commandments. 10653 106546:31. And if he be taken, he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up 10655all the substance of his house. 10656 106576:32. But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall 10658destroy his own soul: 10659 106606:33. He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach 10661shall not be blotted out: 10662 106636:34. Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in 10664the day of revenge, 10665 106666:35. Nor will he yield to any man's prayers, nor will he accept for 10667satisfaction ever so many gifts. 10668 10669 10670 10671Proverbs Chapter 7 10672 10673 10674The love of wisdom is the best preservative from being led astray by 10675temptation. 10676 106777:1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son, 10678 106797:2. Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple 10680of thy eye: 10681 106827:3. Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart. 10683 106847:4. Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend, 10685 106867:5. That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from 10687the stranger who sweeteneth her words. 10688 106897:6. For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice, 10690 106917:7. And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man, 10692 106937:8. Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the 10694way of her house, 10695 106967:9. In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of 10697the night. 10698 106997:10. And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to 10700deceive souls: talkative and wandering, 10701 107027:11. Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home, 10703 107047:12. Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the 10705corners. 10706 107077:13. And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent 10708face, flattereth, saying: 10709 107107:14. I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows. 10711 107127:15. Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I 10713have found thee. 10714 107157:16. I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted 10716tapestry, brought from Egypt. 10717 107187:17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 10719 107207:18. Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the 10721desired embraces, till the day appear. 10722 107237:19. For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey. 10724 107257:20. He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of 10726the full moon. 10727 107287:21. She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the 10729flattery of her lips. 10730 107317:22. Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as 10732a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool 10733to bonds, 10734 107357:23. Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste 10736to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger. 10737 107387:24. Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my 10739mouth. 10740 107417:25. Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou 10742deceived with her paths. 10743 107447:26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been 10745slain by her. 10746 107477:27. Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers 10748of death. 10749 10750 10751 10752Proverbs Chapter 8 10753 10754 10755The preaching of wisdom. Her excellence. 10756 107578:1. Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice? 10758 107598:2. Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst 10760of the paths, 10761 107628:3. Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, 10763saying: 10764 107658:4. O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. 10766 107678:5. O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice. 10768 107698:6. Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be 10770opened to preach right things. 10771 107728:7. My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness. 10773 107748:8. All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in 10775them. 10776 107778:9. They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find 10778knowledge. 10779 107808:10. Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather 10781than gold. 10782 107838:11. For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and 10784whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. 10785 107868:12. I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts. 10787 107888:13. The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, 10789and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue. 10790 107918:14. Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine. 10792 107938:15. By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things. 10794 107958:16. By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice. 10796 107978:17. I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early 10798watch for me, shall find me. 10799 108008:18. With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice. 10801 108028:19. For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my 10803blossoms than choice silver. 10804 108058:20. I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of 10806judgment, 10807 108088:21. That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their 10809treasures. 10810 108118:22. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he 10812made any thing from the beginning. 10813 108148:23. I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was 10815made. 10816 108178:24. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither 10818had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out. 10819 108208:25. The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been 10821established: before the hills, I was brought forth: 10822 108238:26. He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of 10824the world. 10825 108268:27. When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain 10827law, and compass, he enclosed the depths: 10828 108298:28. When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of 10830waters: 10831 108328:29. When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the 10833waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the 10834foundations of the earth; 10835 108368:30. I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, 10837playing before him at all times; 10838 108398:31. Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the 10840children of men. 10841 108428:32. Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep 10843my ways. 10844 108458:33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 10846 108478:34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my 10848gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. 10849 108508:35. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation 10851from the Lord. 10852 108538:36. But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All 10854that hate me love death. 10855 10856 10857 10858Proverbs Chapter 9 10859 10860 10861Wisdom invites all to her feast. Folly calls another way. 10862 108639:1. Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven 10864pillars. 10865 108669:2. She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her 10867table. 10868 108699:3. She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls 10870of the city: 10871 108729:4. Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise 10873she said: 10874 108759:5. Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for 10876you. 10877 108789:6. Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence. 10879 108809:7. He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself; and he that 10881rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot. 10882 108839:8. Rebuke not a scorner, lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he 10884will love thee. 10885 108869:9. Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. 10887Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it. 10888 108899:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the 10890knowledge of the holy is prudence. 10891 108929:11. For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall 10893be added to thee. 10894 108959:12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, 10896thou alone shalt bear the evil. 10897 108989:13. A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and 10899knowing nothing at all, 10900 109019:14. Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the 10902city, 10903 109049:15. To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey: 10905 109069:16. He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she 10907said: 10908 109099:17. Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant. 10910 109119:18. And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests 10912are in the depths of hell. 10913 10914 10915 10916Proverbs Chapter 10 10917 10918 10919In the twenty following chapters are contained many wise sayings and 10920axioms, relating to wisdom and folly, virtue and vice. 10921 1092210:1. A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the 10923sorrow of his mother. 10924 1092510:2. Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice shall 10926deliver from death. 10927 1092810:3. The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine, and 10929he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked. 10930 1093110:4. The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the 10932industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: 10933and the same runneth after birds, that fly away. 10934 1093510:5. He that gathereth in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that 10936snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion. 10937 1093810:6. The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but 10939iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked. 10940 1094110:7. The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the 10942wicked shall rot. 10943 1094410:8. The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips. 10945 1094610:9. He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that 10947perverteth his ways, shall be manifest. 10948 1094910:10. He that winketh with the eye, shall cause sorrow: and the 10950foolish in lips shall be beaten. 10951 1095210:11. The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the 10953wicked covereth iniquity. 10954 1095510:12. Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins. 10956 1095710:13. In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back 10958of him that wanteth sense. 10959 1096010:14. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to 10961confusion. 10962 1096310:15. The substance of a rich man is the city of his strength: the 10964fear of the poor is their poverty. 10965 1096610:16. The work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked 10967unto sin. 10968 1096910:17. The way of life, to him that observeth correction: but he that 10970forsaketh reproofs, goeth astray. 10971 1097210:18. Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth reproach, is foolish. 10973 1097410:19. In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that 10975refraineth his lips, is most wise. 10976 1097710:20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: but the heart of the 10978wicked is nothing worth. 10979 1098010:21. The lips of the just teach many: but they that are ignorant, 10981shall die in the want of understanding. 10982 1098310:22. The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich: neither shall 10984affliction be joined to them. 10985 1098610:23. A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is 10987prudence to a man. 10988 1098910:24. That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him: to the just 10990their desire shall be given. 10991 1099210:25. As a tempest that passeth, so the wicked shall be no more: but 10993the just is as an everlasting foundation. 10994 1099510:26. As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the 10996sluggard to them that sent him. 10997 1099810:27. The fear of the Lord shall prolong days: and the years of the 10999wicked shall be shortened. 11000 1100110:28. The expectation of the just is joy: but the hope of the wicked 11002shall perish. 11003 1100410:29. The strength of the upright is the way of the Lord: and fear to 11005them that work evil. 11006 1100710:30. The just shall never be moved: but the wicked shall not dwell on 11008the earth. 11009 1101010:31. The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of 11011the perverse shall perish. 11012 1101310:32. The lips of the just consider what is acceptable: and the mouth 11014of the wicked uttereth perverse things. 11015 11016 11017 11018Proverbs Chapter 11 11019 11020 1102111:1. A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just 11022weight is his will. 11023 1102411:2. Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility 11025is, there also is wisdom. 11026 1102711:3. The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the 11028deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them. 11029 1103011:4. Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall 11031deliver from death. 11032 1103311:5. The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the 11034wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness. 11035 1103611:6. The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust 11037shall be caught in their own snares. 11038 1103911:7. When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and 11040the expectation of the solicitous shall perish. 11041 1104211:8. The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be 11043given up for him. 11044 1104511:9. The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just 11046shall be delivered by knowledge. 11047 1104811:10. When it goeth well with the just, the city shall rejoice: and 11049when the wicked perish, there shall be praise. 11050 1105111:11. By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by 11052the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown. 11053 1105411:12. He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man 11055will hold his peace. 11056 1105711:13. He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is 11058faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend. 11059 1106011:14. Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is 11061safety where there is much counsel. 11062 1106311:15. He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: 11064but he that is aware of snares, shall be secure. 11065 1106611:16. A gracious woman shall find glory: and the strong shall have 11067riches. 11068 1106911:17. A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel 11070casteth off even his own kindred. 11071 1107211:18. The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth 11073justice, there is a faithful reward. 11074 1107511:19. Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death. 11076 1107711:20. A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in 11078them that walk sincerely. 11079 1108011:21. Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of 11081the just shall be saved. 11082 1108311:22. A golden ring in a swine's snout, a woman fair and foolish. 11084 1108511:23. The desire of the just is all good, the expectation of the 11086wicked is indignation. 11087 1108811:24. Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take 11089away what is not their own, and are always in want. 11090 1109111:25. The soul that blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that 11092inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself. 11093 1109411:26. He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a 11095blessing upon the head of them that sell. 11096 1109711:27. Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that 11098seeketh after evil things, shall be oppressed by them. 11099 1110011:28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall 11101spring up as a green leaf. 11102 1110311:29. He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and 11104the fool shall serve the wise. 11105 1110611:30. The fruit of the just man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth 11107souls is wise. 11108 1110911:31. If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked 11110and the sinner. 11111 11112 11113 11114Proverbs Chapter 12 11115 11116 1111712:1. He that loveth correction, loveth knowledge: but he that hateth 11118reproof, is foolish. 11119 1112012:2. He that is good, shall draw grace from the Lord: but he that 11121trusteth in his own devices, doth wickedly. 11122 1112312:3. Man shall not be strengthened by wickedness: and the root of the 11124just shall not be moved. 11125 1112612:4. A diligent woman is a crown to her husband: and she that doth 11127things worthy of confusion, is as rottenness in his bones. 11128 1112912:5. The thoughts of the just are judgments: and the counsels of the 11130wicked are deceitful. 11131 1113212:6. The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood: the mouth of the 11133just shall deliver them. 11134 1113512:7. Turn the wicked, and they shall not be: but the house of the just 11136shall stand firm. 11137 1113812:8. A man shall be known by his learning: but he that is vain and 11139foolish, shall be exposed to contempt. 11140 1114112:9. Better is the poor man that provideth for himself, than he that 11142is glorious and wanteth bread. 11143 1114412:10. The just regardeth the lives of his beasts: but the bowels of 11145the wicked are cruel. 11146 1114712:11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he 11148that pursueth idleness is very foolish. 11149 1115012:12. He that is delighted in passing his time over wine, leaveth a 11151reproach in his strong holds. 11152 1115312:12. The desire of the wicked is the fortification of evil men: but 11154the root of the just shall prosper. 11155 1115612:13. For the sins of the lips ruin draweth nigh to the evil man: but 11157the just shall escape out of distress. 11158 1115912:14. By the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good 11160things, and according to the works of his hands it shall be repaid him. 11161 1116212:15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that is wise 11163hearkeneth unto counsels. 11164 1116512:16. A fool immediately sheweth his anger: but he that dissembleth 11166injuries is wise. 11167 1116812:17. He that speaketh that which he knoweth, sheweth forth justice: 11169but he that lieth, is a deceitful witness. 11170 1117112:18. There is that promiseth, and is pricked as it were with a sword 11172of conscience: but the tongue of the wise is health. 11173 1117412:19. The lip of truth shall be steadfast for ever: but he that is a 11175hasty witness, frameth a lying tongue. 11176 1117712:20. Deceit is in the heart of them that think evil things: but joy 11178followeth them that take counsels of peace. 11179 1118012:21. Whatsoever shall befall the just man, shall not make him sad: 11181but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 11182 1118312:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal 11184faithfully, please him. 11185 1118612:23. A cautious man concealeth knowledge: and the heart of fools 11187publisheth folly. 11188 1118912:24. The hand of the valiant shall bear rule: but that which is 11190slothful shall be under tribute. 11191 1119212:25. Grief in the heart of a man shall bring him low, but with a good 11193word he shall be made glad. 11194 1119512:26. He that neglecteth a loss for the sake of a friend, is just: but 11196the way of the wicked shall deceive them. 11197 1119812:27. The deceitful man shall not find gain: but the substance of a 11199just man shall be precious gold. 11200 1120112:28. In the path of justice is life: but the bye-way leadeth to 11202death. 11203 11204 11205 11206Proverbs Chapter 13 11207 11208 1120913:1. A wise son heareth the doctrine of his father: but he that is a 11210scorner, heareth not when he is reproved. 11211 1121213:2. Of the fruit of his own month shall a man be filled with good 11213things: but the soul of transgressors is wicked. 11214 1121513:3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his soul: but he that hath no 11216guard on his speech shall meet with evils. 11217 1121813:4. The sluggard willeth, and willeth not: but the soul of them that 11219work, shall be made fat. 11220 1122113:5. The just shall hate a lying word: but the wicked confoundeth, and 11222shall be confounded. 11223 1122413:6. Justice keepeth the way of the innocent: but wickedness 11225overthroweth the sinner. 11226 1122713:7. One is as it were rich, when he hath nothing and another is as it 11228were poor, when he hath great riches. 11229 1123013:8. The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but he that is poor, 11231beareth not reprehension. 11232 1123313:9. The light of the just giveth joy: but the lamp of the wicked 11234shall be put out. 11235 1123613:10. Among the proud there are always contentions: but they that do 11237all things with counsel, are ruled by wisdom. 11238 1123913:11. Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by 11240little and little is gathered with the hand, shall increase. 11241 1124213:12. Hope that is deferred afflicteth the soul: desire when it 11243cometh, is a tree of life. 11244 1124513:13. Whosoever speaketh ill of any thing, bindeth himself for the 11246time to come: but he that feareth the commandment, shall dwell in 11247peace. Deceitful souls go astray in sins: the just are merciful, and 11248shew mercy. 11249 1125013:14. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, that he may decline 11251from the ruin of death. 11252 1125313:15. Good instruction shall give grace: in the way of scorners is a 11254deep pit. 11255 1125613:16. The prudent man doth all things with counsel: but he that is a 11257fool, layeth open his folly. 11258 1125913:17. The messenger of the wicked shall fall into mischief: but a 11260faithful ambassador is health. 11261 1126213:18. Poverty and shame to him that refuseth instruction: but he that 11263yieldeth to reproof shall be glorified. 11264 1126513:19. The desire that is accomplished, delighteth the soul: fools hate 11266them that flee from evil things. 11267 1126813:20. He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools 11269shall become like to them. 11270 1127113:21. Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid. 11272 1127313:22. The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the 11274substance of the sinner is kept for the just. 11275 1127613:23. Much food is in the tillage of fathers: but for others it is 11277gathered without judgment. 11278 1127913:24. He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, 11280correcteth him betimes. 11281 1128213:25. The just eateth and filleth his soul: but the belly of the 11283wicked is never to be filled. 11284 11285 11286 11287Proverbs Chapter 14 11288 11289 1129014:1. A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down 11291with her hands that also which is built. 11292 1129314:2. He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by 11294him that goeth by an infamous way. 11295 1129614:3. In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the 11297wise preserve them. 11298 1129914:4. Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is 11300much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest. 11301 1130214:5. A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth 11303a lie. 11304 1130514:6. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the 11306wise is easy. 11307 1130814:7. Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of 11309prudence. 11310 1131114:8. The wisdom of a discreet man is to understand his way: and the 11312imprudence of fools erreth. 11313 1131414:9. A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide. 11315 1131614:10. The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his 11317joy the stranger shall not intermeddle. 11318 1131914:11. The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles 11320of the just shall flourish. 11321 1132214:12. There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof 11323lead to death. 11324 1132514:13. Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold 11326of the ends of joy. 11327 1132814:14. A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall 11329be above him. 11330 1133114:15. The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth 11332his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise 11333servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made 11334straight. 11335 1133614:16. A wise man feareth, and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth 11337over, and is confident. 11338 1133914:17. The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is 11340hateful. 11341 1134214:18. The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent shall look for 11343knowledge. 11344 1134514:19. The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before 11346the gates of the just. 11347 1134814:20. The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the 11349friends of the rich are many. 11350 1135114:21. He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth 11352mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, 11353loveth mercy. 11354 1135514:22. They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good 11356things. 11357 1135814:23. In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many 11359words, there is oftentimes want. 11360 1136114:24. The crown of the wise, is their riches: the folly of fools, 11362imprudence. 11363 1136414:25. A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer 11365uttereth lies. 11366 1136714:26. In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there 11368shall be hope for his children. 11369 1137014:27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the 11371ruin of death. 11372 1137314:28. In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in 11374the small number of the people the dishonour of the prince. 11375 1137614:29. He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is 11377impatient, exalteth his folly. 11378 1137914:30. Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the 11380rottenness of the bones. 11381 1138214:31. He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his maker: but he that 11383hath pity on the poor, honoureth him. 11384 1138514:32. The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the 11386just hath hope in his death. 11387 1138814:33. In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall 11389instruct all the ignorant. 11390 1139114:34. Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable. 11392 1139314:35. A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for 11394nothing shall feel his anger. 11395 11396 11397 11398Proverbs Chapter 15 11399 11400 1140115:1. A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury. 11402 1140315:2. The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools 11404bubbleth out folly. 11405 1140615:3. The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil. 11407 1140815:4. A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is 11409immoderate, shall crush the spirit. 11410 1141115:5. A fool laugheth at the instruction of his father: but he that 11412regardeth reproofs shall become prudent. In abundant justice there is 11413the greatest strength: but the devices of the wicked shall be rooted 11414out. 11415 1141615:6. The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of 11417the wicked is trouble. 11418 1141915:7. The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools 11420shall be unlike. 11421 1142215:8. The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of 11423the just are acceptable. 11424 1142515:9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: he that 11426followeth justice is beloved by him. 11427 1142815:10. Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: 11429he that hateth reproof shall die. 11430 1143115:11. Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the 11432hearts of the children of men? 11433 1143415:12. A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go 11435to the wise. 11436 1143715:13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind 11438the spirit is cast down. 11439 1144015:14. The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of 11441fools feedeth on foolishness. 11442 1144315:15. All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a 11444continual feast. 11445 1144615:16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great 11447treasures without content. 11448 1144915:17. It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted 11450calf with hatred. 11451 1145215:18. A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient 11453appeaseth those that are stirred up. 11454 1145515:19. The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: the way of the 11456just is without offence. 11457 1145815:20. A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth 11459his mother. 11460 1146115:21. Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his 11462steps. 11463 1146415:22. Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but 11465where there are many counsellors, they are established. 11466 1146715:23. A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due 11468time is best. 11469 1147015:24. The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from 11471the lowest hell. 11472 1147315:25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will 11474strengthen the borders of the widow. 11475 1147615:26. Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words 11477most beautiful shall be confirmed by him. 11478 1147915:27. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that 11480hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and 11481by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil. 11482 1148315:28. The mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked 11484overfloweth with evils. 11485 1148615:29. The Lord is far from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of 11487the just. 11488 1148915:30. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the 11490bones fat. 11491 1149215:31. The ear that heareth the reproofs of life, shall abide in the 11493midst of the wise. 11494 1149515:32. He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he 11496that yieldeth to reproof, possesseth understanding. 11497 1149815:33. The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth 11499before glory. 11500 11501 11502 11503Proverbs Chapter 16 11504 11505 1150616:1. It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to 11507govern the tongue. 11508 11509It is the part of man, etc. . .That is, a man should prepare in his 11510heart and soul what he is to say: but after all, it must be the Lord 11511that must govern his tongue, to speak to the purpose. Not that we can 11512think any thing of good without God's grace; but that after we have 11513(with God's grace) thought and prepared within our souls what we would 11514speak, if God does not govern our tongue, we shall not succeed in what 11515we speak. 11516 1151716:2. All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the 11518weigher of spirits. 11519 1152016:3. Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be 11521directed. 11522 1152316:4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for 11524the evil day. 11525 1152616:5. Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 11527be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is 11528to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer 11529sacrifices. 11530 1153116:6. By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the 11532Lord men depart from evil. 11533 1153416:7. When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even 11535his enemies to peace. 11536 1153716:8. Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with 11538iniquity. 11539 1154016:9. The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his 11541steps. 11542 1154316:10. Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err 11544in judgment. 11545 1154616:11. Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all 11547the weights of the bag. 11548 1154916:12. They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the 11550throne is established by justice. 11551 1155216:13. Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right 11553things shall be loved. 11554 1155516:14. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man 11556will pacify it. 11557 1155816:15. In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life: and his 11559clemency is like the latter rain. 11560 1156116:16. Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase 11562prudence, for it is more precious than silver. 11563 1156416:17. The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his 11565soul keepeth his way. 11566 1156716:18. Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up 11568before a fall. 11569 1157016:19. It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils 11571with the proud. 11572 1157316:20. The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth 11574in the Lord is blessed. 11575 1157616:21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet 11577in words, shall attain to greater things. 11578 1157916:22. Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the 11580instruction of fools is foolishness. 11581 1158216:23. The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add 11583grace to his lips. 11584 1158516:24. Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and 11586health to the bones. 11587 1158816:25. There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof 11589lead to death. 11590 1159116:26. The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because 11592his mouth hath obliged him to it. 11593 1159416:27. The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. 11595 1159616:28. A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words 11597separateth princes. 11598 1159916:29. An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way 11600that is not good. 11601 1160216:30. He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, 11603bringeth evil to pass. 11604 1160516:31. Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of 11606justice. 11607 1160816:32. The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth 11609his spirit, than he that taketh cities. 11610 1161116:33. Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the 11612Lord. 11613 11614 11615 11616Proverbs Chapter 17 11617 11618 1161917:1. Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims 11620with strife. 11621 1162217:2. A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the 11623inheritance among the brethren. 11624 1162517:3. As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord 11626trieth the hearts. 11627 1162817:4. The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful 11629hearkeneth to lying lips. 11630 1163117:5. He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that 11632rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished. 11633 1163417:6. Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of 11635children are their fathers. 11636 1163717:7. Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince. 11638 1163917:8. The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: 11640whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely. 11641 1164217:9. He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that 11643repeateth it again, separateth friends. 11644 1164517:10. A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes 11646with a fool. 11647 1164817:11. An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be 11649sent against him. 11650 1165117:12. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool 11652trusting in his own folly. 11653 1165417:13. He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his 11655house. 11656 1165717:14. The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and 11658before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment. 11659 1166017:15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, 11661both are abominable before God. 11662 1166317:16. What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy 11664wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that 11665refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils. 11666 1166717:17. He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved 11668in distress. 11669 1167017:18. A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend. 11671 1167217:19. He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth 11673his door, seeketh ruin. 11674 1167517:20. He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that 11676perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil. 11677 1167817:21. A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall 11679not rejoice in a fool. 11680 1168117:22. A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth 11682up the bones. 11683 1168417:23. The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may 11685pervert the paths of judgment. 11686 1168717:24. Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in 11688the ends of the earth. 11689 1169017:25. A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the 11691mother that bore him. 11692 1169317:26. It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the 11694prince, who judgeth right. 11695 1169617:27. He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and 11697the man of understanding is of a precious spirit. 11698 1169917:28. Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: 11700and if he close his lips, a man of understanding. 11701 11702 11703 11704Proverbs Chapter 18 11705 11706 1170718:1. He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: 11708he shall ever be subject to reproach. 11709 1171018:2. A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those 11711things which are in his heart. 11712 1171318:3. The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, 11714contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him. 11715 1171618:4. Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain 11717of wisdom is an overflowing stream. 11718 1171918:5. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline 11720from the truth of judgment. 11721 1172218:6. The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth 11723provoketh quarrels. 11724 1172518:7. The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin 11726of his soul. 11727 1172818:8. The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and 11729they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the 11730slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry. 11731 1173218:9. He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him 11733that wasteth his own works. 11734 1173518:10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, 11736and shall be exalted. 11737 1173818:11. The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and 11739as a strong wall compassing him about. 11740 1174118:12. Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he 11742be glorified, it is humbled. 11743 1174418:13. He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a 11745fool, and worthy of confusion. 11746 1174718:14. The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that 11748is easily angered, who can bear? 11749 1175018:15. A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise 11751seeketh instruction. 11752 1175318:16. A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before 11754princes. 11755 1175618:17. The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and 11757shall search him. 11758 1175918:18. The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between 11760the mighty. 11761 1176218:19. A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: 11763and judgments are like the bars of cities. 11764 1176518:20. Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and 11766the offspring of his lips shall fill him. 11767 1176818:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love 11769it, shall eat the fruits thereof. 11770 1177118:22. He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and 11772shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good 11773wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is 11774foolish and wicked. 11775 1177618:23. The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak 11777roughly. 11778 1177918:24. A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother. 11780 11781 11782 11783Proverbs Chapter 19 11784 11785 1178619:1. Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a 11787rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise. 11788 1178919:2. Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he 11790that is hasty with his feet shall stumble. 11791 1179219:3. The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his 11793mind against God. 11794 1179519:4. Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom 11796he had, depart. 11797 1179819:5. A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh 11799lies, shall not escape. 11800 1180119:6. Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of 11802him that giveth gifts. 11803 1180419:7. The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends 11805have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall 11806have nothing. 11807 1180819:8. But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that 11809keepeth prudence, shall find good things. 11810 1181119:9. A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh 11812lies, shall perish. 11813 1181419:10. Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have 11815rule over princes. 11816 1181719:11. The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to 11818pass over wrongs. 11819 1182019:12. As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and 11821his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass. 11822 1182319:13. A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife 11824is like a roof continually dropping through. 11825 1182619:14. House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is 11827properly from the Lord. 11828 1182919:15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall 11830suffer hunger. 11831 1183219:16. He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he 11833that neglecteth his own way, shall die. 11834 1183519:17. He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will 11836repay him. 11837 1183819:18. Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not 11839thy soul. 11840 1184119:19. He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall 11842take away, he shall add another thing. 11843 1184419:20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise 11845in thy latter end. 11846 1184719:21. There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of 11848the Lord shall stand firm. 11849 1185019:22. A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying 11851man. 11852 1185319:23. The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the 11854fulness without being visited with evil. 11855 1185619:24. The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so 11857much as bring it to his mouth. 11858 1185919:25. The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if 11860thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline. 11861 1186219:26. He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is 11863infamous and unhappy. 11864 1186519:27. Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of 11866the words of knowledge. 11867 1186819:28. An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked 11869devoureth iniquity. 11870 1187119:29. Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for 11872the bodies of fools. 11873 11874 11875 11876Proverbs Chapter 20 11877 11878 1187920:1. Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is 11880delighted therewith, shall not be wise. 11881 1188220:2. As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that 11883provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul. 11884 1188520:3. It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but 11886all fools are meddling with reproaches. 11887 1188820:4. Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg 11889therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him. 11890 1189120:5. Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man 11892will draw it out. 11893 1189420:6. Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man? 11895 1189620:7. The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him 11897blessed children. 11898 1189920:8. The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away 11900all evil with his look. 11901 1190220:9. Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin? 11903 1190420:10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before 11905God. 11906 1190720:11. By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and 11908right. 11909 1191020:12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them 11911both. 11912 1191320:13. Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be 11914filled with bread. 11915 1191620:14. It is naught, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is 11917gone away, then he will boast. 11918 1191920:15. There is gold and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of 11920knowledge are a precious vessel. 11921 1192220:16. Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and 11923take a pledge from him for strangers. 11924 1192520:17. The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth 11926shall be filled with gravel. 11927 1192820:18. Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed 11929by governments. 11930 1193120:19. Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh 11932deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips. 11933 1193420:20. He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put 11935out in the midst of darkness. 11936 1193720:21. The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end 11938shall be without a blessing. 11939 1194020:22. Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will 11941deliver thee. 11942 1194320:23. Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful 11944balance is not good. 11945 1194620:24. The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that 11947can understand his own way? 11948 1194920:25. It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to 11950retract. 11951 1195220:26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the 11953wheel. 11954 1195520:27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all 11956the hidden things of the bowels. 11957 1195820:28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is 11959strengthened by clemency. 11960 1196120:29. The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old 11962men, their grey hairs. 11963 1196420:30. The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in 11965the more inward parts of the belly. 11966 11967 11968 11969Proverbs Chapter 21 11970 11971 1197221:1. As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the 11973hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it. 11974 1197521:2. Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord 11976weigheth the hearts. 11977 1197821:3. To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims. 11979 1198021:4. Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp 11981of the wicked is sin. 11982 1198321:5. The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but 11984every sluggard is always in want. 11985 1198621:6. He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and 11987foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death. 11988 1198921:7. The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they 11990would not do judgment. 11991 1199221:8. The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is 11993pure, his work is right. 11994 1199521:9. It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a 11996brawling woman, and in a common house. 11997 1199821:10. The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on 11999his neighbour. 12000 1200121:11. When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: 12002and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge. 12003 1200421:12. The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he 12005may withdraw the wicked from evil. 12006 1200721:13. He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also 12008cry himself, and shall not be heard. 12009 1201021:14. A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom, the 12011greatest wrath. 12012 1201321:15. It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that 12014work iniquity. 12015 1201621:16. A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide 12017in the company of the giants. 12018 1201921:17. He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth 12020wine, and fat things, shall not be rich. 12021 1202221:18. The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the 12023righteous. 12024 1202521:19. It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome 12026and passionate woman. 12027 1202821:20. There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of 12029the just: and the foolish man shall spend it. 12030 1203121:21. He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, 12032and glory. 12033 1203421:22. The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast 12035down the strength of the confidence thereof. 12036 1203721:23. He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from 12038distress. 12039 1204021:24. The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger 12041worketh pride. 12042 1204321:25. Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at 12044all. 12045 1204621:26. He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will 12047give, and will not cease. 12048 1204921:27. The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are 12050offered of wickedness. 12051 1205221:28. A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of 12053victory. 12054 1205521:29. The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is 12056righteous, correcteth his way. 12057 1205821:30. There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel 12059against the Lord. 12060 1206121:31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth 12062safety. 12063 12064 12065 12066Proverbs Chapter 22 12067 12068 1206922:1. A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above 12070silver and gold. 12071 1207222:2. The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of 12073them both. 12074 1207522:3. The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed 12076on, and suffered loss. 12077 1207822:4. The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory 12079and life. 12080 1208122:5. Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that 12082keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them. 12083 1208422:6. It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he 12085is old, he will not depart from it. 12086 1208722:7. The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him 12088that lendeth. 12089 1209022:8. He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of 12091his anger he shall be consumed. 12092 1209322:9. He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread 12094he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents, shall purchase 12095victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers. 12096 1209722:10. Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and 12098quarrels and reproaches shall cease. 12099 1210022:11. He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips 12101shall have the king for his friend. 12102 1210322:12. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the 12104unjust are overthrown. 12105 1210622:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be 12107slain in the midst of the streets. 12108 1210922:14. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is 12110angry with, shall fall into it. 12111 1211222:15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of 12113correction shall drive it away. 12114 1211522:16. He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall 12116himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need. 12117 1211822:17. Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy 12119heart to my doctrine: 12120 1212122:18. Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy 12122bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips: 12123 1212422:19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn 12125it to thee this day. 12126 1212722:20. Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in 12128thoughts and knowledge: 12129 1213022:21. That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to 12131answer out of these to them that sent thee. 12132 1213322:22. Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not 12134oppress the needy in the gate: 12135 1213622:23. Because the Lord will judge his cause: and will afflict them 12137that have afflicted his soul. 12138 1213922:24. Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious 12140man: 12141 1214222:25. Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul. 12143 1214422:26. Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer 12145themselves sureties for debts: 12146 1214722:27. For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there 12148that he should take the covering from thy bed? 12149 1215022:28. Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set. 12151 1215222:29. Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before 12153kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure. 12154 12155 12156 12157Proverbs Chapter 23 12158 12159 1216023:1. When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince, consider diligently 12161what is set before thy face: 12162 1216323:2. And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy 12164soul in thy own power. 12165 1216623:3. Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit. 12167 1216823:4. Labour not to be rich: but set bounds to thy prudence. 12169 1217023:5. Lift not up thy eyes to riches which thou canst not have: because 12171they shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly 12172towards heaven. 12173 1217423:6. Eat not with an envious man, and desire not his meats: 12175 1217623:7. Because, like a soothsayer, and diviner, he thinketh that which 12177he knoweth not. Eat and drink, will he say to thee: and his mind is not 12178with thee. 12179 1218023:8. The meats which thou hadst eaten, thou shalt vomit up: and shalt 12181loose thy beautiful words. 12182 1218323:9. Speak not in the ears of fools: because they will despise the 12184instruction of thy speech. 12185 1218623:10. Touch not the bounds of little ones: and enter not into the 12187field of the fatherless: 12188 1218923:11. For their near kinsman is strong: and he will judge their cause 12190against thee. 12191 1219223:12. Let thy heart apply itself to instruction and thy ears to words 12193of knowledge. 12194 1219523:13. Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him 12196with the rod, he shall not die. 12197 1219823:14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from 12199hell. 12200 1220123:15. My son, if thy mind be wise, my heart shall rejoice with thee: 12202 1220323:16. And my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips shall speak what is 12204right. 12205 1220623:17. Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the 12207Lord all the day long: 12208 1220923:18. Because thou shalt have hope in the latter end, and thy 12210expectation shall not be taken away. 12211 1221223:19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise: and guide thy mind in the way. 12213 1221423:20. Be not in the feasts of great drinkers, nor in their revellings, 12215who contribute flesh to eat: 12216 1221723:21. Because they that give themselves to drinking, and that club 12218together, shall be consumed: and drowsiness shall be clothed with rags. 12219 1222023:22. Hearken to thy father, that begot thee: and despise not thy 12221mother when she is old. 12222 1222323:23. Buy truth, and do not sell wisdom, and instruction, and 12224understanding. 12225 1222623:24. The father of the just rejoiceth greatly: he that hath begotten 12227a wise son, shall have joy in him. 12228 1222923:25. Let thy father and thy mother be joyful, and let her rejoice 12230that bore thee. 12231 1223223:26. My son, give me thy heart: and let thy eyes keep my ways. 12233 1223423:27. For a harlot is a deep ditch: and a strange woman is a narrow 12235pit. 12236 1223723:28. She lieth in wait in the way as a robber, and him whom she shall 12238see unwary, she will kill. 12239 1224023:29. Who hath woe? whose father hath woe? who hath contentions? who 12241falls into pits? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of 12242eyes? 12243 1224423:30. Surely they that pass their time in wine, and study to drink off 12245their cups. 12246 1224723:31. Look not upon the wine when it is yellow, when the colour 12248thereof shineth in the glass: it goeth in pleasantly, 12249 1225023:32. But in the end, it will bite like a snake, and will spread 12251abroad poison like a basilisk. 12252 1225323:33. Thy eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall utter 12254perverse things. 12255 1225623:34. And thou shalt be as one sleeping in the midst of the sea, and 12257as a pilot fast asleep when the stern is lost. 12258 1225923:35. And thou shalt say: They have beaten me, but I was not sensible 12260of pain: they drew me, and I felt not: when shall I awake and find wine 12261again? 12262 12263 12264 12265Proverbs Chapter 24 12266 12267 1226824:1. Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them: 12269 1227024:2. Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak 12271deceits. 12272 1227324:3. By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be 12274strengthened. 12275 1227624:4. By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious 12277and most beautiful wealth. 12278 1227924:5. A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant. 12280 1228124:6. Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety 12282where there are many counsels. 12283 1228424:7. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he shall not open his 12285mouth. 12286 1228724:8. He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool. 12288 1228924:9. The thought of a fool is sin: and the detractor is the 12290abomination of men. 12291 1229224:10. If thou lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, thy 12293strength shall be diminished. 12294 1229524:11. Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to 12296death, forbear not to deliver. 12297 1229824:12. If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the 12299heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, 12300and he shall render to a man according to his works. 12301 1230224:13. Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most 12303sweet to thy throat. 12304 1230524:14. So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou 12306hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not 12307perish. 12308 1230924:15. Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the 12310just, nor spoil his rest. 12311 1231224:16. For a just man shall fall seven times, and shall rise again: but 12313the wicked shall fall down into evil. 12314 1231524:17. When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not 12316thy heart rejoice: 12317 1231824:18. Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his 12319wrath from him. 12320 1232124:19. Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly. 12322 1232324:20. For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the 12324wicked shall be put out. 12325 1232624:21. My son, fear the Lord, and the king: and have nothing to do with 12327detractors. 12328 1232924:22. For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the 12330ruin of both? 12331 1233224:23. These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to 12333persons in judgment. 12334 1233524:24. They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed 12336by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them. 12337 1233824:25. They that rebuke him shall be praised: and a blessing shall come 12339upon them. 12340 1234124:26. He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words. 12342 1234324:27. Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that 12344afterward thou mayst build thy house. 12345 1234624:28. Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive 12347not any man with thy lips. 12348 1234924:29. Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render 12350to every one according to his work. 12351 1235224:30. I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard 12353of the foolish man: 12354 1235524:31. And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had 12356covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down. 12357 1235824:32. Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the 12359example I received instruction. 12360 1236124:33. Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, 12362thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest. 12363 1236424:34. And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an 12365armed man. 12366 12367 12368 12369Proverbs Chapter 25 12370 12371 1237225:1. These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias, 12373king of Juda, copied out. 12374 1237525:2. It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of 12376kings to search out the speech. 12377 1237825:3. The heaven above and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is 12379unsearchable. 12380 1238125:4. Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most 12382pure vessel: 12383 1238425:5. Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne 12385shall be established with justice. 12386 1238725:6. Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place 12388of great men. 12389 1239025:7. For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; 12391than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince. 12392 1239325:8. The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a 12394quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when 12395thou hast dishonoured thy friend. 12396 1239725:9. Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a 12398stranger: 12399 1240025:10. Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not 12401to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for 12402thyself, lest thou fall under reproach. 12403 1240425:11. To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of 12405silver. 12406 1240725:12. As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that 12408reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear. 12409 1241025:13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful 12411messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul. 12412 1241325:14. As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that 12414boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises. 12415 1241625:15. By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall 12417break hardness. 12418 1241925:16. Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest 12420being glutted therewith thou vomit it up. 12421 1242225:17. Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having 12423his fill he hate thee. 12424 1242525:18. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like 12426a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow. 12427 1242825:19. To trust in an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a 12429rotten tooth, and weary foot, 12430 1243125:20. And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar 12432upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth 12433doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man 12434consumeth the heart. 12435 1243625:21. If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him 12437water to drink: 12438 1243925:22. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will 12440reward thee. 12441 1244225:23. The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a 12443backbiting tongue. 12444 1244525:24. It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop: than with a 12446brawling woman, and in a common house. 12447 1244825:25. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so are good tidings from a far 12449country. 12450 1245125:26. A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain 12452troubled with the foot and a corrupted spring. 12453 1245425:27. As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a 12455searcher of majesty shall be overwhelmed by glory. 12456 12457Majesty. . .Viz., of God. For to search into that incomprehensible 12458Majesty, and to pretend to sound the depths of the wisdom of God, is 12459exposing our weak understanding to be blinded with an excess of light 12460and glory, which it cannot comprehend. 12461 1246225:28. As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is 12463a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking. 12464 12465 12466 12467Proverbs Chapter 26 12468 12469 1247026:1. As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly 12471for a fool. 12472 1247326:2. As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or 12474there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man. 12475 12476As a bird, etc. . .The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause 12477shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him 12478that curseth, as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own 12479nest. 12480 1248126:3. A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the 12482back of fools. 12483 1248426:4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like 12485him. 12486 12487Answer not a fool, etc. . .Viz., so as to imitate him but only so as to 12488reprove his folly. 12489 1249026:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to 12491be wise. 12492 1249326:6. He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and 12494drinketh iniquity. 12495 1249626:7. As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in 12497the mouth of fools. 12498 1249926:8. As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he 12500that giveth honour to a fool. 12501 1250226:9. As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a 12503parable in the mouth of fools. 12504 1250526:10. Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to 12506silence, appeaseth anger. 12507 1250826:11. As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that 12509repeateth his folly. 12510 1251126:12. Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be 12512more hope of a fool than of him. 12513 1251426:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a 12515lioness in the roads. 12516 1251726:14. As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon 12518his bed. 12519 1252026:15. The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth 12521him to turn it to his mouth. 12522 1252326:16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that 12524speak sentences. 12525 1252626:17. As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in 12527anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel. 12528 1252926:18. As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death. 12530 1253126:19. So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he 12532is taken, saith: I did it in jest. 12533 1253426:20. When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the 12535talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease. 12536 1253726:21. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man 12538stirreth up strife. 12539 1254026:22. The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach 12541to the innermost parts of the belly. 12542 1254326:23. Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthern 12544vessel adorned with silver dross. 12545 1254626:24. An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth 12547deceit. 12548 1254926:25. When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven 12550mischiefs in his heart. 12551 1255226:26. He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid 12553open in the public assembly. 12554 1255526:27. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a 12556stone, it shall return to him. 12557 1255826:28. A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth 12559worketh ruin. 12560 12561 12562 12563Proverbs Chapter 27 12564 12565 1256627:1. Boast not for to morrow, for thou knowest not what the day to 12567come may bring forth. 12568 1256927:2. Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and 12570not thy own lips. 12571 1257227:3. A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is 12573heavier than them both. 12574 1257527:4. Anger hath no mercy: nor fury, when it breaketh forth: and who 12576can bear the violence of one provoked? 12577 1257827:5. Open rebuke is better than hidden love. 12579 1258027:6. Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of 12581an enemy. 12582 1258327:7. A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul 12584that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet. 12585 1258627:8. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth 12587his place. 12588 1258927:9. Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of 12590a friend are sweet to the soul. 12591 1259227:10. Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not: and go not 12593into thy brother's house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a 12594neighbour that is near than a brother afar off. 12595 1259627:11. Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst 12597give an answer to him that reproacheth. 12598 1259927:12. The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing 12600on have suffered losses. 12601 1260227:13. Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and 12603take from him a pledge for strangers. 12604 1260527:14. He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the 12606night, shall be like to him that curseth. 12607 1260827:15. Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman 12609are alike. 12610 1261127:16. He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and 12612shall call the oil of his right hand. 12613 1261427:17. Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his 12615friend. 12616 1261727:18. He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and 12618he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified. 12619 1262027:19. As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so 12621the hearts of men are laid open to the wise. 12622 1262327:20. Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are 12624never satisfied. 12625 1262627:21. As silver is tried in the fining-pot, and gold in the furnace: 12627so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the 12628wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after 12629knowledge. 12630 1263127:22. Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle 12632striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him. 12633 1263427:23. Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider 12635thy own flocks: 12636 1263727:24. For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given 12638to generation and generation. 12639 1264027:25. The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the 12641hay is gathered out of the mountains. 12642 1264327:26. Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field. 12644 1264527:27. Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the 12646necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids. 12647 12648 12649 12650Proverbs Chapter 28 12651 12652 1265328:1. The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold 12654as a lion, shall be without dread. 12655 1265628:2. For the sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for 12657the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, 12658the life of the prince shall be prolonged. 12659 1266028:3. A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, 12661which bringeth a famine. 12662 1266328:4. They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep 12664it, are incensed against him. 12665 1266628:5. Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the 12667Lord, take notice of all things. 12668 1266928:6. Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich 12670in crooked ways. 12671 1267228:7. He that keepeth the law, is a wise son: but he that feedeth 12673gluttons, shameth his father. 12674 1267528:8. He that heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them 12676for him that will be bountiful to the poor. 12677 1267828:9. He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer 12679shall be an abomination. 12680 1268128:10. He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his 12682own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods. 12683 1268428:11. The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is 12685prudent shall search him out. 12686 1268728:12. In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked 12688reign, men are ruined. 12689 1269028:13. He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall 12691confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy. 12692 1269328:14. Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is 12694hardened in mind shall fall into evil. 12695 1269628:15. As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over 12697the poor people. 12698 1269928:16. A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he 12700that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days. 12701 1270228:17. A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee 12703even to the pit, no man will stay him. 12704 1270528:18. He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse 12706in his ways, shall fall at once. 12707 1270828:19. He that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he 12709that followeth idleness, shall be filled with poverty. 12710 1271128:20. A faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste 12712to be rich, shall not be innocent. 12713 1271428:21. He that hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: 12715such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth. 12716 1271728:22. A man that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is 12718ignorant that poverty shall come upon him. 12719 1272028:23. He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, 12721more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him. 12722 1272328:24. He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: 12724and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer. 12725 1272628:26. He that boasteth and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: 12727but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed. 12728 1272928:26. He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that 12730walketh wisely, he shall be saved. 12731 1273228:27. He that giveth to the poor shall not want: he that despiseth his 12733entreaty, shall suffer indigence. 12734 1273528:28. When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they 12736perish, the just shall be multiplied. 12737 12738 12739 12740Proverbs Chapter 29 12741 12742 1274329:1. The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, 12744shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him. 12745 1274629:2. When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked 12747shall bear rule, the people shall mourn. 12748 1274929:3. A man that loveth wisdom, rejoiceth his father: but he that 12750maintaineth harlots, shall squander away his substance. 12751 1275229:4. A just king setteth up the land: a covetous man shall destroy it. 12753 1275429:5. A man that speaketh to his friend with flattering and dissembling 12755words, spreadeth a net for his feet. 12756 1275729:6. A snare shall entangle the wicked man when he sinneth: and the 12758just shall praise and rejoice. 12759 1276029:7. The just taketh notice of the cause of the poor: the wicked is 12761void of knowledge. 12762 1276329:8. Corrupt men bring a city to ruin: but wise men turn away wrath. 12764 1276529:9. If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry, or laugh, 12766he shall find no rest. 12767 1276829:10. Bloodthirsty men hate the upright: but just men seek his soul. 12769 1277029:11. A fool uttereth all his mind: a wise man deferreth, and keepeth 12771it till afterwards. 12772 1277329:12. A prince that gladly heareth lying words, hath all his servants 12774wicked. 12775 1277629:13. The poor man and the creditor have met one another: the Lord is 12777the enlightener of them both. 12778 1277929:14. The king that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be 12780established for ever. 12781 1278229:15. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but the child that is left to 12783his own will, bringeth his mother to shame. 12784 1278529:16. When the wicked are multiplied, crimes shall be multiplied: but 12786the just shall see their downfall. 12787 1278829:17. Instruct thy son and he shall refresh thee, and shall give 12789delight to thy soul. 12790 1279129:18. When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: 12792but he that keepeth the law, is blessed. 12793 1279429:19. A slave will not be corrected by words: because he understandeth 12795what thou sayest, and will not answer. 12796 1279729:20. Hast thou seen a man hasty to speak? folly is rather to be 12798looked for, than his amendment. 12799 1280029:21. He that nourisheth his servant delicately from his childhood, 12801afterwards shall find him stubborn. 12802 1280329:22. A passionate man provoketh quarrels: and he that is easily 12804stirred up to wrath, shall be more prone to sin. 12805 1280629:23. Humiliation followeth the proud: and glory shall uphold the 12807humble of spirit. 12808 1280929:24. He that is partaker with a thief, hateth his own soul: he 12810heareth one putting him to his oath, and discovereth not. 12811 1281229:25. He that feareth man shall quickly fall: he that trusteth in the 12813Lord, shall be set on high. 12814 1281529:26. Many seek the face of the prince: but the judgment of every one 12816cometh forth from the Lord. 12817 1281829:27. The just abhor a wicked man: and the wicked loathe them that are 12819in the right way. The son that keepeth the word, shall be free from 12820destruction. 12821 12822 12823 12824Proverbs Chapter 30 12825 12826 12827The wise man thinketh humbly of himself. His prayer and sentiments upon 12828certain virtues and vices. 12829 1283030:1. The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the 12831man spoke, with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding 12832with him, said: 12833 12834Gatherer, etc. . .Or, as it is in the Latin, Congregans the son of 12835Vomens. The Latin interpreter has given us in this place the 12836signification of the Hebrew names, instead of the names themselves, 12837which are in the Hebrew, Agur the son of Jakeh. But whether this Agur 12838be the same person as Solomon, as many think, or a different person, 12839whose doctrine was adopted by Solomon, and inserted among his parables 12840or proverbs, is uncertain. 12841 1284230:2. I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with 12843me. 12844 1284530:3. I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of 12846saints. 12847 1284830:4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held 12849the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a 12850garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his 12851name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest? 12852 1285330:5. Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that 12854hope in him. 12855 12856Is fire tried. . .That is, most pure, like gold purified by fire. 12857 1285830:6. Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved and found a 12859liar: 12860 1286130:7. Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I 12862die. 12863 1286430:8. Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither 12865beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life: 12866 1286730:9. Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: 12868Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and 12869forswear the name of my God. 12870 1287130:10. Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou 12872fall. 12873 1287430:11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not 12875bless their mother. 12876 1287730:12. A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not 12878washed from their filthiness. 12879 1288030:13. A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up 12881on high. 12882 1288330:14. A generation that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their 12884jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from 12885among men. 12886 1288730:15. The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There 12888are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: 12889It is enough. 12890 12891The horseleech. . .Concupiscence, which hath two daughters that are 12892never satisfied, viz., lust and avarice. 12893 1289430:16. Hell and the mouth of the womb, and the earth which is not 12895satisfied with water: and the fire never saith: It is enough. 12896 1289730:17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth the 12898labour of his mother in bearing him, let the ravens of the brooks pick 12899it out, and the young eagles eat it. 12900 1290130:18. Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly 12902ignorant of. 12903 1290430:19. The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a 12905rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man 12906in youth. 12907 1290830:20. Such also is the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth and 12909wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil. 12910 1291130:21. By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot 12912bear. 12913 1291430:22. By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when be is filled with 12915meat: 12916 1291730:23. By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when 12918she is heir to her mistress. 12919 1292030:24. There are four very little things of the earth, and they are 12921wiser than the wise. 12922 1292330:25. The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the 12924harvest: 12925 1292630:26. The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock: 12927 1292830:27. The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands: 12929 1293030:28. The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings' 12931houses. 12932 12933The stellio. . .A kind of house lizard marked with spots like stars, 12934from whence it has its name. 12935 1293630:19. There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that 12937walketh happily: 12938 1293930:30. A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing 12940he meeteth: 12941 1294230:31. A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none 12943can resist. 12944 1294530:32. There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on 12946high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his 12947mouth. 12948 1294930:33. And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, 12950straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth 12951out blood: and he that provoketh wrath, bringeth forth strife. 12952 12953 12954 12955Proverbs Chapter 31 12956 12957 12958An exhortation to chastity, temperance, and works of mercy; with the 12959praise of a wise woman. 12960 1296131:1. The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother 12962instructed him. 12963 12964Lamuel. . .This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have 12965been one of the names of Solomon. 12966 1296731:2. What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the 12968beloved of my vows? 12969 1297031:3. Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings. 12971 1297231:4. Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because 12973there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: 12974 1297531:5. And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause 12976of the children of the poor. 12977 1297831:6. Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are 12979grieved in mind: 12980 1298131:7. Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow 12982no more. 12983 1298431:8. Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the 12985children that pass. 12986 1298731:9. Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the 12988needy and poor. 12989 1299031:10. Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost 12991coasts is the price of her. 12992 1299331:11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no 12994need of spoils. 12995 1299631:12. She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life. 12997 1299831:13. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel 12999of her hands. 13000 1300131:14. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from 13002afar. 13003 1300431:15. And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her 13005household, and victuals to her maidens. 13006 1300731:16. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of 13008her hands she hath planted a vineyard. 13009 1301031:17. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened 13011her arm. 13012 1301331:18. She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp 13014shall not be put out in the night. 13015 1301631:19. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have 13017taken hold of the spindle. 13018 1301931:20. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her 13020hands to the poor. 13021 1302231:21. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all 13023her domestics are clothed with double garments. 13024 1302531:22. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and 13026purple, is her covering. 13027 1302831:23. Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among 13029the senators of the land. 13030 1303131:24. She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the 13032Chanaanite. 13033 13034The Chanaanite. . .The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a 13035merchant. 13036 1303731:25. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the 13038latter day. 13039 1304031:26. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is 13041on her tongue. 13042 1304331:27. She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not 13044eaten her bread idle. 13045 1304631:28. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and 13047he praised her. 13048 1304931:29. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast 13050surpassed them all. 13051 1305231:30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth 13053the Lord, she shall be praised. 13054 1305531:31. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her 13056in the gates. 13057 13058 13059 13060 13061ECCLESIASTES 13062 13063 13064 13065This Book is called Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher, (in Hebrew, 13066Coheleth,) because in it, Solomon, as an excellent preacher, setteth 13067forth the vanity of the things of this world: to withdraw the hearts 13068and affections of men from such empty toys. 13069 13070 13071 13072Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 13073 13074 13075The vanity of all temporal things. 13076 130771:1. The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. 13078 130791:2. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all 13080is vanity. 13081 130821:3. What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the 13083sun? 13084 130851:4. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but 13086the earth standeth for ever. 13087 130881:5. The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and 13089there rising again, 13090 130911:6. Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the 13092spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to 13093his circuits. 13094 130951:7. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: 13096unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again. 13097 130981:8. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is 13099not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. 13100 131011:9. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is 13102it that hath been done? the same that shall be done. 13103 131041:10. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: 13105Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that 13106were before us. 13107 131081:11. There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those 13109things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with 13110them that shall be in the latter end. 13111 131121:12. I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13113 131141:13. And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely 13115concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful 13116occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised 13117therein. 13118 131191:14. I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold 13120all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. 13121 131221:15. The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is 13123infinite. 13124 131251:16. I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and 13126have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and 13127my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned. 13128 131291:17. And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and 13130errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was 13131labour, and vexation of spirit, 13132 131331:18. Because in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that 13134addeth knowledge, addeth also labour. 13135 13136 13137 13138Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 13139 13140 13141The vanity of pleasures, riches, and worldly labours. 13142 131432:1. I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy 13144good things. And I saw that this also was vanity. 13145 131462:2. Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly 13147deceived? 13148 131492:3. I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I 13150might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see 13151what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do 13152under the sun, all the days of their life. 13153 131542:4. I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards, 13155 131562:5. I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all 13157kinds, 13158 131592:6. And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the 13160young trees, 13161 131622:7. I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: 13163and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were 13164before me in Jerusalem: 13165 131662:8. I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of 13167kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the 13168delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out 13169wine: 13170 131712:9. And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my 13172wisdom also remained with me. 13173 131742:10. And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I 13175withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting 13176itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my 13177portion, to make use of my own labour. 13178 131792:11. And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had 13180wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in 13181all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting 13182under the sun. 13183 131842:12. I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is 13185man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?) 13186 131872:13. And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth 13188from darkness. 13189 131902:14. The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in 13191darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike. 13192 131932:15. And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall 13194be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the 13195study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this 13196also was vanity. 13197 131982:16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the 13199fool forever, and the times to come shall cover all things together 13200with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned. 13201 132022:17. And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things 13203under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit. 13204 132052:18. Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly 13206laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me, 13207 132082:19. Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he 13209shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been 13210solicitous: and is there anything so vain? 13211 132122:20. Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring anymore 13213under the sun. 13214 132152:21. For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and 13216carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this 13217also is vanity, and a great evil. 13218 132192:22. For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation 13220of spirit, with which he hath been tormented under the sun? 13221 132222:23. All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night 13223he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity? 13224 132252:24. Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good 13226things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God. 13227 132282:25. Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I? 13229 132302:26. God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and 13231knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and 13232superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to 13233him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless 13234solicitude of the mind. 13235 13236 13237 13238Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 13239 13240 13241All human things are liable to perpetual changes. We are to rest on 13242God's providence, and cast away fruitless cares. 13243 132443:1. All things have their season, and in their times all things pass 13245under heaven. 13246 132473:2. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time 13248to pluck up that which is planted. 13249 132503:3. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time 13251to build. 13252 132533:4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time 13254to dance. 13255 132563:5. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, 13257and a time to be far from embraces. 13258 132593:6. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to 13260cast away. 13261 132623:7. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a 13263time to speak. 13264 132653:8. A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of 13266peace. 13267 132683:9. What hath man more of his labour? 13269 132703:10. I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of men to 13271be exercised in it. 13272 132733:11. He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered 13274the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work 13275which God hath made from the beginning to the end. 13276 132773:12. And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, 13278and to do well in this life. 13279 132803:13. For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his 13281labour, this is the gift of God. 13282 132833:14. I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue 13284for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things 13285which God hath made that he may be feared. 13286 132873:15. That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that 13288shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past. 13289 132903:16. I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in 13291the place of justice iniquity. 13292 132933:17. And I said in my heart: God shall judge both the just and the 13294wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing. 13295 132963:18. I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would 13297prove them, and shew them to be like beasts. 13298 132993:19. Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the 13300condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all 13301things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things 13302are subject to vanity. 13303 13304Man hath nothing more, etc. . .Viz., as to the life of the body. 13305 133063:20. And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into 13307earth they return together. 13308 133093:21. Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, 13310and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward? 13311 13312Who knoweth, etc. . .Viz., experimentally: since no one in this life can 13313see a spirit. But as to the spirit of the beasts, which is merely 13314animal, and become extinct by the death of the beast, who can tell the 13315manner it acts so as to give life and motion, and by death to descend 13316downward, that is, to be no more? 13317 133183:22. And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice 13319in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to 13320know the things that shall be after him? 13321 13322 13323 13324Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 13325 13326 13327Other instances of human miseries. 13328 133294:1. I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that 13330are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no 13331comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being 13332destitute of help from any. 13333 133344:2. And I praised the dead rather than the living: 13335 133364:3. And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor 13337hath seen the evils that are done under the sun. 13338 133394:4. Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that 13340their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this 13341also there is vanity, and fruitless care. 13342 133434:5. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, 13344saying: 13345 133464:6. Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, 13347and vexation of mind. 13348 133494:7. Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: 13350 133514:8. There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, 13352and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with 13353riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and 13354defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous 13355vexation. 13356 133574:9. It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for 13358they have the advantage of their society: 13359 133604:10. If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that 13361is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. 13362 133634:11. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall 13364one alone be warmed? 13365 133664:12. And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a 13367threefold cord is not easily broken. 13368 133694:13. Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old 13370and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter. 13371 133724:14. Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to 13373a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty. 13374 133754:15. I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second 13376young man, who shall rise up in his place. 13377 133784:16. The number of the people, of all that were before him is 13379infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in 13380him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit. 13381 133824:17. Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and draw 13383nigh to hear. For much better is obedience, than the victims of fools, 13384who know not what evil they do. 13385 13386 13387 13388Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 13389 13390 13391Caution in words. Vows are to be paid. Riches are often pernicious: 13392the moderate use of them is the gift of God. 13393 133945:1. Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to 13395utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: 13396therefore let thy words be few. 13397 133985:2. Dreams follow many cares: and in many words shall be found folly. 13399 134005:3. If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an 13401unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: but whatsoever thou 13402hast vowed, pay it. 13403 134045:4. And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform 13405the things promised. 13406 134075:5. Give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin: and say not before 13408the angel: There is no providence: lest God be angry at thy words, and 13409destroy all the works of thy hands. 13410 134115:6. Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities, and words 13412without number: but do thou fear God. 13413 134145:7. If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent 13415judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this 13416matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others 13417still higher than these: 13418 134195:8. Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject 13420to him. 13421 134225:9. A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that 13423loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity. 13424 134255:10. Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat them. 13426And what doth it profit the owner, but that he seeth the riches with 13427his eyes? 13428 134295:11. Sleep is sweet to a labouring man, whether he eat little or much: 13430but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13431 134325:12. There is also another grievous evil, which I have seen under the 13433sun: riches kept to the hurt of the owner. 13434 134355:13. For they are lost with very great affliction: he hath begotten a 13436son, who shall be in extremity of want. 13437 134385:14. As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he 13439return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour. 13440 134415:15. A most deplorable evil: as he came, so shall he return. What then 13442doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind? 13443 134445:16. All the days of his life he eateth in darkness, and in many 13445cares, and in misery, and sorrow. 13446 134475:17. This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and 13448drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured 13449under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and 13450this is his portion. 13451 134525:18. And every man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and 13453hath given him power to eat thereof, and to enjoy his portion, and to 13454rejoice of his labour: this is the gift of God. 13455 134565:19. For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God 13457entertaineth his heart with delight. 13458 13459 13460 13461Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 13462 13463 13464The misery of the covetous man. 13465 134666:1. There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and 13467that frequent among men: 13468 134696:2. A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, 13470and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not 13471give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is 13472vanity and a great misery. 13473 134746:3. If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain 13475to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, 13476and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely 13477born is better than he. 13478 134796:4. For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be 13480wholly forgotten. 13481 134826:5. He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil: 13483 134846:6. Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed good 13485things: do not all make haste to one place? 13486 134876:7. All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be 13488filled. 13489 134906:8. What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, 13491but to go thither, where there is life? 13492 134936:9. Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that 13494which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of 13495spirit. 13496 134976:10. He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, 13498that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is 13499stronger than himself. 13500 135016:11. There are many words that have much vanity in disputing. 13502 13503 13504 13505Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 13506 13507 13508Prescriptions against worldly vanities: mortification, patience, and 13509seeking wisdom. 13510 135117:1. What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he 13512knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of 13513his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can 13514tell him what shall be after him under the sun? 13515 135167:2. A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of 13517death than the day of one's birth. 13518 135197:3. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of 13520feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the 13521living thinketh what is to come. 13522 135237:4. Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the 13524countenance the mind of the offender is corrected. 13525 13526Anger. . .That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil. 13527 135287:5. The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of 13529fools where there is mirth. 13530 135317:6. It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by 13532the flattery of fools. 13533 135347:7. For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the 13535laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity. 13536 135377:8. Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of 13538his heart. 13539 135407:9. Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the 13541patient man than the presumptuous. 13542 135437:10. Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool. 13544 135457:11. Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were 13546better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish. 13547 135487:12. Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more 13549advantage to them that see the sun. 13550 135517:13. For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning 13552and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth 13553them. 13554 135557:14. Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath 13556despised. 13557 135587:15. In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the 13559evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may 13560not find against him any just complaint. 13561 135627:16. These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man 13563perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his 13564wickedness. 13565 135667:17. Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest 13567thou become stupid. 13568 13569Over just. . .Viz., By an excessive rigour in censuring the ways of God 13570in bearing with the wicked. 13571 135727:18. Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before 13573thy time. 13574 13575Be not overmuch wicked. . .That is, lest by the greatness of your sin 13576you leave no room for mercy. 13577 135787:19. It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him 13579withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing. 13580 135817:20. Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the 13582city. 13583 135847:21. For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth 13585not. 13586 135877:22. But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest 13588perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee. 13589 135907:23. For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil 13591of others. 13592 135937:24. I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: 13594and it departed farther from me, 13595 135967:25. Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it 13597out? 13598 135997:26. I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, 13600and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, 13601and the error of the imprudent: 13602 136037:27. And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the 13604hunter's snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He 13605that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall 13606be caught by her. 13607 136087:28. Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after 13609another, that I might find out the account, 13610 136117:29. Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among 13612a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found. 13613 136147:30. Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath 13615entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise 13616man? and who hath known the resolution of the word? 13617 13618Of the word. . .That is, of this obscure and difficult matter. 13619 13620 13621 13622Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 13623 13624 13625True wisdom is to observe God's commandments. The ways of God are 13626unsearchable. 13627 136288:1. The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most 13629mighty will change his face. 13630 136318:2. I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath 13632of God. 13633 136348:3. Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an 13635evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him: 13636 136378:4. And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why 13638dost thou so? 13639 136408:5. He that keepeth the commandment, shall find no evil. The heart of 13641a wiser man understandeth time and answer. 13642 136438:6. There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great 13644affliction for man: 13645 136468:7. Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he 13647cannot know by any messenger. 13648 136498:8. It is not in man's power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power 13650in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at 13651hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked. 13652 136538:9. All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all 13654the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over 13655another to his own hurt. 13656 136578:10. I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were 13658in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: 13659but this also is vanity. 13660 136618:11. For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, 13662the children of men commit evils without any fear. 13663 136648:12. But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be 13665borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that 13666fear God, who dread his face. 13667 136688:13. But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be 13669prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of 13670the Lord. 13671 136728:14. There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There 13673are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of 13674the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure as though they 13675had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain. 13676 136778:15. Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man 13678under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should 13679take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which 13680God hath given him under the sun. 13681 13682No good for a man, etc. . .Some commentators think the wise man here 13683speaks in the person of the libertine: representing the objections of 13684these men against divine providence, and the inferences they draw from 13685thence, which he takes care afterwards to refute. But it may also be 13686said, that his meaning is to commend the moderate use of the goods of 13687this world, preferably to the cares and solicitudes of worldlings, 13688their attachment to vanity and curiosity, and presumptuously diving 13689into the unsearchable ways of divine providence. 13690 136918:16. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the 13692distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night 13693take no sleep with their eyes. 13694 136958:17. And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works 13696of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to 13697seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall 13698say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find it. 13699 13700 13701 13702Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 13703 13704 13705Man knows not certainty that he is in God's grace. After death no more 13706work or merit. 13707 137089:1. All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might 13709carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their 13710works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be 13711worthy of love, or hatred: 13712 137139:2. But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because 13714all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good 13715and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth 13716victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also 13717is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth. 13718 137199:3. This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the 13720sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of 13721the children of men are filled with evil, and with contempt while they 13722live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to hell. 13723 137249:4. There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a 13725living dog is better than a dead lion. 13726 137279:5. For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing 13728more, neither have they a reward any more: for the memory of them is 13729forgotten. 13730 13731Know nothing more. . .Viz., as to the transactions of this world, in 13732which they have now no part, unless it be revealed to them; neither 13733have they any knowledge or power now of doing any thing to secure their 13734eternal state, (if they have not taken care of it in their lifetime:) 13735nor can they now procure themselves any good, as the living always may 13736do, by the grace of God. 13737 137389:6. Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy are all 13739perished, neither have they any part in this world, and in the work 13740that is done under the sun. 13741 137429:7. Go then, and eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with 13743gladness: because thy works please God. 13744 137459:8. At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil depart 13746from thy head. 13747 137489:9. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy 13749unsteady life, which are given to thee under the sun, all the time of 13750thy vanity: for this is thy portion in life, and in thy labour 13751wherewith thou labourest under the sun. 13752 137539:10. Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither 13754work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither 13755thou art hastening. 13756 137579:11. I turned me to another thing, and I saw that under the sun, the 13758race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to 13759the wise, nor riches to the learned, nor favour to the skilful: but 13760time and chance in all. 13761 137629:12. Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the 13763hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the 13764evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them. 13765 137669:13. This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me 13767to be very great: 13768 137699:14. A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great 13770king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege 13771was perfect. 13772 137739:15. Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered 13774the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man. 13775 137769:16. And I said that wisdom is better than strength: how then is the 13777wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not heard? 13778 137799:17. The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of 13780a prince among fools. 13781 137829:18. Better is wisdom, than weapons of war: and he that shall offend 13783in one, shall lose many good things. 13784 13785 13786 13787Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 13788 13789 13790Observations on wisdom and folly, ambition and detraction. 13791 1379210:1. Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory 13793is more precious than a small and shortlived folly. 13794 1379510:2. The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a 13796fool is in his left hand. 13797 1379810:3. Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas he himself 13799is a fool, esteemeth all men fools. 13800 1380110:4. If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not 13802thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease. 13803 1380410:5. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an 13805error proceeding from the face of the prince: 13806 1380710:6. A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath. 13808 1380910:7. I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the 13810ground as servants. 13811 1381210:8. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a 13813hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 13814 1381510:9. He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that 13816cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them. 13817 1381810:10. If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, 13819with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow 13820wisdom. 13821 1382210:11. If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that 13823backbiteth secretly. 13824 1382510:12. The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of 13826a fool shall throw him down headlong. 13827 1382810:13. The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is 13829a mischievous error. 13830 1383110:14. A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been 13832before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 13833 1383410:15. The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not how to go 13835to the city. 13836 1383710:16. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the 13838princes eat in the morning. 13839 1384010:17. Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat 13841in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness. 13842 1384310:18. By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through 13844the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through. 13845 1384610:19. For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may 13847feast: and all things obey money. 13848 1384910:20. Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil 13850of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the 13851air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou 13852hast said. 13853 13854 13855 13856Ecclesiastes Chapter 11 13857 13858 13859Exhortation to works of mercy, while we have time, to diligence in 13860good, and to the remembrance of death and judgment. 13861 1386211:1. Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time 13863thou shalt find it again. 13864 1386511:2. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not 13866what evil shall be upon the earth. 13867 1386811:3. If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If 13869the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it 13870shall fall, there shall it be. 13871 13872If the tree fall, etc. . .The state of the soul is unchangeable when 13873once she comes to heaven or hell: and a soul that departs this life in 13874the state of grace, shall never fall from grace: as on the other side, 13875a soul that dies out of the state of grace, shall never come to it. But 13876this does not exclude a place of temporal punishments for such souls as 13877die in the state of grace: yet not so as to be entirely pure: and 13878therefore they shall be saved, indeed, yet so as by fire. 1 Cor. 3.13, 1387914, 15. 13880 1388111:4. He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that 13882considereth the clouds, shall never reap. 13883 1388411:5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the 13885bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so 13886thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of all. 13887 1388811:6. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand 13889cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: 13890and if both together, it shall be the better. 13891 1389211:7. The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the 13893sun. 13894 1389511:8. If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must 13896remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall 13897come, the things past shall be accused of vanity. 13898 1389911:9. Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart 13900be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways 13901of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these 13902God will bring thee into judgment. 13903 1390411:10. Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. 13905For youth and pleasure are vain. 13906 13907 13908 13909Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 13910 13911 13912The Creator is to be remembered in the days of our youth: all worldly 13913things are vain: we should fear God and keep his commandments. 13914 1391512:1. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of 13916affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They 13917please me not: 13918 1391912:2. Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be 13920darkened, and the clouds return after the rain: 13921 13922Before the sun, etc. . .That is, before old age: the effects of which 13923upon all the senses and faculties are described in the following 13924verses, under a variety of figures. 13925 1392612:3. When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men 13927shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and 13928they that look through the holes shall be darkened: 13929 1393012:4. And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's 13931voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, 13932and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf. 13933 1393412:5. And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the 13935way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and 13936the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house 13937of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street. 13938 1393912:6. Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink 13940back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be 13941broken upon the cistern, 13942 1394312:7. And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the 13944spirit return to God, who gave it. 13945 1394612:8. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity. 13947 1394812:9. And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and 13949declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth 13950many parables. 13951 1395212:10. He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full 13953of truth. 13954 1395512:11. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened 13956in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd. 13957 1395812:12. More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there 13959is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh. 13960 1396112:13. Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear 13962God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man: 13963 13964All man. . .The whole business and duty of man. 13965 1396612:14. And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for 13967every error, whether it be good or evil. 13968 13969Error. . .Or, hidden and secret thing. 13970 13971 13972 13973 13974SOLOMON'S CANTICLE OF CANTICLES 13975 13976 13977 13978This Book is called the Canticle of Canticles, that is to say, the most 13979excellent of all canticles: because it is full of high mysteries, 13980relating to the happy union of Christ and his spouse: which is here 13981begun by love; and is to be eternal in heaven. The spouse of Christ is 13982the church: more especially as to the happiest part of it, viz., 13983perfect souls, every one of which is his beloved, but, above all 13984others, the immaculate and ever blessed virgin mother. 13985 13986 13987 13988Canticle of Canticles Chapter 1 13989 13990 13991The spouse aspires to an union with Christ, their mutual love for one 13992another. 13993 139941:1. Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy breasts are 13995better than wine, 13996 13997Let him kiss me. . .The church, the spouse of Christ, prays that he may 13998love and have peace with her, which the spouse prefers to every thing 13999delicious: and therefore expresses (ver. 2) that young maidens, that is 14000the souls of the faithful, have loved thee. 14001 140021:2. Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured 14003out: therefore young maidens have loved thee. 14004 140051:3. Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. The 14006king hath brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice 14007in thee, remembering thy breasts more than wine: the rightous love 14008thee. 14009 14010Draw me. . .That is, with thy grace: otherwise I should not be able to 14011come to thee. This metaphor shews that we cannot of ourselves come to 14012Christ our Lord, unless he draws us by his grace, which is laid up in 14013his storerooms: that is, in the mysteries of Faith, which God in his 14014goodness and love for mankind hath revealed, first by his servant Moses 14015in the Old Law in figure only, and afterwards in reality by his only 14016begotten Son Jesus Christ. 14017 140181:4. I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the 14019tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 14020 14021I am black but beautiful. . .That is, the church of Christ founded in 14022humility appearing outwardly afflicted, and as it were black and 14023contemptible; but inwardly, that is, in its doctrine and morality, fair 14024and beautiful. 14025 140261:5. Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun hath altered 14027my colour: the sons of my mother have fought against me, they have made 14028me the keeper in the vineyards: my vineyard I have not kept. 14029 140301:6. Shew me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where 14031thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of 14032thy companions. 14033 140341:7. If thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and 14035follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the 14036tents of the shepherds. 14037 14038If thou know not thyself, etc. . .Christ encourages his spouse to follow 14039and watch her flock: and though she know not entirely the power at hand 14040to assist her, he tells her, ver. 8, my company of horsemen, that is, 14041his angels, are always watching and protecting her. And in the 14042following verses he reminds her of the virtues and gifts with which he 14043has endowed her. 14044 140451:8. To my company of horsemen, in Pharao's chariots, have I likened 14046thee, O my love. 14047 140481:9. Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove's, thy neck as jewels. 14049 140501:10. We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver. 14051 140521:11. While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the 14053odour thereof. 14054 140551:12. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my 14056breasts. 14057 140581:13. A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of 14059Engaddi. 14060 140611:14. Behold thou are fair, O my love, behold thou are fair, thy eyes 14062are as those of doves. 14063 140641:15. Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is 14065flourishing. 14066 140671:16. The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress 14068trees. 14069 14070 14071 14072Canticle of Canticles Chapter 2 14073 14074 14075Christ caresses his spouse: he invites her to him. 14076 140772:1. I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys. 14078 14079I am the flower of the field. . .Christ professes himself the flower of 14080mankind, yea, the Lord of all creatures: and, ver. 2, declares the 14081excellence of his spouse, the true church above all other societies, 14082which are to be considered as thorns. 14083 140842:2. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 14085 140862:3. As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved 14087among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his 14088fruit was sweet to my palate. 14089 140902:4. He brought me into the cellar of wine, he set in order charity in 14091me. 14092 140932:5. Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with apples: because I 14094languish with love. 14095 140962:6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace 14097me. 14098 140992:7. I adjure you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and the 14100harts of the field, that you stir not up, nor make the beloved to 14101awake, till she please. 14102 141032:8. The voice of my beloved, behold he cometh leaping upon the 14104mountains, skipping over the hills. 14105 14106The voice of my beloved: that is, the preaching of the gospel 14107surmounting difficulties figuratively here expressed by mountains and 14108little hills. 14109 141102:9. My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth 14111behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the 14112lattices. 14113 141142:10. Behold my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, make haste, my love, my 14115dove, my beautiful one, and come. 14116 141172:11. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. 14118 141192:12. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is 14120come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: 14121 141222:13. The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower 14123yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come: 14124 141252:14. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the 14126wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice 14127is sweet, and thy face comely. 14128 141292:15. Catch us the little foxes that destroy the vines: for our 14130vineyard hath flourished. 14131 14132Catch us the little foxes. . .Christ commands his pastors to catch false 14133teachers, by holding forth their fallacy and erroneous doctrine, which 14134like foxes would bite and destroy the vines. 14135 141362:16. My beloved to me, and I to him who feedeth among the lilies, 14137 141382:17. Till the day break, and the shadows retire. Return: be like, my 14139beloved, to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. 14140 14141 14142 14143Canticle of Canticles Chapter 3 14144 14145 14146The spouse seeks Christ. The glory of his humanity. 14147 141483:1. In my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, 14149and found him not. 14150 14151In my bed by night, etc. . .The Gentiles as in the dark, and seeking in 14152heathen delusion what they could not find, the true God, until Christ 14153revealed his doctrine to them by his watchmen, (ver. 3,) that is, by 14154the apostles, and teachers by whom they were converted to the true 14155faith; and holding that faith firmly, the spouse (the Catholic Church) 14156declares, ver. 4, That she will not let him go, till she bring him into 14157her mother's house, etc., that is, till at last, the Jews also shall 14158find him. 14159 141603:2. I will rise, and will go about the city: in the streets and the 14161broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, and I 14162found him not. 14163 141643:3. The watchmen who keep the city, found me: Have you seen him, whom 14165my soul loveth? 14166 141673:4. When I had a little passed by them, I found him whom my soul 14168loveth: I held him: and I will not let him go, till I bring him into my 14169mother's house, and into the chamber of her that bore me. 14170 141713:5. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the harts 14172of the fields, that you stir not up, nor awake my beloved, till she 14173please. 14174 141753:6. Who is she that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of 14176aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, and of all the powders 14177of the perfumer? 14178 141793:7. Behold threescore valiant ones of the most valiant of Israel, 14180surrounded the bed of Solomon? 14181 141823:8. All holding swords, and most expert in war: every man's sword upon 14183his thigh, because of fears in the night. 14184 141853:9. King Solomon hath made him a litter of the wood of Libanus: 14186 141873:10. The pillars thereof he made of silver, the seat of gold, the 14188going up of purple: the midst he covered with charity for the daughters 14189of Jerusalem. 14190 141913:11. Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see king Solomon in the 14192diadem, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of the joy of his 14193heart. 14194 14195 14196 14197Canticle of Canticles Chapter 4 14198 14199 14200Christ sets forth the graces of his spouse: and declares his love for 14201her. 14202 142034:1. How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! thy eyes 14204are doves' eyes, besides what is hid within. Thy hair is as flocks of 14205goats, which come up from mount Galaad. 14206 14207How beautiful art thou. . .Christ again praises the beauties of his 14208church, which through the whole of this chapter are exemplified by a 14209variety of metaphors, setting forth her purity, her simplicity, and her 14210stability. 14211 142124:2. Thy teeth as flocks of sheep, that are shorn, which come up from 14213the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them. 14214 142154:3. Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet. Thy cheeks 14216are as a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hid within. 14217 142184:4. Thy neck, is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: 14219a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armour of valiant men. 14220 142214:5. Thy two breasts like two young roes that are twins, which feed 14222among the lilies. 14223 14224Thy two breasts, etc. . .Mystically to be understood: the love of God 14225and the love of our neighbour, which are so united as twins which feed 14226among the lilies: that is, the love of God and our neighbour, feeds on 14227the divine mysteries and the holy sacraments, left by Christ to his 14228spouse to feed and nourish her children. 14229 142304:6. Till the day break, and the shadows retire, I will go to the 14231mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. 14232 142334:7. Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee. 14234 142354:8. Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt 14236be crowned from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, 14237from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards. 14238 142394:9. Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast 14240wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck. 14241 142424:10. How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts 14243are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments 14244above all aromatical spices. 14245 142464:11. Thy lips, my spouse, are as a dropping honeycomb, honey and milk 14247are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments, as the smell of 14248frankincense. 14249 142504:12. My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a 14251fountain sealed up. 14252 14253My sister, etc., a garden enclosed. . .Figuratively the church is 14254enclosed, containing only the faithful. A fountain sealed up. . .That 14255none can drink of its waters, that is, the graces and spiritual 14256benefits of the holy sacraments, but those who are within its walls. 14257 142584:13. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the 14259orchard. Cypress with spikenard. 14260 142614:14. Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the 14262trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes. 14263 142644:15. The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run 14265with a strong stream from Libanus. 14266 142674:16. Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my 14268garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow. 14269 14270 14271 14272Canticle of Canticles Chapter 5 14273 14274 14275Christ calls his spouse: she languishes with love: and describes him by 14276his graces. 14277 142785:1. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his 14279apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have 14280gathered my myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I have eaten the 14281honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O 14282friends, and drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved. 14283 14284Let my beloved come into his garden, etc. . .Garden, mystically the 14285church of Christ, abounding with fruit, that is, the good works of the 14286elect. 14287 142885:2. I sleep, and my heart watcheth: the voice of my beloved knocking: 14289Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is 14290full of dew, and my locks of the drops of the nights. 14291 142925:3. I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on? I have washed my 14293feet, how shall I defile them? 14294 142955:4. My beloved put his hand through the key hole, and my bowels were 14296moved at his touch. 14297 14298My beloved put his hand through the key hole, etc. . .The spouse of 14299Christ, his church, at times as it were penned up by its persecutors, 14300and in fears, expecting the divine assistance, here signified by his 14301hand: and ver. 6, but he had turned aside and was gone, that is, Christ 14302permitting a further trial of suffering: and again, ver. 7, the 14303keepers, etc., signifying the violent and cruel persecutors of the 14304church taking her veil, despoiling the church of its places of worship 14305and ornaments for the divine service. 14306 143075:5. I arose up to open to my beloved: my hands dropped with myrrh, and 14308my fingers were full of the choicest myrrh. 14309 143105:6. I opened the bolt of my door to my beloved: but he had turned 14311aside, and was gone. My soul melted when he spoke: I sought him, and 14312found him not: I called, and he did not answer me. 14313 143145:7. The keepers that go about the city found me: they struck me: and 14315wounded me: the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. 14316 143175:8. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, 14318that you tell him that I languish with love. 14319 143205:9. What manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, O thou most 14321beautiful among women? what manner of one is thy beloved of the 14322beloved, that thou hast so adjured us? 14323 143245:10. My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands. 14325 14326My beloved, etc. . .In this and the following verses, the church 14327mystically describes Christ to those who know him not, that is, to 14328infidels in order to convert them to the true faith. 14329 143305:11. His head is as the finest gold: his locks as branches of palm 14331trees, black as a raven. 14332 143335:12. His eyes as doves upon brooks of waters, which are washed with 14334milk, and sit beside the plentiful streams. 14335 143365:13. His cheeks are as beds of aromatical spices set by the perfumers. 14337His lips are as lilies dropping choice myrrh. 14338 143395:14. His hands are turned and as of gold, full of hyacinths. His belly 14340as of ivory, set with sapphires. 14341 143425:15. His legs as pillars of marble, that are set upon bases of gold. 14343His form as of Libanus, excellent as the cedars. 14344 143455:16. His throat most sweet, and he is all lovely: such is my beloved, 14346and he is my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem. 14347 143485:17. Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? 14349whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek him with thee? 14350 14351 14352 14353Canticle of Canticles Chapter 6 14354 14355 14356The spouse of Christ is but one: she is fair and terrible. 14357 143586:1. My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the bed of aromatical 14359spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. 14360 14361My beloved is gone down into his garden. . .Christ, pleased with the 14362good works of his holy and devout servants labouring in his garden, is 14363always present with them: but the words is gone down, are to be 14364understood, that after trying his Church by permitting persecution, he 14365comes to her assistance and she rejoices at his coming. 14366 143676:2. I to my beloved, and my beloved to me, who feedeth among the 14368lilies. 14369 143706:3. Thou art beautiful, O my love, sweet and comely as Jerusalem 14371terrible as an army set in array. 14372 143736:4. Turn away thy eyes from me, for they have made me flee away. Thy 14374hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from Galaad. 14375 143766:5. Thy teeth as a flock of sheep, which come up from the washing, all 14377with twins, and there is none barren among them. 14378 143796:6. Thy cheeks are as the bark of a pomegranate, beside what is hidden 14380within thee. 14381 143826:7. There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and young 14383maidens without number. 14384 143856:8. One is my dove, my perfect one is but one, she is the only one of 14386her mother, the chosen of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and 14387declared her most blessed: the queens and concubines, and they praised 14388her. 14389 14390One is my dove, etc. . .That is, my church is one, and she only is 14391perfect and blessed. 14392 143936:9. Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the 14394moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array? 14395 14396Who is she, etc. . .Here is a beautiful metaphor describing the church 14397from the beginning. As, the morning rising, signifying the church 14398before the written law; fair as the moon, shewing her under the light 14399of the gospel: and terrible as an army, the power of Christ's church 14400against its enemies. 14401 144026:10. I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the fruits of the 14403valleys, and to look if the vineyard had flourished, and the 14404pomegranates budded. 14405 144066:11. I knew not: my soul troubled me for the chariots of Aminadab. 14407 144086:12. Return, return, O Sulamitess: return, return that we may behold 14409thee. 14410 14411 14412 14413Canticle of Canticles Chapter 7 14414 14415 14416A further description of the graces of the church the spouse of Christ. 14417 144187:1. What shalt thou see in the Sulamitess but the companies of camps? 14419How beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince's daughter! The joints 14420of thy thighs are like jewels, that are made by the hand of a skilful 14421workman. 14422 14423How beautiful are thy steps, etc. . .By these metaphors are signified 14424the power and mission of the church in propagating the true faith. 14425 144267:2. Thy navel is like a round bowl never wanting cups. Thy belly is 14427like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies. 14428 144297:3. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. 14430 144317:4. Thy neck as a tower of ivory. Thy eyes like the fishpools in 14432Hesebon, which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude. Thy 14433nose is as the tower of Libanus, that looketh toward Damascus. 14434 144357:5. Thy head is like Carmel: and the hairs of thy head as the purple 14436of the king bound in the channels. 14437 14438Thy head is like Carmel. . .Christ, the invisible head of his church, is 14439here signified. 14440 144417:6. How beautiful art thou, and how comely, my dearest, in delights! 14442 144437:7. Thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of 14444grapes. 14445 144467:8. I said: I will go up into the palm tree, and will take hold of the 14447fruit thereof: and thy breasts shall be as the clusters of the vine: 14448and the odour of thy mouth like apples. 14449 144507:9. Thy throat like the best wine, worthy for my beloved to drink, and 14451for his lips and his teeth to ruminate. 14452 144537:10. I to my beloved, and his turning is towards me. 14454 144557:11. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us abide in 14456the villages. 14457 144587:12. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vineyard 14459flourish, if the flowers be ready to bring forth fruits, if the 14460pomegranates flourish: there will I give thee my breasts. 14461 144627:13. The mandrakes give a smell. In our gates are all fruits: the new 14463and the old, my beloved, I have kept for thee. 14464 14465 14466 14467Canticle of Canticles Chapter 8 14468 14469 14470The love of the church to Christ: his love to her. 14471 144728:1. Who shall give thee to me for my brother, sucking the breasts of 14473my mother, that I may find thee without, and kiss thee, and now no man 14474may despise me? 14475 144768:2. I will take hold of thee, and bring thee into my mother's house: 14477there thou shalt teach me, and I will give thee a cup of spiced wine 14478and new wine of my pomegranates. 14479 144808:3. His left hand under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me. 14481 14482His left hand, etc. . .Words of the church to Christ. His left hand, 14483signifying the Old Testament, and his right hand, the New. 14484 144858:4. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor 14486awake my love till she please. 14487 144888:5. Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, 14489leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I raised thee up: there 14490thy mother was corrupted, there she was defloured that bore thee. 14491 14492Who is this, etc. . .The angels with admiration behold the Gentiles 14493converted to the faith: coming up from the desert, that is, coming from 14494heathenism and false worship: flowing with delights, that is, abounding 14495with good works which are pleasing to God: leaning on her beloved, on 14496the promise of Christ to his Church, that the gates of hell should not 14497prevail against it; and supported by his grace conferred by the 14498sacraments. Under the apple tree I raised thee up; that is, that Christ 14499redeemed the Gentiles at the foot of the cross, where the synagogue of 14500the Jews (the mother church) was corrupted by their denying him, and 14501crucifying him. 14502 145038:6. Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love 14504is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are 14505fire and flames. 14506 145078:7. Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown 14508it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he 14509shall despise it as nothing. 14510 145118:8. Our sister is little, and hath no breasts. What shall we do to our 14512sister in the day when she is to be spoken to? 14513 14514Our sister is little, etc. . .Mystically signifies the Jews, who are to 14515be spoken to: that is, converted towards the end of the world: and then 14516shall become a wall, that is, a part of the building, the church of 14517Christ. 14518 145198:9. If she be a wall: let us build upon it bulwarks of silver: if she 14520be a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar. 14521 145228:10. I am a wall: and my breasts are as a tower since I am become in 14523his presence as one finding peace. 14524 145258:11. The peaceable had a vineyard, in that which hath people: he let 14526out the same to keepers, every man bringeth for the fruit thereof a 14527thousand pieces of silver. 14528 145298:12. My vineyard is before me. A thousand are for thee, the peaceable, 14530and two hundred for them that keep the fruit thereof. 14531 145328:13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the friends hearken: make me 14533hear thy voice. 14534 145358:14. Flee away, O my beloved, and be like to the roe, and to the young 14536hart upon the mountains of aromatical spices. 14537 14538 14539 14540 14541THE BOOK OF WISDOM 14542 14543 14544 14545This Book is so called, because it treats of the excellence of WISDOM, 14546the means to obtain it, and the happy fruits it produces. It is written 14547in the person of Solomon, and contains his sentiments. But it is 14548uncertain who was the writer. It abounds with instructions and 14549exhortations to kings and all magistrates to minister justice in the 14550commonwealth, teaching all kinds of virtues under the general names of 14551justice and wisdom. It contains also many prophecies of Christ's 14552coming, passion, resurrection, and other Christian mysteries. The whole 14553may be divided into three parts. In the first six chapters, the author 14554admonishes all superiors to love and exercise justice and wisdom. In 14555the next three, he teacheth that wisdom proceedeth only from God, and 14556is procured by prayer and a good life. In the other ten chapters, he 14557sheweth the excellent effects and utility of wisdom and justice. 14558 14559 14560 14561Wisdom Chapter 1 14562 14563 14564An exhortation to seek God sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and 14565desireth not our death. 14566 145671:1. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the 14568Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart: 14569 145701:2. For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself 14571to them that have faith in him. 14572 145731:3. For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is 14574tried, reproveth the unwise: 14575 145761:4. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a 14577body subject to sins. 14578 145791:5. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, 14580and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, 14581and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in. 14582 145831:6. For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the 14584evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is 14585a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. 14586 145871:7. For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that 14588which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice. 14589 145901:8. Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither 14591shall the chastising judgment pass him by. 14592 145931:9. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly, 14594and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of 14595his iniquities. 14596 145971:10. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of 14598murmuring shall not be hid. 14599 146001:11. Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth 14601nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech 14602shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul. 14603 146041:12. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye 14605destruction by the works of your hands. 14606 146071:13. For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the 14608destruction of the living. 14609 146101:14. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the 14611nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction 14612in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth. 14613 146141:15. For justice is perpetual and immortal. 14615 146161:16. But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and 14617esteeming it a friend, have fallen away and have made a covenant with 14618it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof. 14619 14620 14621 14622Wisdom Chapter 2 14623 14624 14625The vain reasonings of the wicked: their persecuting the just, 14626especially the Son of God. 14627 146282:1. For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The 14629time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is 14630no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell: 14631 146322:2. For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we 14633had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a 14634spark to move our heart, 14635 146362:3. Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall 14637be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace 14638of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by 14639the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof: 14640 146412:4. And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any 14642remembrance of our works. 14643 146442:5. For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going 14645back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth: 14646 146472:6. Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are 14648present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth. 14649 146502:7. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not 14651the flower of the time pass by us. 14652 146532:8. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no 14654meadow escape our riot. 14655 146562:9. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us every where 14657leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot. 14658 146592:10. Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor 14660honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged. 14661 146622:11. But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is 14663feeble is found to be nothing worth. 14664 146652:12. Let us, therefore, lie in wait for the just, because he is not 14666for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with 14667transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way 14668of life. 14669 146702:13. He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth 14671himself the son of God. 14672 146732:14. He is become a censurer of our thoughts. 14674 146752:15. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like 14676other men's, and his ways are very different. 14677 146782:16. We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our 14679ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, 14680and glorieth that he hath God for his father. 14681 146822:17. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall 14683happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be. 14684 146852:18. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will 14686deliver him from the hands of his enemies. 14687 146882:19. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his 14689meekness, and try his patience. 14690 146912:20. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be 14692respect had unto him by his words. 14693 146942:21. These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own 14695malice blinded them. 14696 146972:22. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of 14698justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls. 14699 147002:23. For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own 14701likeness he made him. 14702 147032:24. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world: 14704 147052:25. And they follow him that are of his side. 14706 14707 14708 14709Wisdom Chapter 3 14710 14711 14712The happiness of the just: and the unhappiness of the wicked. 14713 147143:1. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment 14715of death shall not touch them. 14716 147173:2. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure 14718was taken for misery: 14719 147203:3. And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are 14721in peace. 14722 147233:4. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope 14724is full of immortality. 14725 147263:5. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: 14727because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. 14728 147293:6. As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a 14730holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect 14731had to them. 14732 147333:7. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among 14734the reeds. 14735 147363:8. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord 14737shall reign for ever. 14738 147393:9. They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that 14740are faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his 14741elect. 14742 147433:10. But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: 14744who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord. 14745 147463:11. For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and 14747their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works 14748unprofitable. 14749 147503:12. Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked. 14751 147523:13. Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the 14753undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the 14754visitation of holy souls. 14755 147563:14. And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, 14757nor thought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith 14758shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God. 14759 147603:15. For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom 14761never faileth. 14762 147633:16. But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and 14764the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out. 14765 147663:17. And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their 14767last old age shall be without honour. 14768 147693:18. And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of 14770comfort in the day of trial. 14771 147723:19. For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race. 14773 14774 14775 14776Wisdom Chapter 4 14777 14778 14779The difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations: and 14780between the death of the just and the wicked. 14781 147824:1. How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory 14783thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men. 14784 147854:2. When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it 14786hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the 14787reward of undefiled conflicts. 14788 147894:3. But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and 14790bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation. 14791 147924:4. And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not 14793fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of 14794winds they shall be rooted out. 14795 147964:5. For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their 14797fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing. 14798 147994:6. For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of 14800wickedness against their parents in their trial. 14801 148024:7. But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. 14803 148044:8. For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the 14805number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. 14806 148074:9. And a spotless life is old age. 14808 148094:10. He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was 14810translated. 14811 148124:11. He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his 14813understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 14814 148154:12. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the 14816wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. 14817 148184:13. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. 14819 148204:14. For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out 14821of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand 14822not, nor lay up such things in their hearts: 14823 148244:15. That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that 14825he hath respect to his chosen. 14826 148274:16. But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, 14828and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust. 14829 148304:17. For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not 14831understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set 14832him in safety. 14833 148344:18. They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall 14835laugh them to scorn. 14836 148374:19. And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach 14838among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and 14839speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall 14840be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall 14841perish. 14842 148434:20. They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their 14844iniquities shall stand against them to convict them. 14845 14846 14847 14848Wisdom Chapter 5 14849 14850 14851The fruitless repentance of the wicked in another world: the reward of 14852the just. 14853 148545:1. Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that 14855have afflicted them, and taken away their labours. 14856 148575:2. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall 14858be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, 14859 148605:3. Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of 14861spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a 14862parable of reproach. 14863 148645:4. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without 14865honour. 14866 148675:5. Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their 14868lot is among the saints. 14869 148705:6. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of 14871justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not 14872risen upon us. 14873 148745:7. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and 14875have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not 14876known. 14877 148785:8. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting 14879of riches brought us? 14880 148815:9. All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post 14882that runneth on, 14883 148845:10. And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is 14885gone by, the trace cannot be found. nor the path of its keel in the 14886waters: 14887 148885:11. Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which 14889no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light 14890air, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings, 14891and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her 14892way: 14893 148945:12. Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly 14895cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known: 14896 148975:13. So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able 14898to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness. 14899 149005:14. Such things as these the sinners said in hell: 14901 149025:15. For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with 14903the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a 14904smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a 14905guest of one day that passeth by. 14906 149075:16. But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with 14908the Lord, and the care of them with the most High. 14909 149105:17. Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of 14911beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover 14912them, and with his holy arm he will defend them. 14913 149145:18. And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for 14915the revenge of his enemies. 14916 149175:19. He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true 14918judgment instead of a helmet: 14919 149205:20. He will take equity for an invincible shield: 14921 149225:21. And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole 14923world shall fight with him against the unwise. 14924 149255:22. Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as 14926from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the 14927mark. 14928 149295:23. And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting 14930wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers 14931shall run together in a terrible manner. 14932 149335:24. A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind 14934shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a 14935desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. 14936 14937 14938 14939Wisdom Chapter 6 14940 14941 14942An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by 14943those that seek her. 14944 149456:1. Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a 14946strong man. 14947 149486:2. Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are 14949judges of the ends of the earth. 14950 149516:3. Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in 14952multitudes of nations: 14953 149546:4. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, 14955who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts: 14956 149576:6. Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged 14958rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will 14959of God. 14960 149616:6. Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe 14962judgment shall be for them that bear rule. 14963 149646:7. For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall 14965be mightily tormented. 14966 149676:8. For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in 14968awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and 14969he hath equally care of all. 14970 149716:9. But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty. 14972 149736:10. To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may 14974learn wisdom, and not fall from it. 14975 149766:11. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: 14977and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer. 14978 149796:12. Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have 14980instruction. 14981 149826:13. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by 14983them that love her, and is found by them that seek her. 14984 149856:14. She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth 14986herself unto them. 14987 149886:15. He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall 14989find her sitting at his door. 14990 149916:16. To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he 14992that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure. 14993 149946:17. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she 14995sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with 14996all providence. 14997 149986:18. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline. 14999 150006:19. And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of 15001her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of 15002incorruption: 15003 150046:20. And incorruption bringeth near to God. 15005 150066:21. Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting 15007kingdom. 15008 150096:22. If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of 15010the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever. 15011 150126:23. Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples. 15013 150146:24. Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and 15015I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out 15016from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to 15017light, and will not pass over the truth: 15018 150196:25. Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not 15020be partaker of wisdom. 15021 150226:26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: 15023and a wise king is the upholding of the people. 15024 150256:27. Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be 15026profitable to you. 15027 15028 15029 15030Wisdom Chapter 7 15031 15032 15033The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found. 15034 150357:1. I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, 15036that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was 15037fashioned to be flesh. 15038 150397:2. In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of 15040man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring. 15041 150427:3. And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, 15043that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as 15044all others do. 15045 150467:4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares. 15047 150487:5. For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth. 15049 150507:6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out. 15051 150527:7. Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called 15053upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me: 15054 150557:8. And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed 15056riches nothing in comparison of her. 15057 150587:9. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, 15059in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to 15060her, shall be counted as clay. 15061 150627:10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her 15063instead of light: for her light cannot be put out. 15064 150657:11. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable 15066riches through her hands, 15067 150687:12. And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and 15069I knew not that she was the mother of them all. 15070 150717:13. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, 15072and her riches I hide not. 15073 150747:14. For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, 15075become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline. 15076 150777:15. And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive 15078thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the 15079guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise: 15080 150817:16. For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and 15082the knowledge and skill of works. 15083 150847:17. For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: 15085to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the 15086elements, 15087 150887:18. The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the 15089alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons, 15090 150917:19. The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars, 15092 150937:20. The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the 15094force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and 15095the virtues of roots, 15096 150977:21. And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: 15098for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me. 15099 151007:22. For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, 15101subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is 15102good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent, 15103 151047:23. Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, 15105overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, 15106subtile: 15107 151087:24. For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth 15109everywhere, by reason of her purity. 15110 151117:25. For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure 15112emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled 15113thing cometh into her. 15114 151157:26. For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted 15116mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness. 15117 151187:27. And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in 15119herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations 15120conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and 15121prophets. 15122 151237:28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. 15124 151257:29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order 15126of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. 15127 151287:30. For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom. 15129 15130 15131 15132Wisdom Chapter 8 15133 15134 15135Further praises of wisdom: and her fruits. 15136 151378:1. She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth 15138all things sweetly. 15139 151408:2. Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have 15141desired to take for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty. 15142 151438:3. She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and 15144the Lord of all things hath loved her. 15145 151468:4. For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God and is the 15147chooser of his works. 15148 151498:5. And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, 15150which maketh all things? 15151 151528:6. And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of 15153those things that are? 15154 151558:7. And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she 15156teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which 15157are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life. 15158 151598:8. And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and 15160judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and 15161the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they 15162be done, and the events of times and ages. 15163 151648:9. I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing 15165that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a 15166comfort in my cares and grief. 15167 151688:10. For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour 15169with the ancients, though I be young: 15170 151718:11. And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be 15172admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall 15173wonder at me. 15174 151758:12. They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look 15176upon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on 15177their mouth. 15178 151798:13. Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall 15180leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me. 15181 151828:14. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to 15183me. 15184 151858:15. Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the 15186multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war. 15187 151888:16. When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her 15189conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but 15190joy and gladness. 15191 151928:17. Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my 15193heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality, 15194 151958:18. And that there is great delight in her friendship, and 15196inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of 15197conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her 15198words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself. 15199 152008:19. And I was a witty child, and had received a good soul. 15201 152028:20. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled. 15203 152048:21. And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God 15205gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it 15206was, I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole 15207heart: 15208 15209 15210 15211Wisdom Chapter 9 15212 15213 15214Solomon's prayer for wisdom. 15215 152169:1. God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things 15217with thy word, 15218 152199:2. And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion 15220over the creature that was made by thee, 15221 152229:3. That he should order the world according to equity and justice, 15223and execute justice with an upright heart: 15224 152259:4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off 15226from among thy children: 15227 152289:5. For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and 15229of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and 15230laws. 15231 152329:6. For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom 15233be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded. 15234 152359:7. Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy 15236sons and daughters: 15237 152389:8. And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an 15239altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy 15240tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning: 15241 152429:9. And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also 15243was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to 15244thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments. 15245 152469:10. Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy 15247majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may 15248know what is acceptable with thee: 15249 152509:11. For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me 15251soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power. 15252 152539:12. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people 15254justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. 15255 152569:13. For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who 15257can think what the will of God is? 15258 152599:14. For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels 15260uncertain. 15261 152629:15. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly 15263habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things. 15264 152659:16. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and 15266with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things 15267that are in heaven, who shall search out? 15268 152699:17. And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send 15270thy holy Spirit from above: 15271 152729:18. And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and 15273men may learn the things that please thee? 15274 152759:19. For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O 15276Lord, from the beginning. 15277 15278 15279 15280Wisdom Chapter 10 15281 15282 15283What wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the 15284people of Israel. 15285 1528610:1. She preserved him, that was first formed by God, the father of 15287the world, when he was created alone, 15288 1528910:2. And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern 15290all things. 15291 1529210:3. But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished 15293by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother. 15294 15295The unjust. . .Cain. 15296 1529710:4. For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it 15298again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood. 15299 15300For whose cause. . .Viz., for the wickedness of the race of Cain.--Ibid. 15301The just. . .Noe. 15302 1530310:5. Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to 15304wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, 15305and kept him strong against the compassion for his son. 15306 15307She knew the just. . .She found out and approved Abraham. Ibid. 15308And kept him strong, etc. . .Gave him strength to stand firm against 15309the efforts of his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice 15310his son. 15311 1531210:6. She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were 15313perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis: 15314 15315The just man. . .Lot.--Ibid. Pentapolis. . .The land of the five cities, 15316Sodom, Gomorrha, etc. 15317 1531810:7. Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and 15319smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a 15320standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul. 15321 1532210:8. For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that 15323they were ignorant of good things; but they left also unto men a 15324memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, 15325they could not so much as lie hid. 15326 1532710:9. But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her. 15328 1532910:10. She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath, 15330through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him 15331the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, 15332and accomplished his labours. 15333 15334The just. . .Jacob. 15335 1533610:11. In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, 15337and made him honourable. 15338 1533910:12. She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from 15340seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and 15341know that wisdom is mightier than all. 15342 15343Conflict. . .Viz., with the angel. 15344 1534510:13. She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him 15346from sinners: she went down with him into the pit. 15347 15348The just when he was sold. . .Viz., Joseph. 15349 1535010:14. And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre 15351of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed 15352them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory. 15353 1535410:15. She delivered the just people, and blameless seed, from the 15355nations that oppressed them. 15356 1535710:16. She entered into the soul of the servant of God and stood 15358against dreadful kings in wonders and signs. 15359 15360The servant of God. . .Viz., Moses. 15361 1536210:17. And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and 15363conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by 15364day, and for the light of stars by night: 15365 1536610:18. And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over 15367through a great water. 15368 1536910:19. But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of 15370hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the 15371wicked. 15372 1537310:20. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with 15374one accord thy victorious hand. 15375 1537610:21. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of 15377infants eloquent. 15378 15379 15380 15381Wisdom Chapter 11 15382 15383 15384Other benefits of wisdom to the people of God. 15385 1538611:1. She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet. 15387 15388The holy prophet. . .Moses. 15389 1539011:2. They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in 15391desert places they pitched their tents. 15392 1539311:3. They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of 15394their adversaries. 15395 15396Their enemies. . .The Amalecites. 15397 1539811:4. They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given 15399them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the 15400hard stone. 15401 1540211:5. For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink 15403failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and 15404rejoiced: 15405 15406By what things, etc. . .The meaning is, that God, who wrought a miracle 15407to punish the Egyptians by thirst, when he turned all their waters into 15408blood, (at which time the Israelites, who were exempt from those 15409plagues, had plenty of water,) wrought another miracle in favour of his 15410own people in their thirst, by giving them water out of the rock. 15411 1541211:6. By the same things they in their need were benefited. 15413 1541411:7. For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest 15415human blood to the unjust. 15416 1541711:8. And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their 15418murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked 15419for: 15420 1542111:9. Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine, 15422and didst kill their adversaries. 15423 1542411:10. For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew 15425how the wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented. 15426 1542711:11. For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the 15428others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn. 15429 1543011:12. For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike. 15431 1543211:13. For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the 15433remembrance of things past. 15434 1543511:14. For when they heard that by their punishments the others were 15436benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was 15437come to pass. 15438 15439By their punishments, etc. . .That is, that the Israelites had been 15440benefited and miraculously favoured in the same kind, in which they had 15441been punished. 15442 1544311:15. For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time 15444of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, 15445when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the 15446just. 15447 1544811:16. But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some 15449being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou 15450didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance: 15451 15452Dumb beasts. . .Viz., frogs, sciniphs, flies, and locusts. 15453 1545411:17. That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the 15455same also he is tormented. 15456 1545711:18. For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without 15458form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce 15459lions, 15460 1546111:19. Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing 15462out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting 15463horrible sparks out of their eyes: 15464 1546511:20. Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but 15466also the very sight might kill them through fear. 15467 1546811:21. Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one 15469blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of 15470thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and 15471weight. 15472 1547311:22. For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall 15474resist the strength of thy arm? 15475 1547611:23. For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the 15477balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho 15478earth. 15479 1548011:24. But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, 15481and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance. 15482 1548311:25. For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the 15484things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any 15485thing hating it. 15486 1548711:26. And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be 15488preserved, if not called by thee? 15489 1549011:27. But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest 15491souls. 15492 15493 15494 15495Wisdom Chapter 12 15496 15497 15498God's wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites. 15499 1550012:1. O how good and sweet is thy Spirit, O Lord, in all things! 15501 1550212:2. And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and 15503little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the 15504things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may 15505believe in thee, O Lord. 15506 1550712:3. For those ancient inhabitants of thy holy land, whom thou didst 15508abhor, 15509 1551012:4. Because they did works hateful to thee by their sorceries, and 15511wicked sacrifices, 15512 1551312:5. And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters 15514of men's bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy 15515consecration, 15516 15517From the midst of thy consecration. . .Literally, sacrament. That is, 15518the land sacred to thee, in which thy temple was to be established, and 15519man's redemption to be wrought. 15520 1552112:6. And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless 15522souls, it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents, 15523 1552412:7. That the land which of all is most dear to thee, might receive a 15525worthy colony of the children of God. 15526 1552712:8. Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps 15528forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little. 15529 1553012:9. Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by 15531war, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at 15532once: 15533 1553412:10. But executing thy judgments by degrees, thou gavest them place 15535of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a wicked generation, 15536and their malice natural, and that their thought could never be 15537changed. 15538 1553912:11. For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou 15540for fear of any one give pardon to their sins. 15541 1554212:12. For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done? or who shall 15543withstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger 15544of wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which 15545thou hast made ? 15546 1554712:13. For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that 15548thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly. 15549 1555012:14. Neither shall king, nor tyrant, in thy sight inquire about them 15551whom thou hast destroyed. 15552 1555312:15. For so much then, as thou art just, thou orderest all things 15554justly: thinking it not agreeable to the power, to condemn him who 15555deserveth not to be punished. 15556 1555712:16. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art 15558Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all. 15559 1556012:17. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be 15561absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know 15562thee not. 15563 1556412:18. But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and 15565with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou 15566wilt. 15567 1556812:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be 15569just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: 15570because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins. 15571 1557212:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that 15573deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place 15574whereby they might be changed from their wickedness: 15575 1557612:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to 15577whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises? 15578 1557912:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies 15580very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy 15581goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy. 15582 1558312:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their 15584life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they 15585worshipped. 15586 1558712:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, 15588holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among 15589beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding. 15590 1559112:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless 15592children, to mock them. 15593 1559412:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions, 15595experienced the worthy judgment of God. 15596 1559712:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very 15598things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same, 15599they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that 15600they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon 15601them. 15602 15603 15604 15605Wisdom Chapter 13 15606 15607 15608Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods 15609the works of the hands of men. 15610 1561113:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: 15612and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him 15613that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was 15614the workman: 15615 1561613:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, 15617or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to 15618be the gods that rule the world. 15619 1562013:3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be 15621gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than 15622they: for the first author of beauty made all those things. 15623 1562413:4. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them 15625understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they: 15626 1562713:5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the 15628creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby. 15629 1563013:6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps 15631err, seeking God, and desirous to find him. 15632 1563313:7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are 15634persuaded that the things are good which are seen. 15635 1563613:8. But then again they are not to be pardoned. 15637 1563813:9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of 15639the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof? 15640 1564113:10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have 15642called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the 15643inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable 15644stone the work of an ancient hand. 15645 1564613:11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for 15647his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and 15648with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common 15649uses of life, 15650 1565113:12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat: 15652 1565313:13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, 15654being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently 15655when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth 15656it, and maketh it like the image of a man: 15657 1565813:14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion, 15659and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it: 15660 1566113:15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in 15662a wall, and fastening it with iron, 15663 1566413:16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable 15665to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help. 15666 1566713:17. And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his 15668substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to 15669speak to that which hath no life: 15670 1567113:18. And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life 15672prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is 15673unprofitable: 15674 1567513:19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and 15676for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh 15677him that is unable to do any thing. 15678 15679 15680 15681Wisdom Chapter 14 15682 15683 15684The beginning of worshipping idols: and the effects thereof. 15685 1568614:1. Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his 15687voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more 15688frail than the wood that carrieth him. 15689 1569014:2. For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by 15691his skill. 15692 1569314:3. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a 15694way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves, 15695 1569614:4. Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though 15697a man went to sea without art. 15698 1569914:5. But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men 15700also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea 15701by ship, are saved. 15702 1570314:6. And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the 15704hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, 15705left to the world seed of generation. 15706 1570714:7. For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh 15708 1570914:8. But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he 15710that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is 15711called a god. 15712 1571314:9. But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike. 15714 1571514:10. For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall 15716suffer torments. 15717 1571814:11. Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the 15719Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, 15720and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the 15721unwise. 15722 1572314:12. For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and 15724the invention of them is the corruption of life. 15725 1572614:13. For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be 15727for ever. 15728 1572914:14. For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore 15730they shall be found to come shortly to an end. 15731 1573214:15. For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself 15733the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had 15734died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him 15735rites and sacrifices among his servants. 15736 1573714:16. Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error 15738was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of 15739tyrants. 15740 1574114:17. And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they 15742dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an 15743express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this 15744their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent. 15745 1574614:18. And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of 15747the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant. 15748 1574914:19. For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured 15750with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner. 15751 1575214:20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the 15753work, took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a 15754man. 15755 1575614:21. And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men 15757serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable 15758name to stones and wood. 15759 1576014:22. And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of 15761God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so 15762many and so great evils peace. 15763 1576414:23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden 15765sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness, 15766 1576714:24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but 15768one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery: 15769 1577014:25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and 15771dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, 15772disquieting of the good, 15773 1577414:26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, 15775disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness. 15776 1577714:27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the 15778beginning and end of all evil. 15779 1578014:28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy 15781lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves. 15782 1578314:29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though 15784they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt. 15785 1578614:30. But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because 15787they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn 15788unjustly, in guile despising justice. 15789 1579014:31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the 15791just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the 15792unjust. 15793 15794 15795 15796Wisdom Chapter 15 15797 15798 15799The servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry; 15800condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols. 15801 1580215:1. But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering 15803all things in mercy. 15804 1580515:2. For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin 15806not, we know that we are counted with thee. 15807 1580815:3. For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and 15809thy power, is the root of immortality. 15810 1581115:4. For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor 15812the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with 15813divers colours, 15814 1581515:5. The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he 15816loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image. 15817 1581815:6. The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to 15819trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they 15820that worship them. 15821 1582215:7. The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth 15823every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both 15824vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the 15825contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the 15826judge. 15827 1582815:8. And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a 15829little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth 15830to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent 15831him, shall be called for again. 15832 1583315:9. But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is 15834short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he 15835endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory 15836to make vain things. 15837 1583815:10. For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life 15839more base than clay: 15840 1584115:11. Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into 15842him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit. 15843 1584415:12. Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business 15845of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of 15846evil. 15847 1584815:13. For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of 15849earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods. 15850 1585115:14. But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection, 15852are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure: 15853 1585415:15. For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods, 15855which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, 15856nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their 15857feet, they are slow to walk. 15858 1585915:16. For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath, 15860fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself. 15861 1586215:17. For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his 15863wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because 15864he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never. 15865 1586615:18. Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things 15867without sense, compared to these, are worse than they. 15868 1586915:19. Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But 15870they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing. 15871 15872 15873 15874Wisdom Chapter 16 15875 15876 15877God's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people. 15878 1587916:1. For these things, and by the like things to these, they were 15880worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts. 15881 1588216:2. Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou 15883gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing 15884for them quails for their meat: 15885 1588616:3. To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those 15887things that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which 15888was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want 15889for a short time, tasted a new meat. 15890 15891They indeed desiring food, etc. . .He means the Egyptians; who were 15892restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and 15893the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their 15894meats.--Ibid. But these. . .Viz., the Israelites. 15895 1589616:4. For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon 15897them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how 15898their enemies were destroyed. 15899 1590016:5. For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were 15901destroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents. 15902 1590316:6. But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a 15904short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put 15905them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. 15906 15907Sign of salvation. . .The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our 15908Saviour. 15909 1591016:7. For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, 15911but by thee, the Saviour of all. 15912 1591316:8. And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who 15914deliverest from all evil. 15915 1591616:9. For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there 15917was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be 15918destroyed by such things. 15919 1592016:10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy 15921children: for thy mercy came and healed them. 15922 1592316:11. For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and 15924were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might 15925not be able to use thy help. 15926 1592716:12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed 15928them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things. 15929 1593016:13. For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and 15931leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again: 15932 1593316:14. A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone 15934forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is 15935received: 15936 1593716:15. But it is impossible to escape thy hand: 15938 1593916:16. For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the 15940strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and 15941rain, and consumed by fire. 15942 1594316:17. And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all 15944things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just. 15945 15946The fire had more force. . .Viz., when the fire and hail mingled 15947together laid waste the land of Egypt. Ex. 9. 15948 1594916:18. For at one time the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which 15950were sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might 15951see, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God. 15952 1595316:19. And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the 15954midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land. 15955 1595616:20. Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the 15957food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without 15958labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every 15959taste. 15960 1596116:21. For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and 15962serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked. 15963 1596416:22. But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that 15965they might know that the fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the 15966rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies. 15967 1596816:23. But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even 15969forget its own strength. 15970 1597116:24. For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce 15972against the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for 15973the benefit of them that trust in thee. 15974 1597516:25. Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was 15976obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of 15977them that desired it of thee: 15978 1597916:26. That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it 15980is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word 15981preserveth them that believe in thee. 15982 1598316:27. For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with 15984a little sunbeam, presently melted away: 15985 1598616:28. That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun 15987to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light. 15988 1598916:29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's 15990ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water. 15991 15992 15993 15994Wisdom Chapter 17 15995 15996 15997The Egyptian darkness. 15998 1599917:1. For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be 16000expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred. 16001 1600217:2. For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the 16003holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, 16004and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the 16005eternal providence. 16006 1600717:3. And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they 16008were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly 16009afraid, and troubled with exceeding great astonishment. 16010 1601117:4. For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for 16012noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, 16013affrighted them. 16014 1601517:5. And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the 16016bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night. 16017 1601817:6. But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and 16019being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they 16020thought the things which they saw to be worse: 16021 1602217:7. And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their 16023boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked. 16024 1602517:8. For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a 16026sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at. 16027 1602817:9. For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared 16029with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for 16030fear and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be 16031avoided. 16032 1603317:10. For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its 16034condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous 16035things. 16036 1603717:11. For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from 16038thought. 16039 1604017:12. And while there is less expectation from within, the greater 16041doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment. 16042 1604317:13. But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, 16044and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the 16045same sleep, 16046 1604717:14. Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes 16048fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for 16049fear was come upon them. 16050 1605117:15. Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in 16052prison without irons. 16053 1605417:16. For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer 16055in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from 16056which he could not fly. 16057 1605817:17. For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. 16059Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, 16060among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down 16061with violence, 16062 1606317:18. Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that 16064could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of 16065wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these 16066things made them to swoon for fear. 16067 1606817:19. For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and 16069none were hindered in their labours. 16070 1607117:20. But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that 16072darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more 16073grievous than the darkness. 16074 16075 16076 16077Wisdom Chapter 18 16078 16079 16080The slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron's 16081intercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core. 16082 1608318:1. But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice 16084indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not 16085suffer the same things, they glorified thee: 16086 1608718:2. And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they 16088were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a 16089difference. 16090 1609118:3. Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of 16092the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a 16093good entertainment. 16094 16095A harmless sun. . .A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that 16096should be an agreeable guest to them. 16097 1609818:4. The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and 16099imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure 16100light of the law was to be given to the world. 16101 1610218:5. And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child 16103being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a 16104multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a 16105mighty water. 16106 16107One child. . .Viz., Moses. 16108 1610918:6. For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly 16110knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better 16111courage. 16112 1611318:7. So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction 16114of the unjust. 16115 1611618:8. For as thou didst punish the adversaries so thou didst also 16117encourage and glorify us. 16118 1611918:9. For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice 16120secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just 16121should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the 16122fathers. 16123 16124Of good men. . .Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites, 16125offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were 16126regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and 16127most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies. 16128 1612918:10. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the 16130enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were 16131bewailed. 16132 1613318:11. And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and 16134a common man suffered in like manner as the king. 16135 1613618:12. So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. 16137Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the 16138noblest offspring of them was destroyed. 16139 16140The noblest offspring. . .That is, the firstborn. 16141 1614218:13. For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of 16143the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, 16144they acknowledged the people to be of God. 16145 1614618:14. For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in 16147the midst of her course, 16148 1614918:15. Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne, 16150as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction, 16151 1615218:16. With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he 16153stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth, 16154reached even to heaven. 16155 1615618:17. Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears 16157unlooked for came upon them. 16158 1615918:18. And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause 16160of his death. 16161 1616218:19. For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest 16163they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils. 16164 1616518:20. But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of 16166death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: 16167but thy wrath did not long continue; 16168 1616918:21. For a blameless man made haste to pry for the people, bringing 16170forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making 16171supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, 16172shewing that he was thy servant. 16173 1617418:22. And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor 16175with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, 16176alleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers. 16177 1617818:23. For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon 16179another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way 16180to the living. 16181 1618218:24. For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and 16183in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, 16184and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head. 16185 1618618:26. And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: 16187for the proof only of wrath was enough. 16188 16189 16190 16191Wisdom Chapter 19 16192 16193 16194Why God shewed no mercy to the Egyptians. His favour to the Israelites. 16195All creatures obey God's orders for the service of the good, and the 16196punishment of the wicked. 16197 1619819:1. But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath 16199without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do: 16200 1620119:2. For when they had given them leave to depart and had sent them 16202away with great care, they repented and pursued after them. 16203 1620419:3. For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of 16205the dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as 16206fugitives whom they had pressed to be gone: 16207 1620819:4. For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this 16209end: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened, 16210that their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments: 16211 1621219:5. And that thy people might wonderfully pass through, but they 16213might find a new death. 16214 1621519:6. For every creature, according to its kind was fashioned again as 16216from the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might 16217be kept without hurt. 16218 1621919:7. For a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before, 16220dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hindrance, and out 16221of the great deep a springing field: 16222 1622319:8. Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy 16224hand, seeing thy miracles and wonders. 16225 1622619:9. For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like 16227lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them. 16228 1622919:10. For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in 16230the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies 16231instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs 16232instead of fishes. 16233 1623419:11. And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led 16235by their appetite, they asked for delicate meats. 16236 1623719:12. For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the 16238sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs 16239by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their 16240own wickedness. 16241 1624219:13. For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any: 16243others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought 16244their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them. 16245 1624619:14. And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: 16247for the others against their will received the strangers. 16248 1624919:15. But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with 16250joy, and who lived under the same laws. 16251 1625219:16. But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the 16253doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and 16254every one sought the passage of his own door. 16255 1625619:17. For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an 16257instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their 16258sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight. 16259 16260Elements are changed, etc. . .The meaning is, that whatever changes God 16261wrought in the elements by miracles in favour of his people, they still 16262kept their harmony by obeying his will. 16263 1626419:18. For the things of the land were turned into things of the water: 16265and the things that before swam in the water passed upon the land. 16266 1626719:19. The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water 16268forgot its quenching nature. 16269 1627019:20. On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of 16271corruptible animals walking therein, neither did they melt that good 16272food, which was apt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst 16273magnify thy people, O Lord, and didst honour them, and didst not 16274despise them, but didst assist them at all times, and in every place. 16275 16276That good food. . .The manna. 16277 16278 16279 16280 16281ECCLESIASTICUS 16282 16283 16284 16285This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher: 16286because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all 16287virtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who 16288flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written 16289after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is 16290received as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by 16291apostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was first 16292written in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by another 16293Jesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the 16294following: 16295 16296 16297 16298THE PROLOGUE. 16299 16300 16301The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law, 16302and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things 16303Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only 16304they that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both 16305speaking and writing, may by their means become most learned. My 16306grandfather Jesus, after he had much given himself to a diligent 16307reading of the law, and the prophets, and other books, that were 16308delivered to us from our fathers, had a mind also to write something 16309himself, pertaining to doctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous 16310to learn, and are made knowing in these things, may be more and more 16311attentive in mind, and be strengthened to live according to the law. I 16312entreat you therefore to come with benevolence, and to read with 16313attention, and to pardon us for those things wherein we may seem, while 16314we follow the image of wisdom, to come short in the composition of 16315words; for the Hebrew words have not the same force in them when 16316translated into another tongue. And not only these, but the law also 16317itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the books, have no small 16318difference, when they are spoken in their own language. For in the 16319eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when Ptolemy Evergetes was 16320king, and continuing there a long time, I found there books left, of no 16321small nor contemptible learning. Therefore I thought it good, and 16322necessary for me to bestow some diligence and labour to interpret this 16323book; and with much watching and study in some space of time, I brought 16324the book to an end, and set it forth for the service of them that are 16325willing to apply their mind, and to learn how they ought to conduct 16326themselves, who purpose to lead their life according to the law of the 16327Lord. 16328 16329 16330 16331Ecclesiasticus Chapter 1 16332 16333 16334All wisdom is from God, and is given to them that fear and love God. 16335 163361:1. All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, 16337and is before all time. 16338 163391:2. Who hath numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and 16340the days of the world? Who hath measured the height of heaven, and the 16341breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss? 16342 163431:3. Who hath searched out the wisdom of God that goeth before all 16344things? 16345 163461:4. Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding 16347of prudence from everlasting. 16348 163491:5. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom, and her ways 16350are everlasting commandments. 16351 163521:6. To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed, and who hath known 16353her wise counsels? 16354 163551:7. To whom hath the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made 16356manifest? and who hath understood the multiplicity of her steps? 16357 163581:8. There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and 16359greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne, and is the God of 16360dominion. 16361 163621:9. He created her in the Holy Ghost, and saw her, and numbered her, 16363and measured her. 16364 163651:10. And he poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh 16366according to his gift, and hath given her to them that love him. 16367 163681:11. The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a 16369crown of joy. 16370 163711:12. The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give joy, 16372and gladness, and length of days. 16373 163741:13. With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the latter 16375end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. 16376 163771:14. The love of God is honourable wisdom. 16378 163791:15. And they to whom she shall shew herself love her by the sight, 16380and by the knowledge of her great works. 16381 163821:16. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created 16383with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with chosen women, and is 16384known with the just and faithful. 16385 163861:17. The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge. 16387 163881:18. Religiousness shall keep and justify the heart, it shall give joy 16389and gladness. 16390 163911:19. It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord, and in the days 16392of his end he shall be blessed. 16393 163941:20. To fear God is the fulness of wisdom, and fulness is from the 16395fruits thereof. 16396 163971:21. She shall fill all her house with her increase, and the 16398storehouses with her treasures. 16399 164001:22. The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, filling up peace and 16401the fruit of salvation: 16402 164031:23. And it hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts of 16404God. 16405 164061:24. Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence: 16407and exalteth the glory of them that hold her. 16408 164091:25. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: and the branches thereof 16410are long-lived. 16411 164121:26. In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of 16413knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination. 16414 164151:27. The fear of the Lord driveth out sin: 16416 164171:28. For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the wrath 16418of his high spirits is his ruin. 16419 164201:29. A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy shall be 16421restored to him. 16422 164231:30. A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips 16424of many shall declare his wisdom. 16425 164261:31. In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of discipline: 16427 164281:32. But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner. 16429 164301:33. Son, if thou desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will give her 16431to thee. 16432 164331:34. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which 16434is agreeable to him, 16435 164361:35. Is faith, and meekness: and he will fill up his treasures. 16437 164381:36. Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not to him 16439with a double heart. 16440 164411:37. Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not thy lips be a 16442stumblingblock to thee. 16443 164441:38. Watch over them, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy 16445soul, 16446 164471:39. And God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of 16448the congregation. 16449 164501:40. Because thou camest to the Lord wickedly, and thy heart is full 16451of guile and deceit. 16452 16453 16454 16455Ecclesiasticus Chapter 2 16456 16457 16458God's servants must look for temptations: and must arm themselves with 16459patience and confidence in God. 16460 164612:1. Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and 16462in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation. 16463 164642:2. Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive the 16465words of understanding: and make not haste in the time of clouds. 16466 164672:3. Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that 16468thy life may be increased in the latter end. 16469 164702:4. Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow 16471endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience. 16472 164732:5. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in 16474the furnace of humiliation. 16475 164762:6. Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and 16477trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein. 16478 164792:7. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from 16480him lest ye fall. 16481 164822:8. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be 16483made void. 16484 164852:9. Ye that fear the Lord hope in him, and mercy shall come to you for 16486your delight. 16487 164882:10. Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be 16489enlightened. 16490 164912:11. My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no 16492one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded. 16493 164942:12. For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been 16495forsaken? or who hath called upon him, and he despised him? 16496 164972:13. For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in 16498the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in 16499truth. 16500 165012:14. Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips, and to 16502the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two 16503ways. 16504 165052:15. Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God: and 16506therefore they shall not be protected by him. 16507 165082:16. Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have forsaken the 16509right ways, and have gone aside into crooked ways. 16510 165112:17. And what will they do, when the Lord shall begin to examine? 16512 165132:18. They that fear the Lord, will not be incredulous to his word: and 16514they that love him, will keep his way. 16515 165162:19. They that fear the Lord, will seek after the things that are well 16517pleasing to him: and they that love him, shall be filled with his law. 16518 165192:20. They that fear the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and in his 16520sight will sanctify their souls, 16521 165222:21. They that fear the Lord, keep his commandments, and will have 16523patience even until his visitation, 16524 165252:22. Saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the 16526Lord, and not into the hands of men. 16527 165282:23. For according to his greatness, so also is his mercy with him. 16529 16530 16531 16532Ecclesiasticus Chapter 3 16533 16534 16535Lessons concerning the honour of parents, and humility, and avoiding 16536curiosity. 16537 165383:1. The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their 16539generation, obedience and love. 16540 165413:2. Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may 16542be saved. 16543 165443:3. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and 16545seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the 16546children. 16547 165483:4. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, 16549and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer 16550of days. 16551 165523:5. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a 16553treasure. 16554 165553:6. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, 16556and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. 16557 165583:7. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that 16559obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother. 16560 165613:8. He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve 16562them as his masters that brought him into the world. 16563 165643:9. Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience, 16565 165663:10. That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may 16567remain in the latter end. 16568 165693:11. The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: 16570but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation. 16571 165723:12. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no 16573glory to thee. 16574 165753:13. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a 16576father without honour is the disgrace of the son. 16577 165783:14. Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his 16579life; 16580 165813:15. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and 16582despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the 16583father shall not be forgotten. 16584 165853:16. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother. 16586 165873:17. And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of 16588affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as 16589the ice in the fair warm weather. 16590 165913:18. Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is 16592cursed of God that angereth his mother. 16593 165943:19. My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above 16595the glory of men. 16596 165973:20. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and 16598thou shalt find grace before God: 16599 166003:21. For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the 16601humble. 16602 166033:22. Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not 16604into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded 16605thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious. 16606 166073:23. For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those 16608things that are hid. 16609 166103:24. In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his 16611works thou shalt not be inquisitive. 16612 166133:25. For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men. 16614 166153:26. And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained 16616their minds in vanity. 16617 166183:27. A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth 16619danger shall perish in it. 16620 166213:28. A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the 16622perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein. 16623 166243:29. A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will 16625add sin to sin. 16626 166273:30. The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant 16628of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived. 16629 166303:31. The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear 16631will hear wisdom with all desire. 16632 166333:32. A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from 16634sins, and in the works of justice shall have success. 16635 166363:33. Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins: 16637 166383:34. And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him 16639afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay. 16640 16641 16642 16643Ecclesiasticus Chapter 4 16644 16645 16646An exhortation to works of mercy, and to the love of wisdom. 16647 166484:1. Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from 16649the poor. 16650 166514:2. Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the poor in his want. 16652 166534:3. Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to gibe to him 16654that is in distress. 16655 166564:4. Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy 16657face from the needy. 16658 166594:5. Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave 16660not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back. 16661 166624:6. For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his 16663soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him. 16664 166654:7. Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble 16666thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man. 16667 166684:8. Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, 16669and answer him peaceable words with mildness. 16670 166714:9. Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and 16672be not fainthearted in thy soul. 16673 166744:10. In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a 16675husband to their mother. 16676 166774:11. And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he 16678will have mercy on thee more than a mother. 16679 166804:12. Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that 16681seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice. 16682 166834:13. And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, 16684shall embrace her sweetness. 16685 166864:14. They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever 16687she entereth, God will give a blessing. 16688 166894:15. They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God 16690loveth them that love her. 16691 166924:16. He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that 16693looketh upon her, shall remain secure. 16694 166954:17. If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation 16696shall be in assurance. 16697 166984:18. For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she 16699chooseth him. 16700 16701In temptation, etc. . .The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose 16702any for her favourite, she will try them by leading them through 16703contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of 16704the children of God. 16705 167064:19. She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will 16707scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by 16708her laws, and trust his soul. 16709 167104:20. Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and 16711give him joy, 16712 167134:21. And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him 16714treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice. 16715 167164:22. But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into 16717the hands of his enemy. 16718 167194:23. Son, observe the time, and fly from evil. 16720 167214:24. For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth. 16722 167234:25. For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that 16724bringeth glory and grace. 16725 167264:26. Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a 16727lie. 16728 167294:27. Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall: 16730 167314:28. And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy 16732wisdom in her beauty. 16733 167344:29. For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and 16735knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in 16736the works of justice. 16737 167384:30. In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of 16739thy ignorance. 16740 167414:31. Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to 16742every man for sin. 16743 167444:32. Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive 16745against the stream of the river. 16746 167474:33. Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for 16748justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee. 16749 167504:34. Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works. 16751 167524:35. Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, 16753and oppressing them that are under thee. 16754 167554:36. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou 16756shouldst give. 16757 16758 16759 16760Ecclesiasticus Chapter 5 16761 16762 16763We must not presume of our wealth or strength: nor of the mercy of God, 16764to go on in sin: we must be steadfast in virtue and truth. 16765 167665:1. Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have 16767enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of 16768vengeance and darkness. 16769 167705:2. Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart: 16771 167725:3. And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my 16773deeds? for God will surely take revenge. 16774 167755:4. Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the 16776most High is a patient rewarder. 16777 167785:5. Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin: 16779 167805:6. And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on 16781the multitude of my sins. 16782 167835:7. For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh 16784upon sinners. 16785 167865:8. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day 16787to day. 16788 167895:9. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance 16790he will destroy thee. 16791 167925:10. Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not 16793profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge. 16794 167955:11. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is 16796every sinner proved by a double tongue. 16797 167985:12. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy 16799judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep 16800with thee. 16801 168025:13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return 16803a true answer with wisdom. 16804 168055:14. If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let 16806thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful 16807word, and be confounded. 16808 168095:15. Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of 16810the fool is his ruin. 16811 168125:16. Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and 16813confounded. 16814 168155:17. For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of 16816disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and 16817enmity, and reproach. 16818 168195:18. Justify alike the small and the great. 16820 16821 16822 16823Ecclesiasticus Chapter 6 16824 16825 16826Of true and false friends: and of the of the fruits of wisdom. 16827 168286:1. Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an 16829evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that 16830is envious and double tongued. 16831 168326:2. Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest 16833thy strength be quashed by folly, 16834 168356:3. And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left 16836as a dry tree in the wilderness. 16837 168386:4. For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him 16839to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the 16840wicked. 16841 168426:5. A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a 16843gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth. 16844 168456:6. Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy 16846counsellor. 16847 168486:7. If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and 16849do not credit him easily. 16850 168516:8. For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide 16852in the day of thy trouble. 16853 168546:9. And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a 16855friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches. 16856 168576:10. And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not 16858abide in the day of distress. 16859 168606:11. A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, 16861and shall act with confidence among them of thy household. 16862 168636:12. If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, 16864thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good. 16865 168666:13. Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends. 16867 168686:14. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found 16869him, hath found a treasure. 16870 168716:15. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of 16872gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity. 16873 168746:16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and 16875they that fear the Lord, shall find him. 16876 168776:17. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because 16878according to him shall his friend be. 16879 168806:18. My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy 16881grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom. 16882 168836:19. Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her 16884good fruits: 16885 168866:20. For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt 16887quickly eat of her fruits. 16888 168896:21. How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise 16890will not continue with her. 16891 168926:22. She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will 16893cast her from them before it be long. 16894 168956:23. For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is 16896not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she 16897continueth even to the sight of God. 16898 168996:24. Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my 16900advice. 16901 169026:25. Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains: 16903 169046:26. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her 16905bands. 16906 169076:27. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy 16908power. 16909 169106:28. Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when 16911thou hast gotten her, let her not go: 16912 169136:29. For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall 16914be turned to thy joy. 16915 169166:30. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm 16917foundation, and her chain a robe of glory: 16918 169196:31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful 16920binding. 16921 169226:32. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her 16923upon thee as a crown of joy. 16924 169256:33. My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou 16926wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise. 16927 169286:34. If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and 16929if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise. 16930 169316:35. Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join 16932thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every 16933discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee. 16934 169356:36. And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the 16936morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors. 16937 169386:37. Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate 16939continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the 16940desire of wisdom shall be given to thee. 16941 16942 16943 16944Ecclesiasticus Chapter 7 16945 16946 16947Religious and moral duties. 16948 169497:1. Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee. 16950 169517:2. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee. 16952 169537:3. My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and thou shalt 16954not reap them sevenfold. 16955 169567:4. Seek not of the Lord a preeminence, nor of the king the seat of 16957honour. 16958 169597:5. Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth the heart: and 16960desire not to appear wise before the king. 16961 169627:6. Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to 16963extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person of the powerful, and 16964lay a stumblingblock for thy integrity. 16965 169667:7. Offend not against the multitude of a city, neither cast thyself 16967in upon the people, 16968 169697:8. Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one thou shalt not be unpunished. 16970 169717:9. Be not fainthearted in thy mind: 16972 169737:10. Neglect not to pray, and to give alms. 16974 169757:11. Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my gifts, and 16976when I offer to the most high God, he will accept my offerings. 16977 169787:12. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is 16979one that humbleth and exalteth, God who seeth all. 16980 169817:13. Devise not a lie against thy brother: neither do the like against 16982thy friend. 16983 169847:14. Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof 16985is not good. 16986 169877:15. Be not full of words in a multitude of ancients, and repeat not 16988the word in thy prayer. 16989 16990Repeat not, etc. . .Make not much babbling by repetition of words: but 16991aim more at fervour of heart. 16992 169937:16. Hate not laborious works, nor husbandry ordained by the most 16994High. 16995 169967:17. Number not thyself among the multitude of the disorderly. 16997 169987:18. Remember wrath, for it will not tarry long. 16999 170007:19. Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of 17001the ungodly is fire and worms. 17002 170037:20. Do not transgress against thy friend deferring money, nor despise 17004thy dear brother for the sake of gold. 17005 170067:21. Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom thou hast gotten in 17007the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her modesty is above gold. 17008 170097:22. Hurt not the servant that worketh faithfully, nor the hired man 17010that giveth thee his life. 17011 170127:23. Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul, defraud him 17013not of liberty, nor leave him needy. 17014 170157:24. Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy 17016profit, keep them with thee. 17017 170187:25. Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from 17019their childhood. 17020 170217:26. Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thy 17022countenance gay towards them. 17023 170247:27. Marry thy daughter well, and thou shalt do a great work, and give 17025her to a wise man. 17026 170277:28. If thou hast a wife according to thy soul, cast her not off: and 17028to her that is hateful, trust not thyself. With thy whole heart, 17029 170307:29. Honour thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy mother: 17031 170327:30. Remember that thou hadst not been born but through them: and make 17033a return to them as they have done for thee. 17034 170357:31. With all thy soul fear the Lord, and reverence his priests. 17036 170377:32. With all thy strength love him that made thee: and forsake not 17038his ministers. 17039 170407:33. Honour God with all thy soul and give honour to the priests, and 17041purify thyself with thy arms. 17042 17043Thy arms. . .That is, with all thy power: or else by arms (brachiis) are 17044here signified the right shoulders of the victims, which by the law 17045fell to the priests. See ver. 35. 17046 170477:34. Give them their portion, as it is commanded thee, of the 17048firstfruits and of purifications: and for thy negligences purify 17049thyself with a few. 17050 170517:35. Offer to the Lord the gift of thy shoulders, and the sacrifice of 17052sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things: 17053 170547:36. And stretch out thy hand to the poor, that thy expiation and thy 17055blessing may be perfected. 17056 170577:37. A gift hath grace in the sight of all the living, and restrain 17058not grace from the dead. 17059 17060And restrain not grace from the dead. . .That is, withhold not from them 17061the benefit of alms, prayers, and sacrifices. Such was the doctrine and 17062practice of the church of God even in the time of the Old Testament. 17063And the same has always been continued from the days of the apostles in 17064the church of the New Testament. 17065 170667:38. Be not wanting in comforting them that weep, and walk with them 17067that mourn. 17068 170697:39. Be not slow to visit the sick: for by these things thou shalt be 17070confirmed in love. 17071 170727:40. In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin. 17073 17074 17075 17076Ecclesiasticus Chapter 8 17077 17078 17079Other lessons of wisdom and virtue. 17080 170818:1. Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands. 17082 170838:2. Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee. 17084 170858:3. For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to 17086the heart of kings, and perverted them. 17087 170888:4. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood 17089upon his fire. 17090 170918:5. Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy 17092family. 17093 170948:6. Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him 17095therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof. 17096 170978:7. Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old. 17098 170998:8. Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, 17100and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death. 17101 171028:9. Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but 17103acquaint thyself with their proverbs. 17104 171058:10. For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of 17106understanding, and to serve great men without blame. 17107 171088:11. Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have 17109learned of their fathers: 17110 171118:12. For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer 17112in time of need. 17113 171148:13. Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be 17115burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins. 17116 171178:14. Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as 17118a spy to entrap thee in thy words. 17119 171208:15. Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou 17121lendest, count it as lost. 17122 171238:16. Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if 17124thou wert to pay it. 17125 171268:17. Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which 17127is just. 17128 171298:18. Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his 17130evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish 17131together with his folly. 17132 171338:19. Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert 17134with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there 17135is no help he will overthrow thee. 17136 171378:20. Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as 17138please them. 17139 171408:21. Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not 17141what he will bring forth. 17142 171438:22. Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil 17144turn, and speak reproachfully to thee. 17145 17146 17147 17148Ecclesiasticus Chapter 9 17149 17150 17151Cautions with regard to women, and dangerous conversations. 17152 171539:1. Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy 17154regard the malice of a wicked lesson. 17155 171569:2. Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy 17157strength, and thou be confounded. 17158 171599:3. Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou fall 17160into her snares. 17161 171629:4. Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not 17163to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms. 17164 171659:5. Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumblingblock to 17166thee. 17167 171689:6. Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou destroy 17169thyself and thy inheritance. 17170 171719:7. Look not round about thee in the ways of the city, nor wander up 17172and down in the streets thereof. 17173 171749:8. Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not about 17175upon another's beauty. 17176 171779:9. For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby lust 17178is enkindled as a fire. 17179 171809:10. Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as dung in 17181the way. 17182 171839:11. Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become 17184reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire. 17185 171869:12. Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon the bed 17187with her: 17188 171899:13. And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards 17190her and by thy blood thou fall into destruction. 17191 171929:14. Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to him. 17193 171949:15. A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou shalt 17195drink it with pleasure. 17196 171979:16. Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not 17198what his ruin shall be. 17199 172009:17. Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that 17201even to hell the wicked shall not please. 17202 172039:18. Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so thou shalt 17204not suspect the fear of death. 17205 172069:19. And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away thy 17207life. 17208 172099:20. Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in 17210the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are 17211grieved. 17212 172139:21. According to thy power beware of thy neighbour, and treat with 17214the wise and prudent. 17215 172169:22. Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the fear of 17217God. 17218 172199:23. And let the thought of God be in thy mind, and all thy discourse 17220on the commandments of the Highest. 17221 172229:24. Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the 17223prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but the word of the 17224ancients for the sense. 17225 172269:25. A man full of tongue is terrible in his city, and he that is rash 17227in his word shall be hateful. 17228 17229 17230 17231Ecclesiasticus Chapter 10 17232 17233 17234The virtues and vices of men in power: the great evil of pride. 17235 1723610:1. A wise judge shall judge his people, and the government of a 17237prudent man shall be steady. 17238 17239Judge his people. . .In the Greek it is, instruct his people. 17240 1724110:2. As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers: 17242and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that 17243dwell therein. 17244 1724510:3. An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall 17246be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers. 17247 1724810:4. The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his time he 17249will raise up a profitable ruler over it. 17250 1725110:5. The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the person 17252of the scribe he shall lay his honour. 17253 17254The scribe. . .That is, the man that is wise and learned in the law. 17255 1725610:6. Remember not any injury done thee by thy neighbour, and do thou 17257nothing by deeds of injury. 17258 1725910:7. Pride is hateful before God and men: and all iniquity of nations 17260is execrable. 17261 1726210:8. A kingdom is translated from one people to another, because of 17263injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and divers deceits. 17264 1726510:9. But nothing is more wicked than the covetous man. Why is earth, 17266and ashes proud? 17267 1726810:10. There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for such a 17269one setteth even his own soul to sale: because while he liveth he hath 17270cast away his bowels. 17271 1727210:11. All power is of short life. A long sickness is troublesome to 17273the physician. 17274 1727510:12. The physician cutteth off a short sickness: so also a king is to 17276day, and to morrow he shall die. 17277 1727810:13. For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, and beasts, 17279and worms. 17280 1728110:14. The beginning of the pride of man, is to fall off from God: 17282 1728310:15. Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for pride 17284is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with 17285maledictions, and it shall ruin him in the end. 17286 1728710:16. Therefore hath the Lord disgraced the assemblies of the wicked, 17288and hath utterly destroyed them. 17289 1729010:17. God hath overturned the thrones of proud princes, and hath set 17291up the meek in their stead. 17292 1729310:18. God hath made the roots of proud nations to wither, and hath 17294planted the humble of these nations. 17295 1729610:19. The Lord hath overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and hath 17297destroyed them even to the foundation. 17298 1729910:20. He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath destroyed 17300them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth. 17301 1730210:21. God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath preserved 17303the memory of them that are humble in mind. 17304 1730510:22. Pride was not made for men: nor wrath for the race of women. 17306 1730710:23. That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that 17308seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of the 17309Lord. 17310 1731110:24. In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so shall 17312they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes. 17313 1731410:25. The fear of God is the glory of the rich, and of the honourable, 17315and of the poor. 17316 1731710:26. Despise not a just man that is poor, and do not magnify a sinful 17318man that is rich. 17319 1732010:27. The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and 17321there is none greater than he that feareth God. 17322 1732310:28. They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man 17324that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is 17325reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured. 17326 1732710:29. Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time 17328of distress; 17329 1733010:30. Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than 17331he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread. 17332 1733310:31. My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according 17334to its desert. 17335 1733610:32. Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who 17337will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul? 17338 1733910:33. The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear, and there 17340is a man that is honoured for his wealth. 17341 1734210:34. But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth? 17343and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty. 17344 17345 17346 17347Ecclesiasticus Chapter 11 17348 17349 17350Lessons of humility and moderation in all things. 17351 1735211:1. The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him 17353sit in the midst of great men. 17354 1735511:2. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his 17356look. 17357 1735811:3. The bee is small among flying things but her fruit hath the 17359chiefest sweetness. 17360 1736111:4. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day 17362of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his 17363works are glorious, and secret, and hidden. 17364 1736511:5. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would 17366think on, hath worn the crown. 17367 1736811:6. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious 17369have been delivered into the hand of others. 17370 1737111:7. Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired, 17372reprove justly. 17373 1737411:8. Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in 17375the midst of their discourse. 17376 1737711:9. Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not 17378in judgment with sinners. 17379 1738011:10. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou 17381shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not 17382overtake; and if thou run before thou shalt not escape. 17383 1738411:11. There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is 17385in sorrow, and is so much the more in want. 17386 1738711:12. Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak 17388in ability, and full of poverty: 17389 1739011:13. Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath 17391lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many 17392have wondered at him, and have glorified God. 17393 1739411:14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are 17395from God. 17396 1739711:15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with 17398God. Love and the ways of good things are with him. 17399 1740011:16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory 17401in evil things, grow old in evil. 17402 1740311:17. The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement shall 17404have success for ever. 17405 1740611:18. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is 17407the portion of his reward. 17408 1740911:19. In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my 17410goods alone: 17411 1741211:20. And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death 17413approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die. 17414 1741511:21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and 17416grow old in the work of thy commandments. 17417 1741811:22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in 17419thy place, 17420 1742111:23. For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor 17422man rich. 17423 1742411:24. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a 17425swift hour his blessing beareth fruit. 17426 1742711:25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this? 17428 1742911:26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made 17430worse by this? 17431 1743211:27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the 17433day of evils be not unmindful of good things: 17434 1743511:28. For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every 17436one according to his ways. 17437 1743811:29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and 17439in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works. 17440 1744111:30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his 17442children. 17443 1744411:31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of 17445the deceitful. 17446 1744711:32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the 17448partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so 17449also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall 17450of his neighbour. 17451 1745211:33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the 17453elect he will lay a blot. 17454 1745511:34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much 17456blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood. 17457 1745811:35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: 17459lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever. 17460 1746111:36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a 17462whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own. 17463 17464 17465 17466Ecclesiasticus Chapter 12 17467 17468 17469We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked. 17470 1747112:1. If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be 17472much thanks for thy good deeds. 17473 1747412:2. Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if 17475not of him, assuredly of the Lord. 17476 1747712:3. For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and 17478that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on 17479the penitent. 17480 1748112:4. Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay 17482vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day 17483of vengeance. 17484 1748512:5. Give to the good, and receive not a sinner. 17486 1748712:6. Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy 17488bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee. 17489 1749012:7. For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou 17491shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will 17492repay vengeance to the ungodly. 17493 1749412:8. A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not 17495be hidden in adversity. 17496 1749712:9. In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend 17498is known in his adversity. 17499 1750012:10. Never trust thy enemy for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth: 17501 1750212:11. Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed 17503and beware of him. 17504 1750512:12. Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest 17506he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat and at the last thou 17507acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings. 17508 1750912:13. Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come 17510near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked 17511man, and is involved in his sins. 17512 1751312:14. For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to 17514decline, he will not endure it. 17515 1751612:15. An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he 17517lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit. 17518 1751912:16. An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he 17520will not be satisfied with blood: 17521 1752212:17. And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first. 17523 1752412:18. An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help 17525thee, will undermine thy feet. 17526 1752712:19. He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, 17528and change his countenance. 17529 17530 17531 17532Ecclesiasticus Chapter 13 17533 17534 17535Cautions in the choice of company. 17536 1753713:1. He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that 17538hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride. 17539 1754013:2. He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one 17541more honourable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is 17542richer than thyself. 17543 1754413:3. What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if 17545they knock one against the other, it shall be broken. 17546 1754713:4. The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor 17548is wronged and must hold his peace. 17549 1755013:5. If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing, 17551he will forsake thee. 17552 1755313:6. If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make 17554thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee. 17555 1755613:7. If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon 17557thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What 17558wantest thou? 17559 1756013:8. And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry 17561twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when 17562he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee. 17563 1756413:9. Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands. 17565 1756613:10. Beware that thou be not deceived into folly, and be humbled. 17567 1756813:11. Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived 17569into folly. 17570 1757113:12. If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw thyself: 17572for so he will invite thee the more. 17573 1757413:13. Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not 17575far from him, lest thou be forgotten. 17576 1757713:14. Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his 17578many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will 17579examine thee concerning thy secrets. 17580 1758113:15. His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to 17582do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison. 17583 1758413:16. Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou 17585hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin. 17586 1758713:17. When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep, and 17588thou shalt awake. 17589 1759013:18. Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation. 17591 1759213:19. Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is 17593nearest to himself. 17594 1759513:20. All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man 17596shall associate himself to his like. 17597 1759813:21. If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so 17599the sinner with the just. 17600 1760113:22. What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath 17602the rich with the poor? 17603 1760413:23. The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor 17605are devoured by the rich. 17606 1760713:24. And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich 17608man abhorreth the poor. 17609 1761013:25. When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but 17611when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his 17612acquaintance. 17613 1761413:26. When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he 17615hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him. 17616 1761713:27. The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath 17618spoken wisely, and could have no place. 17619 1762013:28. The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said 17621they extol even to the clouds. 17622 1762313:29. The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he 17624stumble, they will overthrow him. 17625 1762613:30. Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and 17627poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly. 17628 1762913:31. The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good, or 17630for evil. 17631 1763213:32. The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt 17633hardly find, and with labour. 17634 17635 17636 17637Ecclesiasticus Chapter 14 17638 17639 17640The evil of avarice: works of mercy are recommended, and the love of 17641wisdom. 17642 1764314:1. Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his 17644mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin. 17645 1764614:2. Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not 17647fallen from his hope. 17648 1764914:3. Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what 17650should an envious man do with gold? 17651 1765214:4. He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth 17653for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting. 17654 1765514:5. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall 17656not take pleasure in his goods. 17657 1765814:6. There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the 17659reward of his wickedness: 17660 1766114:7. And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at 17662the last he discovereth his wickedness. 17663 1766414:8. The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, 17665and despiseth his own soul. 17666 1766714:9. The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of 17668iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying 17669it up. 17670 1767114:10. An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his 17672fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table. 17673 1767414:11. My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to 17675God worthy offerings. 17676 1767714:12. Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell 17678hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely 17679die. 17680 17681Covenant of hell. . .The decree by which all are to go down to the 17682regions of death. 17683 1768414:13. Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy 17685ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor. 17686 1768714:14. Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a 17688good gift overpass thee. 17689 1769014:15. Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and 17691labours? 17692 1769314:16. Give and take, and justify thy soul. 17694 1769514:17. Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding 17696food. 17697 1769814:18. All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth 17699out on a green tree. 17700 1770114:19. Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and 17702blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born. 17703 1770414:20. Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the 17705worker thereof shall go with it. 17706 1770714:21. And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker 17708thereof shall be honoured therein. 17709 1771014:22. Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall 17711meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing 17712eye of God. 17713 1771414:23. He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath 17715understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, 17716and stayeth in her ways. 17717 1771814:24. He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door. 17719 1772014:25. He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls 17721shall set up his tent high unto her, where good things shall rest in 17722his lodging for ever. 17723 1772414:26. He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge 17725under her branches: 17726 1772714:27. He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and 17728shall rest in her glory. 17729 17730 17731 17732Ecclesiasticus Chapter 15 17733 17734 17735Wisdom embraceth them that fear God. God is not the author of sin. 17736 1773715:1. He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth 17738justice, shall lay hold on her, 17739 1774015:2. And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive 17741him as a wife married of a virgin. 17742 1774315:3. With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and 17744give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made 17745strong in him, and he shall not be moved. 17746 1774715:4. And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and 17748she shall exalt him among his neighbours. 17749 1775015:5. And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and 17751shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall 17752clothe him with a robe of glory. 17753 1775415:6. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall 17755cause him to inherit an everlasting name. 17756 1775715:7. But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet 17758her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and 17759deceit. 17760 1776115:8. Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall 17762be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight 17763of God. 17764 1776515:9. Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner: 17766 1776715:10. For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the 17768wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign 17769Lord will give praise unto it. 17770 1777115:11. Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not 17772thou the things that he hateth. 17773 1777415:12. Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked 17775men. 17776 1777715:13. The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him 17778shall not love it. 17779 1778015:14. God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his 17781own counsel. 17782 1778315:15. He added his commandments and precepts. 17784 1778515:16. If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable 17786fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee. 17787 1778815:17. He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand 17789to which thou wilt. 17790 1779115:18. Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall 17792choose shall be given him: 17793 1779415:19. For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, 17795seeing all men without ceasing. 17796 1779715:20. The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he 17798knoweth al the work of man. 17799 1780015:21. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no 17801man license to sin; 17802 1780315:22. For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable 17804children. 17805 17806 17807 17808Ecclesiasticus Chapter 16 17809 17810 17811It is better to have none than many wicked children. Of the justice and 17812mercy of God. His ways are unsearchable. 17813 1781416:1. Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither 17815be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them. 17816 1781716:2. Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours. 17818 1781916:3. For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly 17820children. 17821 1782216:4. And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly 17823children. 17824 1782516:5. By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of 17826the ungodly shall become desolate. 17827 1782816:6. Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these 17829my ear hath heard. 17830 1783116:7. In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an 17832unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out. 17833 1783416:8. The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were 17835destroyed trusting to their own strength: 17836 1783716:9. And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred 17838them for the pride of their word. 17839 1784016:10. He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that 17841extolled themselves in their sins. 17842 1784316:11. So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were 17844gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been 17845stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished: 17846 17847Six hundred thousand footmen, etc. . .Viz., the children of Israel, whom 17848he sentenced to die in the wilderness. Num. 14. 17849 1785016:12. For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and 17851to pour out indignation: 17852 1785316:13. According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man 17854according to his works. 17855 1785616:14. The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of 17857him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off. 17858 1785916:15. All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the 17860merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment. 17861 1786216:16. Say not: I shall be hidden from God, and who shall remember me 17863from on high? 17864 1786516:17. In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in 17866such an immense creation? 17867 1786816:18. Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all 17869the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his 17870sight, 17871 1787216:19. The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the 17873earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with 17874trembling. 17875 1787616:20. And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart 17877is understood by him. 17878 1787916:21. And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye 17880of man shall see? 17881 1788216:22. For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice 17883who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from 17884some, and the examination of all is in the end. 17885 1788616:23. He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things, and the 17887foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things. 17888 1788916:24. Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of 17890understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart. 17891 1789216:25. And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to 17893declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity 17894of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from 17895the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge. 17896 1789716:26. The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and 17898from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their 17899beginnings in their generations. 17900 1790116:27. He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, 17902nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works. 17903 1790416:28. Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time. 17905 1790616:29. Be not thou incredulous to his word. 17907 1790816:30. After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his 17909goods. 17910 1791116:31. The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face 17912thereof, and into it they return again. 17913 17914Shewn forth. . .Viz., the glory and power of God upon the earth. 17915 17916 17917 17918Ecclesiasticus Chapter 17 17919 17920 17921The creation and favour of God to man. An exhortation to turn to God. 17922 1792317:1. God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image. 17924 1792517:2. And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength 17926according to himself. 17927 1792817:3. He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power 17929over all things that are upon the earth. 17930 1793117:4. He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over 17932beasts and fowls. 17933 1793417:5. He created of him a helpmate like to himself, he gave them 17935counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and 17936he filled them with the knowledge of understanding. 17937 1793817:6. He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their 17939heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil. 17940 1794117:7. He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of 17942his works: 17943 1794417:8. That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and 17945glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things 17946of his works. 17947 1794817:9. Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an 17949inheritance. 17950 1795117:10. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them 17952his justice and judgments. 17953 1795417:11. And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard 17955his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity. 17956 17957Their eye saw, etc. . .Viz., when he gave the law on mount Sinai. 17958 1795917:12. And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his 17960neighbour. 17961 1796217:13. Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his 17963eyes. 17964 1796517:14. Over every nation he set a ruler. 17966 1796717:15. And Israel was made the manifest portion of God. 17968 1796917:16. And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his 17970eyes are continually upon their ways. 17971 1797217:17. Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their 17973iniquities are in the sight of God. 17974 1797517:18. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve 17976the grace of a man as the apple of the eye: 17977 1797817:19. And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their 17979reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into 17980the bowels of the earth. 17981 1798217:20. But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he 17983hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath 17984appointed to them the lot of truth. 17985 1798617:21. Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins: 17987 1798817:22. Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less. 17989 17990Offend less. . .Minue offendicula. That is, remove sins and the 17991occasions of sins. 17992 1799317:23. Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and 17994greatly hate abomination. 17995 1799617:24. And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in 17997the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God. 17998 1799917:25. Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give 18000praise to God. 18001 18002Go to the side, etc. . .Fly from the side of Satan and sin, and join 18003with the holy ones, that follow God and godliness. 18004 1800517:26. Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. 18006Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing. 18007 1800817:27. Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in 18009health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in 18010his mercies. 18011 1801217:28. How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them 18013that turn to him ! 18014 1801517:29. For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not 18016immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil. 18017 1801817:30. What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what 18019is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this 18020shall be reproved. 18021 1802217:31. He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are 18023earth and ashes. 18024 18025 18026 18027Ecclesiasticus Chapter 18 18028 18029 18030God's works are wonderful: we must serve him, and not our lusts. 18031 1803218:1. He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only 18033shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever. 18034 1803518:2. Who is able to declare his works? 18036 1803718:3. For who shall search out his glorious acts? 18038 1803918:4. And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall 18040be able to declare his mercy? 18041 1804218:5. Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to 18043find out the glorious works of God. 18044 1804518:6. When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth 18046off, he shall be at a loss. 18047 18048Then shall he begin. . .God is so great and incomprehensible, that when 18049man has done all that he can to find out his greatness and boundless 18050perfections, he is still to begin: for what he has found out, is but a 18051mere nothing in comparison with his infinity. 18052 1805318:7. What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what 18054is his evil? 18055 1805618:8. The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as 18057a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the 18058sand, so are a few years compared to eternity. 18059 1806018:9. Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy 18061upon them. 18062 1806318:10. He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, 18064and hath known their end that it is evil. 18065 1806618:11. Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath 18067shewn them the way of justice. 18068 1806918:12. The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of 18070God is upon all flesh. 18071 1807218:13. He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth 18073his flock. 18074 1807518:14. He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and 18076that maketh haste in his judgments. 18077 1807818:15. My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou 18079givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word. 18080 1808118:16. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is 18082better than the gift. 18083 1808418:17. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a 18085justified man. 18086 1808718:18. A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught 18088consumeth the eyes. 18089 1809018:19. Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou 18091speak. 18092 1809318:20. Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine 18094thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God. 18095 1809618:21. Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness 18097shew thy conversation. 18098 1809918:22. Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid 18100to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for 18101ever. 18102 1810318:23. Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that 18104tempteth God. 18105 1810618:24. Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time 18107of repaying when he shall turn away his face. 18108 1810918:25. Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities 18110of poverty in the day of riches. 18111 1811218:26. From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, 18113and all these are swift in the eyes of God. 18114 1811518:27. A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins 18116will beware of sloth. 18117 1811818:28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise 18119to him that findeth her. 18120 1812118:29. They that were of good understanding in words, have also done 18122wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have 18123poured forth proverbs and judgments. 18124 1812518:30. Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will. 18126 1812718:31. If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy 18128to thy enemies. 18129 1813018:32. Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: 18131for their concertation is continual. 18132 1813318:33. Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when 18134thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own 18135life. 18136 18137 18138 18139Ecclesiasticus Chapter 19 18140 18141 18142Admonition against sundry vices. 18143 1814419:1. A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that 18145contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little. 18146 1814719:2. Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the 18148prudent: 18149 1815019:3. And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked. 18151Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a 18152greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number. 18153 1815419:4. He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be 18155lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised. 18156 1815719:5. He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that 18158hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling, 18159extinguisheth evil. 18160 1816119:6. He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that 18162is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned. 18163 1816419:7. Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not 18165fare the worse. 18166 1816719:8. Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with 18168thee, disclose it not. 18169 1817019:9. For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were 18171defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee 18172always. 18173 1817419:10. Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within 18175thee, trusting that it will not burst thee. 18176 1817719:11. At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman 18178groaning in the bringing forth a child. 18179 1818019:12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the 18181heart of a fool. 18182 1818319:13. Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I 18184did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more. 18185 1818619:14. Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if 18187he hath said it, that he may not say it again. 18188 1818919:15. Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed. 18190 1819119:16. And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the 18192tongue, but not from his heart. 18193 1819419:17. For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? 18195Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him. 18196 1819719:18. And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God 18198is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the 18199law is in all wisdom. 18200 1820119:19. But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of 18202sinners is not prudence. 18203 1820419:20. There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and 18205there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom. 18206 1820719:21. Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth 18208understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in 18209understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High. 18210 1821119:22. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust. 18212 1821319:23. And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. 18214There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full 18215of deceit: 18216 1821719:24. And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a 18218great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, 18219and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown: 18220 1822119:25. And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he 18222shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it. 18223 1822419:26. A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest 18225him, is known by his countenance. 18226 1822719:27. The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the 18228gait of the man, shew what he is. 18229 1823019:28. There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and 18231there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one 18232that holdeth his peace, he is wise. 18233 18234 18235 18236Ecclesiasticus Chapter 20 18237 18238 18239Rules with regard to correction, discretion, and avoiding lies. 18240 1824120:1. How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to 18242hinder him that confesseth in prayer. 18243 1824420:2. The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden: 18245 1824620:3. So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise. 18247 1824820:4. How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for 18249so thou shalt escape wilful sin. 18250 1825120:5. There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and 18252there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech. 18253 1825420:6. There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what 18255to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper 18256time. 18257 1825820:7. A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a 18259babbler, and a fool, will regard no time. 18260 1826120:8. He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that 18262taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated. 18263 1826420:9. There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and 18265there is a finding that turneth to loss. 18266 1826720:10. There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the 18268recompense of which is double. 18269 1827020:11. There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that 18271shall lift up his head from a low estate. 18272 1827320:12. There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the 18274same sevenfold. 18275 1827620:13. A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces 18277of fools shall be poured out. 18278 1827920:14. The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are 18280sevenfold. 18281 1828220:15. He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of 18283his mouth is the kindling of a fire. 18284 1828520:16. To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a 18286man as this is hateful. 18287 1828820:17. A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for 18289his good deeds. 18290 1829120:18. For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, 18292and how many will laugh him to scorn! 18293 1829420:19. For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which 18295was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had. 18296 1829720:20. The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the 18298pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily. 18299 1830020:21. A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually 18301in the mouth of the unwise. 18302 1830320:22. A parable coming out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he 18304doth not speak it in due season. 18305 1830620:23. There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his 18307rest he shall be pricked. 18308 1830920:24. There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, 18310and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect 18311of person he will destroy himself. 18312 1831320:25. There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and 18314maketh him his enemy for nothing. 18315 1831620:26. A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in 18317the mouth of men without discipline. 18318 1831920:27. A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of 18320them shall inherit destruction. 18321 1832220:28. The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion 18323is with them without ceasing. 18324 1832520:29. A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent 18326man shall please the great ones. 18327 1832820:30. He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he 18329that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men 18330shall escape iniquity. 18331 1833220:31. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb 18333in the mouth, so that they cannot correct. 18334 1833520:32. O Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit 18336is there in them both? 18337 1833820:33. Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his 18339wisdom. 18340 18341 18342 18343Ecclesiasticus Chapter 21 18344 18345 18346Cautions against sin in general, and some sins in particular. 18347 1834821:1. My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins 18349also pray that they may be forgiven thee. 18350 1835121:2. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest 18352near them, they will take hold of thee. 18353 1835421:3. The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of 18355men. 18356 1835721:4. All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for 18358the wound thereof. 18359 1836021:5. Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very 18361rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the 18362proud shall be rooted out. 18363 1836421:6. The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of 18365God, and judgment shall come for him speedily. 18366 1836721:7. He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: 18368and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart. 18369 1837021:8. He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise 18371man knoweth to slip by him. 18372 1837321:9. He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that 18374gathereth himself stones to build in the winter. 18375 1837621:10. The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the 18377end of them is a flame of fire. 18378 1837921:11. The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end 18380is hell, and darkness, and pains. 18381 1838221:12. He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof. 18383 1838421:13. The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding. 18385 1838621:14. He that is not wise in good, will not be taught. 18387 1838821:15. But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no 18389understanding where there is bitterness. 18390 1839121:16. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his 18392counsel continueth like a fountain of life. 18393 1839421:17. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at 18395all shall it hold. 18396 1839721:18. A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and 18398will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall 18399displease him, and he will cast it behind his back. 18400 1840121:19. The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the 18402lips of the wise, grace shall be found. 18403 1840421:20. The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they 18405will think upon his words in their hearts. 18406 1840721:21. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the 18408knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense. 18409 1841021:22. Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles 18411on the right hand. 18412 1841321:23. A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will 18414scarce laugh low to himself. 18415 1841621:24. Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a 18417bracelet upon his right arm. 18418 1841921:25. The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man 18420of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty. 18421 1842221:26. A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that 18423is well taught will stand without. 18424 1842521:27. It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man 18426will be grieved with the disgrace. 18427 1842821:28. The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things: but the 18429words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance. 18430 1843121:29. The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men 18432is in their heart. 18433 1843421:30. While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul. 18435 18436While the ungodly, etc. . .He condemneth and curseth himself: inasmuch 18437as by sin he takes part with the devil, and is, as it were, his member 18438and subject. 18439 1844021:31. The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by 18441all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and 18442wise man shall be honoured. 18443 18444 18445 18446Ecclesiasticus Chapter 22 18447 18448 18449Wise sayings on divers subjects. 18450 1845122:1. The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak 18452of his disgrace. 18453 1845422:2. The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that 18455toucheth him will shake his hands. 18456 1845722:3. A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish 18458daughter shall be to his loss. 18459 1846022:4. A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but 18461she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father. 18462 1846322:5. She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will 18464not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both. 18465 1846622:6. A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and 18467instruction of wisdom are never out of time. 18468 1846922:7. He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd 18470together. 18471 1847222:8. He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that 18473waketh a man out of a deep sleep. 18474 1847522:9. He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a 18476fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this? 18477 1847822:10. Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the 18479fool, for his understanding faileth. 18480 18481For the fool. . .In the language of the Holy Ghost, he is styled a fool, 18482that turns away from God to follow vanity and sin. And what is said by 18483the wise man against fools is meant of such fools as these. 18484 1848522:11. Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest. 18486 1848722:12. For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death. 18488 1848922:13. The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an 18490ungodly man all the days of their life. 18491 1849222:14. Talk not much with a fool and go not with him that hath no 18493sense. 18494 1849522:15. Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and 18496thou shalt not be defiled with his sin. 18497 1849822:16. Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be 18499wearied out with his folly. 18500 1850122:17. What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool? 18502 1850322:18. Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man 18504without sense, that is both foolish and wicked. 18505 1850622:19. A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, 18507shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by 18508advised counsel. 18509 1851022:20. The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be 18511depraved by fear. 18512 1851322:21. As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, 18514will not stand against the face of the wind: 18515 1851622:22. So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not 18517resist against the violence of fear. 18518 1851922:23. As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will 18520not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the 18521commandments of God. 18522 1852322:24. He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that 18524pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment. 18525 1852622:25. He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he 18527that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship. 18528 1852922:26. Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for 18530there may be a returning. To a friend, 18531 1853222:27. If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a 18533reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and 18534disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a 18535friend will flee away. 18536 1853722:28. Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his 18538prosperity also thou mayst rejoice. 18539 1854022:29. In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou 18541mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance. 18542 1854322:30. As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up 18544before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, 18545before blood. 18546 1854722:31. I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide 18548myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear 18549it. 18550 1855122:32. But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him. 18552 1855322:33. Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my 18554lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not? 18555 18556 18557 18558Ecclesiasticus Chapter 23 18559 18560 18561A prayer for grace to flee sin: cautions against profane swearing and 18562other vices. 18563 1856423:1. O Lord, father, and sovereign ruler of my life, leave me not to 18565their counsel: nor suffer me to fall by them. 18566 18567By them. . .Viz., the tongue and the lips, mentioned in the last verse 18568of the foregoing chapter. 18569 1857023:2. Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of 18571wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not in their ignorances, and 18572that their sins may not appear: 18573 18574That they spare me not in their ignorances, etc. . .That is, that the 18575scourges and discipline of wisdom may restrain the ignorances, that is, 18576the slips and offences which are usually committed by the tongue and 18577the lips. 18578 1857923:3. Lest my ignorances increase, and my offences be multiplied, and 18580my sins abound, and I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice 18581over me? 18582 1858323:4. O Lord, father, and God of my life, leave me not to their 18584devices. 18585 1858623:5. Give me not haughtiness of my eyes, and turn away from me all 18587coveting. 18588 1858923:6. Take from me the greediness of the belly, and let not the lusts 18590of the flesh take hold of me, and give me not over to a shameless and 18591foolish mind. 18592 1859323:7. Hear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth, and he that 18594will keep it shall not perish by his lips, nor be brought to fall into 18595most wicked works. 18596 1859723:8. A sinner is caught in his own vanity, and the proud and the evil 18598speakers shall fall thereby. 18599 1860023:9. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing: for in it there are 18601many falls. 18602 1860323:10. And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and meddle 18604not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not escape free from them. 18605 1860623:11. For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without a 18607blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall not be wholly 18608pure from sin. 18609 1861023:12. A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity, and a 18611scourge shall not depart from his house. 18612 1861323:13. And if he make it void, his sin shall be upon him, and if he 18614dissemble it, he offendeth double: 18615 1861623:14. And if he swear in vain, he shall not be justified: for his 18617house shall be filled with his punishment. 18618 1861923:15. There is also another speech opposite to death, let it not be 18620found in the inheritance of Jacob. 18621 1862223:16. For from the merciful all these things shall be taken away, and 18623they shall not wallow in sins. 18624 1862523:17. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to indiscreet speech: for 18626therein is the word of sin. 18627 1862823:18. Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest in the 18629midst of great men: 18630 1863123:19. Lest God forget thee in their sight, and thou, by thy daily 18632custom be infatuated and suffer reproach: and wish that thou hadst not 18633been born, and curse the day of thy nativity. 18634 1863523:20. The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will never be 18636corrected all the days of his life. 18637 1863823:21. Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third bringeth wrath and 18639destruction. 18640 1864123:22. A hot soul is a burning fire, it will never be quenched, till it 18642devour some thing. 18643 1864423:23. And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will not 18645leave off till he hath kindled a fire. 18646 1864723:24. To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will not be 18648weary of sinning unto the end. 18649 1865023:25. Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his own 18651soul, and saying: Who seeth me? 18652 1865323:26. Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and no man 18654seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not remember my sins. 18655 1865623:27. And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things, for such 18657a man's fear driveth him from the fear of God, and the eyes of men 18658fearing him: 18659 1866023:28. And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter 18661than the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom 18662of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most hidden 18663parts. 18664 1866523:29. For all things were known to the Lord God, before they were 18666created: so also after they were perfected he beholdeth all things. 18667 1866823:30. This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and he 18669shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not, he shall be 18670taken. 18671 1867223:31. And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he understood 18673not the fear of the Lord. 18674 1867523:32. So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an 18676heir by another: 18677 1867823:33. For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: 18679and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath 18680fornicated in adultery, and hath gotten her children of another man. 18681 1868223:34. This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and inquisition 18683shall be made of her children. 18684 1868523:35. Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring 18686forth no fruit. 18687 1868823:36. She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy shall 18689not be blotted out. 18690 1869123:37. And they that remain shall know, that there is nothing better 18692than the fear of God: and that there is nothing sweeter than to have 18693regard to the commandments of the Lord. 18694 1869523:38. It is great glory to follow the Lord: for length of days shall 18696be received from him. 18697 18698 18699 18700Ecclesiasticus Chapter 24 18701 18702 18703Wisdom praiseth herself: her origin, her dwelling, her dignity, and her 18704fruits. 18705 1870624:1. Wisdom shall praise her own self, and shall be honoured in God, 18707and shall glory in the midst of her people, 18708 1870924:2. And shall open her mouth in the churches of the most High, and 18710shall glorify herself in the sight of his power, 18711 1871224:3. And in the midst of her own people she shall be exalted, and 18713shall be admired in the holy assembly. 18714 1871524:4. And in the multitude of the elect she shall have praise, and 18716among the blessed she shall be blessed, saying: 18717 1871824:5. I came out of the mouth of the most High, the firstborn before 18719all creatures: 18720 1872124:6. I made that in the heavens there should rise light that never 18722faileth, and as a cloud I covered all the earth: 18723 1872424:7. I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in a pillar of a 18725cloud. 18726 1872724:8. I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated 18728into the bottom of the deep, and have walked in the waves of the sea, 18729 1873024:9. And have stood in all the earth: and in every people, 18731 1873224:10. And in every nation I have had the chief rule: 18733 1873424:11. And by my power I have trodden under my feet the hearts of all 18735the high and low: and in all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in 18736the inheritance of the Lord. 18737 1873824:12. Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he 18739that made me, rested in my tabernacle, 18740 1874124:13. And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy 18742inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. 18743 1874424:14. From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and 18745unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy 18746dwelling place I have ministered before him. 18747 1874824:15. And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise 18749I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. 18750 1875124:16. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of 18752my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. 18753 1875424:17. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on 18755mount Sion. 18756 1875724:18. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in 18758Jericho: 18759 1876024:19. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the 18761water in the streets, was I exalted. 18762 1876324:20. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aromatical balm: I 18764yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh: 18765 1876624:21. And I perfumed my dwelling as storax, and galbanum, and onyx, 18767and aloes, and as the frankincense not cut, and my odour is as the 18768purest balm. 18769 1877024:22. I have stretched out my branches as the turpentine tree, and my 18771branches are of honour and grace. 18772 1877324:23. As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my 18774flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. 18775 1877624:24. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and 18777of holy hope. 18778 1877924:25. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all 18780hope of life and of virtue. 18781 1878224:26. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my 18783fruits. 18784 1878524:27. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above 18786honey and the honeycomb. 18787 1878824:28. My memory is unto everlasting generations. 18789 1879024:29. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, 18791shall yet thirst. 18792 1879324:30. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that 18794work by me, shall not sin. 18795 1879624:31. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. 18797 1879824:32. All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of the 18799most High, and the knowledge of truth. 18800 1880124:33. Moses commanded a law in the precepts of justices, and an 18802inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel. 18803 1880424:34. He appointed to David his servant to raise up of him a most 18805mighty king, and sitting on the throne of glory for ever. 18806 18807A most mighty king. . .Viz., Christ, who by his gospel, like an 18808overflowing river, has enriched the earth with heavenly wisdom. 18809 1881024:35. Who filleth up wisdom as the Phison, and as the Tigris in the 18811days of the new fruits. 18812 1881324:36. Who maketh understanding to abound as the Euphrates, who 18814multiplieth it as the Jordan in the time of harvest. 18815 1881624:37. Who sendeth knowledge as the light, and riseth up as Gehon in 18817the time of the vintage. 18818 1881924:38. Who first hath perfect knowledge of her, and a weaker shall not 18820search her out. 18821 18822Who first hath perfect knowledge of her. . .Christ was the first that 18823had perfect knowledge of heavenly wisdom. 18824 1882524:39. For her thoughts are more vast than the sea, and her counsels 18826more deep than the great ocean. 18827 1882824:40. I, wisdom, have poured out rivers. 18829 1883024:41. I, like a brook out of a river of a mighty water; I, like a 18831channel of a river, and like an aqueduct, came out of paradise. 18832 1883324:42. I said: I will water my garden of plants, and I will water 18834abundantly the fruits of my meadow. 18835 1883624:43. And behold my brook became a great river, and my river came near 18837to a sea: 18838 1883924:44. For I make doctrine to shine forth to all as the morning light, 18840and I will declare it afar off. 18841 1884224:45. I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth, and will 18843behold all that sleep, and will enlighten all that hope in the Lord. 18844 1884524:46. I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and will leave it to 18846them that seek wisdom, and will not cease to instruct their offspring 18847even to the holy age. 18848 1884924:47. See ye that I have not laboured myself only, but for all that 18850seek out the truth. 18851 18852 18853 18854Ecclesiasticus Chapter 25 18855 18856 18857Documents of wisdom on several subjects. 18858 1885925:1. With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before 18860God and men: 18861 1886225:2. The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and 18863wife that agree well together. 18864 1886525:3. Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their 18866life: 18867 1886825:4. A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man 18869that is a fool, and doting. 18870 1887125:5. The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt 18872thou find them in thy old age? 18873 1887425:6. O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to 18875know counsel! 18876 1887725:7. O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and 18878counsel to men of honour! 18879 1888025:8. Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is 18881their glory. 18882 1888325:9. Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I 18884magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue. 18885 1888625:10. A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and 18887seeth the fall of his enemies. 18888 1888925:11. Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not 18890slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy 18891of him. 18892 1889325:12. Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth 18894justice to an ear that heareth. 18895 1889625:13. How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is 18897none above him that feareth the Lord. 18898 1889925:14. The fear of God hath set itself above all things: 18900 1890125:15. Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: 18902he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened? 18903 1890425:16. The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning 18905of faith is to be fast joined unto it. 18906 1890725:17. The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of 18908a woman is all evil. 18909 1891025:18. And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart: 18911 1891225:19. And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman: 18913 1891425:20. And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him: 18915 1891625:21. And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. 18917 1891825:22. There is no head worse than the head of a serpent: 18919 1892025:23. And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be 18921more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a 18922wicked woman. 18923 1892425:24. The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth 18925her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst 18926of her neighbours, 18927 1892825:25. Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little. 18929 1893025:26. All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of 18931sinners fall upon her. 18932 1893325:27. As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is 18934a wife full of tongue to a quiet man. 18935 1893625:28. Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for 18937beauty. 18938 1893925:29. A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great. 18940 1894125:30. A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband. 18942 1894325:31. A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy 18944countenance, and a wounded heart. 18945 1894625:32. Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make 18947her husband happy. 18948 1894925:33. From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die. 18950 1895125:34. Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked 18952woman liberty to gad abroad. 18953 1895425:35. If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight 18955of thy enemies. 18956 1895725:36. Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee. 18958 18959 18960 18961Ecclesiasticus Chapter 26 18962 18963 18964Of good and bad women. 18965 1896626:1. Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years 18967is double. 18968 1896926:2. A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and shall fulfil the 18970years of his life in peace. 18971 1897226:3. A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the portion 18973of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds. 18974 1897526:4. Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be 18976cheerful at all times. 18977 1897826:5. Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my 18979face hath trembled: 18980 1898126:6. The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the 18982people: 18983 1898426:7. And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death. 18985 1898626:8. A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart. 18987 1898826:9. With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which 18989communicateth with all. 18990 1899126:10. As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a wicked 18992woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that taketh hold of a 18993scorpion. 18994 1899526:11. A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame 18996shall not be hid. 18997 1899826:12. The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of 18999her eyes and by her eyelids. 19000 1900126:13. On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: 19002lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself. 19003 1900426:14. Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she 19005slight thee. 19006 1900726:15. She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the fountain, 19008and will drink of every water near her, and will sit down by every 19009hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail. 19010 1901126:16. The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and 19012shall fat his bones. 19013 1901426:17. Her discipline is the gift of God. 19015 1901626:18. Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much 19017worth as a well instructed soul. 19018 1901926:19. A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace. 19020 1902126:20. And no price is worthy of a continent soul. 19022 1902326:21. As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of 19024God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house. 19025 1902626:22. As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty 19027of the face in a ripe age, 19028 1902926:23. As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet 19030upon the soles of a steady woman. 19031 1903226:24. As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the 19033commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman. 19034 1903526:25. At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger 19036upon me. 19037 1903826:26. A man of war fainting through poverty, and a man of sense 19039despised: 19040 1904126:27. And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared 19042such an one for the sword. 19043 1904426:28. Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a 19045merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be 19046justified from the sins of the lips. 19047 19048From negligence. . .That is, from the neglect of the service of God: 19049because the eager pursuit of the mammon of this world, is apt to make 19050men of that calling forget the great duties of loving God above all 19051things, and their neighbours as themselves.--Ibid. A huckster. . .Or, a 19052retailer of wine. Men of that profession are both greatly exposed to 19053danger of sin themselves, and are too often accessary to the sins of 19054others. 19055 19056 19057 19058Ecclesiasticus Chapter 27 19059 19060 19061Dangers of sin from several heads: the fear of God is the best 19062preservative. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it. 19063 1906427:1. Through poverty many have sinned: and he that seeketh to be 19065enriched, turneth away his eye. 19066 1906727:2. As a stake sticketh fast in the midst of the joining of stones, 19068so also in the midst of selling and buying, sin shall stick fast. 19069 1907027:3. Sin shall be destroyed with the sinner. 19071 1907227:4. Unless thou hold thyself diligently in the fear of the Lord, thy 19073house shall quickly be overthrown. 19074 1907527:5. As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will 19076the perplexity of a man in his thoughts. 19077 1907827:6. The furnace trieth the potter's vessels, and the trial of 19079affliction just men. 19080 1908127:7. As the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a word 19082out of the thought of the heart of man. 19083 1908427:8. Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial of 19085men. 19086 1908727:9. If thou followest justice, thou shalt obtain her: and shalt put 19088her on as a long robe of honour, and thou shalt dwell with her: and she 19089shall protect thee for ever, and in the day of acknowledgment thou 19090shalt find a strong foundation. 19091 1909227:10. Birds resort unto their like: so truth will return to them that 19093practise her. 19094 1909527:11. The lion always lieth in wait for prey: so do sins for them that 19096work iniquities. 19097 1909827:12. A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is 19099changed as the moon. 19100 1910127:13. In the midst of the unwise keep in the word till its time: but 19102be continually among men that think. 19103 1910427:14. The discourse of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is at 19105the pleasures of sin. 19106 1910727:15. The speech that sweareth much shall make the hair of the head 19108stand upright: and its irreverence shall make one stop his ears. 19109 1911027:16. In the quarrels of the road is the shedding of blood: and their 19111cursing is a grievous hearing. 19112 1911327:17. He that discloseth the secret of a friend loseth his credit, and 19114shall never find a friend to his mind. 19115 1911627:18. Love thy neighbour, and be joined to him with fidelity. 19117 1911827:19. But if thou discover his secrets, follow no more after him. 19119 1912027:20. For as a man that destroyeth his friend, so is he that 19121destroyeth the friendship of his neighbour. 19122 1912327:21. And as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou 19124let thy neighbour go, and thou shalt not get him again. 19125 1912627:22. Follow after him no more, for he is gone afar off, he is fled, 19127as a roe escaped out of the snare because his soul is wounded. 19128 1912927:23. Thou canst no more bind him up. And of a curse there is 19130reconciliation: 19131 19132And of a curse there is reconciliation. . .That is, it is easier to 19133obtain a reconciliation after a curse, than after disclosing a secret. 19134 1913527:24. But to disclose the secrets of a friend, leaveth no hope to an 19136unhappy soul. 19137 1913827:25. He that winketh with the eye forgeth wicked things, and no man 19139will cast him off: 19140 1914127:26. In the sight of thy eyes he will sweeten his mouth, and will 19142admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and on thy 19143words he will lay a stumblingblock. 19144 1914527:27. I have hated many things but not like him, and the Lord will 19146hate him. 19147 1914827:28. If one cast a stone on high, it will fall upon his own head: and 19149the deceitful stroke will wound the deceitful. 19150 1915127:29. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that setteth a 19152stone for his neighbour, shall stumble upon it: and he that layeth a 19153snare for another, shall perish in it. 19154 1915527:30. A mischievous counsel shall be rolled back upon the author, and 19156he shall not know from whence it cometh to him. 19157 1915827:31. Mockery and reproach are of the proud, and vengeance as a lion 19159shall lie in wait for him. 19160 1916127:32. They shall perish in a snare that are delighted with the fall of 19162the just: and sorrow shall consume them before they die. 19163 1916427:33. Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and the sinful man 19165shall be subject to them. 19166 19167 19168 19169Ecclesiasticus Chapter 28 19170 19171 19172Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue. 19173 1917428:1. He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the 19175Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance. 19176 1917728:2. Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurt thee: and then shall thy 19178sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest. 19179 1918028:3. Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God? 19181 1918228:4. He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for 19183his own sins? 19184 1918528:5. He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask 19186forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins? 19187 1918828:6. Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease: 19189 1919028:7. For corruption and death hang over in his commandments. 19191 19192In his commandments. . .Supply the sentence out of the Greek thus: 19193Remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments. 19194 1919528:8. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour. 19196 1919728:9. Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the 19198ignorance of thy neighbour. 19199 1920028:10. Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins. 19201 1920228:11. For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will 19203trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are 19204at peace. 19205 1920628:12. For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth, and as a 19207man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches 19208he shall increase his anger. 19209 1921028:13. A hasty contention kindleth a fire and a hasty quarrel sheddeth 19211blood and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death. 19212 1921328:14. If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou 19214spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth. 19215 1921628:15. The whisperer and the double tongue is accursed: for he hath 19217troubled many that were at peace. 19218 1921928:16. The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered 19220them from nation to nation. 19221 1922228:17. It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath 19223overthrown the houses of great men. 19224 1922528:18. It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong 19226nations. 19227 1922828:19. The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and 19229deprived them of their labours. 19230 1923128:20. He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall 19232he have a friend in whom he may repose. 19233 1923428:21. The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the 19235tongue will break the bones. 19236 1923728:22. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as 19238have perished by their own tongue. 19239 1924028:23. Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath 19241not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke 19242thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands. 19243 1924428:24. For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of 19245brass. 19246 1924728:25. The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable 19248to it. 19249 1925028:26. Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall 19251possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with 19252its flame. 19253 1925428:27. They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in 19255them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a 19256lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them. 19257 1925828:28. Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and 19259make doors and bars to thy mouth. 19260 1926128:29. Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, 19262and a just bridle for thy mouth: 19263 1926428:30. And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the 19265sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be 19266incurable unto death. 19267 19268 19269 19270Ecclesiasticus Chapter 29 19271 19272 19273Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of 19274being surety. 19275 1927629:1. He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is 19277stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments. 19278 19279And he that is stronger in hand. . .That is, he that is hearty and 19280bountiful in lending to his neighbour in his necessity. 19281 1928229:2. Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy 19283neighbour again in due time. 19284 1928529:3. Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt 19286always find that which is necessary for thee. 19287 1928829:4. Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have 19289given trouble to them that helped them. 19290 1929129:5. Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in 19292promises they humble their voice: 19293 1929429:6. But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return 19295tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time: 19296 1929729:7. And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay 19298one half, and will count it as if he had found it: 19299 1930029:8. But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get 19301him for an enemy without cause. 19302 1930329:9. And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of 19304honour and good turn will repay him injuries. 19305 1930629:10. Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were 19307afraid to be defrauded without cause. 19308 1930929:11. But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to 19310shew him mercy. 19311 1931229:12. Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away 19313empty handed because of his poverty. 19314 1931529:13. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not 19316under a stone to be lost. 19317 1931829:14. Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it 19319shall bring thee more profit than gold. 19320 1932129:15. Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help 19322for thee against all evil. 19323 1932429:16. Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear: 19325 1932629:17. It shall fight for thee against thy enemy. 19327 1932829:18. A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost 19329shame, will leave him to himself. 19330 1933129:19. Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his 19332life for thee. 19333 1933429:20. The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety. 19335 1933629:21. A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he 19337that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him. 19338 1933929:22. A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all 19340shame, he shall forsake him. 19341 1934229:23. Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed 19343them as a wave of the sea. 19344 1934529:24. It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, 19346and they have wandered in strange countries. 19347 1934829:25. A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall 19349fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, 19350shall fall into judgment. 19351 1935229:26. Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to 19353thyself that thou fall not. 19354 1935529:27. The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, 19356and a house to cover shame. 19357 1935829:28. Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than 19359sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house. 19360 1936129:29. Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not 19362hear the reproach of going abroad. 19363 1936429:30. It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for 19365where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his 19366mouth. 19367 1936829:31. He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, 19369and moreover he shall hear bitter words. 19370 1937129:32. Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what 19372thou hast in thy hand. 19373 1937429:33. Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want 19375my house, my brother being to be lodged with me. 19376 1937729:34. These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the 19378upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender. 19379 19380 19381 19382Ecclesiasticus Chapter 30 19383 19384 19385Of correction of children. Health is better than wealth. Excessive 19386grief is hurtful. 19387 1938830:1. He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may 19389rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his 19390neighbours. 19391 1939230:2. He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall 19393glory in him in the midst of them of his household. 19394 1939530:3. He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the 19396midst of his friends he shall glory in him. 19397 1939830:4. His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath 19399left one behind him that is like himself. 19400 1940130:5. While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he 19402was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies. 19403 1940430:6. For he left behind him a defender of his house against his 19405enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends. 19406 1940730:7. For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at 19408every cry his bowels shall be troubled. 19409 1941030:8. A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself 19411will become headstrong. 19412 1941330:9. Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with 19414him, and he shall make thee sorrowful. 19415 1941630:10. Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy 19417teeth be set on edge. 19418 1941930:11. Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices. 19420 1942130:12. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he 19422is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a 19423sorrow of heart to thee. 19424 1942530:13. Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour 19426be an offence to thee. 19427 1942830:14. Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, 19429than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils. 19430 1943130:15. Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all 19432gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues. 19433 1943430:16. There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: 19435and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart. 19436 1943730:17. Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest, than 19438continual sickness. 19439 1944030:18. Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as 19441messes of meat set about a grave. 19442 1944330:19. What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither 19444eat, nor smell: 19445 1944630:20. So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of 19447his iniquity: 19448 1944930:21. He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a 19450virgin, and sighing. 19451 1945230:22. Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy 19453own counsel. 19454 1945530:23. The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never 19456failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life. 19457 1945830:24. Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: 19459gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from 19460thee. 19461 1946230:25. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it. 19463 1946430:26. Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring 19465old age before the time. 19466 1946730:27. A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets 19468are prepared with diligence. 19469 19470 19471 19472Ecclesiasticus Chapter 31 19473 19474 19475Of the desire of riches, and of moderation in eating and drinking. 19476 1947731:1. Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof 19478driveth away sleep. 19479 1948031:2. The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a 19481grievous sickness maketh the soul sober. 19482 1948331:3. The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when 19484he resteth he shall be filled with his goods. 19485 1948631:4. The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end 19487he is still poor. 19488 1948931:5. He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that 19490followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it. 19491 1949231:6. Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof 19493hath been their ruin. 19494 1949531:7. Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to 19496them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it. 19497 1949831:8. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that 19499hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. 19500 1950131:9. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful 19502things in his life. 19503 1950431:10. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have 19505glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not 19506transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them: 19507 1950831:11. Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the 19509church of the saints shall declare his alms. 19510 1951131:12. Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy 19512mouth upon it. 19513 1951431:13. Say not: There are many things which are upon it. 19515 1951631:14. Remember that a wicked eye is evil. 19517 1951831:15. What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep 19519over all the face when it shall see. 19520 1952131:16. Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy 19522thou be put to confusion. 19523 1952431:17. Be not hasty in a feast. 19525 1952631:18. Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself. 19527 1952831:19. Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if 19529thou eatest much, thou be hated. 19530 1953131:20. Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou 19532offend. 19533 1953431:21. And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of 19535all, and be not the first to ask for drink. 19536 1953731:22. How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in 19538sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain. 19539 1954031:23. Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man: 19541 1954231:24. Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep 19543till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him. 19544 1954531:25. And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and 19546vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness 19547upon thy body. 19548 1954931:26. Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt 19550find my words. 19551 1955231:27. In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee. 19553 1955431:28. The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, 19555and the testimony of his truth is faithful. 19556 1955731:29. Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will 19558murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true. 19559 1956031:30. Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very 19561many. 19562 1956331:31. Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the 19564hearts of the proud. 19565 1956631:32. Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it 19567moderately, thou shalt be sober. 19568 1956931:33. What is his life, who is diminished with wine? 19570 1957131:34. What taketh away life? death. 19572 1957331:35. Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not 19574to make them drunk. 19575 1957631:36. Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the 19577heart. 19578 1957931:37. Sober drinking is health to soul and body. 19580 1958131:38. Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many 19582ruins. 19583 1958431:39. Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul. 19585 1958631:40. The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, 19587lessening strength and causing wounds. 19588 1958931:41. Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him 19590not in his mirth. 19591 1959231:42. Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in 19593demanding again. 19594 19595 19596 19597Ecclesiasticus Chapter 32 19598 19599 19600Lessons for superiors and inferiors. Advantages of fearing God, and 19601doing nothing without counsel. 19602 1960332:1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one 19604of them. 19605 1960632:2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted 19607thyself of all thy charge, take thy place: 19608 1960932:3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an 19610ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution. 19611 1961232:4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee, 19613 1961432:5. To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not 19615music. 19616 1961732:6. Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted 19618up out of season with thy wisdom. 19619 1962032:7. A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in 19621gold. 19622 1962332:8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of 19624music with pleasant and moderate wine. 19625 1962632:9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to 19627thee. 19628 1962932:10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause. 19630 1963132:11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short. 19632 1963332:12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence 19634and withal seeking. 19635 1963632:13. In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the 19637ancients are present, speak not much. 19638 1963932:14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth 19640favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee. 19641 1964232:15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home 19643to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime. 19644 1964532:16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech. 19646 1964732:17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and 19648that replenisheth thee with all his good things. 19649 1965032:18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they 19651that will seek him early, shall find a blessing. 19652 1965332:19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that 19654dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein. 19655 1965632:20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall 19657kindle justice as a light. 19658 1965932:21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse 19660according to his will. 19661 1966232:22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and 19663proud man will not dread fear: 19664 1966532:23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be 19666controlled by the things of his own seeking. 19667 1966832:24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not 19669repent when thou hast done. 19670 1967132:25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against 19672the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a 19673stumblingblock to thy soul. 19674 1967532:26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy 19676household. 19677 1967832:27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the 19679keeping of the commandments. 19680 19681In faith. . .That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and 19682conscience. 19683 1968432:28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he 19685that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse. 19686 19687 19688 19689Ecclesiasticus Chapter 33 19690 19691 19692The fear of God is the best security. Times and men are in the hands of 19693God. Take care of thyself as long as thou livest, and look to thy 19694servants. 19695 1969633:1. No evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in 19697temptation God will keep him and deliver him from evils. 19698 1969933:2. A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall 19700not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm. 19701 1970233:3. A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and the law 19703is faithful to him. 19704 1970533:4. He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say, and so 19706having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep discipline, and then he 19707shall answer. 19708 1970933:5. The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his thoughts are 19710like a rolling axletree. 19711 1971233:6. A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he neigheth 19713under every one that sitteth upon him. 19714 1971533:7. Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one 19716year another year, when all come of the sun? 19717 1971833:8. By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the sun 19719being made, and keeping his commandment. 19720 1972133:9. And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in them 19722they celebrated festivals at an hour. 19723 1972433:10. Some of them God made high and great days, and some of them he 19725put in the number of ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, 19726and out of the earth, from whence Adam was created. 19727 1972833:11. With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and diversified 19729their ways. 19730 1973133:12. Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of them hath 19732he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of them hath he cursed 19733and brought low, and turned them from their station. 19734 1973533:13. As the potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and order it: 19736 1973733:14. All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in the 19738hand of him that made him, and he will render to him according to his 19739judgment. 19740 1974133:15. Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the 19742sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the works of the most 19743High. Two and two, and one against another. 19744 1974533:16. And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after the 19746grapegatherers. 19747 1974833:17. In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that 19749gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress. 19750 1975133:18. See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that 19752seek discipline. 19753 1975433:19. Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with your 19755ears, ye rulers of the church. 19756 1975733:20. Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee 19758while thou livest; and give not thy estate to another, lest thou 19759repent, and thou entreat for the same. 19760 1976133:21. As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man 19762change thee. 19763 19764Change thee. . .That is, so as to have this power over thee. 19765 1976633:22. For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that 19767thou look toward the hands of thy children. 19768 1976933:23. In all thy works keep the pre-eminence. 19770 19771The pre-eminence. . .That is, be master in thy own house, and part not 19772with thy authority. 19773 1977433:24. Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt end 19775the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy 19776inheritance. 19777 1977833:25. Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread, and 19779correction, and work for a slave. 19780 1978133:26. He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands 19782be idle, and he seeketh liberty. 19783 1978433:27. The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual labours 19785bow a slave. 19786 1978733:28. Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to work, 19788that he be not idle: 19789 1979033:29. For idleness hath taught much evil. 19791 1979233:30. Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be not 19793obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not excessive towards any 19794one, and do no grievous thing without judgment. 19795 1979633:31. If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy own 19797soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of thy soul thou 19798hast gotten him. 19799 1980033:32. If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away: 19801 1980233:33. And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and 19803in what way to seek him. 19804 19805 19806 19807Ecclesiasticus Chapter 34 19808 19809 19810The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of 19811God. 19812 1981334:1. The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and 19814deceitful: and dreams lift up fools. 19815 1981634:2. The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that 19817catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. 19818 1981934:3. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: 19820as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man. 19821 1982234:4. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come 19823from that which is false? 19824 1982534:5. Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of 19826evildoers, are vanity: 19827 1982834:6. And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it 19829be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them. 19830 1983134:7. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put 19832their trust in them. 19833 1983434:8. The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom 19835shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful. 19836 1983734:9. What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much 19838experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many 19839things, shall shew forth understanding. 19840 1984134:10. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath 19842been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence. 19843 1984434:11. He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? 19845he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety. 19846 1984734:12. I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of 19848things. 19849 1985034:13. Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I 19851have been delivered by the grace of God. 19852 1985334:14. The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his 19854regard shall be blessed. 19855 1985634:15. For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God 19857are upon them that love him. 19858 1985934:16. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not 19860be afraid: for he is his hope. 19861 1986234:17. The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed. 19863 1986434:18. To whom doth he look, and who is his strength? 19865 1986634:19. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their 19867powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a 19868cover from the sun at noon, 19869 1987034:20. A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling: he 19871raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and 19872life, and blessing. 19873 1987434:21. The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully 19875gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable. 19876 1987734:22. The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth 19878and justice. 19879 1988034:23. The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither 19881hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified 19882for sins by the multitude of their sacrifices. 19883 1988434:24. He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one 19885that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father. 19886 1988734:25. The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that 19888defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood. 19889 1989034:26. He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that 19891killeth his neighbour. 19892 1989334:27. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of 19894his hire, are brothers. 19895 1989634:28. When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have 19897they but the labour? 19898 1989934:29. When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God 19900hear? 19901 1990234:30. He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth 19903him again, what doth his washing avail? 19904 1990534:31. So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, 19906what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer? 19907 19908 19909 19910Ecclesiasticus Chapter 35 19911 19912 19913What sacrifices are pleasing to God. 19914 1991535:1. He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings. 19916 1991735:2. It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and 19918to depart from all iniquity. 19919 1992035:3. And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory 19921sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins. 19922 1992335:4. He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that 19924doth mercy, offereth sacrifice. 19925 1992635:5. To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to 19927depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins. 19928 1992935:6. Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord. 19930 1993135:7. For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of 19932God. 19933 1993435:8. The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of 19935sweetness in the sight of the most High. 19936 1993735:9. The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not 19938forget the memorial thereof. 19939 1994035:10. Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the 19941firstfruits of thy hands. 19942 1994335:11. In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy 19944tithes with joy. 19945 1994635:12. Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, 19947and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands: 19948 1994935:13. For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times 19950as much. 19951 1995235:14. Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive. 19953 1995435:15. And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, 19955and there is not with him respect of person. 19956 1995735:16. The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he 19958will hear the prayer of him that is wronged. 19959 1996035:17. He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless: nor the 19961widow, when she poureth out her complaint. 19962 1996335:18. Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against 19964him that causeth them to fall? 19965 1996635:19. For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that 19967heareth will not be delighted with them. 19968 1996935:20. He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer 19970shall approach even to the clouds. 19971 1997235:21. The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the 19973clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not 19974depart till the most High behold. 19975 1997635:22. And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and 19977will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them, 19978that he may crush their back: 19979 1998035:23. And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken 19981away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust, 19982 1998335:24. Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and 19984according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption, 19985 1998635:25. Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall 19987delight the just with his mercy. 19988 1998935:26. The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a 19990cloud of rain in the time of drought. 19991 19992 19993 19994Ecclesiasticus Chapter 36 19995 19996 19997A prayer for the church of God. Of a good heart, and a good wife. 19998 1999936:1. Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the 20000light of thy mercies: 20001 2000236:2. And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after 20003thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that 20004they may shew forth thy wonders. 20005 2000636:3. Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy 20007power. 20008 2000936:4. For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou 20010shalt be magnified among them in our presence, 20011 2001236:5. That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there 20013is no God beside thee, O Lord. 20014 2001536:6. Renew thy signs, and work new miracles. 20016 2001736:7. Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm. 20018 2001936:8. Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath. 20020 2002136:9. Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy. 20022 2002336:10. Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy 20024wonderful works. 20025 2002636:11. Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and 20027let them perish that oppress thy people. 20028 2002936:12. Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is 20030no other beside us. 20031 2003236:13. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that 20033there no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou 20034shalt inherit them as from the beginning. 20035 2003636:14. Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and 20037upon Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn. 20038 2003936:15. Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, 20040the city of thy rest. 20041 2004236:16. Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy 20043glory. 20044 2004536:17. Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the 20046beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke 20047in thy name. 20048 2004936:18. Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may 20050be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants, 20051 2005236:19. According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct 20053us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, 20054that thou art God the beholder of all ages. 20055 2005636:20. The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another. 20057 2005836:21. The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches. 20059 2006036:22. A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will 20061resist it. 20062 2006336:23. A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than 20064another. 20065 20066A woman will receive every man. . .That is, any man that her parents 20067propose to her to marry, though she does not like him, but marries in 20068obedience to her parents, who make the choice for her. 20069 2007036:24. The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, 20071and a man desireth nothing more. 20072 2007336:25. If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and 20074shew mercy: her husband is not like other men. 20075 2007636:26. He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a 20077help like to himself, and a pillar of rest. 20078 2007936:27. Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and 20080where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want. 20081 2008236:28. Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth 20083wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that 20084skippeth from city to city. 20085 20086 20087 20088Ecclesiasticus Chapter 37 20089 20090 20091Of the choice of friends and counsellors. 20092 2009337:1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a 20094friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to 20095death? 20096 2009737:2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy. 20098 2009937:3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with 20100thy malice, and deceitfulness? 20101 2010237:4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, 20103but in the time of trouble, he will be against him. 20104 2010537:5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his 20106belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy. 20107 2010837:6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in 20109thy riches. 20110 2011137:7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy 20112counsel from them that envy thee. 20113 2011437:8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a 20115counsellor for himself. 20116 2011737:9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he 20118will devise to his own mind: 20119 2012037:10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee: 20121 2012237:11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what 20123shall befall thee. 20124 2012537:12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor 20126with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of 20127whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a 20128merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an 20129envious man of giving thanks, 20130 2013137:13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of 20132honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work, 20133 2013437:14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the 20135year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these 20136in any matter of counsel. 20137 2013837:15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know 20139to observe the fear of God, 20140 2014137:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou 20142shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee. 20143 2014437:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there 20145is no other thing of more worth to thee than it. 20146 2014737:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more 20148than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch. 20149 2015037:19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may 20151direct thy way in truth. 20152 2015337:20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady 20154counsel before every action. 20155 2015637:21. A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner 20157of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is 20158continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a 20159teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. 20160 2016137:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul. 20162 2016337:23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be 20164destitute of every thing. 20165 2016637:24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all 20167wisdom. 20168 2016937:25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit 20170of his understanding is commendable. 20171 2017237:26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his 20173understanding are faithful. 20174 2017537:27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see 20176shall praise him. 20177 2017837:28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of 20179Israel are innumerable. 20180 2018137:29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name 20182shall live for ever. 20183 2018437:30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it 20185no power: 20186 2018737:31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind 20188pleaseth not every soul. 20189 2019037:32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any 20191meat: 20192 2019337:33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will 20194turn to choler. 20195 2019637:34. By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate, 20197shall prolong life. 20198 20199 20200 20201Ecclesiasticus Chapter 38 20202 20203 20204Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we 20205are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and 20206artificers. 20207 2020838:1. Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most 20209High hath created him. 20210 2021138:2. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the 20212king. 20213 2021438:3. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the 20215sight of great men he shall be praised. 20216 2021738:4. The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise 20218man will not abhor them. 20219 2022038:5. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood? 20221 2022238:6. The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and 20223the most High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in 20224his wonders. 20225 2022638:7. By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these 20227the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up 20228ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end. 20229 2023038:8. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth. 20231 2023238:9. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the 20233Lord, and he shall heal thee. 20234 2023538:10. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy 20236heart from all offence. 20237 2023838:11. Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a 20239fat offering, and then give place to the physician. 20240 2024138:12. For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for 20242his works are necessary. 20243 2024438:13. For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands: 20245 2024638:14. And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they 20247give for ease and remedy, for their conversation. 20248 2024938:15. He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the 20250hands of the physician. 20251 2025238:16. My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou 20253hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his 20254body, and neglect not his burial. 20255 2025638:17. And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and 20257then comfort thyself in thy sadness. 20258 2025938:18. And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or 20260two, for fear of detraction. 20261 2026238:19. For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, 20263and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck. 20264 2026538:20. In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the 20266poor is according to his heart. 20267 2026838:21. Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and 20269remember the latter end. 20270 2027138:22. Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him 20272no good, and shalt hurt thyself. 20273 2027438:23. Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for 20275me, and to day for thee. 20276 2027738:24. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort 20278him in the departing of his spirit. 20279 2028038:25. The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he 20281that is less in action, shall receive wisdom. 20282 20283A scribe. . .That is, a doctor of the law, or, a learned man. 20284 2028538:26. With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, 20286and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is 20287occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of 20288bulls? 20289 2029038:27. He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to 20291give the kine fodder. 20292 2029338:28. So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, 20294he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the 20295figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and 20296by his watching shall finish the work. 20297 2029838:29. So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron 20299work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with 20300the heat of the furnace. 20301 2030238:30. The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is 20303upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh. 20304 2030538:31. He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to 20306polish them to perfection. 20307 2030838:32. So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about 20309with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all 20310his work by number: 20311 2031238:33. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his 20313strength before his feet: 20314 2031538:34. He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching 20316to make clean the furnace. 20317 2031838:35. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own 20319art. 20320 2032138:36. Without these a city is not built. 20322 2032338:37. And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall 20324not go up into the assembly. 20325 2032638:38. Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of 20327judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare 20328discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are 20329spoken: 20330 2033138:39. But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their 20332prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and 20333searching in the law of the most High. 20334 20335 20336 20337Ecclesiasticus Chapter 39 20338 20339 20340The exercises of the wise man. The Lord is to be glorified for his 20341works. 20342 2034339:1. The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and 20344will be occupied in the prophets. 20345 2034639:2. He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal 20347into the subtilties of parables. 20348 2034939:3. He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be 20350conversant in the secrets of parables. 20351 2035239:4. He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor. 20353 2035439:5. He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and 20355evil among men. 20356 2035739:6. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, 20358and he will pray in the sight of the most High. 20359 2036039:7. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for 20361his sins. 20362 2036339:8. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the 20364spirit of understanding: 20365 2036639:9. And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in 20367his prayer he will confess to the Lord. 20368 2036939:10. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his 20370secrets shall he meditate. 20371 2037239:11. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall 20373glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. 20374 2037539:12. Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten. 20376 2037739:13. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be 20378in request from generation to generation. 20379 2038039:14. Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew 20381forth his praise. 20382 2038339:15. If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if 20384he rest, it shall be to his advantage. 20385 2038639:16. I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with 20387a holy transport. 20388 2038939:17. By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth 20390as the rose planted by the brooks of waters. 20391 20392Ye divine offspring. . .He speaks to the children of Israel, the people 20393of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue. 20394 2039539:18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense. 20396 2039739:19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring 20398forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in 20399his works. 20400 2040139:20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your 20402lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in 20403praising him, you shall say in this manner: 20404 2040539:21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good. 20406 2040739:22. At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his 20408mouth the receptacles of waters: 20409 2041039:23. For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no 20411diminishing of his salvation. 20412 2041339:24. The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid 20414from his eyes. 20415 2041639:25. He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing 20417wonderful before him. 20418 2041939:26. There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all 20420things shall be sought in their time. 20421 2042239:27. His blessing hath overflowed like a river. 20423 2042439:28. And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath 20425inherit the nations, that have not sought after him. 20426 2042739:29. Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was 20428made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners 20429they are stumblingblocks in his wrath. 20430 2043139:30. Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for 20432the wicked, good and evil things. 20433 2043439:31. The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, 20435fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the 20436cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing. 20437 2043839:32. All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the 20439sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil. 20440 2044139:33. There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their 20442fury they lay on grievous torments. 20443 2044439:34. In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and 20445they shall appease the wrath of him that made them. 20446 2044739:35. Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for 20448vengeance. 20449 2045039:36. The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword 20451taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction. 20452 2045339:37. In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready 20454upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not 20455transgress his word. 20456 2045739:38. Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have 20458meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing, 20459 2046039:39. All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every 20461work in due time. 20462 2046339:40. It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be 20464well approved in their time. 20465 2046639:41. Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and 20467bless the name of the Lord. 20468 20469 20470 20471Ecclesiasticus Chapter 40 20472 20473 20474The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and 20475his fear. 20476 2047740:1. Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the 20478children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother's 20479womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all. 20480 2048140:2. Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of 20482things to come, and the day of their end: 20483 2048440:3. From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is 20485humbled in earth and ashes: 20486 2048740:4. From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him 20488that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, 20489and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife, 20490 2049140:5. And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night 20492changeth his knowledge. 20493 2049440:6. A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as 20495in the day of keeping watch. 20496 2049740:7. He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped 20498in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and 20499wondereth that there is no fear. 20500 2050140:8. Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon 20502sinners are sevenfold more. 20503 2050440:9. Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, 20505famine, and affliction, and scourges: 20506 2050740:10. All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes 20508came the flood. 20509 2051040:11. All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth 20511again, and all waters shall return to the sea. 20512 2051340:12. All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity 20514shall stand for ever. 20515 2051640:13. The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and 20517shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain. 20518 2051940:14. While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors 20520shall pine away in the end. 20521 2052240:15. The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many 20523branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock. 20524 2052540:16. The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, 20526shall be pulled up before all grass. 20527 2052840:17. Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for 20529ever. 20530 2053140:18. The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall 20532be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure. 20533 2053440:19. Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but 20535a blameless wife shall be counted above them both. 20536 2053740:20. Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is 20538above them both. 20539 2054040:21. The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant 20541tongue is above them both. 20542 2054340:22. Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green 20544sown fields. 20545 2054640:23. A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above 20547them both is a wife with her husband. 20548 2054940:24. Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall 20550deliver more than they. 20551 2055240:25. Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is 20553above them both. 20554 2055540:26. Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the 20556fear of the Lord. 20557 2055840:27. There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to 20559seek for help. 20560 2056140:28. The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they 20562have covered it above all glory. 20563 2056440:29. My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die 20565than to want. 20566 2056740:30. The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is not 20568to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man's meat. 20569 2057040:31. But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself. 20571 2057240:32. Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his 20573belly there shall burn a fire. 20574 20575 20576 20577Ecclesiasticus Chapter 41 20578 20579 20580Of the remembrance of death: of an evil and of a good name: of what 20581things we ought to be ashamed. 20582 2058341:1. O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath 20584peace in his possessions! 20585 2058641:2. To a man that is at rest, and whose ways are prosperous in all 20587things, and that is yet able to take meat! 20588 2058941:3. O death thy sentence is welcome to the man that is in need, and 20590to him whose strength faileth: 20591 2059241:4. Who is in a decrepit age, and that is in care about all things, 20593and to the distrustful that loseth patience! 20594 2059541:5. Fear not the sentence of death. Remember what things have been 20596before thee, and what shall come after thee: this sentence is from the 20597Lord upon all flesh. 20598 2059941:6. And what shall come upon thee by the good pleasure of the most 20600High? whether ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years. 20601 2060241:7. For among the dead there is no accusing of life. 20603 2060441:8. The children of sinners become children of abominations, and they 20605that converse near the houses of the ungodly. 20606 2060741:9. The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with 20608their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach. 20609 2061041:10. The children will complain of an ungodly father, because for his 20611sake they are in reproach. 20612 2061341:11. Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the most 20614high Lord. 20615 2061641:12. And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and if you 20617die, in malediction shall be your portion. 20618 2061941:13. All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: 20620so the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction. 20621 2062241:14. The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the 20623ungodly shall be blotted out. 20624 2062541:15. Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, 20626more than a thousand treasures precious and great. 20627 2062841:16. A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall 20629continue for ever. 20630 2063141:17. My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, 20632and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both? 20633 2063441:18. Better is the man that hideth his folly, than the man that 20635hideth his wisdom. 20636 2063741:19. Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to speak 20638of. 20639 20640Have a shame, etc. . .That is to say, be ashamed of doing any of these 20641things, which I am now going to mention; for though sometimes 20642shamefacedness is not to be indulged: yet it is often good and 20643necessary: as in the following cases. 20644 2064541:20. For it is not good to keep all shamefacedness: and all things do 20646not please all men in opinion. 20647 2064841:21. Be ashamed of fornication before father and mother: and of a lie 20649before a governor and a man in power: 20650 2065141:22. Of an offence before a prince, and a judge: of iniquity before a 20652congregation and a people: 20653 2065441:23. Of injustice before a companion and friend: and in regard to the 20655place where thou dwellest, 20656 2065741:24. Of theft, and of the truth of God, and the covenant: of leaning 20658with thy elbow over meat, and of deceit in giving and taking: 20659 2066041:25. Of silence before them that salute thee: of looking upon a 20661harlot: and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman. 20662 2066341:26. Turn not away thy face from thy neighbour, and of taking away a 20664portion and not restoring. 20665 2066641:27. Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after 20667his handmaid, and approach not her bed. 20668 2066941:28. Be ashamed of upbraiding speeches before friends: and after thou 20670hast given, upbraid not. 20671 20672 20673 20674Ecclesiasticus Chapter 42 20675 20676 20677Of what things we ought not to be ashamed. Cautions with regard to 20678women. The works and greatness of God. 20679 2068042:1. Repeat not the word which thou hast heard, and disclose not the 20681thing that is secret; so shalt thou be truly without confusion, and 20682shalt find favour before all men: be not ashamed of any of these 20683things, and accept no person to sin thereby: 20684 2068542:2. Of the law of the most High, and of his covenant, and of judgment 20686to justify the ungodly: 20687 2068842:3. Of the affair of companions and travellers, and of the gift of 20689the inheritance of friends: 20690 2069142:4. Of exactness of balance and weights, of getting much or little: 20692 2069342:5. Of the corruption of buying, and of merchants, and of much 20694correction of children, and to make the side of a wicked slave to 20695bleed. 20696 2069742:6. Sure keeping is good over a wicked wife. 20698 2069942:7. Where there are many hands, shut up, and deliver all things in 20700number, and weight: and put all in writing that thou givest out or 20701receivest in. 20702 2070342:8. Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the aged, 20704that are judged by young men: and thou shalt be well instructed in all 20705things, and well approved in the sight of all men living. 20706 2070742:9. The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth, and the 20708care for her taketh away his sleep, when she is young, lest she pass 20709away the flower of her age, and when she is married, lest she should be 20710hateful: 20711 2071242:10. In her virginity, lest she should be corrupted, and be found 20713with child in her father's house: and having a husband, lest she should 20714misbehave herself, or at the least become barren. 20715 2071642:11. Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter: lest at anytime she 20717make thee become a laughingstock to thy enemies, and a byword in the 20718city, and a reproach among the people, and she make thee ashamed before 20719all the multitude. 20720 2072142:12. Behold not everybody's beauty: and tarry not among women. 20722 2072342:13. For from garments cometh a moth, and from a woman the iniquity 20724of a man. 20725 2072642:14. For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good 20727turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach. 20728 20729Better is the iniquity, etc. . .That is, there is, commonly speaking, 20730less danger to be apprehended to the soul from the churlishness, or 20731injuries we receive from men, than from the flattering favours and 20732familiarity of women. 20733 2073442:15. I will now remember the works of the Lord, and I will declare 20735the things I have seen. By the words of the Lord are his works. 20736 2073742:16. The sun giving light hath looked upon all things, and full of 20738the glory of the Lord is his work. 20739 2074042:17. Hath not the Lord made the saints to declare all his wonderful 20741works, which the Lord Almighty hath firmly settled to be established 20742for his glory? 20743 2074442:18. He hath searched out the deep, and the heart of men: and 20745considered their crafty devices. 20746 2074742:19. For the Lord knoweth all knowledge, and hath beheld the signs of 20748the world, he declareth the things that are past, and the things that 20749are to come, and revealeth the traces of hidden things. 20750 2075142:20. No thought escapeth him, and no word can hide itself from him. 20752 2075342:21. He hath beautified the glorious works of his wisdom: and he is 20754from eternity to eternity, and to him nothing may be added, 20755 2075642:22. Nor can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor. 20757 2075842:23. O how desirable are all his works, and what we can know is but 20759as a spark! 20760 2076142:24. All these things live, and remain for ever, and for every use 20762all things obey him. 20763 2076442:25. All things are double, one against another, and he hath made 20765nothing defective. 20766 2076742:26. He hath established the good things of every one. And who shall 20768be filled with beholding his glory? 20769 20770 20771 20772Ecclesiasticus Chapter 43 20773 20774 20775The works of God are exceedingly glorious and wonderful: no man is able 20776sufficiently to praise him. 20777 2077843:1. The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with 20779its glorious shew. 20780 2078143:2. The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an 20782admirable instrument, the work of the most High. 20783 2078443:3. At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? 20785As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat: 20786 2078743:4. The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out 20788fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes. 20789 2079043:5. Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath 20791hastened his course. 20792 2079343:6. And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times 20794and a sign of the world. 20795 2079643:7. From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that 20797decreaseth in her perfection. 20798 2079943:8. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her 20800perfection. 20801 2080243:9. Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in 20803the firmament of heaven. 20804 2080543:10. The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord 20806enlighteneth the world on high. 20807 2080843:11. By the words of the holy one they stand in judgment, and shall 20809never fall in their watches. 20810 2081143:12. Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very 20812beautiful in its brightness. 20813 2081443:13. It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, 20815the hands of the most High have displayed it. 20816 2081743:14. By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth 20818forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment. 20819 2082043:15. Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out 20821like birds. 20822 2082343:16. By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones 20824are broken. 20825 2082643:17. At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the 20827south wind shall blow. 20828 2082943:18. The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the 20830northern storm, and the whirlwind: 20831 2083243:19. And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, 20833and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts. 20834 2083543:20. The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the 20836heart is astonished at the shower thereof. 20837 2083843:21. He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it 20839freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles. 20840 2084143:22. The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into 20842crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and 20843shall clothe the waters as a breastplate. 20844 2084543:23. And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and 20846consume all that is green as with fire. 20847 2084843:24. A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a 20849dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it. 20850 2085143:25. At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth 20852the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein. 20853 2085443:26. Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and 20855when we hear with our ears, we shall admire. 20856 2085743:27. There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of 20858all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales. 20859 2086043:28. Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his 20861word all things are regulated. 20862 2086343:29. We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our 20864words is, He is all. 20865 2086643:30. What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty 20867himself is above all his works. 20868 2086943:31. The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is 20870admirable. 20871 2087243:32. Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far 20873exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful. 20874 2087543:33. Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he is above 20876all praise. 20877 2087843:34. When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not 20879weary: for you can never go far enough. 20880 2088143:35. Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as 20882he is from the beginning? 20883 2088443:36. There are many things hidden from us that are greater than 20885these: for we have seen but a few of his works. 20886 2088743:37. But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath 20888given wisdom. 20889 20890 20891 20892Ecclesiasticus Chapter 44 20893 20894 20895The praises of the holy fathers, in particular of Enoch, Noe, Abraham, 20896Isaac, and Jacob. 20897 2089844:1. Let us now praise men of renown and our fathers in their 20899generation. 20900 2090144:2. The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from 20902the beginning. 20903 2090444:3. Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, 20905and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity 20906of prophets, 20907 2090844:4. And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom 20909instructing the people in most holy words. 20910 2091144:5. Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published 20912canticles of the scriptures. 20913 2091444:6. Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in 20915their houses. 20916 2091744:7. All these have gained glory in their generations, and were 20918praised in their days. 20919 2092044:8. They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that 20921their praises might be related: 20922 2092344:9. And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are 20924perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had 20925never been born, and their children with them. 20926 2092744:10. But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed: 20928 2092944:11. Good things continue with their seed, 20930 2093144:12. Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath 20932stood in the covenants. 20933 2093444:13. And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed 20935and their glory shall not be forsaken. 20936 2093744:14. Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto 20938generation and generation. 20939 2094044:15. Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare 20941their praise. 20942 2094344:16. Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he 20944may give repentance to the nations. 20945 2094644:17. Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was 20947made a reconciliation. 20948 2094944:18. Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood 20950came. 20951 2095244:19. The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh 20953should no more be destroyed with the flood. 20954 2095544:20. Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and 20956there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the 20957most High, and was in covenant with him. 20958 2095944:21. In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he 20960was found faithful. 20961 2096244:22. Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he 20963should increase as the dust of the earth, 20964 2096544:23. And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should 20966inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. 20967 2096844:24. And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his 20969father. 20970 2097144:25. The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his 20972covenant upon the head of Jacob. 20973 2097444:26. He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an 20975inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes. 20976 2097744:27. And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the 20978eyes of all flesh. 20979 20980 20981 20982Ecclesiasticus Chapter 45 20983 20984 20985The praises of Moses, of Aaron, and of Phinees. 20986 2098745:1. Moses was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in 20988benediction. 20989 2099045:2. He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the 20991fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease. 20992 2099345:3. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments 20994in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory. 20995 2099645:4. He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose him out 20997of all flesh. 20998 2099945:5. For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud. 21000 2100145:6. And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life 21002and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his 21003judgments. 21004 2100545:7. He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of the tribe of 21006Levi: 21007 2100845:8. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the 21009priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in glory, 21010 2101145:9. And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him 21012with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire. 21013 2101445:10. He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and an 21015ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of gold all round 21016about, 21017 2101845:11. That as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that 21019might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his 21020people. 21021 2102245:12. He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a woven 21023work of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth: 21024 2102545:13. Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious stones 21026cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a lapidary for a 21027memorial, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 21028 2102945:14. And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved 21030Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and delightful to the 21031eyes for its beauty. 21032 2103345:15. Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the 21034beginning. 21035 2103645:16. No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his children 21037alone, and his grandchildren for ever. 21038 2103945:17. His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day. 21040 2104145:18. Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil. 21042 2104345:19. This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to his 21044seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, 21045and to have praise, and to glorify his people in his name. 21046 2104745:20. He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice to God, 21048incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to make reconciliation for 21049his people: 21050 2105145:21. And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants of 21052his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies, and give 21053light to Israel in his law. 21054 2105545:22. And strangers stood up against him, and through envy the men 21056that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed him about in the 21057wilderness, and the congregation of Core in their wrath. 21058 2105945:23. The Lord God saw and it pleased him not, and they were consumed 21060in his wrathful indignation. 21061 2106245:24. He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a flame of 21063fire. 21064 2106545:25. And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and 21066divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of the earth. 21067 2106845:26. He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness: for the 21069sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which he gave to him, and 21070to his seed. 21071 2107245:27. But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and he 21073hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his portion and 21074inheritance. 21075 2107645:28. Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by imitating 21077him in the fear of the Lord: 21078 2107945:29. And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the 21080goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for Israel. 21081 2108245:30. Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the prince 21083of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the dignity of priesthood 21084should be to him and to his seed for ever. 21085 2108645:31. And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of the tribe 21087of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that he might give 21088wisdom into our heart to judge his people in justice, that their good 21089things might not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation 21090everlasting. 21091 21092 21093 21094Ecclesiasticus Chapter 46 21095 21096 21097The praise of Josue, of Caleb, and of Samuel. 21098 2109946:1. Valiant in war was Jesus the son of Nave, who was successor of 21100Moses among the prophets, who was great according to his name, 21101 21102Jesus the son of Nave. . .So Josue is named in the Greek Bibles. For 21103Josue and Jesus signify the same thing, viz., a saviour. 21104 2110546:2. Very great for the saving the elect of God, to overthrow the 21106enemies that rose up against them, that he might get the inheritance 21107for Israel. 21108 2110946:3. How great glory did he gain when he lifted up his hands, and 21110stretched out swords against the cities? 21111 2111246:4. Who before him hath so resisted? for the Lord himself brought the 21113enemies. 21114 2111546:5. Was not the sun stopped in his anger, and one day made as two? 21116 2111746:6. He called upon the most high Sovereign when the enemies assaulted 21118him on every side, and the great and holy God heard him by hailstones 21119of exceeding great force. 21120 2112146:7. He made a violent assault against the nation of his enemies, and 21122in the descent he destroyed the adversaries. 21123 21124And in the descent. . .Of Beth-horon (Jos. 10.). 21125 2112646:8. That the nations might know his power, that it is not easy to 21127fight against God. And he followed the mighty one: 21128 2112946:9. And in the days of Moses he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the 21130son of Jephone, in standing against the enemy, and withholding the 21131people from sins, and appeasing the wicked murmuring. 21132 2113346:10. And they two being appointed, were delivered out of the danger 21134from among the number of six hundred thousand men on foot, to bring 21135them into their inheritance, into the land that floweth with milk and 21136honey. 21137 2113846:11. And the Lord gave strength also to Caleb, and his strength 21139continued even to his old age, so that he went up to the high places of 21140the land, and his seed obtained it for an inheritance: 21141 2114246:12. That all the children of Israel might see, that it is good to 21143obey the holy God. 21144 2114546:13. Then all the judges, every one by name, whose heart was not 21146corrupted: who turned not away from the Lord, 21147 2114846:14. That their memory might be blessed, and their bones spring up 21149out of their place, 21150 2115146:15. And their name continue for ever, the glory of the holy men 21152remaining unto their children. 21153 2115446:16. Samuel the prophet of the Lord, the beloved of the Lord his God, 21155established a new government, and anointed princes over his people. 21156 2115746:17. By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the God 21158of Jacob beheld, and by his fidelity he was proved a prophet. 21159 2116046:18. And he was known to be faithful in his words, because he saw the 21161God of light: 21162 2116346:19. And called upon the name of the Lord Almighty, in fighting 21164against the enemies who beset him on every side, when he offered a lamb 21165without blemish. 21166 2116746:20. And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made 21168his voice to be heard. 21169 2117046:21. And he crushed the princes of the Tyrians, and all the lords of 21171the Philistines: 21172 2117346:22. And before the time of the end of his life in the world, he 21174protested before the Lord, and his anointed: money, or any thing else, 21175even to a shoe, he had not taken of any man, and no man did accuse him. 21176 2117746:23. And after this he slept, and he made known to the king, and 21178shewed him the end of his life, and he lifted up his voice from the 21179earth in prophecy to blot out the wickedness of the nation. 21180 21181 21182 21183Ecclesiasticus Chapter 47 21184 21185 21186The praise of Nathan, of David, and of Solomon: Of his fall and 21187punishment. 21188 2118947:1. Then Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David. 21190 2119147:2. And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David chosen 21192from among the children of Israel. 21193 2119447:3. He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did in like 21195manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his youth. 21196 2119747:4. Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his 21198people? 21199 2120047:5. In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he beat down 21201the boasting of Goliath: 21202 2120347:6. For he called upon the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in 21204his right hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the horn 21205of his nation. 21206 2120747:7. So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in the 21208blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of glory: 21209 2121047:8. For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated the 21211Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke their horn for 21212ever. 21213 2121447:9. In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to the most 21215High, with words of glory. 21216 2121747:10. With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God that 21218made him: and he gave him power against his enemies: 21219 2122047:11. And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices he made 21221sweet melody. 21222 2122347:12. And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the 21224solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should praise the 21225holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness of God in the morning. 21226 2122747:13. The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: and 21228he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel. 21229 2123047:14. After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast down all 21231the power of the enemies. 21232 2123347:15. Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his 21234enemies under him, that he might build a house in his name, and prepare 21235a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast thou in thy youth! 21236 2123747:16. And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul 21238covered the earth. 21239 2124047:17. And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went 21241abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace. 21242 2124347:18. The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and proverbs, 21244and parables, and interpretations, 21245 2124647:19. And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of 21247Israel. 21248 2124947:20. Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply silver as 21250lead, 21251 2125247:21. And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast 21253brought under subjection. 21254 2125547:22. Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring 21256wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled, 21257 2125847:23. That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of 21259Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule. 21260 2126147:24. But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not destroy, 21262nor abolish his own works, neither will he cut up by the roots the 21263offspring of his elect: and he will not utterly take away the seed of 21264him that loveth the Lord. 21265 2126647:25. Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the same 21267stock. 21268 2126947:26. And Solomon had an end with his fathers. 21270 2127147:27. And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the nation, 21272 2127347:28. Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the people 21274through his counsel: 21275 2127647:29. And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin, and 21277shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were multiplied 21278exceedingly. 21279 2128047:30. They removed them far away from their land. 21281 2128247:31. And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came upon 21283them, and put an end to all their sins. 21284 21285 21286 21287Ecclesiasticus Chapter 48 21288 21289 21290The praise of Elias, of Eliseus, of Ezechias, and of Isaias. 21291 2129248:1. And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt 21293like a torch. 21294 2129548:2. He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in 21296their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure 21297the commandments of the Lord. 21298 2129948:3. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought 21300down fire from heaven thrice. 21301 2130248:4. Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory 21303like to thee? 21304 2130548:5. Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by 21306the word of the Lord God. 21307 2130848:6. Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily 21309their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed. 21310 2131148:7. Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of 21312vengeance. 21313 2131448:8. Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors 21315after thee. 21316 2131748:9. Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery 21318horses. 21319 2132048:10. Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the 21321wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and 21322to restore the tribes of Jacob. 21323 2132448:11. Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy 21325friendship. 21326 2132748:12. For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not 21328be such. 21329 2133048:13. Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was 21331filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man 21332was more powerful than he. 21333 2133448:14. No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied. 21335 2133648:15. In his life he did great wonders, and in death he wrought 21337miracles. 21338 2133948:16. For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart 21340from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were 21341scattered through all the earth. 21342 2134348:17. And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house 21344of David. 21345 2134648:18. Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed 21347many sins. 21348 2134948:19. Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst 21350thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water. 21351 2135248:20. In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted 21353up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, 21354and became proud through his power. 21355 2135648:21. Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as 21357women in travail. 21358 2135948:22. And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading 21360their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God 21361quickly heard their voice. 21362 2136348:23. He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up 21364to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy 21365prophet. 21366 2136748:24. He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the 21368Lord destroyed them. 21369 2137048:25. For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in 21371the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and 21372faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him. 21373 2137448:26. In his days the sun wen backward, and he lengthened the king's 21375life. 21376 2137748:27. With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass 21378at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion. 21379 2138048:28. He showed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things 21381before they came. 21382 21383 21384 21385Ecclesiasticus Chapter 49 21386 21387 21388The praise of Josias, of Jeremias, Ezechiel, and the twelve prophets. 21389Also of Zorobabel, Jesus the son of Josedech, Nehemias, Enoch, Joseph, 21390Seth, Sem, and Adam. 21391 2139249:1. The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell 21393made by the art of a perfumer: 21394 2139549:2. His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as 21396music at a banquet of wine. 21397 2139849:3. He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he 21399took away the abominations of wickedness. 21400 2140149:4. And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of 21402sinners he strengthened godliness. 21403 2140449:5. Except David, and Ezechias and Josias, all committed sin. 21405 2140649:6. For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and 21407despised the fear of God. 21408 2140949:7. So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a 21410strange nation, 21411 2141249:8. They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets 21413thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias. 21414 2141549:9. For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his 21416mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build 21417again, and renew. 21418 2141949:10. It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn 21420him upon the chariot of cherubims. 21421 2142249:11. For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and 21423of doing good to them that shewed right ways. 21424 2142549:12. And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their 21426place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong 21427faith. 21428 2142949:13. How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the 21430right hand; 21431 2143249:14. In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec who in their days built 21433the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for 21434everlasting glory. 21435 2143649:15. And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us 21437our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who 21438rebuilt our houses. 21439 2144049:16. No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up 21441from the earth. 21442 2144349:17. Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the 21444support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the 21445people: 21446 2144749:18. And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied. 21448 21449They prophesied. . .That is, by their being carried out of Egypt they 21450verified the prophetic prediction of Joseph. Gen. 50. 21451 2145249:19. Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam 21453in the beginning, 21454 21455 21456 21457Ecclesiasticus Chapter 50 21458 21459 21460The praises of Simon the high priest. The conclusion. 21461 2146250:1. Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped 21463up the house, and in his days fortified the temple. 21464 2146550:2. By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double 21466building and the high walls of the temple. 21467 2146850:3. In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled 21469as the sea above measure. 21470 2147150:4. He took care of his nation, and delivered it from destruction. 21472 2147350:5. He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in his 21474conversation with the people: and enlarged the entrance of the house 21475and the court. 21476 2147750:6. He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, 21478and as the moon at the full. 21479 2148050:7. And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of 21481God. 21482 2148350:8. And as the rainbow giving light in bright clouds, and as the 21484flower of roses in the days of the spring, and as the lilies that are 21485on the brink of the water, and as the sweet smelling frankincense in 21486the time of summer. 21487 2148850:9. As a bright fire, and frankincense burning in the fire. 21489 2149050:10. As a massy vessel of gold, adorned with every precious stone. 21491 2149250:11. As an olive tree budding forth, and a cypress tree rearing 21493itself on high, when he put on the robe of glory, and was clothed with 21494the perfection of power. 21495 21496Clothed with the perfection of power. . .That is, with all the vestments 21497denoting his dignity and authority. 21498 2149950:12. When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture of 21500holiness. 21501 2150250:13. And when he took the portions out of the hands of the priests, 21503he himself stood by the altar. And about him was the ring of his 21504brethren: and as the cedar planted in mount Libanus, 21505 2150650:14. And as branches of palm trees, they stood round about him, and 21507all the sons of Aaron in their glory. 21508 2150950:15. And the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, before all the 21510congregation of Israel: and finishing his service, on the altar, to 21511honour the offering of the most high King, 21512 2151350:16. He stretched forth his hand to make a libation, and offered of 21514the blood of the grape. 21515 2151650:17. He poured out at the foot of the altar a divine odour to the 21517most high Prince. 21518 2151950:18. Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded with beaten 21520trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard for a remembrance before 21521God. 21522 2152350:19. Then all the people together made haste, and fell down to the 21524earth upon their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to pray to the 21525Almighty God the most High. 21526 2152750:20. And the singers lifted up their voices, and in the great house 21528the sound of sweet melody was increased. 21529 2153050:21. And the people in prayer besought the Lord the most High, until 21531the worship of the Lord was perfected, and they had finished their 21532office. 21533 2153450:22. Then coming down, he lifted up his hands over all the 21535congregation of the children of Israel, to give glory to God with his 21536lips, and to glory in his name: 21537 2153850:23. And he repeated his prayer, willing to shew the power of God. 21539 2154050:24. And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great things in 21541all the earth, who hath increased our days from our mother's womb, and 21542hath done with us according to his mercy. 21543 2154450:25. May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be peace in 21545our days in Israel for ever: 21546 2154750:26. That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us, to 21548deliver us in his days. 21549 2155050:27. There are two nations which my soul abhorreth: and the third is 21551no nation: which I hate: 21552 21553Abhorreth. . .Viz., with a holy indignation, as enemies of God and 21554persecutors of his people. Such were then the Edomites who abode in 21555mount Seir, the Philistines, and the Samaritans who dwelt in Sichem, 21556and had their schismatical temple in that neighbourhood. 21557 2155850:28. They that sit on mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the 21559foolish people that dwell in Sichem. 21560 2156150:29. Jesus the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, hath written in this book 21562the doctrine of wisdom and instruction, who renewed wisdom from his 21563heart. 21564 2156550:30. Blessed is he that is conversant in these good things and he 21566that layeth them up in his heart, shall be wise always. 21567 2156850:31. For if he do them, he shall be strong to do all things: because 21569the light of God guideth his steps. 21570 21571 21572 21573Ecclesiasticus Chapter 51 21574 21575 21576A prayer of praise and thanksgiving. 21577 2157851:1. A prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to thee, O 21579Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Saviour. 21580 2158151:2. I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and 21582protector to me. 21583 2158451:3. And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an 21585unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the 21586sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper. 21587 2158851:4. And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the 21589mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour. 21590 2159151:5. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates 21592of afflictions, which compassed me about: 21593 2159451:6. From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the 21595midst of the fire I was not burnt. 21596 2159751:7. From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, 21598and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous 21599tongue: 21600 2160151:8. My soul shall praise the Lord even to death. 21602 2160351:9. And my life was drawing near to hell beneath. 21604 2160551:10. They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would 21606help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there was none. 21607 2160851:11. I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from 21609the beginning of the world. 21610 2161151:12. How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest 21612them out of the hands of the nations. 21613 2161451:13. Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have 21615prayed for death to pass away. 21616 2161751:14. I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not 21618leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without 21619help. 21620 2162151:15. I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with 21622thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard. 21623 2162451:16. And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me 21625from the evil time. 21626 2162751:17. Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the 21628name of the Lord. 21629 2163051:18. When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for 21631wisdom openly in my prayer. 21632 2163351:19. I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will 21634seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. 21635 2163651:20. My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from 21637my youth up I sought after her. 21638 2163951:21. I bowed down my ear a little, and received her. 21640 2164151:22. I found much wisdom in myself, and profited much therein. 21642 2164351:23. To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory. 21644 2164551:24. For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, 21646and shall not be confounded. 21647 2164851:25. My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been 21649confirmed. 21650 2165151:26. I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance 21652of her. 21653 2165451:27. I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her. 21655 2165651:28. I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I 21657shall not be forsaken. 21658 2165951:29. My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I 21660possess a good possession. 21661 2166251:30. The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I 21663will praise him. 21664 2166551:31. Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together 21666into the hours of discipline. 21667 2166851:32. Why are ye slow and what do you say of these things? your souls 21669are exceeding thirsty. 21670 2167151:33. I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves 21672without silver, 21673 2167451:34. And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive 21675discipline: for she is near at hand to be found. 21676 2167751:35. Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have 21678found much rest to myself. 21679 2168051:36. Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess 21681abundance of gold by her. 21682 2168351:37. Let your soul rejoice in his mercy and you shall not be 21684confounded in his praise. 21685 2168651:38. Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward 21687in his time. 21688 21689 21690 21691 21692THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS 21693 21694 21695 21696This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, the great prophet, 21697(Ecclesiasticus 48.25,) from the greatness of his prophetic spirit, by 21698which he hath foretold so long before, and in so clear a manner, the 21699coming of Christ, the mysteries of our redemption, the calling of the 21700Gentiles, and the glorious establishment, and perpetual flourishing of 21701the church of Christ: insomuch that he may seem to have been rather an 21702evangelist than a prophet. His very name is not without mystery; for 21703Isaias in Hebrew signifies the salvation of the Lord, or Jesus is the 21704Lord. He was, according to the tradition of the Hebrews, of the blood 21705royal of the kings of Juda: and after a most holy life, ended his days 21706by a glorious martyrdom; being sawed in two, at the command of his 21707wicked son in law, King Manasses, for reproving his evil ways. 21708 21709 21710 21711Isaias Chapter 1 21712 21713 21714The prophet complains of the sins of Juda and Jerusalem, and exhorts 21715them to a sincere conversion. 21716 217171:1. The vision of Isaias the Son of Amos, which he saw concerning Juda 21718and Jerusalem in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings 21719of Juda. 21720 217211:2. Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath 21722spoken. I have brought up children, and exalted them: but they have 21723despised me. 21724 217251:3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but 21726Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood. 21727 217281:4. Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked 21729seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have 21730blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards. 21731 217321:5. For what shall I strike you any more, you that increase 21733transgression? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is sad. 21734 217351:6. From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no 21736soundness therein: wounds and bruises and swelling sores: they are not 21737bound up, nor dressed, nor fomented with oil. 21738 217391:7. Your land is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your 21740country strangers devour before your face, and it shall be desolate as 21741when wasted by enemies. 21742 217431:8. And the daughter of Sion shall be left as a covert in a vineyard, 21744and as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, and as a city that is laid 21745waste. 21746 217471:9. Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been as Sodom, 21748and we should have been like to Gomorrha. 21749 217501:10. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the 21751law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha. 21752 217531:11. To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims, 21754saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of 21755fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats. 21756 217571:12. When you came to appear before me, who required these things at 21758your hands, that you should walk in my courts? 21759 217601:13. Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me. 21761The new moons, and the sabbaths and other festivals I will not abide, 21762your assemblies are wicked. 21763 217641:14. My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are 21765become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them. 21766 217671:15. And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes 21768from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands 21769are full of blood. 21770 217711:16. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices 21772from my eyes, cease to do perversely, 21773 217741:17. Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for 21775the fatherless, defend the widow. 21776 217771:18. And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as 21778scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as 21779crimson, they shall be white as wool. 21780 217811:19. If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good 21782things of the land. 21783 217841:20. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath: the sword 21785shall devour you because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 21786 217871:21. How is the faithful city, that was full of judgment, become a 21788harlot? justice dwelt in it, but now murderers. 21789 217901:22. Thy silver is turned into dross: thy wine is mingled with water. 21791 217921:23. Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love 21793bribes, they run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and 21794the widow's cause cometh not in to them. 21795 217961:24. Therefore saith the Lord the God of hosts, the mighty one of 21797Israel: Ah! I will comfort myself over my adversaries: and I will be 21798revenged of my enemies. 21799 218001:25. And I will turn my hand to thee, and I will clean purge away thy 21801dross, and I will take away all thy tin. 21802 218031:26. And I will restore thy judges as they were before, and thy 21804counsellors as of old. After this thou shalt be called the city of the 21805just, a faithful city. 21806 218071:27. Sion shall be redeemed in judgment, and they shall bring her back 21808in justice. 21809 218101:28. And he shall destroy the wicked, and the sinners together: and 21811they that have forsaken the Lord, shall be consumed. 21812 218131:29. For they shall be confounded for the idols, to which they have 21814sacrificed: and you shall be ashamed of the gardens which you have 21815chosen. 21816 218171:30. When you shall be as an oak with the leaves falling off, and as a 21818garden without water. 21819 218201:31. And your strength shall be as the ashes of tow, and your work as 21821a spark: and both shall burn together, and there shall be none to 21822quench it. 21823 21824 21825 21826Isaias Chapter 2 21827 21828 21829All nations shall flow to the church of Christ. The Jews shall be 21830rejected for their sins. Idolatry shall be destroyed. 21831 218322:1. The word that Isaias the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and 21833Jerusalem. 21834 218352:2. And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall 21836be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the 21837hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. 21838 21839The last days. . .The whole time of the new law, from the coming of 21840Christ till the end of the world, is called in the scripture the last 21841days; because no other age or time shall come after it, but only 21842eternity.--Ibid. On the top of mountains, etc. . .This shews the 21843perpetual visibility of the church of Christ: for a mountain upon the 21844top of mountains cannot be hid. 21845 218462:3. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the 21847mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will 21848teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall 21849come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 21850 218512:4. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they 21852shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into 21853sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall 21854they be exercised any more to war. 21855 218562:5. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the 21857Lord. 21858 218592:6. For thou hast cast off thy people, the house of Jacob: because 21860they are filled as in times past, and have had soothsayers as the 21861Philistines, and have adhered to strange children. 21862 218632:7. Their land is filled with silver and gold: and there is no end of 21864their treasures. 21865 218662:8. And their land is filled with horses: and their chariots are 21867innumerable. Their land also is full of idols: they have adored the 21868work of their own hands, which their own fingers have made. 21869 218702:9. And man hath bowed himself down, and man hath been debased: 21871therefore forgive them not. 21872 218732:10. Enter thou into the rock, and hide thee in the pit from the face 21874of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty. 21875 218762:11. The lofty eyes of man are humbled, and the haughtiness of men 21877shall be made to stoop: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that 21878day. 21879 218802:12. Because the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that 21881is proud and highminded, and upon every one that is arrogant, and he 21882shall be humbled. 21883 218842:13. And upon all the tall and lofty cedars of Libanus, and upon all 21885the oaks of Basan. 21886 218872:14. And upon all the high mountains and upon all the elevated hills. 21888 218892:15. And upon every high tower, and every fenced wall. 21890 218912:16. And upon all the ships of Tharsis, and upon all that is fair to 21892behold. 21893 218942:17. And the loftiness of men shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness 21895of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that 21896day. 21897 218982:18. And idols shall be utterly destroyed. 21899 21900Idols shall be utterly destroyed. . .or utterly pass away. This was 21901verified by the establishment of Christianity. And by this and other 21902texts of the like nature, the wild system of some modern sectaries is 21903abundantly confuted, who charge the whole Christian church with 21904worshipping idols, for many ages. 21905 219062:19. And they shall go into the holes of rocks, and into the caves of 21907the earth from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of 21908his majesty, when he shall rise up to strike the earth. 21909 219102:20. In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his 21911idols of gold, which he had made for himself to adore, moles and bats. 21912 219132:21. And he shall go into the clefts of rocks, and into the holes of 21914stones from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his 21915majesty, when he shall rise up to strike the earth. 21916 219172:22. Cease ye therefore from the man, whose breath is in his nostrils, 21918for he is reputed high. 21919 21920 21921 21922Isaias Chapter 3 21923 21924 21925The confusion and other evils that shall come upon the Jews for their 21926sins. The pride of their women shall be punished. 21927 219283:1. For behold the sovereign Lord of hosts shall take away from 21929Jerusalem, and from Juda the valiant and the strong, the whole strength 21930of bread, and the whole strength of water. 21931 219323:2. The strong man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet and 21933the cunning man, and the ancient. 21934 219353:3. The captain over fifty, and the honourable in countenance, and the 21936counsellor, and the architect, and the skilful in eloquent speech. 21937 219383:4. And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate 21939shall rule over them. 21940 219413:5. And the people shall rush one upon another, and every man against 21942his neighbour: the child shall make a tumult against the ancient, and 21943the base against the honourable. 21944 219453:6. For a man shall take hold of his brother, one of the house of his 21946father, saying: Thou hast a garment, be thou our ruler, and let this 21947ruin be under thy hand. 21948 219493:7. In that day he shall answer, saying: I am no healer, and in my 21950house there is no bread, nor clothing: make me not ruler of the people. 21951 219523:8. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Juda is fallen: because their tongue, 21953and their devices are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his 21954majesty. 21955 219563:9. The shew of their countenance hath answered them: and they have 21957proclaimed abroad their sin as Sodom, and they have not hid it: woe to 21958their souls, for evils are rendered to them. 21959 219603:10. Say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit 21961of his doings. 21962 219633:11. Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be 21964given him. 21965 219663:12. As for my people, their oppressors have stripped them, and women 21967have ruled over them. O my people, they that call thee blessed, the 21968same deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy steps. 21969 219703:13. The Lord standeth up to judge, and he standeth to judge the 21971people. 21972 219733:14. The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his 21974people, and its princes: for you have devoured the vineyard, and the 21975spoil of the poor is in your house. 21976 219773:15. Why do you consume my people, and grind the faces of the poor? 21978saith the Lord the God of hosts. 21979 219803:16. And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and 21981have walked with stretched out necks, and wanton glances of their eyes, 21982and made a noise as they walked with their feet and moved in a set 21983pace: 21984 219853:17. The Lord will make bald the crown of the head of the daughters of 21986Sion, and the Lord will discover their hair. 21987 219883:18. In that day the Lord will take away the ornaments of shoes, and 21989little moons, 21990 219913:19. And chains and necklaces, and bracelets, and bonnets, 21992 219933:20. And bodkins, and ornaments of the legs, and tablets, and sweet 21994balls, and earrings, 21995 219963:21. And rings, and jewels hanging on the forehead, 21997 219983:22. And changes of apparel, and short cloaks, and fine linen, and 21999crisping pins, 22000 220013:23. And lookingglasses, and lawns, and headbands, and fine veils. 22002 220033:24. And instead of a sweet smell there shall be stench, and instead 22004of a girdle, a cord, and instead of curled hair, baldness, and instead 22005of a stomacher, haircloth. 22006 220073:25. Thy fairest men also shall fall by the sword, and thy valiant 22008ones in battle. 22009 220103:26. And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall sit desolate 22011on the ground. 22012 22013 22014 22015Isaias Chapter 4 22016 22017 22018After an extremity of evils that shall fall upon the Jews, a remnant 22019shall be comforted by Christ. 22020 220214:1. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We 22022will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called 22023by thy name, take away our reproach. 22024 220254:2. In that day the bud of the Lord shall be in magnificence and 22026glory, and the fruit of the earth shall be high, and a great joy to 22027them that shall have escaped of Israel. 22028 22029The bud of the Lord. . .That is, Christ. 22030 220314:3. And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall be left in 22032Sion, and that shall remain in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every 22033one that is written in life in Jerusalem. 22034 220354:4. If the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Sion, 22036and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by 22037the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 22038 220394:5. And the Lord will create upon every place of mount Sion, and where 22040he is called upon, a cloud by day, and a smoke and the brightness of a 22041flaming fire in the night: for over all the glory shall be a 22042protection. 22043 220444:6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade in the daytime from 22045the heat, and for a security and covert from the whirlwind, and from 22046rain. 22047 22048 22049 22050Isaias Chapter 5 22051 22052 22053The reprobation of the Jews is foreshewn under the parable of a 22054vineyard. A woe is pronounced against sinners: the army of God shall 22055send against them. 22056 220575:1. I will sing to my beloved the canticle of my cousin concerning his 22058vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place. 22059 22060My cousin. . .So the prophet calls Christ, as being of his family and 22061kindred, by descending from the house of David. Ibid. On a hill, 22062etc. . .Literally, in the horn, the son of oil. 22063 220645:2. And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted 22065it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof, and 22066set up a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth 22067grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 22068 220695:3. And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye men of Juda, judge 22070between me and my vineyard. 22071 220725:4. What is there that I ought to do more to my vineyard, that I have 22073not done to it? was it that I looked that it should bring forth grapes, 22074and it hath brought forth wild grapes? 22075 220765:5. And now I will shew you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take 22077away the hedge thereof, and it shall be wasted: I will break down the 22078wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. 22079 220805:6. And I will make it desolate: it shall not be pruned, and it shall 22081not be digged: but briers and thorns shall come up: and I will command 22082the clouds to rain no rain upon it. 22083 220845:7. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel: and 22085the man of Juda, his pleasant plant: and I looked that he should do 22086judgment, and behold iniquity: and do justice, and behold a cry. 22087 220885:8. Woe to you that join house to house and lay field to field, even 22089to the end of the place: shall you alone dwell in the midst of the 22090earth? 22091 220925:9. These things are in my ears, saith the Lord of hosts: Unless many 22093great and fair houses shall become desolate, without an inhabitant. 22094 220955:10. For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one little measure, and 22096thirty bushels of seed shall yield three bushels. 22097 220985:11. Woe to you that rise up early in the morning to follow 22099drunkenness, and to drink in the evening, to be inflamed with wine. 22100 221015:12. The harp, and the lyre, and, the timbrel and the pipe, and wine 22102are in your feasts: and the work of the Lord you regard not, nor do you 22103consider the works of his hands. 22104 221055:13. Therefore is my people led away captive, because they had not 22106knowledge, and their nobles have perished with famine, and their 22107multitude were dried up with thirst. 22108 221095:14. Therefore hath hell enlarged her soul, and opened her mouth 22110without any bounds, and their strong ones, and their people, and their 22111high and glorious ones shall go down into it. 22112 221135:15. And man shall be brought down, and man shall be humbled, and the 22114eyes of the lofty shall be brought low. 22115 221165:16. And the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and the holy 22117God shall be sanctified in justice. 22118 221195:17. And the lambs shall feed according to their order, and strangers 22120shall eat the deserts turned into fruitfulness. 22121 221225:18. Woe to you that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as 22123the rope of a cart. 22124 221255:19. That say: Let him make haste, and let his work come quickly, that 22126we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that 22127we may know it. 22128 221295:20. Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness 22130for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet 22131for bitter. 22132 221335:21. Woe to you that are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your 22134own conceits. 22135 221365:22. Woe to you that are mighty to drink wine, and stout men at 22137drunkenness. 22138 221395:23. That justify the wicked for gifts, and take away the justice of 22140the just from him. 22141 221425:24. Therefore as the tongue of the fire devoureth the stubble, and 22143the heat of the flame consumeth it: so shall their root be as ashes, 22144and their bud shall go up as dust: for they have cast away the law of 22145the Lord of hosts, and have blasphemed the word of the Holy One of 22146Israel. 22147 221485:25. Therefore is the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, 22149and he hath stretched out his hand upon them, and struck them: and the 22150mountains were troubles, and their carcasses became as dung in the 22151midst of the streets. For after this his anger is not turned away, but 22152his hand is stretched out still. 22153 221545:26. And he will lift up a sign to the nations afar off, and will 22155whistle to them from the ends of the earth: and behold they shall come 22156with speed swiftly. 22157 221585:27. There is none that shall faint, nor labour among them: they shall 22159not slumber nor sleep, neither shall the girdle of their loins be 22160loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken. 22161 221625:28. Their arrows are sharp, and all their bows are bent. The hoofs of 22163their horses shall be like the flint, and their wheels like the 22164violence of a tempest. 22165 221665:29. Their roaring like that of a lion, they shall roar like young 22167lions: yea they shall roar, and take hold of the prey, and they shall 22168keep fast hold of it, and there shall be none to deliver it. 22169 221705:30. And they shall make a noise against them that day, like the 22171roaring of the sea; we shall look towards the land, and behold darkness 22172of tribulation, and the light is darkened with the mist thereof. 22173 22174 22175 22176Isaias Chapter 6 22177 22178 22179A glorious vision, in which the prophet's lips are cleansed: he 22180foretelleth the obstinacy of the Jews. 22181 221826:1. In the year that king Ozias died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a 22183throne high and elevated: and his train filled the temple. 22184 221856:2. Upon it stood the seraphims: the one had six wings, and the other 22186had six wings: with two they covered his face, and with two they 22187covered his feet, and with two they flew. 22188 221896:3. And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the 22190Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory, 22191 221926:4. And the lintels of the doors were moved at the voice of him that 22193cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 22194 221956:5. And I said: Woe is me, because I have held my peace; because I am 22196a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people that hath 22197unclean lips, and I have seen with my eyes the King the Lord of hosts. 22198 221996:6. And one of the seraphims flew to me, and in his hand was a live 22200coal, which he had taken with the tongs off the altar. 22201 222026:7. And he touched my mouth, and said: Behold this hath touched thy 22203lips, and thy iniquities shall be taken away, and thy sin shall be 22204cleansed. 22205 222066:8. And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send? and 22207who shall go for us? And I said: Lo, here am I, send me. 22208 222096:9. And he said: Go, and thou shalt say to this people: Hearing, hear, 22210and understand not: and see the vision, and know it not. 22211 222126:10. Blind the heart of this people, and make their ears heavy, and 22213shut their eyes: lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their 22214ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and I heal 22215them. 22216 222176:11. And I said: How long, O Lord? And he said: Until the cities be 22218wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land 22219shall be left desolate. 22220 222216:12. And the Lord shall remove men far away, and she shall be 22222multiplied that was left in the midst of the earth. 22223 222246:13. And there shall be still a tithing therein, and she shall turn, 22225and shall be made a show as a turpentine tree, and as an oak that 22226spreadeth its branches: that which shall stand therein, shall be a holy 22227seed. 22228 22229 22230 22231Isaias Chapter 7 22232 22233 22234The prophet assures king Achaz that the two kings his enemies shall not 22235take Jerusalem. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son. 22236 222377:1. And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the 22238son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria and Phacee the son 22239of Romelia king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem, to fight against it: 22240but they could not prevail over it. 22241 222427:2. And they told the house of David, saying: Syria hath rested upon 22243Ephraim, and his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the 22244trees of the woods are moved with the wind. 22245 222467:3. And the Lord said to Isaias: Go forth to meet Achaz, thou and 22247Jasub thy son that is left, to the conduit of the upper pool in the way 22248of the fuller's field. 22249 222507:4. And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let 22251not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking 22252with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of 22253Romelia. 22254 222557:5. Because Syria hath taken counsel against thee, unto the evil of 22256Ephraim and the son of Romelia, saying: 22257 222587:6. Let us go up to Juda, and rouse it up, and draw it away to us, and 22259make the son of Tabeel king in the midst thereof. 22260 222617:7. Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, and this shall not 22262be. 22263 222647:8. But the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is 22265Rasin: and within threescore and five years, Ephraim shall cease to be 22266a people: 22267 222687:9. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the 22269son of Romelia. If you will not believe, you shall not continue. 22270 222717:10. And the Lord spoke again to Achaz, saying: 22272 222737:11. Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of 22274hell, or unto the height above. 22275 222767:12. And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. 22277 222787:13. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small 22279thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God 22280also? 22281 222827:14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin 22283shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel. 22284 222857:15. He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the 22286evil, and to choose the good. 22287 222887:16. For before the child know to refuse the evil and to choose the 22289good, the land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of the face of 22290her two kings. 22291 222927:17. The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon the 22293house of thy father, days that have not come since the time of the 22294separation of Ephraim from Juda with the king of the Assyrians. 22295 222967:18. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss 22297for the fly, that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Egypt, and 22298for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. 22299 223007:19. And they shall come, and shall all of them rest in the torrents 22301of the valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all places set 22302with shrubs, and in all hollow places. 22303 223047:20. In that day the Lord shall shave with a razor that is hired by 22305them that are beyond the river, by the king of the Assyrians, the head 22306and the hairs of the feet, and the whole beard. 22307 223087:21. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a 22309young cow, and two sheep. 22310 223117:22. And for the abundance of milk he shall eat butter: for butter and 22312honey shall every one eat that shall be left in the midst of the land. 22313 223147:23. And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place where 22315there were a thousand vines, at a thousand pieces of silver, shall 22316become thorns and briers. 22317 223187:24. With arrows and with bows they shall go in thither: for briers 22319and thorns shall be in all the land. 22320 223217:25. And as for the hills that shall be raked with a rake, the fear of 22322thorns and briers shall not come thither, but they shall be for the ox 22323to feed on, and the lesser cattle to tread upon. 22324 22325 22326 22327Isaias Chapter 8 22328 22329 22330The name of a child that is to be born: many evils shall come upon the 22331Jews for their sins. 22332 223338:1. And the Lord said to me: Take thee a great book, and write in it 22334with a man's pen. Take away the spoils with speed, quickly take the 22335prey. 22336 223378:2. And I took unto me faithful witnesses, Urias the priest, and 22338Zacharias the son of Barachias. 22339 223408:3. And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. 22341And the Lord said to me: Call his name, Hasten to take away the spoils: 22342Make hast to take away the prey. 22343 223448:4. For before the child know to call his father and his mother, the 22345strength of Damascus, and the spoils of Samaria shall be taken away 22346before the king of the Assyrians. 22347 223488:5. And the Lord spoke to me again, saying: 22349 223508:6. Forasmuch as this people hath cast away the waters of Siloe, that 22351go with silence, and hath rather taken Rasin, and the son of Romelia: 22352 223538:7. Therefore behold the Lord will bring upon them the waters of the 22354river strong and many, the king of the Assyrians, and all his glory: 22355and he shall come up over all his channels, and shall overflow all his 22356banks. 22357 223588:8. And shall pass through Juda, overflowing, and going over shall 22359reach even to the neck. And the stretching out of his wings shall fill 22360the breadth of thy, land, O Emmanuel. 22361 223628:9. Gather yourselves together, O ye people, and be overcome, and give 22363ear, all ye lands afar off: strengthen yourselves, and be overcome, 22364gird yourselves, and be overcome. 22365 223668:10. Take counsel together, and it shall be defeated: speak a word, 22367and it shall not be done: because God is with us. 22368 223698:11. For thus saith the Lord to me: As he hath taught me, with a 22370strong arm, that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 22371 223728:12. Say ye not: A conspiracy: for all that this people speaketh, is a 22373conspiracy: neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 22374 223758:13. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself: and let him be your fear, and 22376let him be your dread. 22377 223788:14. And he shall be a sanctification to you. But for a stone of 22379stumbling, and for a rock of offence to the two houses of Israel, for a 22380snare and a ruin to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 22381 223828:15. And very many of them shall stumble and fall, and shall be broken 22383in pieces, and shall be snared, and taken. 22384 223858:16. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 22386 223878:17. And I will wait for the Lord, who hath hid his face from the 22388house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 22389 223908:18. Behold I and my children, whom the Lord hath given me for a sign, 22391and for a wonder in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwelleth in 22392mount Sion. 22393 223948:19. And when they shall say to you: Seek of pythons, and of diviners, 22395who mutter in their enchantments: should not the people seek of their 22396God, for the living of the dead? 22397 22398Seek of pythons. . .That is, people pretending to tell future things by 22399a prophesying spirit.--Ibid. Should not the people seek of their God, 22400for the living of the dead?. . .Here is signified, that it is to God we 22401should pray to be directed, and not to seek of the dead, (that is, of 22402fortune-tellers dead in sin,) for the health of the living. 22403 224048:20. To the law rather, and to the testimony. And if they speak not 22405according to this word, they shall not have the morning light. 22406 224078:21. And they shall pass by it, they shall fall, and be hungry: and 22408when they shall be hungry, they will be angry, and curse their king, 22409and their God, and look upwards. 22410 224118:22. And they shall look to the earth, and behold trouble and 22412darkness, weakness and distress, and a mist following them, and they 22413cannot fly away from their distress. 22414 22415 22416 22417Isaias Chapter 9 22418 22419 22420What joy shall come after afflictions by the birth and kingdom of 22421Christ; which shall flourish for ever. Judgments upon Israel for their 22422sins. 22423 224249:1. At the first time the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali 22425was lightly touched: and at the last the way of the sea beyond the 22426Jordan of the Galilee of the Gentiles was heavily loaded. 22427 224289:2. The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to 22429them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. 22430 224319:3. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast not increased the joy. 22432They shall rejoice before thee, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as 22433conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils. 22434 224359:4. For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and 22436the sceptre of their oppressor thou hast overcome, as in the day of 22437Madian. 22438 224399:5. For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment 22440mingled with blood, shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire. 22441 224429:6. For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the 22443government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called 22444Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, 22445the Prince of Peace. 22446 224479:7. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of 22448peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to 22449establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from 22450henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform 22451this. 22452 224539:8. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. 22454 224559:9. And all the people of Ephraim shall know, and the inhabitants of 22456Samaria that say in the pride and haughtiness of their heart: 22457 224589:10. The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with square stones: 22459they have cut down the sycamores, but we will change them for cedars. 22460 224619:11. And the Lord shall set up the enemies of Rasin over him, and 22462shall bring on his enemies in a crowd: 22463 224649:12. The Syrians from the east, and, the Philistines from the west: 22465and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his 22466indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 22467 224689:13. And the people are not returned to him who hath struck them, and 22469have not sought after the Lord of hosts. 22470 224719:14. And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, 22472him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day. 22473 224749:15. The aged and honourable, he is the head: and the prophet that 22475teacheth lies, he is the tail. 22476 224779:16. And they that call this people blessed, shall cause them to err: 22478and they that are called blessed, shall be thrown down, headlong. 22479 224809:17. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men: neither 22481shall he have mercy on their fatherless, and widows: for every one is a 22482hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth hath spoken folly. For all this 22483his indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out 22484still. 22485 224869:18. For wickedness is kindled as a fire, it shall devour the brier 22487and the thorn: and shall kindle in the thicket of the forest, and it 22488shall be wrapped up in smoke ascending on high. 22489 224909:19. By the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is troubled, and the 22491people shall be as fuel for the fire: no man shall spare his brother. 22492 224939:20. And he shall turn to the right hand, and shall be hungry: and 22494shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be filled: every one shall 22495eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, 22496and they together shall be against Juda. 22497 224989:21. After all these things his indignation is not turned away, but 22499his hand is stretched out still. 22500 22501 22502 22503Isaias Chapter 10 22504 22505 22506Woe to the makers of wicked laws. The Assyrian shall be a rod for 22507punishing Israel: but for their pride they shall be destroyed: and a 22508remnant of Israel saved. 22509 2251010:1. Woe to them that make wicked laws: and when they write, write 22511injustice: 22512 2251310:2. To oppress the poor in judgment, and do violence to the cause of 22514the humble of my people: that widows might be their prey, and that they 22515might rob the fatherless. 22516 2251710:3. What will you do in the day of visitation, and of the calamity 22518which cometh from afar? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will 22519ye leave your glory? 22520 2252110:4. That you be not bowed down under the bond, and fall with the 22522slain? In all these things his anger is not turned away, but his hand 22523is stretched out still. 22524 2252510:5. Woe to the Assyrian, he is the rod and the staff of my anger, and 22526my indignation is in their hands. 22527 2252810:6. I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will give him a 22529charge against the people of my wrath, to take away the spoils, and to 22530lay hold on the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the 22531streets. 22532 2253310:7. But he shall not take it so, and his heart shall not think so: 22534but his heart shall be set to destroy, and to cut off nations not a 22535few. 22536 2253710:8. For he shall say: 22538 2253910:9. Are not my princes as so many kings? is not Calano as Charcamis: 22540and Emath as Arphad? is not Samaria as Damascus? 22541 2254210:10. As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idol, so also their 22543idols of Jerusalem, and of Samaria. 22544 2254510:11. Shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to 22546Jerusalem and her idols? 22547 2254810:12. And it shall come to pass, that when the Lord shall have 22549performed all his works in mount Sion, and in Jerusalem, I will visit 22550the fruit of the proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of 22551the haughtiness of his eyes. 22552 2255310:13. For he hath said: By the strength of my own hand I have done it, 22554and by my own wisdom I have understood: and I have removed the bounds 22555of the people, and have taken the spoils of the princes, and as a 22556mighty man hath pulled down them that sat on high. 22557 2255810:14. And my hand hath found the strength of the people as a nest; and 22559as eggs are gathered, that are left, so have I gathered all the earth: 22560and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or made 22561the least noise. 22562 2256310:15. Shall the axe boast itself against him that cutteth with it? or 22564shall the saw exalt itself against him by whom it is drawn? as if a rod 22565should lift itself up against him that lifteth it up, and a staff exalt 22566itself, which is but wood. 22567 2256810:16. Therefore the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall send 22569leanness among his fat ones: and under his glory shall be kindled a 22570burning, as it were the burning of a fire. 22571 2257210:17. And the light of Israel shall be as a fire, and the Holy One 22573thereof as a flame: and his thorns and his briers shall be set on fire, 22574and shall be devoured in one day. 22575 2257610:18. And the glory of his forest, and of his beautiful hill, shall be 22577consumed from the soul even to the flesh, and he shall run away through 22578fear. 22579 2258010:19. And they that remain of the trees of his forest shall be so few, 22581that they shall easily be numbered, and a child shall write them down. 22582 2258310:20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of 22584Israel, and they that shall escape of the house of Jacob, shall lean no 22585more upon him that striketh them: but they shall lean upon the Lord the 22586Holy One of Israel, in truth. 22587 2258810:21. The remnant shall be converted, the remnant, I say, of Jacob, to 22589the mighty God. 22590 2259110:22. For if thy people, O Israel, shall be as the sand of the sea, a 22592remnant of them shall be converted, the consumption abridged shall 22593overflow with justice. 22594 22595A remnant of them shall be converted. . .This was partly verified in the 22596children of Israel who remained after the devastations of the 22597Assyrians, in the time of king Ezechias: and partly in the conversion 22598of a remnant of the Jews to the faithful of Christ.--Ibid. The 22599consumption abridged, etc. . .That is, the number of them cut short, and 22600reduced to few, shall flourish in abundance of justice. 22601 2260210:23. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, and an 22603abridgment in the midst of all the land. 22604 2260510:24. Therefore, thus saith the Lord the God of hosts: O my people 22606that dwellest in Sion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall strike 22607thee with his rod, and he shall lift up his staff over thee in the way 22608of Egypt. 22609 2261010:25. For yet a little and a very little while, and my indignation 22611shall cease, and my wrath shall be upon their wickedness. 22612 2261310:26. And the Lord of hosts shall raise up a scourge against him, 22614according to the slaughter of Madian in the rock of Oreb, and his rod 22615over the sea, and he shall lift it up in the way of Egypt. 22616 2261710:27. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be 22618taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and 22619the yoke shall putrefy at the presence of the oil. 22620 22621At the presence of the oil. . .That is, by the sweet unction of divine 22622mercy. 22623 2262410:28. He shall come into Aiath, he shall pass into Magron: at Machmas 22625he shall lay up his carriages. 22626 22627Into Aiath, etc. . .Here the prophet describes the march of the 22628Assyrians under Sennacherib; and the terror they should carry with 22629them; and how they should suddenly be destroyed. 22630 2263110:29. They have passed in haste, Gaba is our lodging: Rama was 22632astonished, Gabaath of Saul fled away. 22633 2263410:30. Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim, attend, O Laisa, poor 22635Anathoth. 22636 2263710:31. Medemena is removed: ye inhabitants of Gabim, take courage. 22638 2263910:32. It is yet day enough, to remain in Nobe: he shall shake his hand 22640against the mountain of the daughter of Sion, the hill of Jerusalem. 22641 2264210:33. Behold the sovereign Lord of hosts shall break the earthen 22643vessel with terror, and the tall of stature shall be cut down, and the 22644lofty shall be humbled. 22645 2264610:34. And the thickets of the forest shall be cut down with iron, and 22647Libanus with its high ones shall fall. 22648 22649 22650 22651Isaias Chapter 11 22652 22653 22654Of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, to which all nations shall repair. 22655 2265611:1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a 22657flower shall rise up out of his root. 22658 2265911:2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of 22660wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, 22661the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. 22662 2266311:3. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, 22664He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove 22665according to the hearing of the ears. 22666 2266711:4. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with 22668equity the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the 22669rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the 22670wicked. 22671 2267211:5. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the 22673girdle of his reins. 22674 2267511:6. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie 22676down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide 22677together, and a little child shall lead them. 22678 2267911:7. The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest 22680together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 22681 2268211:8. And the sucking child shall play on other hole of the asp: and 22683the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk. 22684 2268511:9. They shall not hurt, nor shall they kill in all my holy mountain, 22686for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the covering 22687waters of the sea. 22688 2268911:10. In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the 22690people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be 22691glorious. 22692 2269311:11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set 22694his hand the second time to possess the remnant of his people, which 22695shall be left from the Assyrians, and from Egypt, and from Phetros, and 22696from Ethiopia, and from Elam, and from Sennaar, and from Emath, and 22697from the islands of the sea. 22698 2269911:12. And he shall set up a standard unto the nations, and shall 22700assemble the fugitives of Israel, and shall gather together the 22701dispersed of Juda from the four quarters of the earth. 22702 2270311:13. And the envy of Ephraim shall be taken away, and the enemies of 22704Juda shall perish: Ephraim shall not envy Juda, and Juda shall not 22705fight against Ephraim. 22706 2270711:14. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines by the 22708sea, they together shall spoil the children of the east: Edom, till 22709Moab shall be under the rule of their hand, and the children of Ammon 22710shall be obedient. 22711 2271211:15. And the Lord shall lay waste the tongue of the sea of Egypt, and 22713shall lift up his hand over the river in the strength of his spirit: 22714and he shall strike it in the seven streams, so that men may pass 22715through it in their shoes. 22716 2271711:16. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of my people, which 22718shall be left from the Assyrians: as there was for Israel in the day 22719that he came up out of the land of Egypt. 22720 22721 22722 22723Isaias Chapter 12 22724 22725 22726A canticle of thanksgiving for the benefits of Christ. 22727 2272812:1. And thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to thee, O 22729Lord, for thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is turned away, and thou 22730hast comforted me. 22731 2273212:2. Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not 22733fear: because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become 22734my salvation. 22735 2273612:3. Thou shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains: 22737 2273812:4. And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon 22739his name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name 22740is high. 22741 2274212:5. Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this 22743forth in all the earth. 22744 2274512:6. Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he 22746that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel. 22747 22748 22749 22750Isaias Chapter 13 22751 22752 22753The desolation of Babylon. 22754 2275513:1. The burden of Babylon which Isaias the son of Amos saw. 22756 22757The burden of Babylon. . .That is, a prophecy against Babylon. 22758 2275913:2. Upon the dark mountain lift ye up a banner, exalt the voice, lift 22760up the hand, and let the rulers go into the gates. 22761 2276213:3. I have commanded my sanctified ones, and have called my strong 22763ones in my wrath, them that rejoice in my glory. 22764 2276513:4. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as it were of many 22766people, the noise of the sound of kings, of nations gathered together: 22767the Lord of hosts hath given charge to the troops of war. 22768 2276913:5. To them that come from a country afar off, from the end of 22770heaven: the Lord and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy the whole 22771land. 22772 2277313:6. Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is near: it shall come as a 22774destruction from the Lord. 22775 2277613:7. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every heart of man shall 22777melt, 22778 2277913:8. And shall be broken. Gripings and pains, shall take hold of them, 22780they shall be in pain as a woman in labour. Every one shall be amazed 22781at his neighbour, their countenances shall be as faces burnt. 22782 2278313:9. Behold, the day of the Lord shall come, a cruel day, and full of 22784indignation, and of wrath, and fury, to lay the land desolate, and to 22785destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 22786 2278713:10. For the stars of heaven, and their brightness shall not display 22788their light: the sun shall be darkened in his rising, and the moon 22789shall not shine with her light. 22790 2279113:11. And I will visit the evils of the world, and against the wicked 22792for their iniquity: and I will make the pride of infidels to cease, and 22793will bring down the arrogancy of the mighty. 22794 2279513:12. A man shall be more precious than gold, yea a man than the 22796finest of gold. 22797 2279813:13. For this I will trouble the heaven: and the earth shall be moved 22799out of her place, for the indignation of the Lord of hosts, and for the 22800day of his fierce wrath. 22801 2280213:14. And they shall be as a doe fleeing away, and as a sheep: and 22803there shall be none to gather them together: every man shall turn to 22804his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land. 22805 2280613:15. Every one that shall be found, shall be slain: and every one 22807that shall come to their aid, shall fall by the sword. 22808 2280913:16. Their inhabitants shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes: 22810their houses shall be pillaged, and their wives shall be ravished. 22811 2281213:17. Behold I will stir up the Medes against them, who shall not seek 22813silver, nor desire gold: 22814 2281513:18. But with their arrows they shall kill the children, and shall 22816have no pity upon the sucklings of the womb, and their eye shall not 22817spare their sons. 22818 2281913:19. And that Babylon, glorious among kingdoms, the famous pride of 22820the Chaldeans, shall be even as the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha. 22821 2282213:20. It shall no more be inhabited for ever, and it shall not be 22823founded unto generation and generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch 22824his tents there, nor shall shepherds rest there. 22825 2282613:21. But wild beasts shall rest there, and their houses shall be 22827filled with serpents, and ostriches shall dwell there, and the hairy 22828ones shall dance there: 22829 2283013:22. And owls shall answer one another there, in the houses thereof, 22831and sirens in the temples of pleasure. 22832 22833 22834 22835Isaias Chapter 14 22836 22837 22838The restoration of Israel after their captivity. The parable or song 22839insulting over the king of Babylon. A prophecy against the Philistines. 22840 2284114:1. Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. 22842For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of 22843Israel, and will make them rest upon their own ground: and the stranger 22844shall be joined with them, and shall adhere to the house of Jacob. 22845 2284614:2. And the people shall take them, and bring them into their place: 22847and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for 22848servants and handmaids: and they shall make them captives that had 22849taken them, and shall subdue their oppressors. 22850 2285114:3. And it shall come to pass in that day, that when God shall give 22852thee rest from thy labour, and from thy vexation, and from the hard 22853bondage, wherewith thou didst serve before, 22854 2285514:4. Thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and 22856shalt say: How is the oppressor come to nothing, the tribute hath 22857ceased? 22858 2285914:5. The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of the 22860rulers, 22861 2286214:6. That struck the people in wrath with an incurable wound, that 22863brought nations under in fury, that persecuted in a cruel manner. 22864 2286514:7. The whole earth is quiet and still, it is glad and hath rejoiced. 22866 2286714:8. The fir trees also have rejoiced over thee, and the cedars of 22868Libanus, saying: Since thou hast slept, there hath none come up to cut 22869us down. 22870 2287114:9. Hell below was in an uproar to meet thee at thy coming, it 22872stirred up the giants for thee. All the princes of the earth are risen 22873up from their thrones, all the princes of nations. 22874 2287514:10. All shall answer, and say to thee: Thou also art wounded as well 22876as we, thou art become like unto us. 22877 2287814:11. Thy pride is brought down to hell, thy carcass is fallen down: 22879under thee shall the moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering. 22880 2288114:12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, who didst rise in 22882the morning? how art thou fallen to the earth, that didst wound the 22883nations? 22884 22885O Lucifer. . .O day star. All this, according to the letter, is spoken 22886of the king of Babylon. It may also be applied, in a spiritual sense, 22887to Lucifer the prince of devils, who was created a bright angel, but 22888fell by pride and rebellion against God. 22889 2289014:13. And thou saidst in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will 22891exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit in the mountain of 22892the covenant, in the sides of the north. 22893 2289414:14. I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the 22895most High. 22896 2289714:15. But yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, into the depth of 22898the pit. 22899 2290014:16. They that shall see thee, shall turn toward thee, and behold 22901thee. Is this the man that troubled the earth, that shook kingdoms, 22902 2290314:17. That made the world a wilderness, and destroyed the cities 22904thereof, that opened not the prison to his prisoners? 22905 2290614:18. All the kings of the nations have all of them slept in glory, 22907every one in his own house. 22908 2290914:19. But thou art cast out of thy grave, as an unprofitable branch 22910defiled, and wrapped up among them that were slain by the sword, and 22911art gone down to the bottom of the pit, as a rotten carcass. 22912 2291314:20. Thou shalt not keep company with them, even in burial: for thou 22914hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people: the seed of the 22915wicked shall not be named for ever. 22916 2291714:21. Prepare his children for slaughter for the iniquity of their 22918fathers: they shall not rise up, nor inherit the land, nor fill the 22919face of the world with cities. 22920 2292114:22. And I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts: and I 22922will destroy the name of Babylon, and the remains, and the bud, and the 22923offspring, saith the Lord. 22924 2292514:23. And I will make it a possession for the ericius and pools of 22926waters, and I will sweep it and wear it out with a besom, saith the 22927Lord of hosts. 22928 2292914:24. The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, 22930so shall it be: and as I have purposed, 22931 2293214:25. So shall it fall out: That I will destroy the Assyrian in my 22933land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: and his yoke shall be 22934taken away from them, and his burden shall be taken off their shoulder. 22935 2293614:26. This is the counsel, that I have purposed upon all the earth, 22937and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations. 22938 2293914:27. For the Lord of hosts hath decreed, and who can disannul it? and 22940his hand is stretched out: and who shall turn it away? 22941 2294214:28. In the year that king Achaz died, was this burden: 22943 2294414:29. Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia, that the rod of him that 22945struck thee is broken in pieces: for out of the root of the serpent 22946shall come forth a basilisk, and his seed shall swallow the bird. 22947 2294814:30. And the firstborn of the poor shall be fed, and the poor shall 22949rest with confidence: and I will make thy root perish with famine, and 22950I will kill thy remnant. 22951 2295214:31. Howl, O gate; cry, O city: all Philistia is thrown down: for a 22953smoke shall come from the north, and there is none that shall escape 22954his troop. 22955 2295614:32. And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? 22957That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his people shall hope 22958in him. 22959 22960 22961 22962Isaias Chapter 15 22963 22964 22965A prophecy of the desolation of the Moabites. 22966 2296715:1. The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid 22968waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the 22969night, it is silent. 22970 2297115:2. The house is gone up, and Dibon to the high places to mourn over 22972Nabo, and over Medaba, Moab hath howled: on all their heads shall be 22973baldness, and every beard shall be shaven. 22974 2297515:3. In their streets they are girded with sackcloth: on the tops of 22976their houses, and in their streets all shall howl and come down 22977weeping. 22978 2297915:4. Hesebon shall cry, and Eleale, their voice is heard even to Jasa. 22980For this shall the well appointed men of Moab howl, his soul shall howl 22981to itself. 22982 2298315:5. My heart shall cry to Moab, the bars thereof shall flee unto 22984Segor a heifer of three years old: for by the ascent of Luith they 22985shall go up weeping: and in the way of Oronaim they shall lift up a cry 22986of destruction. 22987 2298815:6. For the waters of Nemrim shall be desolate, for the grass is 22989withered away, the spring is faded, all the greenness is perished. 22990 2299115:7. According to the greatness of their work, is their visitation 22992also: they shall lead them to the torrent of the willows. 22993 22994Torrent of the willows. . .That is, as some say, the waters of Babylon: 22995others render it, a valley of the Arabians. 22996 2299715:8. For the cry is gone round about the border of Moab: the howling 22998thereof unto Gallim, and unto the well of Elim the cry thereof. 22999 2300015:9. For the waters of Dibon are filled with blood: for I will bring 23001more upon Dibon: the lion upon them that shall flee of Moab, and upon 23002the remnant of the land. 23003 23004 23005 23006Isaias Chapter 16 23007 23008 23009The prophet prayeth for Christ's coming. The affliction of the Moabites 23010for their pride. 23011 2301216:1. Send forth, O Lord, the lamb, the ruler of the earth, from Petra 23013of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Sion. 23014 2301516:2. And it shall come to pass, that as a bird fleeing away, and as 23016young ones flying out of the nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be in 23017the passage of Arnon. 23018 2301916:3. Take counsel, gather a council: make thy shadow as the night in 23020the midday: hide them that flee, and betray not them that wander about. 23021 2302216:4. My fugitives shall dwell with thee: O Moab, be thou a covert to 23023them from the face of the destroyer: for the dust is at an end, the 23024wretch is consumed: he hath failed, that trod the earth under foot. 23025 2302616:5. And a throne shall be prepared in mercy, and one shall sit upon 23027it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment 23028and quickly rendering that which is just. 23029 2303016:6. We have heard of the pride of Moab, he is exceeding proud: his 23031pride and his arrogancy, and his indignation is more than his strength. 23032 2303316:7. Therefore shall Moab howl to Moab, every one shall howl: to them 23034that rejoice upon the brick walls, tell ye their stripes. 23035 2303616:8. For the suburbs of Hesebon are desolate, and the lords of the 23037nations have destroyed the vineyard of Sabama: the branches thereof 23038have reached even to Jazer: they have wandered in the wilderness, the 23039branches thereof are left, they are gone over the sea. 23040 2304116:9. Therefore I will lament with the weeping of Jazer the vineyard of 23042Sabama: I will water thee with my tears, O Hesebon, and Eleale: for the 23043voice of the treaders hath rushed in upon thy vintage, and upon thy 23044harvest. 23045 2304616:10. And gladness and joy shall be taken away from Carmel, and there 23047shall be no rejoicing nor shouting in the vineyards. He shall not tread 23048out wine in the press that was wont to tread it out: the voice of the 23049treaders I have taken away. 23050 23051Carmel. . .This name is often taken to signify a fair and fruitful hill 23052or field, such as mount Carmel is. 23053 2305416:11. Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my 23055inward parts for the brick wall. 23056 2305716:12. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is wearied 23058on his high places, that he shall go in to his sanctuaries to pray, and 23059shall not prevail. 23060 2306116:13. This is the word, that the Lord spoke to Moab from that time: 23062 2306316:14. And now the Lord hath spoken, saying: In three years, as the 23064years of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be taken away for all the 23065multitude of the people, and it shall be left small and feeble, not 23066many. 23067 23068 23069 23070Isaias Chapter 17 23071 23072 23073Judgments upon Damascus and Samaria. The overthrow of the Assyrians. 23074 2307517:1. The burden of Damascus. Behold Damascus shall cease to be a city, 23076and shall be as a ruinous heap of stones. 23077 2307817:2. The cities of Aroer shall be left for flocks, and they shall rest 23079there, and there shall be none to make them afraid. 23080 2308117:3. And aid shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus: 23082and the remnant of Syria shall be as the glory of the children of 23083Israel: saith the Lord of hosts. 23084 2308517:4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob 23086shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall grow lean. 23087 2308817:5. And it shall be as when one gathereth in the harvest that which 23089remaineth, and his arm shall gather the ears of corn: and it shall be 23090as he that seeketh ears in the vale of Raphaim. 23091 2309217:6. And the fruit thereof that shall be left upon it, shall be as one 23093cluster of grapes, and as the shaking of the olive tree, two or three 23094berries in the top of a bough, or four or five upon the top of the 23095tree, saith the Lord the God of Israel. 23096 2309717:7. In that day man shall bow down himself to his Maker, and his eyes 23098shall look to the Holy One of Israel. 23099 2310017:8. And he shall not look to the altars which his hands made; and he 23101shall not have respect to the things that his fingers wrought, such as 23102groves and temples. 23103 2310417:9. In that day his strong cities shall be forsaken, as the ploughs, 23105and the corn that were left before the face of the children of Israel, 23106and thou shalt be desolate. 23107 23108That were left. . .Viz., by the Chanaanites, when the children of Israel 23109came into their land. 23110 2311117:10. Because thou hast forgotten God thy saviour, and hast not 23112remembered thy strong helper: therefore shalt thou plant good plants, 23113and shalt sow strange seed. 23114 2311517:11. In the day of thy planting shall be the wild grape, and in the 23116morning thy seed shall flourish: the harvest is taken away in the day 23117of inheritance, and shall grieve thee much. 23118 2311917:12. Woe to the multitude of many people, like the multitude of the 23120roaring sea: and the tumult of crowds, like the noise of many waters. 23121 23122The multitude, etc. . .This and all that follows to the end of the 23123chapter, relates to the Assyrian army under Sennacherib. 23124 2312517:13. Nations shall make a noise like the noise of waters overflowing, 23126but he shall rebuke him, and he shall flee far off: and he shall be 23127carried away as the dust of the mountains before the wind, and as a 23128whirlwind before a tempest. 23129 2313017:14. In the time of the evening, behold there shall be trouble: the 23131morning shall come, and he shall not be: this is the portion of them 23132that have wasted us, and the lot of them that spoiled us. 23133 23134 23135 23136Isaias Chapter 18 23137 23138 23139A woe to the Ethiopians, who fed Israel with vain hopes, their future 23140conversion. 23141 2314218:1. Woe to the land, the winged cymbal, which is beyond the rivers of 23143Ethiopia, 23144 2314518:2. That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, and in vessels of bulrushes 23146upon the waters. Go, ye swift angels, to a nation rent and torn in 23147pieces: to a terrible people, after which there is no other: to a 23148nation expecting and trodden underfoot, whose land the rivers have 23149spoiled. 23150 23151Angels. . .Or messengers. 23152 2315318:3. All ye inhabitants of the world, who dwell on the earth, when the 23154sign shall be lifted up on the mountains, you shall see, and you shall 23155hear the sound of the trumpet. 23156 2315718:4. For thus saith the Lord to me: I will take my rest, and consider 23158in my place, as the noon light is clear, and as a cloud of dew in the 23159day of harvest. 23160 2316118:5. For before the harvest it was all flourishing, and it shall bud 23162without perfect ripeness, and the sprigs thereof shall be cut off with 23163pruning hooks: and what is left shall be cut away and shaken out. 23164 2316518:6. And they shall be left together to the birds of the mountains, 23166and the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall be upon them all the 23167summer, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. 23168 2316918:7. At that time shall a present be brought to the Lord of hosts, 23170from a people rent and torn in pieces: from a terrible people, after 23171which there hath been no other: from a nation expecting, expecting and 23172trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of 23173the name of the Lord of hosts, to mount Sion. 23174 23175 23176 23177Isaias Chapter 19 23178 23179 23180The punishment of Egypt: their call to the church. 23181 2318219:1. The burden of Egypt. Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift 23183cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved 23184at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst 23185thereof. 23186 2318719:2. And I will set the Egyptians to fight against the Egyptians: and 23188they shall fight brother against brother, and friend against friend, 23189city against city, kingdom against kingdom. 23190 2319119:3. And the spirit of Egypt shall be broken in the bowels thereof, 23192and I will cast down their counsel: and they shall consult their idols, 23193and their diviners, and their wizards, and soothsayers. 23194 2319519:4. And I will deliver Egypt into the hand of cruel masters, and a 23196strong king shall rule over them, saith the Lord the God of hosts. 23197 2319819:5. And the water of the sea shall be dried up, and the river shall 23199be wasted and dry. 23200 2320119:6. And the rivers shall fail: the streams of the banks shall be 23202diminished, and be dried up. The reed and the bulrush shall wither 23203away. 23204 2320519:7. The channel of the river shall be laid bare from its fountain, 23206and every thing sown by the water shall be dried up, it shall wither 23207away, and shall be no more. 23208 2320919:8. The fishers also shall mourn, and all that cast a hook into the 23210river shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall 23211languish away. 23212 2321319:9. They shall be confounded that wrought in flax, combing and 23214weaving fine linen. 23215 2321619:10. And its watery places shall be dry, all they shall mourn that 23217made pools to take fishes. 23218 2321919:11. The princes of Tanis are become fools, the wise counsellors of 23220Pharao have given foolish counsel: how will you say to Pharao: I am the 23221son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? 23222 2322319:12. Where are now thy wise men? let them tell thee, and shew what 23224the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. 23225 2322619:13. The princes of Tanis are become fools, the princes of Memphis 23227are gone astray, they have deceived Egypt, the stay of the people 23228thereof. 23229 2323019:14. The Lord hath mingled in the midst thereof the spirit of 23231giddiness: and they have caused Egypt to err in all its works, as a 23232drunken man staggereth and vomiteth. 23233 2323419:15. And there shall be no work for Egypt, to make head or tail, him 23235that bendeth down, or that holdeth back. 23236 2323719:16. In that day Egypt shall be like unto women, and they shall be 23238amazed, and afraid, because of the moving of the hand of the Lord of 23239hosts, which he shall move over it. 23240 2324119:17. And the land of Juda shall be a terror to Egypt: everyone that 23242shall remember it shall tremble because of the counsel of the Lord of 23243hosts, which he hath determined concerning it. 23244 2324519:18. In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt, 23246speaking the language of Chanaan, and swearing by the Lord of hosts: 23247one shall be called the city of the sun. 23248 2324919:19. In that day there shall be an altar of the Lord in the midst of 23250the land of Egypt, and a monument of the Lord at the borders thereof: 23251 2325219:20. It shall be for a sign, and for a testimony to the Lord of hosts 23253in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to the Lord because of the 23254oppressor, and he shall send them a Saviour and a defender to deliver 23255them. 23256 2325719:21. And the Lord shall be known by Egypt, and the Egyptians shall 23258know the Lord in that day, and shall worship him with sacrifices and 23259offerings: and they shall make vows to the Lord, and perform them. 23260 2326119:22. And the Lord shall strike Egypt with a scourge, and shall heal 23262it, and they shall return to the Lord, and he shall be pacified towards 23263them, and heal them. 23264 2326519:23. In that day there shall be a way from Egypt to the Assyrians, 23266and the Assyrian shall enter into Egypt, and the Egyptian to the 23267Assyrians, and the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrian. 23268 2326919:24. In that day shall Israel be the third to the Egyptian and the 23270Assyrian: a blessing in the midst of the land, 23271 2327219:25. Which the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying: Blessed be my 23273people of Egypt, and the work of my hands to the Assyrian: but Israel 23274is my inheritance. 23275 23276 23277 23278Isaias Chapter 20 23279 23280 23281The ignominious captivity of the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians. 23282 2328320:1. In the year that Tharthan entered into Azotus, when Sargon the 23284king of the Assyrians had sent him, and he had fought against Azotus, 23285and had taken it: 23286 2328720:2. At that same time the Lord spoke by the hand of Isaias the son of 23288Amos, saying Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and take 23289off thy shoes from thy feet. And he did so, and went naked, and 23290barefoot. 23291 2329220:3. And the Lord said: As my servant Isaias hath walked, naked and 23293barefoot, it shall be a sign and a wonder of three years upon Egypt, 23294and upon Ethiopia, 23295 2329620:4. So shall the king of the Assyrians lead away the prisoners of 23297Egypt, and the captivity of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and 23298barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt. 23299 2330020:5. And they shall be afraid, and ashamed of Ethiopia their hope, and 23301of Egypt their glory. 23302 2330320:6. And the inhabitants of this isle shall say in that day: Lo this 23304was our hope, to whom we fled for help, to deliver us from the face of 23305the king of the Assyrians: and how shall we be able to escape? 23306 23307 23308 23309Isaias Chapter 21 23310 23311 23312The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians: a prophecy 23313against the Edomites and the Arabians. 23314 2331521:1. The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the 23316south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land. 23317 23318The desert of the sea. . .So Babylon is here called, because from a city 23319as full of people as the sea is with water, it was become a desert. 23320 2332121:2. A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth 23322unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, 23323besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease. 23324 23325O Elam. . .That is, O Persia. 23326 2332721:3. Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold 23328of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing 23329of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it. 23330 2333121:4. My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become 23332a wonder to me. 23333 2333421:5. Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and 23335drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield. 23336 2333721:6. For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and 23338whatsoever he shall see, let him tell. 23339 2334021:7. And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and 23341a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed. 23342 23343A rider upon an ass, etc. . .These two riders are the kings of the 23344Persians and Medes. 23345 2334621:8. And a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, 23347standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole 23348nights. 23349 23350And a lion cried out. . .That is, I Isaias seeing the approaching ruin 23351of Babylon, have cried out as a lion roaring. 23352 2335321:9. Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two 23354horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, 23355and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground. 23356 2335721:10. O my thrashing, and the children of my floor, that which I have 23358heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto 23359you. 23360 2336121:11. The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of 23362the night? watchman, what of the night? 23363 23364Duma. . .That is, Idumea, or Edom. 23365 2336621:12. The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you 23367seek, seek: return, come. 23368 2336921:13. The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, 23370in the paths of Dedanim. 23371 2337221:14. Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land 23373of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth. 23374 2337521:15. For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that 23376hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle. 23377 2337821:16. For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the 23379years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away. 23380 23381Cedar. . .Arabia. 23382 2338321:17. And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children 23384of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath 23385spoken it. 23386 23387 23388 23389Isaias Chapter 22 23390 23391 23392The prophet laments the devastation of Juda. He foretells the 23393deprivation of Sobna, and the substitution of Eliacim, a figure of 23394Christ. 23395 2339622:1. The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee also, that 23397thou too art wholly gone up to the housetops? 23398 23399The valley of vision. . .Jerusalem. The temple of Jerusalem was built 23400upon mount Moria, or the mountain of vision. But the city is here 23401called the valley of vision; either because it was lower than the 23402temple, or because of the low condition to which it was to be reduced. 23403 2340422:2. Full of clamour, a populous city, a joyous city: thy slain are 23405not slain by the sword, nor dead in battle. 23406 2340722:3. All the princes are fled together, and are bound hard: all that 23408were found, are bound together, they are fled far off. 23409 2341022:4. Therefore have I said: Depart from me, I will weep bitterly: 23411labour not to comfort me, for the devastation of the daughter of my 23412people. 23413 2341422:5. For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping 23415to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the 23416wall, and magnificent upon the mountain. 23417 2341822:6. And Elam took the quiver, the chariot of the horseman, and the 23419shield was taken down from the wall. 23420 2342122:7. And thy choice valleys shall be full of chariots, and the 23422horsemen shall place themselves in the gate. 23423 2342422:8. And the covering of Juda shall be discovered, and thou shalt see 23425in that day the armoury of the house of the forest. 23426 2342722:9. And you shall see the breaches of the city of David, that they 23428are many: and you have gathered together the waters of the lower pool, 23429 2343022:10. And have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and broken down 23431houses to fortify the wall. 23432 2343322:11. And you made a ditch between the two walls for the water of the 23434old pool: and you have not looked up to the maker thereof, nor regarded 23435him even at a distance, that wrought it long ago. 23436 2343722:12. And the Lord, the God of hosts, in that day shall call to 23438weeping, and to mourning, to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: 23439 2344022:13. And behold joy and gladness, killing calves, and slaying rams, 23441eating flesh, and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we 23442shall die. 23443 2344422:14. And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed in my ears: 23445Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till you die, saith the 23446Lord God of hosts. 23447 2344822:15. Thus saith the Lord God of hosts: Go, get thee in to him that 23449dwelleth in the tabernacle, to Sobna who is over the temple: and thou 23450shalt say to him: 23451 2345222:16. What dost thou here, or as if thou wert somebody here? for thou 23453hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, thou hast hewed out a monument 23454carefully in a high place, a dwelling for thyself in a rock. 23455 2345622:17. Behold the Lord will cause thee to be carried away, as a cock is 23457carried away, and he will lift thee up as a garment. 23458 2345922:18. He will crown thee with a crown of tribulation, he will toss 23460thee like a ball into a large and spacious country: there shalt thou 23461die, and there shall the chariot of thy glory be, the shame of the 23462house of thy Lord. 23463 2346422:19. And I will drive thee out from thy station, and depose thee from 23465thy ministry. 23466 2346722:20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my 23468servant Eliacim the son of Helcias, 23469 2347022:21. And I will clothe him with thy robe, and will strengthen him 23471with thy girdle, and will give thy power into his hand: and he shall be 23472as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Juda. 23473 2347422:22. And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: 23475and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none 23476shall open. 23477 2347822:23. And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be 23479for a throne of glory to the house of his father. 23480 2348122:24. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's 23482house, divers kinds of vessels, every little vessel, from the vessels 23483of cups even to every instrument of music. 23484 2348522:25. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, 23486that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be broken and shall 23487fall: and that which hung thereon, shall perish, because the Lord hath 23488spoken it. 23489 23490 23491 23492Isaias Chapter 23 23493 23494 23495The destruction of Tyre. It shall be repaired again after seventy 23496years. 23497 2349823:1. The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of the sea, for the house is 23499destroyed, from whence they were wont to come: from the land of Cethim 23500it is revealed to them. 23501 2350223:2. Be silent, you that dwell in the island: the merchants of Sidon 23503passing over the sea, have filled thee. 23504 2350523:3. The seed of the Nile in many waters, the harvest of the river is 23506her revenue: and she is become the mart of the nations. 23507 2350823:4. Be thou ashamed, O Sidon: for the sea speaketh, even the strength 23509of the sea, saying: I have not been in labour, nor have I brought 23510forth, nor have I nourished up young men, nor brought up virgins. 23511 2351223:5. When it shall be heard in Egypt, they will be sorry when they 23513shall hear of Tyre: 23514 2351523:6. Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island. 23516 2351723:7. Is not this your city, which gloried from of old in her 23518antiquity? her feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. 23519 2352023:8. Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, that was formerly 23521crowned, whose merchants were princes, and her traders the nobles of 23522the earth? 23523 2352423:9. The Lord of hosts hath designed it, to pull down the pride of all 23525glory, and bring to disgrace all the glorious ones of the earth. 23526 2352723:10. Pass thy land as a river, O daughter of the sea, thou hast a 23528girdle no more. 23529 2353023:11. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he troubled kingdoms: 23531the Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan, to destroy the strong 23532ones thereof. 23533 2353423:12. And he said: Thou shalt glory no more, O virgin daughter of 23535Sidon, who art oppressed: arise and sail over to Cethim, there also 23536thou shalt have no rest. 23537 2353823:13. Behold the land of the Chaldeans, there was not such a people, 23539the Assyrians founded it: they have led away the strong ones thereof 23540into captivity, they have destroyed the houses thereof, they have, 23541brought it to ruin. 23542 2354323:14. Howl, O ye ships of the sea, for your strength is laid waste. 23544 2354523:15. And it shall come to pass in that day that thou, O Tyre, shalt 23546be forgotten, seventy years, according to the days of one king: but 23547after seventy years, there shall be unto Tyre as the song of a harlot. 23548 2354923:16. Take a harp, go about the city, harlot that hast been forgotten: 23550sing well, sing many a song, that thou mayst be remembered. 23551 2355223:17. And it shall come to pass after seventy years, that the Lord 23553will visit Tyre, and will bring her back again to her traffic: and she 23554shall commit fornication again with all the kingdoms of the world upon 23555the face of the earth. 23556 2355723:18. And her merchandise and her hire shall be sanctified to the 23558Lord: they shall not be kept in store, nor laid up: for her merchandise 23559shall be for them that shall dwell before the Lord, that they may eat 23560unto fulness, and be clothed for a continuance. 23561 23562Sanctified to the Lord. . .This alludes to the conversion of the 23563Gentiles. 23564 23565 23566 23567Isaias Chapter 24 23568 23569 23570The judgments of God upon all the sinners of the world. A remnant shall 23571joyfully praise him. 23572 2357324:1. Behold the Lord shall lay waste the earth, and shall strip it, 23574and shall afflict the face thereof, and scatter abroad the inhabitants 23575thereof. 23576 2357724:2. And it shall be as with the people, so with the priest: and as 23578with the servant so with his master: as with the handmaid, so with her 23579mistress: as with the buyer, so with the seller: as with the lender, so 23580with the borrower: as with him that calleth for his money, so with him 23581that oweth. 23582 2358324:3. With desolation shall the earth be laid waste, and it shall be 23584utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. 23585 2358624:4. The earth mourned, and faded away, and is weakened: the world 23587faded away, the height of the people of the earth is weakened. 23588 2358924:5. And the earth is infected by the inhabitants thereof: because 23590they have transgressed the laws, they have changed the ordinance, they 23591have broken the everlasting covenant. 23592 2359324:6. Therefore shall a curse devour the earth, and the inhabitants 23594thereof shall sin: and therefore they that dwell therein shall be mad, 23595and few men shall be left. 23596 2359724:7. The vintage hath mourned, the vine hath languished away, all the 23598merry have sighed. 23599 2360024:8. The mirth of timbrels hath ceased, the noise of them that rejoice 23601is ended, the melody of the harp is silent. 23602 2360324:9. They shall not drink wine with a song: the drink shall be bitter 23604to them that drink it. 23605 2360624:10. The city of vanity is broken down, every house is shut up, no 23607man cometh in. 23608 2360924:11. There shall be a crying for wine in the streets: all mirth is 23610forsaken: the joy of the earth is gone away. 23611 2361224:12. Desolation is left in the city, and calamity shall oppress the 23613gates. 23614 2361524:13. For it shall be thus in the midst of the earth, in the midst of 23616the people, as if a few olives, that remain, should be shaken out of 23617the olive tree: or grapes, when the vintage is ended. 23618 2361924:14. These shall lift up their voice, and shall give praise: when the 23620Lord shall be glorified, they shall make a joyful noise from the sea. 23621 2362224:15. Therefore glorify ye the Lord in instruction: the name of the 23623Lord God of Israel in the islands of the sea. 23624 2362524:16. From the ends of the earth we have heard praises, the glory of 23626the just one. And I said: My secret to myself, my secret to myself, woe 23627is me: the prevaricators have prevaricated, and with the prevarication 23628of transgressors they have prevaricated. 23629 2363024:17. Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O thou 23631inhabitant of the earth. 23632 2363324:18. And it shall come to pass, that he that shall flee from the 23634noise of the fear, shall fall into the pit: and he that shall rid 23635himself out of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for the 23636flood-gates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth 23637shall be shaken. 23638 2363924:19. With breaking shall the earth be broken, with crushing shall the 23640earth be crushed, with trembling shall the earth be moved. 23641 2364224:20. With shaking shall the earth be shaken as a drunken man, and 23643shall be removed as the tent of one night: and the iniquity thereof 23644shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again. 23645 2364624:21. And it shall come to pass, that in that day the Lord shall visit 23647upon the host of heaven on high, and upon the kings of the earth, on 23648the earth. 23649 23650The host of heaven on high. . .The stars, which in many places of the 23651Scripture are so called. Some commentators explain that these words 23652here signify the demons of the air. 23653 2365424:22. And they shall be gathered together as in the gathering of one 23655bundle into the pit, and they shall be shut up there in prison: and 23656after many days they shall be visited. 23657 2365824:23. And the moon shall blush, and the sun shall be ashamed, when the 23659Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Sion, and in Jerusalem, and shall be 23660glorified in the sight of his ancients. 23661 23662 23663 23664Isaias Chapter 25 23665 23666 23667A canticle of thanksgiving for God's judgments and benefits. 23668 2366925:1. O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to 23670thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old 23671faithful, amen. 23672 2367325:2. For thou hast reduced the city to a heap, the strong city to 23674ruin, the house of strangers, to be no city, and to be no more built up 23675for ever. 23676 2367725:3. Therefore shall a strong people praise thee, the city of mighty 23678nations shall fear thee. 23679 2368025:4. Because thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the 23681needy in his distress: a refuge from the whirlwind, a shadow from the 23682heat. For the blast of the mighty is like a whirlwind beating against a 23683wall. 23684 2368525:5. Thou shalt bring down the tumult of strangers, as heat in thirst: 23686and as with heat under a burning cloud, thou shalt make the branch of 23687the mighty to wither away. 23688 2368925:6. And the Lord of hosts shall make unto all people in this 23690mountain, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine, of fat things full of 23691marrow, of wine purified from the lees. 23692 2369325:7. And he shall destroy in this mountain the face of the bond with 23694which all people were tied, and the web that he began over all nations. 23695 2369625:8. He shall cast death down headlong for ever: and the Lord God 23697shall wipe away tears from every face, and the reproach of his people 23698he shall take away from off the whole earth: for the Lord hath spoken 23699it. 23700 2370125:9. And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have 23702waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have 23703patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyful in his 23704salvation. 23705 2370625:10. For the hand of the Lord shall rest in this mountain: and Moab 23707shall be trodden down under him, as straw is broken in pieces with the 23708wain. 23709 23710Moab. . .That is, the reprobate, whose eternal punishment, from which 23711they can no way escape, is described under these figures. 23712 2371325:11. And he shall stretch forth his hands under him, as he that 23714swimmeth stretcheth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down 23715his glory with the dashing of his hands. 23716 2371725:12. And the bulwarks of thy high walls shall fall, and be brought 23718low, and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the dust. 23719 23720 23721 23722Isaias Chapter 26 23723 23724 23725A canticle of thanks for the deliverance of God's people. 23726 2372726:1. In that day shall this canticle be sung in the land of Juda. Sion 23728the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a bulwark shall be set 23729therein. 23730 2373126:2. Open ye the gates, and let the just nation, that keepeth the 23732truth, enter in. 23733 2373426:3. The old error is passed away: thou wilt keep peace: peace, 23735because we have hoped in thee. 23736 2373726:4. You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty 23738for ever. 23739 2374026:5. For he shall bring down them that dwell on high, the high city he 23741shall lay low. He shall bring it down even to the ground, he shall pull 23742it down even to the dust. 23743 2374426:6. The foot shall tread it down, the feet of the poor, the steps of 23745the needy. 23746 2374726:7. The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to 23748walk in. 23749 2375026:8. And in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, we have patiently waited 23751for thee: thy name, and thy remembrance are the desire of the soul. 23752 2375326:9. My soul hath desired thee in the night: yea, and with my spirit 23754within me in the morning early I will watch to thee. When thou shalt do 23755thy judgments on the earth, the inhabitants of the world shall learn 23756justice. 23757 2375826:10. Let us have pity on the wicked, but he will not learn justice: 23759in the land of the saints he hath done wicked things, and he shall not 23760see the glory of the Lord. 23761 2376226:11. Lord, let thy hand be exalted, and let them not see: let the 23763envious people see, and be confounded: and let fire devour thy enemies. 23764 2376526:12. Lord, thou wilt give us peace: for thou hast wrought all our 23766works for us. 23767 2376826:13. O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over 23769us, only in thee let us remember thy name. 23770 2377126:14. Let not the dead live, let not the giants rise again: therefore 23772hast visited and destroyed them, and hast destroyed all their memory. 23773 2377426:15. Thou hast been favourable to the nation, O Lord, thou hast been 23775favourable to the nation: art thou glorified? thou hast removed all the 23776ends of the earth far off. 23777 2377826:16. Lord, they have sought after thee in distress, in the 23779tribulation of murmuring thy instruction was with them. 23780 2378126:17. As a woman with child, when she draweth near the time of her 23782delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs: so are we become in 23783thy presence, O Lord. 23784 2378526:18. We have conceived, and been as it were in labour, and have 23786brought forth wind: we have not wrought salvation on the earth, 23787therefore the inhabitants of the earth have not fallen. 23788 2378926:19. Thy dead men shall live, my slain shall rise again: awake, and 23790give praise, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is the dew of the 23791light: and the land of the giants thou shalt pull down into ruin. 23792 2379326:20. Go, my people, enter into thy chambers, shut thy doors upon 23794thee, hide thyself a little for a moment, until the indignation pass 23795away. 23796 2379726:21. For behold the Lord will come out of his place, to visit the 23798iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against him: and the earth 23799shall disclose her blood, and shall cover her slain no more. 23800 23801Shall cover her slain no more. . .This is said with relation to the 23802martyrs, and their happy resurrection. 23803 23804 23805 23806Isaias Chapter 27 23807 23808 23809The punishment of the oppressors of God's people. The Lord's favour to 23810his church. 23811 2381227:1. In that day the Lord with his hard, and great, and strong sword 23813shall visit leviathan the bar serpent, and leviathan the crooked 23814serpent, and shall slay the whale that is in the sea. 23815 23816Leviathan. . .That is, the devil, the great enemy of the people of God. 23817He is called the bar serpent from his strength, and the crooked serpent 23818from his wiles; and the whale of the sea, from the tyranny he exercises 23819in the sea of this world. He was spiritually slain by the death of 23820Christ, when his power was destroyed. 23821 2382227:2. In that day there shall be singing to the vineyard of pure wine. 23823 23824The vineyard, etc. . .The church of Christ. 23825 2382627:3. I am the Lord that keep it, I will suddenly give it drink: lest 23827any hurt come to it, I keep it night and day. 23828 23829I will suddenly give it drink. . .Or, as the Hebrew may also be 23830rendered, I will continually water it. 23831 2383227:4. There is no indignation in me: who shall make me a thorn and a 23833brier in battle: shall I march against it, shall, I set it on fire 23834together? 23835 23836No indignation in me, etc. . .Viz., against the church: nor shall I 23837become as a thorn or brier in its regard; or march against it, or set 23838it on fire: but it shall always take fast hold of me, and keep an 23839everlasting peace with me. 23840 2384127:5. Or rather shall it take hold of my strength, shall it make peace 23842with me, shall it make peace with me? 23843 2384427:6. When they shall rush in unto Jacob, Israel shall blossom and bud, 23845and they shall fill the face of the world with seed. 23846 23847When they shall rush in, etc. . .Some understand this of the enemies of 23848the true Israel, that shall invade it in vain. Others of the spiritual 23849invasion made by the apostles of Christ. 23850 2385127:7. Hath he struck him according to the stroke of him that struck 23852him? or is he slain, as he killed them that were slain by him? 23853 23854Hath he struck him, etc. . .Hath God punished the carnal persecuting 23855Jews, in proportion to their doings against Christ and his saints? 23856 2385727:8. In measure against measure, when it shall be cast off, thou shalt 23858judge it. He hath meditated with his severe spirit in the day of heat. 23859 23860When it shall be cast off, etc. . .When the synagogue shall be cast off, 23861thou shalt judge it in measure, and in proportion to its crimes.--Ibid. 23862He hath meditated, etc. . .God hath designed severe punishments in the 23863day of his wrath. 23864 2386527:9. Therefore upon this shall the iniquity of the house of Jacob be 23866forgiven: and this is all the fruit, that the sin thereof should be 23867taken away, when he shall have made all the stones of the altar, as 23868burnt stones broken in pieces, the groves and temples shall not stand. 23869 23870Of the house of Jacob. . .Viz., of such of them as shall be converted. 23871 2387227:10. For the strong city shall be desolate, the beautiful city shall 23873be forsaken, and shall be left as a wilderness: there the calf shall 23874feed, and there shall he lie down, and shall consume its branches. 23875 23876The strong city. . .Jerusalem. 23877 2387827:11. Its harvest shall be destroyed with drought, women shall come 23879and teach it: for it is not a wise people, therefore he that made it, 23880shall not have mercy on it: and he that formed it, shall not spare it. 23881 2388227:12. And it shall come to pass, that in that day the Lord will strike 23883from the channel of the river even to the torrent of Egypt, and you 23884shall be gathered together one by one, O ye children of Israel. 23885 2388627:13. And it shall come to pass, that in that day a noise shall be 23887made with a great trumpet, and they that were lost, shall come from the 23888land of the Assyrians, and they that were outcasts in the land of 23889Egypt, and they shall adore the Lord in the holy mount in Jerusalem. 23890 23891A great trumpet. . .The preaching of the gospel for the conversion of 23892the Jews. 23893 23894 23895 23896Isaias Chapter 28 23897 23898 23899The punishment of the Israelites, for their pride, intemperance, and 23900contempt of religion. Christ the cornerstone. 23901 2390228:1. Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to 23903the fading flower the glory his joy, who were on the head of the fat 23904valley, staggering with wine. 23905 23906Ephraim. . .That is, the kingdom of the ten tribes.--Ibid. The head of 23907the fat valley. . .Samaria, situate on a hill, having under it a most 23908fertile valley. 23909 2391028:2. Behold the Lord is mighty and strong, as a storm of hail: a 23911destroying whirlwind, as the violence of many waters overflowing, and 23912sent forth upon a spacious land. 23913 2391428:3. The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden 23915under feet. 23916 2391728:4. And the fading tower the glory of his joy, who is on the head of 23918the fat valley, shall be as a hasty fruit before the ripeness of 23919autumn: which when he that seeth it shall behold, as soon he taketh it 23920in his hand, he will eat it up. 23921 2392228:5. In that day the Lord of hosts shall be a crown of glory, and a 23923garland of joy to the residue of his people: 23924 2392528:6. And a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and 23926strength to them that return out of the battle to the gate. 23927 2392828:7. But these also have been ignorant through wine, and through 23929drunkenness have erred: the priest and the prophet have been ignorant 23930through drunkenness, they are swallowed up with wine, they have gone 23931astray in drunkenness, they have not known him that seeth, they have 23932been ignorant of judgment. 23933 23934These also. . .The kingdom of Juda. 23935 2393628:8. For all the tables were full of vomit and filth, so that there 23937was no more place. 23938 2393928:9. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to 23940understand the hearing? them that are weaned from the milk, that are 23941drawn away from the breasts. 23942 2394328:10. For command, command again; command, command again; expect, 23944expect again; a little there, a little there. 23945 23946Command, command again, etc. . .This is said in the person of the Jews, 23947resisting the repeated commands of God, and still putting him off. 23948 2394928:11. For with the speech of lips, and with another tongue he will 23950speak to this people. 23951 2395228:12. To whom he said: This is my rest, refresh the weary, and this is 23953my refreshing: and they would not hear. 23954 2395528:13. And the word of the Lord shall be to them: Command, command 23956again; command, command again; expect, expect again; a little there, a 23957little there: that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and 23958snared, and taken. 23959 2396028:14. Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, who rule 23961over my people that is in Jerusalem. 23962 2396328:15. For you have said: We have entered into a league with death, and 23964we have made a covenant with hell. When the overflowing scourge shall 23965pass through, it shall not come upon us: for we have placed our hope in 23966lies, and by falsehood we are protected. 23967 2396828:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will lay a stone in 23969the foundations of Sion, a tried stone, a corner stone, a precious 23970stone, founded in the foundation. He that believeth, let him not 23971hasten. 23972 23973A stone in the foundations. . .Viz., Christ.--Ibid. Let him not hasten, 23974etc. . .Let him expect his coming with patience. 23975 2397628:17. And I will set judgment in weight, and justice in measure: and 23977hail shall overturn the hope of falsehood: and waters shall overflow 23978its protection. 23979 2398028:18. And your league with death shall be abolished, and your covenant 23981with hell shall not stand: when the overflowing scourge shall pass, you 23982shall be trodden down by it. 23983 2398428:19. Whensoever it shall pass through, it shall take you away: 23985because in the morning early it shall pass through, in the day and in 23986the night, and vexation alone shall make you understand what you hear. 23987 2398828:20. For the bed is straitened, so that one must fall out, and a 23989short covering cannot cover both. 23990 23991The bed is straitened, etc. . .It is too narrow to hold two: God will 23992have the bed of our heart all to himself. 23993 2399428:21. For the Lord shall stand up as in the mountain of divisions: he 23995shall be angry as in the valley which is in Gabaon: that he may do his 23996work, his strange work: that he may perform his work, his work is 23997strange to him. 23998 23999As in the mountain, etc. . .As the Lord fought against the Philistines 24000in Baal Pharasim, 2 Kings 5., and against the Chanaanites, in the 24001valley of Gabaon, Jos. 10. 24002 2400328:22. And now do not mock, lest your bonds be tied strait. For I have 24004heard of the Lord the God of hosts a consumption and a cutting short 24005upon all the earth. 24006 2400728:23. Give ear, and hear my voice, hearken, and hear my speech. 24008 2400928:24. Shall the ploughman plough all the day to sow, shall he open and 24010harrow his ground? 24011 2401228:25. Will he not, when he hath made plain the surface thereof, sow 24013gith, and scatter cummin, and put wheat in order, and barley, and 24014millet, and vetches in their bounds? 24015 2401628:26. For he will instruct him in judgment: his God will teach him. 24017 2401828:27. For gith shall not be thrashed with saws, neither shall the cart 24019wheel turn about upon cummin: but gith shall be beaten out with a rod, 24020and cumin with a staff. 24021 2402228:28. But breadcorn shall be broken small: but the thrasher shall not 24023thrash it for ever, neither shall the cart wheel hurt it, nor break it 24024with its teeth. 24025 2402628:29. This also is come forth from the Lord God of hosts, to make his 24027counsel wonderful, and magnify justice. 24028 24029This also, etc. . .Such also is the proceeding of the Lord with his 24030land, and the divers seeds he throws therein. 24031 24032 24033 24034Isaias Chapter 29 24035 24036 24037God's heavy judgments upon Jerusalem, for their obstinacy: with a 24038prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles. 24039 2404029:1. Woe to Ariel, to Ariel the city which David took: year is added 24041to year. the solemnities are at an end. 24042 24043Ariel. . .This word signifies, the lion of God, and here is taken for 24044the strong city of Jerusalem. 24045 2404629:2. And I will make a trench about Ariel, and it shall be in sorrow 24047and mourning, and it shall be to me as Ariel. 24048 2404929:3. And I will make a circle round about thee, and I will cast up a 24050rampart against thee, and raise up bulwarks to besiege thee. 24051 2405229:4. Thou shalt be brought down, thou shall speak out of the earth, 24053and thy speech shall be heard out of the ground: and thy voice shall be 24054from the earth like that of the python, and out of the earth thy speech 24055shall mutter. 24056 2405729:5. And the multitude of them that fan thee, shall be like small 24058dust: and as ashes passing away, the multitude of them that have 24059prevailed against thee. 24060 2406129:6. And it shall be at an instant suddenly. A visitation shall come 24062from the Lord of hosts in thunder, and with earthquake, and with a 24063great noise of whirlwind and tempest; and with the flame of devouring 24064fire. 24065 2406629:7. And the multitude of all nations that have fought against Ariel, 24067shall be as the dream of a vision by night, and all that have fought, 24068and besieged and prevailed against it. 24069 2407029:8. And as he that is hungry dreameth, and eateth, but when he is 24071awake, his soul is empty: and as he that is thirsty dreameth, and 24072drinketh and after he is awake, is yet faint with thirst, and his soul 24073is empty: so shall be the multitude of all the Gentiles, that have 24074fought against mount Sion. 24075 2407629:9. Be astonished, and wonder, waver, and stagger: be drunk, and not 24077with wine: stagger, and not with drunkenness. 24078 2407929:10. For the Lord hath mingled for you the spirit of a deep sleep, he 24080will shut up your eyes, he will cover your prophets and princes, that 24081see visions. 24082 2408329:11. And the vision of all shall be unto you as the words of a book 24084that is sealed which when they shall deliver to one that is learned, 24085they shall say: Read this: and he shall answer: I cannot, for it is 24086sealed. 24087 2408829:12. And the book shall be given to one that knoweth no letters, and 24089it shall be said to him: Read: and he shall answer: I know no letters. 24090 2409129:13. And the Lord said: Forasmuch as this people draw near me with 24092their mouth, and with their lips glorify me, but their heart is far 24093from me, and they have feared me with the commandment and doctrines of 24094men: 24095 2409629:14. Therefore behold I will proceed to cause an admiration in this 24097people, by a great and wonderful miracle: for wisdom shall perish from 24098their wise men, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be 24099hid. 24100 2410129:15. Woe to you that are deep of heart, to hide your counsel from the 24102Lord: and their works are in the dark, and they say: Who seeth us, and 24103who knoweth us? 24104 2410529:16. This thought of yours is perverse: as if the clay should think 24106against the potter, and the work should say to the maker thereof: Thou 24107madest me not: or the thing framed should say to him that fashioned it: 24108Thou understandest not. 24109 2411029:17. Is it not yet a very little while, and Libanus shall be turned 24111into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed as a forest? 24112 24113Charmel. . .This word signifies a fruitful field. 24114 2411529:18. And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and 24116out of darkness and obscurity the eyes of the blind shall see. 24117 2411829:19. And the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor 24119men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 24120 2412129:20. For he that did prevail hath failed, the scorner is consumed, 24122and they are all cut off that watched for iniquity: 24123 2412429:21. That made men sin by word, and supplanted him that reproved them 24125in the gate, and declined in vain from the just. 24126 2412729:22. Therefore thus saith the Lord to the house of Jacob, he that 24128redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be confounded, neither shall his 24129countenance now be ashamed: 24130 2413129:23. But when he shall see his children, the work of my hands in the 24132midst of him sanctifying my name, and they shall sanctify the Holy One 24133of Jacob, and shall glorify the God of Israel: 24134 2413529:24. And they that erred in spirit, shall know understanding, and 24136they that murmured, shall learn the law. 24137 24138 24139 24140Isaias Chapter 30 24141 24142 24143The people are blamed for their confidence in Egypt. God's mercies 24144towards his church. The punishment of sinners. 24145 2414630:1. Woe to you, apostate children, saith the Lord, that you would 24147take counsel, and not of me: and would begin a web, and not by my 24148spirit, that you might add sin upon sin: 24149 2415030:2. Who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, 24151hoping for help in the strength of Pharao, and trusting in the shadow 24152of Egypt. 24153 2415430:3. And the strength of Pharao shall be to your confusion, and the 24155confidence of the shadow of Egypt to your shame. 24156 2415730:4. For thy princes were in Tanis, and thy messengers came even to 24158Hanes. 24159 2416030:5. They were all confounded at a people that could not profit them: 24161they were no help, nor to any profit, but to confusion and to reproach. 24162 2416330:6. The burden of the beasts of the south. In a land of trouble and 24164distress, from whence come the lioness, and the lion, the viper and the 24165flying basilisk, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of beasts, 24166and their treasures upon the bunches of camels to a people that shall 24167not be able to profit them. 24168 2416930:7. For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I 24170cried concerning this: It is pride only, sit still. 24171 2417230:8. Now therefore go in and write for them upon box, and note it 24173diligently in a book, and it shall be in the latter days for a 24174testimony for ever. 24175 2417630:9. For it is a people that provoketh to wrath, and lying children 24177that will not hear the law of God. 24178 2417930:10. Who say to the seers: See not: and to them that behold: Behold 24180not for us those things that are right: speak unto us pleasant things, 24181see errors for us. 24182 2418330:11. Take away from me the way, turn away the path from me, let the 24184Holy One of Israel cease from before us. 24185 2418630:12. Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Because you have 24187rejected this word, and have trusted in oppression and tumult, and have 24188leaned upon it: 24189 2419030:13. Therefore shall this iniquity be to you as a breach that 24191falleth, and is found wanting in a high wall, for the destruction 24192thereof shall come on a sudden, when it is not looked for. 24193 2419430:14. And it shall be broken small, as the potter's vessel is broken 24195all to pieces with mighty breaking, and there shall not a sherd be 24196found of the pieces thereof, wherein a little fire may be carried from 24197the hearth, or a little water be drawn out of the pit. 24198 2419930:15. For thus saith the Lord God the Holy One of Israel: If you 24200return and be quiet, you shall be saved: in silence and in hope shall 24201your strength be. And you would not: 24202 2420330:16. But have said: No, but we will flee to horses: therefore shall 24204you flee. And we will mount upon swift ones: therefore shall they be 24205swifter that shall pursue after you. 24206 2420730:17. A thousand men shall flee for fear of one: and for fear of five 24208shall you flee, till you be left as the mast of ship on the top of a 24209mountain, and as an ensign upon a hill. 24210 2421130:18. Therefore the Lord waiteth that he may have mercy on you: and 24212therefore shall he be exalted sparing you: because the Lord is the God 24213of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. 24214 2421530:19. For the people of Sion shall dwell in Jerusalem: weeping thou 24216shalt not weep, he will surely have pity on thee: at the voice of thy 24217cry, as soon as he shall hear, he will answer thee. 24218 2421930:20. And the Lord will give you spare bread, and short water: and 24220will not cause thy teacher to flee away from thee any more, and thy 24221eyes shall see thy teacher. 24222 2422330:21. And thy ears shall hear the word of one admonishing thee behind 24224thy back: This is the way, walk ye in it: and go not aside neither to 24225the right hand, nor to the left. 24226 2422730:22. And thou shalt defile the plates of thy graven things of silver, 24228and the garment of thy molten things of gold, and shalt cast them away 24229as the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. Thou shalt say to it: Get 24230thee hence. 24231 2423230:23. And rain shall be given to thy seed, wheresoever thou shalt sow 24233in the land: and the bread of the corn of the land shall be most 24234plentiful, and fat. The lamb in that day shall feed at large in thy 24235possession: 24236 2423730:24. And thy oxen, and the ass colts that till the ground, shall eat 24238mingled provender as it was winnowed in the floor. 24239 2424030:25. And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every 24241elevated hill rivers of running waters in the day of the slaughter of 24242many, when the tower shall fall. 24243 2424430:26. And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and 24245the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days: in 24246the day when the Lord shall bind up the wound of his people, and shall 24247heal the stroke of their wound. 24248 2424930:27. Behold the name of the Lord cometh from afar, his wrath burneth, 24250and is heavy to bear: his lips are filled with indignation, and his 24251tongue as a devouring fire. 24252 2425330:28. His breath as a torrent overflowing even to the midst of the 24254neck, to destroy the nations unto nothing, and the bridle of error that 24255was in the jaws of the people. 24256 2425730:29. You shall have a song as in the night of the sanctified 24258solemnity, and joy of heart, as where one goeth with a pipe, to come 24259into the mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel. 24260 2426130:30. And the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, and 24262shall shew the terror of his arm, in the threatening of wrath, and the 24263flame of devouring fire: he shall crush to pieces with whirlwind, and 24264hailstones. 24265 2426630:31. For at the voice of the Lord the Assyrian shall fear being 24267struck with the rod. 24268 2426930:32. And the passage of the rod shall be strongly grounded, which the 24270Lord shall make to rest upon him with timbrels and harps, and in great 24271battles he shall overthrow them. 24272 2427330:33. For Topheth is prepared from yesterday, prepared by the king, 24274deep, and wide. The nourishment thereof is fire and much wood: the 24275breath of the Lord as a torrent of brimstone kindling it. 24276 24277Topheth. . .It is the same as Gehenna, and is taken for hell. 24278 24279 24280 24281Isaias Chapter 31 24282 24283 24284The folly of trusting to Egypt, and forgetting God. He will fight for 24285his people against the Assyrians. 24286 2428731:1. Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, trusting in horses, 24288and putting their confidence in chariots, because they are many: and in 24289horsemen, because they are very strong: and have not trusted in the 24290Holy One of Israel, and have not sought after the Lord. 24291 2429231:2. But he that is the wise one hath brought evil, and hath not 24293removed his words: and he will rise up against the house of the wicked, 24294and against the aid of them that work iniquity. 24295 2429631:3. Egypt is man, and not God: and their horses, flesh, and not 24297spirit: and the Lord shall put down his hand, and the helper shall 24298fall, and he that is helped shall fall, and they shall all be 24299confounded together. 24300 2430131:4. For thus saith the Lord to me: Like as the lion roareth, and the 24302lions whelp upon his prey, and when a multitude of shepherds shall come 24303against him, he will not fear at their voice, nor be afraid of their 24304multitude: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight upon mount 24305Sion, and upon the hill thereof. 24306 2430731:5. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem, 24308protecting and delivering, passing over and saving. 24309 2431031:6. Return as you had deeply revolted, O children of Israel. 24311 2431231:7. For in that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and 24313his idols of gold, which your hands have made for you to sin. 24314 2431531:8. And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword not of a man, and the 24316sword not of a man shall devour him, and he shall flee not at the face 24317of the sword, and his young men shall be tributaries. 24318 2431931:9. And his strength shall pass away with dread, and his princes 24320fleeing shall be afraid: the Lord hath said it, whose fire is in Sion, 24321and his furnace in Jerusalem. 24322 24323 24324 24325Isaias Chapter 32 24326 24327 24328The blessings of the reign of Christ. The desolation of the Jews, and 24329prosperity of the church of Christ. 24330 2433132:1. Behold a king shall reign in justice, and princes shall rule in 24332judgment. 24333 2433432:2. And a man shall be as when one is hid from the wind, and hideth 24335himself from a storm, as rivers of waters in drought, and the shadow of 24336a rock that standeth out in a desert land. 24337 2433832:3. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them 24339that hear shall hearken diligently. 24340 2434132:4. And the heart of fools shall understand knowledge, and the tongue 24342of stammerers shall speak readily and plain. 24343 2434432:5. The fool shall no more be called prince: neither shall the 24345deceitful be called great: 24346 2434732:6. For the fool will speak foolish things, and his heart will work 24348iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and speak to the Lord deceitfully, and 24349to make empty the soul of the hungry, and take away drink from the 24350thirsty. 24351 2435232:7. The vessels of the deceitful are most wicked: for he hath framed 24353devices to destroy the meek, with lying words, when the poor man 24354speaketh judgment. 24355 2435632:8. But the prince will devise such things as are worthy of a prince, 24357and he shall stand above the rulers. 24358 2435932:9. Rise up, ye rich women, and hear my voice: ye confident 24360daughters, give ear to my speech. 24361 2436232:10. For after days and a year, you that are confident shall be 24363troubled: for the vintage is at an end, the gathering shall come no 24364more. 24365 2436632:11. Be astonished, ye rich women, be troubled, ye confident ones: 24367strip you, and be confounded, gird your loins. 24368 2436932:12. Mourn for your breasts, for the delightful country, for the 24370fruitful vineyard. 24371 2437232:13. Upon the land of my people shall thorns and briers come up: how 24373much more upon all the houses of joy, of the city that rejoiced? 24374 2437532:14. For the house is forsaken, the multitude of the city is left, 24376darkness and obscurity are come upon its dens for ever. A joy of wild 24377asses, the pastures of flocks. 24378 2437932:15. Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high: and the desert 24380shall be as a charmel, and charmel shall be counted for a forest. 24381 2438232:16. An judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and justice shall sit 24383in charmel. 24384 2438532:17. And the work of justice shall be peace, and the service of 24386justice quietness, and security for ever. 24387 2438832:18. And my people shall sit in the beauty of peace, and in the 24389tabernacles of confidence, and in wealthy rest. 24390 2439132:19. But hail shall be in the descent of the forest, and the city 24392shall be made very low. 24393 2439432:20. Blessed are ye that sow upon all waters, sending thither the 24395foot of the ox and the ass. 24396 24397 24398 24399Isaias Chapter 33 24400 24401 24402God's revenge against the enemies of his church. The happiness of the 24403heavenly Jerusalem. 24404 2440533:1. Woe to thee that spoilest, shalt not thou thyself also be 24406spoiled? and thou that despisest, shalt not thyself also be despised? 24407when thou shalt have made an end of spoiling, thou shalt be spoiled: 24408when being wearied thou shalt cease to despise, thou shalt be despised. 24409 24410That spoilest, etc. . .This is particularly directed to Sennacherib. 24411 2441233:2. O Lord, have mercy on us: for we have waited for thee: be thou 24413our arm in the morning, and our salvation in the time of trouble. 24414 2441533:3. At the voice of the angel the people fled, and at the lifting up 24416thyself the nations are scattered. 24417 2441833:4. And your spoils shall be gathered together as the locusts are 24419gathered, as when the ditches are full of them. 24420 2442133:5. The Lord is magnified, for he hath dwelt on high: he hath filled 24422Sion with judgment and justice. 24423 2442433:6. And there shall be faith in thy times: riches of salvation, 24425wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. 24426 2442733:7. Behold they that see shall cry without, the angels of peace shall 24428weep bitterly. 24429 24430The angels of peace. . .The messengers or deputies sent to negotiate a 24431peace. 24432 2443333:8. The ways are made desolate, no one passeth by the road, the 24434covenant is made void, he hath rejected the cities, he hath not 24435regarded the men. 24436 2443733:9. The land hath mourned, and languished: Libanus is confounded, and 24438become foul, and Saron is become as a desert: and Basan and Carmel are 24439shaken. 24440 2444133:10. Now will I rise up, saith the Lord: now will I be exalted, now 24442will I lift up myself. 24443 2444433:11. You shall conceive heat, you shall bring forth stubble: your 24445breath as fire shall devour you. 24446 2444733:12. And the people shall be as ashes after a fire, as a bundle of 24448thorns they shall be burnt with fire. 24449 2445033:13. Hear, you that are far off, what I have done, and you that are 24451near know my strength. 24452 2445333:14. The sinners in Sion are afraid, trembling hath seized upon the 24454hypocrites. Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you 24455shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 24456 2445733:15. He that walketh in justices, and speaketh truth, that casteth 24458away avarice by oppression, and shaketh his hands from all bribes, that 24459stoppeth his ears lest he hear blood, and shutteth his eyes that he may 24460see no evil. 24461 2446233:16. He shall dwell on high, the fortifications of rocks shall be his 24463highness: bread is given him, his waters are sure. 24464 2446533:17. His eyes shall see the king in his beauty, they shall see the 24466land far off. 24467 2446833:18. Thy heart shall meditate fear: where is the learned? where is he 24469that pondered the words of the law? where is the teacher of little 24470ones? 24471 2447233:19. The shameless people thou shalt not see, the people of profound 24473speech: so that thou canst not understand the eloquence of his tongue, 24474in whom there is no wisdom. 24475 2447633:20. Look upon Sion the city of our solemnity: thy eyes shall see 24477Jerusalem, a rich habitation, a tabernacle that cannot be removed: 24478neither shall the nails thereof be taken away for ever, neither shall 24479any of the cords thereof be broken. 24480 2448133:21. Because only there our Lord is magnificent: a place of rivers, 24482very broad and spacious streams: no ship with oars shall pass by it, 24483neither shall the great galley pass through it. 24484 24485Of rivers. . .He speaks of the rivers of endless joys that flow from the 24486throne of God to water the heavenly Jerusalem, where no enemy's ship 24487can come, etc. 24488 2448933:22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is 24490our king: he will save us. 24491 2449233:23. Thy tacklings are loosed, and they shall be of no strength: thy 24493mast shall be in such condition, that thou shalt not be able to spread 24494the flag. Then shall the spoils of much prey be divided: the lame shall 24495take the spoil. 24496 24497Thy tacklings. . .He speaks of the enemies of the church, under the 24498allegory of a ship that is disabled. 24499 2450033:24. Neither shall he that is near, say: I am feeble. The people that 24501dwell therein, shall have their iniquity taken away from them. 24502 24503 24504 24505Isaias Chapter 34 24506 24507 24508The general judgment of the wicked. 24509 2451034:1. Come near, ye Gentiles, and hear, and hearken, ye people: let the 24511earth hear, and all that is therein, the world, and every thing that 24512cometh forth of it. 24513 2451434:2. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury 24515upon all their armies: he hath killed them, and delivered them to 24516slaughter. 24517 2451834:3. Their slain shall be cast forth, and out of their carcasses shall 24519rise a stink: the mountains shall be melted with their blood. 24520 2452134:4. And all the host of the heavens shall pine away, and the heavens 24522shall be folded together as a book: and all their host shall fall down 24523as the leaf falleth from the vine, and from the fig tree. 24524 24525And all the host of the heavens. . .That is, the sun, moon, and stars. 24526 2452734:5. For my sword is inebriated in heaven: behold it shall come down 24528upon Idumea, and upon the people of my slaughter unto judgment. 24529 24530Idumea. . .Under the name of Idumea, or Edom a people that were enemies 24531of the Jews, are here understood the wicked in general, the enemies of 24532God and his church. 24533 2453434:6. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made thick with 24535the blood of lambs and buck goats, with the blood of rams full of 24536marrow: for there is a victim of the Lord in Bosra and a great 24537slaughter in the land of Edom. 24538 2453934:7. And the unicorns shall go down with them, and the bulls with the 24540mighty: their land shall be soaked with blood, and their ground with 24541the fat of fat ones. 24542 24543The unicorns. . .That is, the great and mighty. 24544 2454534:8. For it is the day of the vengeance of the Lord, the year of 24546recompenses of the judgment of Sion. 24547 24548The year of recompenses, etc. . .When the persecutors of Sion, that is, 24549of the church, shall receive their reward. 24550 2455134:9. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the 24552ground thereof into brimstone: and the land thereof shall become 24553burning pitch. 24554 2455534:10. Night and day it shall not be quenched, the smoke thereof shall 24556go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste, none 24557shall pass through it for ever and ever. 24558 2455934:11. The bittern and ericius shall possess it: and the ibis and the 24560raven shall dwell in it: and a line shall be stretched out upon it, to 24561bring it to nothing, and a plummet, unto desolation. 24562 2456334:12. The nobles thereof shall not be there: they shall call rather 24564upon the king, and all the princes thereof shall be nothing. 24565 2456634:13. And thorns and nettles shall grow up in its houses, and the 24567thistle in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be the habitation of 24568dragons, and the pasture of ostriches. 24569 2457034:14. And demons and monsters shall meet, and the hairy ones shall cry 24571out one to another, there hath the lamia lain down, and found rest for 24572herself. 24573 2457434:15. There hath the ericius had its hole, and brought up its young 24575ones, and hath dug round about, and cherished them in the shadow 24576thereof: thither are the kites gathered together one to another. 24577 2457834:16. Search ye diligently in the book of the Lord, and read: not one 24579of them was wanting, one hath not sought for the other: for that which 24580proceedeth out of my mouth, he hath commanded, and his spirit it hath 24581gathered them. 24582 2458334:17. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it 24584to them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to 24585generation they shall dwell therein. 24586 24587 24588 24589Isaias Chapter 35 24590 24591 24592The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom: in his church shall be a 24593holy and secure way. 24594 2459535:1. The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the 24596wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily. 24597 2459835:2. It shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy and 24599praise: the glory of Libanus is given to it: the beauty of Carmel, and 24600Saron, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the beauty of our God. 24601 2460235:3. Strengthen ye the feeble hands, and confirm the weak knees. 24603 2460435:4. Say to the fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your 24605God will bring the revenge of recompense: God himself will come and 24606will save you. 24607 2460835:5. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the 24609deaf shall be unstopped. 24610 2461135:6. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the 24612dumb shall be free: for waters are broken out in the desert, and 24613streams in the wilderness. 24614 2461535:7. And that which was dry land, shall become a pool, and the thirsty 24616land springs of water. In the dens where dragons dwelt before, shall 24617rise up the verdure of the reed and the bulrush. 24618 2461935:8. And a path and a way shall be there, and it shall be called the 24620holy way: the unclean shall not pass over it, and this shall be unto 24621you a straight way, so that fools shall not err therein. 24622 2462335:9. No lion shall be there, nor shall any mischievous beast go up by 24624it, nor be found there: but they shall walk there that shall be 24625delivered. 24626 2462735:10. And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and shall come into 24628Sion with praise, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they 24629shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 24630 24631 24632 24633Isaias Chapter 36 24634 24635 24636Sennacherib invades Juda: his blasphemies. 24637 2463836:1. And it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, that 24639Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against all the fenced cities 24640of Juda, and took them. 24641 2464236:2. And the king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaces from Lachis to 24643Jerusalem, to king Ezechias with a great army, and he stood by the 24644conduit of the upper pool in the way of the fuller's field. 24645 2464636:3. And there went out to him Eliacim the son of Helcias, who was 24647over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the 24648recorder. 24649 2465036:4. And Rabsaces said to them: Tell Ezechias: Thus saith the great 24651king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence wherein thou 24652trustest? 24653 2465436:5. Or with what counsel or strength dost thou prepare for war? on 24655whom dost thou trust, that thou art revolted from me? 24656 2465736:6. Lo thou trustest upon this broken staff of a reed, upon Egypt: 24658upon which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so 24659is Pharao king of Egypt to all that trust in him. 24660 2466136:7. But if thou wilt answer me: We trust in the Lord our God: is it 24662not he whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away, and hath 24663said to Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar? 24664 2466536:8. And now deliver thyself up to my lord the king of the Assyrians, 24666and I will give thee two thousand horses, and thou wilt not be able on 24667thy part to find riders for them. 24668 2466936:9. And how wilt thou stand against the face of the judge of one 24670place, of the least of my master's servants? But if thou trust in 24671Egypt, in chariots and in horsemen: 24672 2467336:10. And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to 24674destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up against this land, and destroy 24675it. 24676 2467736:11. And Eliacim, and Sobna, and Joahe said to Rabsaces: Speak to thy 24678servants in the Syrian tongue: for we understand it: speak not to us in 24679the Jews' language in the hearing of the people, that are upon the 24680wall. 24681 2468236:12. And Rabsaces said to them: Hath my master sent me to thy master 24683and to thee, to speak all these words; and not rather to the men that 24684sit on the wall; that they may eat their own dung, and drink their 24685urine with you? 24686 2468736:13. Then Rabsaces stood, and cried out with a loud voice in the 24688Jews' language, and said: Hear the words of the great king, the king of 24689the Assyrians. 24690 2469136:14. Thus saith the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you, for he shall 24692not be able to deliver you. 24693 2469436:15. And let not Ezechias make you trust in the Lord, saying: The 24695Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the 24696hands of the king of the Assyrians. 24697 2469836:16. Do not hearken to Ezechias: for thus said the king of the 24699Assyrians: Do with me that which is for your advantage, and come out to 24700me, and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, 24701and drink ye every one the water of his cistern, 24702 2470336:17. Till I come and take you away to a land, like to your own, a 24704land of corn and of wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 24705 2470636:18. Neither let Ezechias trouble you, saying: The Lord will deliver 24707us. Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their land out of the 24708hand of the king of the Assyrians? 24709 2471036:19. Where is the god of Emath and of Arphad? where is the god of 24711Sepharvaim? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 24712 2471336:20. Who is there among all the gods of these lands, that hath 24714delivered his country out of my hand, that the Lord may deliver 24715Jerusalem out of my hand? 24716 2471736:21. And they held their peace, and answered him not a word. For the 24718king had commanded, saying: Answer him not. 24719 2472036:22. And Eliacim the son of Helcias, that was over the house, and 24721Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder, went in to 24722Ezechias with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces. 24723 24724 24725 24726Isaias Chapter 37 24727 24728 24729Ezechias, his mourning and prayer. God's promise of protection. The 24730Assyrian army is destroyed. Sennacherib is slain. 24731 2473237:1. And it came to pass, when king Ezechias had heard it, that he 24733rent his garments and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the 24734house of the Lord. 24735 2473637:2. And he sent Eliacim who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, 24737and the ancients of the priests covered with sackcloth, to Isaias the 24738son of Amos the prophet. 24739 2474037:3. And they said to him: Thus saith Ezechias: This day is a day of 24741tribulation, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come 24742to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. 24743 2474437:4. It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabsaces, whom 24745the king of the Assyrians his master hath sent to blaspheme the living 24746God, and to reproach with words which the Lord thy God hath heard: 24747wherefore lift up by prayer for the remnant that is left. 24748 2474937:5. And the servants of Ezechias came to Isaias. 24750 2475137:6. And Isaias said to them: Thus shall you say to your master: Thus 24752saith the Lord: Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, with 24753which the servants of the king of the Assyrians have blasphemed me. 24754 2475537:7. Behold, I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a 24756message, and shall return to his own country, and I will cause him to 24757fall by the sword in his own country. 24758 2475937:8. And Rabsaces returned, and found the king of the Assyrians 24760besieging Lobna. For he had heard that he was departed from Lachis. 24761 2476237:9. And he heard say about Tharaca the king of Ethiopia: He is come 24763forth to fight against thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers 24764to Ezechias, saying: 24765 2476637:10. Thus shall you speak to Ezechias the king of Juda, saying: Let 24767not thy God deceive thee, in whom thou trustest, saying: Jerusalem 24768shall not be given into the hands of the king of the Assyrians. 24769 2477037:11. Behold thou hast heard all that the kings of the Assyrians have 24771done to all countries which they have destroyed, and canst thou be 24772delivered? 24773 2477437:12. Have the gods of the nations delivered them whom my fathers have 24775destroyed, Gozam, and Haram, and Reseph, and the children of Eden, that 24776were in Thalassar? 24777 2477837:13. Where is the king of Emath, and the king of Arphad, and the king 24779of the city of Sepharvaim, of Ana, and of Ava? 24780 2478137:14. And Ezechias took the letter from the hand of the messengers, 24782and read it, and went up to the house of the Lord, and Ezechias spread 24783it before the Lord. 24784 2478537:15. And Ezechias prayed to the Lord, saying: 24786 2478737:16. Lord of hosts, God of Israel who sitteth upon the cherubims, 24788thou alone art the God of all the kingdoms of the earth, thou hast made 24789heaven and earth. 24790 2479137:17. Incline, O Lord, thy ear, and hear: open, O Lord, thy eyes, and 24792see, and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he hath sent to 24793blaspheme the living God. 24794 2479537:18. For of a truth, O Lord, the kings of the Assyrians have laid 24796waste lands, and their countries. 24797 2479837:19. And they have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not 24799gods, but the works of men's hands, of wood and stone: and they broke 24800them in pieces. 24801 2480237:20. And now, O Lord our God, save us out of his hand: and let all 24803the kingdoms of the earth know, that thou only art the Lord. 24804 2480537:21. And Isaias the son of Amos sent to Ezechias, saying: Thus saith 24806the Lord the God of Israel: For the prayer thou hast made to me 24807concerning Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians: 24808 2480937:22. This is the word which the Lord hath spoken of him: The virgin 24810the daughter of Sion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn: the 24811daughter of Jerusalem hath wagged the head after thee. 24812 2481337:23. Whom hast thou reproached, and whom hast thou blasphemed, and 24814against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thy eyes on 24815high? Against the Holy One of Israel. 24816 2481737:24. By the hand of thy servants thou hast reproached the Lord: and 24818hast said: With the multitude of my chariots I have gone up to the 24819height of the mountains, to the top of Libanus: and I will cut down its 24820tall cedars, and its choice fir trees, and will enter to the top of its 24821height, to the forest of its Carmel. 24822 24823Carmel. . .See these figurative expressions explained in the annotations 24824on the nineteenth chapter of the fourth book of Kings. 24825 2482637:25. I have digged, and drunk water, and have dried up with the sole 24827of my foot, all the rivers shut up in banks. 24828 2482937:26. Hast thou not heard what I have done to him of old? from the 24830days of old I have formed it: and now I have brought it to effect: and 24831it hath come to pass that hills fighting together, and fenced cities 24832should be destroyed. 24833 2483437:27. The inhabitants of them were weak of hand, they trembled, and 24835were confounded: they became like the grass of the field, and the herb 24836of the pasture, and like the grass of the housetops, which withered 24837before it was ripe. 24838 2483937:28. I know thy dwelling, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and 24840thy rage against me. 24841 2484237:29. When thou wast mad against me, thy pride came up to my ears: 24843therefore I will put a ring in thy nose, and a bit between thy lips, 24844and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. 24845 2484637:30. But to thee this shall be a sign: Eat this year the things that 24847spring of themselves, and in the second year eat fruits: but in the 24848third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of 24849them. 24850 2485137:31. And that which shall be saved of the house of Juda, and which is 24852left, shall take root downward, and shall bear fruit upward: 24853 2485437:32. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and salvation 24855from mount Sion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. 24856 2485737:33. Wherefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the 24858Assyrians: He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow into 24859it, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a trench about it. 24860 2486137:34. By the way that he came, he shall return, and into this city he 24862shall not come, saith the Lord. 24863 2486437:35. And I will protect this city, and will save it for my own sake, 24865and for the sake of David my servant. 24866 2486737:36. And the angel of the Lord went out and slew in the camp of the 24868Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And they arose in the 24869morning, and behold they were all dead corpses. 24870 2487137:37. And Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians went out and departed, 24872and returned, and dwelt in Ninive. 24873 2487437:38. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the temple of 24875Nesroch his god, that Adramelech and Sarasar his sons slew him with the 24876sword: and they fled into the land of Ararat, and Asarhaddon his son 24877reigned in his stead. 24878 24879 24880 24881Isaias Chapter 38 24882 24883 24884Ezechias being advertised that he shall die, obtains by prayer a 24885prolongation of his life: in confirmation of which the sun goes back. 24886The canticle of Ezechias. 24887 2488838:1. In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and Isaias the son 24889of Amos the prophet cane unto him, and said to him: Thus saith the 24890Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live. 24891 2489238:2. And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the 24893Lord, 24894 2489538:3. And said: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked 24896before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that 24897which is good in thy sight. And Ezechias wept with great weeping. 24898 2489938:4. And the word of the Lord came to Isaias, saying: 24900 2490138:5. Go and say to Ezechias: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy 24902father: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold I 24903will add to thy days fifteen years: 24904 2490538:6. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king 24906of the Assyrians, and I will protect it. 24907 2490838:7. And this shall be a sign to thee from the Lord, that the Lord 24909will do this word which he hath spoken: 24910 2491138:8. Behold I will bring again the shadow of the lines, by which it is 24912now gone down in the sun dial of Achaz with the sun, ten lines 24913backward. And the sun returned ten lines by the degrees by which it was 24914gone down. 24915 2491638:9. The writing of Ezechias king of Juda, when he had been sick, and 24917was recovered of his sickness. 24918 2491938:10. I said: In the midst of my days I shall go to the gates of hell: 24920I sought for the residue of my years. 24921 24922Hell. . .Sheol, or Hades, the region of the dead. 24923 2492438:11. I said: I shall not see the Lord God in the land of the living. 24925I shall behold man no more, nor the inhabitant of rest. 24926 2492738:12. My generation is at an end, and it is rolled away from me, as a 24928shepherd's tent. My life is cut off, as by a weaver: whilst I was yet 24929but beginning, he cut me off: from morning even to night thou wilt make 24930an end of me. 24931 2493238:13. I hoped till morning, as a lion so hath he broken all my bones: 24933from morning even to night thou wilt make an end of me. 24934 2493538:14. I will cry like a young swallow, I will meditate like a dove: my 24936eyes are weakened looking upward: Lord, I suffer violence, answer thou 24937for me. 24938 2493938:15. What shall I say, or what shall he answer for me, whereas he 24940himself hath done it? I will recount to thee all my years in the 24941bitterness of my soul. 24942 2494338:16. O Lord, if man's life be such, and the life of my spirit be in 24944such things as these, thou shalt correct me, and make me to live. 24945 2494638:17. Behold in peace is my bitterness most bitter: but thou hast 24947delivered my soul that it should not perish, thou hast cast all my sins 24948behind thy back. 24949 2495038:18. For hell shall not confess to thee, neither shall death praise 24951thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for thy truth. 24952 2495338:19. The living, the living, he shall give praise to thee, as I do 24954this day: the father shall make the truth known to the children. 24955 2495638:20. O Lord, save me, and we will sing our psalms all the days of our 24957life in the house of the Lord. 24958 2495938:21. Now Isaias had ordered that they should take a lump of figs, and 24960lay it as a plaster upon the wound, and that he should be healed. 24961 2496238:22. And Ezechias had said: What shall be the sign that I shall go up 24963to the house of the Lord? 24964 24965 24966 24967Isaias Chapter 39 24968 24969 24970Ezechias shews all his treasures to the ambassadors of Babylon: upon 24971which Isaias foretells the Babylonish captivity. 24972 2497339:1. At that time Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan king of 24974Babylon, sent letters and presents to Ezechias: for he had heard that 24975he had been sick and was recovered. 24976 2497739:2. And Ezechias rejoiced at their coming, and he shewed them the 24978storehouses of his aromatical spices, and of the silver, and of the 24979gold, and of the sweet odours, and of the precious ointment, and all 24980the storehouses of his furniture, and all things that were found in his 24981treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion that 24982Ezechias shewed them not. 24983 2498439:3. Then Isaias the prophet came to king Ezechias, and said to him: 24985What said these men, and from whence came they to thee? And Ezechias 24986said: From a far country they came to me, from Babylon. 24987 2498839:4. And he said: What saw they in thy house? And Ezechias said: All 24989things that are in my house have they seen, there was not any thing 24990which I have not shewn them in my treasures. 24991 2499239:5. And Isaias said to Ezechias: Hear the word of the Lord of hosts. 24993 2499439:6. Behold the days shall come that all that is in thy house, and 24995that thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried 24996away into Babylon: there shall not any thing be left, saith the Lord. 24997 2499839:7. And of thy children, that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt 24999beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of 25000the king of Babylon. 25001 2500239:8. And Ezechias said to Isaias: The word of the Lord, which he hath 25003spoken, is good. And he said: Only let peace and truth be in my days. 25004 25005 25006 25007Isaias Chapter 40 25008 25009 25010The prophet comforts the people with the promise of the coming of 25011Christ to forgive their sins. God's almighty power and majesty. 25012 2501340:1. Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. 25014 2501540:2. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil 25016is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the 25017hand of the Lord double for all her sins. 25018 2501940:3. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the 25020Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. 25021 2502240:4. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall 25023be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways 25024plain. 25025 2502640:5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh 25027together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. 25028 2502940:6. The voice of one, saying: Cry. And I said: What shall I cry? 25030All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. 25031 2503240:7. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen, because the 25033spirit of the Lord hath blown upon it. Indeed the people is grass: 25034 2503540:8. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen: but the word of 25036our Lord endureth for ever. 25037 2503840:9. Get thee up upon a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings 25039to Sion: lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest good 25040tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: 25041Behold your God: 25042 2504340:10. Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall 25044rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. 25045 2504640:11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather 25047together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, 25048and he himself shall carry them that are with young. 25049 2505040:12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and 25051weighed the heavens with his palm? who hath poised with three fingers 25052the bulk of the earth, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the 25053hills in a balance? 25054 2505540:13. Who hath forwarded the spirit of the Lord? or who hath been his 25056counsellor, and hath taught him? 25057 2505840:14. With whom hath he consulted, and who hath instructed him, and 25059taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and shewed 25060him the way of understanding? 25061 2506240:15. Behold the Gentiles are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted 25063as the smallest grain of a balance: behold the islands are as a little 25064dust. 25065 2506640:16. And Libanus shall not be enough to burn, nor the beasts thereof 25067sufficient for a burnt offering. 25068 2506940:17. All nations are before him as if they had no being at all, and 25070are counted to him as nothing, and vanity. 25071 2507240:18. To whom then have you likened God? or what image will you make 25073for him? 25074 2507540:19. Hath the workman cast a graven statue? or hath the goldsmith 25076formed it with gold, or the silversmith with plates of silver? 25077 2507840:20. He hath chosen strong wood, and that will not rot: the skilful 25079workman seeketh how he may set up an idol that may not be moved. 25080 2508140:21. Do you not know? hath it not been heard? hath it not been told 25082you from the beginning? have you not understood the foundations of the 25083earth? 25084 2508540:22. It is he that sitteth upon the globe of the earth, and the 25086inhabitants thereof are as locusts: he that stretcheth out the heavens 25087as nothing, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. 25088 2508940:23. He that bringeth the searchers of secrets to nothing, that hath 25090made the judges of the earth as vanity. 25091 2509240:24. And surely their stock was neither planted, nor sown, nor rooted 25093in the earth: suddenly he hath blown upon them, and they are withered, 25094and a whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. 25095 2509640:25. And to whom have ye likened me, or made me equal, saith the Holy 25097One? 25098 2509940:26. Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these 25100things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by 25101their names: by the greatness of his might, and strength, and power, 25102not one of them was missing. 25103 2510440:27. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel: My way is hid 25105from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 25106 2510740:28. Knowest thou not, or hast thou not heard? the Lord is the 25108everlasting God, who hath created the ends of the earth: he shall not 25109faint, nor labour, neither is there any searching out of his wisdom. 25110 2511140:29. It is he that giveth strength to the weary, and increaseth force 25112and might to them that are not. 25113 2511440:30. You shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by 25115infirmity. 25116 2511740:31. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they 25118shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall 25119walk and not faint. 25120 25121 25122 25123Isaias Chapter 41 25124 25125 25126The reign of the just one: the vanity of idols. 25127 2512841:1. Let the islands keep silence before me, and the nations take new 25129strength: let them come near, and then speak, let us come near to 25130judgment together. 25131 2513241:2. Who hath raised up the just one from the east, hath called him to 25133follow him? he shall give the nations in his sight, and he shall rule 25134over kings: he shall give them as the dust to his sword, as stubble 25135driven by the wind, to his bow. 25136 2513741:3. He shall pursue them, he shall pass in peace, no path shall 25138appear after his feet. 25139 2514041:4. Who hath wrought and done these things, calling the generations 25141from the beginning? I the Lord, I am the first and the last. 25142 2514341:5. The islands saw it, and feared, the ends of the earth were 25144astonished, they drew near, and came. 25145 2514641:6. Every one shall help his neighbour, and shall say to his brother: 25147Be of good courage. 25148 2514941:7. The coppersmith striking with the hammer encouraged him that 25150forged at that time, saying: It is ready for soldering: and he 25151strengthened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 25152 2515341:8. But thou Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the 25154seed of Abraham my friend: 25155 2515641:9. In whom I have taken thee from the ends of the earth, and from 25157the remote parts thereof have called thee, and said to thee: Thou art 25158my servant, I have chosen thee, and have not cast thee away. 25159 2516041:10. Fear not, for I am with thee: turn not aside, for I am thy God: 25161I have strengthened thee, and have helped thee, and the right hand of 25162my just one hath upheld thee. 25163 2516441:11. Behold all that fight against thee shall be confounded and 25165ashamed, they shall be as nothing, and the men shall perish that strive 25166against thee. 25167 2516841:12. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find the men that resist 25169thee: they shall be as nothing: and as a thing consumed the men that 25170war against thee. 25171 2517241:13. For I am the Lord thy God, who take thee by the hand, and say to 25173thee: Fear not, I have helped thee. 25174 2517541:14. Fear not, thou worm of Jacob, you that are dead of Israel: I 25176have helped thee, saith the Lord: and thy Redeemer the Holy One of 25177Israel. 25178 2517941:15. I have made thee as a new thrashing wain, with teeth like a saw: 25180thou shalt thrash the mountains, and break them in pieces: and shalt 25181make the hills as chaff. 25182 2518341:16. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the 25184whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, in 25185the Holy One of Israel thou shalt be joyful. 25186 2518741:17. The needy and the poor seek for waters, and there are none: 25188their tongue hath been dry with thirst. I the Lord will hear them, I 25189the God of Israel will not forsake them. 25190 2519141:18. I will open rivers in the high hills, and fountains in the midst 25192of the plains: I will turn the desert into pools of waters, and the 25193impassable land into streams of waters. 25194 2519541:19. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, and the thorn, and the 25196myrtle, and the olive tree: I will set in the desert the fir tree, the 25197elm, and the box tree together: 25198 25199The thorn. . .In Hebrew, the shitta, or setim, a tree resembling the 25200white thorn. 25201 2520241:20. That they may see and know, and consider, and understand 25203together that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of 25204Israel hath created it. 25205 2520641:21. Bring your cause near, saith the Lord: bring hither, if you have 25207any thing to allege, saith the King of Jacob. 25208 2520941:22. Let them come, and tell us all things that are to come: tell us 25210the former things what they were: and we will set our heart upon them 25211and shall know the latter end of them, and tell us the things that are 25212to come. 25213 2521441:23. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, and we shall know 25215that ye are gods. Do ye also good or evil, if you can: and let us 25216speak, and see together. 25217 2521841:24. Behold, you are of nothing, and your work of that which hath no 25219being: he that hath chosen you is an abomination. 25220 2522141:25. I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come from the 25222rising of the sun: he shall call upon my name, and he shall make 25223princes to be as dirt, and as the potter treading clay. 25224 2522541:26. Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know: and from 25226time of old, that we may say: Thou art just. There is none that 25227sheweth, nor that foretelleth, nor that heareth your words. 25228 2522941:27. The first shall say to Sion: Behold they are here, and to 25230Jerusalem I will give an evangelist. 25231 2523241:28. And I saw, and there was no one even among them to consult, or 25233who, when I asked, could answer a word. 25234 2523541:29. Behold they are all in the wrong, and their works are vain: 25236their idols are wind and vanity. 25237 25238 25239 25240Isaias Chapter 42 25241 25242 25243The office of Christ. The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. The 25244blindness and reprobation of the Jews. 25245 2524642:1. Behold my servant, I will uphold him: my elect, my soul 25247delighteth in him: I have given my spirit upon him, he shall bring 25248forth judgment to the Gentiles. 25249 25250My servant. . .Christ, who according to his humanity, is the servant of 25251God. 25252 2525342:2. He shall not cry, nor have respect to person, neither shall his 25254voice be heard abroad. 25255 2525642:3. The bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall 25257not quench, he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 25258 2525942:4. He shall not be sad, nor troublesome, till he set judgment in the 25260earth, and the islands shall wait for his law. 25261 2526242:5. Thus saith the Lord God that created the heavens, and stretched 25263them out: that established the earth, and the things that spring out of 25264it: that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that 25265tread thereon. 25266 2526742:6. I the Lord have called thee in justice, and taken thee by the 25268hand, and preserved thee. And I have given thee for a covenant of the 25269people, for a light of the Gentiles: 25270 2527142:7. That thou mightest open the eyes of the blind, and bring forth 25272the prisoner out of prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the 25273prison house. 25274 2527542:8. I the Lord, this is my name: I will not give my glory to another, 25276nor my praise to graven things. 25277 2527842:9. The things that were first, behold they are come: and new things 25279do I declare: before they spring forth, I will make you hear them. 25280 2528142:10. Sing ye to the Lord a new song, his praise is from the ends of 25282the earth: you that go down to the sea, and all that are therein: ye 25283islands, and ye inhabitants of them. 25284 2528542:11. Let the desert and the cities thereof be exalted: Cedar shall 25286dwell in houses: ye inhabitants of Petra, give praise, they shall cry 25287from the top of the mountains. 25288 25289Petra. . .A city that gives name to Arabia Petraea. 25290 2529142:12. They shall give glory to the Lord, and shall declare his praise 25292in the islands. 25293 2529442:13. The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, as a man of war shall 25295he stir up zeal: he shall shout and cry: he shall prevail against his 25296enemies. 25297 2529842:14. I have always held my peace, I have kept silence, I have been 25299patient, I will speak now as a woman in labour: I will destroy, and 25300swallow up at once. 25301 2530242:15. I will lay waste the mountains and hills, and will make all 25303their grass to wither: and I will turn rivers into islands, and will 25304dry up the standing pools. 25305 2530642:16. And I will lead the blind into the way which they know not: and 25307in the paths which they were ignorant of I will make them walk: I will 25308make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight: these 25309things have I done to them, and have not forsaken them. 25310 2531142:17. They are turned back: let them be greatly confounded, that trust 25312in a graven thing, that say to a molten thing: You are our god. 25313 2531442:18. Hear, ye deaf, and, ye blind, behold that you may see. 25315 2531642:19. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, but he to whom I have 25317sent my messengers? Who is blind, but he that is sold? or who is blind, 25318but the servant of the Lord? 25319 2532042:20. Thou that seest many things, wilt thou not observe them? thou 25321that hast ears open, wilt thou not hear? 25322 2532342:21. And the Lord was willing to sanctify him, and to magnify the 25324law, and exalt it. 25325 2532642:22. But this is a people that is robbed and wasted: they are all the 25327snare of young men, and they are hid in the houses of prisons: they are 25328made a prey, and there is none to deliver them: a spoil, and there is 25329none that saith: Restore. 25330 2533142:23. Who is there among you that will give ear to this, that will 25332attend and hearken for times to come? 25333 2533442:24. Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to robbers? hath 25335not the Lord himself, against whom we have sinned? And they would not 25336walk in his ways, and they have not hearkened to his law. 25337 2533842:25. And he hath poured out upon him the indignation of his fury, and 25339a strong battle, and hath burnt him round about, and he knew not: and 25340set him on fire, and he understood not. 25341 25342 25343 25344Isaias Chapter 43 25345 25346 25347God comforts his church, promising to protect her for ever: he 25348expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude. 25349 2535043:1. And now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and 25351formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called 25352thee by thy name: thou art mine. 25353 2535443:2. When thou shalt pass through the waters, I will be with thee, and 25355the rivers shall not cover thee: when thou shalt walk in the fire, thou 25356shalt not be burnt, and the flames shall not burn in thee: 25357 2535843:3. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I 25359have given Egypt for thy atonement, Ethiopia and Saba for thee. 25360 2536143:4. Since thou becamest honourable in my eyes, thou art glorious: I 25362have loved thee, and I will give men for thee, and people for thy life. 25363 2536443:5. Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the 25365east, and gather thee from the west. 25366 2536743:6. I will say to the north: Give up: and to the south: Keep not 25368back: bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the 25369earth. 25370 2537143:7. And every one that calleth upon my name, I have created him for 25372my glory. I have formed him, and made him. 25373 2537443:8. Bring forth the people that are blind, and have eyes: that are 25375deaf, and have ears. 25376 2537743:9. All the nations are assembled together, and the tribes are 25378gathered: who among you can declare this, and shall make us hear the 25379former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, let them be 25380justified, and hear, and say: It is truth. 25381 2538243:10. You are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have 25383chosen: that you may know, and believe me, and understand that I myself 25384am. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there shall be 25385none. 25386 2538743:11. I am, I am the Lord: and there is no saviour besides me. 25388 2538943:12. I have declared, and have saved. I have made it heard, and there 25390was no strange one among you. You are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and 25391I am God. 25392 2539343:13. And from the beginning I am the same, and there is none that can 25394deliver out of my hind: I will work, and who shall turn it away? 25395 2539643:14. Thus saith the Lord your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For 25397your sake I sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their bars, and 25398the Chaldeans glorying in their ships. 25399 2540043:15. I am the Lord your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. 25401 2540243:16. Thus saith the Lord, who made a way in the sea, and a path in 25403the mighty waters. 25404 2540543:17. Who brought forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the 25406strong: they lay down to sleep together, and they shall not rise again: 25407they are broken as flax, and are extinct. 25408 2540943:18. Remember not former things, and look not on things of old. 25410 2541143:19. Behold I do new things, and now they shall spring forth, verily 25412you shall know them: I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in 25413the desert. 25414 2541543:20. The beast of the field shall glorify me, the dragons and the 25416ostriches: because I have given waters in the wilderness, rivers in the 25417desert, to give drink to my people, to my chosen. 25418 2541943:21. This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my 25420praise. 25421 2542243:22. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, neither hast thou 25423laboured about me, O Israel. 25424 2542543:23. Thou hast not offered me the ram of thy holocaust, nor hast thou 25426glorified me with thy victims: I have not caused thee to serve with 25427oblations, nor wearied thee with incense. 25428 2542943:24. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou 25430filled me with the fat of thy victims. But thou hast made me to serve 25431with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities. 25432 2543343:25. I am, I am he that blot out thy iniquities for my own sake, and 25434I will not remember thy sins. 25435 2543643:26. Put me in remembrance, and let us plead together: tell if thou 25437hast any thing to justify thyself. 25438 2543943:27. Thy first father sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed 25440against me. 25441 2544243:28. And I have profaned the holy princes, I have given Jacob to 25443slaughter, and Israel to reproach. 25444 25445 25446 25447Isaias Chapter 44 25448 25449 25450God's favour to his church. The folly of idolatry. The people shall be 25451delivered from captivity. 25452 2545344:1. And now hear, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. 25454 2545544:2. Thus saith the Lord that made and formed thee, thy helper from 25456the womb: Fear not, O my servant Jacob, and thou most righteous whom I 25457have chosen. 25458 2545944:3. For I will pour out waters upon the thirsty ground, and streams 25460upon the dry land: I will pour out my spirit upon thy seed, and my 25461blessing upon thy stock. 25462 2546344:4. And they shall spring up among the herbs, as willows beside the 25464running waters. 25465 2546644:5. One shall say: I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by 25467the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand, To the 25468Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 25469 2547044:6. Thus saith the Lord the king of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord 25471of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no 25472God. 25473 2547444:7. Who is like to me? let him call and declare: and let him set 25475before me the order, since I appointed the ancient people: and the 25476things to come, and that shall be hereafter, let them shew unto them. 25477 2547844:8. Fear ye not, neither be ye troubled from that time I have made 25479thee to hear, and have declared: you are my witnesses. Is there a God 25480besides me, a maker, whom I have not known? 25481 2548244:9. The makers of idols are all of them nothing, and their best 25483beloved things shall not profit them. They are their witnesses, that 25484they do not see, nor understand, that they may be ashamed. 25485 2548644:10. Who hath formed a god, and made a graven thing that is 25487profitable for nothing? 25488 2548944:11. Behold, all the partakers thereof shall be confounded: for the 25490makers are men: they shall all assemble together, they shall stand and 25491fear, and shall be confounded together. 25492 2549344:12. The smith hath wrought with his file, with coals, and with 25494hammers he hath formed it, and hath wrought with the strength of his 25495arm: he shall hunger and faint, he shall drink no water, and shall be 25496weary. 25497 2549844:13. The carpenter hath stretched out his rule, he hath formed it 25499with a plane: he hath made it with corners, and hath fashioned it round 25500with the compass: and he hath made the image of a man as it were a 25501beautiful man dwelling in a house. 25502 2550344:14. He hath cut down cedars, taken the holm, and the oak that stood 25504among the trees of the forest: he hath planted the pine tree, which the 25505rain hath nourished. 25506 2550744:15. And it hath served men for fuel: he took thereof, and warmed 25508himself: and he kindled it, and baked bread: but of the rest he made a 25509god, and adored it: he made a graven thing, and bowed down before it. 25510 2551144:16. Part of it he burnt with fire, and with part of it he dressed 25512his meat: he boiled pottage, and was filled, and was warmed, and said: 25513Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire. 25514 2551544:17. But the residue thereof he made a god, and a graven thing for 25516himself: he boweth down before it, and adoreth it, and prayeth unto it, 25517saying: Deliver me, for thou art my God. 25518 2551944:18. They have not known, nor understood: for their eyes are covered 25520that they may not see, and that they may not understand with their 25521heart. 25522 2552344:19. They do not consider in their mind, nor know, nor have the 25524thought to say: I have burnt part of it in the fire, and I have baked 25525bread upon the coals thereof: I have broiled flesh and have eaten, and 25526of the residue thereof shall I make an idol? shall I fall down before 25527the stock of a tree? 25528 2552944:20. Part thereof is ashes: his foolish heart adoreth it, and he will 25530not save his soul, nor say: Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand. 25531 2553244:21. Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for thou art my 25533servant. I have formed thee, thou art my servant, O Israel, forget me 25534not. 25535 2553644:22. I have blotted out thy iniquities as a cloud, and thy sins as a 25537mist: return to me, for I have redeemed thee. 25538 2553944:23. Give praise, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath shewn mercy: shout 25540with joy, ye ends of the earth: ye mountains, resound with praise, 25541thou, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed 25542Jacob, and Israel shall be glorified. 25543 2554444:24. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, and thy maker, from the womb: 25545I am the Lord, that make all things, that alone stretch out the 25546heavens, that established the earth, and there is none with me. 25547 2554844:25. That make void the tokens of diviners, and make the soothsayers 25549mad. That turn the wise backward, and that make their knowledge 25550foolish. 25551 2555244:26. That raise up the word of my servant and perform the counsel of 25553my messengers, who say to Jerusalem: Thou shalt be inhabited: and to 25554the cities of Juda: You shall be built, and I will raise up the wastes 25555thereof. 25556 2555744:27. Who say to the deep: Be thou desolate, and I will dry up thy 25558rivers. 25559 2556044:28. Who say to Cyrus: Thou art my shepherd, and thou shalt perform 25561all my pleasure. Who say to Jerusalem: Thou shalt be built: and to the 25562temple: Thy foundations shall be laid. 25563 25564 25565 25566Isaias Chapter 45 25567 25568 25569A prophecy of Cyrus, as a figure of Christ, the great deliverer of 25570God's people. 25571 2557245:1. Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have 25573taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs 25574of kings, and to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be 25575shut. 25576 2557745:2. I will go before thee, and will humble the great ones of the 25578earth: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and will burst the 25579bars of iron. 25580 2558145:3. And I will give thee hidden treasures, and the concealed riches 25582of secret places: that thou mayest know that I am the Lord who call 25583thee by thy name, the God of Israel. 25584 2558545:4. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my elect, I have 25586even called thee by thy name: I have made a likeness of thee, and thou 25587hast not known me. 25588 2558945:5. I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God besides 25590me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me: 25591 2559245:6. That they may know who are from the rising of the sun, and they 25593who are from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, 25594and there is none else: 25595 2559645:7. I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create 25597evil: I the Lord that do all these things. 25598 25599Create evil, etc. . .The evils of afflictions and punishments, but not 25600the evil of sin. 25601 2560245:8. Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain 25603the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a saviour: and let 25604justice spring up together: I the Lord have created him. 25605 2560645:9. Woe to him that gainsayeth his maker, a sherd of the earthen 25607pots: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it: What art thou 25608making, and thy work is without hands? 25609 2561045:10. Woe to him that saith to his father: Why begettest thou? and to 25611the woman: Why dost thou bring forth? 25612 2561345:11. Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of 25614things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my 25615hands give ye charge to me. 25616 2561745:12. I made the earth: and I created man upon it: my hand stretched 25618forth the heavens, and I have commanded all their host. 25619 2562045:13. I have raised him up to justice, and I will direct all his ways: 25621he shall build my city, and let go my captives, not for ransom, nor for 25622presents, saith the Lord the God of hosts. 25623 2562445:14. Thus saith the Lord: The labour of Egypt, and the merchandise of 25625Ethiopia, and of Sabaim, men of stature shall come over to thee, and 25626shall be thine: they shall walk after thee, they shall go bound with 25627manacles: and they shall worship thee, and shall make supplication to 25628thee: only in thee is God, and there is no God besides thee. 25629 2563045:15. Verily thou art a hidden God, the God of Israel the saviour. 25631 2563245:16. They are all confounded and ashamed: the forgers of errors are 25633gone together into confusion. 25634 2563545:17. Israel is saved in the Lord with an eternal salvation: you shall 25636not be confounded, and you shall not be ashamed for ever and ever. 25637 2563845:18. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself 25639that formed the earth, and made it, the very maker thereof: he did not 25640create it in vain: he formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and 25641there is no other. 25642 2564345:19. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I 25644have not said to the seed of Jacob: Seek me in vain. I am the Lord that 25645speak justice, that declare right things. 25646 2564745:20. Assemble yourselves, and come, and draw near together, ye that 25648are saved of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge that set up the wood 25649of their graven work, and pray to a god that cannot save. 25650 2565145:21. Tell ye, and come, and consult together: who hath declared this 25652from the beginning, who hath foretold this from that time? Have not I 25653the Lord, and there is no God else besides me? A just God and a 25654saviour, there is none besides me. 25655 2565645:22. Be converted to me, and you shall be saved, all ye ends of the 25657earth: for I am God, and there is no other. 25658 2565945:23. I have sworn by myself, the word of justice shall go out of my 25660mouth, and shall not return: 25661 2566245:24. For every knee shall be bowed to me, and every tongue shall 25663swear. 25664 2566545:25. Therefore shall he say: In the Lord are my justices and empire: 25666they shall come to him, and all that resist him shall be confounded. 25667 2566845:26. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and 25669praised. 25670 25671 25672 25673Isaias Chapter 46 25674 25675 25676The idols of Babylon shall be destroyed. Salvation is promised through 25677Christ. 25678 2567946:1. Bel is broken, Nebo is destroyed: their idols are put upon beasts 25680and cattle, your burdens of heavy weight even unto weariness. 25681 2568246:2. They are consumed, and are broken together: they could not save 25683him that carried them, and they themselves shall go into captivity. 25684 2568546:3. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house 25686of Israel who are carried by my bowels, are borne up by my womb. 25687 2568846:4. Even to your old age I am the same, and to your grey hairs I will 25689carry you: I have made you, and I will bear: I will carry and will 25690save. 25691 2569246:5. To whom have you likened me, and made me equal, and compared me, 25693and made me like? 25694 2569546:6. You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in 25696the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and 25697worship. 25698 2569946:7. They bear him on their shoulders and carry him, and set him in 25700his place, and he shall stand, and shall not stir out of his place. 25701Yea, when they shall cry also unto him, he shall not hear: he shall not 25702save them from tribulation. 25703 2570446:8. Remember this, and be ashamed: return, ye transgressors, to the 25705heart. 25706 2570746:9. Remember the former age, for I am God, and there is no God 25708beside, neither is there the like to me: 25709 2571046:10. Who shew from the beginning the things that shall be at last, 25711and from ancient times the things that as yet are not done, saying: My 25712counsel shall stand, and all my will shall be done: 25713 2571446:11. Who call a bird from the east, and from a far country the man of 25715my own will, and I have spoken, and will bring it to pass: I have 25716created, and I will do it. Hear me, O ye hardhearted, who are far from 25717justice. 25718 2571946:12. I have brought my justice near, it shall not be afar off: and my 25720salvation shall not tarry. I will give salvation in Sion, and my glory 25721in Israel. 25722 25723 25724 25725Isaias Chapter 47 25726 25727 25728God's judgment upon Babylon. 25729 2573047:1. Come down, sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on 25731the ground: there is no throne for the daughter of the Chaldeans, for 25732thou shalt no more be called delicate and tender. 25733 2573447:2. Take a millstone and grind meal: uncover thy shame, strip thy 25735shoulder, make bare thy legs, pass over the rivers. 25736 2573747:3. Thy nakedness shall be discovered, and thy shame shall be seen: I 25738will take vengeance, and no man shall resist me. 25739 2574047:4. Our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of 25741Israel. 25742 2574347:5. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the 25744Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called the lady of kingdoms. 25745 2574647:6. I was angry with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and 25747have given them into thy hand: thou hast shewn no mercy to them: upon 25748the ancient thou hast laid thy yoke exceeding heavy. 25749 2575047:7. And thou hast said: I shall be a lady for ever: thou hast not 25751laid these things to thy heart, neither hast thou remembered thy latter 25752end. 25753 2575447:8. And now hear these things, thou that art delicate, and dwellest 25755confidently, that sayest in thy heart: I am, and there is none else 25756besides me: I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know 25757barrenness. 25758 2575947:9. These two things shall come upon thee suddenly in one day, 25760barrenness and widowhood. All things are come upon thee, because of the 25761multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great hardness of thy 25762enchanters. 25763 2576447:10. And thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, and hast said: There is 25765none that seeth me. Thy wisdom, and, thy knowledge, this hath deceived 25766thee. And thou hast said in thy heart: I am, and besides me there is no 25767other. 25768 2576947:11. Evil shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not know the rising 25770thereof: and calamity shall fall violently upon thee, which thou canst 25771not keep off: misery shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt 25772not know. 25773 2577447:12. Stand now with thy enchanters, and with the multitude of thy 25775sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be it may 25776profit thee any thing, or if thou mayst become stronger. 25777 2577847:13. Thou hast failed in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the 25779astrologers stand and save thee, they that gazed at the stars, and 25780counted the months, that from them they might tell the things that 25781shall come to thee. 25782 2578347:14. Behold they are as stubble, fire hath burnt them, they shall not 25784deliver themselves from the power of the flames: there are no coals 25785wherewith they may be warmed, nor fire, that they may sit thereat. 25786 2578747:15. Such are all the things become to thee, in which thou hast 25788laboured: thy merchants from thy youth, every one hath erred in his own 25789way, there is none that can save thee. 25790 25791 25792 25793Isaias Chapter 48 25794 25795 25796He reproaches the Jews for their obstinacy: he will deliver them out of 25797their captivity, for his own name's sake. 25798 2579948:1. Hear ye these things, O house of Jacob, you that are called by 25800the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Juda, you 25801who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of 25802Israel, but not in truth, nor in justice. 25803 2580448:2. For they are called of the holy city, and are established upon 25805the God of Israel: the Lord of hosts is his name. 25806 2580748:3. The former things of old, I have declared, and they went forth 25808out of my mouth, and I have made them to be heard: I did them suddenly 25809and they came to pass. 25810 2581148:4. For I knew that thou art stubborn, and thy neck is as an iron 25812sinew, and thy forehead as brass. 25813 2581448:5. I foretold thee of old, before they came to pass I told thee, 25815lest thou shouldst say: My idols have done these things, and my graven 25816and molten things have commanded them. 25817 2581848:6. See now all the things which thou hast heard: but have you 25819declared them? I have shewn thee new things from that time, and things 25820are kept which thou knowest not: 25821 2582248:7. They are created now, and not of old: and before the day, when 25823thou heardest them not, lest thou shouldst say: Behold I knew them. 25824 2582548:8. Thou hast neither heard, nor known, neither was thy ear opened of 25826old. For I know that transgressing thou wilt transgress, and I have 25827called thee a transgressor from the womb. 25828 2582948:9. For my name's sake I will remove my wrath far off: and for my 25830praise I will bridle thee, lest thou shouldst perish. 25831 2583248:10. Behold I have refined thee, but not as silver, I have chosen 25833thee in the furnace of poverty. 25834 2583548:11. For my own sake, for my own sake will I do it, that I may not be 25836blasphemed: and I will not give my glory to another. 25837 2583848:12. Hearken to me, O Jacob, and thou Israel whom I call: I am he, I 25839am the first, and I am the last. 25840 2584148:13. My hand also hath founded the earth, and my right hand hath 25842measured the heavens: I shall call them, and they shall stand together. 25843 2584448:14. Assemble yourselves together, all you, and hear: who among them 25845hath declared these things? the Lord hath loved him, he will do his 25846pleasure in Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. 25847 2584848:15. I, even I have spoken and called him: I have brought him, and 25849his way is made prosperous. 25850 2585148:16. Come ye near unto me, and hear this: I have not spoken in secret 25852from the beginning: from the time before it was done, I was there, and 25853now the Lord God hath sent me, and his spirit. 25854 2585548:17. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am 25856the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable things, that govern thee in 25857the way that thou walkest. 25858 2585948:18. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments: thy peace had 25860been as a river, and thy justice as the waves of the sea, 25861 2586248:19. And thy seed had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy 25863bowels like the gravel thereof: his name should not have perished, nor 25864have been destroyed from before my face. 25865 2586648:20. Come forth out of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, declare 25867it with the voice of joy: make this to be heard, and speak it out even 25868to the ends of the earth. Say: The Lord hath redeemed his servant 25869Jacob. 25870 2587148:21. They thirsted not in the desert, when he led them out: he 25872brought forth water out of the rock for them, and he clove the rock, 25873and the waters gushed out. 25874 2587548:22. There is no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord. 25876 25877 25878 25879Isaias Chapter 49 25880 25881 25882Christ shall bring the Gentiles to salvation. God's love to his church 25883is perpetual. 25884 2588549:1. Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye people from afar. The Lord 25886hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he hath been 25887mindful of my name. 25888 2588949:2. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of 25890his hand he hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow: in 25891his quiver he hath hidden me. 25892 2589349:3. And he said to me: Thou art my servant Israel, for in thee will I 25894glory. 25895 2589649:4. And I said: I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength 25897without cause and in vain: therefore my judgment is with the Lord, and 25898my work with my God. 25899 2590049:5. And now saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be his 25901servant, that I may bring back Jacob unto him, and Israel will not be 25902gathered together: and I am glorified in the eyes of the Lord, and my 25903God is made my strength. 25904 2590549:6. And he said: It is a small thing that thou shouldst be my servant 25906to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to convert the dregs of Israel. 25907Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou 25908mayst be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. 25909 2591049:7. Thus saith the Lord the redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to the 25911soul that is despised, to the nation that is abhorred, to the servant 25912of rulers: Kings shall see, and princes shall rise up, and adore for 25913the Lord's sake, because he is faithful, and for the Holy One of 25914Israel, who hath chosen thee. 25915 2591649:8. Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and 25917in the day of salvation I have helped thee: and I have preserved thee, 25918and given thee to be a covenant of the people, that thou mightest raise 25919up the earth, and possess the inheritances that were destroyed: 25920 2592149:9. That thou mightest say to them that are bound: Come forth: and to 25922them that are in darkness: Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the 25923ways, and their pastures shall be in every plain. 25924 2592549:10. They shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor 25926the sun strike them: for he that is merciful to them, shall be their 25927shepherd, and at the fountains of waters he shall give them drink. 25928 2592949:11. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my paths shall be 25930exalted. 25931 2593249:12. Behold these shall come from afar, and behold these from the 25933north and from the sea, and these from the south country. 25934 2593549:13. Give praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth, ye mountains, 25936give praise with jubilation: because the Lord hath comforted his 25937people, and will have mercy on his poor ones. 25938 2593949:14. And Sion said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath 25940forgotten me. 25941 2594249:15. Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son 25943of her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee. 25944 2594549:16. Behold, I have graven thee in my hands: thy walls are always 25946before my eyes. 25947 2594849:17. Thy builders are come: they that destroy thee and make thee 25949waste shall go out of thee. 25950 2595149:18. Lift up thy eyes round about, and see all these are gathered 25952together, they are come to thee: I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt be 25953clothed with all these as with an ornament, and as a bride thou shalt 25954put them about thee. 25955 2595649:19. For thy deserts, and thy desolate places, and the land of thy 25957destruction shall now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and 25958they that swallowed thee up shall be chased far away. 25959 2596049:20. The children of thy barrenness shall still say in thy ears: The 25961place is too strait for me, make me room to dwell in. 25962 2596349:21. And thou shalt say in thy heart: Who hath begotten these? I was 25964barren and brought not forth, led away, and captive: and who hath 25965brought up these? I was destitute and alone: and these, where were 25966they? 25967 2596849:22. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will lift up my hand to the 25969Gentiles, and will set up my standard to the people. And they shall 25970bring thy sons in their arms, and carry thy daughters upon their 25971shoulders. 25972 2597349:23. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nurses: 25974they shall worship thee with their face toward the earth, and they 25975shall lick up the dust of thy feet. And thou shalt know that I am the 25976Lord, for they shall not be confounded that wait for him. 25977 2597849:24. Shall the prey be taken from the strong? or can that which was 25979taken by the mighty, be delivered? 25980 2598149:25. For thus saith the Lord: Yea verily, even the captivity shall be 25982taken away from the strong: and that which was taken by the mighty, 25983shall be delivered. But I will judge those that have judged thee, and 25984thy children I will save. 25985 2598649:26. And I will feed thy enemies with their own flesh: and they shall 25987be made drunk with their own blood, as with new wine: and all flesh 25988shall know, that I am the Lord that save thee, and thy Redeemer the 25989Mighty One of Jacob. 25990 25991 25992 25993Isaias Chapter 50 25994 25995 25996The synagogue shall be divorced for her iniquities. Christ for her sake 25997will endure ignominious afflictions. 25998 2599950:1. Thus saith the Lord: What is this bill of the divorce of your 26000mother, with which I have put her away? or who is my creditor, to whom 26001I sold you: behold you are sold for your iniquities, and for your 26002wicked deeds have I put your mother away. 26003 2600450:2. Because I came, and there was not a man: I called, and there was 26005none that would hear. Is my hand shortened and become little, that I 26006cannot redeem? or is there no strength in me to deliver? Behold at my 26007rebuke I will make the sea a desert, I will turn the rivers into dry 26008land: the fishes shall rot for want of water, and shall die for thirst. 26009 2601050:3. I will clothe the heavens with darkness, and will make sackcloth 26011their covering. 26012 2601350:4. The Lord hath given me a learned tongue, that I should know how 26014to uphold by word him that is weary: he wakeneth in the morning, in the 26015morning he wakeneth my ear, that I may hear him as a master. 26016 2601750:5. The Lord God hath opened my ear, and I do not resist: I have not 26018gone back. 26019 2602050:6. I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that 26021plucked them: I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me, 26022and spit upon me. 26023 2602450:7. The Lord God is my helper, therefore am I not confounded: 26025therefore have I set my face as a most hard rock, and I know that I 26026shall not be confounded. 26027 2602850:8. He is near that justifieth me, who will contend with me? let us 26029stand together, who is my adversary? let him come near to me. 26030 2603150:9. Behold the Lord God is my helper: who is he that shall condemn 26032me? Lo, they shall all be destroyed as a garment, the moth shall eat 26033them up. 26034 2603550:10. Who is there among you that feareth the Lord, that heareth the 26036voice of his servant, that hath walked in darkness, and hath no light? 26037let him hope in the name of the Lord, and lean upon his God. 26038 2603950:11. Behold all you that kindle a fire, encompassed with flames, walk 26040in the light of your fire, and in the flames which you have kindled: 26041this is done to you by my hand, you shall sleep in sorrows. 26042 26043 26044 26045Isaias Chapter 51 26046 26047 26048An exhortation to trust in Christ. He shall protect the children of his 26049church. 26050 2605151:1. Give ear to me, you that follow that which is just, and you that 26052seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence you are hewn, and to the hole 26053of the pit from which you are dug out. 26054 2605551:2. Look unto Abraham your father, and to Sara that bore you: for I 26056called him alone, and blessed him, and multiplied him. 26057 2605851:3. The Lord therefore will comfort Sion, and will comfort all the 26059ruins thereof: and he will make her desert as a place of pleasure, and 26060her wilderness as the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be 26061found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of praise. 26062 2606351:4. Hearken unto me, O my people, and give ear to me, O my tribes: 26064for a law shall go forth from me, and my judgment shall rest to be a 26065light of the nations. 26066 2606751:5. My just one is near at hand, my saviour is gone forth, and my 26068arms shall judge the people: the islands shall look for me, and shall 26069patiently wait for my arm. 26070 2607151:6. Lift up your eyes to heaven, and look down to the earth beneath: 26072for the heavens shall vanish like smoke, and the earth shall be worn 26073away like a garment, and the inhabitants thereof shall perish in like 26074manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my justice shall not 26075fail. 26076 2607751:7. Hearken to me, you that know what is just, my people who have my 26078law in your heart: fear ye not the reproach of men, and be not afraid 26079of their blasphemies. 26080 2608151:8. For the worm shall eat them up as a garment: and the moth shall 26082consume them as wool: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my 26083justice from generation to generation. 26084 2608551:9. Arise, arise, put on strength, O thou arm of the Lord, arise as 26086in the days of old, in the ancient generations. Hast not thou struck 26087the proud one, and wounded the dragon? 26088 2608951:10. Hast not thou dried up the sea, the water of the mighty deep, 26090who madest the depth of the sea a way, that the delivered might pass 26091over? 26092 2609351:11. And now they that are redeemed by the Lord, shall return, and 26094shall come into Sion singing praises, and joy everlasting shall be upon 26095their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning 26096shall flee away. 26097 2609851:12. I myself will comfort you: who art thou, that thou shouldst be 26099afraid of a mortal man, and of the son of man, who shall wither away 26100like grass? 26101 2610251:13. And thou hast forgotten the Lord thy maker, who stretched out 26103the heavens, and founded the earth: and thou hast been afraid 26104continually all the day at the presence of his fury who afflicted thee, 26105and had prepared himself to destroy thee: where is now the fury of the 26106oppressor? 26107 2610851:14. He shall quickly come that is going to open unto you, and he 26109shall not kill unto utter destruction, neither shall his bread fail. 26110 2611151:15. But I am the Lord thy God, who trouble the sea, and the waves 26112thereof swell: the Lord of hosts is my name. 26113 2611451:16. I have put my words in thy mouth, and have protected thee in the 26115shadow of my hand, that thou mightest plant the heavens, and found the 26116earth: and mightest say to Sion: Thou art my people. 26117 2611851:17. Arise, arise, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the 26119hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath; thou hast drunk even to the 26120bottom of the cup of dead sleep, and thou hast drunk even to the dregs. 26121 2612251:18. There is none that can uphold her among all the children that 26123she hath brought forth: and there is none that taketh her by the hand 26124among all the children that she hath brought up. 26125 2612651:19. There are two things that have happened to thee: who shall be 26127sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the 26128sword, who shall comfort thee? 26129 2613051:20. Thy children are cast forth, they have slept at the head of all 26131the ways, and the wild ox that is snared: full of the indignation of 26132the Lord, of the rebuke of thy God. 26133 2613451:21. Therefore hear this, thou poor little one, and thou that art 26135drunk but not with wine. 26136 2613751:22. Thus saith thy Sovereign the Lord, and thy God, who will fight 26138for his people: Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of dead 26139sleep, the dregs of the cup of my indignation, thou shalt not drink it 26140again any more. 26141 2614251:23. And I will put it in the hand of them that have oppressed thee, 26143and have said to thy soul: Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast 26144laid thy body as the ground, and as a way to them that went over. 26145 26146 26147 26148Isaias Chapter 52 26149 26150 26151Under the figure of the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, the 26152church is invited to rejoice for her redemption from sin. Christ's 26153kingdom shall be exalted. 26154 2615552:1. Arise, arise, put on thy strength, O Sion, put on the garments of 26156thy glory, O Jerusalem, the city of the Holy One: for henceforth the 26157uncircumcised, and unclean shall no more pass through thee. 26158 2615952:2. Shake thyself from the dust, arise, sit up, O Jerusalem: loose 26160the bonds from off thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion. 26161 2616252:3. For thus saith the Lord: You were sold gratis, and you shall be 26163redeemed, without money. 26164 2616552:4. For thus saith the Lord God: My people went down into Egypt at 26166the beginning to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them 26167without any cause at all. 26168 2616952:5. And now what have I here, saith the Lord: for my people is taken 26170away gratis. They that rule over them treat them unjustly, saith the 26171Lord, and my name is continually blasphemed all the day long. 26172 2617352:6. Therefore my people shall know my name in that day: for I myself 26174that spoke, behold I am here. 26175 2617652:7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that 26177bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: of him that sheweth 26178forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Sion: Thy God shall 26179reign! 26180 2618152:8. The voice of thy watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they 26182shall praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord 26183shall convert Sion. 26184 2618552:9. Rejoice, and give praise together, O ye deserts of Jerusalem: for 26186the Lord hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 26187 2618852:10. The Lord hath prepared his holy arm in the sight of all the 26189Gentiles: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our 26190God. 26191 2619252:11. Depart, depart, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing: 26193go out of the midst of her, be ye clean, you that carry the vessels of 26194the Lord. 26195 2619652:12. For you shall not go out in a tumult, neither shall you make 26197haste by flight: for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel 26198will gather you together. 26199 2620052:13. Behold my servant shall understand, he shall be exalted, and 26201extolled, and shall be exceeding high. 26202 2620352:14. As many have been astonished at thee, so shall his visage be 26204inglorious among men, and his form among the sons of men. 26205 2620652:15. He shall sprinkle many nations, kings shall shut their mouth at 26207him: for they to whom it was not told of him, have seen: and they that 26208heard not, have beheld. 26209 26210 26211 26212Isaias Chapter 53 26213 26214 26215A prophecy of the passion of Christ. 26216 2621753:1. Who a hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the 26218Lord revealed? 26219 2622053:2. And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root 26221out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and 26222we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be 26223desirous of him: 26224 2622553:3. Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and 26226acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and 26227despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. 26228 2622953:4. Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and 26230we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and 26231afflicted. 26232 2623353:5. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our 26234sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we 26235are healed. 26236 2623753:6. All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside 26238into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 26239 2624053:7. He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his 26241mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb 26242as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth. 26243 2624453:8. He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall 26245declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the 26246living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him. 26247 2624853:9. And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for 26249his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit 26250in his mouth. 26251 2625253:10. And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall 26253lay down his life for sin, he shall see a longlived seed, and the will 26254of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand. 26255 2625653:11. Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by 26257his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall 26258bear their iniquities. 26259 2626053:12. Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall 26261divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul 26262unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins 26263of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors. 26264 26265 26266 26267Isaias Chapter 54 26268 26269 26270The Gentiles, who were barren before, shall multiply in the church of 26271Christ: from which God's mercy shall never depart. 26272 2627354:1. Give praise, O thou barren, that bearest not: sing forth praise, 26274and make a joyful noise, thou that didst not travail with child: for 26275many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a 26276husband, saith the Lord. 26277 2627854:2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and stretch out the skins of thy 26279tabernacles, spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. 26280 2628154:3. For thou shalt pass on to the right hand, and to the left: and 26282thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and shall inhabit the desolate 26283cities. 26284 2628554:4. Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded, nor blush: for thou 26286shalt not be put to shame, because thou shalt forget the shame of thy 26287youth, and shalt remember no more the reproach of thy widowhood. 26288 2628954:5. For he that made thee shall rule over thee, the Lord of hosts is 26290his name: and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, shall be called the 26291God of all the earth. 26292 2629354:6. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and mourning in 26294spirit, and as a wife cast off from her youth, said thy God. 26295 2629654:7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies 26297will I gather thee. 26298 2629954:8. In a moment of indignation have I hid my face a little while from 26300thee, but with everlasting kindness have I had mercy on thee, said the 26301Lord thy Redeemer. 26302 2630354:9. This thing is to me as in the days of Noe, to whom I swore, that 26304I would no more bring in the waters of Noe upon the earth: so have I 26305sworn not to be angry with thee, and not to rebuke thee. 26306 2630754:10. For the mountains shall be moved, and the hills shall tremble; 26308but my mercy shall not depart from thee, and the covenant of my peace 26309shall not be moved: said the Lord that hath mercy on thee. 26310 2631154:11. O poor little one, tossed with tempest, without all comfort, 26312behold I will lay thy stones in order, and will lay thy foundations 26313with sapphires, 26314 2631554:12. And I will make thy bulwarks of jasper: and thy gates of graven 26316stones, and all thy borders of desirable stones. 26317 2631854:13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord: and great shall be 26319the peace of thy children. 26320 2632154:14. And thou shalt be founded in justice: depart far from 26322oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not 26323come near thee. 26324 2632554:15. Behold, an inhabitant shall come, who was not with me, he that 26326was a stranger to thee before, shall be joined to thee. 26327 2632854:16. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the 26329fire, and bringeth forth an instrument for his work, and I have created 26330the killer to destroy. 26331 2633254:17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper: and every 26333tongue that resisteth thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the 26334inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their justice with me, 26335saith the Lord. 26336 26337 26338 26339Isaias Chapter 55 26340 26341 26342God promises abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful, that shall 26343believe in Christ out of all nations, and sincerely serve him. 26344 2634555:1. All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no 26346money make haste, buy, and eat: come ye, buy wine and milk without 26347money, and without any price. 26348 2634955:2. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your 26350labour for that which doth not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, 26351and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in 26352fatness. 26353 2635455:3. Incline your ear and come to me: hear and your soul shall live, 26355and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the faithful mercies 26356of David. 26357 2635855:4. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, for a leader 26359and a master to the Gentiles. 26360 2636155:5. Behold thou shalt call a nation, which thou knewest not: and the 26362nations that knew not thee shall run to thee, because of the Lord thy 26363God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. 26364 2636555:6. Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he 26366is near. 26367 2636855:7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, 26369and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to 26370our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. 26371 2637255:8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, 26373saith the Lord. 26374 2637555:9. For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways 26376exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. 26377 2637855:10. And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return 26379no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to 26380spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 26381 2638255:11. So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it 26383shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and 26384shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. 26385 2638655:12. For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the 26387mountains and the hills shall sing praise before you, and all the trees 26388of the country shall clap their hands. 26389 2639055:13. Instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of 26391the nettle, shall come up the myrtle tree: and the Lord shall be named 26392for an everlasting sign, that shall not be taken away. 26393 26394 26395 26396Isaias Chapter 56 26397 26398 26399God invites all to keep his commandments: the Gentiles that keep them 26400shall be the people of God: the Jewish pastors are reproved. 26401 2640256:1. Thus saith the Lord: Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my 26403salvation is near to come, and my justice to be revealed. 26404 2640556:2. Blessed is the man that doth this, and the son of man that shall 26406lay hold on this: that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, that 26407keepeth his hands from doing any evil. 26408 2640956:3. And let not the son of the stranger, that adhereth to the Lord, 26410speak, saying: The Lord will divide and separate me from his people. 26411And let not the eunuch say: Behold I am a dry tree. 26412 2641356:4. For thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs, They that shall keep my 26414sabbaths, and shall choose the things that please me, and shall hold 26415fast my covenant: 26416 2641756:5. I will give to them in my house, and within my walls, a place, 26418and a name better than sons and daughters: I will give them an 26419everlasting name which shall never perish. 26420 2642156:6. And the children of the stranger that adhere to the Lord, to 26422worship him, and to love his name, to be his servants: every one that 26423keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and that holdeth fast my 26424covenant: 26425 2642656:7. I will bring them into my holy mount, and will make them joyful 26427in my house of prayer: their holocausts, and their victims shall please 26428me upon my altar: for my house shall be called the house of prayer, for 26429all nations. 26430 2643156:8. The Lord God, who gathereth the scattered of Israel, saith: I 26432will still gather unto him his congregation. 26433 2643456:9. All ye beasts of the field come to devour, all ye beasts of the 26435forest. 26436 2643756:10. His watchmen are all blind, they are all ignorant: dumb dogs not 26438able to bark, seeing vain things, sleeping and loving dreams. 26439 2644056:11. And most impudent dogs, they never had enough: the shepherds 26441themselves knew no understanding: all have turned aside into their own 26442way, every one after his own gain, from the first even to the last. 26443 2644456:12. Come, let us take wine, and be filled with drunkenness: and it 26445shall be as to day, so also to morrow, and much more. 26446 26447 26448 26449Isaias Chapter 57 26450 26451 26452The infidelity of the Jews: their idolatry. Promises to humble 26453penitents. 26454 2645557:1. The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and men of 26456mercy are taken away, because there is none that understandeth; for the 26457just man is taken away from before the face of evil. 26458 2645957:2. Let peace come, let him rest in his bed that hath walked in his 26460uprightness. 26461 2646257:3. But draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the 26463adulterer, and of the harlot. 26464 2646557:4. Upon whom have you jested? upon whom have you opened your mouth 26466wide, and put out your tongue? are not you wicked children, a false 26467seed, 26468 2646957:5. Who seek your comfort in idols under every green tree, 26470sacrificing children in the torrents, under the high rocks? 26471 2647257:6. In the parts of the torrent is thy portion, this is thy lot: and 26473thou hast poured out libations to them, thou hast offered sacrifice. 26474Shall I not be angry at these things? 26475 2647657:7. Upon a high and lofty mountain thou hast laid thy bed, and hast 26477gone up thither to offer victims. 26478 2647957:8. And behind the door, and behind the post thou hast set up thy 26480remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself near me, and hast 26481received an adulterer: thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made a covenant 26482with them: thou hast loved their bed with open hand. 26483 2648457:9. And thou hast adorned thyself for the king with ointment, and 26485hast multiplied thy perfumes. Thou hast sent thy messengers far off, 26486and wast debased even to hell. 26487 2648857:10. Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy ways: yet thou 26489saidst not: I will rest: thou has found life of thy hand, therefore 26490thou hast not asked. 26491 2649257:11. For whom hast thou been solicitous and afraid, that thou hast 26493lied, and hast not been mindful of me, nor thought on me in thy heart? 26494for I am silent, and as one that seeth not, and thou hast forgotten me. 26495 2649657:12. I will declare thy justice, and thy works shall not profit thee. 26497 2649857:13. When thou shalt cry, let thy companies deliver thee, but the 26499wind shall carry them all off, a breeze shall take them away, but he 26500that putteth his trust in me, shall inherit the land, and shall possess 26501my holy mount. 26502 2650357:14. And I will say: Make a way: give free passage, turn out of the 26504path, take away the stumblingblocks out of the way of my people. 26505 2650657:15. For thus saith the High and the Eminent that inhabiteth 26507eternity: and his name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy 26508place, and with a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of 26509the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 26510 2651157:16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be angry unto 26512the end: because the spirit shall go forth from my face, and breathings 26513I will make. 26514 2651557:17. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and I struck 26516him: I hid my face from thee, and was angry: and he went away wandering 26517in his own heart. 26518 2651957:18. I saw his ways, and I healed him, and brought him back, and 26520restored comforts to him, and to them that mourn for him. 26521 2652257:19. I created the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far 26523off, and to him that is near, said the Lord, and I healed him. 26524 2652557:20. But the wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest, and 26526the waves thereof cast up dirt and mire. 26527 2652857:21. There is no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord God. 26529 26530 26531 26532Isaias Chapter 58 26533 26534 26535God rejects the hypocritical fasts of the Jews: recommends works of 26536mercy, and sincere godliness. 26537 2653858:1. Cry, cease not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my 26539people their wicked doings, and the house of Jacob their sins. 26540 2654158:2. For they seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as 26542a nation that hath done justice, and hath not forsaken the judgment of 26543their God: they ask of me the judgments of justice: they are willing to 26544approach to God. 26545 2654658:3. Why have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded: have we humbled 26547our souls, and thou hast not taken notice? Behold in the day of your 26548fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors. 26549 2655058:4. Behold you fast for debates and strife, and strike with the fist 26551wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry 26552to be heard on high. 26553 2655458:5. Is this such a fast as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his 26555soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and 26556to spread sackcloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast, and a day 26557acceptable to the Lord? 26558 2655958:6. Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands 26560of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken 26561go free, and break asunder every burden. 26562 2656358:7. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the 26564harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, 26565and despise not thy own flesh. 26566 2656758:8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health 26568shall speedily arise, and thy justice shall go before thy face, and the 26569glory of the Lord shall gather thee up. 26570 2657158:9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear: thou shalt cry, 26572and he shall say, Here I am. If thou wilt take away the chain out of 26573the midst of thee, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak 26574that which profiteth not. 26575 2657658:10. When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt 26577satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise up in darkness, 26578and thy darkness shall be as the noonday. 26579 2658058:11. And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and will fill thy 26581soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones, and thou shalt be like a 26582watered garden, and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not 26583fail. 26584 2658558:12. And the places that have been desolate for ages shall be built 26586in thee: thou shalt raise up the foundation of generation and 26587generation: and thou shalt be called the repairer of the fences, 26588turning the paths into rest. 26589 2659058:13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy own 26591will in my holy day, and call the sabbath delightful, and the holy of 26592the Lord glorious, and glorify him, while thou dost not thy own ways, 26593and thy own will is not found, to speak a word: 26594 2659558:14. Then shalt thou be delighted in the Lord, and I will lift thee 26596up above the high places of the earth, and will feed thee with the 26597inheritance of Jacob thy father. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken 26598it. 26599 26600 26601 26602Isaias Chapter 59 26603 26604 26605The dreadful evil of sin is displayed, as the great obstacle to all 26606good from God: yet he will send a Redeemer, and make an everlasting 26607covenant with his church. 26608 2660959:1. Behold the hand of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save, 26610neither is his ear heavy that it cannot hear. 26611 2661259:2. But your iniquities have divided between you and your God, and 26613your sins have hid his face from you that he should not hear. 26614 2661559:3. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with 26616iniquity: your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue uttereth 26617iniquity. 26618 2661959:4. There is none that calleth upon justice, neither is there any one 26620that judgeth truly: but they trust in a mere nothing, and speak 26621vanities: they have conceived labour, and brought forth iniquity. 26622 2662359:5. They have broken the eggs of asps, and have woven the webs of 26624spiders: he that shall eat of their eggs, shall die: and that which is 26625brought out, shall be hatched into a basilisk. 26626 2662759:6. Their webs shall not be for clothing, neither shall they cover 26628themselves with their works: their works are unprofitable works, and 26629the work of iniquity is in their hands. 26630 2663159:7. Their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed innocent blood: 26632their thoughts are unprofitable thoughts: wasting and destruction are 26633in their ways. 26634 2663559:8. They have not known the way of peace, and there is no judgment in 26636their steps: their paths are become crooked to them, every one that 26637treadeth in them knoweth no peace. 26638 2663959:9. Therefore is judgment far from us, and justice shall not overtake 26640us. We looked for light, and behold darkness: brightness, and we have 26641walked in the dark. 26642 2664359:10. We have groped for the wall, and like the blind we have groped 26644as if we had no eyes: we have stumbled at noonday as in darkness, we 26645are in dark places, as dead men. 26646 2664759:11. We shall roar all of us like bears, and shall lament as mournful 26648doves. We have looked for judgment, and there is none: for salvation, 26649and it is far from us. 26650 2665159:12. For our iniquities are multiplied before thee, and our sins have 26652testified against us: for our wicked doings are with us, and have known 26653our iniquities: 26654 2665559:13. In sinning and lying against the Lord: and we have turned away 26656so that we went not after our God, but spoke calumny and transgression: 26657we have conceived, and uttered from the heart, words of falsehood. 26658 2665959:14. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice hath stood far 26660off: because truth hath fallen down in the street, and equity could not 26661come in. 26662 2666359:15. And truth hath been forgotten: and he that departed from evil, 26664lay open to be a prey: and the Lord saw, and it appeared evil in his 26665eyes, because there is no judgment. 26666 2666759:16. And he saw that there is not a man: and he stood astonished, 26668because there is none to oppose himself: and his own arm brought 26669salvation to him, and his own justice supported him. 26670 2667159:17. He put on justice as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation 26672upon his head: he put on the garments of vengeance, and was clad with 26673zeal as with a cloak. 26674 2667559:18. As unto revenge, as it were to repay wrath to his adversaries, 26676and a reward to his enemies: he will repay the like to the islands. 26677 2667859:19. And they from the west, shall fear the name of the Lord: and 26679they from the rising of the sun, his glory when he shall come as a 26680violent stream, which the spirit of the Lord driveth on: 26681 2668259:20. And there shall come a redeemer to Sion, and to them that return 26683from iniquity in Jacob, saith the Lord. 26684 2668559:21. This is my covenant with them, saith the Lord: My spirit that is 26686in thee, and my words that I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart 26687out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the 26688mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. 26689 26690This is my covenant, etc. . .Note here a clear promise of perpetual 26691orthodoxy to the church of Christ. 26692 26693 26694 26695Isaias Chapter 60 26696 26697 26698The light of true faith shall shine forth in the church of Christ, and 26699shall be spread through all nations, and continue for all ages. 26700 2670160:1. Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and 26702the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 26703 2670460:2. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: 26705but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon 26706thee. 26707 2670860:3. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the 26709brightness of thy rising. 26710 2671160:4. Lift up thy eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered 26712together, they are come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy 26713daughters shall rise up at thy side. 26714 2671560:5. Then shalt thou see, and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and 26716be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee, 26717the strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee. 26718 2671960:6. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of 26720Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and 26721frankincense: and shewing forth praise to the Lord. 26722 2672360:7. All the flocks of Cedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the 26724rams of Nabaioth shall minister to thee: they shall be offered upon my 26725acceptable altar, and I will glorify the house of my majesty. 26726 2672760:8. Who are these, that fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows? 26728 2672960:9. For, the islands wait for me, and the ships of the sea in the 26730beginning: that I may bring thy sons from afar: their silver, and their 26731gold with them, to the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of 26732Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 26733 2673460:10. And the children of strangers shall build up thy walls, and 26735their kings shall minister to thee: for in my wrath have I struck thee, 26736and in my reconciliation have I had mercy upon thee. 26737 2673860:11. And thy gates shall be open continually: they shall not be shut 26739day nor night, that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to 26740thee, and their kings may be brought. 26741 2674260:12. For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve thee, shall 26743perish: and the Gentiles shall be wasted with desolation. 26744 2674560:13. The glory of Libanus shall come to thee, the fir tree, and the 26746box tree, and the pine tree together, to beautify the place of my 26747sanctuary: and I will glorify the place of my feet. 26748 2674960:14. And the children of them that afflict thee, shall come bowing 26750down to thee, and all that slandered thee shall worship the steps of 26751thy feet, and shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Sion of the 26752Holy One of Israel. 26753 2675460:15. Because thou wast forsaken, and hated, and there was none that 26755passed through thee, I will make thee to be an everlasting glory, a joy 26756unto generation and generation: 26757 2675860:16. And thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles, and thou shalt be 26759nursed with the breasts of kings: and thou shalt know that I am the 26760Lord thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 26761 2676260:17. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver: 26763and for wood brass, and for stones iron: and I will make thy visitation 26764peace, and thy overseers justice. 26765 2676660:18. Iniquity shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor 26767destruction in thy borders, and salvation shall possess thy walls, and 26768praise thy gates. 26769 2677060:19. Thou shalt no more have the sun for thy light by day, neither 26771shall the brightness of the moon enlighten thee: but the Lord shall be 26772unto thee for an everlasting light, and thy God for thy glory. 26773 26774Thou shalt no more, etc. . .In this latter part of the chapter, the 26775prophet passes from the illustrious promises made to the church 26776militant on earth, to the glory of the church triumphant in heaven. 26777 2677860:20. Thy sun shall go down no more, and thy moon shall not decrease: 26779for the Lord shall be unto thee for an everlasting light, and the days 26780of thy mourning shall be ended. 26781 2678260:21. And thy people shall be all just, they shall inherit the land 26783for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hand to glorify me. 26784 2678560:22. The least shall become a thousand, and a little one a most 26786strong nation: I the Lord will suddenly do this thing in its time. 26787 26788 26789 26790Isaias Chapter 61 26791 26792 26793The office of Christ: the mission of the Apostles; the happiness of 26794their converts. 26795 2679661:1. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed 26797me: he hath sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the contrite of 26798heart, and to preach a release to the captives, and deliverance to them 26799that are shut up. 26800 2680161:2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of 26802vengeance of our God: to comfort all that mourn: 26803 2680461:3. To appoint to the mourners of Sion, and to give them a crown for 26805ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit 26806of grief: and they shall be called in it the mighty ones of justice, 26807the planting of the Lord to glorify him. 26808 2680961:4. And they shall build the places that have been waste from of old, 26810and shall raise up ancient ruins, and shall repair the desolate cities, 26811that were destroyed for generation and generation. 26812 2681361:5. And strangers shall stand and shall feed your flocks: and the 26814sons of strangers shall be your husbandman, and the dressers of your 26815vines. 26816 2681761:6. But you shall be called the priests of the Lord: to you it shall 26818be said: Ye ministers of our God: you shall eat the riches of the 26819Gentiles, and you shall pride yourselves in their glory. 26820 2682161:7. For your double confusion and shame, they shall praise their 26822part: therefore shall they receive double in their land, everlasting 26823joy shall be unto them. 26824 2682561:8. For I am the Lord that love judgment, and hate robbery in a 26826holocaust: and I will make their work in truth, and I will make a 26827perpetual covenant with them. 26828 2682961:9. And they shall know their seed among the Gentiles, and their 26830offspring in the midst of peoples: all that shall see them, shall know 26831them, that these are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. 26832 2683361:10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful 26834in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation: and 26835with the robe of justice he hath covered me, as a bridegroom decked 26836with a crown, and as a bride adorned with her jewels. 26837 2683861:11. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden 26839causeth her seed to shoot forth: so shall the Lord God make justice to 26840spring forth, and praise before all the nations. 26841 26842 26843 26844Isaias Chapter 62 26845 26846 26847The prophet will not cease from preaching Christ: to whom all nations 26848shall be converted: and whose church shall continue for ever. 26849 2685062:1. For Sion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for the sake of 26851Jerusalem, I will not rest till her just one come forth as brightness, 26852and her saviour be lighted as a lamp. 26853 2685462:2. And the Gentiles shall see thy just one, and all kings thy 26855glorious one: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth 26856of the Lord shall name. 26857 2685862:3. And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a 26859royal diadem in the hand of thy God. 26860 2686162:4. Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken: and thy land shall no more 26862be called Desolate: but thou shalt be called My pleasure in her, and 26863thy land inhabited. Because the Lord hath been well pleased with thee: 26864and thy land shall be inhabited. 26865 2686662:5. For the young man shall dwell with the virgin, and thy children 26867shall dwell in thee. And the bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride, 26868and thy God shall rejoice over thee. 26869 2687062:6. Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen all the 26871day, and all the night, they shall never hold their peace. You that are 26872mindful of the Lord, hold not your peace, 26873 2687462:7. And give him no silence till he establish, and till he make 26875Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 26876 2687762:8. The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his 26878strength: Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thy 26879enemies: and the sons of the strangers shall not drink thy wine, for 26880which thou hast laboured. 26881 2688262:9. For they that gather it, shall eat it, and shall praise the Lord: 26883and they that bring it together, shall drink it in my holy courts. 26884 2688562:10. Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the 26886people, make the road plain, pick out the stones, and lift up the 26887standard to the people. 26888 2688962:11. Behold the Lord hath made it to be heard in the ends of the 26890earth, tell the daughter of Sion: Behold thy Saviour cometh: behold his 26891reward is with him, and his work before him. 26892 2689362:12. And they shall call them, The holy people, the redeemed of the 26894Lord. But thou shalt be called: A city sought after, and not forsaken. 26895 26896 26897 26898Isaias Chapter 63 26899 26900 26901Christ's victory over his enemies: his mercies to his people: their 26902complaint. 26903 2690463:1. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, 26905this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his 26906strength. I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save. 26907 26908Edom. . .Edom and Bosra (a strong city of Edom) are here taken in a 26909mystical sense for the enemies of Christ and his church. 26910 2691163:2. Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that 26912tread in the winepress? 26913 2691463:3. I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the Gentiles there is 26915not a man with me: I have trampled on them in my indignation, and have 26916trodden them down in my wrath, and their blood is sprinkled upon my 26917garments, and I have stained all my apparel. 26918 2691963:4. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my 26920redemption is come. 26921 2692263:5. I looked about, and there was none to help: I sought, and there 26923was none to give aid: and my own arm hath saved for me, and my 26924indignation itself hath helped me. 26925 2692663:6. And I have trodden down the people in my wrath, and have made 26927them drunk in my indignation, and have brought down their strength to 26928the earth. 26929 2693063:7. I will remember the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the 26931Lord for all the things that the Lord hath bestowed upon us, and for 26932the multitude of his good things to the house of Israel, which he hath 26933given them according to his kindness, and according to the multitude of 26934his mercies. 26935 2693663:8. And he said: Surely they are my people, children that will not 26937deny: so he became their saviour. 26938 2693963:9. In all their affliction he was not troubled, and the angel of his 26940presence saved them: in his love, and in his mercy he redeemed them, 26941and he carried them and lifted them up all the days of old. 26942 2694363:10. But they provoked to wrath, and afflicted the spirit of his Holy 26944One: and he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. 26945 2694663:11. And he remembered the days of old of Moses, and of his people: 26947Where is he that brought them up out of the sea, with the shepherds of 26948his flock? where is he that put in the midst of them the spirit of his 26949Holy One? 26950 2695163:12. He that brought out Moses by the right hand, by the arm of his 26952majesty: that divided the waters before them, to make himself an 26953everlasting name. 26954 2695563:13. He that led them out through the deep, as a horse in the 26956wilderness that stumbleth not. 26957 2695863:14. As a beast that goeth down in the field, the spirit of the Lord 26959was their leader: so didst thou lead thy people to make thyself a 26960glorious name. 26961 2696263:15. Look down from heaven, and behold from thy holy habitation and 26963the place of thy glory: where is thy zeal, and thy strength, the 26964multitude of thy bowels, and of thy mercies? they have held back 26965themselves from me. 26966 26967They have held back, etc. . .This is spoken by the prophet in the person 26968of the Jews at the time when, for their sins, they were given up to 26969their enemies. 26970 2697163:16. For thou art our father, and Abraham hath not known us, and 26972Israel hath been ignorant of us: thou, O Lord, art our father, our 26973redeemer, from everlasting is thy name. 26974 26975Abraham hath not know us, etc. . .That is, Abraham will not now 26976acknowledge us for his children, by reason of our degeneracy; but thou, 26977O Lord, art our true father and our redeemer, and no other can be 26978called our parent in comparison with thee. 26979 2698063:17. Why hast thou made us to err, O Lord, from thy ways: why hast 26981thou hardened our heart, that we should not fear thee? return for the 26982sake of thy servants, the tribes of thy inheritance. 26983 26984Made us to err, etc. Hardened our heart, etc. . .The meaning is, that 26985God in punishment of their great and manifold crimes, and their long 26986abuse of his mercy and grace, had withdrawn his graces from them, and 26987so given them up to error and hardness of heart. 26988 2698963:18. They have possessed thy holy people as nothing: our enemies have 26990trodden down thy sanctuary. 26991 2699263:19. We are become as in the beginning, when thou didst not rule over 26993us, and when we were not called by thy name. 26994 26995 26996 26997Isaias Chapter 64 26998 26999 27000The prophet prays for the release of his people; and for the remission 27001of their sins. 27002 2700364:1. O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and wouldst come down: the 27004mountains would melt away at thy presence. 27005 2700664:2. They would melt as at the burning of fire, the waters would burn 27007with fire, that thy name might be made known to thy enemies: that the 27008nations might tremble at thy presence. 27009 2701064:3. When thou shalt do wonderful things, we shall not bear them: thou 27011didst come down, and at thy presence the mountains melted away. 27012 2701364:4. From the beginning of the world they have not heard, nor 27014perceived with the ears: the eye hath not seen, O God, besides thee, 27015what things thou hast prepared for them that wait for thee. 27016 2701764:5. Thou hast met him that rejoiceth, and doth justice: in thy ways 27018they shall remember thee: behold thou art angry, and we have sinned: in 27019them we have been always, and we shall be saved. 27020 2702164:6. And we are all become as one unclean, and all our justices as the 27022rag of a menstruous woman: and we have all fallen as a leaf, and our 27023iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 27024 27025Our justices, etc. . .That is, the works by which we pretended to make 27026ourselves just. This is spoken particularly of the sacrifices, 27027sacraments, and ceremonies of the Jews, after the death of Christ, and 27028the promulgation of the new law. 27029 2703064:7. There is none that calleth upon thy name: that riseth up, and 27031taketh hold of thee: thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast crushed 27032us in the hand of our iniquity. 27033 2703464:8. And now, O Lord, thou art our father, and we are clay: and thou 27035art our maker, and we all are the works of thy hands. 27036 2703764:9. Be not very angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity: 27038behold, see we are all thy people. 27039 2704064:10. The city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made a 27041desert, Jerusalem is desolate. 27042 2704364:11. The house of our holiness, and of our glory, where our fathers 27044praised thee, is burnt with fire, and all our lovely things are turned 27045into ruins. 27046 2704764:12. Wilt thou refrain thyself, O Lord, upon these things, wilt thou 27048hold thy peace, and afflict us vehemently? 27049 27050 27051 27052Isaias Chapter 65 27053 27054 27055The Gentiles shall seek and find Christ, but the Jews will persecute 27056him, and be rejected, only a remnant shall be reserved. The church 27057shall multiply, and abound with graces. 27058 2705965:1. They have sought me that before asked not for me, they have found 27060me that sought me not. I said: Behold me, behold me, to a nation that 27061did not call upon my name. 27062 2706365:2. I have spread forth my hands all the day to an unbelieving 27064people, who walk in a way that is not good after their own thoughts. 27065 2706665:3. A people that continually provoke me to anger before my face, 27067that immolate in gardens, and sacrifice upon bricks. 27068 2706965:4. That dwell in sepulchres, and sleep in the temple of idols: that 27070eat swine's flesh, and profane broth is in their vessels. 27071 2707265:5. That say: Depart from me, come not near me, because thou art 27073unclean: these shall be smoke in my anger, a fire burning all the day. 27074 2707565:6. Behold it is written before me: I will not be silent, but I will 27076render and repay into their bosom. 27077 2707865:7. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, 27079saith the Lord, who have sacrificed upon the mountains, and have 27080reproached me upon the hills; and I will measure back their first work 27081in their bosom. 27082 2708365:8. Thus saith the Lord: As if a grain be found in a cluster, and it 27084be said: Destroy it not, because it is a blessing: so will I do for the 27085sake of my servants, that I may not destroy the whole. 27086 2708765:9. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Juda a 27088possessor of my mountains: and my elect shall inherit it, and my 27089servants shall dwell there. 27090 2709165:10. And the plains shall be turned to folds of flocks, and the 27092valley of Achor into a place for the herds to lie down in, for my 27093people that have sought me. 27094 2709565:11. And you, that have forsaken the Lord, that have forgotten my 27096holy mount, that set a table for fortune, and offer libations upon it, 27097 2709865:12. I will number you in the sword, and you shall all fall by 27099slaughter: because I called and you did not answer: I spoke, and you 27100did not hear: and you did evil in my eyes, and you have chosen the 27101things that displease me. 27102 2710365:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold my servants shall eat, 27104and you shall be hungry: behold my servants shall drink, and you shall 27105be thirsty. 27106 2710765:14. Behold my servants shall rejoice, and you shall be confounded: 27108behold my servants shall praise for joyfulness of heart, and you shall 27109cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for grief of spirit. 27110 2711165:15. And you shall leave your name for an execration to my elect: and 27112the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name. 27113 2711465:16. In which he that is blessed upon the earth, shall be blessed in 27115God, amen: and he that sweareth in the earth, shall swear by God, amen: 27116because the former distresses are forgotten, and because they are hid 27117from my eyes. 27118 2711965:17. For behold I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former 27120things shall not be in remembrance, and they shall not come upon the 27121heart. 27122 2712365:18. But you shall be glad and rejoice for ever in these things, 27124which I create: for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and the 27125people thereof joy. 27126 2712765:19. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people, and the 27128voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the voice of 27129crying. 27130 2713165:20. There shall no more be an infant of days there, nor an old man 27132that shall not fill up his days: for the child shall die a hundred 27133years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. 27134 2713565:21. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall 27136plant vineyards, and eat the fruits of them. 27137 2713865:22. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, 27139and another eat: for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of my 27140people, and the works of their hands shall be of long continuance. 27141 2714265:23. My elect shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth in trouble; 27143for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their posterity 27144with them. 27145 2714665:24. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will hear; 27147as they are yet speaking, I will hear. 27148 2714965:25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the lion and the ox 27150shall eat straw; and dust shall be the serpent's food: they shall not 27151hurt nor kill in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. 27152 27153 27154 27155Isaias Chapter 66 27156 27157 27158More of the reprobation of the Jews, and of the call of the Gentiles. 27159 2716066:1. Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my 27161footstool: what is this house that you will build to me? and what is 27162this place of my rest? 27163 27164What is this house, etc. . .This is a prophecy that the temple should be 27165cast off. 27166 2716766:2. My hand made all these things, and all these things were made, 27168saith the Lord. But to whom shall I have respect, but to him that is 27169poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my 27170words? 27171 2717266:3. He that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that 27173killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog: he that 27174offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine's blood; he that 27175remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol. All these things 27176have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their 27177abominations. 27178 27179He that sacrificeth an ox, etc. . .This is a prophecy that the 27180sacrifices which were offered in the old law should be abolished in the 27181new; and that the offering of them should be a crime.--Ibid. 27182Remembereth incense. . .Viz., to offer it in the way of a sacrifice. 27183 2718466:4. Wherefore I also will choose their mockeries, and will bring upon 27185them the things they feared: because I called, and there was none that 27186would answer; I have spoken, and they heard not; and they have done 27187evil in my eyes, and have chosen the things that displease me. 27188 27189I will choose their mockeries. . .I will turn their mockeries upon 27190themselves; and will cause them to be mocked by their enemies. 27191 2719266:5. Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at his word: Your 27193brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my name's sake, have said: 27194Let the Lord be glorified, and we shall see in your joy: but they shall 27195be confounded. 27196 2719766:6. A voice of the people from the city, a voice from the temple, the 27198voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to his enemies. 27199 2720066:7. Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came 27201to be delivered, she brought forth a man child. 27202 27203Before she was in labour, etc. . .This relates to the conversion of the 27204Gentiles, who were born, as it were, all on a sudden to the church of 27205God. 27206 2720766:8. Who hath ever heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like to 27208this? shall the earth bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be 27209brought forth at once, because Sion hath been in labour, and hath 27210brought forth her children? 27211 2721266:9. Shall not I that make others to bring forth children, myself 27213bring forth, saith the Lord? shall I, that give generation to others, 27214be barren, saith the Lord thy God? 27215 2721666:10. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love 27217her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her. 27218 2721966:11. That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her 27220consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the 27221abundance of her glory. 27222 2722366:12. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were 27224a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the 27225Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, 27226and upon the knees they shall caress you. 27227 2722866:13. As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you 27229shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 27230 2723166:14. You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall 27232flourish like an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his 27233servants, and he shall be angry with his enemies. 27234 2723566:15. For behold the Lord will come with fire, and his chariots are 27236like a whirlwind, to render his wrath in indignation, and his rebuke 27237with flames of fire. 27238 2723966:16. For the Lord shall judge by fire, and by his sword unto all 27240flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many. 27241 2724266:17. They that were sanctified, thought themselves clean in the 27243gardens behind the gate within, they that did eat swine's flesh, and 27244the abomination, and the mouse: they shall be consumed together, saith 27245the Lord. 27246 2724766:18. But I know their works, and their thoughts: I come that I may 27248gather them together with all nations and tongues: and they shall come 27249and shall see my glory. 27250 2725166:19. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send of them that 27252shall be saved, to the Gentiles into the sea, into Africa, and Lydia 27253them that draw the bow: into Italy, and Greece, to the islands afar 27254off, to them that have not heard of me, and have not seen my glory. And 27255they shall declare my glory to the Gentiles: 27256 2725766:20. And they shall bring all your brethren out of all nations for a 27258gift to the Lord, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on 27259mules, and in coaches, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, 27260as if the children of Israel should bring an offering in a clean vessel 27261into the house of the Lord. 27262 2726366:21. And I will take of them to be priests, and Levites, saith the 27264Lord. 27265 2726666:22. For as the new heavens, and the new earth, which I will make to 27267stand before me, saith the Lord: so shall your seed stand, and your 27268name. 27269 2727066:23. And there shall be month after month, and sabbath after sabbath: 27271and all flesh shall come to adore before my face, saith the Lord. 27272 2727366:24. And they shall go out, and see the carcasses of the men that 27274have transgressed against me: their worm shall not die, and their fire 27275shall not be quenched: and they shall be a loathsome sight to all 27276flesh. 27277 27278 27279 27280 27281THE PROPHECY OF JEREMIAS 27282 27283 27284 27285Jeremias was a priest, a native of Anathoth, a priestly city in the 27286tribe of Benjamin: and was sanctified from his mother's womb, to be a 27287prophet of God; which office he began to execute when he was yet a 27288child in age. He was in his whole life, according to the signification 27289of his name, Great before the Lord; and a special figure of Jesus 27290Christ, in the persecutions he underwent for discharging his duty; in 27291his charity for his persecutors; and in the violent death he suffered 27292at their hands: it being an ancient tradition of the Hebrews, that he 27293was stoned to death by the remnant of the Jews who had retired into 27294Egypt. 27295 27296 27297 27298Jeremias Chapter 1 27299 27300 27301The time, and the calling, of Jeremias: his prophetical visions. God 27302encourages him. 27303 273041:1. The words of Jeremias the son of Helcias, of the priests that were 27305in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. 27306 273071:2. The word of the Lord which came to him in the days of Josias the 27308son of Amon king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 27309 273101:3. And which came to him in the days of Joakim the son of Josias king 27311of Juda, unto the end of the eleventh year of Sedecias the son of 27312Josias king of Juda, even unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive, 27313in the fifth month. 27314 273151:4. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 27316 273171:5. Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee: and 27318before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and made 27319thee a prophet unto the nations. 27320 273211:6. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, Lord God: behold, I cannot speak, for I am 27322a child. 27323 273241:7. And the Lord said to me: Say not: I am a child: for thou shalt go 27325to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, 27326thou shalt speak. 27327 273281:8. Be not afraid at their presence: for I am with thee to deliver 27329thee, saith the Lord. 27330 273311:9. And the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth: and the 27332Lord said to me: Behold I have given my words in thy mouth: 27333 273341:10. Lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over kingdoms, 27335to root up, and to pull down, and to waste, and to destroy, and to 27336build, and to plant. 27337 273381:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What seest thou, 27339Jeremias? And I said: I see a rod watching. 27340 273411:12. And the Lord said to me: Thou hast seen well: for I will watch 27342over my word to perform it. 27343 273441:13. And the word of the Lord came to me a second time saying: What 27345seest thou? And I said: I see a boiling caldron, and the face thereof 27346from the face of the north. 27347 273481:14. And the Lord said to me: From the north shall an evil break forth 27349upon all the inhabitants of the land. 27350 273511:15. For behold I will call together all the families of the kingdoms 27352of the north, saith the Lord: and they shall come, and shall set every 27353one his throne in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and upon all 27354the walls thereof round about, and upon all the cities of Juda. 27355 273561:16. And I will pronounce my judgments against them, touching all 27357their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange 27358gods, and have adored the work of their own hands. 27359 273601:17. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them 27361all that I command thee. Be not afraid at their presence: for I will 27362make thee not to fear their countenance. 27363 273641:18. For behold I have made thee this day a fortified city, and a 27365pillar of iron, and a wall of brass, over all the land, to the kings of 27366Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests, and to the people of 27367the land. 27368 273691:19. And they shall fight against them, and shall not prevail: for I 27370am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. 27371 27372 27373 27374Jeremias Chapter 2 27375 27376 27377God expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and infidelity. 27378 273792:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 27380 273812:2. Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: 27382I have remembered thee, pitying thy youth, and the love of thy 27383espousals, when thou followedst me in the desert, in a land that is not 27384sown. 27385 273862:3. Israel is holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his increase: all 27387they that devour him offend: evils shall come upon them, saith the 27388Lord. 27389 273902:4. Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye 27391families of the house of Israel: 27392 273932:5. Thus saith the Lord: What iniquity have your fathers found in me, 27394that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are 27395become vain? 27396 273972:6. And they have not said: Where is the Lord, that made us come up 27398out of the land of Egypt? that led us through the desert, through a 27399land uninhabited and unpassable, through a land of drought, and the 27400image of death, through a land wherein no man walked, nor any man 27401dwelt? 27402 274032:7. And I brought you into the land of Carmel, to eat the fruit 27404thereof, and the best things thereof: and when ye entered in, you 27405defiled my land and made my inheritance an abomination. 27406 27407Carmel. . .That is, a fruitful, plentiful land. 27408 274092:8. The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? and they that held the 27410law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me: and the 27411prophets prophesied in Baal, and followed idols. 27412 274132:9. Therefore will I yet contend in judgment with you, saith the Lord, 27414and I will plead with your children. 27415 274162:10. Pass over to the isles of Cethim, and see: and send into Cedar, 27417and consider diligently: and see if there hath been done any thing like 27418this. 27419 274202:11. If a nation hath changed their gods, and indeed they are not 27421gods: but my people have changed their glory into an idol. 27422 274232:12. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and ye gates thereof, be 27424very desolate, saith the Lord. 27425 274262:13. For my people have done two evils. They have forsaken me, the 27427fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, 27428broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 27429 274302:14. Is Israel a bondman, or a homeborn slave? why then is he become a 27431prey? 27432 274332:15. The lions have roared upon him, and have made a noise, they have 27434made his land a wilderness: his cities are burnt down, and there is 27435none to dwell in them. 27436 274372:16. The children also of Memphis, and of Taphnes have defloured thee, 27438even to the crown of the head. 27439 274402:17. Hath not this been done to thee, because thou hast forsaken the 27441Lord thy God at that time, when he led thee by the way? 27442 274432:18. And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the 27444troubled water? And what hast thou to do with the way of the Assyrians, 27445to drink the water of the river? 27446 274472:19. Thy own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy apostasy shall 27448rebuke thee. Know thou, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing 27449for thee, to have left the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not with 27450thee, saith the Lord the God of hosts. 27451 274522:20. Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, 27453and thou saidst: I will not serve. For on every high hill, and under 27454every green tree thou didst prostitute thyself. 27455 274562:21. Yet, I planted thee a chosen vineyard, all true seed: how then 27457art thou turned unto me into that which is good for nothing, O strange 27458vineyard? 27459 274602:22. Though thou wash thyself with nitre, and multiply to thyself the 27461herb borith, thou art stained in thy iniquity before me, saith the Lord 27462God. 27463 27464Borith. . .An herb used to clean clothes, and take out spots and dirt. 27465 274662:23. How canst thou say: I am not polluted, I have not walked after 27467Baalim? see thy ways in the valley, know what thou hast done: as a 27468swift runner pursuing his course. 27469 274702:24. A wild ass accustomed to the wilderness in the desire of his 27471heart, snuffed up the wind of his love: none shall turn her away: all 27472that seek her shall not fail: in her monthly filth they shall find her. 27473 274742:25. Keep thy foot from being bare, and thy throat from thirst. But 27475thou saidst: I have lost all hope, I will not do it: for I have loved 27476strangers, and I will walk after them. 27477 274782:26. As the thief is confounded when he is taken, so is the house of 27479Israel confounded, they and their kings, their princes and their 27480priests, and their prophets. 27481 274822:27. Saying to a stock: Thou art my father: and to a stone: Thou hast 27483begotten me: they have turned their back to me, and not their face: and 27484in the time of their affliction they will say: Arise, and deliver us. 27485 274862:28. Where are the gods, whom thou hast made thee? let them arise and 27487deliver thee in the time of thy affliction: for according to the number 27488of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda. 27489 274902:29. Why will you contend with me in judgment? you have all forsaken 27491me, saith the Lord. 27492 274932:30. In vain have I struck your children, they have not received 27494correction: your sword hath devoured your prophets, your generation is 27495like a ravaging lion. 27496 274972:31. See ye the word of the Lord: Am I become a wilderness to Israel, 27498or a lateward springing land? why then have my people said: We are 27499revolted, we will come to thee no more? 27500 275012:32. Will a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her stomacher? but 27502my people hath forgotten me days without number. 27503 275042:33. Why dost thou endeavour to shew thy way good to seek my love, 27505thou who hast also taught thy malices to be thy ways, 27506 275072:34. And in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor and 27508innocent? not in ditches have I found them, but in all places, which I 27509mentioned before. 27510 275112:35. And thou hast said: I am without sin and am innocent: and 27512therefore let thy anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend 27513with thee in judgment, because thou hast said: I have not sinned. 27514 275152:36. How exceeding base art thou become, going the same ways over 27516again! and thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of 27517Assyria. 27518 275192:37. For from thence thou shalt go, and thy hand shall be upon thy 27520head: for the Lord hath destroyed thy trust, and thou shalt have 27521nothing prosperous therein. 27522 27523 27524 27525Jeremias Chapter 3 27526 27527 27528God invites the rebel Jews to return to him, with a promise to receive 27529them: he foretells the conversion of the Gentiles. 27530 275313:1. It is commonly said: If a man put away his wife, and she go from 27532him, and marry another man, shall he return to her any more? shall not 27533that woman be polluted, and defiled? but thou hast prostituted thyself 27534to many lovers: nevertheless return to me, saith the Lord, and I will 27535receive thee. 27536 275373:2. Lift up thy eyes on high: and see where thou hast not prostituted 27538thyself: thou didst sit in the ways, waiting for them as a robber in 27539the wilderness: and thou hast polluted the land with thy fornications, 27540and with thy wickedness. 27541 275423:3. Therefore the showers were withholden, and there was no lateward 27543rain: thou hadst a harlot's forehead, thou wouldst not blush. 27544 275453:4. Therefore at the least from this time call to me: Thou art my 27546father, the guide of my virginity: 27547 275483:5. Wilt thou be angry for ever, or wilt thou continue unto the end? 27549Behold, thou hast spoken, and hast done evil things, and hast been 27550able. 27551 275523:6. And the Lord said to me in the days of king Josias: Hast thou seen 27553what rebellious Israel hath done? she hath gone of herself upon every 27554high mountain, and under every green tree, and hath played the harlot 27555there. 27556 275573:7. And when she had done all these things, I said: Return to me, and 27558she did not return. And her treacherous sister Juda saw, 27559 275603:8. That because the rebellious Israel had played the harlot, I had 27561put her away, and given her a bill of divorce: yet her treacherous 27562sister Juda was not afraid, but went and played the harlot also 27563herself. 27564 275653:9. And by the facility of her fornication she defiled the land, and 27566played the harlot with stones and with stocks. 27567 275683:10. And after all this, her treacherous sister Juda hath not returned 27569to me with her whole heart, but with falsehood, saith the Lord. 27570 275713:11. And the Lord said to me: The rebellious Israel hath justified her 27572soul, in comparison of the treacherous Juda. 27573 275743:12. Go, and proclaim these words towards the north, and thou shalt 27575say: Return, O rebellious Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not turn 27576away my face from you: for I am holy, saith the Lord, and I will not be 27577angry for ever. 27578 275793:13. But yet acknowledge thy iniquity, that thou hast transgressed 27580against the Lord thy God: and thou hast scattered thy ways to strangers 27581under every green tree, and hast not heard my voice, saith the Lord. 27582 275833:14. Return, O ye revolting children, saith the Lord: for I am your I 27584husband: and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a kindred, and 27585will bring you into Sion. 27586 275873:15. And I will give you pastors according to my own heart, and they 27588shall feed you with knowledge and doctrine. 27589 275903:16. And when you shall be multiplied, and increase in the land in 27591those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more: The ark of the 27592covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come upon the heart, neither 27593shall they remember it, neither shall it be visited, neither shall that 27594be done any more. 27595 275963:17. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord: 27597and all the nations shall be gathered together to it, in the name of 27598the Lord to Jerusalem, and they shall not walk after the perversity of 27599their most wicked heart. 27600 276013:18. In those days the house of Juda shall go to the house of Israel, 27602and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land 27603which I gave to your fathers. 27604 276053:19. But I said: How shall I put thee among the children, and give 27606thee a lovely land, the goodly inheritance of the armies of the 27607Gentiles? And I said: Thou shalt call me father and shalt not cease to 27608walk after me. 27609 276103:20. But as a woman that despiseth her lover, so hath the house of 27611Israel despised me, saith the Lord. 27612 276133:21. A voice was heard in the highways, weeping and howling of the 27614children of Israel: because they have made their way wicked, they have 27615forgotten the Lord their God. 27616 276173:22. Return, you rebellious children, and I will heal your rebellions. 27618Behold we come to thee: for thou art the Lord our God. 27619 276203:23. In very deed the hills were liars, and the multitude of the 27621mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 27622 276233:24. Confusion hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth, 27624their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 27625 276263:25. We shall sleep in our confusion, and our shame shall cover us, 27627because we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers 27628from our youth even to this day, and we have not hearkened to the voice 27629of the Lord our God. 27630 27631 27632 27633Jeremias Chapter 4 27634 27635 27636And admonition to sincere repentance, and circumcision of the heart, 27637with threats of grievous punishment to those that persist in sin. 27638 276394:1. If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return to me: if 27640thou wilt take away thy stumblingblocks out of my sight, thou shalt not 27641be moved. 27642 276434:2. And thou shalt swear: As the Lord liveth, in truth, and in 27644judgment, and in justice: and the Gentiles shall bless him, and shall 27645praise him. 27646 276474:3. For thus saith the Lord to the men of Juda and Jerusalem: Break up 27648anew your fallow ground, and sow not upon thorns: 27649 276504:4. Be circumcised to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your 27651hearts, ye men of Juda, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my 27652indignation come forth like fire, and burn, and there be none that can 27653quench it because of the wickedness of your thoughts. 27654 276554:5. Declare ye in Juda, and make it heard in Jerusalem: speak, and 27656sound with the trumpet in the land: cry aloud, and say: Assemble 27657yourselves, and let us go into strong cities. 27658 276594:6. Set up the standard in Sion. Strengthen yourselves, stay not: for 27660I bring evil from the north, and great destruction. 27661 276624:7. The lion is come up out of his den, and the robber of nations hath 27663roused himself: he is come forth out of his place, to make thy land 27664desolate: thy cities shall be laid waste, remaining without an 27665inhabitant. 27666 276674:8. For this gird yourselves with haircloth, lament and howl: for the 27668fierce anger of the Lord is not turned away from us. 27669 276704:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord: That the 27671heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes: and the 27672priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall be amazed. 27673 276744:10. And I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, hast thou then deceived 27675this people and Jerusalem, saying: You shall have peace: and behold the 27676sword reacheth even to the soul? 27677 276784:11. At that time it shall be said to this people, and to Jerusalem: A 27679burning wind is in the ways that are in the desert of the way of the 27680daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse. 27681 276824:12. A full wind from these places shall come to me: and now I will 27683speak my judgments with them. 27684 276854:13. Behold he shall come up as a cloud, and his chariots as a 27686tempest: his horses are swifter than eagles: woe unto us, for we are 27687laid waste. 27688 276894:14. Wash thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou mayst be 27690saved: how long shall hurtful thoughts abide in thee? 27691 276924:15. For a voice of one declaring from Dan, and giving notice of the 27693idol from mount Ephraim. 27694 276954:16. Say ye to the nations: Behold it is heard in Jerusalem, that 27696guards are coming from a far country, and give out their voice against 27697the cities of Juda. 27698 276994:17. They are set round about her, as keepers of fields: because she 27700hath provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord. 27701 277024:18. Thy ways, and thy devices have brought these things upon thee: 27703this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it hath touched 27704thy heart. 27705 277064:19. My bowels, my bowels are in part, the senses of my heart are 27707troubled within me, I will not hold my peace, for my soul hath heard 27708the sound of the trumpet, the cry of battle. 27709 277104:20. Destruction upon destruction is called for, and all the earth is 27711laid waste: my tents are destroyed on a sudden, and my pavilions in a 27712moment. 27713 277144:21. How long shall I see men fleeing away, how long shall I hear the 27715sound of the trumpet? 27716 277174:22. For my foolish people have not known me: they are foolish and 27718senseless children: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have 27719no knowledge. 27720 277214:23. I beheld the earth, and lo it was void, and nothing: and the 27722heavens, and there was no light in them. 27723 277244:24. I looked upon the mountains, and behold they trembled: and all 27725the hills were troubled. 27726 277274:25. I beheld, and lo there was no man: and all the birds of the air 27728were gone. 27729 277304:26. I looked, and behold Carmel was a wilderness: and all its cities 27731were destroyed at the presence of the Lord, and at the presence of the 27732wrath of his indignation. 27733 277344:27. For thus saith the Lord: All the land shall be desolate, but yet 27735I will not utterly destroy. 27736 277374:28. The Earth shall mourn, and the heavens shall lament from above: 27738because I have spoken, I have purposed, and I have not repented, 27739neither am I turned away from it. 27740 277414:29. At the voice of the horsemen, and the archers, all the city is 27742fled away: they have entered into thickets and climbed up the rocks: 27743all the cities are forsaken, and there dwelleth not a man in them. 27744 277454:30. But when thou art spoiled what wilt thou do? though thou clothest 27746thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, 27747and paintest thy eyes with stibic stone, thou shalt dress thyself out 27748in vain: thy lovers have despised thee, they will seek thy life. 27749 277504:31. For I have heard the voice as of a woman in travail, anguishes as 27751of a woman in labour of a child. The voice of the daughter of Sion, 27752dying away, spreading her hands: Woe is me, for my soul hath fainted 27753because of them that are slain. 27754 27755 27756 27757Jeremias Chapter 5 27758 27759 27760The judgments of God shall fall upon the Jews for their manifold sins. 27761 277625:1. Go about through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, and consider, 27763and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man that 27764executeth judgment, and seeketh faith: and I will be merciful unto it. 27765 277665:2. And though they say: The Lord liveth; this also they will swear 27767falsely. 27768 277695:3. O Lord, thy eyes are upon truth: thou hast struck them, and they 27770have not grieved: thou hast bruised them, and they have refused to 27771receive correction: they have made their faces harder than the rock, 27772and they have refused to return. 27773 277745:4. But I said: Perhaps these are poor and foolish, that know not the 27775way of the Lord, the judgment of their God. 27776 277775:5. I will go therefore to the great men, and will speak to them: for 27778they have known the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God: and 27779behold these have altogether broken the yoke more, and have burst the 27780bonds. 27781 277825:6. Wherefore a lion out of the wood hath slain them, a wolf in the 27783evening hath spoiled them, a leopard watcheth for their cities: every 27784one that shall go out thence shall be taken, because their 27785transgressions are multiplied, their rebellions are strengthened. 27786 277875:7. How can I be merciful to thee? thy children have forsaken me, and 27788swear by them that are not gods: I fed them to the full, and they 27789committed adultery, and rioted in the harlot's house. 27790 277915:8. They are become as amorous horses and stallions: every one neighed 27792after his neighbour's wife. 27793 277945:9. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? and shall not 27795my soul take revenge on such a nation? 27796 277975:10. Scale the walls thereof, and throw them down, but do not utterly 27798destroy: take away the branches thereof, because they are not the 27799Lord's. 27800 278015:11. For the house of Israel, and the house of Juda have greatly 27802transgressed against me, saith the Lord. 27803 278045:12. They have denied the Lord, and said, It is not he: and the evil 27805shall not come upon us: we shall not see the sword and famine. 27806 278075:13. The prophets have spoken in the wind, and there was no word of 27808God in them: these things therefore shall befall them. 27809 278105:14. Thus saith the Lord the God of hosts: because you have spoken 27811this word, behold I will make my words in thy mouth as fire, and this 27812people as wood, and it shall devour them. 27813 278145:15. Behold I will bring upon you a nation from afar, O house of 27815Israel, saith the Lord: a strong nation, an ancient nation, a nation 27816whose language thou shalt not know, nor understand what they say. 27817 278185:16. Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all valiant. 27819 278205:17. And they shall eat up thy corn, and thy bread: they shall devour 27821thy sons, and thy daughters: they shall eat up thy flocks, and thy 27822herds: they shall eat thy vineyards, and thy figs: and with the sword 27823they shall destroy thy strong cities, wherein thou trustest. 27824 278255:18. Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not bring you 27826to utter destruction. 27827 278285:19. And if you shall say: Why hath the Lord our God done all these 27829things to us? thou shalt say to them: As you have forsaken me, and 27830served a strange god in your own land, so shall you serve strangers in 27831a land that is not your own. 27832 278335:20. Declare ye this to the house of Jacob, and publish it in Juda, 27834saying: 27835 278365:21. Hear, O foolish people, and without understanding: who have eyes, 27837and see not: and ears, and hear not. 27838 278395:22. Will not you then fear me, saith the Lord: and will you not 27840repent at my presence? I have set the sand a bound for the sea, an 27841everlasting ordinance, which it shall not pass over: and the waves 27842thereof shall toss themselves, and shall not prevail: they shall swell, 27843and shall not pass over it. 27844 278455:23. But the heart of this people is become hard of belief and 27846provoking, they are revolted and gone away. 27847 278485:24. And they have not said in their heart: Let us fear the Lord our 27849God, who giveth us the early and the latter rain in due season: who 27850preserveth for us the fulness of the yearly harvest. 27851 278525:25. Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have 27853withholden good things from you. 27854 278555:26. For among my people are found wicked men, that lie in wait as 27856fowlers, setting snares and traps to catch men. 27857 278585:27. As a net is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit: 27859therefore are they become great and enriched. 27860 278615:28. They are grown gross and fat: and have most wickedly transgressed 27862my words. They have not judged the cause of the widow, they have not 27863managed the cause of the fatherless, and they have not judged the 27864judgment of the poor. 27865 278665:29. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? or shall not 27867my soul take revenge on such a nation? 27868 278695:30. Astonishing and wonderful things have been done in the land. 27870 278715:31. The prophets prophesied falsehood, and the priests clapped their 27872hands: and my people loved such things: what then shall be done in the 27873end thereof? 27874 27875 27876 27877Jeremias Chapter 6 27878 27879 27880The evils that threaten Jerusalem. She is invited to return, and walk 27881in the good way, and not to rely on sacrifices without obedience. 27882 278836:1. Strengthen yourselves, ye sons of Benjamin, in the midst of 27884Jerusalem, and sound the trumpet in Thecua, and set up the standard 27885over Bethacarem: for evil is seen out of the north, and a great 27886destruction. 27887 278886:2. I have likened the daughter of Sion to a beautiful and delicate 27889woman. 27890 278916:3. The shepherds shall come to her with their flocks: they have 27892pitched their tents against her round about: every one shall feed them 27893that are under his hand. 27894 278956:4. Prepare ye war against her: arise, and let us go up at midday: woe 27896unto us, for the day is declined, for the shadows of the evening are 27897grown longer. 27898 278996:5. Arise, and let us go up in the night, and destroy her houses. 27900 279016:6. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hew down her trees, cast up a 27902trench about Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited, all oppression 27903is in the midst of her. 27904 279056:7. As a cistern maketh its water cold, so hath she made her 27906wickedness cold: violence and spoil shall be heard in her, infirmity 27907and stripes are continually before me. 27908 279096:8. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee, 27910lest I make thee desolate, a land uninhabited. 27911 279126:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: They shall gather the remains of 27913Israel, as in a vine, even to one cluster: turn back thy hand, as a 27914grapegatherer into the basket. 27915 279166:10. To whom shall I speak? and to whom shall I testify, that he may 27917hear? behold, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear: 27918behold the word of the Lord is become unto them a reproach: and they 27919will not receive it. 27920 279216:11. Therefore am I full of the fury of the Lord, I am weary with 27922holding in: pour it out upon the child abroad, and upon the council of 27923the young men together: for man and woman shall be taken, the ancient 27924and he that is full of days. 27925 279266:12. And their houses shall be turned over to others, with their lands 27927and their wives together: for I will stretch forth my hand upon the 27928inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord. 27929 279306:13. For from the least of them even to the greatest, all are given to 27931covetousness: and from the prophet even to the priest, all are guilty 27932of deceit. 27933 279346:14. And they healed the breach of the daughter of my people 27935disgracefully, saying: Peace, peace: and there was no peace. 27936 279376:15. They were confounded, because they committed abomination: yea, 27938rather they were not confounded with confusion, and they knew not how 27939to blush: wherefore they shall fall among them that fall: in the time 27940of their visitation they shall fall down, saith the Lord. 27941 279426:16. Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see, and ask for 27943the old paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall 27944find refreshment for your souls. And they said: We will not walk. 27945 279466:17. And I appointed watchmen over you, saying: Hearken ye to the 27947sound of the trumpet. And they said: We will not hearken. 27948 279496:18. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what great 27950things I will do to them. 27951 279526:19. Hear, O earth: Behold I will bring evils upon this people, the 27953fruits of their own thoughts: because they have not heard my words, and 27954they have cast away my law. 27955 279566:20. To what purpose do you bring me frankincense from Saba, and the 27957sweet smelling cane from a far country? your holocausts are not 27958acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me. 27959 279606:21. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring destruction 27961upon this people, by which fathers and sons together shall fall, 27962neighbour and kinsman shall perish. 27963 279646:22. Thus saith the Lord: Behold a people cometh from the land of the 27965north, and a great nation shall rise up from the ends of the earth. 27966 279676:23. They shall lay hold on arrow and shield: they are cruel, and will 27968have no mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea: and they shall 27969mount upon horses, prepared as men for war, against thee, O daughter of 27970Sion. 27971 279726:24. We have heard the fame thereof, our hands grow feeble: anguish 27973hath taken hold of us, as a woman in labour. 27974 279756:25. Go not out into the fields, nor walk in the highway: for the 27976sword of the enemy, and fear is on every side. 27977 279786:26. Gird thee with sackcloth, O daughter of my people, and sprinkle 27979thee with ashes: make thee mourning as for an only son, a bitter 27980lamentation, because the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us. 27981 279826:27. I have set thee for a strong trier among my people: and thou 27983shalt know, and prove their way. 27984 279856:28. All these princes go out of the way, they walk deceitfully, they 27986are brass and iron: they are all corrupted. 27987 279886:29. The bellows have failed, the lead is consumed in the fire, the 27989founder hath melted in vain: for their wicked deeds are not consumed. 27990 279916:30. Call them reprobate silver, for the Lord hath rejected them. 27992 27993 27994 27995Jeremias Chapter 7 27996 27997 27998The temple of God shall not protect a sinful people, without a sincere 27999conversion. The Lord will not receive the prayers of the prophet for 28000them: because they are obstinate in their sins. 28001 280027:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: 28003 280047:2. Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord, and proclaim there 28005this word, and say: Hear ye the word of the Lord, all ye men of Juda, 28006that enter in at these gates, to adore the Lord. 28007 280087:3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Make your ways and 28009your doings good: and I will dwell with you in this place. 28010 280117:4. Trust not in lying words, saying: The temple of the Lord, the 28012temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. 28013 280147:5. For if you will order well your ways, and your doings: if you will 28015execute judgment between a man and his neighbour, 28016 280177:6. If you oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, 28018and shed not innocent blood in this place, and walk not after strange 28019gods to your own hurt, 28020 280217:7. I will dwell with you in this place: in the land, which I gave to 28022your fathers from the beginning and for evermore. 28023 280247:8. Behold you put your trust in lying words, which shall not profit 28025you: 28026 280277:9. To steal, to murder, to commit adultery, to swear falsely, to 28028offer to Baalim, and to go after strange gods, which you know not. 28029 280307:10. And you have come, and stood before me in this house, in which my 28031name is called upon, and have said: We are delivered, because we have 28032done all these abominations. 28033 280347:11. Is this house then, in which my name hath been called upon, in 28035your eyes become a den of robbers? I, I am he: I have seen it, saith 28036the Lord. 28037 280387:12. Go ye to my place in Silo, where my name dwelt from the 28039beginning: and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people 28040Israel: 28041 280427:13. And now, because you have done all these works, saith the Lord: 28043and I have spoken to you rising up early, and speaking, and you have 28044not heard: and I have called you, and you have not answered: 28045 280467:14. I will do to this house, in which my name is called upon, and in 28047which you trust, and to the place which I have given you and your 28048fathers, as I did to Silo. 28049 280507:15. And I will cast you away from before my face, as I have cast away 28051all your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim. 28052 280537:16. Therefore do not thou pray for this people, nor take to thee 28054praise and supplication for them: and do not withstand me: for I will 28055not hear thee. 28056 280577:17. Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Juda, and in the 28058streets of Jerusalem? 28059 280607:18. The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and 28061the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to 28062offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke me to anger. 28063 28064Queen of heaven. . .That is, the moon, which they worshipped under that 28065name. 28066 280677:19. Do they provoke me to anger, saith the Lord? is it not 28068themselves, to the confusion of their own countenance? 28069 280707:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold my wrath and my 28071indignation is enkindled against this place, upon men and upon beasts, 28072and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruits of the land, and 28073it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. 28074 280757:21. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Add your burnt 28076offerings to your sacrifices, and eat ye the flesh. 28077 280787:22. For I spoke not to your fathers, and I commanded them not, in the 28079day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning the matter 28080of burnt offerings and sacrifices. 28081 28082I commanded them not. . .Viz., such sacrifices as the Jews at this time 28083offered, without obedience; which was the thing principally commanded: 28084so that in comparison with it, the offering of the holocausts and 28085sacrifices was of small account. 28086 280877:23. But this thing I commanded them, saying: Hearken to my voice, and 28088I will be your God, and you shall be my people: and walk ye in all the 28089way that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. 28090 280917:24. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear: but walked in 28092their own will, and in the perversity of their wicked heart: and went 28093backward and not forward, 28094 280957:25. From the day that their fathers came out of the land of Egypt, 28096even to this day. And I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, 28097from day to day, rising up early and sending. 28098 280997:26. And they have not hearkened to me: nor inclined their ear: but 28100have hardened their neck, and have done worse than their fathers. 28101 281027:27. And thou shalt speak to them all these words, but they will not 28103hearken to thee: and thou shalt call them, but they will not answer 28104thee. 28105 281067:28. And thou shalt say to them: This is a nation which hath not 28107hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, nor received instruction: 28108faith is lost, and is taken away out of their mouth. 28109 281107:29. Cut off thy hair, and cast it away: and take up a lamentation on 28111high: for the Lord hath rejected, and forsaken the generation of his 28112wrath, 28113 281147:30. Because the children of Juda have done evil in my eyes, saith the 28115Lord. They have set their abominations in the house in which my name is 28116called upon, to pollute it; 28117 281187:31. And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the 28119valley of the son of Ennom, to burn their sons, and their daughters in 28120the fire: which I commanded not, nor thought on in my heart. 28121 281227:32. Therefore behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and it 28123shall no more be called Topheth, nor the valley of the son of Ennom: 28124but the valley of slaughter: and they shall bury in Topheth, because 28125there is no place. 28126 281277:33. And the carcasses of this people shall be meat for the fowls of 28128the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and there shall be none to 28129drive them away. 28130 281317:34. And I will cause to cease out of the cities of Juda, and out of 28132the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, 28133the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride: for the land 28134shall be desolate. 28135 28136 28137 28138Jeremias Chapter 8 28139 28140 28141Other evils that shall fall upon the Jews for their impenitence. 28142 281438:1. At that time, saith the Lord, they shall cast out the bones of the 28144kings of Juda, and the bones of the princes thereof, and the bones of 28145the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the 28146inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. 28147 281488:2. And they shall spread them abroad to the sun, and the moon, and 28149all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have 28150served, and after whom have walked, and whom they have sought, and 28151adored: they shall not be gathered, and they shall not be buried: they 28152shall be as dung upon the face of the earth. 28153 281548:3. And death shall be chosen rather than life by all that shall 28155remain of this wicked kindred in all places, which are left, to which I 28156have cast them out, saith the Lord of hosts. 28157 281588:4. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Shall not he that 28159falleth, rise again? and he that is turned away, shall he not turn 28160again? 28161 281628:5. Why then is this people in Jerusalem turned away with a stubborn 28163revolting? they have laid hold on lying, and have refused to return. 28164 281658:6. I attended, and hearkened; no man speaketh what is good, there is 28166none that doth penance for his sin, saying: What have I done? They are 28167all turned to their own course, as a horse rushing to the battle. 28168 281698:7. The kite in the air hath known her time: the turtle, and the 28170swallow, and the stork have observed the time of their coming: but my 28171people have not known the judgment of the Lord. 28172 281738:8. How do you say: We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? 28174Indeed the lying pens of the scribes hath wrought falsehood. 28175 281768:9. The wise men are confounded, they are dismayed, and taken: for 28177they have cast away the word of the Lord, and there is no wisdom in 28178them. 28179 281808:10. Therefore will I give their women to strangers, their fields to 28181others for an inheritance: because from the least even to the greatest 28182all follow covetousness: from the prophet even to the priest all deal 28183deceitfully. 28184 281858:11. And they healed the breach of the daughter of my people 28186disgracefully, saying: Peace, peace: when there was no peace. 28187 281888:12. They are confounded, because they have committed abomination: yea 28189rather they are not confounded with confusion, and they have not known 28190how to blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall; in the 28191time of their visitation they shall fall, saith the Lord. 28192 281938:13. Gathering I will gather them together, saith the Lord, there is 28194no grape on the vines, and there are no figs on the fig tree, the leaf 28195is fallen: and I have given them the things that are passed away. 28196 281978:14. Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into 28198the fenced city, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath 28199put us to silence, and hath given us water of gall to drink: for we 28200have sinned against the Lord. 28201 282028:15. We looked for peace and no good came: for a time of healing, and 28203behold fear. 28204 282058:16. The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan, all the land was 28206moved at the sound of the neighing of his warriors: and they came and 28207devoured the land, and all that was in it: the city and its 28208inhabitants. 28209 282108:17. For behold I will send among you serpents, basilisks, against 28211which there is no charm: and they shall bite you, saith the Lord. 28212 282138:18. My sorrow is above sorrow, my heart mourneth within me. 28214 282158:19. Behold the voice of the daughter of my people from a far country: 28216Is not the Lord in Sion, or is not her king in her? why then have they 28217provoked me to wrath with their idols, and strange vanities? 28218 282198:20. The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 28220 282218:21. For the affliction of the daughter of my people I am afflicted, 28222and made sorrowful, astonishment hath taken hold on me. 28223 282248:22. Is there no balm in Galaad? or is there no physician there? Why 28225then is not the wound of the daughter of my people closed? 28226 28227 28228 28229Jeremias Chapter 9 28230 28231 28232The prophet laments the miseries of his people: and their sins, which 28233are the cause of them. He exhorts them to repentance. 28234 282359:1. Who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my 28236eyes? and I will weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my 28237people. 28238 282399:2. Who will give me in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring 28240men, and I will leave my people, and depart from them? because they are 28241all adulterers, an assembly of transgressors. 28242 282439:3. And they have bent their tongue, as a bow, for lies, and not for 28244truth: they have strengthened themselves upon the earth, for they have 28245proceeded from evil to evil, and me they have not known, saith the 28246Lord. 28247 282489:4. Let every man take heed of his neighbour, and let him not trust in 28249any brother of his: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every 28250friend will walk deceitfully. 28251 282529:5. And a man shall mock his brother, and they will not speak the 28253truth: for they have taught their tongue to speak lies: they have 28254laboured to commit iniquity. 28255 282569:6. Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit: through deceit they have 28257refused to know me, saith the Lord. 28258 282599:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will melt, and 28260try them: for what else shall I do before the daughter of my people? 28261 282629:8. Their tongue is a piercing arrow, it hath spoken deceit: with his 28263mouth one speaketh peace with his friend, and secretly he lieth in wait 28264for him. 28265 282669:9. Shall I not visit them for these things, saith the Lord? or shall 28267not my soul be revenged on such a nation? 28268 282699:10. For the mountains I will take up weeping and lamentation, and for 28270the beautiful places of the desert, mourning: because they are burnt 28271up, for that there is not a man that passeth through them: and they 28272have not heard the voice of the owner: from the fowl of the air to the 28273beasts they are gone away and departed. 28274 282759:11. And I will make Jerusalem to be heaps of sand, and dens of 28276dragons: and I will make the cities of Juda desolate, for want of an 28277inhabitant. 28278 282799:12. Who is the wise man, that may understand this, and to whom the 28280word of the mouth of the Lord may come that he may declare this, why 28281the land hath perished, and is burnt up like a wilderness, which none 28282passeth through? 28283 282849:13. And the Lord said: Because they have forsaken my law, which I 28285gave them, and have not heard my voice, and have not walked in it. 28286 282879:14. But they have gone after the perverseness of their own heart, and 28288after Baalim, which their fathers taught them. 28289 282909:15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold 28291I will feed this people with wormwood, and give them water of gall to 28292drink. 28293 282949:16. And I will scatter them among the nations, which they and their 28295fathers have not known: and I will send the sword after them till they 28296be consumed. 28297 282989:17. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Consider ye, and 28299call for the mourning women, and let them come: and send to them that 28300are wise women, and let them make haste: 28301 283029:18. Let them hasten and take up a lamentation for us: let our eyes 28303shed tears, and our eyelids run down with waters. 28304 283059:19. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Sion: How are we wasted 28306and greatly confounded? because we have left the land, because our 28307dwellings are cast down. 28308 283099:20. Hear therefore, ye women, the word of the Lord: and let your ears 28310receive the word of his mouth: and teach your daughters wailing: and 28311every one her neighbour mourning. 28312 283139:21. For death is come up through our windows, it is entered into our 28314houses to destroy the children from without, the young men from the 28315streets. 28316 283179:22. Speak: Thus saith the Lord: Even the carcass of man shall fall as 28318dung upon the face of the country, and as grass behind the back of the 28319mower, and there is none to gather it. 28320 283219:23. Thus saith the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, 28322and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich 28323man glory in his riches: 28324 283259:24. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth 28326and knoweth me, for I am the Lord that exercise mercy, and judgment, 28327and justice in the earth: for these things please me, saith the Lord. 28328 283299:25. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, and I will visit upon 28330every one that hath the foreskin circumcised. 28331 283329:26. Upon Egypt, and upon Juda, and upon Edom, and upon the children 28333of Ammon, and upon Moab, and upon all that have their hair polled 28334round, that dwell in the desert: for all the nations are uncircumcised 28335in the flesh, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the 28336heart. 28337 28338 28339 28340Jeremias Chapter 10 28341 28342 28343Neither stars nor idols are to be feared, but the great Creator of all 28344things. The chastisement of Jerusalem for her sins. 28345 2834610:1. Hear ye the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O 28347house of Israel. 28348 2834910:2. Thus saith the Lord: Learn not according to the ways of the 28350Gentiles: and be not afraid of the signs of heaven, which the heathens 28351fear: 28352 2835310:3. For the laws of the people are vain: for the works of the hand of 28354the workman hath cut a tree out of the forest with an axe. 28355 2835610:4. He hath decked it with silver and gold: he hath put it together 28357with nails and hammers, that it may not fall asunder. 28358 2835910:5. They are framed after the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not 28360speak: they must be carried to be removed, because they cannot go. 28361Therefore fear them not, for they can neither do evil nor good. 28362 2836310:6. There is none like to thee, O Lord: thou art great, and great is 28364thy name in might. 28365 2836610:7. Who shall not fear thee, O king of nations? for thine is the 28367glory: among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms 28368there is none like unto thee. 28369 2837010:8. They shall be all proved together to be senseless and foolish: 28371the doctrine of their vanity is wood. 28372 2837310:9. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tharsis, and gold from 28374Ophaz: the work of the artificer, and of the hand of the coppersmith: 28375violet and purple is their clothing: all these things are the work of 28376artificers. 28377 2837810:10. But the Lord is the true God: he is the living God, and the 28379everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations 28380shall not be able to abide his threatening. 28381 2838210:11. Thus then shall you say to them: The gods that have not made 28383heaven and earth, let them perish from the earth, and from among those 28384places that are under heaven. 28385 2838610:12. He that maketh the earth by his power, that prepareth the world 28387by his wisdom, and stretcheth out the heavens by his knowledge. 28388 2838910:13. At his voice he giveth a multitude of waters in the heaven, and 28390lifteth up the clouds from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings 28391for rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 28392 2839310:14. Every man is become a fool for knowledge, every artist is 28394confounded in his graven idol: for what he hath cast is false, and 28395there is no spirit in them. 28396 2839710:15. They are vain things, and a ridiculous work: in the time of 28398their visitation they shall perish. 28399 2840010:16. The portion of Jacob is not like these: for it is he who formed 28401all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hosts 28402is his name. 28403 2840410:17. Gather up thy shame out of the land, thou that dwellest in a 28405siege. 28406 2840710:18. For thus saith he Lord: Behold I will cast away far off the 28408inhabitants of the land at this time: and I will afflict them, so that 28409they may be found. 28410 2841110:19. Woe is me for my destruction, my wound is very grievous. But I 28412said: Truly this is my own evil, and I will bear it. 28413 2841410:20. My tabernacle is laid waste, all my cords are broken: my 28415children are gone out from me, and they are not: there is none to 28416stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. 28417 2841810:21. Because the pastors have done foolishly, and have not sought the 28419Lord: therefore have they not understood, and all their flock is 28420scattered. 28421 2842210:22. Behold the sound of a noise cometh, a great commotion out of the 28423land of the north: to make the cities of Juda a desert, and a dwelling 28424for dragons. 28425 2842610:23. I know, O Lord, that the way of a man is not his: neither is it 28427in a man to walk, and to direct his steps. 28428 28429The way of a man is not his. . .The meaning is, that notwithstanding 28430man's free will, yet he can do no good without God's help, nor evil 28431without his permission. So that, in the present case, all the evils 28432which Nabuchodonosor was about to bring upon Jerusalem, could not have 28433come but by the will of God. 28434 2843510:24. Correct me, O Lord, but yet with judgment: and not in thy fury, 28436lest thou bring me to nothing. 28437 2843810:25. Pour out thy indignation upon the nations that have not known 28439thee, and upon the provinces that have not called upon thy name: 28440because they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, 28441and have destroyed his glory. 28442 28443 28444 28445Jeremias Chapter 11 28446 28447 28448The prophet proclaims the covenant of God: and denounces evils to the 28449obstinate transgressors of it. The conspiracy of the Jews against him, 28450a figure of their conspiracy against Christ. 28451 2845211:1. The word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, saying: 28453 2845411:2. Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Juda, 28455and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 28456 2845711:3. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord the God of 28458Israel: Cursed is the man that shall not hearken to the words of this 28459covenant, 28460 2846111:4. Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out 28462of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying: Hear ye my voice, 28463and do all things that I command you: and you shall be my people, and I 28464will be your God: 28465 2846611:5. That I may accomplish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to 28467give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. And I 28468answered and said: Amen, O Lord. 28469 2847011:6. And the Lord said to me: Proclaim aloud all these words in the 28471cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear ye the 28472words of the covenant, and do them: 28473 2847411:7. For protesting I conjured your fathers in the day that I brought 28475them out of the land of Egypt even to this day: rising early I conjured 28476them, and said: Hearken ye to my voice: 28477 2847811:8. And they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear: but walked every one 28479in the perverseness of his own wicked heart: and I brought upon them 28480all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they 28481did them not. 28482 2848311:9. And the Lord said to me: A conspiracy is found among the men of 28484Juda, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 28485 2848611:10. They are returned to the former iniquities of their fathers, who 28487refused to hear my words: so these likewise have gone after strange 28488gods, to serve them: the house of Israel, and the house of Juda have 28489made void my covenant, which I made with their fathers. 28490 2849111:11. Wherefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring in evils upon 28492them, which they shall not be able to escape: and they shall cry to me, 28493and I will not hearken to them. 28494 2849511:12. And the cities of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall 28496go, and cry to the gods to whom they offer sacrifice, and they shall 28497not save them in the time of their affliction. 28498 2849911:13. For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda: 28500and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem thou hast set 28501up altars of confusion, altars to offer sacrifice to Baalim. 28502 2850311:14. Therefore do not thou pray for this people, and do not take up 28504praise and prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time of 28505their cry to me, in the time of their affliction. 28506 2850711:15. What is the meaning that my beloved hath wrought much wickedness 28508in my house? shall the holy flesh take away from thee thy crimes, in 28509which thou hast boasted? 28510 2851111:16. The Lord called thy name, a plentiful olive tree, fair, 28512fruitful, and beautiful: at the noise of a word, a great fire was 28513kindled in it, and the branches thereof are burnt. 28514 2851511:17. And the Lord of hosts that planted thee, hath pronounced evil 28516against thee: for the evils of the house of Israel, and of the house of 28517Juda, which they have done to themselves, to provoke me, offering 28518sacrifice to Baalim. 28519 2852011:18. But thou, O Lord, hast shewn me, and I have known: then thou 28521shewedst me their doings. 28522 2852311:19. And I was as a meek lamb, that is carried to be a victim: and I 28524knew not that they had devised counsels against me, saying: Let us put 28525wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of the living, and let 28526his name be remembered no more. 28527 2852811:20. But thou, O Lord of Sabaoth, who judgest justly, and triest the 28529reins and the hearts, let me see thy revenge on them: for to thee have 28530I revealed my cause. 28531 28532Sabaoth. . .That is, of hosts or armies, a name frequently given to God 28533in the scriptures.--Ibid. Thy revenge. . .This was rather a prediction 28534of what was to happen, with an approbation of the divine justice, than an 28535imprecation. 28536 2853711:21. Therefore thus saith the Lord to the men of Anathoth, who seek 28538thy life, and say: Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of the Lord, and 28539thou shalt not die in our hands. 28540 2854111:22. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will visit upon 28542them: their young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their 28543daughters shall die by famine. 28544 2854511:23. And there shall be no remains of them: for I will bring in evil 28546upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their visitation. 28547 28548 28549 28550Jeremias Chapter 12 28551 28552 28553The prosperity of the wicked shall be but for a short time. The 28554desolation of the Jews for their sins. Their return from their 28555captivity. 28556 2855712:1. Thou indeed, O Lord, art just, if I plead with thee, but yet I 28558will speak what is just to thee: Why doth the way of the wicked 28559prosper: why is it well with all them that transgress, and do wickedly? 28560 2856112:2. Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root: they prosper 28562and bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their 28563reins. 28564 2856512:3. And thou, O Lord, hast known me, thou hast seen me, and proved my 28566heart with thee: gather them together as for the day of slaughter. 28567 2856812:4. How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither 28569for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The beasts and the birds 28570are consumed: because they have said: He shall not see our last end. 28571 2857212:5. If thou hast been wearied with running with footmen, how canst 28573thou contend with horses? and if thou hast been secure in a land of 28574peace, what wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan? 28575 2857612:6. For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they 28577have fought against thee, and have cried after thee with full voice: 28578believe them not when they speak good things to thee. 28579 2858012:7. I have forsaken my house, I have left my inheritance: I have 28581given my dear soul into the hand of her enemies. 28582 2858312:8. My inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: it hath 28584cried out against me, therefore have I hated it. 28585 2858612:9. Is my inheritance to me as a speckled bird? is it as a bird dyed 28587throughout? come ye, assemble yourselves, all ye beasts of the earth, 28588make haste to devour. 28589 2859012:10. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my 28591portion under foot: they have changed my delightful portion into a 28592desolate wilderness. 28593 2859412:11. They have laid it waste, and it hath mourned for me. With 28595desolation is all the land made desolate; because there is none that 28596considereth in the heart. 28597 2859812:12. The spoilers are come upon all the ways of the wilderness, for 28599the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land to the 28600other end thereof: there is no peace for all flesh. 28601 2860212:13. They have sown wheat, and reaped thorns: they have received an 28603inheritance, and it shall not profit them: you shall be ashamed of your 28604fruits, because of the fierce wrath of the Lord. 28605 2860612:14. Thus saith the Lord against all wicked neighbours, that touch 28607the inheritance that I have shared out to my people Israel: Behold I 28608will pluck them out of their land, and I will pluck the house of Juda 28609out of the midst of them. 28610 2861112:15. And when I shall have plucked them out, I will return, and have 28612mercy on them: and will bring them back, every man to his inheritance, 28613and every man into his land. 28614 2861512:16. And it shall come to pass, if they will be taught, and will 28616learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name: The Lord liveth, as 28617they have taught my people to swear by Baal: that they shall be built 28618up in the midst of my people. 28619 2862012:17. But if they will not hear, I will utterly pluck out and destroy 28621that nation, saith the Lord. 28622 28623 28624 28625Jeremias Chapter 13 28626 28627 28628Under the figure of a linen girdle is foretold the destruction of the 28629Jews. Their obstinacy in sin brings all miseries upon them. 28630 2863113:1. Thus saith the Lord to me: Go, and get thee a linen girdle, and 28632thou shalt put it about thy loins, and shalt not put it into water. 28633 2863413:2. And I got a girdle according to the word of the Lord, and put it 28635about my loins. 28636 2863713:3. And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying: 28638 2863913:4. Take the girdle which thou hast got, which is about thy loins, 28640and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the 28641rock. 28642 2864313:5. And I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord had 28644commanded me. 28645 2864613:6. And it came to pass after many days, that the Lord said to me: 28647Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from thence the girdle, which I 28648commanded thee to hide there. 28649 2865013:7. And I went to the Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle out 28651of the place where I had hid it and behold the girdle was rotten, so 28652that it was fit for no use. 28653 2865413:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 28655 2865613:9. Thus saith the Lord: After this manner will I make the pride of 28657Juda, and the great pride of Jerusalem to rot. 28658 2865913:10. This wicked people, that will not hear my words, and that walk 28660in the perverseness of their heart, and have gone after strange gods to 28661serve them, and to adore them: and they shall be as this girdle ,which 28662is fit for no use. 28663 2866413:11. For as the girdle sticketh close to the loins of a man, so have 28665I brought close to me all the house of Israel, and all the house of 28666Juda, saith the Lord: that they might be my people, and for a name, and 28667for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. 28668 2866913:12. Thou shalt speak therefore to them this word: Thus saith the 28670Lord the God of Israel: Every bottle shall be filled with wine. And 28671they shall say to thee: Do we not know that every bottle shall be 28672filled with wine? 28673 2867413:13. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will 28675fill all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings of the race of 28676David that sit upon his throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and 28677all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. 28678 2867913:14. And I will scatter them every man from his brother, and fathers 28680and sons in like manner, saith the Lord: I will not spare, and I will 28681not pardon: nor will I have mercy, but to destroy them. 28682 2868313:15. Hear ye, and give ear: Be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken. 28684 2868513:16. Give ye glory to the Lord your God, before it be dark, and 28686before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains: you shall look for 28687light, and he will turn it into the shadow of death, and into darkness. 28688 2868913:17. But if you will not hear this, my soul shall weep in secret for 28690your pride: weeping it shall weep, and my eyes shall run down with 28691tears, because the flock of the Lord is carried away captive. 28692 2869313:18. Say to the king, and to the queen: Humble yourselves, sit down: 28694for the crown of your glory is come down from your head. 28695 2869613:19. The cities of the south are shut up, and there is none to open 28697them: all Juda is carried away captive with an entire captivity. 28698 2869913:20. Lift up your eyes, and see, you that come from the north: where 28700is the flock that is given thee, thy beautiful cattle? 28701 2870213:21. What wilt thou say when he shall visit thee? for thou hast 28703taught them against thee, and instructed them against thy own head: 28704shall not sorrows lay hold on thee, as a woman in labour? 28705 2870613:22. And if thou shalt say in thy heart: Why are these things come 28707upon me? For the greatness of thy iniquity, thy nakedness is 28708discovered, the soles of thy feet are defiled. 28709 2871013:23. If the Ethiopian can change his skin, or the leopard his spots: 28711you also may do well, when you have learned evil. 28712 2871313:24. And I will scatter them as stubble, which is carried away by the 28714wind in the desert. 28715 2871613:25. This is thy lot, and the portion of thy measure from me, saith 28717the Lord, because thou hast forgotten me, and hast trusted in 28718falsehood. 28719 2872013:26. Wherefore I have also bared thy thighs against thy face, and thy 28721shame hath appeared. 28722 2872313:27. I have seen thy adulteries, and thy neighing, the wickedness of 28724thy fornication: and thy abominations, upon the hills in the field. Woe 28725to thee, Jerusalem, wilt thou not be made clean after me: how long yet? 28726 28727 28728 28729Jeremias Chapter 14 28730 28731 28732A grievous famine: and the prophet's prayer on that occasion. Evils 28733denounced to false prophets. The prophet mourns for his people. 28734 2873514:1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias concerning the words 28736of the drought. 28737 2873814:2. Judea hath mourned, and the gates thereof are fallen, and are 28739become obscure on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. 28740 2874114:3. The great ones sent their inferiors to the water: they came to 28742draw, they found no water, they carried back their vessels empty: they 28743were confounded and afflicted, and covered their heads. 28744 2874514:4. For the destruction of the land, because there came no rain upon 28746the earth, the husbandman were confounded, they covered their heads. 28747 2874814:5. Yea, the hind also brought forth in the field, and left it, 28749because there was no grass. 28750 2875114:6. And the wild asses stood upon the rocks, they snuffed up the wind 28752like dragons, their eyes failed, because there was no grass. 28753 2875414:7. If our iniquities have testified against us, O Lord, do thou it 28755for thy name's sake, for our rebellions are many, we have sinned 28756against thee. 28757 2875814:8. O expectation of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble: 28759why wilt thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man 28760turning in to lodge? 28761 2876214:9. Why wilt thou be as a wandering man, as a mighty man that cannot 28763save? but thou, O Lord, art among us, and thy name is called upon by 28764us, forsake us not. 28765 2876614:10. Thus saith the Lord to this people, that have loved to move 28767their feet, and have not rested, and have not pleased the Lord: He will 28768now remember their iniquities, and visit their sins. 28769 2877014:11. And the Lord said to me: Pray not for this people for their 28771good. 28772 2877314:12. When they fast I will not hear their prayers: and if they offer 28774holocausts and victims, I will not receive them: for I will consume 28775them by the sword, and by famine, and by the pestilence. 28776 2877714:13. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God, the prophets say to them: 28778You shall not see the sword, and there shall be no famine among you, 28779but he will give you true peace in this place. 28780 2878114:14. And the Lord said to me: The prophets prophesy falsely in my 28782name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, nor have I spoken 28783to them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination and 28784deceit, and the seduction of their own heart. 28785 2878614:15. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that 28787prophesy in my name, whom I did not send, that say: Sword and famine 28788shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be 28789consumed. 28790 2879114:16. And the people to whom they prophesy, shall be cast out in the 28792streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and there 28793shall be none to bury them: they and their wives, their sons and their 28794daughters, and I will pour out their own wickedness upon them. 28795 2879614:17. And thou shalt speak this word to them: Let my eyes shed down 28797tears night and day, and let them not cease, because the virgin 28798daughter of my people is afflicted with a great affliction, with an 28799exceeding grievous evil. 28800 2880114:18. If I go forth into the fields, behold the slain with the sword: 28802and if I enter into the city, behold them that are consumed with 28803famine. The prophet also and the priest are gone into a land which they 28804knew not. 28805 2880614:19. Hast thou utterly cast away Juda, or hath thy soul abhorred 28807Sion? why then hast thou struck us, so that there is no healing for us? 28808we have looked for peace, and there is no good: and for the time of 28809healing, and behold trouble. 28810 2881114:20. We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, the iniquities of our 28812fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 28813 2881414:21. Give us not to be a reproach, for thy name's sake, and do not 28815disgrace in us the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy 28816covenant with us. 28817 2881814:22. Are there any among the graven things of the Gentiles that can 28819send rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou the Lord our 28820God, whom we have looked for? for thou hast made all these things. 28821 28822 28823 28824Jeremias Chapter 15 28825 28826 28827God is determined to punish the Jews for their sins. The prophet's 28828complaint, and God's promise to him. 28829 2883015:1. And the Lord said to me: If Moses and Samuel shall stand before 28831me, my soul is not towards this people: cast them out from my sight, 28832and let them go forth. 28833 2883415:2. And if they shall say unto thee: Whither shall we go forth? thou 28835shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Such as are for death, to 28836death: and such as are for the sword, to the sword: and such as are for 28837famine, to famine: and such as are for captivity, to captivity. 28838 2883915:3. And I will visit them with four kinds, saith the Lord: The sword 28840to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts 28841of the earth, to devour and to destroy. 28842 2884315:4. And I will give them up to the rage of all the kingdoms of the 28844earth: because of Manasses the son of Ezechias the king of Juda, for 28845all that he did in Jerusalem. 28846 2884715:5. For who shall have pity on thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan 28848thee? or who shall go to pray for thy peace? 28849 2885015:6. Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward: 28851and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will destroy thee: I 28852am weary of entreating thee. 28853 2885415:7. And I will scatter them with a fan in the gates of the land: I 28855have killed and destroyed my people, and yet they are not returned from 28856their ways. 28857 2885815:8. Their widows are multiplied unto me above the sand of the sea: I 28859have brought upon them against the mother of the young man a spoiler at 28860noonday: I have cast a terror on a sudden upon the cities. 28861 2886215:9. She that hath borne seven is become weak, her soul hath fainted 28863away: her sun is gone down, while it was yet day: she is confounded, 28864and ashamed: and the residue of them I will give up to the sword in the 28865sight of their enemies, saith the Lord. 28866 2886715:10. Woe is me, my mother: why hast thou borne me a man of strife, a 28868man of contention to all the earth? I have not lent on usury, neither 28869hath any man lent to me on usury: yet all curse me. 28870 2887115:11. The Lord saith to me: Assuredly it shall be well with thy 28872remnant, assuredly I shall help thee in the time of affliction, and in 28873the time of tribulation against the enemy. 28874 2887515:12. Shall iron be allied with the iron from the north, and the 28876brass? 28877 28878Shall iron be allied, etc. . .Shall the iron, that is, the strength of 28879Juda, stand against the stronger iron of the north, that is, of 28880Babylon: or enter into an alliance upon equal footing with it? No 28881certainly: but it must be broken by it. 28882 2888315:13. Thy riches and thy treasures I will give unto spoil for nothing, 28884because of all thy sins, even in all thy borders. 28885 2888615:14. And I will bring thy enemies out of a land, which thou knowest 28887not: for a fire is kindled in my rage, it shall burn upon you. 28888 2888915:15. O Lord, thou knowest, remember me, and visit me, and defend me 28890from them that persecute me, do not defend me in thy patience: know 28891that for thy sake I have suffered reproach. 28892 28893Do not defend me in thy patience. . .That is, let not thy patience and 28894longsuffering, which thou usest towards sinners, keep thee from making 28895haste to my assistance. 28896 2889715:16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was to me 28898a joy and gladness of my heart: for thy name is called upon me, O Lord 28899God of hosts. 28900 2890115:17. I sat not in the assembly of jesters, nor did I make a boast of 28902the presence of thy hand: I sat alone, because thou hast filled me with 28903threats. 28904 2890515:18. Why is my sorrow become perpetual, and my wound desperate so as 28906to refuse to be healed? it is become to me as the falsehood of 28907deceitful waters that cannot be trusted. 28908 2890915:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord: If thou wilt be converted, I will 28910convert thee, and thou shalt stand before my face; and thou wilt 28911separate the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they 28912shall be turned to thee, and thou shalt not be turned to them. 28913 2891415:20. And I will make thee to this people as a strong wall of brass: 28915and they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with 28916thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 28917 2891815:21. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I 28919will redeem thee out of the hand of the mighty. 28920 28921 28922 28923Jeremias Chapter 16 28924 28925 28926The prophet is forbid to marry. The Jews shall be utterly ruined for 28927their idolatry: but shall at length be released from their captivity, 28928and the Gentiles shall be converted. 28929 2893016:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 28931 2893216:2. Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons and 28933daughters in this place. 28934 2893516:3. For thus saith the Lord concerning the sons and daughters, that 28936are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bore them: 28937and concerning their fathers, of whom they were born in this land: 28938 2893916:4. They shall die by the death of grievous illnesses: they shall not 28940be lamented, and they shall not be buried, they shall be as dung upon 28941the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed with the sword, and 28942with famine: and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of the 28943air, and for the beasts of the earth. 28944 2894516:5. For thus saith the Lord: Enter not into the house of feasting, 28946neither go thou to mourn, nor to comfort them: because I have taken 28947away my peace from this people, saith the Lord, my mercy and 28948commiserations. 28949 2895016:6. Both the great and the little shall die in this land: they shall 28951not be buried nor lamented, and men shall not cut themselves, nor make 28952themselves bald for them. 28953 2895416:7. And they shall not break bread among them to him that mourneth, 28955to comfort him for the dead: neither shall they give them for their 28956father and mother. 28957 2895816:8. And do not thou go into the house of feasting, to sit with them, 28959and to eat and drink: 28960 2896116:9. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold I 28962will take away out of this place in your sight, and in your days the 28963voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, 28964and the voice of the bride. 28965 2896616:10. And when thou shalt tell this people all these words, and they 28967shall say to thee: Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced against us all 28968this great evil? what is our iniquity? and what is our sin, that we 28969have sinned against the Lord our God? 28970 2897116:11. Thou shalt say to them: Because your fathers forsook me, saith 28972the Lord: and went after strange gods, and served them, and adored 28973them: and they forsook me, and kept not my law. 28974 2897516:12. And you also have done worse than your fathers: for behold every 28976one of you walketh after the perverseness of his evil heart, so as not 28977to hearken to me. 28978 2897916:13. So I will cast you forth out of this land, into a land which you 28980know not, nor your fathers: and there you shall serve strange gods day 28981and night, which shall not give you any rest. 28982 2898316:14. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, when it shall be 28984said no more: The Lord liveth, that brought forth the children of 28985Israel out of the land of Egypt. 28986 2898716:15. But, The Lord liveth, that brought the children of Israel out of 28988the land of the north, and out of all the lands to which I cast them 28989out: and I will bring them again into their land, which I gave to their 28990fathers. 28991 2899216:16. Behold I will send many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall 28993fish them: and after this I will send them many hunters, and they shall 28994hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill and out of the holes 28995of the rocks. 28996 2899716:17. For my eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my 28998face, and their iniquity hath not been hid from my eyes. 28999 2900016:18. And I will repay first their double iniquities, and their sins: 29001because they have defiled my land with the carcasses of their idols, 29002and they have filled my inheritance with their abominations. 29003 2900416:19. O Lord, my might, and my strength, and my refuge in the day of 29005tribulation: to thee the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the 29006earth, and shall say: Surely our fathers have possessed lies, a vanity 29007which hath not profited them. 29008 2900916:20. Shall a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods? 29010 2901116:21. Therefore behold I will this once cause them to know, I will 29012shew them my hand and my power: and they shall know that my name is the 29013Lord. 29014 29015 29016 29017Jeremias Chapter 17 29018 29019 29020For their obstinacy in sin the Jews shall be led captive. He is cursed 29021that trusteth in flesh. God alone searcheth the heart, giving to every 29022one as he deserves. The prophet prayeth to be delivered from his 29023enemies, and preacheth up the observance of the sabbath. 29024 2902517:1. The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of 29026a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns 29027of their altars. 29028 2902917:2. When their children shall remember their altars, and their 29030groves, and their green trees upon the high mountains, 29031 2903217:3. Sacrificing in the field: I will give thy strength, and all thy 29033treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin in all thy borders. 29034 2903517:4. And thou shalt be left stripped of thy inheritance, which I gave 29036thee: and I will make thee serve thy enemies in a land which thou 29037knowest not: because thou hast kindled a fire in my wrath, it shall 29038burn for ever. 29039 2904017:5. Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and 29041maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 29042 2904317:6. For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see 29044when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a 29045salt land, and not inhabited. 29046 29047Tamaric. . .A barren shrub that grows in the driest parts of the 29048wilderness. 29049 2905017:7. Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall 29051be his confidence. 29052 2905317:8. And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that 29054spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when 29055the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time 29056of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any 29057time to bring forth fruit. 29058 2905917:9. The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can 29060know it? 29061 2906217:10. I am the Lord who search the heart, and prove the reins: who 29063give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of 29064his devices. 29065 2906617:11. As the partridge hath hatched eggs which she did not lay: so is 29067he that hath gathered riches, and not by right: in the midst of his 29068days he shall leave them, and in his latter end he shall be a fool. 29069 2907017:12. A high and glorious throne from the beginning is the place of 29071our sanctification. 29072 2907317:13. O Lord, the hope of Israel: all that forsake thee shall be 29074confounded: they that depart from thee, shall be written in the earth: 29075because they have forsaken the Lord, the vein of living waters. 29076 2907717:14. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be 29078saved: for thou art my praise. 29079 2908017:15. Behold they say to me: Where is the word of the Lord? let it 29081come. 29082 2908317:16. And I am not troubled, following thee for my pastor, and I have 29084not desired the day of man, thou knowest. That which went out of my 29085lips, hath been right in thy sight. 29086 2908717:17. Be not thou a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of 29088affliction. 29089 2909017:18. Let them be confounded that persecute me, and let not me be 29091confounded: let them be afraid, and let not me be afraid: bring upon 29092them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction, destroy 29093them. 29094 29095Let them be confounded, etc. . .Such expressions as these in the 29096writings of the prophets, are not to be understood as imprecations 29097proceeding from malice or desire of revenge: but as prophetic 29098predictions of evils that were about to fall upon impenitent sinners, 29099and approbations of the ways of divine justice. 29100 2910117:19. Thus saith the Lord to me: Go, and stand in the gate of the 29102children of the people, by which the kings of Juda come in, and go out, 29103and in all the gates of Jerusalem: 29104 2910517:20. And thou shalt say to them: Hear the word of the Lord, ye kings 29106of Juda, and al Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter 29107in by these gates. 29108 2910917:21. Thus saith the Lord: Take heed to your souls, and carry no 29110burdens on the sabbath day: and bring them not in by the gates of 29111Jerusalem. 29112 2911317:22. And do not bring burdens out of your houses on the sabbath day, 29114neither do ye any work: sanctify the sabbath day, as I commanded your 29115fathers. 29116 2911717:23. But they did not hear, nor incline their ear: but hardened their 29118neck, that they might not hear me, and might not receive instruction. 29119 2912017:24. And it shall come to pass: if you will hearken to me, saith the 29121Lord, to bring in no burdens by the gates of this city on the sabbath 29122day: and if you will sanctify the sabbath day, to do no work therein: 29123 2912417:25. Then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and 29125princes, sitting upon the throne of David, and riding in chariots and 29126on horses, they and their princes, the men of Juda, and the inhabitants 29127of Jerusalem: and this city shall be inhabited for ever. 29128 2912917:26. And they shall come from the cities of Juda, and from the places 29130round about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the 29131plains, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing 29132holocausts, and victims, and sacrifices, and frankincense, and they 29133shall bring in an offering into the house of the Lord. 29134 2913517:27. But if you will not hearken to me, to sanctify the sabbath day, 29136and not to carry burdens, and not to bring them in by the gates of 29137Jerusalem on the sabbath day: I will kindle a fire in the gates 29138thereof, and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not 29139be quenched. 29140 29141 29142 29143Jeremias Chapter 18 29144 29145 29146As the clay in the hand of the potter, so is Israel in God's hand. He 29147pardoneth penitents, and punisheth the obstinate. They conspire against 29148Jeremias, for which he denounceth to them the miseries that hang over 29149them. 29150 2915118:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: 29152 2915318:2. Arise, and go down into the potter's house, and there thou shalt 29154hear my words. 29155 2915618:3. And I went down into the potter's house, and behold he was doing 29157a work on the wheel. 29158 2915918:4. And the vessel was broken which he was making of clay with his 29160hands: and turning he made another vessel, as it seemed good in his 29161eyes to make it. 29162 2916318:5. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 29164 2916518:6. Cannot I do with you, as this potter, O house of Israel, saith 29166the Lord? behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my 29167hand, O house of Israel. 29168 2916918:7. I will suddenly speak against a nation, and against a kingdom, to 29170root out, and to pull down, and to destroy it. 29171 2917218:8. If that nation against which I have spoken, shall repent of their 29173evil, I also will repent of the evil that I have thought to do to them. 29174 2917518:9. And I will suddenly speak of a nation and of a kingdom, to build 29176up and plant it. 29177 2917818:10. If it shall do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice: I 29179will repent of the good that I have spoken to do unto it. 29180 2918118:11. Now therefore tell the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of 29182Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I frame evil against 29183you, and devise a device against you: let every man of you return from 29184his evil way, and make ye your ways and your doings good. 29185 2918618:12. And they said; We have no hopes: for we will go after our own 29187thoughts, and we will do every one according to the perverseness of his 29188evil heart. 29189 2919018:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Ask among the nations: Who hath 29191heard such horrible things, as the virgin of Israel hath done to 29192excess? 29193 2919418:14. Shall the snow of Libanus fail from the rock of the field? or 29195can the cold waters that gush out and run down, be taken away? 29196 2919718:15. Because my people have forgotten me, sacrificing in vain, and 29198stumbling in their ways, in ancient paths, to walk by them in a way not 29199trodden: 29200 2920118:16. That their land might be given up to desolation, and to a 29202perpetual hissing: every one that shall pass by it, shall be 29203astonished, and wag his head. 29204 2920518:17. As a burning wind will I scatter them before the enemy: I will 29206shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their destruction. 29207 2920818:18. And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: 29209for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the 29210wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with 29211the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words. 29212 2921318:19. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. 29214 2921518:20. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit 29216for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for 29217them, and to turn away thy indignation from them. 29218 29219Remember, etc. . .This is spoken in the person of Christ, persecuted by 29220the Jews, and prophetically denouncing the evils that should fall upon 29221them in punishment of their crimes. 29222 2922318:21. Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them 29224into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children 29225and widows: and let their husbands be slain by death: let their young 29226men be stabbed with the sword in battle. 29227 2922818:22. Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the 29229robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, 29230and have hid snares for my feet. 29231 2923218:23. But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto 29233death: not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from 29234thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy 29235wrath do thou destroy them. 29236 29237 29238 29239Jeremias Chapter 19 29240 29241 29242Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, the prophet foresheweth 29243the desolation of the Jews for their sins. 29244 2924519:1. Thus saith the Lord: Go, and take a potter's earthen bottle, and 29246take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests: 29247 2924819:2. And go forth into the valley of the son of Ennom, which is by the 29249entry of the earthen gate: and there thou shalt proclaim the words that 29250I shall tell thee. 29251 2925219:3. And thou shalt say: Hear the word of the Lord, O ye kings of 29253Juda, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, 29254the God of Israel: Behold I will bring an affliction upon this place: 29255so that whosoever shall hear it, his ears shall tingle: 29256 2925719:4. Because they have forsaken me, and have profaned this place : and 29258have sacrificed therein to strange gods, whom neither they nor their 29259fathers knew, nor the kings of Juda: and they have filled this place 29260with the blood of innocents. 29261 2926219:5. And they have built the high places of Baalim, to burn their 29263children with fire for a holocaust to Baalim: which I did not command, 29264nor speak of, neither did it once come into my mind. 29265 2926619:6. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, that this place 29267shall no more be called Topheth, nor the valley of the son of Ennom, 29268but the valley of slaughter. 29269 2927019:7. And I will defeat the counsel of Juda and of Jerusalem in this 29271place: and I will destroy them with the sword in the sight of their 29272enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and I will 29273give their carcasses to be meat for the fowls of the air, and for the 29274beasts of the earth. 29275 2927619:8. And I will make this city an astonishment, and a hissing: every 29277one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss because 29278of all the plagues thereof. 29279 2928019:9. And I will feed them with the flesh of their sons, and with the 29281flesh of their daughters: and they shall eat every one the flesh of his 29282friend in the siege, and in the distress wherewith their enemies, and 29283they that seek their lives, shall straiten them. 29284 2928519:10. And thou shalt break the bottle in the sight of the men that 29286shall go with thee. 29287 2928819:11. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Even 29289so will I break this people, and this city, as the potter's vessel is 29290broken, which cannot be made whole again: and they shall be buried in 29291Topheth, because there is no other place to bury in. 29292 2929319:12. Thus will I do to this place, saith the Lord, and to the 29294inhabitants thereof: and I will make this city as Topheth. 29295 2929619:13. And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Juda 29297shall be unclean as the place of Topheth: all the houses upon whose 29298roofs they have sacrificed to all the host of heaven, and have poured 29299out drink offerings to strange gods. 29300 2930119:14. Then Jeremias came from Topheth, whither the Lord had sent him 29302to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the house of the Lord, and 29303said to all the people: 29304 2930519:15. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold I will 29306bring in upon this city, and upon all the cities thereof all the evils 29307that I have spoken against it: because they have hardened their necks, 29308that they might not hear my words. 29309 29310 29311 29312Jeremias Chapter 20 29313 29314 29315The prophet is persecuted: he denounces captivity to his persecutors, 29316and bemoans himself. 29317 2931820:1. Now Phassur the son of Emmer, the priest, who was appointed chief 29319in the house of the Lord, heard Jeremias prophesying these words. 29320 2932120:2. And Phassur struck Jeremias the prophet, and put him in the 29322stocks, that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, in the house of the 29323Lord. 29324 2932520:3. And when it was light the next day, Phassur brought Jeremias out 29326of the stocks. And Jeremias said to him: The Lord hath not called thy 29327name Phassur, but fear on every side. 29328 29329Phassur. . .This name signifies increase and principality: and therefore 29330is here changed to Magor-Missabib, or fear on every side: to denote the 29331evils that should come upon him in punishment of his opposing the word 29332of God. 29333 2933420:4. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will deliver thee up to fear, 29335thee and all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their 29336enemies, and thy eyes shall see it, and I will give all Juda into the 29337hand of the king of Babylon: and he shall carry them away to Babylon, 29338and shall strike them with the sword. 29339 2934020:5. And I will give all the substance of this city, and all its 29341labour, and every precious thing thereof, and all the treasures of the 29342kings of Juda will I give into the hands of their enemies: and they 29343shall pillage them, and take them away, and carry them to Babylon. 29344 2934520:6. But thou Phassur, and all that dwell in thy house, shall go into 29346captivity, and thou shalt go to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and 29347there thou shalt be buried, thou and all thy friends, to whom thou hast 29348prophesied a lie. 29349 2935020:7. Thou hast deceived me, O Lord, and I am deceived: thou hast been 29351stronger than I, and thou hast prevailed. I am become a laughingstock 29352all the day, all scoff at me. 29353 29354Thou hast deceived, etc. . .The meaning of the prophet, is not to charge 29355God with any untruth; but what he calls deceiving, was only the 29356concealing from him, when he accepted of the prophetical commission, 29357the greatness of the evils which the execution of that commission was 29358to bring upon him. 29359 2936020:8. For I am speaking now this long time, crying out against 29361iniquity, and I often proclaim devastation: and the word of the Lord is 29362made a reproach to me, and a derision all the day. 29363 2936420:9. Then I said: I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more 29365in his name: and there came in my heart as a burning fire, shut up in 29366my bones, and I was wearied, not being able to bear it. 29367 2936820:10. For I heard the reproaches of many, and terror on every side: 29369Persecute him, and let us persecute him: from all the men that were my 29370familiars, and continued at my side: if by any means he may be 29371deceived, and we may prevail against him, and be revenged on him. 29372 2937320:11. But the Lord is with me as a strong warrior: therefore they that 29374persecute me shall fall, and shall be weak: they shall be greatly 29375confounded, because they have not understood the everlasting reproach, 29376which never shall be effaced. 29377 2937820:12. And thou, O Lord of hosts, prover of the just, who seest the 29379reins and the heart: let me see, I beseech thee, thy vengeance on them: 29380for to thee I have laid open my cause. 29381 29382Let me see, etc. . .This prayer proceeded not from hatred or ill will, 29383but zeal of justice. 29384 2938520:13. Sing ye to the Lord, praise the Lord: because he hath delivered 29386the soul of the poor out of the hand of the wicked. 29387 2938820:14. Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day in which 29389my mother bore me, be blessed. 29390 29391Cursed be the day, etc. . .In these, and the following words of the 29392prophet, there is a certain figure of speech to express with more 29393energy the greatness of the evils to which his birth had exposed him. 29394 2939520:15. Cursed be the man that brought the tidings to my father, saying: 29396A man child is born to thee: and made him greatly rejoice. 29397 2939820:16. Let that man be as the cities which the Lord hath overthrown, 29399and hath not repented: let him hear a cry in the morning, and howling 29400at noontide: 29401 2940220:17. Who slew me not from the womb, that my mother might have been my 29403grave, and her womb an everlasting conception. 29404 2940520:18. Why came I out of the womb, to see labour and sorrow, and that 29406my days should be spent in confusion? 29407 29408 29409 29410Jeremias Chapter 21 29411 29412 29413The prophet's answer to the messengers of Sedecias, when Jerusalem was 29414besieged. 29415 2941621:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, when king Sedecias 29417sent unto him Phassur, the son of Melchias, and Sophonias, the son of 29418Maasias the priest, saying: 29419 2942021:2. Inquire of the Lord for us, for Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon 29421maketh war against us: if so be the Lord will deal with us according to 29422all his wonderful works, that he may depart from us. 29423 2942421:3. And Jeremias said to them: Thus shall you say to Sedecias: 29425 2942621:4. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold I will turn back 29427the weapons of war that are in your hands, and with which you fight 29428against the king of Babylon, and the Chaldeans, that besiege you round 29429about the walls: and I will gather them together in the midst of this 29430city. 29431 2943221:5. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand, 29433and with a strong arm, and in fury, and in indignation, and in great 29434wrath. 29435 2943621:6. And I will strike the inhabitants of this city, men and beasts 29437shall die of a great pestilence. 29438 2943921:7. And after this, saith the Lord, I will give Sedecias the king of 29440Juda, and his servants, and his people, and such as are left in this 29441city from the pestilence, and the sword, and the famine, into the hand 29442of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and into the hand of their 29443enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and he shall 29444strike them with the edge of the sword, and he shall not be moved to 29445pity, nor spare them, nor shew mercy to them. 29446 2944721:8. And to this people thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I 29448set before you the way of life, and the way of death. 29449 2945021:9. He that shall abide in this city, shall die by the sword, and by 29451the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that shall go out and flee 29452over to the Chaldeans, that besiege you, shall live, and his life shall 29453be to him as a spoil. 29454 2945521:10. For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for 29456good, saith the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of 29457Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. 29458 2945921:11. And to the house of the king of Juda: Hear ye the word of the 29460Lord, 29461 2946221:12. O house of David, thus saith the Lord: Judge ye judgment in the 29463morning, and deliver him that is oppressed by violence out of the hand 29464of the oppressor: lest my indignation go forth like a fire, and be 29465kindled, and there be none to quench it, because of the evil of your 29466ways. 29467 2946821:13. Behold I come to thee that dwellest in a valley upon a rock 29469above a plain, saith the Lord: and you say: Who shall strike us and who 29470shall enter into our houses? 29471 29472To thee that dwellest, etc. . .He speaks to Jerusalem, confiding in the 29473strength of her situation upon rocks, surrounded with a deep valley. 29474 2947521:14. But I will visit upon you according to the fruit of your doings, 29476saith the Lord: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof: and it 29477shall devour all things round about it. 29478 29479 29480 29481Jeremias Chapter 22 29482 29483 29484An exhortation both to king and people to return of God. The sentence 29485of God upon Joachaz, Joakim, and Jechonias. 29486 2948722:1. Thus saith the Lord: Go down to the house of the king of Juda, 29488and there thou shalt speak this word, 29489 29490Go down, etc. . .The contents of this chapter are of a more ancient date 29491than those of the foregoing chapter: for the order of time is not 29492always observed in the writings of the prophets. 29493 2949422:2. And thou shalt say: Hear the word of the Lord, king of Juda, that 29495sittest upon the throne of David: thou and thy servants, and thy 29496people, who enter in by these gates. 29497 2949822:3. Thus saith the Lord: Execute judgment and justice, and deliver 29499him that is oppressed out of the hand of the oppressor: and afflict not 29500the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, nor oppress them unjustly: 29501and shed not innocent blood in this place. 29502 2950322:4. For if you will do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in 29504by the gates of this house, kings of the race of David sitting upon his 29505throne, and riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants, 29506and their people. 29507 2950822:5. But if you will not hearken to these words: I swear by myself, 29509saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation. 29510 2951122:6. For thus saith the Lord to the house of the king of Juda: Thou 29512art to me Galaad the head of Libanus: yet surely I will make thee a 29513wilderness, and cities not habitable. 29514 29515Galaad the head of Libanus. . .By Galaad, a rich and fruitful country, 29516is here signified the royal palace of the kings of the house of David: 29517by Libanus, a high mountain abounding in cedar trees, the populous city 29518of Jerusalem. 29519 2952022:7. And I will prepare against thee the destroyer and his weapons: 29521and they shall cut down thy chosen cedars, and shall cast them headlong 29522into the fire. 29523 29524Prepare. . .Literally, sanctify. 29525 2952622:8. And many nations shall pass by this city: and they shall say 29527every man to his neighbour: Why hath the Lord done so to this great 29528city? 29529 2953022:9. And they shall answer: Because they have forsaken the covenant of 29531the Lord their God, and have adored strange gods, and served them. 29532 2953322:10. Weep not for him that is dead, nor bemoan him with your tears: 29534lament him that goeth away, for he shall return no more, nor see his 29535native country. 29536 29537Weep not for him that is dead, etc. . .He means the good king Josias, 29538who by death was taken away, so as not to see the miseries of his 29539country.--Ibid. Him that goeth away. . .Viz., sellum, alias Joachaz, who 29540was carried captive into Egypt. 29541 2954222:11. For thus saith the Lord to Sellum the son of Josias the king of 29543Juda, who reigned instead of his father, who went forth out of this 29544place: He shall return hither no more: 29545 2954622:12. But in the place, to which I have removed him, there shall he 29547die, and he shall not see this land any more. 29548 2954922:13. Woe to him that buildeth up his house by injustice, and his 29550chambers not in judgment: that will oppress his friend without cause, 29551and will not pay him his wages. 29552 2955322:14. Who saith: I will build me a wide house, and large chambers: who 29554openeth to himself windows, and maketh roofs of cedar, and painteth 29555them with vermilion. 29556 2955722:15. Shalt thou reign, because thou comparest thyself to the cedar? 29558did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and it 29559was then well with him? 29560 2956122:16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy for his own good: was 29562it not therefore because he knew me, saith the Lord? 29563 2956422:17. But thy eyes and thy heart are set upon covetousness, and upon 29565shedding innocent blood, and upon oppression, and running after evil 29566works. 29567 2956822:18. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Joakim the son of 29569Josias king of Juda: They shall not mourn for him, Alas, my brother, 29570and, Alas, sister: they shall not lament for him, Alas, my lord, or, 29571Alas, the noble one. 29572 2957322:19. He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, rotten and cast 29574forth without the gates of Jerusalem. 29575 2957622:20. Go up to Libanus, and cry: and lift up thy voice in Basan, and 29577cry to them that pass by, for all thy lovers are destroyed. 29578 2957922:21. I spoke to thee in thy prosperity: and thou saidst: I will not 29580hear: this hath been thy way from thy youth, because thou hast not 29581heard my voice. 29582 2958322:22. The wind shall feed all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go 29584into captivity and then shalt thou be confounded, and ashamed of all 29585thy wickedness. 29586 2958722:23. Thou that sittest in Libanus, and makest thy nest in the cedars, 29588how hast thou mourned when sorrows came upon thee, as the pains of a 29589woman in labour? 29590 2959122:24. As I live, saith the Lord, if Jechonias the son of Joakim the 29592king of Juda were a ring on my right hand, I would pluck him thence. 29593 2959422:25. And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, 29595and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, and into the hand of 29596Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. 29597 2959822:26. And I will send thee, and thy mother that bore thee, into a 29599strange country, in which you were not born, and there you shall die: 29600 2960122:27. And they shall not return into the land, whereunto they lift up 29602their mind to return thither. 29603 2960422:28. Is this man Jechonias an earthen and a broken vessel? is he a 29605vessel wherein is no pleasure? why are they cast out, he and his seed, 29606and are cast into a land which they know not? 29607 2960822:29. O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. 29609 2961022:30. Thus saith the Lord: Write this man barren, a man that shall not 29611prosper in his days: for there shall not be a man of his seed that 29612shall sit upon the throne of David, and have power any more in Juda. 29613 29614Write this man barren. . .That is, childless: not that he had no 29615children, but that his children should never sit on the throne of Juda. 29616 29617 29618 29619Jeremias Chapter 23 29620 29621 29622God reproves evil governors; and promises to send good pastors; and 29623Christ himself the prince of the pastors. He inveighs against false 29624prophets preaching without being sent. 29625 2962623:1. Woe to the pastors, that destroy and tear the sheep of my 29627pasture, saith the Lord. 29628 2962923:2. Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the pastors 29630that feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, 29631and have not visited them: behold I will visit upon you for the evil of 29632your doings, saith the Lord. 29633 2963423:3. And I will gather together the remnant of my flock, out of all 29635the lands into which I have cast them out: and I will make them return 29636to their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied. 29637 2963823:4. And I will set up pastors over them, and they shall feed them: 29639they shall fear no more, and they shall not be dismayed: and none shall 29640be wanting of their number, saith the Lord. 29641 2964223:5. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will raise up to 29643David a just branch: and a king shall reign, and shall be wise: and 29644shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 29645 2964623:6. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Israel shall dwell 29647confidently: and this is the name that they shall call him: The Lord 29648our just one. 29649 2965023:7. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and they shall 29651say no more: The Lord liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out 29652of the land of Egypt: 29653 2965423:8. But, The Lord liveth, who hath brought out, and brought hither 29655the seed of the house of Israel from the land of the north, and out of 29656all the lands, to which I had cast them forth: and they shall dwell in 29657their own land. 29658 2965923:9. To the prophets: My heart is broken within me, all my bones 29660tremble: I am become as a drunken man, and as a man full of wine, at 29661the presence of the Lord, and at the presence of his holy words. 29662 2966323:10. Because the land is full of adulterers, because the land hath 29664mourned by reason of cursing, the fields of the desert are dried up: 29665and their course is become evil, and their strength unlike. 29666 2966723:11. For the prophet and the priest are defiled: and in my house I 29668have found their wickedness, saith the Lord. 29669 2967023:12. Therefore their way shall be as a slippery way in the dark: for 29671they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evils upon 29672them, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord. 29673 2967423:13. And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: they 29675prophesied in Baal and deceived my people Israel. 29676 2967723:14. And I have seen the likeness of adulterers, and the way of lying 29678in the prophets of Jerusalem: and they strengthened the hands of the 29679wicked, that no man should return from his evil doings, they are all 29680become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrha. 29681 2968223:15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts to the prophets: Behold I 29683will feed them with wormwood, and will give them gall to drink: for 29684from the prophets of Jerusalem corruption is gone forth into all the 29685land. 29686 2968723:16. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hearken not to the words of the 29688prophets that prophesy to you, and deceive you: they speak a vision of 29689their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 29690 2969123:17. They say to them that blaspheme me: The Lord hath said: You 29692shall have peace: and to every one that walketh in the perverseness of 29693his own heart, they have said: No evil shall come upon you. 29694 2969523:18. For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath seen and 29696heard his word? Who hath considered his word and heard it? 29697 2969823:19. Behold the whirlwind of the Lord's indignation shall come forth, 29699and a tempest shall break out and come upon the head of the wicked. 29700 2970123:20. The wrath of the Lord shall not return till he execute it, and 29702till he accomplish the thought of his heart: in the latter days you 29703shall understand his counsel. 29704 2970523:21. I did not send prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to 29706them, yet they prophesied. 29707 2970823:22. If they had stood in my counsel, and had made my words known to 29709my people, I should have turned them from their evil way, and from 29710their wicked doings. 29711 2971223:23. Am I, think ye, a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God 29713afar off? 29714 2971523:24. Shall a man be hid in secret places, and I not see him, saith 29716the Lord? do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord? 29717 2971823:25. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my 29719name, and say: I have dreamed, I have dreamed. 29720 2972123:26. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that 29722prophesy lies, and that prophesy the delusions of their own heart? 29723 2972423:27. Who seek to make my people forget my name through their dreams, 29725which they tell every man to his neighbour: as their fathers forgot my 29726name for Baal. 29727 2972823:28. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream: and he that 29729hath my word, let him speak my word with truth: what hath the chaff to 29730do with the wheat, saith the Lord? 29731 2973223:29. Are not my words as a fire, saith the Lord: and as a hammer that 29733breaketh the rock in pieces? 29734 2973523:30. Therefore behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord: who 29736steal my words every one from his neighbour. 29737 2973823:31. Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord: who use their 29739tongues, and say: The Lord saith it. 29740 2974123:32. Behold I am against the prophets that have lying dreams, saith 29742the Lord: and tell them, and cause my people to err by their lying, and 29743by their wonders: when I sent them not, nor commanded them, who have 29744not profited this people at all, saith the Lord. 29745 2974623:33. If therefore this people, or the prophet, or the priest shall 29747ask thee, saying: What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt say to 29748them: You are the burden: for I will cast you away, saith the Lord. 29749 2975023:34. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people that 29751shall say: The burden of the Lord: I will visit upon that man, and upon 29752his house. 29753 29754Burden of the Lord. . .This expression is here rejected and disallowed, 29755at least for those times: because it was then used in mockery and 29756contempt by the false prophets, and unbelieving people, who ridiculed 29757the repeated threats of Jeremias under the name of his burdens. 29758 2975923:35. Thus shall you say every one to his neighbour, and to his 29760brother, What hath the Lord answered? and what hath the Lord spoken? 29761 2976223:36. And the burden of the Lord shall be mentioned no more, for every 29763man's word shall be his burden: for you have perverted the words of the 29764living God, of the Lord of hosts our God. 29765 2976623:37. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet: What hath the Lord answered 29767thee? and what hath the Lord spoken? 29768 2976923:38. But if you shall say: The burden of the Lord: therefore thus 29770saith the Lord: Because you have said this word: The burden of the 29771Lord: and I have sent to you, saying: Say not, The burden of the Lord: 29772 2977323:39. Therefore behold I will take you away carrying you, and will 29774forsake you, and the city which I gave to you, and to your fathers, out 29775of my presence. 29776 29777Out of my presence. . .That is, the Lord declares that out of his 29778presence he will cast them, and bring them to captivity for their 29779transgressions. 29780 2978123:40. And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a 29782perpetual shame which shall never be forgotten. 29783 29784 29785 29786Jeremias Chapter 24 29787 29788 29789Under the type of good and bad figs, he foretells the restoration of 29790the Jews that had been carried away captive with Jechonias, and the 29791desolation of those that were left behind. 29792 2979324:1. The Lord shewed me: and behold two baskets full of figs, set 29794before the temple of the Lord: after that Nabuchodonosor king of 29795Babylon had carried away Jechonias the son of Joakim the king of Juda, 29796and his chief men, and the craftsmen, and engravers of Jerusalem, and 29797had brought them to Babylon. 29798 2979924:2. One basket had very good figs, like the figs of the first season: 29800and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, 29801because they were bad. 29802 2980324:3. And the Lord said to me: What seest thou, Jeremias? And I said: 29804Figs, the good figs, very good: and the bad figs, very bad, which 29805cannot be eaten because they are bad. 29806 2980724:4. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 29808 2980924:5. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so 29810will I regard the captives of Juda, whom I have sent forth out of this 29811place into the land of the Chaldeans, for their good. 29812 2981324:6. And I will set my eyes upon them to be pacified, and I will bring 29814them again into this land: and I will build them up, and not pull them 29815down: and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 29816 2981724:7. And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and 29818they shall be my people, and I will be their God: because they shall 29819return to me with their whole heart. 29820 2982124:8. And as the very bad figs, that cannot be eaten, because they are 29822bad: thus saith the Lord: So will I give Sedecias the king of Juda, and 29823his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that have remained in this 29824city, and that dwell in the land of Egypt. 29825 2982624:9. And I will deliver them up to vexation, and affliction, to all 29827the kingdoms of the earth: to be a reproach, and a byword, and a 29828proverb, and to be a curse in all places, to which I have cast them 29829out. 29830 2983124:10. And I will send among them the sword, and the famine, and the 29832pestilence: till they be consumed out of the land which I gave to them, 29833and their fathers. 29834 29835 29836 29837Jeremias Chapter 25 29838 29839 29840The prophet foretells the seventy years captivity; after that the 29841destruction of Babylon, and other nations. 29842 2984325:1. The word that came to Jeremias concerning all the people of Juda, 29844in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, (the same 29845is the first year of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon,) 29846 2984725:2. Which Jeremias the prophet spoke to all the people of Juda, and 29848to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: 29849 2985025:3. From the thirteenth year of Josias the son of Ammon king of Juda 29851until this day: this is the three and twentieth year, the word of the 29852Lord hath come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising before day, and 29853speaking, and you have not hearkened. 29854 2985525:4. And the Lord hath sent to you all his servants the prophets, 29856rising early, and sending, and you have not hearkened, nor inclined 29857your ears to hear. 29858 2985925:5. When he said: Return ye, every one from his evil way, and from 29860your wicked devices, and you shall dwell in the land which the Lord 29861hath given to you, and your fathers for ever and ever. 29862 2986325:6. And go not after strange gods to serve them, and adore them: nor 29864provoke me to wrath by the works of your hands, and I will not afflict 29865you. 29866 2986725:7. And you have not heard me, saith the Lord, that you might provoke 29868me to anger with the works of your hands, to your own hurt. 29869 2987025:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Because you have not 29871heard my words: 29872 2987325:9. Behold I will send, and take all the kindreds of the north, saith 29874the Lord, and Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant: and I will 29875bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and 29876against all the nations that are round about it: and I will destroy 29877them, and make them an astonishment and a hissing, and perpetual 29878desolations. 29879 29880My servant. . .So this wicked king is here called; because God made him 29881his instrument in punishing the sins of his people. 29882 2988325:10. And I will take away from them the voice of mirth, and the voice 29884of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, 29885the sound of the mill and the light of the lamp. 29886 2988725:11. And all this land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment: 29888and all these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 29889 2989025:12. And when the seventy years shall be expired, I will punish the 29891king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, 29892and the land of the Chaldeans: and I will make it perpetual 29893desolations. 29894 29895Punish. . .Literally, visit upon. 29896 2989725:13. And I will bring upon that land all my words, that I have spoken 29898against it, all that is written in this book, all that Jeremias hath 29899prophesied against all nations: 29900 2990125:14. For they have served them, whereas they were many nations, and 29902great kings: and I will repay them according to their deeds, and 29903according to the works of their hands. 29904 2990525:15. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Take the cup 29906of wine of this fury at my hand: and thou shalt make all the nations to 29907drink thereof, into which I shall send thee. 29908 2990925:16. And they shall drink, and be troubled, and be mad because of the 29910sword, which I shall send among them. 29911 2991225:17. And I took the cup at the hand of the Lord, and I presented it 29913to all the nations to drink of it, to which the Lord sent me: 29914 2991525:18. To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda, and the kings 29916thereof, and the princes thereof: to make them a desolation, and an 29917astonishment, and a hissing, and a curse, as it is at this day. 29918 2991925:19. Pharao the king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and 29920all his people, 29921 2992225:20. And all in general: all the kings of the land of Ausitis, and 29923all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ascalon, and Gaza, 29924and Accaron, and the remnant of Azotus. 29925 2992625:21. And Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon. 29927 2992825:22. And all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon: and the 29929kings of the land of the islands that are beyond the sea. 29930 2993125:23. And Dedan, and Thema, and Buz, and all that have their hair cut 29932round. 29933 2993425:24. And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the west, that 29935dwell in the desert. 29936 2993725:25. And all the kings of Zambri, and all the kings of Elam, and all 29938the kings of the Medes: 29939 2994025:26. And all the kings of the north far and near, every one against 29941his brother: and all the kingdoms of the earth, which are upon the face 29942thereof: and the king of Sesac shall drink after them. 29943 29944Sesac. . .That is, Babel, or Babylon; which after bringing all these 29945people under her yoke, should quickly fall and be destroyed herself. 29946 2994725:27. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God 29948of Israel: Drink ye, and be drunken, and vomit: and fall, and rise no 29949more, because of the sword, which I shall send among you. 29950 2995125:28. And if they refuse to take the cup at thy hand to drink, thou 29952shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Drinking you shall 29953drink: 29954 2995525:29. For behold I begin to bring evil on the city wherein my name is 29956called upon: and shall you be as innocent and escape free? you shall 29957not escape free: for I will call for the sword upon all the inhabitants 29958of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts. 29959 2996025:30. And thou shalt prophesy unto them all these words, and thou 29961shalt say to them: I The Lord shall roar from on high, and shall utter 29962his voice from his holy habitation: roaring he shall roar upon the 29963place of his beauty: the shout as it were of them that tread grapes 29964shall be given out against all the inhabitants of the earth. 29965 2996625:31. The noise is come even to the ends of the earth: for the Lord 29967entereth into judgment with the nations: he entereth into judgment with 29968all flesh; the wicked I have delivered up to the sword, saith the Lord. 29969 2997025:32. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold evil shall go forth from 29971nation to nation: and a great whirlwind shall go forth from the ends of 29972the earth. 29973 2997425:33. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of 29975the earth even to the other end thereof: they shall not be lamented, 29976and they shall not be gathered up, nor buried: they shall lie as dung 29977upon the face of the earth. 29978 2997925:34. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry: and sprinkle yourselves with ashes, 29980ye leaders of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and your 29981dispersion are accomplished, and you shall fall like precious vessels. 29982 2998325:35. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the leaders of 29984the flock to save themselves. 29985 2998625:36. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a howling of the 29987principal of the flock: because the Lord hath wasted their pastures. 29988 2998925:37. And the fields of peace have been silent because of the fierce 29990anger of the Lord. 29991 2999225:38. He hath forsaken his covert as the lion, for the land is laid 29993waste because of the wrath of the dove, and because of the fierce anger 29994of the Lord. 29995 29996The dove. . .This is commonly understood of Nabuchodonosor, whose 29997military standard, it is said, was a dove. But the Hebrew word Jonah, 29998which is here rendered a dove, may also signify a waster or oppressor, 29999which name better agrees to that unmerciful prince; or by comparison, 30000as a dove's flight is the swiftest, so would their destruction come 30001upon them. 30002 30003 30004 30005Jeremias Chapter 26 30006 30007 30008The prophet is apprehended and accused by the priests: but discharged 30009by the princes. 30010 3001126:1. In the beginning of the reign of Joakim the son of Josias king of 30012Juda, came this word from the Lord, saying: 30013 3001426:2. Thus saith the Lord: stand in the court of the house of the Lord, 30015and speak to all the cities of Juda, out of which they come, to adore 30016in the house of the Lord, all the words which I have commanded thee to 30017speak unto them: leave not out one word. 30018 3001926:3. If so be they will hearken and be converted every one from his 30020evil way; that I may repent me of the evil that I think to do unto them 30021for the wickedness of their doings. 30022 3002326:4. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: If you will not 30024hearken to me to walk in my law, which I have given you: 30025 3002626:5. To give ear to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent 30027to you rising up early: and sending, and you have not hearkened: 30028 3002926:6. I will make this house like Silo: and I will make this city a 30030curse to all the nations of the earth. 30031 3003226:7. And the priests, and the prophets, and all the people heard 30033Jeremias speaking these words in the house of the Lord. 30034 3003526:8. And when Jeremias had made an end of speaking all that the Lord 30036had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests, and the 30037prophets, and all the people laid hold on him, saying: Let him be put 30038to death. 30039 3004026:9. Why hath he prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying: This 30041house shall be like Silo; and this city shall be made desolate, without 30042an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered together against 30043Jeremias in the house of the Lord. 30044 3004526:10. And the princes of Juda heard these words: and they went up from 30046the king's house into the house of the Lord, and sat in the entry of 30047the new gate of the house of the Lord. 30048 3004926:11. And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes, and to 30050all the people, saying: The judgment of death is for this man: because 30051he hath prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears. 30052 3005326:12. Then Jeremias spoke to all the princes, and to all the people, 30054saying: The Lord sent me to prophesy concerning this house, and 30055concerning this city all the words that you have heard. 30056 3005726:13. Now therefore amend your ways, and your doings, and hearken to 30058the voice of the Lord your God: and the Lord will repent him of the 30059evil that he hath spoken against you. 30060 3006126:14. But as for me, behold I am in your hands: do with me what is 30062good and right in your eyes: 30063 3006426:15. But know ye, and understand, that if you put me to death, you 30065will shed innocent blood against your own selves, and against this 30066city, and the inhabitants thereof. For in truth the Lord sent me to 30067you, to speak all these words in your hearing. 30068 3006926:16. Then the princes, and all the people said to the priests, and to 30070the prophets: There is no judgment of death for this man: for he hath 30071spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God. 30072 3007326:17. And some of the ancients of the land rose up: and they spoke to 30074all the assembly of the people, saying: 30075 3007626:18. Micheas of Morasthi was a prophet in the days of Ezechias king 30077of Juda, and he spoke to all the people of Juda, saying: Thus saith the 30078Lord of hosts: Sion shall be ploughed like a field, and Jerusalem shall 30079be a heap of stones: and the mountain of the house the high places of 30080woods. 30081 3008226:19. Did Ezechias king of Juda, and all Juda, condemn him to death? 30083did they not fear the Lord, and beseech the face of the Lord: and the 30084Lord repented of the evil that he had spoken against them? therefore we 30085are doing a great evil against our souls. 30086 3008726:20. There was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, 30088Urias the son of Semei of Cariathiarim: and he prophesied against this 30089city, and against this land, according to all the words of Jeremias. 30090 3009126:21. And Joakim, and all his men in power, and his princes heard 30092these words: and the king sought to put him to death. And Urias heard 30093it, and was afraid, and fled and went into Egypt. 30094 3009526:22. And king Joakim sent men into Egypt, Elnathan the son of 30096Achobor, and men with him into Egypt. 30097 3009826:23. And they brought Urias out of Egypt: and brought him to king 30099Joakim, and he slew him with the sword: and he cast his dead body into 30100the graves of the common people. 30101 3010226:24. So the hand of Ahicam the son of Saphan was with Jeremias, that 30103he should not be delivered into the hands of the people, to put him to 30104death. 30105 30106 30107 30108Jeremias Chapter 27 30109 30110 30111The prophet sends chains to divers kings, signifying that they must 30112bend their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon. The vessels of 30113the temple shall not be brought back till all the rest are carried 30114away. 30115 3011627:1. In the beginning of the reign of Joakim the son of Josias king of 30117Juda, this word came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: 30118 30119Joakim. . .This revelation was made to the prophet in the beginning of 30120the reign of Joakim: but the bands were not sent to the princes here 30121named before the reign of Sedecias, ver. 3. 30122 3012327:2. Thus saith the Lord to me: Make thee bands, and chains: and thou 30124shalt put them on thy neck. 30125 3012627:3. And thou shalt send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of 30127Moab, and to the king of the children of Ammon, and to the king of 30128Tyre, and to the king of Sidon: by the hand of the messengers that are 30129come to Jerusalem to Sedecias the king of Juda. 30130 3013127:4. And thou shalt command them to speak to their masters: Thus saith 30132the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to your 30133masters: 30134 3013527:5. I made the earth, and the men and the beasts that are upon the 30136face of the earth, by my great power, and by my stretched out arm: and 30137I have given it to whom it seemed good in my eyes. 30138 3013927:6. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of 30140Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon my servant: moreover also the beasts of 30141the field I have given him to serve him. 30142 3014327:7. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son: 30144till the time come for his land and himself: and many nations and great 30145kings shall serve him. 30146 30147His son. . .Viz., Evilmerodach; and his son's son, Nabonydus, or 30148Nabonadius, the Baltassar of Daniel, chap. 5., and the last of the 30149Chaldean kings. 30150 3015127:8. But the nation and kingdom that will not serve Nabuchodonosor 30152king of Babylon, and whosoever will not bend his neck under the yoke of 30153the king of Babylon: I will visit upon that nation with the sword, and 30154with famine, and with pestilence, saith the Lord: till I consume them 30155by his hand. 30156 3015727:9. Therefore hearken not to your prophets, and diviners, and 30158dreamers, and soothsayers, and sorcerers, that say to you: You shall 30159not serve the king of Babylon. 30160 3016127:10. For they prophesy lies to you: to remove you far from your 30162country, and cast you out, and to make you perish. 30163 3016427:11. But the nation that shall bend down their neck under the yoke of 30165the king of Babylon, and shall serve him: I will let them remain in 30166their own land, saith the Lord: and they shall till it, and dwell in 30167it. 30168 3016927:12. And I spoke to Sedecias the king of Juda according to all these 30170words, saying: Bend down your necks under the yoke of the king of 30171Babylon, and serve him, and his people, and you shall live. 30172 3017327:13. Why will you die, thou and thy people by the sword, and by 30174famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the 30175nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 30176 3017727:14. Hearken not to the words of the prophets that say to you: You 30178shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they tell you a lie. 30179 3018027:15. For I have not sent them, saith the Lord: and they prophesy in 30181my name falsely: to drive you out, and that you may perish, both you, 30182and the prophets that prophesy to you. 30183 3018427:16. I spoke also to the priests, and to this people, saying: Thus 30185saith the Lord: Hearken not to the words of your prophets, that 30186prophesy to you, saying: Behold the vessels of the Lord shall now in a 30187short time be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto 30188you. 30189 3019027:17. Therefore hearken not to them, but serve the king of Babylon, 30191that you may live. Why should this city be given up to desolation? 30192 3019327:18. But if they be prophets, and the word of the Lord be in them: 30194let them interpose themselves before the Lord of hosts, that the 30195vessels which were left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of 30196the king of Juda, and in Jerusalem, may not go to Babylon. 30197 3019827:19. For thus saith the Lord of hosts to the pillars, and to the sea, 30199and to the bases, and to the rest of the vessels that remain in this 30200city: 30201 3020227:20. Which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon did not take, when he 30203carried away Jechonias the son of Joakim the king of Juda, from 30204Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the great men of Juda and Jerusalem. 30205 3020627:21. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, to the 30207vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the 30208king of Juda and Jerusalem: 30209 3021027:22. They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until 30211the day of their visitation, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to 30212be brought, and to be restored in this place. 30213 30214 30215 30216Jeremias Chapter 28 30217 30218 30219The false prophecy of Hananias: he dies that same year, as Jeremias 30220foretold. 30221 3022228:1. And it came to pass in that year, in the beginning of the reign 30223of Sedecias king of Juda, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that 30224Hananias the son of Azur, a prophet of Gabaon spoke to me, in the house 30225of the Lord before the priests, and all the people, saying: 30226 3022728:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: I have broken the 30228yoke of the king of Babylon. 30229 3023028:3. As yet two years of days, and I will cause all the vessels of the 30231house of the Lord to be brought back into this place, which 30232Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried 30233them to Babylon. 30234 3023528:4. And I will bring back to this place Jechonias the son of Joakim 30236king of Juda, and all the captives of Juda, that are gone to Babylon, 30237saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. 30238 3023928:5. And Jeremias the prophet said to Hananias the prophet in the 30240presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that 30241stood in the house of the Lord: 30242 3024328:6. And Jeremias the prophet said: Amen, the Lord do so: the Lord 30244perform thy words, which thou hast prophesied: that the vessels may be 30245brought again into the house of the Lord, and all the captives may 30246return out of Babylon to this place. 30247 3024828:7. Nevertheless hear this word that I speak in thy ears, and in the 30249ears of all the people: 30250 3025128:8. The prophets that have been before me, and before thee from the 30252beginning, and have prophesied concerning many countries, and 30253concerning great kingdoms, of war, and of affliction, and of famine. 30254 3025528:9. The prophet that prophesied peace: when his word shall come to 30256pass, the prophet shall be known, whom the hath sent in truth. 30257 3025828:10. And Hananias the prophet took the chain from the neck of 30259Jeremias the prophet, and broke it. 30260 3026128:11. And Hananias spoke in the presence of all the people, saying: 30262Thus saith the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nabuchodonosor 30263the king of Babylon after two full years from off the neck of all the 30264nations. 30265 3026628:12. And Jeremias the prophet went his way. And the word of the Lord 30267came to Jeremias, after that Hananias the prophet had broken the chain 30268from off the neck of Jeremias the prophet, saying: 30269 3027028:13. Go, and tell Hananias: Thus saith the Lord: Thou hast broken 30271chains of wood, and thou shalt make for them chains of iron. 30272 3027328:14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: I have put a 30274yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, to serve 30275Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and they shall serve him: moreover also 30276I have given him the beasts of the earth. 30277 3027828:15. And Jeremias the prophet said to Hananias the prophet: Hear now, 30279Hananias: the Lord hath not sent thee, and thou hast made this people 30280to trust in a lie. 30281 3028228:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will send thee away from 30283off the face of the earth: this year shalt thou die: for thou hast 30284spoken against the Lord. 30285 3028628:17. And Hananias the prophet died in that year, in the seventh 30287month. 30288 30289 30290 30291Jeremias Chapter 29 30292 30293 30294Jeremias writeth to the captives in Babylon, exhorting them to be easy 30295there, and not to hearken to false prophets. That they shall be 30296delivered after seventy years. But those that remain in Jerusalem shall 30297perish by the sword, famine, and pestilence. And that Achab, Sedecias, 30298and Semeias, false prophets, shall die miserably. 30299 3030029:1. Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremias the prophet 30301sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the ancients that were carried 30302into captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the 30303people, whom Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 30304 3030529:2. After that Jechonias the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, 30306and the princes of Juda, and of Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the 30307engravers were departed out of Jerusalem: 30308 3030929:3. By the hand of Elasa the son of Saphan, and Gamarias the son of 30310Helcias, whom Sedecias king of Juda sent to Babylon to Nabuchodonosor 30311king of Babylon, saying: 30312 3031329:4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, to all that are 30314carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from 30315Jerusalem to Babylon: 30316 3031729:5. Build ye houses, and dwell in them: and plant orchards, and eat 30318the fruit of them. 30319 3032029:6. Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters: and take wives for 30321your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, and let them bear sons 30322and daughters: and be ye multiplied there, and be not few in number. 30323 3032429:7. And seek the peace of the city, to which I have caused you to be 30325carried away captives; and pray to the Lord for it: for in the peace 30326thereof shall be your peace. 30327 3032829:8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Let not your 30329prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners deceive you: 30330and give no heed to your dreams which you dream: 30331 3033229:9. For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: and I have not sent 30333them, saith the Lord. 30334 3033529:10. For thus saith the Lord: When the seventy years shall begin to 30336be accomplished in Babylon, I will visit you: and I will perform my 30337good word in your favour, to bring you again to this place. 30338 3033929:11. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the 30340Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and 30341patience. 30342 3034329:12. And you shall call upon me, and you shall go. and you shall pray 30344to me, and I will hear you. 30345 3034629:13. You shall seek me, and shall find me: when you shall seek me 30347with all your heart. 30348 3034929:14. And I will be found by you, saith the Lord: and I will bring 30350back your captivity, and I will gather you out of all nations, and from 30351all the places to which I have driven you out, saith the Lord: and I 30352will bring you back from the place to which I caused you to be carried 30353away captive. 30354 3035529:15. Because you have said: The Lord hath raised us up prophets in 30356Babylon: 30357 3035829:16. For thus saith the Lord to the king that sitteth upon the throne 30359of David, and to all the people that dwell in this city, to your 30360brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity. 30361 3036229:17. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will send upon them the 30363sword, and the famine, and the pestilence: and I will make them like 30364bad figs that cannot be eaten, because they are very bad. 30365 3036629:18. And I will persecute them with the sword, and with famine, and 30367with the pestilence: and I will give them up unto affliction to all the 30368kingdoms of the earth: to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a 30369hissing, and a reproach to all the nations to which I have driven them 30370out: 30371 3037229:19. Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord: 30373which I sent to them by my servants the prophets, rising by night, and 30374sending: and you have not heard, saith the Lord. 30375 3037629:20. Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord, all ye of the captivity, 30377whom I have sent out from Jerusalem to Babylon. 30378 3037929:21. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, to Achab the son 30380of Colias, and to Sedecias the son of Maasias, who prophesy unto you in 30381my name falsely: Behold I will deliver them up into the hands of 30382Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon: and he shall kill them before your 30383eyes. 30384 3038529:22. And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of 30386Juda, that are in Babylon, saying: The Lord make thee like Sedecias, 30387and like Achab, whom the king of Babylon fried in the fire: 30388 3038929:23. Because they have acted folly in Israel, and have committed 30390adultery with the wives of their friends, and have spoken lying words 30391in my name, which I commanded them not: I am the judge and the witness, 30392saith the Lord. 30393 3039429:24. And to Semeias the Nehelamite thou shalt say: 30395 3039629:25. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Because thou 30397hast sent letters in thy name to all the people that are in Jerusalem, 30398and to Sophonias the son of Maasias the priest, and to all the priests, 30399saying: 30400 3040129:26. The Lord hath made thee priest instead of Joiada the priest, 30402that thou shouldst be ruler in the house of the Lord, over every man 30403that raveth and prophesieth, to put him in the stocks, and into prison. 30404 3040529:27. And now why hast thou not rebuked Jeremias the Anathothite, who 30406prophesieth to you? 30407 3040829:28. For he hath also sent to us in Babylon, saying: It is a long 30409time: build ye houses, and dwell in them: and plant gardens, and eat 30410the fruits of them. 30411 3041229:29. So Sophonias the priest read this letter, in the hearing of 30413Jeremias the prophet. 30414 3041529:30. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: 30416 3041729:31. Send to all them of the captivity, saying: Thus saith the Lord 30418to Semeias the Nehelamite: Because Semeias hath prophesied to you, and 30419I sent him not: and hath caused you to trust in a lie: 30420 3042129:32. Therefore thus saith the Lord: behold I will visit upon Semeias 30422the Nehelamite, and upon his seed: he shall not have a man to sit in 30423the midst of this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do 30424to my people, saith the Lord: because he hath spoken treason against 30425the Lord. 30426 30427 30428 30429Jeremias Chapter 30 30430 30431 30432God will deliver his people from their captivity: Christ shall be their 30433king: and his church shall be glorious for ever. 30434 3043530:1. This is the word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: 30436 3043730:2. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: Write thee all 30438the words that I have spoken to thee, in a book. 30439 3044030:3. For behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will bring again 30441the captivity of my people Israel and Juda, saith the Lord: and I will 30442cause them to return to the land which I gave to their fathers, and 30443they shall possess it. 30444 3044530:4. And these are the words that the Lord hath spoken to Israel and 30446to Juda: 30447 3044830:5. For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of terror: there 30449is fear and no peace. 30450 3045130:6. Ask ye, and see if a man bear children? why then have I seen 30452every man with his hands on his loins, like a woman in labour, and all 30453faces are turned yellow? 30454 3045530:7. Alas, for that day is great, neither is there the like to it; and 30456it is the time of tribulation to Jacob, but he shall be saved out of 30457it. 30458 3045930:8. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, 30460that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst his bands: 30461and strangers shall no more rule over him: 30462 3046330:9. But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, 30464whom I will raise up to them. 30465 30466David. . .That is, Christ of the house of David. 30467 3046830:10. Therefore fear thou not, my servant Jacob, saith the Lord, 30469neither be dismayed, O Israel: for behold, I will save thee from a 30470country afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and 30471Jacob shall return, and be at rest, and abound with all good things, 30472and there shall be none whom he may fear: 30473 3047430:11. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: for I will 30475utterly consume all the nations, among which I have scattered thee: but 30476I will not utterly consume thee: but I will chastise thee in judgment, 30477that thou mayst not seem to thyself innocent. 30478 3047930:12. For thus saith the Lord: Thy bruise is incurable, thy wound is 30480very grievous. 30481 3048230:13. There is none to judge thy judgment to bind it up: thou hast no 30483healing medicines. 30484 3048530:14. All thy lovers have forgotten thee, and will not seek after 30486thee: for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with cruel 30487chastisement: by reason of the multitude of thy iniquities, thy sins 30488are hardened. 30489 3049030:15. Why criest thou for thy affliction? thy sorrow is incurable: for 30491the multitude of thy iniquity, and for thy hardened sins I have done 30492these things to thee. 30493 3049430:16. Therefore all they that devour thee, shall be devoured: and all 30495thy enemies shall be carried into captivity: and they that waste thee 30496shall be wasted, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. 30497 3049830:17. For I will close up thy scar, and will heal thee of thy wounds, 30499saith the Lord. Because they have called thee, O Sion, an outcast: This 30500is she that hath none to seek after her. 30501 3050230:18. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring back the captivity of 30503the pavilions of Jacob, and will have pity on his houses, and the city 30504shall be built in her high place, and the temple shall be founded 30505according to the order thereof. 30506 3050730:19. And out of them shall come forth praise, and the voice of them 30508that play: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be made few: 30509and I will glorify them, and they shall not be lessened. 30510 3051130:20. And their children shall be as from the beginning, and their 30512assembly shall be permanent before me: and I will visit against all 30513that afflict them. 30514 3051530:21. And their leader shall be of themselves: and their prince shall 30516come forth from the midst of them: and I will bring him near, and he 30517shall come to me: for who is this that setteth his heart to approach to 30518me, saith the Lord? 30519 3052030:22. And you shall be my people: and I will be your God. 30521 3052230:23. Behold the whirlwind of the Lord, his fury going forth, a 30523violent storm, it shall rest upon the head of the wicked. 30524 3052530:24. The Lord will not turn away the wrath of his indignation, till 30526he have executed and performed the thought of his heart: in the latter 30527days you shall understand these things. 30528 30529 30530 30531Jeremias Chapter 31 30532 30533 30534The restoration of Israel. Rachel shall cease from morning. The new 30535covenant. The church shall never fail. 30536 3053731:1. At that time, saith the Lord, I will be the God of all the 30538families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 30539 3054031:2. Thus saith the Lord: The people that were left and escaped from 30541the sword, found grace in the desert: Israel shall go to his rest. 30542 3054331:3. The Lord hath appeared from afar to me. Yea I have loved thee 30544with an everlasting love, therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on 30545thee. 30546 3054731:4. And I will build thee again, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of 30548Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy timbrels, and shalt go 30549forth in the dances of them that make merry. 30550 3055131:5. Thou shalt yet plant vineyards in the mountains of Samaria: the 30552planters shall plant, and they shall not gather the vintage before the 30553time. 30554 3055531:6. For there shall be a day, in which the watchmen on mount Ephraim, 30556shall cry: Arise, and let us go up to Sion to the Lord our God. 30557 3055831:7. For thus saith the Lord: Rejoice ye in the joy of Jacob, and 30559neigh before the head of the Gentiles: shout ye, and sing, and say: 30560Save, O Lord, thy people, the remnant of Israel. 30561 3056231:8. Behold I will bring them from the north country, and will gather 30563them from the ends of the earth and among them shall be the blind, and 30564the lame, the woman with child, and she that is bringing forth, 30565together, a great company of them returning hither. 30566 3056731:9. They shall come with weeping: and I will bring them back in 30568mercy: and I will bring them through the torrents of waters in a right 30569way, and they shall not stumble in it: for I am a father to Israel, and 30570Ephraim is my firstborn. 30571 3057231:10. Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the 30573islands that are afar off, and say: He that scattered Israel will 30574gather him: and he will keep him as the shepherd doth his flock. 30575 3057631:11. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and delivered him out of the 30577hand of one that was mightier than he. 30578 3057931:12. And they shall come, and shall give praise in mount Sion: and 30580they shall flow together to the good things of the Lord, for the corn, 30581and wine, and oil, and the increase of cattle and herds, and their soul 30582shall be as a watered garden, and they shall be hungry no more. 30583 3058431:13. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, the young men and 30585old men together: and I will turn their mourning into joy, and will 30586comfort them, and make them joyful after their sorrow. 30587 3058831:14. And I will fill the soul of the priests with fatness: and my 30589people shall be filled with my good things, saith the Lord. 30590 3059131:15. Thus saith the Lord: A voice was heard on high of lamentation, 30592of mourning, and weeping, of Rachel weeping for her children and 30593refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not. 30594 3059531:16. Thus saith the Lord: Let thy voice cease from weeping, and thy 30596eyes tears: for there is a reward for thy work, saith the Lord: and 30597they shall return out of the land of the enemy. 30598 3059931:17. And there is hope for thy last end, saith the Lord: and the 30600children shall return to their own borders. 30601 3060231:18. Hearing I heard Ephraim when he went into captivity: thou hast 30603chastised me, and I was instructed, as a young bullock unaccustomed to 30604the yoke. Convert me, and I shall be converted, for thou art the Lord 30605my God. 30606 3060731:19. For after thou didst convert me, I did penance: and after thou 30608didst shew unto me, I struck my thigh: I am confounded and ashamed, 30609because I have borne the reproach of my youth. 30610 3061131:20. Surely Ephraim is an honourable son to me, surely he is a tender 30612child: for since I spoke of him, I will still remember him. Therefore 30613are my bowels troubled for him: pitying I will pity him, saith the 30614Lord. 30615 3061631:21. Set thee up a watchtower, make to thee bitterness: direct thy 30617heart into the right way, wherein thou hast walked: return, O virgin of 30618Israel, return to these thy cities. 30619 3062031:22. How long wilt thou be dissolute in deliciousness, O wandering 30621daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing upon the earth: A WOMAN 30622SHALL COMPASS A MAN. 30623 3062431:23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: As yet shall 30625they say this word in the land of Juda, and in the cities thereof, when 30626I shall bring back their captivity: The Lord bless thee, the beauty of 30627justice, the holy mountain. 30628 3062931:24. And Juda and all his cities shall dwell therein together: the 30630husbandman and they that drive the flocks. 30631 3063231:25. For I have inebriated the weary soul: and I have filled every 30633hungry soul. 30634 3063531:26. Upon this I was as it were awaked out of a sleep, and I saw, and 30636my sleep was sweet to me. 30637 3063831:27. Behold the days come, saith the Lord: and I will sow the house 30639of Israel and the house of Juda with the seed of men, and with the seed 30640of beasts. 30641 3064231:28. And as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to throw down, 30643and to scatter, and destroy, and afflict: so will I watch over them, to 30644build up, and to plant them, saith the Lord. 30645 3064631:29. In those days they shall say no more: The fathers have eaten a 30647sour grape, and the teeth of the children are set on edge. 30648 3064931:30. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that 30650shall eat the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. 30651 3065231:31. Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and I will make a 30653new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: 30654 3065531:32. Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, 30656in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land 30657of Egypt, the covenant which they made void, and I had dominion over 30658them, saith the Lord. 30659 3066031:33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house 30661of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my law in 30662their bowels, and I will write it in their heart: and I will be their 30663God, and they shall be my people. 30664 3066531:34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every 30666man his brother, saying: Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the 30667least of them even to the greatest, saith the Lord: for I will forgive 30668their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. 30669 3067031:35. Thus saith the Lord, who giveth the sun for the light of the 30671day, the order of the moon and of the stars, for the light of the 30672night: who stirreth up the sea, and the waves thereof roar, the Lord of 30673hosts is his name. 30674 3067531:36. If these ordinances shall fail before me, saith the Lord: then 30676also the seed of Israel shall fail, so as not to be a nation before me 30677for ever. 30678 3067931:37. Thus saith the Lord: If the heavens above can be measured, and 30680the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I also will cast 30681away all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the 30682Lord. 30683 3068431:38. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be 30685built to the Lord from the tower of Hanameel even to the gate of the 30686corner. 30687 3068831:39. And the measuring line shall go out farther in his sight upon 30689the hill Gareb: and it shall compass Goatha, 30690 3069131:40. And the whole valley of dead bodies, and of ashes, and all the 30692country of death, even to the torrent Cedron, and to the corner of the 30693horse gate towards the east, the Holy of the Lord: it shall not be 30694plucked up, and it shall not be destroyed any more for ever. 30695 30696 30697 30698Jeremias Chapter 32 30699 30700 30701Jeremias by God's commandment purchases a field of his kinsman: and 30702prophesies the return of the people out of captivity: and the 30703everlasting covenant God will make with his church. 30704 3070532:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord in the tenth year of 30706Sedecias king of Juda: the same is the eighteenth year of 30707Nabuchodonosor. 30708 3070932:2. At that time the army of the king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem: 30710and Jeremias the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which 30711was in the house of the king of Juda. 30712 3071332:3. For Sedecias king of Juda had shut him up, saying: Why dost thou 30714prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will give this city 30715into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it? 30716 3071732:4. And Sedecias king of Juda shall not escape out of the hand of the 30718Chaldeans: but he shall be delivered into the hands of the king of 30719Babylon: and he shall speak to him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall 30720see his eyes. 30721 3072232:5. And he shall lead Sedecias to Babylon: and he shall be there till 30723I visit him, saith the Lord. But if you will fight against the 30724Chaldeans, you shall have no success. 30725 3072632:6. And Jeremias said: The word of the Lord came to me, saying: 30727 3072832:7. Behold, Hanameel the son of Sellum thy cousin shall come to thee, 30729saying: Buy thee my field, which is in Anathoth, for it is thy right to 30730buy it, being next akin. 30731 3073232:8. And Hanameel my uncle's son came to me, according to the word of 30733the Lord, to the entry of the prison, and said to me: Buy my field, 30734which is in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: for the right of 30735inheritance is thine, and thou art next of kin to possess it. And I 30736understood that this was the word of the Lord. 30737 3073832:9. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that is in 30739Anathoth: and I weighed him the money, seven staters, and ten pieces of 30740silver. 30741 3074232:10. And I wrote it in a book and sealed it, and took witnesses: and 30743I weighed him the money in the balances. 30744 3074532:11. And I took the deed of the purchase that was sealed, and the 30746stipulations, and the ratifications with the seals that were on the 30747outside. 30748 3074932:12. And I gave the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neri 30750the son of Maasias in the sight of Hanameel my uncle's son, in the 30751presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, and 30752before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. 30753 3075432:13. And I charged Baruch before them, saying: 30755 3075632:14. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Take these 30757writings, this deed of the purchase that is sealed up, and this deed 30758that is open: and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue 30759many days. 30760 3076132:15. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Houses, and 30762fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. 30763 3076432:16. And after I had delivered the deed of purchase to Baruch the son 30765of Neri, I prayed to the Lord, saying: 30766 3076732:17. Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, behold thou hast made heaven and 30768earth by thy great power, and thy stretched out arm: no word shall be 30769hard to thee: 30770 3077132:18. Thou shewest mercy unto thousands, and returnest the iniquity of 30772the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: O most mighty, 30773great, and powerful, the Lord of hosts is thy name. 30774 3077532:19. Great in counsel, and incomprehensible in thought: whose eyes 30776are open upon all the ways of the children of Adam, to render unto 30777every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his 30778devices. 30779 3078032:20. Who hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt even until 30781this day, and in Israel, and amongst men, and hast made thee a name as 30782at this day. 30783 3078432:21. And hast brought forth thy people Israel, out of the land of 30785Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and a 30786stretched out arm, and with great terror. 30787 3078832:22. And hast given them this land which thou didst swear to their 30789fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. 30790 3079132:23. And they came in, and possessed it: but they obeyed not thy 30792voice, and they walked not in thy law: and they did not any of those 30793things that thou didst command them to do, and all these evils are come 30794upon them. 30795 3079632:24. Behold works are built up against the city to take it: and the 30797city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans, who fight against it, by 30798the sword, and the famine, and the pestilence: and what thou hast 30799spoken, is all come to pass, as thou thyself seest. 30800 3080132:25. And sayest thou to me, O Lord God: Buy a field for money, and 30802take witnesses, whereas the city is given into the hands of the 30803Chaldeans? 30804 3080532:26. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: 30806 3080732:27. Behold I am the Lord the God of all flesh: shall any thing be 30808hard for me? 30809 3081032:28. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will deliver this city 30811into the hands of the Chaldeans, and into the hands of the king of 30812Babylon, and they shall take it. 30813 3081432:29. And the Chaldeans that fight against this city, shall come and 30815set it on fire, and burn it, with the houses upon whose roofs they 30816offered sacrifice to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to strange 30817gods, to provoke me to wrath. 30818 3081932:30. For the children of Israel, and the children of Juda, have 30820continually done evil in my eyes from their youth: the children of 30821Israel who even till now provoke me with the work of their hands, saith 30822the Lord. 30823 3082432:31. For this city hath been to me a provocation and indignation from 30825the day that they built it, until this day, in which it shall be taken 30826out of my sight. 30827 3082832:32. Because of all the evil of the children of Israel, and of the 30829children of Juda, which they have done, provoking me to wrath, they and 30830their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, the 30831men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 30832 3083332:33. And they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces: 30834when I taught them early in the morning, and instructed them, and they 30835would not hearken to receive instruction. 30836 3083732:34. And they have set their idols in the house, in which my name is 30838called upon, to defile it. 30839 3084032:35. And they have built the high places of Baal, which are in the 30841valley of the son of Ennom, to consecrate their sons and their 30842daughters to Moloch: which I commanded them not, neither entered it 30843into my heart, that they should do this abomination, and cause Juda to 30844sin. 30845 3084632:36. And now, therefore, thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to 30847this city, whereof you say that it shall be delivered into the hands of 30848the king of Babylon by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: 30849 3085032:37. Behold I will gather them together out of all the lands to which 30851I have cast them out in my anger, and in my wrath, and in my great 30852indignation: and I will bring them again into this place, and will 30853cause them to dwell securely. 30854 3085532:38. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 30856 3085732:39. And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear 30858me all days: and that it may be well with them, and with their children 30859after them. 30860 3086132:40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, and will not 30862cease to do them good: and I will give my fear in their heart, that 30863they may not revolt from me. 30864 3086532:41. And I will rejoice over them, when I shall do them good: and I 30866will plant them in this land in truth, with my whole heart, and with 30867all my soul. 30868 3086932:42. For thus saith the Lord: As I have brought upon this people all 30870this great evil: so will I bring upon them all the good that I now 30871speak to them. 30872 3087332:43. And fields shall be purchased in this land: whereof you say that 30874it is desolate, because there remaineth neither man nor beast, and it 30875is given into the hands of the Chaldeans. 30876 3087732:44. Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be written, 30878and sealed, and witnesses shall be taken, in the land of Benjamin, and 30879round about Jerusalem, in the cities of Juda, and in the cities on the 30880mountains, and in the cities of the plains, and in the cities that are 30881towards the south: for I will bring back their captivity, saith the 30882Lord. 30883 30884 30885 30886Jeremias Chapter 33 30887 30888 30889God promises reduction from captivity, and other blessings: especially 30890the coming of Christ, whose reign in his church shall be glorious and 30891perpetual. 30892 3089333:1. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the second time, while 30894he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying: 30895 3089633:2. Thus saith the Lord, who will do, and will form it, and prepare 30897it, the Lord is his name. 30898 3089933:3. Cry to me and I will hear thee: and I will shew thee great 30900things, and sure things which thou knowest not. 30901 3090233:4. For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the houses of this 30903city, and to the houses of the king of Juda, which are destroyed, and 30904to the bulwarks, and to the sword. 30905 3090633:5. Of them that come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them 30907with the dead bodies of the men whom I have slain in my wrath, and in 30908my indignation, hiding my face from this city because of all their 30909wickedness. 30910 3091133:6. Behold I will close their wounds and give them health, and I will 30912cure them: and I will reveal to them the prayer of peace and truth. 30913 30914The prayer of peace. . .That is, the peace and welfare which they pray 30915for. 30916 3091733:7. And I will bring back the captivity of Juda, and the captivity of 30918Jerusalem: and I will build them as from the beginning. 30919 3092033:8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they 30921have sinned against me: and I will forgive all their iniquities, 30922whereby they have sinned against me, and despised me. 30923 3092433:9. And it shall be to me a name, and a joy, and a praise, and a 30925gladness before all the nations of the earth, that shall hear of all 30926the good things which I will do to them: and they shall fear and be 30927troubled for all the good things, and for all the peace that I will 30928make for them. 30929 3093033:10. Thus saith the Lord: There shall be heard again in this place 30931(which you say is desolate, because there is neither man nor beast: in 30932the cities of Juda, and without Jerusalem, which are desolate without 30933man, and without inhabitant, and without beast) 30934 3093533:11. The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the 30936bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall 30937say: Give ye glory to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his 30938mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring their vows into 30939the house of the Lord: for I will bring back the captivity of the land 30940as at the first, saith the Lord. 30941 3094233:12. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: There shall be again in this place 30943that is desolate without man, and without beast, and in all the cities 30944thereof, an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 30945 3094633:13. And in the cities on the mountains, and in the cities of the 30947plains, and in the cities that are towards the south: and in the land 30948of Benjamin, and round about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda shall 30949the flocks pass again under the hand of him that numbereth them, saith 30950the Lord. 30951 3095233:14. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the 30953good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house 30954of Juda. 30955 3095633:15. In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice 30957to spring forth unto David, and he shall do judgment and justice in the 30958earth. 30959 3096033:16. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell 30961securely: and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord our 30962just one. 30963 3096433:17. For thus saith the Lord: There shall not be cut off from David a 30965man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel. 30966 30967There shall not be cut off from David, etc. . .This was verified in 30968Christ, who is of the house of David; and whose kingdom in his church 30969shall have no end. 30970 3097133:18. Neither shall there be cut off from the priests and Levites a 30972man before my face to offer holocausts, and to burn sacrifices, and to 30973kill victims continually. 30974 30975Neither shall there be cut off from the priests, etc. . .This promise 30976relates to the Christian priesthood; which shall also continue for 30977ever: the functions of which (more especially the great sacrifice of 30978the altar) are here expressed by the name of holocausts, and other 30979offerings of the law, which were so many figures of the Christian 30980sacrifice. 30981 3098233:19. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: 30983 3098433:20. Thus saith the Lord: if my covenant, with the day can be made 30985void, and my covenant with the night, that there should not be day and 30986night in their season: 30987 3098833:21. Also my covenant with David my servant may be made void, that he 30989should not have a son to reign upon his throne, and with the Levites 30990and priests my ministers. 30991 3099233:22. As the stars of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the 30993sea be measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and 30994the Levites my ministers. 30995 3099633:23. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: 30997 3099833:24. Hast thou not seen what this people hath spoken, saying: The two 30999families which the Lord had chosen, are cast off: and they have 31000despised my people, so that it is no more a nation before them? 31001 31002Two families, etc. . .Viz., the families of the kings and priests. 31003 3100433:25. Thus saith the Lord. If I have not set my covenant between day 31005and night, and laws to heaven and earth: 31006 3100733:26. Surely I will also cast off the seed of Jacob, and of David my 31008servant, so as not to take any of his seed to be rulers of the seed of 31009Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will bring back their captivity, and 31010will have mercy on them. 31011 31012 31013 31014Jeremias Chapter 34 31015 31016 31017The prophet foretells that Sedecias shall fall into the hands of 31018Nabuchodonosor: God's sentence upon the princes and people that had 31019broken his covenant. 31020 3102134:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, when Nabuchodonosor 31022king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth, 31023that were under the power of his hand, and all the people fought 31024against Jerusalem and against all the cities thereof, saying: 31025 3102634:2. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Go, and speak to Sedecias 31027king of Juda, and say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will 31028deliver this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall 31029burn it with fire. 31030 3103134:3. And thou shalt not escape out of his hand: but thou shalt surely 31032be taken, and thou shalt be delivered into his hand: and thy eyes shall 31033see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak with thy 31034mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. 31035 3103634:4. Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Sedecias king of Juda: Thus 31037saith the Lord to thee: Thou shalt not die by the sword. 31038 3103934:5. But thou shalt die in peace, and according to the burnings of thy 31040fathers, the former kings that were before thee, so shall they burn 31041thee: and they shall mourn for thee, saying: Alas, Lord: for I have 31042spoken the word, saith the Lord. 31043 31044Die in peace. . .That is, by a natural death. 31045 3104634:6. And Jeremias the prophet spoke all these words to Sedecias the 31047king of Juda in Jerusalem. 31048 3104934:7. And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem, and 31050against all the cities of Juda that were left, against Lachis, and 31051against Azecha: for these remained of the cities of Juda, fenced 31052cities. 31053 3105434:8. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, after that king 31055Sedecias had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem making a 31056proclamation: 31057 3105834:9. That every man should let his manservant, and every man his 31059maidservant, being Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free: and that they 31060should not lord it over them, to wit, over the Jews their brethren. 31061 3106234:10. And all the princes, and all the people who entered into the 31063covenant, heard that every man should let his manservant, and every man 31064his maidservant go free, and should no more have dominion over them: 31065and they obeyed, and let them go free. 31066 3106734:11. But afterwards they turned: and brought back again their 31068servants and their handmaids, whom they had let go free, and brought 31069them into subjection as menservants and maidservants. 31070 3107134:12. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: 31072 3107334:13. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: I made a covenant with 31074your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, 31075out of the house of bondage, saying: 31076 3107734:14. At the end of seven years, let ye go every man his brother being 31078a Hebrew, who hath been sold to thee, so he shall serve thee six years: 31079and thou shalt let him go free from thee: and your fathers did not 31080hearken to me, nor did they incline their ear. 31081 3108234:15. And you turned to day, and did that which was right in my eyes, 31083in proclaiming liberty every one to his brother: and you made a 31084covenant in my sight, in the house upon which my name is invocated. 31085 3108634:16. And you are fallen back, and have defiled my name: and you have 31087brought back again every man his manservant, and every man his 31088maidservant, whom you had let go free, and set at liberty: and you have 31089brought them into subjection to be your servants and handmaids. 31090 3109134:17. Therefore thus saith the Lord: You have not hearkened to me, in 31092proclaiming liberty every man to his brother and every man to his 31093friend: behold I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the 31094sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine: and I will cause you to be 31095removed to all the kingdoms of the earth. 31096 3109734:18. And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, and 31098have not performed the words of the covenant which they agreed to in my 31099presence, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts 31100thereof: 31101 3110234:19. The princes of Juda, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, 31103and the priests, and all the people of the land that passed between the 31104parts of the calf: 31105 3110634:20. And I will give them into the hands of their enemies, and into 31107the hands of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be 31108for meat to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the earth. 31109 3111034:21. And Sedecias the king of Juda, and his princes, I will give into 31111the hands of their enemies, and into the hands of them that seek their 31112lives, and into the hands of the armies of the king of Babylon, which 31113are gone from you. 31114 3111534:22. Behold I will command, saith the Lord, and I will bring them 31116again to this city, and they shall fight against it, and take it, and 31117burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Juda a desolation, 31118without an inhabitant. 31119 31120 31121 31122Jeremias Chapter 35 31123 31124 31125The obedience of the Rechabites condemns the disobedience of the Jews. 31126The reward of the Rechabites. 31127 3112835:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord in the days of 31129Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, saying: 31130 3113135:2. Go to the house of the Rechabites: and speak to them, and bring 31132them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers of the 31133treasures, and thou shalt give them wine to drink. 31134 31135Rechabites. . .These were of the race of Jethro, father in law to Moses. 31136 3113735:3. And I took Jezonias the son of Jeremias the son of Habsanias, and 31138his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites. 31139 3114035:4. And I brought them into the house of the Lord, to the treasure 31141house of the sons of Hanan, the son of Jegedelias the man of God, which 31142was by the treasure house of the princes, above the treasure of Maasias 31143the son of Sellum, who was keeper of the entry. 31144 3114535:5. And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots 31146full of wine, and cups: and I said to them: Drink ye wine. 31147 3114835:6. And they answered : We will not drink wine: because Jonadab the 31149son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying: You shall drink no 31150wine, neither you, nor your children, for ever: 31151 3115235:7. Neither shall ye build houses, nor sow reed, nor plant vineyards, 31153nor have any: but you shall dwell in tents all your days, that you may 31154live many days upon the face of the earth, in which you are strangers. 31155 3115635:8. Therefore we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, 31157our father, in all things that he commanded us: so as to drink no wine 31158all our days: neither we, nor our wives, nor our sons, nor our 31159daughters: 31160 3116135:9. Nor to build houses to dwell in, nor to have vineyard, or field, 31162or seed: 31163 3116435:10. But we have dwelt in tents, and have been obedient according to 31165all that Jonadab our father commanded us. 31166 3116735:11. But when Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came up to our land, we 31168said: Come, let us go into Jerusalem from the face of the army of the 31169Chaldeans, and from the face of the army of Syria: and we have remained 31170in Jerusalem. 31171 3117235:12. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: 31173 3117435:13. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Go, and say to 31175the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not 31176receive instruction, to obey my words, saith the Lord? 31177 3117835:14. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, by which he commanded 31179his sons not to drink wine, have prevailed: and they have drunk none to 31180this day, because they have obeyed the commandment of their father: but 31181I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not 31182obeyed me. 31183 3118435:15. And I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising 31185early, and sending and saying: Return ye every man from his wicked way, 31186and make your ways good: and follow not strange gods, nor worship them, 31187and you shall dwell in the land, which I gave you and your fathers: and 31188you have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened to me. 31189 3119035:16. So the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have constantly kept 31191the commandment of their father, which he commanded them: but this 31192people hath not obeyed me. 31193 3119435:17. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold 31195I will bring upon Juda, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all 31196the evil that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to 31197them, and they have not heard: I have called to them, and they have not 31198answered me. 31199 3120035:18. And Jeremias said to the house of the Rechabites: Thus saith the 31201Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the 31202commandment of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his precepts, and 31203have done all that he commanded you: 31204 3120535:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: There 31206shall not be wanting a man of the race of Jonadab the son of Rechab, 31207standing before me for ever. 31208 31209 31210 31211Jeremias Chapter 36 31212 31213 31214Jeremias sends Baruch to read his prophecies in the temple; the book is 31215brought to king Joakim, who burns it. The prophet denounces his 31216judgment, and causes Baruch to write a new copy. 31217 3121836:1. And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of 31219Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremias by the Lord, 31220saying: 31221 3122236:2. Take thee a roll of a book, and thou shalt write in it all the 31223words that I have spoken to thee against Israel and Juda, and against 31224all the nations from the day that I spoke to thee, from the days of 31225Josias even to this day. 31226 3122736:3. If so be, when the house of Juda shall hear all the evils that I 31228purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his wicked 31229way: and I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin. 31230 3123136:4. So Jeremias called Baruch the son of Nerias: and Baruch wrote 31232from the mouth of Jeremias all the words of the Lord, which he spoke to 31233him, upon the roll of a book. 31234 3123536:5. And Jeremias commanded Baruch, saying: I am shut up, and cannot 31236go into the house of the Lord. 31237 31238Shut up. . .Not that the prophet was now in prison; for the contrary 31239appears from ver. 19, but that he kept himself shut up, by reason of 31240the persecutions he had lately met with. See chap. 26. 31241 3124236:6. Go thou in therefore, and read out of the volume, which thou hast 31243written from my mouth, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of all the 31244people in the house of the Lord on the fasting day: and also thou shalt 31245read them in the hearing of all Juda that come out of their cities: 31246 3124736:7. If so be they may present their supplication before the Lord, and 31248may return every one from his wicked way: for great is the wrath and 31249indignation which the Lord hath pronounced against this people. 31250 3125136:8. And Baruch the son of Nerias did according to all that Jeremias 31252the prophet ,had commanded him, reading out of the volume the words of 31253the Lord in the house of the Lord. 31254 3125536:9. And it came to pass in the fifth year of Joakim the son of Josias 31256king of Juda, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before 31257the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that 31258were come together out of the cities of Juda to Jerusalem. 31259 3126036:10. And Baruch read out of the volume the words of Jeremias in the 31261house of the Lord, in the treasury of Gamarias the son of Saphan the 31262scribe, in the upper court, in the entry of the new gate of the house 31263of the Lord, in the hearing of all the people. 31264 3126536:11. And when Micheas the son of Gamarias the son of Saphan had heard 31266out of the book all the words of the Lord, 31267 3126836:12. He went down into the king's house to the secretary's chamber: 31269and behold all the princes sat there, Elisama the scribe, and Dalaias 31270the son of Semeias, and Elnathan the son of Achobor, and Gamarias the 31271son of Saphan, and Sedecias the son of Hananias, and all the princes. 31272 3127336:13. And Micheas told them all the words that he had heard when 31274Baruch read out of the volume in the hearing of the people. 31275 3127636:14. Therefore all the princes sent Judi the son of Nathanias, the 31277son of Selemias, the son of Chusi, to Baruch, saying: Take in thy hand 31278the volume in which thou hast read in the hearing of the people, and 31279come. So Baruch the son of Nerias took the volume in his hand, and came 31280to them. 31281 3128236:15. And they said to him: Sit down and read these things in our 31283hearing. And Baruch read in their hearing. 31284 3128536:16. And when they had heard all the words, they looked upon one 31286another with astonishment, and they said to Baruch: We must tell the 31287king all these words. 31288 3128936:17. And they asked him, saying: Tell us how didst thou write all 31290these words from his mouth. 31291 3129236:18. And Baruch said to them: With his mouth he pronounced all these 31293words as if he were reading to me: and I wrote in a volume with ink. 31294 3129536:19. And the princes said to Baruch: Go, and hide thee, both thou and 31296Jeremias, and let no man know where you are. 31297 3129836:20. And they went in to the king into the court: but they laid up 31299the volume in the chamber of Elisama the scribe: and they told all the 31300words in the hearing of the king. 31301 3130236:21. And the king sent Judi that he should take the volume: who 31303bringing it out of the chamber of Elisama the scribe, read it in the 31304hearing of the king, and of all the princes that stood about the king. 31305 3130636:22. Now the king sat in the winter house, in the ninth month: and 31307there was a hearth before him full of burning coals. 31308 3130936:23. And when Judi had read three or four pages, he cut it with the 31310penknife, and he cast it into the fire, that was upon the hearth, till 31311all the volume was consumed with the fire that was on the hearth. 31312 3131336:24. And the king and all his servants that heard all these words 31314were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments. 31315 3131636:25. But yet Elnathan, and Dalaias, and Gamarias spoke to the king, 31317not to burn the book: and he heard them not. 31318 3131936:26. And the king commanded Jeremiel the son of Amelech, and Saraias 31320the son of Ezriel, and Selemias the son of Abdeel, to take up Baruch 31321the scribe, and Jeremias the prophet: but the Lord hid them. 31322 3132336:27. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the prophet, after 31324that the king had burnt the volume, and the words that Baruch had 31325written from the mouth of Jeremias, saying: 31326 3132736:28. Take thee again another volume: and write in it all the former 31328words that were in the first volume which Joakim the king of Juda both 31329burnt. 31330 3133136:29. And thou shalt say to Joakim the king of Juda: Thus saith the 31332Lord: Thou hast burnt that volume, saying: Why hast thou written 31333therein, and said: The king of Babylon shall come speedily, and shall 31334lay waste this land: and shall cause to cease from thence man and 31335beast? 31336 3133736:30. Therefore thus saith the Lord against Joakim the king of Juda: 31338He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body 31339shall be cast out to the heat by day, and to the frost by night. 31340 31341He shall have none, etc. . .Because his son Joachin or Jechonias, within 31342three months after the death of his father, was carried away to 31343Babylon, so that his reign is not worthy of notice. 31344 3134536:31. And I will punish him, and his seed and his servants, for their 31346iniquities, and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of 31347Jerusalem, and upon the men of Juda all the evil that I have pronounced 31348against them, but they have not heard. 31349 3135036:32. And Jeremias took another volume, and gave it to Baruch the son 31351of Nerias the scribe: who wrote in it from the mouth of Jeremias all 31352the words of the book which Joakim the king of Juda had burnt with 31353fire: and there were added besides many more words than had been 31354before. 31355 31356 31357 31358Jeremias Chapter 37 31359 31360 31361Jeremias prophesies that the Chaldeans, who had departed from 31362Jerusalem, would return and burn the city. He is cast into prison. His 31363conference with Sedecias. 31364 3136537:1. Now king Sedecias the son of Josias reigned instead of Jechonias 31366the son of Joakim: whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon made king in the 31367land of Juda. 31368 3136937:2. But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land did 31370obey the words of the Lord, that he spoke in the hand of Jeremias the 31371prophet. 31372 3137337:3. And king Sedecias sent Juchal the son of Selemias, and Sophonias 31374the son of Maasias the priest to Jeremias the prophet, saying: Pray to 31375the Lord our God for us. 31376 3137737:4. Now Jeremias walked freely in the midst of the people: for they 31378had not as yet cast him into prison. And the army of Pharao was come 31379out of Egypt: and the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem, hearing these 31380tidings, departed from Jerusalem. 31381 3138237:5. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the prophet, saying: 31383 3138437:6. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the 31385king of Juda, who sent you to inquire of me: Behold the army of Pharao, 31386which is come forth to help you, shall return into their own land, into 31387Egypt. 31388 3138937:7. And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, 31390and take it, and burn it with fire. 31391 3139237:8. Thus saith the Lord: Deceive not your souls, saying: The 31393Chaldeans shall surely depart and go away from us: for they shall not 31394go away. 31395 3139637:9. But if you should even beat all the army of the Chaldeans that 31397fight against you, and there should be left of them some wounded men: 31398they shall rise up, every man from his heart, and burn this city with 31399fire. 31400 3140137:10. Now when the army of the Chaldeans was gone away from Jerusalem, 31402because of Pharao's army, 31403 3140437:11. Jeremias went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of 31405Benjamin: and to divide a possession there in the presence of the 31406citizens, 31407 3140837:12. And when he was come to the gate of Benjamin, the captain of the 31409gate, who was there in his turn, was one named Jerias, the son of 31410Selemias, the son of Hananias: and he took hold of Jeremias the 31411prophet, saying: Thou art fleeing to the Chaldeans. 31412 3141337:13. And Jeremias answered: It is not so, I am not fleeing to the 31414Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Jerias took Jeremias and 31415brought him to the princes. 31416 3141737:14. Wherefore the princes were angry with Jeremias, and they beat 31418him, and cast him into the prison that was in the house of Jonathan the 31419scribe: for he was chief over the prison. 31420 3142137:15. So Jeremias went into the house of the prison, and into the 31422dungeon: and Jeremias remained there many days. 31423 3142437:16. Then Sedecias the king, sending, took him: and asked him 31425secretly in his house, and said: Is there, thinkest thou, any word from 31426the Lord? And Jeremias said. There is. And he said: Thou shalt be 31427delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon. 31428 3142937:17. And Jeremias said to king Sedecias: In what have I offended 31430against thee, or thy servants, or thy people, that thou hast cast me 31431into prison? 31432 3143337:18. Where are your prophets that prophesied to you, and said: The 31434king of Babylon shall not come against you, and against this land? 31435 3143637:19. Now therefore hear, I beseech thee, my lord the king: let my 31437petition be accepted in thy sight: and send me not back into the house 31438of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. 31439 3144037:20. Then king Sedecias commanded that Jeremias should be committed 31441into the entry of the prison: and that they should give him daily a 31442piece of bread, beside broth, till all the bread in the city were 31443spent: and Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison. 31444 31445 31446 31447Jeremias Chapter 38 31448 31449 31450The prophet at the instance of the great men is cast into a filthy 31451dungeon: he is drawn out by Abdemelech, and has another conference with 31452the king. 31453 3145438:1. Now Saphatias the son of Mathan, and Gedelias the son of Phassur, 31455and Juchal the son of Selemias, and Phassur the son of Melchias heard 31456the words that Jeremias spoke to all the people, saying: 31457 3145838:2. Thus saith the Lord: Whosoever shall remain in this city, shall 31459die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: but he that shall 31460go forth to the Chaldeans, shall live, and his life shall be safe, and 31461he shall live. 31462 3146338:3. Thus saith the Lord: This city shall surely be delivered into the 31464hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 31465 3146638:4. And the princes said to the king. We beseech thee that this man 31467may be put to death: for on purpose he weakeneth the hands of the men 31468of war, that remain in this city, and the hands of the people, speaking 31469to them according to these words: for this man seeketh not peace to 31470this people, but evil. 31471 3147238:5. And king Sedecias said: Behold he is in your hands: for it is not 31473lawful for the king to deny you any thing. 31474 3147538:6. Then they took Jeremias and cast him into the dungeon of Melchias 31476the son of Amelech, which was in the entry of the prison: and they let 31477down Jeremias by ropes into the dungeon, wherein there was no water, 31478but mire. And Jeremias sunk into the mire. 31479 3148038:7. Now Abdemelech the Ethiopian, an eunuch that was in the king's 31481house, heard that they had put Jeremias in the dungeon: but the king 31482was sitting in the gate of Benjamin. 31483 3148438:8. And Abdemelech went out of the king's house, and spoke to the 31485king, saying: 31486 3148738:9. My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have 31488done against Jeremias the prophet, casting him into the dungeon to die 31489there with hunger, for there is no more bread in the city. 31490 3149138:10. Then the king commanded Abdemelech the Ethiopian, saying: Take 31492from hence thirty men with thee, and draw up Jeremias the prophet out 31493of the dungeon, before he die. 31494 3149538:11. So Abdemelech taking the men with him, went into the king's 31496house that was under the storehouse: and he took from thence old rags, 31497and old rotten things, and he let them down by cords to Jeremias into 31498the dungeon. 31499 3150038:12. And Abdemelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremias: Put these old 31501rags and these rent and rotten things under thy arms, and upon the 31502cords: and Jeremias did so. 31503 3150438:13. And they drew up Jeremias with the cords, and brought him forth 31505out of the dungeon. And Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison. 31506 3150738:14. And king Sedecias sent, and took Jeremias the prophet to him to 31508the third gate, that was in the house of the Lord: and the king said to 31509Jeremias: I will ask thee a thing, hide nothing from me. 31510 3151138:15. Then Jeremias said to Sedecias: If I shall declare it to thee, 31512wilt thou not put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt 31513not hearken to me. 31514 3151538:16. Then king Sedecias swore to Jeremias, in private, saying: As the 31516Lord liveth, that, made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, nor 31517will I deliver thee into the hands of these men that seek thy life. 31518 3151938:17. And Jeremias said to Sedecias: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the 31520God of Israel: If thou wilt take a resolution and go out to the princes 31521of the king of Babylon, thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be 31522burnt with fire: and thou shalt be safe, and thy house. 31523 3152438:18. But if thou wilt not go out to the princes of the king of 31525Babylon, this city shall be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans, 31526and they shall burn it with fire: and thou shalt not escape out of 31527their hand. 31528 3152938:19. And king Sedecias said to Jeremias: I am afraid because of the 31530Jews that are fled over to the Chaldeans: lest I should be delivered 31531into their hands, and they should abuse me. 31532 3153338:20. But Jeremias answered: They shall not deliver thee: hearken, I 31534beseech thee, to the word of the Lord, which I speak to the, and it 31535shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live. 31536 3153738:21. But if thou wilt not go forth, this is the word which the Lord 31538hath shewn me: 31539 3154038:22. Behold all the women that are left in the house of the king of 31541Juda, shall be brought out to the princes of the king of Babylon: and 31542they shall say: Thy men of peace have deceived thee, and have prevailed 31543against thee, they have plunged thy feet in the mire, and in a slippery 31544place and they have departed from thee. 31545 31546Thy men of peace. . .Viri pacifici tui. That is thy false friends 31547promising thee peace and happiness, and by their evil counsels 31548involving thee in misery. 31549 3155038:23. And all thy wives, and thy children shall be brought out to the 31551Chaldeans, and thou shalt not escape their hands, but thou shalt be 31552taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and he shall burn this city 31553with fire. 31554 3155538:24. Then Sedecias said to Jeremias: Let no man know these words, and 31556thou shalt not die. 31557 3155838:25. But if the princes shall hear that I have spoken with thee, and 31559shall come to thee, and say to thee: Tell us what thou hast said to the 31560king, hide it not from us, and we will not kill thee: and also what the 31561king said to thee: 31562 3156338:26. Thou shalt say to them: I presented my supplication before the 31564king, that he would not command me to be carried back into the house of 31565Jonathan, to die there. 31566 3156738:27. So all the princes came to Jeremias, and asked him: and he spoke 31568to them according to all the words that the king had commanded him: and 31569they left him: for nothing had been heard. 31570 3157138:28. But Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison, until the day 31572that Jerusalem was taken: and it came to pass that Jerusalem was taken. 31573 31574 31575 31576Jeremias Chapter 39 31577 31578 31579After two years' siege Jerusalem is taken. Sedecias is carried before 31580Nabuchodonosor, who kills his sons in his sight, and then puts out his 31581eyes. Jeremias is set at liberty. 31582 3158339:1. In the ninth year of Sedecias king of Juda, in the tenth month, 31584came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and all his army to Jerusalem, and 31585they besieged it. 31586 3158739:2. And in the eleventh year of Sedecias, in the fourth month, the 31588fifth day of the month, the city was opened. 31589 3159039:3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in 31591the middle gate: Neregel, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsares, 31592Neregel, Serezer, Rebmag, and all the rest of the princes of the king 31593of Babylon. 31594 3159539:4. And when Sedecias the king of Juda and all the men of war saw 31596them, they fled: and they went forth in the night out of the city by 31597the way of the king's garden, and by the gate that was between the two 31598walls, and they went out to the way of the desert. 31599 3160039:5. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them: and they took 31601Sedecias in the plain of the desert of Jericho, and when they had taken 31602him, they brought him to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon to Reblatha, 31603which is in the land of Emath: and he gave judgment upon him. 31604 3160539:6. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Sedecias, in Reblatha, 31606before his eyes: and the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Juda. 31607 3160839:7. He also put out the eyes of Sedecias: and bound him with fetters, 31609to be carried to Babylon. 31610 3161139:8. And the Chaldeans burnt the king's house, and the houses of the 31612people with fire, and they threw down the wall of Jerusalem. 31613 3161439:9. And Nabuzardan the general of the army carried away captive to 31615Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and the 31616fugitives that had gone over to him, and the rest of the people that 31617remained. 31618 3161939:10. But Nabuzardan the general left some of the poor people that had 31620nothing at all, in the land of Juda, and he gave them vineyards, and 31621cisterns at that time. 31622 3162339:11. Now Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had given charge to 31624Nabuzardan the general concerning Jeremias, saying: 31625 3162639:12. Take him, and set thy eyes upon him, and do him no harm: but as 31627he hath a mind, so do with him. 31628 3162939:13. Therefore Nabuzardan the general sent, and Nabuzardan, and 31630Rabsares, and Neregel, and Sereser, and Rebmag, and all the nobles of 31631the king of Babylon, 31632 3163339:14. Sent and took Jeremias out of the court of the prison, and 31634committed him to Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, that he 31635might go home, and dwell among the people. 31636 3163739:15. But the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, when he was yet shut 31638up in the court of the prison, saying: Go, and tell Abdemelech the 31639Ethiopian, saying: 31640 3164139:16. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will 31642bring my words upon this city unto evil, and not unto good: and they 31643shall be accomplished in thy sight in that day. 31644 3164539:17. And I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou 31646shalt not be given into the hands of the men whom thou fearest: 31647 3164839:18. But delivering, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by 31649the sword: but thy life shall be saved for thee, because thou hast put 31650thy trust in me, saith the Lord. 31651 31652 31653 31654Jeremias Chapter 40 31655 31656 31657Jeremias remains with Godolias the governor; who receives all the Jews 31658that resort to him. 31659 3166040:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, after that 31661Nabuzardan the general had let him go from Rama, when he had taken him, 31662being bound with chains, among all them that were carried away from 31663Jerusalem and Juda, and were carried to Babylon. 31664 3166540:2. And the general of the army taking Jeremias, said to him: The 31666Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place, 31667 3166840:3. And he hath brought it: and the Lord hath done as he hath said: 31669because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not hearkened to his 31670voice, and this word is come upon you. 31671 3167240:4. Now then behold I have loosed thee this day from the chains which 31673were upon thy hands: if it please thee to come with me to Babylon, 31674come: and I will set my eyes upon thee: but if it do not please thee to 31675come with me to Babylon, stay here: behold all the land is before thee, 31676as thou shalt choose, and whither it shall please thee to go, thither 31677go. 31678 3167940:5. And come not with me: but dwell with Godolias the son of Ahicam 31680the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the 31681cities of Juda: dwell therefore with him in the midst of the people: or 31682whithersoever it shall please thee to go, go. And the general of the 31683army gave him victuals and presents, and let him go. 31684 3168540:6. And Jeremias went to Godolias the son of Ahicam to Masphath: and 31686dwelt with him in the midst of the people that were left in the land. 31687 3168840:7. And when all the captains of the army that were scattered through 31689the countries, they and their companions, had heard that the king of 31690Babylon had made Godolias the son of Ahicam governor of the country, 31691and that he had committed unto him men and women, and children, and of 31692the poor of the land, them that had not been carried away captive to 31693Babylon: 31694 3169540:8. They came to Godolias to Masphath: and Ismahel the son of 31696Nathanias, and Johanan, and Jonathan, the sons of Caree, and Sareas the 31697son of Thanehumeth, and the children of Ophi, that were of Netophathi, 31698and Jezonias the son of Maachati, they and their men. 31699 3170040:9. And Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan swore to them 31701and to their companions, saying: Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell 31702in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with 31703you. 31704 3170540:10. Behold I dwell in Masphath, that I may answer the commandment of 31706the Chaldeans that are sent to us: but as for you, gather ye the 31707vintage, and the harvest, and the oil, and lay it up in your vessels, 31708and abide in your cities which you hold. 31709 3171040:11. Moreover all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children 31711of Ammon, and in Edom, and in all the countries, when they heard that 31712the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judea, and that he had made 31713Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan ruler over them: 31714 3171540:12. All the Jews, I say, returned out of all the places to which 31716they had fled, and they came into the land of Juda to Godolias to 31717Masphath: and they gathered wine, and a very great harvest. 31718 3171940:13. Then Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the army, 31720that had been scattered about in the countries, came to Godolias to 31721Masphath. 31722 3172340:14. And they said to him: Know that Baalis the king of the children 31724of Ammon hath sent Ismahel the son of Nathanias to kill thee. And 31725Godolias the son of Ahicam believed them not. 31726 3172740:15. But Johanan the son of Caree, spoke to Godolias privately in 31728Masphath, saying: I will go, and I will kill Ismahel the son of 31729Nathanias, and no man shall know it, lest he kill thee, and all the 31730Jews be scattered, that are gathered unto thee, and the remnant of Juda 31731perish. 31732 3173340:16. And Godolias the son of Ahicam said to Johanan the son of Caree: 31734Do not this thing: for what thou sayst of Ismahel is false. 31735 31736 31737 31738Jeremias Chapter 41 31739 31740 31741Godolias is slain: the Jews that were with him are apprehensive of the 31742Chaldeans. 31743 3174441:1. And it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ismahel the son of 31745Nathanias, the son of Elisama of the royal blood, and the nobles of the 31746king, and ten men with him, came to Godolias the son of Ahicam into 31747Masphath: and they ate bread there together in Masphath. 31748 3174941:2. And Ismahel the son of Nathanias arose, and the ten men that were 31750with him, and they struck Godolias the son of Ahicam, the son of Saphan 31751with the sword, and slew him whom the king of Babylon had made governor 31752over the land. 31753 3175441:3. Ismahel slew also all the Jews that were with Godolias in 31755Masphath, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the soldiers. 31756 3175741:4. And on the second day after he had killed Godolias, no man yet 31758knowing it, 31759 3176041:5. There came some from Sichem, and from Silo, and from Samaria, 31761fourscore men, with their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and 31762mourning: and they had offerings and incense in their hand, to offer in 31763the house of the Lord. 31764 3176541:6. And Ismahel the son of Nathanias went forth from Masphath to meet 31766them, weeping all along as he went: and when he had met them, he said 31767to them: Come to Godolias, the son of Ahicam. 31768 3176941:7. And when they were come to the midst of the city, Ismahel the son 31770of Nathanias, slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he 31771and the men that were with him. 31772 3177341:8. But ten men were found among them, that said to Ismahel: Kill us 31774not: for we have stores in the field, of wheat, and barley, and oil, 31775and honey. And he forbore, and slew them not with their brethren. 31776 3177741:9. And the pit into which Ismahel cast all the dead bodies of the 31778men whom he slew because of Godolias, is the same that king Asa made, 31779for fear of Baasa the king of Israel: the same did Ismahel the son of 31780Nathanias fill with them that were slain. 31781 3178241:10. Then Ismahel carried away captive all the remnant of the people 31783that were in Masphath: the king's daughters, and all the people that 31784remained in Masphath: whom Nabuzardan the general of the army had 31785committed to Godolias the son of Ahicam. And Ismahel the son of 31786Nathanias took them, and he departed, to go over to the children of 31787Ammon. 31788 3178941:11. But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the 31790fighting men that were with him, heard of the evil that Ismahel the son 31791of Nathanias had done. 31792 3179341:12. And taking all the men, they went out to fight against Ismahel 31794the son of Nathanias, and they found him by the great waters that are 31795in Gabaon. 31796 3179741:13. And when all the people that were with Ismahel, had seen Johanan 31798the son of Caree, and all the captains of the fighting men that were 31799with him, they rejoiced. 31800 3180141:14. And all the people whom Ismahel had taken, went back to 31802Masphath: and they returned and went to Johanan the son of Caree. 31803 3180441:15. But Ismahel the son of Nathanias fled with eight men, from the 31805face of Johanan, and went to the children of Ammon. 31806 3180741:16. Then Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the 31808soldiers that were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom 31809they had recovered from Ismahel the son of Nathanias, from Masphath, 31810after that he had slain Godolias the son of Ahicam: valiant men for 31811war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs whom he had 31812brought back from Gabaon. 31813 3181441:17. And they departed, and sat as sojourners in Chamaam, which is 31815near Bethlehem: in order to go forward, and enter into Egypt, 31816 3181741:18. From the face of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, 31818because Ismahel the son of Nathanias had slain Godolias the son of 31819Ahicam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor in the land of Juda. 31820 31821 31822 31823Jeremias Chapter 42 31824 31825 31826Jeremias assures the remnant of the people, that if they will stay in 31827Juda, they shall be safe; but if they go down into Egypt, they shall 31828perish. 31829 3183042:1. Then all the captains of the warriors, and Johanan the son of 31831Caree, and Jezonias, the son of Osaias, and the rest of the people from 31832the least to the greatest came near: 31833 3183442:2. And they said to Jeremias the prophet: Let our supplication fall 31835before thee: and pray thou for us to the Lord thy God for all this 31836remnant, for we are left but a few of many, as thy eyes do behold us. 31837 3183842:3. And let the Lord thy God shew us the way by which we may walk, 31839and the thing that we must do. 31840 3184142:4. And Jeremias the prophet said to them: I have heard you: behold I 31842will pray to the Lord your God according to your words: and whatsoever 31843thing he shall answer me, I will declare it to you: and I will hide 31844nothing from you. 31845 3184642:5. And they said to Jeremias: The Lord be witness between us of 31847truth and faithfulness, if we do not according to every thing for which 31848the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. 31849 3185042:6. Whether it be good or evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord 31851our God, to whom we send thee: that it may be well with us when we 31852shall hearken to the voice of the Lord our God. 31853 31854Good or evil. . .That is, agreeable or disagreeable. 31855 3185642:7. Now after ten days, the word of the Lord came to Jeremias. 31857 3185842:8. And he called Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of 31859the fighting men that were with him, and all the people from the least 31860to the greatest. 31861 3186242:9. And he said to them: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel, to 31863whom you sent me, to present your supplications before him: 31864 3186542:10. If you will be quiet and remain in this land, I will build you 31866up, and not pull you down: I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for 31867now I am appeased for the evil that I have done to you. 31868 31869I am appeased for the evil that I have done to you. . .That is, I am 31870appeased, as I have sufficiently punished you, and now I am reconciled 31871with you. 31872 3187342:11. Fear not because of the king of Babylon, of whom you are greatly 31874afraid: fear him not, saith the Lord: for I am with you, to save you, 31875and to deliver you from his hand. 31876 3187742:12. And I will shew mercies to you, and will take pity on you, and 31878will cause you to dwell in your own land. 31879 3188042:13. But if you say: We will not dwell in this land, neither will we 31881hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, 31882 3188342:14. Saying: No, but we will go into the land of Egypt: where we 31884shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor suffer hunger: 31885and there we will dwell. 31886 3188742:15. For this now hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Juda: Thus 31888saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to go 31889into Egypt, and enter in to dwell there: 31890 3189142:16. The sword which you fear, shall overtake you there in the land 31892of Egypt: and the famine, whereof you are afraid, shall cleave to you 31893in Egypt, and there you shall die. 31894 3189542:17. And all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt, to dwell 31896there, shall die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: none 31897of them shall remain, nor escape from the face of the evil that I will 31898bring upon them. 31899 3190042:18. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: As my anger 31901and my indignation hath been kindled against the inhabitants of 31902Jerusalem: so shall my indignation be kindled against you, when you 31903shall enter into Egypt, and you shall be an execration, and an 31904astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach: and you shall see this place 31905no more. 31906 3190742:19. This is the word of the Lord concerning you, O ye remnant of 31908Juda: Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have adjured you this 31909day. 31910 3191142:20. For you have deceived your own souls: for you sent me to the 31912Lord our God, saying: Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to 31913all that the Lord our God shall say to thee, so declare unto us, and we 31914will do it. 31915 3191642:21. And now I have declared it to you this day, and you have not 31917obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, with regard to all the things 31918for which he hath sent me to you. 31919 3192042:22. Now therefore know certainly that you shall die by the sword, 31921and by famine, and by pestilence in the place to which you desire to go 31922to dwell there. 31923 31924 31925 31926Jeremias Chapter 43 31927 31928 31929The Jews, contrary to the orders of God by the prophet, go into Egypt, 31930carrying Jeremias with them. He foretells the devastation of that land 31931by the king of Babylon. 31932 3193343:1. And it came to pass, that when Jeremias had made an end of 31934speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which 31935the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words: 31936 3193743:2. Azarias the son of Osaias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and all 31938the proud men, made answer, saying to Jeremias: Thou tellest a lie: the 31939Lord our God hath not sent thee, saying: Go not into Egypt, to dwell 31940there. 31941 3194243:3. But Baruch the son of Nerias setteth thee on against us, to 31943deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, and to cause us 31944to be carried away captives to Babylon. 31945 3194643:4. So Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the 31947soldiers, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to 31948remain in the land of Juda. 31949 3195043:5. But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the 31951soldiers took all the remnant of Juda, that were returned out of all 31952nations, to which they had before been scattered, to dwell in the land 31953of Juda: 31954 3195543:6. Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every 31956soul, which Nabuzardan the general had left with Godolias the son of 31957Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Jeremias the prophet, and Baruch the son 31958of Nerias. 31959 3196043:7. And they went into the land of Egypt, for they obeyed not the 31961voice of the Lord: and they came as far as Taphnis. 31962 3196343:8. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias in Taphnis, saying: 31964 3196543:9. Take great stones in thy hand, and thou shalt hide them in the 31966vault that is under the brick wall at the gate of Pharao's house in 31967Taphnis: in the sight of the men of Juda. 31968 3196943:10. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God 31970of Israel: Behold I will send, and take Nabuchodonosor the king of 31971Babylon my servant: and I will set his throne over these stones which I 31972have hid, and he shall set his throne over them. 31973 3197443:11. And he shall come and strike the land of Egypt: such as are for 31975death, to death: and such as are for captivity, to captivity: and such 31976as are for the sword, to the sword. 31977 3197843:12. And he shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, 31979and he shall burn them, and he shall carry them away captives: and he 31980shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on 31981his garment: and he shall go forth from thence in peace. 31982 3198343:13. And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are 31984in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall 31985burn with fire. 31986 31987 31988 31989Jeremias Chapter 44 31990 31991 31992The prophet's admonition to the Jews in Egypt against idolatry is not 31993regarded: he denounces to them their destruction. 31994 3199544:1. The word that came to Jeremias, concerning all the Jews that 31996dwelt in the land of Egypt, dwelling in Magdal, and in Taphnis, and in 31997Memphis, and in the land of Phatures, saying: 31998 3199944:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: You have seen all 32000this evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities 32001of Juda: and behold they are desolate this day, and there is not an 32002inhabitant in them: 32003 3200444:3. Because of the wickedness which they have committed, to provoke 32005me to wrath, and to go and offer sacrifice, and worship other gods, 32006which neither they, nor you, nor your fathers knew. 32007 3200844:4. And I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early, and 32009sending, and saying: Do not commit this abominable thing, which I hate. 32010 3201144:5. But they heard not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their 32012evil ways, and not to sacrifice to strange gods. 32013 3201444:6. Wherefore my indignation and my fury was poured forth, and was 32015kindled in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and 32016they are turned to desolation and waste, as at this day. 32017 3201844:7. And now thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Why do 32019you commit this great evil against your own souls, that there should 32020die of you man and woman, child and suckling out of the midst of Juda, 32021and no remnant should be left you: 32022 3202344:8. In that you provoke me to wrath with the works of your hands, by 32024sacrificing to other gods in the land of Egypt, into which you are come 32025to dwell there: and that you should perish, and be a curse, and a 32026reproach to all the nations of the earth? 32027 3202844:9. Have you forgotten the evils of your fathers, and the evils of 32029the kings of Juda, and the evils of their wives, and your evils, and 32030the evils of your wives, that they have done in the land of Juda, and 32031in the streets of Jerusalem? 32032 3203344:10. They are not cleansed even to this day: neither have they 32034feared, nor walked in the law of the Lord, nor in my commandments, 32035which I set before you and your fathers. 32036 3203744:11. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold 32038I will set my face upon you for evil: and I will destroy all Juda. 32039 3204044:12. And I will take the remnant of Juda that have set their faces to 32041go into the land of Egypt, and to dwell there; and they shall be all 32042consumed in the land of Egypt: they shall fall by the sword, and by the 32043famine: and they shall be consumed from the least even to the greatest, 32044by the sword, and by the famine shall they die: and they shall be for 32045an execration, and for a wonder, and for a curse, and for a reproach. 32046 3204744:13. And I will visit them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have 32048visited Jerusalem by the sword, and by famine and by pestilence. 32049 3205044:14. And there shall be none that shall escape, and remain of the 32051remnant of the Jews that are gone to sojourn in the land of Egypt: and 32052that shall return into the land of Juda, to which they have a desire to 32053return to dwell there: there shall none return but they that shall 32054flee. 32055 3205644:15. Then all the men that knew that their wives sacrificed to other 32057gods: and all the women of whom there stood by a great multitude, and 32058all the people of them that dwelt in the land of Egypt in Phatures, 32059answered Jeremias, saying: 32060 3206144:16. As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the 32062Lord, we will not hearken to thee: 32063 3206444:17. But we will certainly do every word that shall proceed out of 32065our own mouth, to sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and to pour out 32066drink offerings to her, as we and our fathers have done, our kings, and 32067our princes in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and 32068we were filled with bread, and it was well with us, and we saw no evil. 32069 32070The queen of heaven. . .The moon, which they worshipped under this name. 32071 3207244:18. But since we left off to offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, 32073and to pour out frank offerings to her, we have wanted all things, and 32074have been consumed by the sword, and by famine. 32075 3207644:19. And if we offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and pour out 32077drink offerings to her: did we make cakes to worship her, to pour out 32078drink offerings to her, without our husbands? 32079 3208044:20. And Jeremias spoke to all the people, to the men, and to the 32081women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying: 32082 3208344:21. Was it not the sacrifice that you offered in the cities of Juda, 32084and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings, and 32085your princes, and the people of the land, which the Lord hath 32086remembered, and hath it not entered into his heart? 32087 3208844:22. So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of 32089your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed: 32090therefore your land is become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a 32091curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 32092 3209344:23. Because you have sacrificed to idols, and have sinned against 32094the Lord: and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have not 32095walked in his law, and in his commandments, and in his testimonies: 32096therefore are these evils come upon you, as at this day. 32097 3209844:24. And Jeremias said to all the people and to all the women: Hear 32099ye the word of the Lord, all Juda, you that dwell in the land of Egypt: 32100 3210144:25. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, saying: You and 32102your wives have spoken with your mouth, and fulfilled with your hands, 32103saying: Let us perform our vows which we have made, to offer sacrifice 32104to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her: you 32105have fulfilled your vows, and have performed them indeed. 32106 3210744:26. Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Juda, you that dwell 32108in the land of Egypt: Behold I have sworn by my great name, saith the 32109Lord: that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of 32110Juda, in the land of Egypt, saying: The Lord God liveth. 32111 3211244:27. Behold I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and 32113all the men of Juda that are in the land of Egypt, shall be consumed, 32114by the sword, and by famine, till there be an end of them. 32115 3211644:28. And a few men that shall flee from the sword, shall return out 32117of the land of Egypt into the land of Juda: and all the remnant of Juda 32118that are gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose 32119word shall stand, mine, or theirs. 32120 3212144:29. And this shall be a sign to you, saith the Lord, that I will 32122punish you in this place: that you may know that my words shall be 32123accomplished indeed against you for evil. 32124 3212544:30. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will deliver Pharao Nechao king of 32126Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek 32127his life: as I delivered Sedecias king of Juda into the land of 32128Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon his enemy, and that sought his life. 32129 32130 32131 32132Jeremias Chapter 45 32133 32134 32135The prophet comforts Baruch in his affliction. 32136 3213745:1. The word that Jeremias the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of 32138Nerias, when he had written these words in a book, out of the mouth of 32139Jeremias, in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, 32140saying: 32141 3214245:2. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to thee, Baruch: 32143 3214445:3. Thou hast said: Woe is me, wretch that I am, for the Lord hath 32145added sorrow to my sorrow: I am wearied with my groans, and I find no 32146rest. 32147 3214845:4. Thus saith the Lord: Thus shalt thou say to him: Behold, them 32149whom I have built, I do destroy: and them whom I have planted, I do 32150pluck up, and all this land. 32151 3215245:5. And dost thou seek great things for thyself? Seek not: for behold 32153I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord! but I will give thee 32154thy life, and save thee in all places whithersoever thou shalt go. 32155 32156 32157 32158Jeremias Chapter 46 32159 32160 32161A prophecy against Egypt. The Jews shall return from captivity. 32162 3216346:1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against 32164the Gentiles, 32165 3216646:2. Against Egypt, against the army of Pharao Nechao king of Egypt, 32167which was by the river Euphrates in Charcamis, whom Nabuchodonosor the 32168king of Babylon defeated, in the fourth year of Joakim the son of 32169Josias king of Juda. 32170 3217146:3. Prepare ye the shield and buckler, and go forth to battle. 32172 3217346:4. Harness the horses, and get up, ye horsemen: stand forth with 32174helmets, furbish the spears, put on coats of mail. 32175 3217646:5. What then? I have seen them dismayed, and turning their backs, 32177their valiant ones slain: they fled apace, and they looked not back: 32178terror was round about, saith the Lord. 32179 3218046:6. Let not the swift flee away, nor the strong think to escape: they 32181are overthrown, and fallen down, towards the north by the river 32182Euphrates. 32183 3218446:7. Who is this that cometh up as a flood: and his streams swell like 32185those of rivers? 32186 3218746:8. Egypt riseth up like a flood, and the waves thereof shall be 32188moved as rivers, and he shall say: I will go up and will cover the 32189earth: I will destroy the city, and its inhabitants. 32190 3219146:9. Get ye up on horses, and glory in chariots, and let the valiant 32192men come forth, the Ethiopians, and the Libyans that hold the shield, 32193and the Lydians that take, and shoot arrows. 32194 3219546:10. For this is the day of the Lord the God of hosts, a day of 32196vengeance, that he may revenge himself of his enemies: the sword shall 32197devour, and shall be filled, and shall be drunk with their blood: for 32198there is a sacrifice of the Lord God of hosts in the north country, by 32199the river Euphrates. 32200 3220146:11. Go up into Galaad, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt: in 32202vain dost thou multiply medicines, there shall be no cure for thee. 32203 3220446:12. The nations have heard of thy disgrace, and thy howling hath 32205filled the land: for the strong hath stumbled against the strong, and 32206both are fallen together. 32207 3220846:13. The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremias the prophet, how 32209Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon should come and strike the land of 32210Egypt: 32211 3221246:14. Declare ye to Egypt, and publish it in Magdal, and let it be 32213known in Memphis, and in Taphnis: say ye: Stand up, and prepare 32214thyself: for the sword shall devour all round about thee. 32215 3221646:15. Why are thy valiant men come to nothing? they stood not: because 32217the Lord hath overthrown them. 32218 3221946:16. He hath multiplied them that fall, and one hath fallen upon 32220another, and they shall say: Arise, and let us return to our own 32221people, and to the land of our nativity, from the sword of the dove. 32222 32223The dove. . .See the annotation on chap. 25., ver. 38. 32224 3222546:17. Call ye the name of Pharao king of Egypt, a tumult time hath 32226brought. 32227 3222846:18. As I live, saith the King, (whose name is the Lord of hosts,) as 32229Thabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he 32230come. 32231 3223246:19. Furnish thyself to go into captivity, thou daughter inhabitant 32233of Egypt: for Memphis shall be made desolate, and shall be forsaken and 32234uninhabited. 32235 3223646:20. Egypt is like a fair and beautiful heifer: there shall come from 32237the north one that shall goad her. 32238 3223946:21. Her hirelings also that lived in the midst of her, like fatted 32240calves are turned back, and are fled away together, and they could not 32241stand, for the day of their slaughter is come upon them, the time of 32242their visitation. 32243 3224446:22. Her voice shall sound like brass, for they shall hasten with an 32245army, and with axes they shall come against her, as hewers of wood. 32246 3224746:23. They have cut down her forest, saith the Lord, which cannot be 32248counted: they are multiplied above locusts, and are without number. 32249 3225046:24. The daughter of Egypt is confounded, and delivered into the hand 32251of the people of the north. 32252 3225346:25. The Lord of hosts the God of Israel hath said: Behold I will 32254visit upon the tumult of Alexandria, and upon Pharao, and upon Egypt, 32255and upon her gods, and upon her kings, and upon Pharao, and upon them 32256that trust in him. 32257 32258Visit upon. . .That is, punish.--Ibid. Alexandria. . .In the Hebrew, No, 32259which was the ancient name of the city, to which Alexander gave 32260afterwards the name of Alexandria. 32261 3226246:26. And I will deliver them into the hand of them that seek their 32263lives, and into the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and into 32264the hand of his servants: and afterwards it shall be inhabited, as in 32265the days of old, saith the Lord. 32266 3226746:27. And thou my servant Jacob, fear not and be not thou dismayed, O 32268Israel: for behold I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed out of 32269the land of thy captivity: and Jacob shall return and be at rest, and 32270prosper: and there shall be none to terrify him. 32271 3227246:28. And thou, my servant Jacob, fear not, saith the Lord: because I 32273am with thee, for I will consume all the nations to which I have cast 32274thee out: but thee I will not consume, but I will correct thee in 32275judgment, neither will I spare thee as if thou wert innocent. 32276 32277 32278 32279Jeremias Chapter 47 32280 32281 32282A prophecy of the desolation of the Philistines, of Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, 32283and Ascalon. 32284 3228547:1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against 32286the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza. 32287 3228847:2. Thus saith the Lord: Behold there come up waters out of the 32289north, and they shall be as an overflowing torrent, and they shall 32290cover the land, and all that is therein, the city and the inhabitants 32291thereof: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land 32292shall howl, 32293 3229447:3. At the noise of the marching of arms, and of his soldiers, at the 32295rushing of his chariots, and the multitude of his wheels. The fathers 32296have not looked back to the children, for feebleness of hands, 32297 3229847:4. Because of the coming of the day, in which all the Philistines 32299shall be laid waste, and Tyre and Sidon shall be destroyed, with all 32300the rest of their helpers. For the Lord hath wasted the Philistines, 32301the remnant of the isle of Cappadocia. 32302 3230347:5. Baldness is come upon Gaza: Ascalon hath held her peace with the 32304remnant of their valley: how long shalt thou cut thyself? 32305 3230647:6. O thou sword of the Lord, how long wilt thou not be quiet? Go 32307into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. 32308 3230947:7. How shall it be quiet, when the Lord hath given it a charge 32310against Ascalon, and against the countries thereof by the sea side, and 32311there hath made an appointment for it? 32312 32313 32314 32315Jeremias Chapter 48 32316 32317 32318A prophecy of the desolation of Moab for their pride: but their 32319captivity shall at last be released. 32320 3232148:1. Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Woe 32322to Nabo, for it is laid waste, and confounded: Cariathaim is taken: the 32323strong city is confounded and hath trembled. 32324 3232548:2. There is no more rejoicing in Moab over Hesebon: they have 32326devised evil. Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. 32327Therefore shalt thou in silence hold thy peace, and the sword shall 32328follow thee. 32329 3233048:3. A voice of crying from Oronaim: waste, and great destruction. 32331 3233248:4. Moab is destroyed: proclaim a cry for her little ones. 32333 3233448:5. For by the ascent of Luith shall the mourner go up with weeping: 32335for in the descent of Oronaim the enemies have heard a howling of 32336destruction. 32337 3233848:6. Flee, save your lives: and be as heath in the wilderness. 32339 3234048:7. For because thou hast trusted in thy bulwarks, and in thy 32341treasures, thou also shalt be taken: and Chamos shall go into 32342captivity, his priests, and his princes together. 32343 32344Chamos. . .The idol of the Moabites. 32345 3234648:8. And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall 32347escape: and the valleys shall perish, and the plains shall be 32348destroyed, for the Lord hath spoken: 32349 3235048:9. Give a flower to Moab, for in its flower it shall go out: and the 32351cities thereof shall be desolate, and uninhabited. 32352 3235348:10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully: and 32354cursed be he that withholdeth his sword from blood. 32355 32356Deceitfully. . .In the Greek, negligently. The work of God here spoken 32357of, is the punishment of the Moabites. 32358 3235948:11. Moab hath been fruitful from his youth, and hath rested upon his 32360lees: and hath not been poured out from vessel to vessel, nor hath gone 32361into captivity: therefore his taste hath remained in him, and his scent 32362is not changed. 32363 32364Moab hath been fruitful. . .That is, rich and flourishing. And hath 32365rested upon his lees. . .That is, remained in its bad morals; as wine 32366not decanted has its lees mixed and remains muddy. 32367 3236848:12. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send 32369him men that shall order and overturn his bottles, and they shall cast 32370him down, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles one 32371against another. 32372 3237348:13. And Moab shall be ashamed of Chamos, as the house of Israel was 32374ashamed of Bethel, in which they trusted. 32375 32376Of Bethel. . .That is, of their golden calf which they worshipped in 32377Bethel. 32378 3237948:14. How do you say: We are valiant and stout men in battle? 32380 3238148:15. Moab is laid waste, and they have cast down her cities: and her 32382choice young men are gone down to the slaughter: saith the king, whose 32383name is the Lord of hosts. 32384 3238548:16. The destruction of Moab is near to come: the calamity thereof 32386shall come on exceeding swiftly. 32387 3238848:17. Comfort him, all you that are round about him, and all you that 32389know his name, say: How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod? 32390 3239148:18. Come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst, O dwelling of the 32392daughter of Dibon: because the spoiler of Moab is come up to thee, he 32393hath destroyed thy bulwarks. 32394 3239548:19. Stand in the way, and look out, O habitation of Aroer: inquire 32396of him that fleeth: and say to him that hath escaped: What is done? 32397 3239848:20. Moab is confounded, because he is overthrown: howl ye, and cry, 32399tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is wasted. 32400 3240148:21. And judgment is come upon the plain country: upon Helon, and 32402upon Jasa, and upon Mephaath. 32403 3240448:22. And upon Dibon, and upon Nabo, and upon the house of Deblathaim, 32405 3240648:23. And upon Cariathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmaon, 32407 3240848:24. And upon Carioth, and upon Bosra: and upon all the cities of the 32409land of Moab, far or near. 32410 3241148:25. The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the 32412Lord. 32413 32414The horn of Moab is cut off. . .That is, the strength of Moab is cut 32415off. A metaphor drawn from animals whose strength is in their horns. 32416 3241748:26. Make him drunk, because he lifted up himself against the Lord: 32418and Moab shall dash his hand in his own vomit, and he also shall be in 32419derision. 32420 3242148:27. For Israel hath been a derision unto them: as though thou hadst 32422found him amongst thieves: for thy words therefore, which thou hast 32423spoken against him, thou shalt be led away captive. 32424 3242548:28. Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, you that dwell in Moab: 32426and be ye like the dove that maketh her nest in the mouth of the hole 32427in the highest place. 32428 3242948:29. We have heard the pride of Moab, he is exceeding proud: his 32430haughtiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the loftiness of his 32431heart. 32432 3243348:30. I know, saith the Lord, his boasting, and that the strength 32434thereof is not according to it, neither hath it endeavoured to do 32435according as it was able. 32436 3243748:31. Therefore will I lament for Moab, and I will cry out to all 32438Moab, for the men of the brick wall that mourn. 32439 3244048:32. O vineyard of Sabama, I will weep for thee, with the mourning of 32441Jazer: thy branches are gone over the sea, they are come even to the 32442sea of Jazer: the robber hath rushed in upon thy harvest and thy 32443vintage. 32444 3244548:33. Joy and gladness is taken away from Carmel, and from the land of 32446Moab, and I have taken away the wine out of the presses: the treader of 32447the grapes shall not sing the accustomed cheerful tune. 32448 3244948:34. From the cry of Hesebon even to Eleale, and to Jasa, they have 32450uttered their voice: from Segor to Oronaim, as a heifer of three years 32451old: the waters also of Nemrim shall be very bad. 32452 3245348:35. And I will take away from Moab, saith the Lord, him that 32454offereth in the high places, and that sacrificeth to his gods. 32455 3245648:36. Therefore my heart shall sound for Moab like pipes and my heart 32457shall sound like pipes for the men of the brick wall: because he hath 32458done more than he could, therefore they have perished. 32459 3246048:37. For every head shall be bald, and every beard shall be shaven: 32461all hands shall be tied together, and upon every back there shall be 32462haircloth. 32463 3246448:38. Upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof 32465general mourning: because I have broken Moab as an useless vessel, 32466saith the Lord. 32467 3246848:39. How is it overthrown, and they have howled! How hath Moab bowed 32469down the neck, and is confounded! And Moab shall be a derision, and an 32470example to all round about him. 32471 3247248:40. Thus saith the Lord: Behold he shall fly as an eagle, and shall 32473stretch forth his wings to Moab. 32474 3247548:41. Carioth is taken, and the strongholds are won: and the heart of 32476the valiant men of Moab in that day shall be as the heart of a woman in 32477labour. 32478 3247948:42. And Moab shall cease to be a people: because he hath gloried 32480against the Lord. 32481 3248248:43. Fear, and the pit, and the snare come upon thee, O inhabitant of 32483Moab, saith the Lord. 32484 32485Fear. . .That is, the sword of the enemy. The pit. . .That is, 32486unforeseen calamities. The snare. . .That is, the ambushes laid by the 32487enemy. 32488 3248948:44. He that shall flee from the fear, shall fall into the pit: and 32490he that shall get up out of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for I 32491will bring upon Moab the year of their visitation, saith the Lord. 32492 3249348:45. They that fled from the snare stood in the shadow of Hesebon: 32494but there came a fire out of Hesebon, and a flame out of the midst of 32495Seon, and it shall devour part of Moab, and the crown of the head of 32496the children of tumult. 32497 3249848:46. Woe to thee, Moab, thou hast persisted, O people of Chamos: for 32499thy sons, and thy daughters are taken captives. 32500 3250148:47. And I will bring back the captivity of Moab in the last days, 32502saith the Lord. Hitherto the judgments of Moab. 32503 32504 32505 32506Jeremias Chapter 49 32507 32508 32509The like desolation of Ammon, of Idumea, of the Syrians, of the 32510Agarenes, and of the Elamites. 32511 3251249:1. Against the children of Ammon. Thus saith the Lord: Hath Israel 32513no sons? or hath he no heir? Why then hath Melchom inherited Gad: and 32514his people dwelt in his cities? 32515 32516Melchom. . .The idol of the Ammonites. 32517 3251849:2. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will cause 32519the noise of war to be heard in Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and 32520it shall be destroyed into a heap, and her daughters shall be burnt 32521with fire, and Israel shall possess them that have possessed him, saith 32522the Lord. 32523 3252449:3. Howl, O Hesebon, for Hai is wasted. Cry, ye daughters of Rabbath, 32525gird yourselves with haircloth: mourn and go about by the hedges: for 32526Melchom shall be carried into captivity, his priests, and his princes 32527together. 32528 3252949:4. Why gloriest thou in the valleys? thy valley hath flowed away, O 32530delicate daughter, that hast trusted in thy treasures, and hast said: 32531Who shall come to me? 32532 3253349:5. Behold I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of 32534hosts, from all that are round about thee: and you shall be scattered 32535every one out of one another's sight, neither shall there be any to 32536gather together them that flee. 32537 3253849:6. And afterwards I will cause the captives of the children of Ammon 32539to return, saith the Lord. 32540 3254149:7. Against Edom. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Is wisdom no more in 32542Theman? counsel is perished from her children: their wisdom is become 32543unprofitable. 32544 3254549:8. Flee and turn your backs, go down into the deep hole, ye 32546inhabitants of Dedan: for I have brought the destruction of Esau upon 32547him, the time of his visitation. 32548 3254949:9. If grapegatherers had come to thee, would they not have left a 32550bunch? if thieves in the night, they would have taken what was enough 32551for them. 32552 3255349:10. But I have made Esau bare, I have revealed his secrets, and he 32554cannot be hid: his seed is laid waste, and his brethren, and his 32555neighbours, and he shall not be. 32556 3255749:11. Leave thy fatherless children: I will make them live: and thy 32558widows shall hope in me. 32559 3256049:12. For thus saith the Lord: Behold they whose judgment was not to 32561drink of the cup, shall certainly drink: and shalt thou come off as 32562innocent? thou shalt not come off as innocent, but drinking thou shalt 32563drink. 32564 3256549:13. For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that Bosra shall 32566become a desolation, and a reproach, and a desert, and a curse: and all 32567her cities shall be everlasting wastes. 32568 3256949:14. I have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent 32570to the nations: Gather yourselves together, and come against her, and 32571let us rise up to battle. 32572 3257349:15. For behold I have made thee a little one among the nations, 32574despicable among men. 32575 3257649:16. Thy arrogancy hath deceived thee, and the pride of thy heart: O 32577thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, and endeavourest to lay 32578hold on the height of the hill: but though thou shouldst make thy nest 32579as high as an eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the 32580Lord. 32581 3258249:17. And Edom shall be desolate: every one that shall pass by it, 32583shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all its plagues. 32584 3258549:18. As Sodom was overthrown and Gomorrha, and the neighbours 32586thereof, saith the Lord: there shall not a man dwell there, and there 32587shall no son of man inhabit it. 32588 3258949:19. Behold one shall come up as a lion from the swelling of the 32590Jordan, against the strong and beautiful: for I will make him run 32591suddenly upon her: and who shall be the chosen one whom I may appoint 32592over her? for who is like to me? and who shall abide me? and who is 32593that shepherd that can withstand my countenance? 32594 3259549:20. Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, which he hath taken 32596concerning Edom: and his thoughts which he hath thought concerning the 32597inhabitants of Theman: surely the little ones of the flock shall cast 32598them down, of a truth they shall destroy them with their habitation. 32599 3260049:21. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall: the cry of their 32601voice is heard in the Red Sea. 32602 3260349:22. Behold he shall come up as an eagle, and fly: and he shall 32604spread his wings over Bosra: and in that day the heart of the valiant 32605ones of Edom shall be as the heart of a woman in labour. 32606 3260749:23. Against Damascus. Emath is confounded and Arphad: for they have 32608heard very bad tidings, they are troubled as in the sea: through care 32609they could not rest. 32610 3261149:24. Damascus is undone, she is put to flight, trembling hath seized 32612on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her as a woman in labour. 32613 3261449:25. How have they forsaken the city of renown, the city of joy! 32615 3261649:26. Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets: and all the 32617men of war shall be silent in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. 32618 3261949:27. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall 32620devour the strong holds of Benadad. 32621 3262249:28. Against Cedar and against the kingdoms of Asor, which 32623Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon destroyed. Thus saith the Lord: Arise, 32624and go ye up to Cedar, and waste the children of the east. 32625 32626Cedar and Asor. . .Were parts of Arabia; which with Moab, Ammon, Edom, 32627etc., were all brought under the yoke of Nabuchodonosor. 32628 3262949:29. They shall take their tents, and their flocks: and shall carry 32630off for themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their 32631camels: and they shall call fear upon them round about. 32632 3263349:30. Flee ye, get away speedily, sit in deep holes, you that inhabit 32634Asor, saith the Lord: for Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath taken 32635counsel against you, and hath conceived designs against you. 32636 3263749:31. Arise, and go up to a nation that is at ease, and that dwelleth 32638securely, saith the Lord: they have neither gates, nor bars: they dwell 32639alone. 32640 3264149:32. And their camels shall be for a spoil and the multitude of their 32642cattle for a booty, and I will scatter into every wind them that have 32643their hair cut round, and I will bring destruction upon them from all 32644their confines, saith the Lord. 32645 3264649:33. And Asor shall be a habitation for dragons, desolate for ever: 32647no man shall abide there, nor son of man inhabit it. 32648 3264949:34. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against 32650Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Sedecias king of Juda, saying: 32651 32652Elam. . .A part of Persia. 32653 3265449:35. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will break the bow of 32655Elam, and their chief strength. 32656 3265749:36. And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters 32658of heaven: and I will scatter them into all these winds: and there 32659shall be no nation, to which the fugitives of Elam shall not come. 32660 3266149:37. And I will cause Elam to be afraid before their enemies, and in 32662the sight of them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon 32663them, my fierce wrath, saith the Lord: and I will send the sword after 32664them, till I consume them. 32665 3266649:38. And I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy kings and princes 32667from thence, saith the Lord. 32668 3266949:39. But in the latter days I will cause the captives of Elam, to 32670return, saith the Lord. 32671 32672 32673 32674Jeremias Chapter 50 32675 32676 32677Babylon, which hath afflicted the Israelites, after their restoration, 32678shall be utterly destroyed. 32679 3268050:1. The word that the Lord hath spoken against Babylon, and against 32681the land of the Chaldeans in the hand of Jeremias the prophet. 32682 3268350:2. Declare ye among the nations, and publish it, lift up a standard: 32684proclaim, and conceal it not: say: Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, 32685Merodach is overthrown, their graven things are confounded, their idols 32686are overthrown. 32687 32688Bel, etc. . .Bel and Merodach were worshipped for gods by the men of 32689Babylon. 32690 3269150:3. For a nation is come up against her out of the north, which shall 32692make her land desolate: and there shall be none to dwell therein, from 32693man even to beast: yea they are removed, and gone away. 32694 32695A nation, etc. . .Viz., the Medes. 32696 3269750:4. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the children of 32698Israel shall come, they and the children of Juda together: going and 32699weeping they shall make haste, and shall seek the Lord their God. 32700 3270150:5. They shall ask the way to Sion, their faces are hitherward. They 32702shall come, and shall be joined to the Lord by an everlasting covenant, 32703which shall never be forgotten. 32704 3270550:6. My people have been a lost flock, their shepherds have caused 32706them to go astray, and have made them wander in the mountains: they 32707have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting 32708place. 32709 3271050:7. All that found them, have devoured them: and their enemies said: 32711We have not sinned in so doing: because they have sinned against the 32712Lord the beauty of justice, and against the Lord the hope of their 32713fathers. 32714 3271550:8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land 32716of the Chaldeans: and be ye as kids at the head of the flock. 32717 3271850:9. For behold I raise up, and will bring against Babylon an assembly 32719of great nations from the land of the north: and they shall be prepared 32720against her, and from thence she shall be taken: their arrows, like 32721those of a mighty man, a destroyer, shall not return in vain. 32722 3272350:10. And Chaldea shall be made a prey: all that waste her shall be 32724filled, saith the Lord. 32725 3272650:11. Because you rejoice, and speak great things, pillaging my 32727inheritance: because you are spread abroad as calves upon the grass, 32728and have bellowed as bulls. 32729 3273050:12. Your mother is confounded exceedingly, and she that bore you is 32731made even with the dust: behold she shall be the last among the 32732nations, a wilderness unpassable, and dry. 32733 3273450:13. Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but 32735shall be wholly desolate: every one that shall pass by Babylon, shall 32736be astonished, and shall hiss at all her plagues. 32737 3273850:14. Prepare yourselves against Babylon round about, all you that 32739bend the bow: fight against her, spare not arrows: because she hath 32740sinned against the Lord. 32741 3274250:15. Shout against her, she hath every where given her hand, her 32743foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down, for it is the 32744vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance upon her: as she hath done, so do 32745to her. 32746 3274750:16. Destroy the sower out of Babylon, and him that holdeth the 32748sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the sword of the dove every 32749man shall return to his people, and every one shall flee to his own 32750land. 32751 32752The dove. . .Or the destroyer; for the Hebrew word signifies either the 32753one or the other. 32754 3275550:17. Israel is a scattered flock, the lions have driven him away: 32756first the king of Assyria devoured him: and last this Nabuchodonosor 32757king of Babylon hath broken his bones. 32758 3275950:18. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold 32760I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, as I have visited the 32761king of Assyria. 32762 3276350:19. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation: and he shall 32764feed on Carmel, and Bason, and his soul shall be satisfied in mount 32765Ephraim, and Galaad. 32766 3276750:20. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of 32768Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sin of 32769Juda, and there shall none be found: for I will be merciful to them, 32770whom I shall leave. 32771 3277250:21. Go up against the land of the rulers, and punish the inhabitants 32773thereof, waste, and destroy all behind them, saith the Lord: and do 32774according to all that I have commanded thee. 32775 3277650:22. A noise of war in the land, and a great destruction. 32777 3277850:23. How is the hammer of the whole earth broken, and destroyed! how 32779is Babylon turned into a desert among the nations! 32780 3278150:24. I have caused thee to fall into a snare, and thou art taken, O 32782Babylon, and thou wast not aware of it: thou art found and caught, 32783because thou hast provoked the Lord. 32784 3278550:25. The Lord hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the 32786weapons of his wrath: for the Lord the God of hosts hath a work to be 32787done in the land of the Chaldeans. 32788 3278950:26. Come ye against her from the uttermost borders: open that they 32790may go forth that shall tread her down: take the stones out of the way, 32791and make heaps, and destroy her: and let nothing of her be left. 32792 3279350:27. Destroy all her valiant men, let them go down to the slaughter: 32794woe to them, for their day is come, the time of their visitation. 32795 3279650:28. The voice of them that flee, and of them that have escaped out 32797of the land of Babylon: to declare in Sion the revenge of the Lord our 32798God, the revenge of his temple. 32799 3280050:29. Declare to many against Babylon, to all that bend the bow: stand 32801together against her round about, and let none escape; pay her 32802according to her work: according to all that she hath done, do ye to 32803her: for she hath lifted up herself against the Lord, against the Holy 32804One of Israel. 32805 3280650:30. Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets: and all her 32807men of war shall hold their peace in that day, saith the Lord. 32808 3280950:31. Behold I come against thee, O proud one, saith the Lord the God 32810of hosts: for thy day is come, the time of thy visitation. 32811 3281250:32. And the proud one shall fall, he shall fall down, and there 32813shall be none to lift him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, 32814and it shall devour all round about him. 32815 3281650:33. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: The children of Israel, and the 32817children of Juda are oppressed together: all that have taken them 32818captives, hold them fast, they will not let them go. 32819 3282050:34. Their redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name: he will 32821defend their cause in judgment, to terrify the land, and to disquiet 32822the inhabitants of Babylon. 32823 3282450:35. A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon the 32825inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. 32826 3282750:36. A sword upon her diviners, and they shall be foolish: a sword 32828upon her valiant ones, and they shall be dismayed. 32829 3283050:37. A sword upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all 32831the people that are in the midst of her: and they shall become as 32832women: a sword upon her treasures, and they shall be made a spoil. 32833 3283450:38. A drought upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: because 32835it is a land of idols, and they glory in monstrous things. 32836 3283750:39. Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig fauns: and 32838ostriches shall dwell therein, and it shall be no more inhabited for 32839ever, neither shall it be built up from generation to generation. 32840 32841Fig fauns. . .Monsters of the desert, or demons in monstrous shapes: 32842such as the ancients called fauns and satyrs; and as they imagined them 32843to live upon wild figs, they called them fauni ficarii or fig fauns. 32844 3284550:40. As the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha, and their neighbour 32846cities, saith the Lord: no man shall dwell there, neither shall the son 32847of man inhabit it. 32848 3284950:41. Behold a people cometh from the north, and a great nation, and 32850many kings shall rise from the ends of the earth. 32851 3285250:42. They shall take the bow and the shield: they are cruel and 32853unmerciful: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride 32854upon horses: like a man prepared for battle against thee, O daughter of 32855Babylon. 32856 3285750:43. The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands 32858are grown feeble: anguish hath taken hold of him, pangs as a woman in 32859labour. 32860 3286150:44. Behold he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the 32862Jordan to the strong and beautiful: for I will make him run suddenly 32863upon her: and who shall be the chosen one whom I may appoint over her? 32864for who is like to me? and who shall bear up against me? and who is 32865that shepherd that can withstand my countenance? 32866 3286750:45. Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, which he hath taken 32868against Babylon: and his thoughts which he hath thought against the 32869land of the Chaldeans: surely the little ones of the flocks shall pull 32870them down, of a truth their habitation shall be destroyed with them. 32871 3287250:46. At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and 32873the cry is heard amongst the nations. 32874 32875 32876 32877Jeremias Chapter 51 32878 32879 32880The miseries that shall fall upon Babylon from the Medes: the 32881destruction of her idols. 32882 3288351:1. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will raise up as it were a 32884pestilential wind against Babylon and against the inhabitants thereof, 32885who have lifted up their heart against me. 32886 3288751:2. And I will send to Babylon fanners, and they shall fan her, and 32888shall destroy her land: for they are come upon her on every side in the 32889day of her affliction. 32890 3289151:3. Let not him that bendeth, bend his bow, and let not him go up 32892that is armed with a coat of mail: spare not her young men, destroy all 32893her army. 32894 3289551:4. And the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and the 32896wounded in the regions thereof. 32897 3289851:5. For Israel and Juda have not been forsaken by their God the Lord 32899of hosts: but their land hath been filled with sin against the Holy One 32900of Israel. 32901 3290251:6. Flee ye from the midst of Babylon, and let every one save his own 32903life: be not silent upon her iniquity: for it is the time of revenge 32904from the Lord, he will render unto her what she hath deserved. 32905 3290651:7. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord, that made 32907all the earth drunk: the nations have drunk of her wine, and therefore 32908they have staggered. 32909 3291051:8. Babylon is suddenly fallen, and destroyed: howl for her, take 32911balm for her pain, if so she may be healed. 32912 3291351:9. We would have cured Babylon, but she is not healed: let us 32914forsake her, and let us go every man to his own land: because her 32915judgment hath reached even to the heavens, and is lifted up to the 32916clouds. 32917 3291851:10. The Lord hath brought forth our justices: Come, and let us 32919declare in Sion the work of the Lord our God. 32920 3292151:11. Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers, the Lord hath raised up 32922the spirit of the kings of the Medes: and his mind is against Babylon 32923to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance 32924of his temple. 32925 3292651:12. Upon the walls of Babylon set up the standard, strengthen the 32927watch: set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the Lord hath 32928both purposed, and done all that he spoke against the inhabitants of 32929Babylon. 32930 3293151:13. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, rich in treasures, thy 32932end is come for thy entire destruction. 32933 3293451:14. The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying: I will fill 32935thee with men as with locusts, and they shall lift up a joyful shout 32936against thee. 32937 3293851:15. He that made the earth by his power, that hath prepared the 32939world by his wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by his 32940understanding. 32941 3294251:16. When he uttereth his voice the waters are multiplied in heaven: 32943he lifteth up the clouds from the ends of the earth, he hath turned 32944lightning into rain: and hath brought forth the wind out of his 32945treasures. 32946 3294751:17. Every man is become foolish by his knowledge: every founder is 32948confounded by his idol, for what he hath cast is a lie, and there is no 32949breath in them. 32950 3295151:18. They are vain works, and worthy to be laughed at, in the time of 32952their visitation they shall perish. 32953 3295451:19. The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he that made all 32955things he it is, and Israel is the sceptre of his inheritance: the Lord 32956of hosts is his name. 32957 3295851:20. Thou dashest together for me the weapons of war, and with thee I 32959will dash nations together, and with thee I will destroy kingdoms: 32960 3296151:21. And with thee I will break in pieces the horse, and his rider, 32962and with thee I will break in pieces the chariot, and him that getteth 32963up into it: 32964 3296551:22. And with thee I will break in pieces man and woman, and with 32966thee I will break in pieces the old man and the child, and with thee I 32967will break in pieces the young man and the virgin: 32968 3296951:23. And with thee I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock, 32970and with thee I will break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of 32971oxen, and with thee I will break in pieces captains and rulers. 32972 3297351:24. And I will render to Babylon, and to all the inhabitants of 32974Chaldea all their evil, that they have done in Sion, before your eyes, 32975saith the Lord. 32976 3297751:25. Behold I come against thee, thou destroying mountain, saith the 32978Lord, which corruptest the whole earth: and I will stretch out my hand 32979upon thee, and will roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a 32980burnt mountain. 32981 3298251:26. And they shall not take of thee a stone for the corner, nor a 32983stone for foundations, but thou shalt be destroyed for ever, saith the 32984Lord. 32985 3298651:27. Set ye up a standard in the land: sound with the trumpet among 32987the nations: prepare the nations against her: call together against her 32988the kings of Ararat, Menni, and Ascenez: number Taphsar against her, 32989bring the horse as the stinging locust. 32990 3299151:28. Prepare the nations against her, the kings of Media, their 32992captains, and all their rulers, and all the land of their dominion. 32993 3299451:29. And the land shall be in a commotion, and shall be troubled: for 32995the design of the Lord against Babylon shall awake, to make the land of 32996Babylon desert and uninhabitable. 32997 3299851:30. The valiant men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they have 32999dwelt in holds: their strength hath failed, and they are become as 33000women: her dwelling places are burnt, her bars are broken. 33001 3300251:31. One running post shall meet another, and messenger shall meet 33003messenger: to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken from one 33004end to the other: 33005 3300651:32. And that the fords are taken, and the marshes are burnt with 33007fire, and the men of war are affrighted. 33008 3300951:33. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: The daughter 33010of Babylon is like a thrashingfloor, this is the time of her thrashing: 33011yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. 33012 3301351:34. Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath eaten me up, he hath 33014devoured me: he hath made me as an empty vessel: he hath swallowed me 33015up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicate meats, and 33016he hath cast me out. 33017 3301851:35. The wrong done to me, and my flesh be upon Babylon, saith the 33019habitation of Sion: and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, saith 33020Jerusalem. 33021 3302251:36. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will judge thy cause, 33023and will take vengeance for thee, and I will make her sea desolate, I 33024and will dry up her spring. 33025 3302651:37. And Babylon shall be reduced to heaps, a dwelling place for 33027dragons, an astonishment and a hissing, because there is no inhabitant. 33028 3302951:38. They shall roar together like lions, they shall shake their 33030manes like young lions. 33031 3303251:39. In their heat I will set them drink: and I will make them drunk, 33033that they may slumber, and sleep an everlasting sleep, and awake no 33034more, saith the Lord. 33035 3303651:40. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, and like 33037rams with kids. 33038 3303951:41. How is Sesach taken, and the renowned one of all the earth 33040surprised? How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations? 33041 3304251:42. The sea is come up over Babylon : she is covered with the 33043multitude of the waves thereof. 33044 3304551:43. Her cities are become an astonishment, a land uninhabited and 33046desolate, a land wherein none can dwell, nor son of man pass through 33047it. 33048 3304951:44. And I will visit against Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth 33050out of his mouth that which he had swallowed down: and the nations 33051shall no more flow together to him, for the wall also of Babylon shall 33052fall. 33053 3305451:45. Go out of the midst of her, my people: that every man may save 33055his life from the fierce wrath of the Lord. 33056 3305751:46. And lest your hearts faint, and ye fear for the rumour that 33058shall be heard in the land: and a rumour shall come in one year, and 33059after this year another rumour: and iniquity in the land, and ruler 33060upon ruler. 33061 3306251:47. Therefore behold the days come, and I will visit the idols of 33063Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain 33064shall fall in the midst of her. 33065 3306651:48. And the heavens and the earth, and all things that are in them 33067shall give praise for Babylon: for spoilers shall come to her from the 33068north, saith the Lord. 33069 3307051:49. And as Babylon caused that there should fall slain in Israel: so 33071of Babylon there shall fall slain in all the earth. 33072 3307351:50. You that have escaped the sword, come away, stand not still: 33074remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. 33075 3307651:51. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath 33077covered our faces: because strangers are come upon the sanctuaries of 33078the house of the Lord. 33079 3308051:52. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will visit 33081her graven things, and in all her land the wounded shall groan: 33082 3308351:53. If Babylon should mount up to heaven, and establish her strength 33084on high: from me there should come spoilers upon her, saith the Lord. 33085 3308651:54. The noise of a cry from Babylon, and great destruction from the 33087land of the Chaldeans: 33088 3308951:55. Because the Lord hath laid Babylon waste, and destroyed out of 33090her the great voice: and their wave shall roar like many waters: their 33091voice hath made a noise: 33092 3309351:56. Because the spoiler is come upon her, that is, upon Babylon, and 33094her valiant men are taken, and their bow is weakened, because the Lord, 33095who is a strong revenger, will surely repay. 33096 3309751:57. And I will make her princes drunk, and her wise men, and her 33098captains, and her rulers, and her valiant men: and they shall sleep an 33099everlasting sleep, and shall awake no more, saith the king whose name 33100is Lord of hosts. 33101 3310251:58. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: That broad wall of Babylon shall 33103be utterly broken down, and her high gates shall be burnt with fire, 33104and the labours of the people shall come to nothing, and of the nations 33105shall go to the fire, and shall perish. 33106 3310751:59. The word that Jeremias the prophet commanded Saraias the son of 33108Nerias, the son of Maasias, when he went with king Sedecias to Babylon, 33109in the fourth year of his reign: now Saraias was chief over the 33110prophecy. 33111 3311251:60. And Jeremias wrote in one book all the evil that was to come 33113upon Babylon: all these words that are written against Babylon. 33114 3311551:61. And Jeremias said to Saraias: When thou shalt come into Babylon, 33116and shalt see, and shalt read all these words, 33117 3311851:62. Thou shalt say: O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place to 33119destroy it: so that there should be neither man nor beast to dwell 33120therein, and that it should be desolate for ever. 33121 3312251:63. And when thou shalt have made an end of reading this book, thou 33123shalt tie a stone to it, and shalt throw it into the midst of the 33124Euphrates: 33125 3312651:64. And thou shalt say: Thus shall Babylon sink, and she shall not 33127rise up from the affliction that I will bring upon her, and she shall 33128be utterly destroyed. Thus far are the words of Jeremias. 33129 33130 33131 33132Jeremias Chapter 52 33133 33134 33135A recapitulation of the reign of Sedecias, and the destruction of 33136Jerusalem. The number of the captives. 33137 3313852:1. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign: and 33139he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and the name of his mother was 33140Amital, the daughter of Jeremias of Lobna. 33141 3314252:2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according 33143to all that Joakim had done. 33144 3314552:3. For the wrath of the Lord was against Jerusalem, and against 33146Juda, till he cast them out from his presence: and Sedecias revolted 33147from the king of Babylon. 33148 3314952:4. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth 33150month, the tenth day of the month, that Nabuchodonosor the king of 33151Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and they besieged 33152it, and built forts against it round about. 33153 3315452:5. And the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king 33155Sedecias. 33156 3315752:6. And in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a famine 33158overpowered the city: and there was no food for the people of the land. 33159 3316052:7. And the city was broken up, and the men of war fled, and went out 33161of the city in the night by the way of the gate that is between the two 33162walls, and leadeth to the king's garden, (the Chaldeans besieging the 33163city round about,) and they went by the way that leadeth to the 33164wilderness. 33165 3316652:8. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king: and they 33167overtook Sedecias in the desert which is near Jericho: and all his 33168companions were scattered from him. 33169 3317052:9. And when they had taken the king, they carried him to the king of 33171Babylon to Reblatha, which is in the land of Emath: and he gave 33172judgment upon him. 33173 3317452:10. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Sedecias before his 33175eyes: and he slew all the princes of Juda in Reblatha. 33176 3317752:11. And he put out the eyes of Sedecias, and bound him with fetters, 33178and the king of Babylon brought him into Babylon, and he put him in 33179prison till the day of his death. 33180 3318152:12. And in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, the same is 33182the nineteenth year of Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came Nabuzardan 33183the general of the army, who stood before the king of Babylon in 33184Jerusalem. 33185 3318652:13. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and 33187all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great house he burnt with fire. 33188 3318952:14. And all the army of the Chaldeans that were with the general 33190broke down all the wall of Jerusalem round about. 33191 3319252:15. But Nabuzardan the general carried away captives some of the 33193poor people, and of the rest of the common sort who remained in the 33194city, and of the fugitives that were fled over to the king of Babylon, 33195and the rest of the multitude. 33196 3319752:16. But of the poor of the land, Nabuzardan the general left some 33198for vinedressers, and for husbandmen. 33199 3320052:17. The Chaldeans also broke in pieces the brazen pillars that were 33201in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the sea of brass that was 33202in the house of the Lord: and they carried all the brass of them to 33203Babylon. 33204 3320552:18. And they took the caldrons, and the fleshhooks, and the 33206psalteries, and the bowls, and the little mortars, and all the brazen 33207vessels that had been used in the ministry: and 33208 3320952:19. The general took away the pitchers, and the censers, and the 33210pots, and the basins, and the candlesticks, and the mortars, and the 33211cups: as many as were of gold, in gold: and as many as were of silver, 33212in silver: 33213 3321452:20. And the two pillars, and one sea, and twelve oxen of brass that 33215were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the 33216Lord: there was no weight of the brass of all these vessels. 33217 3321852:21. And concerning the pillars, one pillar was eighteen cubits high: 33219and a cord of twelve cubits compassed it about: but the thickness 33220thereof was four fingers, and it was hollow within. 33221 3322252:22. And chapiters of brass were upon both: and the height of one 33223chapiter was five cubits: and network, and pomegranates were upon the 33224chapiters round about, all of brass. The same of the second pillar, and 33225the pomegranates. 33226 3322752:23. And there were ninety-six pomegranates hanging down: and the 33228pomegranates being a hundred in all, were compassed with network. 33229 3323052:24. And the general took Saraias the chief priest, and Sophonias the 33231second priest, and the three keepers of the entry. 33232 3323352:25. He also took out of the city one eunuch that was chief over the 33234men of war: and seven men of them that were near the king's person, 33235that were found in the city: and a scribe, an officer of the army who 33236exercised the young soldiers: and threescore men of the people of the 33237land, that were found in the midst of the city. 33238 3323952:26. And Nabuzardan the general took them, and brought them to the 33240king of Babylon, to Reblatha. 33241 3324252:27. And the king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death in 33243Reblatha, in the land of Emath: and Juda was carried away captive out 33244of his land. 33245 3324652:28. This is the people whom Nabuchodonosor carried away captive: in 33247the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews. 33248 3324952:29. In the eighteenth year of Nabuchodonosor, eight hundred and 33250thirty-two souls from Jerusalem. 33251 3325252:30. In the three and twentieth year of Nabuchodonosor, Nabuzardan 33253the general carried away of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five 33254souls. So all the souls were four thousand six hundred. 33255 3325652:31. And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the 33257captivity of Joachin king of Juda, in the twelfth month, the five and 33258twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the 33259first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Joachin king of Juda, 33260and brought him forth out of prison. 33261 3326252:32. And he spoke kindly to him, and he set his throne above the 33263thrones of the kings that were with him in Babylon. 33264 3326552:33. And he changed his prison garments, and he ate bread before him 33266always all the days of his life. 33267 3326852:34. And for his diet a continual provision was allowed him by the 33269king of Babylon, every day a portion, until the day of his death, all 33270the days of his life. 33271 33272 33273 33274 33275THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAS 33276 33277 33278 33279In these JEREMIAS laments in a most pathetical manner the miseries of 33280his people, and the destruction of JERUSALEM and the temple, in Hebrew 33281verses, beginning with different letters according to the order of the 33282Hebrew alphabet. 33283 33284 33285 33286Lamentations Chapter 1 33287 33288 33289PREFACE: And it came to pass, after Israel was carried into captivity, 33290and Jerusalem was desolate, that Jeremias the prophet sat weeping, and 33291mourned with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and with a sorrowful 33292mind, sighing and moaning, he said: 33293 33294And it came to pass, etc. . .This preface was not written by Jeremias, 33295but was added by the seventy interpreters, to give the reader to 33296understand upon what occasion the Lamentations were published. 33297 332981:1. Aleph. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how 33299is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow: the princes of 33300provinces made tributary! 33301 333021:2. Beth. Weeping, she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on 33303her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear 33304to her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies. 33305 333061:3. Ghimel. Juda hath removed her dwelling place, because of her 33307affliction, and the greatness of her bondage; she hath dwelt among the 33308nations, and she hath found no rest; all her persecutors have taken her 33309in the midst of straits. 33310 333111:4. Daleth. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come 33312to the solemn feast: all her gates are broken down; her priests sigh; 33313her virgins are in affliction; and she is oppressed with bitterness. 33314 333151:5. He. Her adversaries are become her lords; her enemies are 33316enriched; because the Lord hath spoken against her for the multitude of 33317her iniquities; her children are led into captivity, before the face of 33318the oppressor. 33319 333201:6. Vau. And from the daughter of Sion, all her beauty is departed; 33321her princes are become like rams that find no pastures; and they are 33322gone away without strength before the face of the pursuer. 33323 333241:7. Zain. Jerusalem hath remembered the days of her affliction, and 33325prevarication of all her desirable things which she had from the days 33326of old, when her people fell in the enemy's hand, and there was no 33327helper; the enemies have seen her, and have mocked at her sabbaths. 33328 333291:8. Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore is she become 33330unstable; all that honoured her, have despised her, because they have 33331seen her shame; but she sighed, and turned backward. 33332 333331:9. Teth. Her filthiness is on her feet, and she hath not remembered 33334her end; she is wonderfully cast down, not having a comforter: behold, 33335O Lord, my affliction, because the enemy is lifted up. 33336 333371:10. Jod. The enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things: 33338for she hath seen the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, of whom thou 33339gavest commandment that they should not enter into thy church. 33340 333411:11. Caph. All her people sigh, they seek bread: they have given all 33342their precious things for food to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and 33343consider, for I am become vile. 33344 333451:12. Lamed. O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be 33346any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the 33347Lord spoke in the day of his fierce anger. 33348 333491:13. Mem. From above he hath sent fire into my bones, and hath 33350chastised me: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: 33351he hath made me desolate, wasted with sorrow all the day long. 33352 333531:14. Nun. The yoke of my iniquities hath watched: they are folded 33354together in his hand, and put upon my neck: my strength is weakened: 33355the Lord hath delivered me into a hand, out of which I am not able to 33356rise. 33357 333581:15. Samech. The Lord hath taken away all my mighty men out of the 33359midst of me: he hath called against me the time, to destroy my chosen 33360men: the Lord hath trodden the winepress for the virgin daughter of 33361Juda. 33362 333631:16. Ain. Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water: 33364because the comforter, the relief of my soul, is far from me: my 33365children are desolate because the enemy hath prevailed. 33366 333671:17. Phe. Sion hath spread forth her hands, there is none to comfort 33368her: the Lord hath commanded against Jacob, his enemies are round about 33369him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. 33370 333711:18. Sade. The Lord is just, for I have provoked his mouth to wrath: 33372hear, I pray you, all ye people, and see my sorrow: my virgins, and my 33373young men are gone into captivity. 33374 333751:19. Coph. I called for my friends, but they deceived me: my priests 33376and my ancients pined away in the city: while they sought their food, 33377to relieve their souls. 33378 333791:20. Res. Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress, my bowels are 33380troubled: my heart is turned within me, for I am full of bitterness: 33381abroad the sword destroyeth and at home there is death alike. 33382 333831:21. Sin. They have heard that I sigh, and there is none to comfort 33384me: all my enemies have heard of my evil, they have rejoiced that thou 33385hast done it: thou hast brought a day of consolation, and they shall be 33386like unto me. 33387 333881:22. Thau. Let all their evil be present before thee: and make vintage 33389of them, as thou hast made vintage of me for all my iniquities: for my 33390sighs are many, and my heart is sorrowful. 33391 33392 33393 33394Lamentations Chapter 2 33395 33396 333972:1. Aleph. How hath the Lord covered with obscurity the daughter of 33398Sion in his wrath! how hath he cast down from heaven to the earth the 33399glorious one of Israel, and hath not remembered his footstool in the 33400day of his anger. 33401 334022:2. Beth. The Lord hath cast down headlong, and hath not spared, all 33403that was beautiful in Jacob: he hath destroyed in his wrath the strong 33404holds of the virgin of Juda, and brought them down to the ground: he 33405hath made the kingdom unclean, and the princes thereof. 33406 334072:3. Ghimel. He hath broken in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: 33408he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy: and he hath 33409kindled in Jacob as it were a flaming fire devouring round about. 33410 334112:4. Daleth. He hath bent his bow as an enemy, he hath fixed his right 33412hand as an adversary: and he hath killed all that was fair to behold in 33413the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion, he hath poured out his 33414indignation like fire. 33415 334162:5. He. The Lord is become as an enemy: he hath cast down Israel 33417headlong, he hath overthrown all the walls thereof: he hath destroyed 33418his strong holds, and hath multiplied in the daughter of Juda the 33419afflicted, both men and women. 33420 334212:6. Vau. And he hath destroyed his tent as a garden, he hath thrown 33422down his tabernacle: the Lord hath caused feasts and sabbaths to be 33423forgotten in Sion: and hath delivered up king and priest to reproach, 33424and to the indignation of his wrath. 33425 334262:7. Zain. The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath cursed his 33427sanctuary: he hath delivered the walls of the towers thereof into the 33428hand of the enemy: they have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as 33429in the day of a solemn feast. 33430 33431He hath cursed his sanctuary. . .That is, he permitted his sanctuary to 33432be destroyed, as if it had not been consecrated, but execrable. 33433 334342:8. Heth. The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter 33435of Sion: he hath stretched out his line, and hath not withdrawn his 33436hand from destroying: and the bulwark hath mourned, and the wall hath 33437been destroyed together. 33438 334392:9. Teth. Her gates are sunk into the ground: he hath destroyed, and 33440broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the 33441law is no more, and her prophets have found no vision from the Lord. 33442 334432:10. Jod. The ancients of the daughter of Sion sit upon the ground, 33444they have held their peace: they have sprinkled their heads with dust, 33445they are girded with haircloth, the virgins of Jerusalem hang down 33446their heads to the ground. 33447 334482:11. Caph. My eyes have failed with weeping, my bowels are troubled: 33449my liver is poured out upon the earth, for the destruction of the 33450daughter of my people, when the children, and the sucklings, fainted 33451away in the streets of the city. 33452 334532:12. Lamed. They said to their mothers: Where is corn and wine? when 33454they fainted away as the wounded in the streets of the city: when they 33455breathed out their souls in the bosoms of their mothers. 33456 334572:13. Mem. To what shall I compare thee? or to what shall I liken thee, 33458O daughter of Jerusalem? to what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort 33459thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for great as the sea is thy 33460destruction: who shall heal thee? 33461 334622:14. Nun. Thy prophets have seen false and foolish things for thee: 33463and they have not laid open thy iniquity, to excite thee to penance: 33464but they have seen for thee false revelations and banishments. 33465 334662:15. Samech. All they that passed by the way have clapped their hands 33467at thee: they have hissed, and wagged their heads at the daughter of 33468Jerusalem, saying: Is this the city of perfect beauty, the joy of all 33469the earth? 33470 334712:16. Phe. All thy enemies have opened their month against thee: they 33472have hissed, and gnashed with the teeth, and have said: We will swallow 33473her up: lo, this is the day which we looked for: we have found it, we 33474have seen it. 33475 334762:17. Ain. The Lord hath done that which he purposed, he hath fulfilled 33477his word, which he commanded in the days of old: he hath destroyed, and 33478hath not spared, and he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee, and 33479hath set up the horn of thy adversaries. 33480 334812:18. Sade. Their heart cried to the Lord upon the walls of the 33482daughter of Sion: Let tears run down like a torrent day and night: give 33483thyself no rest, and let not the apple of thy eye cease. 33484 334852:19. Coph. Arise, give praise in the night, in the beginning of the 33486watches: pour out thy heart like water, before the face of the Lord: 33487lift up thy hands to him for the life of thy little children, that have 33488fainted for hunger at the top of all the streets. 33489 334902:20. Res. Behold, O Lord, and consider whom thou hast thus dealt with: 33491shall women then eat their own fruit, their children of a span long? 33492shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? 33493 334942:21. Sin. The child and the old man lie without on the ground: my 33495virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: thou hast slain them 33496in the day of thy wrath: thou hast killed, and shewn them no pity. 33497 334982:22. Thau. Thou hast called as to a festival, those that should 33499terrify me round about, and there was none in the day of the wrath of 33500the Lord that escaped and was left: those that I brought up, and 33501nourished, my enemy hath consumed them. 33502 33503 33504 33505Lamentations Chapter 3 33506 33507 335083:1. Aleph. I am the man that see my poverty by the rod of his 33509indignation. 33510 335113:2. Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into 33512light. 33513 335143:3. Aleph. Only against me he hath turned, and turned again his hand 33515all the day. 33516 335173:4. Beth. My skin and my flesh he hath made old, he hath broken my 33518bones. 33519 335203:5. Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with 33521gall, and labour. 33522 335233:6. Beth. He hath set me in dark places as those that are dead for 33524ever. 33525 335263:7. Ghimel. He hath built against me round about, that I may not get 33527out: he hath made my fetters heavy. 33528 335293:8. Ghimel. Yea, and when I cry, and entreat, he hath shut out my 33530prayer. 33531 335323:9. Ghimel. He hath shut up my ways with square stones, he hath turned 33533my paths upside down. 33534 335353:10. Daleth. He is become to me as a bear lying in wait: as a lion in 33536secret places. 33537 335383:11. Daleth. He hath turned aside my paths, and hath broken me in 33539pieces, he hath made me desolate. 33540 335413:12. Daleth. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for his 33542arrows. 33543 335443:13. He. He hath shot into my reins the daughters of his quiver. 33545 335463:14. He. I am made a derision to all my people, their song all the day 33547long. 33548 335493:15. He. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with 33550wormwood. 33551 335523:16. Vau. And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with 33553ashes. 33554 335553:17. Vau. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I have forgotten 33556good things. 33557 335583:18. Vau. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord. 33559 335603:19. Zain. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood and 33561the gall. 33562 335633:20. Zain. I will be mindful and remember, and my soul shall languish 33564within me. 33565 335663:21. Zain. These things I shall think over in my heart, therefore will 33567I hope. 33568 335693:22. Heth. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because 33570his commiserations have not failed. 33571 335723:23. Heth. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. 33573 335743:24. Heth. The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait 33575for him. 33576 335773:25. Teth. The Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that 33578seeketh him. 33579 335803:26. Teth. It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God. 33581 335823:27. Teth. It is good for a man, when he hath borne the yoke from his 33583youth. 33584 335853:28. Jod. He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace: because he hath 33586taken it up upon himself. 33587 335883:29. Jod. He shall put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be 33589hope. 33590 335913:30. Jod. He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall 33592be filled with reproaches. 33593 335943:31. Caph. For the Lord will not cast off for ever. 33595 335963:32. Caph. For if he hath cast off, he will also have mercy, according 33597to the multitude of his mercies. 33598 335993:33. Caph. For he hath not willingly afflicted, nor cast off the 33600children of men. 33601 336023:34. Lamed. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the land, 33603 336043:35. Lamed. To turn aside the judgment of a man before the face of the 33605most High, 33606 336073:36. Lamed. To destroy a man wrongfully in his judgment, the Lord hath 33608not approved. 33609 336103:37. Mem. Who is he that hath commanded a thing to be done, when the 33611Lord commandeth it not? 33612 336133:38. Mem. Shall not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the 33614Highest? 33615 336163:39. Mem. Why hath a living man murmured, man suffering for his sins? 33617 336183:40. Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord. 33619 336203:41. Nun. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the 33621heavens. 33622 336233:42. Nun. We have done wickedly, and provoked thee to wrath: therefore 33624thou art inexorable. 33625 336263:43. Samech. Thou hast covered in thy wrath, and hast struck us: thou 33627hast killed and hast not spared. 33628 336293:44. Samech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may 33630not pass through. 33631 336323:45. Samech. Thou hast made me as an outcast, and refuse in the midst 33633of the people. 33634 336353:46. Phe. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. 33636 336373:47. Phe. Prophecy is become to us a fear, and a snare, and 33638destruction. 33639 336403:48. Phe. My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the 33641destruction of the daughter of my people. 33642 336433:49. Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there 33644was no rest: 33645 336463:50. Ain. Till the Lord regarded and looked down from the heavens. 33647 336483:51. Ain. My eye hath wasted my soul because of all the daughters of 33649my city. 33650 336513:52. Sade. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, 33652without cause. 33653 336543:53. Sade. My life is fallen into the pit, and they have laid a stone 33655over me. 33656 336573:54. Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off. 33658 336593:55. Coph. I have called upon thy name, O Lord, from the lowest pit. 33660 336613:56. Coph. Thou hast heard my voice: turn not away thy ear from my 33662sighs, and cries. 33663 336643:57. Coph. Thou drewest near in the day, when I called upon thee, thou 33665saidst: Fear not. 33666 336673:58. Res. Thou hast judged, O Lord, the cause of my soul, thou the 33668Redeemer of my life. 33669 336703:59. Res. Thou hast seen, O Lord, their iniquity against me: judge 33671thou my judgment. 33672 336733:60. Res. Thou hast seen all their fury, and all their thoughts 33674against me. 33675 336763:61. Sin. Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, all their 33677imaginations against me. 33678 336793:62. Sin. The lips of them that rise up against me: and their devices 33680against me all the day. 33681 336823:63. Sin. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their 33683song. 33684 336853:64. Thau. Thou shalt render them a recompense, O Lord, according to 33686the works of their hands. 33687 336883:65. Thau. Thou shalt give them a buckler of heart, thy labour. 33689 336903:66. Thau. Thou shalt persecute them in anger, and shalt destroy them 33691from under the heavens, O Lord. 33692 33693 33694 33695Lamentations Chapter 4 33696 33697 336984:1. Aleph. How is the gold become dim, the finest colour is changed, 33699the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street? 33700 337014:2. Beth. The noble sons of Sion, and they that were clothed with the 33702best gold: how are they esteemed as earthen vessels, the work of the 33703potter's hands? 33704 337054:3. Ghimel. Even the sea monsters have drawn out the breast, they have 33706given suck to their young: the daughter of my people is cruel, like the 33707ostrich in the desert. 33708 337094:4. Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of 33710his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there 33711was none to break it unto them. 33712 337134:5. He. They that were fed delicately have died in the streets: they 33714that were brought up in scarlet have embraced the dung. 33715 337164:6. Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater 33717than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took 33718nothing in her. 33719 337204:7. Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more 33721ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire. 33722 337234:8. Heth. Their face is now made blacker than coals, and they are not 33724known in the streets: their skin hath stuck to their bones, it is 33725withered, and is become like wood. 33726 337274:9. Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than 33728with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed 33729for want of the fruits of the earth. 33730 337314:10. Jod. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own 33732children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my 33733people. 33734 337354:11. Caph. The Lord hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out 33736his fierce anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Sion, and it hath 33737devoured the foundations thereof. 33738 337394:12. Lamed. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the 33740world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should 33741enter in by the gates of Jerusalem. 33742 337434:13. Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her 33744priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. 33745 337464:14. Nun. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were 33747defiled with blood: and when they could not help walking in it, they 33748held up their skirts. 33749 337504:15. Samech. Depart you that are defiled, they cried out to them: 33751Depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they quarrelled, and being 33752removed, they said among the Gentiles: He will no more dwell among 33753them. 33754 337554:16. Phe. The face of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more 33756regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, neither had 33757they pity on the ancient. 33758 337594:17. Ain. While we were yet standing, our eyes failed, expecting help 33760for us in vain, when we looked attentively towards a nation that was 33761not able to save. 33762 337634:18. Sade. Our steps have slipped in the way of our streets, our end 33764draweth near: our days are fulfilled, for our end is come. 33765 337664:19. Coph. Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the air: 33767they pursued us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the 33768wilderness. 33769 337704:20. Res. The breath of our mouth, Christ the Lord, is taken in our 33771sins: to whom we said: Under thy shadow we shall live among the 33772Gentiles. 33773 33774Christ, etc. . .This, according to the letter, is spoken of their king, 33775who is called the Christ, that is, the Anointed of the Lord. But it 33776also relates, in the spiritual sense, to Christ our Lord, suffering for 33777our sins. 33778 337794:21. Sin. Rejoice, and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in 33780the land of Hus: to thee also shall the cup come, thou shalt be made 33781drunk, and naked. 33782 337834:22. Thau. Thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Sion, he will 33784no more carry thee away into captivity: he hath visited thy iniquity, O 33785daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins. 33786 33787THE PRAYER OF JEREMIAS THE PROPHET 33788 33789 33790 33791Lamentations Chapter 5 33792 33793 337945:1. Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our 33795reproach. 33796 337975:2. Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers. 33798 337995:3. We are become orphans without a father: our mothers are as widows. 33800 338015:4. We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood. 33802 338035:6. We were dragged by the necks, we were weary and no rest was given 33804us. 33805 338065:6. We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we 33807might be satisfied with bread. 33808 338095:7. Our fathers have sinned, and are not: and we have borne their 33810iniquities. 33811 338125:8. Servants have ruled over us: there was none to redeem us out of 33813their hand. 33814 338155:9. We fetched our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the 33816sword in the desert. 33817 338185:10. Our skin was burnt as an oven, by reason of the violence of the 33819famine. 33820 338215:11. They oppressed the women in Sion, and the virgins in the cities 33822of Juda. 33823 338245:12. The princes were hanged up by their hand: they did not respect 33825the persons of the ancients. 33826 338275:13. They abused the young men indecently: and the children fell under 33828the wood. 33829 338305:14. The ancients have ceased from the gates: the young men from the 33831choir of the singers. 33832 338335:15. The joy of our heart is ceased, our dancing is turned into 33834mourning. 33835 338365:16. The crown is fallen from our head: woe to us, because we have 33837sinned. 33838 338395:17. Therefore is our heart sorrowful, therefore are our eyes become 33840dim. 33841 338425:18. For mount Sion, because it is destroyed, foxes have walked upon 33843it. 33844 338455:19. But thou, O Lord, shalt remain for ever, thy throne from 33846generation to generation. 33847 338485:20. Why wilt thou forget us for ever? why wilt thou forsake us for a 33849long time? 33850 338515:21. Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our 33852days, as from the beginning. 33853 338545:22. But thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art exceedingly angry 33855with us. 33856 33857 33858 33859 33860THE PROPHECY OF BARUCH 33861 33862 33863 33864BARUCH was a man of noble extraction, and learned in the law, secretary 33865and disciple to the prophet JEREMIAS, and a sharer in his labours and 33866persecutions: which is the reason why the ancient fathers have 33867considered this book as a part of the prophecy of JEREMIAS, and have 33868usually quoted it under his name. 33869 33870 33871 33872Baruch Chapter 1 33873 33874 33875The Jews of Babylon send the book of Baruch with money to Jerusalem, 33876requesting their brethren there to offer sacrifice, and to pray for the 33877king and for them, acknowledging their manifold sins. 33878 338791:1. And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of 33880Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Sedei, the 33881son Helcias, wrote in Babylonia. 33882 338831:2. In the fifth year, in the seventh day of the month, at the time 33884that the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire. 33885 338861:3. And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias 33887the son of Joakim king of Juda, and in the hearing of all the people 33888that came to hear the book. 33889 338901:4. And in the hearing of the nobles, the sons of the kings, and in 33891the hearing of the ancients, and in the hearing of the people, from the 33892least even to the greatest of them that dwelt in Babylonia, by the 33893river Sedi. 33894 338951:5. And when they heard it they wept, and fasted, and prayed before 33896the Lord. 33897 338981:6. And they made a collection of money according to every man's 33899power. 33900 339011:7. And they sent it to Jerusalem to Joakim the priest, the son of 33902Helcias, the son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people, 33903that were found with him in Jerusalem: 33904 339051:8. At the time when he received the vessels of the temple of the 33906Lord, which had been taken away out of the temple, to return them into 33907the land of Juda the tenth day of the month Sivan, the silver vessels, 33908which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Juda had made, 33909 339101:9. After that Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away 33911Jechonias, and the princes, and all the powerful men, and the people of 33912the land from Jerusalem, and brought them bound to Babylon. 33913 339141:10. And they said: Behold we have sent you money, buy with it 33915holocausts, and frankincense, and make meat offerings, and offerings 33916for sin at the altar of the Lord our God: 33917 339181:11. And pray ye for the life of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, 33919and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon 33920earth as the days of heaven: 33921 339221:12. And that the Lord may give us strength, and enlighten our eyes, 33923that we may live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor the king of 33924Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and may serve them 33925many days, and may find favour in their sight. 33926 339271:13. And pray ye for us to the Lord our God: for we have sinned 33928against the Lord our God, and his wrath is not turned away from us even 33929to this day. 33930 339311:14. And read ye this book, which we have sent to you to be read in 33932the temple of the Lord, on feasts, and proper days. 33933 339341:15. And you shall say: To the Lord our God belongeth justice, but to 33935us confusion of our face: as it is come to pass at this day to all 33936Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 33937 339381:16. To our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our 33939prophets, and to our fathers. 33940 339411:17. We have sinned before the Lord our God, and have not believed 33942him, nor put our trust in him: 33943 339441:18. And we were not obedient to him, and we have not hearkened to the 33945voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his commandments which he hath 33946given us. 33947 339481:19. From the day that he brought our fathers out of the land of 33949Egypt, even to this day, we were disobedient to the Lord our God: and 33950going astray we turned away from hearing his voice. 33951 339521:20. And many evils have cleaved to us, and the curses which the Lord 33953foretold by Moses his servant: who brought our fathers out of the land 33954of Egypt, to give us a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this 33955day. 33956 339571:21. And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God 33958according to all the words of the prophets whom he sent to us: 33959 339601:22. And we have gone away every man after the inclinations of his own 33961wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the 33962Lord our God. 33963 33964 33965 33966Baruch Chapter 2 33967 33968 33969A further confession of the sins of the people, and of the justice of 33970God. 33971 339722:1. Wherefore the Lord our God hath made good his word, that he spoke 33973to us, and to our judges that have judged Israel, and to our kings, and 33974to our princes, and to all Israel and Juda: 33975 339762:2. That the Lord would bring upon us great evils, such as never 33977happened under heaven, as they have come to pass in Jerusalem, 33978according to the things that are written in the law of Moses: 33979 339802:3. That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of 33981his own daughter. 33982 339832:4. And he hath delivered them up to be under the hand of all the 33984kings that are round about us, to be a reproach, and desolation among 33985all the people, among whom the Lord hath scattered us. 33986 339872:5. And we are brought under, and are not uppermost: because we have 33988sinned against the Lord our God, by not obeying his voice. 33989 339902:6. To the Lord our God belongeth justice: but to us, and to our 33991fathers confusion of face, as at this day. 33992 339932:7. For the Lord hath pronounced against us all these evils that are 33994come upon us: 33995 339962:8. And we have not entreated the face of the Lord our God, that we 33997might return every one of us from our most wicked ways. 33998 339992:9. And the Lord hath watched over us for evil, and hath brought it 34000upon us: for the Lord is just in all his works which he hath commanded 34001us: 34002 340032:10. And we have not hearkened to his voice to walk in the 34004commandments of the Lord which he hath set before us. 34005 340062:11. And now, O Lord God of Israel, who hast brought thy people out of 34007the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and with signs, and with wonders, 34008and with thy great power, and with a mighty arm, and hast made thee a 34009name as at this day, 34010 340112:12. We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have acted unjustly, O 34012Lord our God, against all thy justices. 34013 340142:13. Let thy wrath be turned away from us: for we are left a few among 34015the nations where thou hast scattered us. 34016 340172:14. Hear, O Lord, our prayers, and our petitions, and deliver us for 34018thy own sake: and grant that we may find favour in the sight of them 34019that have led us away: 34020 340212:15. That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, and 34022that thy name is called upon Israel, and upon his posterity. 34023 340242:16. Look down upon us, O Lord, from thy holy house, and incline thy 34025ear, and hear us. 34026 340272:17. Open thy eyes, and behold: for the dead that are in hell, whose 34028spirit is taken away from their bowels, shall not give glory and 34029justice to the Lord: 34030 34031Justice, etc. . .They that are in hell shall not give justice to God; 34032that is, they shall not acknowledge and glorify his justice as penitent 34033sinners do upon earth. 34034 340352:18. But the soul that is sorrowful for the greatness of evil she hath 34036done, and goeth bowed down, and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the 34037hungry soul giveth glory and justice to thee the Lord. 34038 340392:19. For it is not for the justices of our fathers that we pour out 34040our prayers, and beg mercy in thy sight, O Lord our God: 34041 340422:20. But because thou hast sent out thy wrath, and thy indignation 34043upon us, as thou hast spoken by the hand of thy servants the prophets, 34044saying: 34045 340462:21. Thus saith the Lord: Bow down your shoulder, and your neck, and 34047serve the king of Babylon: and you shall remain in the land which I 34048have given to your fathers. 34049 340502:22. But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to 34051serve the king of Babylon: I will cause you to depart out of the cities 34052of Juda, and from without Jerusalem. 34053 340542:23. And I will take away from you the voice of mirth, and the voice 34055of joy, and the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, 34056and all the land shall be without any footstep of inhabitants. 34057 340582:24. And they hearkened not to thy voice, to serve the king of 34059Babylon: and thou hast made good thy words, which thou spokest by the 34060hands of thy servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings, and 34061the bones of our fathers should be removed out of their place: 34062 340632:25. And behold they are cast out to the heat of the sun, and to the 34064frost of the night: and they have died in grievous pains, by famine, 34065and by the sword, and in banishment. 34066 340672:26. And thou hast made the temple, in which thy name was called upon, 34068as it is at this day, for the iniquity of the house of Israel, and the 34069house of Juda. 34070 340712:27. And thou hast dealt with us, O Lord our God, according to all thy 34072goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine: 34073 340742:28. As thou spokest by the hand of thy servant Moses, in the day when 34075thou didst command him to write thy law before the children of Israel, 34076 340772:29. Saying: If you will not hear my voice, this great multitude shall 34078be turned into a very small number among the nations, where I will 34079scatter them: 34080 340812:30. For I know that the people will not hear me, for they are a 34082people of a stiff neck: but they shall turn to their heart in the land 34083of their captivity: 34084 340852:31. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God: and I will give 34086them a heart, and they shall understand: and ears, and they shall hear. 34087 340882:32. And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and 34089shall be mindful of my name. 34090 340912:33. And they shall turn away themselves from their stiff neck, and 34092from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their 34093fathers, that sinned against me. 34094 340952:34. And I will bring them back again into the land which I promised 34096with an oath to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they 34097shall be masters thereof: and I will multiply them, and they shall not 34098be diminished. 34099 341002:35. And I will make with them another covenant that shall be 34101everlasting, to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will 34102no more remove my people, the children of Israel, out of the land that 34103I have given them. 34104 34105 34106 34107Baruch Chapter 3 34108 34109 34110They pray for mercy, acknowledging that they are justly punished for 34111forsaking true wisdom. A prophecy of Christ. 34112 341133:1. And now, O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, the soul in anguish, 34114and the troubled spirit crieth to thee: 34115 341163:2. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for thou art a merciful God, and 34117have pity on us: for we have sinned before thee. 34118 341193:3. For thou remainest for ever, and shall we perish everlastingly? 34120 341213:4. O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the 34122dead of Israel, and of their children, that have sinned before thee, 34123and have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, wherefore 34124evils have cleaved fast to us. 34125 341263:5. Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but think upon thy 34127hand, and upon thy name at this time: 34128 341293:6. For thou art the Lord our God, and we will praise thee, O Lord: 34130 341313:7. Because for this end thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the 34132intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our 34133captivity, for we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, who 34134sinned before thee. 34135 341363:8. And behold we are at this day in our captivity, whereby thou hast 34137scattered us to be a reproach, and a curse, and an offence, according 34138to all the iniquities of our fathers, who departed from thee, O Lord 34139our God. 34140 341413:9. Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: give ear, that thou 34142mayst learn wisdom. 34143 341443:10. How happeneth it, O Israel, that thou art in thy enemies' land? 34145 341463:11. Thou art grown old in a strange country, thou art defiled with 34147the dead: thou art counted with them that go down into hell. 34148 341493:12. Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom: 34150 341513:13. For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou hadst surely 34152dwelt in peace for ever. 34153 341543:14. Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding: 34155that thou mayst know also where is length of days and life, where is 34156the light of the eyes, and peace. 34157 341583:15. Who hath found out her place? and who hath gone in to her 34159treasures? 34160 341613:16. Where are the princes of the nations, and they that rule over the 34162beasts that are upon the earth? 34163 341643:17. That take their diversion with the birds of the air. 34165 341663:18. That hoard up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and there is no 34167end of their getting? who work in silver and are solicitous, and their 34168works are unsearchable. 34169 341703:19. They are cut off, and are gone down to hell, and others are risen 34171up in their place. 34172 341733:20. Young men have seen the light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the 34174way of knowledge they have not known, 34175 341763:21. Nor have they understood the paths thereof, neither have their 34177children received it, it is far from their face. 34178 341793:22. It hath not been heard of in the land of Chanaan, neither hath it 34180been seen in Theman. 34181 34182Theman. . .The capital city of Edom. 34183 341843:23. The children of Agar also, that search after the wisdom that is 34185of the earth, the merchants of Merrha, and of Theman, and the tellers 34186of fables, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of 34187wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered her paths. 34188 34189Agar. . .The mother of the Ismaelites. 34190 341913:24. O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the 34192place of his possession! 34193 341943:25. It is great, and hath no end: it is high and immense. 34195 341963:26. There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the 34197beginning, of great stature, expert in war. 34198 341993:27. The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of 34200knowledge: therefore did they perish. 34201 342023:28. And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their 34203folly. 34204 342053:29. Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down 34206from the clouds? 34207 342083:30. Who hath passed over the sea, and found her, and brought her 34209preferably to chosen gold? 34210 342113:31. There is none that is able to know her ways, nor that can search 34212out her paths: 34213 342143:32. But he that knoweth all things, knoweth her, and hath found her 34215out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore, 34216and filled it with cattle and fourfooted beasts: 34217 342183:33. He that sendeth forth the light, and it goeth: and hath called 34219it, and it obeyeth him with trembling. 34220 342213:34. And the stars have given light in their watches, and rejoiced: 34222 342233:35. They were called, and they said: Here we are: and with 34224cheerfulness they have shined forth to him that made them. 34225 342263:36. This is our God, and there shall no other be accounted of in 34227comparison of him. 34228 342293:37. He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his 34230servant, and to Israel his beloved. 34231 342323:38. Afterwards he was seen upon earth, and conversed with men. 34233 34234Was seen upon earth, etc. . .viz., by the mystery of the incarnation, by 34235means of which the son of God came visibly amongst us, and conversed 34236with men. The prophets often speak of things to come as if they were 34237past, to express the certainty of the event of the things foretold. 34238 34239 34240 34241Baruch Chapter 4 34242 34243 34244The prophet exhorts to the keeping of the law of wisdom, and encourages 34245the people to be patient, and to hope for their deliverance. 34246 342474:1. This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law, that is 34248for ever: all they that keep it, shall come to life: but they that have 34249forsaken it, to death. 34250 342514:2. Return, O Jacob, and take hold of it, walk in the way by its 34252brightness, in the presence of the light thereof. 34253 342544:3. Give not thy honour to another, nor thy dignity to a strange 34255nation. 34256 342574:4. We are happy, O Israel: because the things that are pleasing to 34258God, are made known to us. 34259 342604:5. Be of good comfort, O people of God, the memorial of Israel: 34261 342624:6. You have been sold to the Gentiles, not for your destruction: but 34263because you provoked God to wrath, you are delivered to your 34264adversaries. 34265 342664:7. For you have provoked him who made you, the eternal God, offering 34267sacrifice to devils, and not to God. 34268 342694:8. For you have forgotten God, who brought you up, and you have 34270grieved Jerusalem that nursed you. 34271 342724:9. For she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, and she said: Give 34273ear, all you that dwell near Sion, for God hath brought upon me great 34274mourning: 34275 342764:10. For I have seen the captivity of my people, of my sons, and my 34277daughters, which the Eternal hath brought upon them. 34278 342794:11. For I nourished them with joy: but I sent them away with weeping 34280and mourning. 34281 342824:12. Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and desolate: I am forsaken 34283of many for the sins of my children, because they departed from the law 34284of God. 34285 342864:13. And they have not known his justices, nor walked by the ways of 34287God's commandments, neither have they entered by the paths of his truth 34288and justice. 34289 342904:14. Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember the captivity 34291of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal hath brought upon them. 34292 342934:15. For he hath brought a nation upon them from afar, a wicked 34294nation, and of a strange tongue: 34295 342964:16. Who have neither reverenced the ancient, nor pitied children, and 34297have carried away the beloved of the widow, and have left me all alone 34298without children. 34299 343004:17. But as for me, what help can I give you? 34301 343024:18. But he that hath brought the evils upon you, he will deliver you 34303out of the hands of your enemies. 34304 343054:19. Go your way, my children, go your way: for I am left alone. 34306 343074:20. I have put off the robe of peace, and have put upon me the 34308sackcloth of supplication, and I will cry to the most High in my days. 34309 343104:21. Be of good comfort, my children, cry to the Lord, and he will 34311deliver you out of the hand of the princes your enemies. 34312 343134:22. For my hope is in the Eternal that he will save you: and joy is 34314come upon me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall come 34315to you from our everlasting Saviour. 34316 343174:23. For I sent you forth with mourning and weeping: but the Lord will 34318bring you back to me with joy and gladness for ever. 34319 343204:24. For as the neighbours of Sion have now seen your captivity from 34321God: so shall they also shortly see your salvation from God, which 34322shall come upon you with great honour, and everlasting glory. 34323 343244:25. My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you: 34325for thy enemy hath persecuted thee, but thou shalt quickly see his 34326destruction: and thou shalt get up upon his neck. 34327 343284:26. My delicate ones have walked rough ways, for they were taken away 34329as a flock made a prey by the enemies. 34330 343314:27. Be of good comfort, my children, and cry to the Lord: for you 34332shall be remembered by him that hath led you away. 34333 343344:28. For as it was your mind to go astray from God; so when you return 34335again you shall seek him ten times as much. 34336 343374:29. For he that hath brought evils upon you, shall bring you 34338everlasting joy again with your salvation. 34339 343404:30. Be of good heart, O Jerusalem: for he exhorteth thee, that named 34341thee. 34342 343434:31. The wicked that have afflicted thee, shall perish: and they that 34344have rejoiced at thy ruin, shall be punished. 34345 343464:32. The cities which thy children have served, shall be punished: and 34347she that received thy sons. 34348 34349She that received, etc. . .viz., Babylon. 34350 343514:33. For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so 34352shall she be grieved for her own desolation. 34353 343544:34. And the joy of her multitude shall be cut off: and her gladness 34355shall be turned to mourning. 34356 343574:35. For fire shall come upon her from the Eternal, long to endure, 34358and she shall be inhabited by devils for a great time. 34359 343604:36. Look about thee, O Jerusalem, towards the east, and behold the 34361joy that cometh to thee from God. 34362 343634:37. For behold thy children come, whom thou sentest away scattered, 34364they come gathered together from the east even to the west, at the word 34365of the Holy One rejoicing for the honour of God. 34366 34367 34368 34369Baruch Chapter 5 34370 34371 34372Jerusalem is invited to rejoice and behold the return of her children 34373out of their captivity. 34374 343755:1. Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: 34376and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou 34377hast from God. 34378 343795:2. God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will 34380set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. 34381 343825:3. For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under 34383heaven. 34384 343855:4. For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of 34386justice, and honour of piety. 34387 343885:5. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the 34389east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the 34390setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance 34391of God. 34392 343935:6. For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the 34394Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the 34395kingdom. 34396 343975:7. For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the 34398everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with 34399the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. 34400 344015:8. Moreover the woods, and every sweetsmelling tree have overshadowed 34402Israel by the commandment of God. 34403 344045:9. For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, 34405with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him. 34406 34407 34408 34409Baruch Chapter 6 34410 34411 34412The epistle of Jeremias to the captives, as a preservative against 34413idolatry. 34414 34415A copy of the epistle that Jeremias sent to them that were to be led 34416away captives into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to declare to them 34417according to what was commanded him by God. 34418 344196:1. For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be 34420carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of 34421Babylon. 34422 344236:2. And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, 34424and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will 34425bring you away from thence with peace. 34426 34427Seven generations. . .That is, seventy years. 34428 344296:3. But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and 34430of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the 34431Gentiles. 34432 344336:4. Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be 34434afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you. 34435 344366:5. But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, 34437say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord. 34438 344396:6. For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of 34440your souls. 34441 344426:7. For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves 34443laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot 34444speak. 34445 344466:8. And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they 34447take gold and make them up. 34448 344496:9. Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the 34450priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it 34451on themselves. 34452 344536:10. Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out 34454harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn 34455their gods. 34456 344576:11. And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the 34458moth. 34459 344606:12. But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe 34461their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among 34462them. 34463 344646:13. This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but 34465cannot put to death one that offendeth him. 34466 344676:14. And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save 34468himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that 34469they are not gods. 34470 344716:15. Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it 34472is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods: 34473 344746:16. When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by 34475the feet of them that go in. 34476 344776:17. And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath 34478offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the 34479priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by 34480thieves. 34481 344826:18. They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they 34483cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house. 34484 344856:19. And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, 34486gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they 34487feel it not. 34488 344896:20. Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house. 34490 344916:21. Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and 34492upon their heads, and cats in like manner. 34493 344946:22. Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them 34495not. 34496 344976:23. The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe 34498off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, 34499did they feel it. 34500 345016:24. Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them. 34502 345036:25. And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, 34504declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that 34505worship them. 34506 345076:26. Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of 34508themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by 34509themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead. 34510 345116:27. The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and 34512abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give 34513nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor. 34514 345156:28. The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: 34516knowing, therefore, by these things that they are not gods, fear them 34517not. 34518 345196:29. For how can they be called gods? because women set offerings 34520before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood: 34521 345226:30. And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and 34523their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads. 34524 345256:31. And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast 34526when one is dead. 34527 345286:32. The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and 34529their children. 34530 345316:33. And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are 34532not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king, nor put him 34533down: 34534 345356:34. In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If 34536a man make a vow to them, and perform it not: they cannot require it. 34537 345386:35. They cannot deliver a man from death, nor save the weak from the 34539mighty. 34540 345416:36. They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man 34542from distress. 34543 3454436:7. They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless. 34545 345466:38. Their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, 34547are like the stones that are hewn out of the mountains: and they that 34548worship them shall be confounded. 34549 345506:39. How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods? 34551 345526:40. Even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them: who when they here 34553of one dumb that cannot speak, they present him to Bel, entreating him, 34554that he may speak. 34555 345566:41. As though they could be sensible that have no motion themselves: 34557and they, when they shall perceive this, will leave them: for their 34558gods themselves have no sense. 34559 345606:42. The women also, with cords about them, sit in the ways, burning 34561olive-stones. 34562 345636:43. And when any one of them, drawn away by some passenger, lieth 34564with him, she upbraideth her neighbor, that she was not thought as 34565worthy as herself, nor her cord broken. 34566 345676:44. But all things that are done about them, are false: how is it 34568then to be thought, or to be said, that they are gods? 34569 345706:45. And they are made by workmen, and by goldsmiths. They shall be 34571nothing else but what the priests will have them to be. 34572 345736:46. For the artificers themselves that make them, are of no long 34574continuance. Can those things then that are made by them, be gods? 34575 345766:47. But they have left false things and reproach to them that come 34577after. 34578 345796:48. For when war cometh upon them , or evils: the priests consult 34580with themselves, where they may hide themselves with them. 34581 345826:49. How then can they be thought to be gods, that can neither deliver 34583themselves from war, nor save themselves from evils? 34584 345856:50. For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and 34586with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by 34587all nations, and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, 34588but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them. 34589 345906:51. Whence, therefore, is it known that they are not gods, but the 34591work of men's hands, and no work of God is in them? 34592 345936:52. They cannot set up a king over the land, nor give rain to men. 34594 345956:53. They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression: 34596because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth. 34597 345986:54. For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, 34599and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be 34600saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams. 34601 346026:55. And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be 34603supposed, or admitted, that they are gods? 34604 346056:56. Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with 34606gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or 34607robbers: they that are stronger than them, 34608 34609They that are stronger than them. . .That is, robbers and thieves are 34610stronger than these idols, being things without life or motion. 34611 346126:57. Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment 34613wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they 34614help themselves. 34615 346166:58. Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or 34617else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof 34618will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe 34619that are therein, than such false gods. 34620 346216:59. The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth 34622for profitable uses, are obedient. 34623 346246:60. In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to 34625be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country. 34626 346276:61. And the clouds, when God commandeth them to go over the whole 34628world, do that which is commanded them. 34629 346306:62. The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and 34631woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in 34632power, are alike to any one of them. 34633 346346:63. Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they 34635are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any 34636good to men. 34637 346386:64. Knowing, therefore, that they are not gods, fear them not. 34639 346406:65. For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them. 34641 346426:66. Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor 34643shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon. 34644 346456:67. Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and 34646help themselves. 34647 346486:68. Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so 34649fear them not. 34650 346516:69. For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so 34652are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold. 34653 346546:70. They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which 34655every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid 34656over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in 34657the dark. 34658 346596:71. By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, 34660you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are 34661consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country. 34662 346636:72. Better, therefore, is the just man that hath no idols: for he 34664shall be far from reproach. 34665 34666 34667 34668 34669THE PROPHECY OF EZECHIEL 34670 34671 34672 34673EZECHIEL, whose name signifies the STRENGTH OF GOD, was of the priestly 34674race; and of the number of captives that were carried away to Babylon 34675with king JOACHIN. He was contemporary with JEREMIAS, and prophesied to 34676the same effect in Babylon, as JEREMIAS did in Jerusalem; and is said 34677to have ended his days in like manner, by martyrdom. 34678 34679 34680 34681Ezechiel Chapter 1 34682 34683 34684The time of Ezechiel's prophecy: he sees a glorious vision. 34685 346861:1. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on 34687the fifth day of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives by 34688the river Chobar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of 34689God. 34690 34691The thirtieth year. . .Either of the age of Ezechiel; or, as others will 34692have it, from the solemn covenant made in the eighteenth year of the 34693reign of Josias. 4 Kings 23. 34694 346951:2. On the fifth day of the month, the same was the fifth year of the 34696captivity of king Joachin, 34697 346981:3. The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Buzi 34699in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the 34700Lord was there upon him. 34701 347021:4. And I saw, and behold a whirlwind came out of the north: and a 34703great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and 34704out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it 34705were the resemblance of amber: 34706 347071:5. And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: 34708and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them. 34709 34710Living creatures. . .Cherubims (as appears from Ecclesiasticus 49.10) 34711represented to the prophet under these mysterious shapes, as supporting 34712the throne of God, and as it were drawing his chariot. All this chapter 34713appeared so obscure, and so full of mysteries to the ancient Hebrews, 34714that, as we learn from St. Jerome, (Ep. ad Paulin.,) they suffered none 34715to read it before they were thirty years old. 34716 347171:6. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. 34718 347191:7. Their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their foot was like 34720the sole of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like the appearance of 34721glowing brass. 34722 347231:8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four 34724sides: and they had faces, and wings on the four sides, 34725 347261:9. And the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They 34727turned not when they went: but every one went straight forward. 34728 347291:10. And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a 34730man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the 34731face of an ox, on the left side of all the four: and the face of an 34732eagle over all the four. 34733 347341:11. And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings 34735of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies: 34736 347371:12. And every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse 34738of the spirit was to go, thither they went: and they turned not when 34739they went. 34740 347411:13. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance 34742was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of 34743lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the 34744living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the 34745fire. 34746 347471:14. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of 34748lightning. 34749 347501:15. Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared upon the 34751earth by the living creatures one wheel with four faces. 34752 347531:16. And the appearance of the wheels, and the work of them was like 34754the appearance of the sea: and the four had all one likeness: and their 34755appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the midst of a 34756wheel. 34757 347581:17. When they went, they went by their four parts: and they turned 34759not when they went. 34760 34761When they went, they went by their four parts. . .That is, indifferently 34762to any of their sides either forward or backward: to the right or to 34763the left. 34764 347651:18. The wheels had also a size, and a height, and a dreadful 34766appearance: and the whole body was full of eyes round about all the 34767four. 34768 347691:19. And, when the living creatures went, the wheels also went 34770together by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the 34771earth, the wheels also were lifted up with them. 34772 347731:20. Withersoever the spirit went, thither as the spirit went the 34774wheels also were lifted up withal, and followed it: for the spirit of 34775life was in the wheels. 34776 347771:21. When those went these went, and when those stood these stood, and 34778when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up 34779together, and followed them: for the spirit of life was in the wheels. 34780 347811:22. And over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of 34782the firmament, the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, and 34783stretched out over their heads above. 34784 347851:23. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward 34786the other, every one with two wings covered his body, and the other was 34787covered in like manner. 34788 347891:24. And I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many 34790waters, as it were the voice of the most high God: when they walked, it 34791was like the voice of a multitude, like the noise of an army, and when 34792they stood, their wings were let down. 34793 347941:25. For when a voice came from above the firmament, that was over 34795their heads, they stood, and let down their wings. 34796 347971:26. And above the firmament that was over their heads, was the 34798likeness of a throne, as the appearance of the sapphire stone, and upon 34799the likeness of the throne, was the likeness of the appearance of a man 34800above upon it. 34801 348021:27. And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber as the appearance 34803of fire within it round about: from his loins and upward, and from his 34804loins downward, I saw as it were the resemblance of fire shining round 34805about. 34806 348071:28. As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy 34808day: this was the appearance of the brightness round about. 34809 34810 34811 34812Ezechiel Chapter 2 34813 34814 34815The prophet receives his commission. 34816 348172:1. This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, and 34818I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that 34819spoke, and he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will 34820speak to thee. 34821 348222:2. And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he 34823set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me, 34824 348252:3. And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to 34826a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their 34827fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day. 34828 348292:4. And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of 34830an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord 34831God: 34832 348332:5. If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, 34834for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath 34835been a prophet in the midst of them. 34836 348372:6. And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their 34838words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest 34839with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their 34840looks: for they are a provoking house. 34841 348422:7. And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, 34843and forbear: for they provoke me to anger. 34844 348452:8. But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not 34846thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat 34847what I give thee. 34848 348492:9. And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a 34850book rolled up: and he spread it before me, and it was written within 34851and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, 34852and woe. 34853 34854 34855 34856Ezechiel Chapter 3 34857 34858 34859The prophet eats the book, and receives further instructions: the 34860office of a watchman. 34861 348623:1. And he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat 34863this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. 34864 34865Eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. . .By this eating 34866of the book was signified the diligent attention and affection with 34867which we are to receive, and embrace the word of God; and to let it, as 34868it were, sink into our interior by devout meditation. 34869 348703:2. And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book: 34871 348723:3. And he said to me: Son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels 34873shall be filled with this book, which I give thee, and I did eat it: 34874and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. 34875 348763:4. And he said to me: Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and thou 34877shalt speak my words to them. 34878 348793:5. For thou art not sent to a people of a profound speech, and of an 34880unknown tongue, but to the house of Israel: 34881 348823:6. Nor to many nations of a strange speech, and of an unknown tongue, 34883whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them, 34884they would hearken to thee. 34885 348863:7. But the house of Israel will not hearken to thee: because they 34887will not hearken to me: for all the house of Israel are of a hard 34888forehead and an obstinate heart. 34889 348903:8. Behold I have made thy face stronger than their faces: and thy 34891forehead harder than their foreheads. 34892 348933:9. I have made thy face like an adamant and like flint: fear them 34894not, neither be thou dismayed at their presence: for they are a 34895provoking house. 34896 348973:10. And he said to me: Son of man, receive in thy heart, and hear 34898with thy ears, all the words that I speak to thee: 34899 349003:11. And go get thee in to them of the captivity, to the children of 34901thy people, and thou shalt speak to them, and shalt say to them: Thus 34902saith the Lord: If so be they will hear, and will forbear. 34903 349043:12. And the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a 34905great commotion, saying: Blessed be the glory of the Lord, from his 34906place. 34907 349083:13. The noise of the wings of the living creatures striking one 34909against another, and the noise of the wheels following the living 34910creatures, and the noise of a great commotion. 34911 349123:14. The spirit also lifted me, and took me up: and I went away in 34913bitterness in the indignation of my spirit: for the hand of the Lord 34914was with me, strengthening me. 34915 349163:15. And I came to them of the captivity, to the heap of new corn, to 34917them that dwelt by the river Chobar, and I sat where they sat: and I 34918remained there seven days mourning in the midst of them. 34919 34920The heap of new corn. . .It was the name of a place: in Hebrew, tel 34921abib. 34922 349233:16. And at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me, 34924saying: 34925 349263:17. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel: 34927and thou shalt hear the word out of my mouth, and shalt tell it them 34928from me. 34929 349303:18. If, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die: thou declare 34931it not to him, nor speak to him, that he may be converted from his 34932wicked way, and live: the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, 34933but I will require his blood at thy hand. 34934 349353:19. But if thou give warning to the wicked, and he be not converted 34936from his wickedness, and from his evil way: he indeed shall die in his 34937iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul. 34938 349393:20. Moreover if the just man shall turn away from his justice, and 34940shall commit iniquity: I will lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall 34941die, because thou hast not given him warning: he shall die in his sin, 34942and his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: but I 34943will require his blood at thy hand. 34944 349453:21. But if thou warn the just man, that the just may not sin, and he 34946doth not sin: living he shall live, because thou hast warned him, and 34947thou hast delivered thy soul. 34948 349493:22. And the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he said to me: Rise and 34950go forth into the plain, and there I will speak to thee. 34951 349523:23. And I rose up, and went forth into the plain: and behold the 34953glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the river 34954Chobar: and I fell upon my face. 34955 349563:24. And the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet: and he 34957spoke to me, and said to me: Go in; and shut thyself up in the midst of 34958thy house. 34959 349603:25. And thou, O son of man, behold they shall put bands upon thee, 34961and they shall bind thee with them: and thou shalt not go forth from 34962the midst of them. 34963 349643:26. And I will make thy tongue stick fast to the roof of thy mouth, 34965and thou shalt be dumb, and not as a man that reproveth: because they 34966are a provoking house. 34967 349683:27. But when I shall speak to thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou 34969shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: He that heareth, let him 34970hear: and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a provoking 34971house. 34972 34973 34974 34975Ezechiel Chapter 4 34976 34977 34978A prophetic description of the siege of Jerusalem, and the famine that 34979shall reign there. 34980 349814:1. And thou, O son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee: 34982and draw upon it the plan of the city of Jerusalem. 34983 349844:2. And lay siege against it, and build forts, and cast up a mount, 34985and set a camp against it, and place battering rams round about it. 34986 349874:3. And take unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron 34988between thee and the city: and set thy face resolutely against it, and 34989it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it: it is a sign 34990to the house of Israel. 34991 349924:4. And thou shalt sleep upon thy left side, and shalt lay the 34993iniquities of the house of Israel upon it, according to the number of 34994the days that thou shalt sleep upon it, and thou shalt take upon thee 34995their iniquity. 34996 349974:5. And I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according 34998to the number of the days three hundred and ninety days: and thou shalt 34999bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 35000 350014:6. And when thou hast accomplished this, thou shalt sleep again upon 35002thy right side, and thou shalt take upon thee the iniquity of the house 35003of Juda forty days: a day for a year, yea, a day for a year I have 35004appointed to thee. 35005 350064:7. And thou shalt turn thy face to the siege of Jerusalem and thy arm 35007shall be stretched out: and thou shalt prophesy against it. 35008 350094:8. Behold I have encompassed thee with bands: and thou shalt not turn 35010thyself from one side to the other, till thou hast ended the days of 35011thy siege. 35012 350134:9. And take to thee wheat and barley, and beans, and lentils, and 35014millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread 35015thereof according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon 35016thy side: three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof. 35017 350184:10. And thy meat that thou shalt eat, shall be in weight twenty 35019staters a day: from time to time thou shalt eat it. 35020 350214:11. And thou shalt drink water by measure, the sixth part of a hin: 35022from time to time thou shalt drink it, 35023 35024Hin. . .That is, a measure of liquids containing about ten pints. 35025 350264:12. And thou shalt eat it as barley bread baked under the ashes: and 35027thou shalt cover it, in their sight, with the dung that cometh out of a 35028man. 35029 350304:13. And the Lord said: So shall the children of Israel eat their 35031bread all filthy among the nations whither I will cast them out. 35032 350334:14. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God, behold my soul hath not been 35034defiled, and from my infancy even till now, I have not eaten any thing 35035that died of itself, or was torn by beasts, and no unclean flesh hath 35036entered into my mouth. 35037 350384:15. And he said to me: Behold I have given thee neat's dung for man's 35039dung, and thou shalt make thy bread therewith. 35040 350414:16. And he said to me: Son of man: Behold, I will break in pieces the 35042staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and 35043with care: and they shall drink water by measure, and in distress. 35044 350454:17. So that when bread and water fail, every man may fall against his 35046brother, and they may pine away in their iniquities. 35047 35048 35049 35050Ezechiel Chapter 5 35051 35052 35053The judgments of God upon the Jews are foreshewn under the type of the 35054prophet's hair. 35055 350565:1. And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the 35057hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take 35058thee a balance to weigh in, and divide the hair. 35059 350605:2. A third part thou shalt burn with fire in the midst of the city, 35061according to the fulfilling of the days of the siege: and thou shalt 35062take a third part, and cut it in pieces with the knife all round about: 35063and the other third part thou shalt scatter in the wind, and I will 35064draw out the sword after them. 35065 350665:3. And thou shalt take thereof a small number: and shalt bind them in 35067the skirt of thy cloak. 35068 350695:4. And thou shalt take of them again, and shalt cast them in the 35070midst of the fire, and shalt burn them with fire: and out of it shall 35071come forth a fire into all the house of Israel. 35072 350735:5. Thus saith the Lord God: This is Jerusalem, I have set her in the 35074midst of the nations, and the countries round about her. 35075 350765:6. And she hath despised my judgments, so as to be more wicked than 35077the Gentiles; and my commandments, more than the countries that are 35078round about her: for they have cast off my judgments, and have not 35079walked in my commandments. 35080 350815:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have surpassed the 35082Gentiles that are round about you, and have not walked in my 35083commandments, and have not kept my judgments, and have not done 35084according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you: 35085 350865:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, and 35087I myself will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of 35088the Gentiles. 35089 350905:9. And I will do in thee that which I have not done: and the like to 35091which I will do no more, because of all thy abominations. 35092 350935:10. Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, 35094and the sons shall eat their fathers: and I will execute judgments in 35095thee, and I will scatter thy whole remnant into every wind. 35096 350975:11. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God: Because thou hast 35098violated my sanctuary with all thy offences, and with all thy 35099abominations: I will also break thee in pieces, and my eye shall not 35100spare, and I will not have any pity. 35101 351025:12. A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and shall be 35103consumed with famine in the midst of thee: and a third part of thee 35104shall fall by the sword round about thee: and a third part of thee will 35105I scatter into every wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. 35106 351075:13. And I will accomplish my fury, and will cause my indignation to 35108rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the 35109Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I shall have accomplished my 35110indignation in them. 35111 351125:14. And I will make thee desolate, and a reproach among the nations 35113that are round about thee, in the sight of every one that passeth by. 35114 351155:15. And thou shalt be a reproach, and a scoff, an example, and an 35116astonishment amongst the nations that are round about thee, when I 35117shall have executed judgments in thee in anger, and in indignation, and 35118in wrathful rebukes. 35119 351205:16. I the Lord have spoken it: When I shall send upon them the 35121grievous arrows of famine, which shall bring death, and which I will 35122send to destroy you: and I will gather together famine against you: and 35123I will break among you the staff of bread. 35124 351255:17. And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter 35126destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass through thee, and I 35127will bring in the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it. 35128 35129 35130 35131Ezechiel Chapter 6 35132 35133 35134The punishment of Israel for their idolatry: a remnant shall be saved. 35135 351366:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35137 351386:2. Son of man set thy face towards the mountains of Israel, and 35139prophesy against them. 35140 351416:3. And say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: 35142Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, and to the 35143rocks, and the valleys: Behold, I will bring upon you the sword, and I 35144will destroy your high places. 35145 351466:4. And I will throw down your altars, and your idols shall be broken 35147in pieces: and I will cast down your slain before your idols. 35148 351496:5. And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before 35150your idols: and I will scatter your bones round about your altars, 35151 351526:6. In all your dwelling places. The cities shall be laid waste, and 35153the high places shall be thrown down, and destroyed, and your altars 35154shall be abolished, and shall be broken in pieces: and your idols shall 35155be no more, and your temples shall be destroyed, and your works shall 35156be defaced. 35157 351586:7. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you: and you shall know 35159that I am the Lord. 35160 351616:8. And I will leave in you some that shall escape the sword among the 35162nations, when I shall have scattered you through the countries. 35163 351646:9. And they that are saved of you shall remember me amongst the 35165nations, to which they are carried captives: because I have broken 35166their heart that was faithless, and revolted from me: and their eyes 35167that went a fornicating after their idols: and they shall be displeased 35168with themselves because of the evils which they have committed in all 35169their abominations. 35170 351716:10. And they shall know that I the Lord have not spoken in vain that 35172I would do this evil to them. 35173 351746:11. Thus saith the Lord God: Strike with thy hand and stamp with thy 35175foot, and say: Alas, for all the abominations of the evils of the house 35176of Israel: for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the 35177pestilence. 35178 351796:12. He that is far off shall die of the pestilence: and he that is 35180near, shall fall by the sword: and he that remaineth, and is besieged, 35181shall die by the famine: and I will accomplish my indignation upon 35182them. 35183 351846:13. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when your slain shall be 35185amongst your idols, round about your altars, in every high hill, and on 35186all the tops of mountains, and under every woody tree, and under every 35187thick oak, the place where they burnt sweet smelling frankincense to 35188all their idols. 35189 351906:14. And I will stretch forth my hand upon them: and I will make the 35191land desolate, and abandoned from the desert of Deblatha in all their 35192dwelling places: and they shall know that I am the Lord. 35193 35194 35195 35196Ezechiel Chapter 7 35197 35198 35199The final desolation of Israel: from which few shall escape. 35200 352017:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35202 352037:2. And thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God to the land of 35204Israel: The end is come, the end is come upon the four quarters of the 35205land. 35206 352077:3. Now is an end come upon thee, and I will send my wrath upon thee, 35208and I will judge thee according to thy ways: and I will set all thy 35209abominations against thee. 35210 352117:4. And my eye shall not spare thee, and I will shew thee no pity: but 35212I will lay thy ways upon thee, and thy abominations shall be in the 35213midst of thee: and you shall know that I am the Lord. 35214 352157:5. Thus saith the Lord God: One affliction, behold an affliction is 35216come. 35217 352187:6. An end is come, the end is come, it hath awaked against thee: 35219behold it is come. 35220 352217:7. Destruction is come upon thee that dwellest in the land: the time 35222is come, the day of slaughter is near, and not of the joy of mountains. 35223 352247:8. Now very shortly I will pour out my wrath upon thee, and I will 35225accomplish my anger in thee: and I will judge thee according to thy 35226ways, and I will lay upon thee all thy crimes. 35227 352287:9. And my eye shall not spare, neither will I shew mercy: but I will 35229lay thy ways upon thee, and thy abominations shall be in the midst of 35230thee: and you shall know that I am the Lord that strike. 35231 352327:10. Behold the day, behold it is come: destruction is gone forth, the 35233rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. 35234 352357:11. Iniquity is risen up into a rod of impiety: nothing of them shall 35236remain, nor of their people, nor of the noise of them: and there shall 35237be no rest among them. 35238 352397:12. The time is come, the day is at hand: let not the buyer rejoice: 35240nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the people thereof. 35241 352427:13. For the seller shall not return to that which he hath sold, 35243although their life be yet among the living. For the vision which 35244regardeth all the multitude thereof, shall not go back: neither shall 35245man be strengthened in the iniquity of his life. 35246 352477:14. Blow the trumpet, let all be made ready, yet there is none to go 35248to the battle: for my wrath shall be upon all the people thereof. 35249 352507:15. The sword without: and the pestilence, and the famine within: he 35251that is in the field shall die by the sword: and they that are in the 35252city, shall be devoured by the pestilence, and the famine. 35253 352547:16. And such of them as shall flee shall escape: and they shall be in 35255the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them trembling, every 35256one for his iniquity. 35257 352587:17. All hands shall be made feeble, and all knees shall run with 35259water. 35260 352617:18. And they shall gird themselves with haircloth, and fear shall 35262cover them and shame shall be upon every face, and baldness upon all 35263their heads. 35264 352657:19. Their silver shall be cast forth, and their gold shall become a 35266dunghill. Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them 35267in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They shall not satisfy their soul, 35268and their bellies shall not be filled: because it hath been the 35269stumblingblock of their iniquity. 35270 352717:20. And they have turned the ornament of their jewels into pride, and 35272have made of it the images of their abominations, and idols: therefore 35273I have made it an uncleanness to them. 35274 352757:21. And I will give it into the hands of strangers for spoil, and to 35276the wicked of the earth for a prey, and they shall defile it. 35277 352787:22. And I will turn away my face from them, and they shall violate my 35279secret place: and robbers shall enter into it, and defile it. 35280 35281Secret place, etc. . .Viz., the inward sanctuary, the holy of holies. 35282 352837:23. Make a shutting up: for the land is full of the judgment of 35284blood, and the city is full of iniquity. 35285 35286Make a shutting up. . .In Hebrew, a chain, viz., for imprisonment and 35287captivity. 35288 352897:24. And I will bring the worst of the nations, and they shall possess 35290their houses: and I will make the pride of the mighty to cease, and 35291they shall possess their sanctuary. 35292 352937:25. When distress cometh upon them, they will seek for peace and 35294there shall be none. 35295 352967:26. Trouble shall come upon trouble, and rumour upon rumour, and they 35297shall seek a vision of the prophet, and the law shall perish from the 35298priest, and counsel from the ancients. 35299 353007:27. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with 35301sorrow, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled. I 35302will do to them according to their way, and will judge them according 35303to their judgments: and they shall know that I am the Lord. 35304 35305 35306 35307Ezechiel Chapter 8 35308 35309 35310The prophet sees in a vision the abominations committed in Jerusalem; 35311which determine the Lord to spare them no longer. 35312 353138:1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the 35314fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda 35315sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. 35316 353178:2. And I saw, and behold a likeness as the appearance of fire: from 35318the appearance of his loins, and downward, fire: and from his loins, 35319and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the appearance of 35320amber. 35321 353228:3. And the likeness of a hand was put forth and took me by a lock of 35323my head: and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, 35324and brought me in the vision of God into Jerusalem, near the inner 35325gate, that looked toward the north, where was set the idol of jealousy 35326to provoke to jealousy. 35327 353288:4. And behold the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to 35329the vision which I had seen in the plain. 35330 353318:5. And he said to me: Son of man, lift up thy eyes towards the way of 35332the north, and I lifted up my eyes towards the way of the north: and 35333behold on the north side of the gate of the altar the idol of jealousy 35334in the very entry. 35335 353368:6. And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou see, thinkest thou, what 35337these are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel 35338committeth here, that I should depart far off from my sanctuary? and 35339turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations. 35340 353418:7. And he brought me in to the door of the court: and I saw, and 35342behold a hole in the wall. 35343 353448:8. And he said to me: Son of man, dig in the wall, and when I had 35345digged in the wall, behold a door. 35346 353478:9. And he said to me: Go in, and see the wicked abominations which 35348they commit here. 35349 353508:10. And I went in and saw, and behold every form of creeping things, 35351and of living creatures, the abominations, and all the idols of the 35352house of Israel, were painted on the wall all round about. 35353 353548:11. And seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and 35355Jezonias the son of Saaphan stood in the midst of them, that stood 35356before the pictures: and every one had a censer in his hand: and a 35357cloud of smoke went up from the incense. 35358 353598:12. And he said to me: Surely thou seest, O son of man, what the 35360ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every one in private in 35361his chamber: for they say: The Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath 35362forsaken the earth. 35363 353648:13. And he said to me: If thou turn thee again, thou shalt see 35365greater abominations which these commit. 35366 353678:14. And he brought me in by the door of the gate of the Lord's house, 35368which looked to the north: and behold women sat there mourning for 35369Adonis. 35370 35371Adonis. . .The favourite of Venus, slain by a wild boar, as feigned by 35372the heathen poets, and which being here represented by an idol, is 35373lamented by the female worshippers of that goddess. In the Hebrew, the 35374name is Tammuz. 35375 353768:15. And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man: but turn 35377thee again, thou shalt see greater abominations than these. 35378 353798:16. And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord: 35380and behold at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and 35381the altar, were about five and twenty men having their backs towards 35382the temple of the Lord, in their faces to the east: and they adored 35383towards the rising of the sun. 35384 353858:17. And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man: is this a 35386light thing to the house of Juda, that they should commit these 35387abominations which they have committed here: because they have filled 35388the land with iniquity, and have turned to provoke me to anger? and 35389behold they put a branch to their nose. 35390 353918:18. Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall 35392not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they shall cry to 35393my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them. 35394 35395 35396 35397Ezechiel Chapter 9 35398 35399 35400All are ordered to be destroyed that are not marked in their foreheads. 35401God will not be entreated for them. 35402 354039:1. And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations 35404of the city are at hand, and every one hath a destroying weapon in his 35405hand. 35406 354079:2. And behold six men came from the way of the upper gate, which 35408looketh to the north: and each one had his weapon of destruction in his 35409hand: and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with linen, 35410with a writer's inkhorn at his reins: and they went in, and stood by 35411the brazen altar. 35412 354139:3. And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon 35414which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man 35415that was clothed with linen, and had a writer's inkhorn at his loins. 35416 354179:4. And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, 35418through the midst of Jerusalem: and mark Thau upon the foreheads of the 35419men that sigh, and mourn for all the abominations that are committed in 35420the midst thereof. 35421 35422Mark Thau. . .Thau, or Tau, is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, 35423and signifies a sign, or a mark; which is the reason why some 35424translators render this place set a mark, or mark a mark without 35425specifying what this mark was. But St. Jerome, and other interpreters, 35426conclude it was the form of the letter Thau, which in the ancient 35427Hebrew character, was the form of a cross. 35428 354299:5. And to the others he said in my hearing: Go ye after him through 35430the city, and strike: let not your eyes spare, nor be ye moved with 35431pity. 35432 354339:6. Utterly destroy old and young, maidens, children and women: but 35434upon whomsoever you shall see Thau, kill him not, and begin ye at my 35435sanctuary. So they began at the ancient men who were before the house. 35436 354379:7. And he said to them: Defile the house, and fill the courts with 35438the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew them that were in 35439the city. 35440 354419:8. And the slaughter being ended I was left; and I fell upon my face, 35442and crying, I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, wilt thou then 35443destroy all the remnant of Israel, by pouring out thy fury upon 35444Jerusalem? 35445 354469:9. And he said to me: The iniquity of the house of Israel, and of 35447Juda, is exceeding great, and the land is filled with blood, and the 35448city is filled with perverseness: for they have said: The Lord hath 35449forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. 35450 354519:10. Therefore neither shall my eye spare, nor will I have pity: I 35452will requite their way upon their head. 35453 354549:11. And behold the man that was clothed with linen, that had the 35455inkhorn at his back, returned the word, saying: I have done as thou 35456hast commanded me. 35457 35458 35459 35460Ezechiel Chapter 10 35461 35462 35463Fire is taken from the midst of the wheels under the cherubims, and 35464scattered over the city. A description of the cherubims. 35465 3546610:1. And I saw and behold in the firmament that was over the heads of 35467the cherubims, there appeared over them as it were the sapphire stone, 35468as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 35469 3547010:2. And he spoke to the man, that was clothed with linen, and said: 35471Go in between the wheels that are under the cherubims and fill thy hand 35472with the coals of fire that are between the cherubims, and pour them 35473out upon the city. And he went in, in my sight: 35474 3547510:3. And the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the 35476man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. 35477 3547810:4. And the glory of the Lord was lifted up from above the cherub to 35479the threshold of the house: and the house was filled with the cloud, 35480and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord. 35481 3548210:5. And the sound of the wings of the cherubims was heard even to the 35483outward court as the voice of God Almighty speaking. 35484 3548510:6. And when he had commanded the man that was clothed with linen, 35486saying: Take fire from the midst of the wheels that are between the 35487cherubims: he went in and stood beside the wheel. 35488 3548910:7. And one cherub stretched out his arm from the midst of the 35490cherubims to the fire that was between the cherubims: and he took, and 35491put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it 35492and went forth. 35493 3549410:8. And there appeared in the cherubims the likeness of a man's hand 35495under their wings. 35496 3549710:9. And I saw, and behold there were four wheels by the cherubims: 35498one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the 35499appearance of the wheels was to the sight like the chrysolite stone: 35500 3550110:10. And as to their appearance, all four were alike: as if a wheel 35502were in the midst of a wheel. 35503 3550410:11. And when they went, they went by four ways: and they turned not 35505when they went: but to the place whither they first turned, the rest 35506also followed, and did not turn back. 35507 35508By four ways. . .That is, by any of the four ways, forward, backward, to 35509the right or to the left. 35510 3551110:12. And their whole body, and their necks, and their hands, and 35512their wings, and the circles were full of eyes, round about the four 35513wheels. 35514 3551510:13. And these wheels he called voluble, in my hearing. 35516 35517Voluble. . .That is, rolling wheels, galgal. 35518 3551910:14. And every one had four faces: one face was the face of a cherub, 35520and the second face, the face of a man: and in the third was the face 35521of a lion: and in the fourth the face of an eagle. 35522 3552310:15. And the cherubims were lifted up: this is the living creature 35524that I had seen by the river Chobar. 35525 3552610:16. And when the cherubims went, the wheels also went by them: and 35527when the cherubims lifted up their wings, to mount up from the earth, 35528the wheels stayed not behind, but were by them. 35529 3553010:17. When they stood, these stood: and when they were lifted up, 35531these were lifted up: for the spirit of life was in them. 35532 3553310:18. And the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the 35534temple: and stood over the cherubims. 35535 3553610:19. And the cherubims lifting up their wings, were raised from the 35537earth before me: and as they went out, the wheels also followed: and it 35538stood in the entry of the east gate of the house of the Lord: and the 35539glory of the God of Israel was over them. 35540 3554110:20. This is the living creature, which I saw under the God of Israel 35542by the river Chobar: and I understood that they were cherubims. 35543 3554410:21. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings: and the 35545likeness of a man's hand was under their wings. 35546 3554710:22. And as to the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces 35548which I had seen by the river Chobar, and their looks, and the impulse 35549of every one to go straight forward. 35550 35551 35552 35553Ezechiel Chapter 11 35554 35555 35556A prophecy against the presumptuous assurance of the great ones. A 35557remnant shall be saved, and receive a new spirit, and a new heart. 35558 3555911:1. And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the east gate of 35560the house of the Lord, which looketh towards the rising of the sun: and 35561behold in the entry of the gate five and twenty men: and I saw in the 35562midst of them Jezonias the son of Azur, and Pheltias the son of 35563Banaias, princes of the people. 35564 3556511:2. And he said to me: Son of man, these are the men that study 35566iniquity, and frame a wicked counsel in this city, 35567 3556811:3. Saying: Were not houses lately built? This city is the caldron, 35569and we the flesh. 35570 35571Were not houses lately built, etc. . .These men despised the predictions 35572and threats of the prophets; who declared to them from God, that the 35573city should be destroyed, and the inhabitants carried into captivity: 35574and they made use of this kind of argument against the prophets, that 35575the city, so far from being like to be destroyed, had lately been 35576augmented by the building of new houses; from whence they further 35577inferred, by way of a proverb, using the similitude of a cauldron, out 35578of which the flesh is not taken, till it is thoroughly boiled, and fit 35579to be eaten, that they should not be carried away out of their city, 35580but there end their days in peace. 35581 3558211:4. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, thou son of man. 35583 3558411:5. And the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me: Speak: 35585Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I 35586know the thoughts of your heart. 35587 3558811:6. You have killed a great many in this city, and you have filled 35589the streets thereof with the slain. 35590 3559111:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Your slain, whom you have laid 35592in the midst thereof, they are the flesh, all this is the caldron: and 35593I will bring you forth out of the midst thereof. 35594 3559511:8. You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, 35596saith the Lord God. 35597 3559811:9. And I will cast you out of the midst thereof, and I will deliver 35599you into the hand of the enemies, and I will execute judgments upon 35600you. 35601 3560211:10. You shall fall by the sword: I will judge you in the borders of 35603Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 35604 35605In the borders of Israel. . .They pretended that they should die in 35606peace in Jerusalem; God tells them it should not be so; but that they 35607should be judged and condemned, and fall by the sword in the borders of 35608Israel: viz., in Reblatha in the land of Emath, where all their chief 35609men were put to death by Nabuchodonosor. 4 Kings 25., and Jer. 52.10, 3561027. 35611 3561211:11. This shall not be as a caldron to you, and you shall not be as 35613flesh in the midst thereof: I will judge you in the borders of Israel. 35614 3561511:12. And you shall know that I am the Lord: because you have not 35616walked in my commandments, and have not done my judgments, but you have 35617done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about 35618you. 35619 3562011:13. And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pheltias the son of 35621Banaias died: and I fell down upon my face, and I cried with a loud 35622voice: and said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God: wilt thou make an end 35623of all the remnant of Israel? 35624 3562511:14. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35626 3562711:15. Son of man, thy brethren, thy brethren, thy kinsmen, and all the 35628house of Israel, all they to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have 35629said: Get ye far from the Lord, the land is given in possession to us. 35630 35631Thy brethren, etc. . .He speaks of them that had been carried away 35632captives before; who were despised by them that remained in Jerusalem: 35633but as the prophet here declares to them from God, should be in a more 35634happy condition than they, and after some time return from their 35635captivity. 35636 3563711:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because I have removed them 35638far off among the Gentiles, and because I have scattered them among the 35639countries: I will be to them a little sanctuary in the countries 35640whither they are come. 35641 3564211:17. Therefore speak to them: Thus saith the Lord God: I will gather 35643you from among the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries 35644wherein you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 35645 3564611:18. And they shall go in thither, and shall take away all the 35647scandals, and all the abominations thereof from thence. 35648 3564911:19. And I will give them one heart, and will put a new spirit in 35650their bowels: and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, 35651and will give them a heart of flesh: 35652 3565311:20. That they may walk in my commandments, and keep my judgments, 35654and do them: and that they may be my people, and I may be their God. 35655 3565611:21. But as for them whose heart walketh after their scandals and 35657abominations, I will lay their way upon their head, saith the Lord God. 35658 3565911:22. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and the wheels with 35660them: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. 35661 3566211:23. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, 35663and stood over the mount that is on the east side of the city. 35664 3566511:24. And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into Chaldea, to 35666them of the captivity, in vision, by the spirit of God: and the vision 35667which I had seen was taken up from me. 35668 3566911:25. And I spoke to them of the captivity all the words of the Lord, 35670which he had shewn me. 35671 35672 35673 35674Ezechiel Chapter 12 35675 35676 35677The prophet forsheweth, by signs, the captivity of Sedecias, and the 35678desolation of the people: all which shall quickly come to pass. 35679 3568012:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35681 3568212:2. Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a provoking house: who 35683have eyes to see, and see not: and ears to hear, and hear not: for they 35684are a provoking house. 35685 3568612:3. Thou, therefore, O son of man, prepare thee all necessaries for 35687removing, and remove by day into their sight: and thou shalt remove out 35688of thy place to another place in their sight, if so be they will regard 35689it: for they are a provoking house. 35690 3569112:4. And thou shalt bring forth thy furniture as the furniture of one 35692that is removing by day in their sight: and thou shalt go forth in the 35693evening in their presence, as one goeth forth that removeth his 35694dwelling. 35695 3569612:5. Dig thee a way through the wall before their eyes: and thou shalt 35697go forth through it. 35698 3569912:6. In their sight thou shalt be carried out upon men's shoulders, 35700thou shalt be carried out in the dark: thou shalt cover thy face, and 35701shalt not see the ground: for I have set thee for a sign of things to 35702come to the house of Israel. 35703 3570412:7. I did therefore as he had commanded me: I brought forth my goods 35705by day, as the goods of one that removeth: and in the evening I digged 35706through the wall with my hand, and I went forth in the dark, and was 35707carried on men's shoulders in their sight. 35708 3570912:8. And the word of the Lord came to me in the morning, saying: 35710 3571112:9. Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the provoking house, 35712said to thee: What art thou doing? 35713 3571412:10. Say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: This burden concerneth my 35715prince that is in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel, that are 35716among them. 35717 3571812:11. Say: I am a sign of things to come to you: as I have done, so 35719shall it be done to them: they shall be removed from their dwellings, 35720and go into captivity. 35721 3572212:12. And the prince that is in the midst of them, shall be carried on 35723shoulders, he shall go forth in the dark: they shall dig through the 35724wall to bring him out: his face shall be covered, that he may not see 35725the ground with his eyes. 35726 3572712:13. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my 35728net: and I will bring him into Babylon, into the land of the Chaldeans, 35729and he shall not see it, and there he shall die. 35730 35731He shall not see it. . .Because his eyes shall be put out by 35732Nabuchodonosor. 35733 3573412:14. And all that are about him, his guards, and his troops I will 35735scatter into every wind: and I will draw out the sword after them. 35736 3573712:15. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have 35738dispersed them among the nations, and scattered them in the countries. 35739 3574012:16. And I will leave a few men of them from the sword, and from the 35741famine, and from the pestilence: that they may declare all their wicked 35742deeds among the nations whither they shall go: and they shall know that 35743I am the Lord. 35744 3574512:17. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35746 3574712:18. Son of man, eat thy bread in trouble and drink thy water in 35748hurry and sorrow. 35749 3575012:19. And say to the people of the land: Thus saith the Lord God to 35751them that dwell in Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat 35752their bread in care, and drink their water in desolation: that the land 35753may become desolate from the multitude that is therein, for the 35754iniquity of all that dwell therein. 35755 3575612:20. And the cities that are now inhabited shall be laid waste, and 35757the land shall be desolate: and you shall know that I am the Lord. 35758 3575912:21. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35760 3576112:22. Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of 35762Israel? saying: The days shall be prolonged, and every vision shall 35763fail. 35764 3576512:23. Say to them therefore: Thus saith the Lord God: I will make this 35766proverb to cease, neither shall it be any more a common saying in 35767Israel: and tell them that the days are at hand, and the effect of 35768every vision. 35769 3577012:24. For there shall be no more any vain visions, nor doubtful 35771divination in the midst of the children of Israel. 35772 3577312:25. For I the Lord will speak: and what word soever I shall speak, 35774it shall come to pass, and shall not be prolonged any more: but in your 35775days, ye provoking house, I will speak the word, and will do it, saith 35776the Lord God. 35777 3577812:26. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35779 3578012:27. Son of man, behold the house of Israel, they that say: The 35781visions that this man seeth, is for many days to come: and this man 35782prophesieth of times afar off. 35783 3578412:28. Therefore say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: not one word of 35785mine shall be prolonged any more: the word that I shall speak shall be 35786accomplished, saith the Lord God. 35787 35788 35789 35790Ezechiel Chapter 13 35791 35792 35793God declares against false prophets and prophetesses, that deceive the 35794people with lies. 35795 3579613:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35797 3579813:2. Son of man, prophesy thou against the prophets of Israel that 35799prophesy: and thou shalt say to them that prophesy out of their own 35800heart: Hear ye the word of the Lord: 35801 3580213:3. Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets that follow 35803their own spirit, and see nothing. 35804 3580513:4. Thy prophets, O Israel, were like foxes in the deserts. 35806 3580713:5. You have not gone up to face the enemy, nor have you set up a 35808wall for the house of Israel, to stand in battle in the day of the 35809Lord. 35810 3581113:6. They see vain things, and they foretell lies, saying: The Lord 35812saith: whereas the Lord hath not sent them: and they have persisted to 35813confirm what they have said. 35814 3581513:7. Have you not seen a vain vision and spoken a lying divination: 35816and you say: The Lord saith: whereas I have not spoken. 35817 3581813:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have spoken vain 35819things, and have seen lies: therefore behold I come against you, saith 35820the Lord God. 35821 3582213:9. And my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vain things, and 35823that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor 35824shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither 35825shall they enter into the land of Israel, and you shall know that I am 35826the Lord God. 35827 3582813:10. Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there 35829is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with 35830dirt without straw. 35831 3583213:11. Say to them that daub without tempering, that it shall fall: for 35833there shall be an overflowing shower, and I will cause great hailstones 35834to fall violently from above, and a stormy wind to throw it down. 35835 3583613:12. Behold, when the wall is fallen: shall it not be said to you: 35837Where is the daubing wherewith you have daubed it? 35838 3583913:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Lo, I will cause a stormy 35840wind to break forth in my indignation, and there shall be an 35841overflowing shower in my anger: and great hailstones in my wrath to 35842consume. 35843 3584413:14. And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with 35845untempered mortar: and I will make it even with the ground, and the 35846foundation thereof shall be laid bare: and it shall fall, and shall be 35847consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord. 35848 3584913:15. And I will accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that 35850daub it without tempering the mortar, and I will say to you: The wall 35851is no more, and they that daub it are no more. 35852 3585313:16. Even the prophets of Israel that prophesy to Jerusalem, and that 35854see visions of peace for her: and there is no peace, saith the Lord 35855God. 35856 3585713:17. And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy 35858people that prophesy out of their own heart: and do thou prophesy 35859against them, 35860 3586113:18. And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions 35862under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every 35863age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they 35864gave life to their souls. 35865 35866Sew cushions, etc. . .Viz., by making people easy in their sins, and 35867promising them impunity.--Ibid. They gave life to their souls. . .That 35868is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. 35869 3587013:19. And they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley, 35871and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save 35872souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that 35873believe lies. 35874 35875Violated me. . .That is, dishonoured and discredited me. Ibid. To kill 35876souls, etc. . .That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to 35877die; and to promise life to them who are not to live. 35878 3587913:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I declare against your 35880cushions, wherewith you catch flying souls: and I will tear them off 35881from your arms: and I will let go the soul that you catch, the souls 35882that should fly. 35883 3588413:21. And I will tear your pillows, and will deliver my people out of 35885your hand, neither shall they be any more in your hands to be a prey: 35886and you shall know that I am the Lord. 35887 3588813:22. Because with lies you have made the heart of the just to mourn, 35889whom I have not made sorrowful: and have strengthened the hands of the 35890wicked, that he should not return from his evil way, and live. 35891 3589213:23. Therefore you shall not see vain things, nor divine divinations 35893any more, and I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall 35894know that I am the Lord. 35895 35896 35897 35898Ezechiel Chapter 14 35899 35900 35901God suffers the wicked to be deceived in punishment of their 35902wickedness. The evils that shall come upon them for their sins: for 35903which they shall not be delivered by the prayers of Noe, Daniel, and 35904Job. But a remnant shall be preserved. 35905 3590614:1. And some of the ancients of Israel came to me, and sat before me. 35907 3590814:2. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35909 3591014:3. Son of man, these men have placed their uncleannesses in their 35911hearts, and have set up before their face the stumblingblock of their 35912iniquity: and shall I answer when they inquire of me? 35913 35914Uncleanness. . .That is, their filthy idols, upon which they have set 35915their hearts: and which are a stumblingblock to their souls. 35916 3591714:4. Therefore speak to them, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord 35918God: Man, man of the house of Israel that shall place his uncleannesses 35919in his heart, and set up the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his 35920face, and shall come to the prophet inquiring of me by him: I the Lord 35921will answer him according to the multitude of his uncleannesses: 35922 35923Man, man. . .That is, every man, an Hebrew expression. 35924 3592514:5. That the house of Israel may be caught in their own heart, with 35926which they have departed from me through all their idols. 35927 3592814:6. Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Be 35929converted, and depart from your idols, and turn away your faces from 35930all your abominations. 35931 3593214:7. For every man of the house of Israel, and every stranger among 35933the proselytes in Israel, if he separate himself from me, and place his 35934idols in his heart, and set the stumblingblock of his iniquity before 35935his face, and come to the prophet to inquire of me by him: I the Lord 35936will answer him by myself. 35937 3593814:8. And I will set my face against that man, and will make him an 35939example, and a proverb, and will cut him off from the midst of my 35940people: and you shall know that I am the Lord. 35941 3594214:9. And when the prophet shall err, and speak a word: I the Lord have 35943deceived that prophet: and I will stretch forth my hand upon him, and 35944will cut him off from the midst of my people Israel. 35945 35946The prophet shall err, etc. . .He speaks of false prophets, answering 35947out of their own heads and according to their own corrupt 35948inclinations.--Ibid. I have deceived that prophet. . .God Almighty 35949deceives false prophets, partly by withdrawing his light from them; and 35950abandoning them to their own corrupt inclinations, which push them on 35951to prophesy such things as are agreeable to those who consult them: and 35952partly by disappointing them, and causing all thing to happen contrary 35953to what they have said. 35954 3595514:10. And they shall bear their iniquity: according to the iniquity of 35956him that inquireth, so shall the iniquity of the prophet be. 35957 3595814:11. That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, nor be 35959polluted with all their transgressions: but may be my people, and I may 35960be their God, saith the Lord of hosts. 35961 3596214:12. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 35963 3596414:13. Son of man, when a land shall sin against me, so as to 35965transgress grievously, I will stretch forth my hand upon it, and will 35966break the staff of the bread thereof: and I will send famine upon it, 35967and will destroy man and beast out of it. 35968 3596914:14. And if these three men, Noe, Daniel, and Job, shall be in it: 35970they shall deliver their own souls by their justice, saith the Lord of 35971hosts. 35972 3597314:15. And if I shall bring mischievous beasts also upon the land to 35974waste it, and it be desolate, so that there is none that can pass 35975because of the beasts: 35976 3597714:16. If these three men shall be in it, as I live, saith the Lord, 35978they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters: but they only shall be 35979delivered, and the land shall be made desolate. 35980 3598114:17. Or if I bring the sword upon that land, and say to the sword: 35982Pass through the land: and I destroy man and beast out of it: 35983 3598414:18. And these three men be in the midst thereof: as I live, saith 35985the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they 35986themselves alone shall be delivered. 35987 3598814:19. Or if I also send the pestilence upon that land, and pour out my 35989indignation upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: 35990 3599114:20. And Noe, and Daniel, and Job be in the midst thereof: as I live, 35992saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter: but 35993they shall only deliver their own souls by their justice. 35994 3599514:21. For thus saith the Lord: Although I shall send in upon Jerusalem 35996my four grievous judgments, the sword, and the famine, and the 35997mischievous beasts, and the pestilence, to destroy out of it man and 35998beast, 35999 3600014:22. Yet there shall be left in it some that shall be saved, who 36001shall bring away their sons and daughters: behold they shall come among 36002you, and you shall see their way, and their doings: and you shall be 36003comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, in 36004all things that I have brought upon it. 36005 3600614:23. And they shall comfort you, when you shall see their ways, and 36007their doings: and you shall know that I have not done without cause all 36008that I have done in it, saith the Lord God. 36009 36010 36011 36012Ezechiel Chapter 15 36013 36014 36015As a vine cut down is fit for nothing but the fire; so it shall be with 36016Jerusalem, for her sins. 36017 3601815:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36019 3602015:2. Son of man, what shall be made of the wood of the vine, out of 36021all the trees of the woods that are among the trees of the forests? 36022 3602315:3. Shall wood be taken of it, to do any work, or shall a pin be made 36024of it for any vessel to hang thereon? 36025 3602615:4. Behold it is cast into the fire for fuel: the fire hath consumed 36027both ends thereof, and the midst thereof is reduced to ashes: shall it 36028be useful for any work? 36029 3603015:5. Even when it was whole it was not fit for work: how much less, 36031when the fire hath devoured and consumed it, shall any work be made of 36032it? 36033 3603415:6. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As the vine tree among the 36035trees of the forests which I have given to the fire to be consumed, so 36036will I deliver up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 36037 3603815:7. And I will set my face against them: they shall go out from fire, 36039and fire shall consume them: and you shall know that I am the Lord, 36040when I shall have set my face against them. 36041 3604215:8. And I shall have made their land a wilderness, and desolate, 36043because they have been transgressors, saith the Lord God. 36044 36045 36046 36047Ezechiel Chapter 16 36048 36049 36050Under the figure of an unfaithful wife, God upbraids Jerusalem with her 36051ingratitude and manifold disloyalties: but promiseth mercy by a new 36052covenant. 36053 3605416:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36055 3605616:2. Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations. 36057 36058Make known to Jerusalem. . .That is, by letters, for the prophet was 36059then in Babylon. 36060 3606116:3. And thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord God to Jerusalem: Thy 36062root, and thy nativity is of the land of Chanaan, thy father was an 36063Amorrhite, and thy mother a Cethite. 36064 3606516:4. And when thou wast born, in the day of thy nativity thy navel was 36066not cut, neither wast thou washed with water for thy health, nor salted 36067with salt, nor swaddled with clouts. 36068 3606916:5. No eye had pity on thee to do any of these things for thee, out 36070of compassion to thee: but thou wast cast out upon the face of the 36071earth in the abjection of thy soul, in the day that thou wast born. 36072 3607316:6. And passing by thee, I saw that thou wast trodden under foot in 36074thy own blood: and I said to thee when thou wast in thy blood: Live: I 36075have said to thee: Live in thy blood. 36076 3607716:7. I caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field: and thou didst 36078increase and grow great, and advancedst, and camest to woman's 36079ornament: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair grew: and thou was 36080naked, and full of confusion. 36081 3608216:8. And I passed by thee, and saw thee: and behold thy time was the 36083time of lovers: and I spread my garment over thee, and covered thy 36084ignominy. and I swore to thee, and I entered into a covenant with thee, 36085saith the Lord God: and thou becamest mine. 36086 3608716:9. And I washed thee with water, and cleansed away thy blood from 36088thee: and I anointed thee with oil. 36089 3609016:10. And I clothed thee with embroidery, and shod thee with violet 36091coloured shoes: and I girded thee about with fine linen, and clothed 36092thee with fine garments. 36093 3609416:11. I decked thee also with ornaments, and put bracelets on thy 36095hands, and a chain about thy neck. 36096 36097I decked thee also with ornaments, etc. . .That is, with spiritual 36098benefits, giving you a law with sacrifices, sacraments, and other holy 36099rites. 36100 3610116:12. And I put a jewel upon thy forehead and earrings in thy ears, 36102and a beautiful crown upon thy head. 36103 3610416:13. And thou wast adorned with gold, and silver, and wast clothed 36105with fine linen, and embroidered work, and many colours: thou didst eat 36106fine flour, and honey, and oil, and wast made exceeding beautiful: and 36107wast advanced to be a queen. 36108 3610916:14. And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty: for 36110thou wast perfect through my beauty, which I had put upon thee, saith 36111the Lord God. 36112 3611316:15. But trusting in thy beauty, thou playedst the harlot because of 36114thy renown, and thou hast prostituted thyself to every passenger, to be 36115his. 36116 3611716:16. And taking of thy garments thou hast made thee high places sewed 36118together on each side: and hast played the harlot upon them, as hath 36119not been done before, nor shall be hereafter. 36120 3612116:17. And thou tookest thy beautiful vessels, of my gold, and my 36122silver, which I gave thee, and thou madest thee images of men, and hast 36123committed fornication with them. 36124 3612516:18. And thou tookest thy garments of divers colours, and coveredst 36126them: and settest my oil and my sweet incense before them. 36127 3612816:19. And my bread which I gave thee, the fine flour, and oil, and 36129honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast set before them for a sweet 36130odour; and it was done, saith the Lord God. 36131 3613216:20. And thou hast taken thy sons, and thy daughters, whom thou hast 36133borne to me: and hast sacrificed the same to them to be devoured. Is 36134thy fornication small? 36135 3613616:21. Thou hast sacrificed and given my children to them, consecrating 36137them by fire. 36138 36139Thou hast sacrificed, etc. . .As there is nothing more base and 36140abominable than the crimes mentioned throughout this chapter; so the 36141infidelities of the Israelites in forsaking God, and sacrificing even 36142their children to idols, are strongly figured by these allegories. 36143 3614416:22. And after all thy abominations, and fornications, thou hast not 36145remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked, and full of 36146confusion, trodden under foot in thy own blood. 36147 3614816:23. And it came to pass after all thy wickedness (woe, woe to thee, 36149saith the Lord God) 36150 3615116:24. That thou didst also build thee a common stew, and madest thee a 36152brothel house in every street. 36153 3615416:25. At every head of the way thou hast set up a sign of thy 36155prostitution: and hast made thy beauty to be abominable: and hast 36156prostituted thyself to every one that passed by, and hast multiplied 36157thy fornications. 36158 3615916:26. And thou hast committed fornication with the Egyptians thy 36160neighbours, men of large bodies, and hast multiplied thy fornications 36161to provoke me. 36162 3616316:27. Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and will take away 36164thy justification: and I will deliver thee up to the will of the 36165daughters of the Philistines that hate thee, that are ashamed of thy 36166wicked way. 36167 3616816:28. Thou hast also committed fornication with the Assyrians, because 36169thou wast not yet satisfied: and after thou hadst played the harlot 36170with them, even so thou wast not contented. 36171 3617216:29. Thou hast also multiplied thy fornications in the land of 36173Chanaan with the Chaldeans: and neither so wast thou satisfied. 36174 3617516:30. Wherein shall I cleanse thy heart, saith Lord God: seeing thou 36176dost all these the works of a shameless prostitute? 36177 3617816:31. Because thou hast built thy brothel house at the head of every 36179way, and thou hast made thy high place in every street: and wast not as 36180a harlot that by disdain enhanceth her price, 36181 3618216:32. But is an adulteress, that bringeth in strangers over her 36183husband. 36184 3618516:33. Gifts are given to all harlots: but thou hast given hire to all 36186thy lovers, and thou hast given them gifts to come to thee from every 36187side, to commit fornication with thee. 36188 3618916:34. And it hath happened in thee contrary to the custom of women in 36190thy fornications, and after thee there shall be no such fornication, 36191for in that thou gavest rewards, and didst not take rewards, the 36192contrary hath been done in thee. 36193 3619416:35. Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord. 36195 3619616:36. Thus saith the Lord God: Because thy money hath been poured out, 36197and thy shame discovered through thy fornications with thy lovers, and 36198with the idols of thy abominations, by the blood of thy children whom 36199thou gavest them: 36200 3620116:37. Behold, I will gather together all thy lovers with whom thou 36202hast taken pleasure, and all whom thou hast loved, with all whom thou 36203hast hated: and I will gather them together against thee on every side, 36204and will discover thy shame in their sight, and they shall see all thy 36205nakedness. 36206 3620716:38. And I will judge thee as adulteresses, and they that shed blood 36208are judged: and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy. 36209 3621016:39. And I will deliver thee into their hands, and they shall destroy 36211thy brothel house, and throw down thy stews: and they shall strip thee 36212of thy garments, and shall take away the vessels of thy beauty: and 36213leave thee naked, and full of disgrace. 36214 3621516:40. And they shall bring upon thee a multitude, and they shall stone 36216thee with stones, and shall slay thee with their swords. 36217 3621816:41. And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and shall execute 36219judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and thou shalt cease 36220from fornication, and shalt give no hire any more. 36221 3622216:42. And my indignation shall rest in thee: and my jealousy shall 36223depart from thee, and I will cease and be angry no more. 36224 3622516:43. Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast 36226provoked me in all these things: wherefore I also have turned all thy 36227ways upon thy head, saith the Lord God, and I have not done according 36228to thy wicked deeds in all thy abominations. 36229 3623016:44. Behold every one that useth a common proverb, shall use this 36231against thee, saying: As the mother was, so also is her daughter. 36232 3623316:45. Thou art thy mother's daughter, that cast off her husband, and 36234her children: and thou art the sister of thy sisters, who cast off 36235their husbands, and their children: your mother was a Cethite, and your 36236father an Amorrhite. 36237 3623816:46. And thy elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that 36239dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister that dwelleth at thy 36240right hand is Sodom, and her daughters. 36241 3624216:47. But neither hast thou walked in their ways, nor hast thou done a 36243little less than they according to their wickednesses: thou hast done 36244almost more wicked things than they in all thy ways. 36245 3624616:48. As I live, saith the Lord God, thy sister Sodom herself, and her 36247daughters, have not done as thou hast done, and thy daughters. 36248 3624916:49. Behold this was the iniquity of Sodom thy sister, pride, fulness 36250of bread, and abundance, and the idleness of her, and of her daughters: 36251and they did not put forth their hand to the needy, and the poor. 36252 36253This was the iniquity of Sodom, etc. . .That is, these were the steps by 36254which the Sodomites came to fall into those abominations for which they 36255were destroyed. For pride, gluttony, and idleness are the highroad to 36256all kinds of lust; especially when they are accompanied with a neglect 36257of the works of mercy. 36258 3625916:50. And they were lifted up, and committed abominations before me: 36260and I took them away as thou hast seen. 36261 3626216:51. And Samaria committed not half thy sins: but thou hast surpassed 36263them with thy crimes, and hast justified thy sisters by all thy 36264abominations which thou hast done. 36265 3626616:52. Therefore do thou also bear thy confusion, thou that hast 36267surpassed thy sisters with thy sins, doing more wickedly than they: for 36268they are justified above thee, therefore be thou also confounded, and 36269bear thy shame, thou that hast justified thy sisters. 36270 3627116:53. And I will bring back and restore them by bringing back Sodom, 36272with her daughters, and by bringing back Samaria, and her daughters: 36273and I will bring those that return of thee in the midst of them. 36274 36275I will bring back, etc. . .This relates to the conversion of the 36276Gentiles out of all nations, and of many of the Jews, to the church of 36277Christ. 36278 3627916:54. That thou mayest bear thy shame, and mayest be confounded in all 36280that thou hast done, comforting them. 36281 3628216:55. And thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall return to their 36283ancient state: and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their 36284ancient state: and thou and thy daughters shall return to your ancient 36285state. 36286 36287Ancient state. . .That is, to their former state of liberty, and their 36288ancient possessions. In the spiritual sense, to the true liberty, and 36289the happy inheritance of the children of God, through faith in Christ. 36290 3629116:56. And Sodom thy sister was not heard of in thy mouth, in the day 36292of thy pride, 36293 3629416:57. Before thy malice was laid open: as it is at this time, making 36295thee a reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all the daughters of 36296Palestine round about thee, that encompass thee on all sides. 36297 3629816:58. Thou hast borne thy wickedness, and thy disgrace, saith the Lord 36299God. 36300 3630116:59. For thus saith the Lord God: I will deal with thee, as thou hast 36302despised the oath, in breaking the covenant: 36303 3630416:60. And I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy 36305youth: and I will establish with thee an everlasting covenant. 36306 3630716:61. And thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed: when thou 36308shalt receive thy sisters, thy elder and thy younger: and I will give 36309them to thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. 36310 3631116:62. And I will establish my covenant with thee: and thou shalt know 36312that I am the Lord, 36313 3631416:63. That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and mayest no more 36315open thy mouth because of thy confusion, when I shall be pacified 36316toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. 36317 36318 36319 36320Ezechiel Chapter 17 36321 36322 36323The parable of the two eagles and the vine. A promise of the cedar of 36324Christ and his church. 36325 3632617:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36327 3632817:2. Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house 36329of Israel, 36330 3633117:3. And say: Thus saith the Lord God; A large eagle with great wings, 36332long-limbed, full of feathers, and of variety, came to Libanus, and 36333took away the marrow of the cedar. 36334 36335A large eagle. . .Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon.--Ibid. Came to 36336Libanus. . .That is, to Jerusalem.--Ibid. Took away the marrow of the 36337cedar. . .King Jechonias. 36338 3633917:4. He cropped off the top of the twigs thereof: and carried it away 36340into the land of Chanaan, and he set it in a city of merchants. 36341 36342Chanaan. . .This name, which signifies traffic, is not taken here for 36343Palestine, but for Chaldea: and the city of merchants here mentioned is 36344Babylon. 36345 3634617:5. And he took of the seed of the land, and put it in the ground for 36347seed, that it might take a firm root over many waters: he planted it on 36348the surface of the earth. 36349 36350Of the seed of the land, etc. . .Viz., Sedecias, whom he made king. 36351 3635217:6. And it sprung up and grew into a spreading vine of low stature, 36353and the branches thereof looked towards him: and the roots thereof were 36354under him. So it became a vine, and grew into branches, and shot forth 36355sprigs. 36356 36357Towards him. . .Nabuchodonosor, to whom Sedecias swore allegiance. 36358 3635917:7. And there was another large eagle, with great wings, and many 36360feathers: and behold this vine, bending as it were her roots towards 36361him, stretched forth her branches to him, that he might water it by the 36362furrows of her plantation. 36363 36364Another large eagle. . .Viz., the king of Egypt. 36365 3636617:8. It was planted in a good ground upon many waters, that it might 36367bring forth branches, and bear fruit, that it might become a large 36368vine. 36369 3637017:9. Say thou: Thus saith the Lord God: Shall it prosper then? shall 36371he not pull up the roots thereof, and strip off its fruit, and dry up 36372all the branches it hath shot forth, and make it wither: and this 36373without a strong arm, or many people to pluck it up by the root? 36374 3637517:10. Behold, it is planted: shall it prosper then? shall it not be 36376dried up when the burning wind shall touch it, and shall it not wither 36377in the furrows where it grew? 36378 3637917:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36380 3638117:12. Say to the provoking house: Know you not what these things mean? 36382Tell them: Behold the king of Babylon cometh to Jerusalem: and he shall 36383take away the king and the princes thereof and carry them with him to 36384Babylon. 36385 36386Shall take away. . .Or, hath taken away, etc., for all this was now 36387done. 36388 3638917:13. And he shall take one of the king's seed, and make a covenant 36390with him, and take an oath of him. Yea, and he shall take away the 36391mighty men of the land, 36392 3639317:14. That it may be a low kingdom and not lift itself up, but keep 36394his covenant and observe it. 36395 3639617:15. But he hath revolted from him and sent ambassadors to Egypt, 36397that it might give him horses, and much people. And shall he that hath 36398done thus prosper, or be saved? and shall he escape that hath broken 36399the covenant? 36400 3640117:16. As I live, saith the Lord God: In the place where the king 36402dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he hath made void, and whose 36403covenant he broke, even in the midst of Babylon shall he die. 36404 3640517:17. And not with a great army, nor with much people shall Pharao 36406fight against him: when he shall cast up mounts, and build forts, to 36407cut off many souls. 36408 3640917:18. For he had despised the oath, breaking his covenant, and behold 36410he hath given his hand: and having done all these things, he shall not 36411escape. 36412 3641317:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As I live, I will lay upon 36414his head the oath he hath despised, and the covenant he hath broken. 36415 3641617:20. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my 36417net: and I will bring him into Babylon, and will judge him there for 36418the transgression by which he hath despised me. 36419 3642017:21. And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the 36421sword: and the residue shall be scattered into every wind: and you 36422shall know that I the Lord have spoken. 36423 3642417:22. Thus saith the Lord God: I myself will take of the marrow of the 36425high cedar, and will set it: I will crop off a tender twig from the top 36426of the branches thereof, and I will plant it on a mountain high and 36427eminent. 36428 36429Of the marrow of the high cedar, etc. . .Of the royal stock of 36430David.--Ibid. A tender twig. . .Viz., Jesus Christ, whom God hath 36431planted in mount Sion, that is, the high mountain of his church, to 36432which all nations flow. 36433 3643417:23. On the high mountains of Israel will I plant it, and it shall 36435shoot forth into branches and shall bear fruit, and it shall become a 36436great cedar: and all birds shall dwell under it, and every fowl shall 36437make its nest under the shadow of the branches thereof. 36438 3643917:24. And all the trees of the country shall know that I the Lord have 36440brought down the high tree, and exalted the low tree: and have dried up 36441the green tree, and have caused the dry tree to flourish. I the Lord 36442have spoken and have done it. 36443 36444 36445 36446Ezechiel Chapter 18 36447 36448 36449One man shall not bear the sins of another, but every one his own; if a 36450wicked man truly repent, he shall be saved; and if a just man leave his 36451justice, he shall perish. 36452 3645318:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What is the meaning? 36454 3645518:2. That you use among you this parable as a proverb in the land of 36456Israel, saying: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of 36457the children are set on edge. 36458 3645918:3. As I live, saith the Lord God, this parable shall be no more to 36460you a proverb in Israel. 36461 3646218:4. Behold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the 36463soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die. 36464 3646518:5. And if a man be just, and do judgment and justice, 36466 3646718:6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to 36468the idols of the house of Israel: and hath not defiled his neighbour's 36469wife, nor come near to a menstruous woman: 36470 36471Not eaten upon the mountains. . .That is, of the sacrifices there 36472offered to idols. 36473 3647418:7. And hath not wronged any man: but hath restored the pledge to the 36475debtor, hath taken nothing away by violence: hath given his bread to 36476the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment: 36477 3647818:8. Hath not lent upon usury, nor taken any increase: hath withdrawn 36479his hand from iniquity, and hath executed true judgment between man and 36480man: 36481 3648218:9. Hath walked in my commandments, and kept my judgments, to do 36483truth: he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. 36484 36485To do truth. . .That is, to act according to truth; for the Hebrews 36486called everything that was just, truth. 36487 3648818:10. And if he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and 36489that hath done some one of these things: 36490 3649118:11. Though he doth not all these things, but that eateth upon the 36492mountains, and that defileth his neighbour's wife: 36493 3649418:12. That grieveth the needy and the poor, that taketh away by 36495violence, that restoreth not the pledge, and that lifteth up his eyes 36496to idols, that comitteth abomination: 36497 3649818:13. That giveth upon usury, and that taketh an increase: shall such 36499a one live? he shall not live. Seeing he hath done all these detestable 36500things, he shall surely die, his blood shall be upon him. 36501 3650218:14. But if he beget a son, who, seeing all his father's sins, which 36503he hath done, is afraid, and shall not do the like to them: 36504 3650518:15. That hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes 36506to the idols of the house of Israel, and hath not defiled his 36507neighbour's wife: 36508 3650918:16. And hath not grieved any man, nor withholden the pledge, nor 36510taken away with violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and 36511covered the naked with a garment: 36512 3651318:17. That hath turned away his hand from injuring the poor, hath not 36514taken usury and increase, but hath executed my judgments, and hath 36515walked in my commandments: this man shall not die for the iniquity of 36516his father, but living he shall live. 36517 3651818:18. As for his father, because he oppressed and offered violence to 36519his brother, and wrought evil in the midst of his people, behold he is 36520dead in his own iniquity. 36521 3652218:19. And you say: Why hath not the son borne the iniquity of his 36523father? Verily, because the son hath wrought judgment and justice, hath 36524kept all my commandments, and done them, living, he shall live. 36525 3652618:20. The soul that sinneth, the same shall die: the son shall not 36527bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the 36528iniquity of the son: the justice of the just shall be upon him, and the 36529wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 36530 3653118:21. But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath 36532committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, 36533living he shall live, and shall not die. 36534 3653518:22. I will not remember all his iniquities that he hath done: in his 36536justice which he hath wrought, he shall live. 36537 3653818:23. Is it my will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and 36539not that he should be converted from his ways, and live? 36540 3654118:24. But if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do 36542iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man useth 36543to work, shall he live? all his justices which he hath done, shall not 36544be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he hath prevaricated, and 36545in his sin, which he hath committed, in them he shall die. 36546 3654718:25. And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye, 36548therefore, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not right, and are 36549not rather your ways perverse? 36550 3655118:26. For when the just turneth himself away from his justice, and 36552comitteth iniquity, he shall die therein: in the injustice that he hath 36553wrought he shall die. 36554 3655518:27. And when the wicked turneth himself away from his wickedness, 36556which he hath wrought, and doeth judgment, and justice: he shall save 36557his soul alive. 36558 3655918:28. Because he considereth and turneth away himself from all his 36560iniquities which he hath wrought, he shall surely live, and not die. 36561 3656218:29. And the children of Israel say: The way of the Lord is not 36563right. Are not my ways right, O house of Israel, and are not rather 36564your ways perverse? 36565 3656618:30. Therefore will I judge every man according to his ways, O house 36567of Israel, saith the Lord God. Be converted, and do penance for all 36568your iniquities: and iniquity shall not be your ruin. 36569 3657018:31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, by which you have 36571transgressed, and make to yourselves a new heart, and a new spirit: and 36572why will you die, O house of Israel? 36573 3657418:32. For I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord 36575God, return ye and live. 36576 36577 36578 36579Ezechiel Chapter 19 36580 36581 36582The parable of the young lions, and of the vineyard that is wasted. 36583 3658419:1. Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 36585 3658619:2. And say: Why did thy mother the lioness lie down among the lions, 36587and bring up her whelps in the midst of young lions? 36588 36589Thy mother the lioness. . .Jerusalem. 36590 3659119:3. And she brought out one of her whelps, and he became a lion: and 36592he learned to catch the prey, and to devour men. 36593 36594One of her whelps. . .Viz., Joachaz, alias Sellum. 36595 3659619:4. And the nations heard of him, and took him, but not without 36597receiving wounds: and they brought him in chains into the land of 36598Egypt. 36599 3660019:5. But she seeing herself weakened, and that her hope was lost, took 36601one of her young lions, and set him up for a lion. 36602 36603One of her young lions. . .Joakim. 36604 3660519:6. And he went up and down among the lions, and became a lion: and 36606he learned to catch the prey, and to devour men. 36607 3660819:7. He learned to make widows, and to lay waste their cities: and the 36609land became desolate, and the fulness thereof by the noise of his 36610roaring. 36611 3661219:8. And the nations came together against him on every side out of 36613the provinces, and they spread their net over him, in their wounds he 36614was taken. 36615 3661619:9. And they put him into a cage, they brought him in chains to the 36617king of Babylon: and they cast him into prison, that his voice should 36618no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. 36619 3662019:10. Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood planted by the water: her 36621fruit and her branches have grown out of many waters. 36622 3662319:11. And she hath strong rods to make sceptres for them that bear 36624rule, and her stature was exalted among the branches: and she saw her 36625height in the multitude of her branches. 36626 3662719:12. But she was plucked up in wrath, and cast on the ground, and the 36628burning wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods are withered, and 36629dried up: the fire hath devoured her. 36630 3663119:13. And now she is transplanted into the desert, in a land not 36632passable, and dry. 36633 3663419:14. And a fire is gone out from a rod of her branches, which hath 36635devoured her fruit: so that she now hath no strong rod, to be a sceptre 36636of rulers. This is a lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation. 36637 36638 36639 36640Ezechiel Chapter 20 36641 36642 36643God refuses to answer the ancients of Israel inquiring by the prophet: 36644but by him setteth his benefits before their eyes, and their heinous 36645sins: threatening yet greater punishments: but still mixed with mercy. 36646 3664720:1. And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the 36648tenth day of the month: there came men of the ancients of Israel to 36649inquire of the Lord, and they sat before me. 36650 3665120:2. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36652 3665320:3. Son of man, speak to the ancients of Israel and say to them: Thus 36654saith the Lord God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will 36655not answer you, saith the Lord God. 36656 3665720:4. If thou judgest them, if thou judgest, O son of man, declare to 36658them the abominations of their fathers. 36659 36660If thou judgest them. . .Or, if thou wilt enter into the cause and plead 36661against them. 36662 3666320:5. And say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when I chose 36664Israel, and lifted up my hand for the race of the house of Jacob: and 36665appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and lifted up my hand for them, 36666saying: I am the Lord your God: 36667 3666820:6. In that day I lifted up my hand for them to bring them out of the 36669land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with 36670milk and honey, which excelled amongst all lands. 36671 3667220:7. And I said to them: Let every man cast away the scandals of his 36673eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord 36674your God. 36675 36676Scandals, etc. . .Offensiones. That is, the abominations or idols, to 36677the worship of which they were allured by their eyes. 36678 3667920:8. But they provoked me, and would not hearken to me: they did not 36680every man cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither did they 36681forsake the idols of Egypt: and I said I would pour out my indignation 36682upon them, and accomplish my wrath against them in the midst of the 36683land of Egypt. 36684 3668520:9. But I did otherwise for my name's sake, that it might not be 36686violated before the nations, in the midst of whom they were, and among 36687whom I made myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of 36688Egypt. 36689 3669020:10. Therefore I brought them out from the land of Egypt, and brought 36691them into the desert. 36692 3669320:11. And I gave them my statutes, and I shewed them my judgments, 36694which if a man do, he shall live in them. 36695 3669620:12. Moreover I gave them also my sabbaths, to be a sign between me 36697and them: and that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify 36698them. 36699 3670020:13. But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert: they walked 36701not in my statutes, and they cast away my judgments, which if a man do 36702he shall live in them: and they grievously violated my sabbaths. I said 36703therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, 36704and would consume them. 36705 3670620:14. But I spared them for the sake of my name, lest it should be 36707profaned before the nations, from which I brought them out, in their 36708sight. 36709 3671020:15. So I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, not to bring 36711them into the land which I had given them flowing with milk and honey, 36712the best of all lands. 36713 3671420:16. Because they cast off my judgments, and walked not in my 36715statutes, and violated my sabbaths: for their heart went after idols. 36716 3671720:17. Yet my eye spared them, so that I destroyed them not: neither 36718did I consume them in the desert. 36719 3672020:18. And I said to their children in the wilderness: Walk not in the 36721statutes of your fathers, and observe not their judgments, nor be ye 36722defiled with their idols: 36723 3672420:19. I am the Lord your God: walk ye in my statutes, and observe my 36725judgments, and do them. 36726 3672720:20. And sanctify my sabbaths, that they may be a sign between me and 36728you: and that you may know that I am the Lord your God. 36729 3673020:21. But their children provoked me, they walked not in my 36731commandments, nor observed my judgments to do them: which if a man do, 36732he shall live in them: and they violated my sabbaths: and I threatened 36733to pour out my indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath in 36734them in the desert. 36735 3673620:22. But I turned away my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that 36737it might not be violated before the nations, out of which I brought 36738them forth in their sight. 36739 3674020:23. Again I lifted up my hand upon them in the wilderness, to 36741disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the 36742countries: 36743 3674420:24. Because they had not done my judgments, and had cast off my 36745statutes, and had violated my sabbaths, and their eyes had been after 36746the idols of their fathers. 36747 3674820:25. Therefore I also gave them statutes that were not good, and 36749judgments, in which they shall not live. 36750 36751Statutes that were not good, etc. . .Viz., the laws and ordinances of 36752their enemies; or those imposes upon them by that cruel tyrant the 36753devil, to whose power they were delivered up for their sins. 36754 3675520:26. And I polluted them in their own gifts, when they offered all 36756that opened the womb, for their offences: and they shall know that I am 36757the Lord. 36758 36759I polluted them, etc. . .That is, I gave them up to such blindness in 36760punishment of their offences, as to pollute themselves with the blood 36761of all their firstborn, whom they offered up to their idols in 36762compliance with their wicked devices. 36763 3676420:27. Wherefore speak to the house of Israel, O son of man, and say to 36765them: Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this also your fathers 36766blaspheme me, when they had despised and contemned me; 36767 3676820:28. And I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my 36769hand to give it them: they saw every high hill, and every shady tree, 36770and there they sacrificed their victims: and there they presented the 36771provocation of their offerings, and there they set their sweet odours, 36772and poured forth their libations. 36773 3677420:29. And I said to them: What meaneth the high place to which you go? 36775and the name thereof was called High-place even to this day. 36776 3677720:30. Wherefore say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: 36778Verily, you are defiled in the way of your fathers, and you commit 36779fornication with their abominations. 36780 3678120:31. And you defile yourselves with all your idols unto this day, in 36782the offering of your gifts, when you make your children pass through 36783the fire: and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith 36784the Lord God, I will not answer you. 36785 3678620:32. Neither shall the thought of your mind come to pass, by which 36787you say: We will be as the Gentiles, and as the families of the earth, 36788to worship stocks and stones. 36789 3679020:33. As I live, saith the Lord God, I will reign over you with a 36791strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 36792 3679320:34. And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you 36794out of the countries, in which you are scattered, I will reign over you 36795with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured 36796out. 36797 3679820:35. And I will bring you into the wilderness of people, and there 36799will I plead with you face to face. 36800 36801The wilderness of people. . .That is, a desert in which there are no 36802people. 36803 3680420:36. As I pleaded against your fathers in the desert of the land of 36805Egypt; even so will I judge you, saith the Lord God. 36806 3680720:37. And I will make you subject to my sceptre, and will bring you 36808into the bands of the covenant. 36809 3681020:38. And I will pick out from among you the transgressors, and the 36811wicked, and will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, and 36812they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I 36813am the Lord. 36814 3681520:39. And as for you, O house of Israel: thus saith the Lord God: Walk 36816ye every one after your idols, and serve them. But if in this also you 36817hear me not, but defile my holy name any more with your gifts, and with 36818your idols; 36819 36820Walk ye every one, etc. . .It is not an allowance, much less a 36821commandment to serve idols; but a figure of speech, by which God would 36822have them to understand that if they would walk after their idols, they 36823must not pretend to serve him at the same time: for that he would by no 36824means suffer such a mixture of worship. 36825 3682620:40. In my holy mountain, in the high mountain of Israel, saith the 36827Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me; all of them I 36828say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there will I 36829require your firstfruits, and the chief of your tithes with all your 36830sanctifications. 36831 36832In my holy mountain, etc. . .The foregoing verse, to make the sense 36833complete, must be understood so as to condemn and reject that mixture 36834of worship which the Jews then followed. In this verse, God promises to 36835the true Israelites, especially to those of the Christian church, that 36836they shall serve him in another manner, in his holy mountain, the 36837spiritual Sion: and shall by accepted of by him. 36838 3683920:41. I will accept of you for an odour of sweetness, when I shall 36840have brought you out from the people, and shall have gathered you out 36841of the lands into which you are scattered, and I will be sanctified in 36842you in the sight of the nations. 36843 3684420:42. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have brought 36845you into the land of Israel, into the land for which I lifted up my 36846hand to give it to your fathers. 36847 3684820:43. And there you shall remember your ways, and all your wicked 36849doings with which you have been defiled; and you shall be displeased 36850with yourselves in your own sight, for all your wicked deeds which you 36851committed. 36852 3685320:44. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have done 36854well by you for my own name's sake, and not according to your evil 36855ways, nor according to your wicked deeds, O house of Israel, saith the 36856Lord God. 36857 3685820:45. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36859 3686020:46. Son of man, set thy face against the way of the south, and drop 36861towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field. 36862 36863Of the south. . .Jerusalem lay towards the south of Babylon, (where the 36864prophet then was,) and is here called the forest of the south field, 36865and is threatened with utter desolation. 36866 3686720:47. And say to the south forest: Hear the word of the Lord: Thus 36868saith the Lord God: Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and will burn 36869in thee every green tree, and every dry tree: the flame of the fire 36870shall not be quenched: and every face shall be burned in it, from the 36871south even to the north. 36872 3687320:48. And all flesh shall see, that I the Lord have kindled it, and it 36874shall not be quenched. 36875 3687620:49. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not 36877this man speak by parables? 36878 36879 36880 36881Ezechiel Chapter 21 36882 36883 36884The destruction of Jerusalem by the sword is further described: the 36885ruin also of the Ammonites is forshewn. And finally Babylon, the 36886destroyer of others, shall be destroyed. 36887 3688821:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36889 3689021:2. Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and let thy speech 36891flow towards the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel: 36892 3689321:3. And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I 36894come against thee, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, 36895and will cut off in thee the just, and the wicked. 36896 3689721:4. And forasmuch as I have cut off in thee the just and the wicked, 36898therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh, 36899from the south even to the north. 36900 3690121:5. That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn my sword out 36902of its sheath not to be turned back. 36903 3690421:6. And thou, son of man, mourn with the breaking of thy loins, and 36905with bitterness sigh before them. 36906 3690721:7. And when they shall say to thee: Why mournest thou? thou shalt 36908say: For that which I hear: because it cometh, and every heart shall 36909melt, and all hands shall be made feeble, and every spirit shall faint, 36910and water shall run down every knee: behold it cometh, and it shall be 36911done, saith the Lord God. 36912 3691321:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36914 3691521:9. Son of man, prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Say: The 36916sword, the sword is sharpened, and furbished. 36917 3691821:10. It is sharpened to kill victims: it is furbished that it may 36919glitter: thou removest the sceptre of my son, thou hast cut down every 36920tree. 36921 36922Thou removest the sceptre of my son. . .He speaks (according to St. 36923Jerome) to the sword of Nabuchodonosor: which was about to remove the 36924sceptre of Israel, whom God here calls his son. 36925 3692621:11. And I have given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: 36927this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, that it may be in the 36928hand of the slayer. 36929 3693021:12. Cry, and howl, O son of man, for this sword is upon my people, 36931it is upon all the princes of Israel, that are fled: they are delivered 36932up to the sword with my people, strike therefore upon thy thigh, 36933 3693421:13. Because it is tried: and that when it shall overthrow the 36935sceptre, and it shall not be, saith the Lord God. 36936 3693721:14. Thou therefore, O son of man, prophesy, and strike thy hands 36938together, and let the sword be doubled, and let the sword of the slain 36939be tripled: this is the sword of a great slaughter, that maketh them 36940stand amazed, 36941 3694221:15. And languish in heart, and that multiplieth ruins. In all their 36943gates I have set the dread of the sharp sword, the sword that is 36944furbished to glitter, that is made ready for slaughter. 36945 3694621:16. Be thou sharpened, go to the right hand, or to the left, which 36947way soever thou hast a mind to set thy face. 36948 3694921:17. And I will clap my hands together, and will satisfy my 36950indignation: I the Lord have spoken. 36951 3695221:18. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 36953 3695421:19. And thou son of man, set thee two ways, for the sword of the 36955king of Babylon to come: both shall come forth out of one land: and 36956with his hand he shall draw lots, he shall consult at the head of the 36957way of the city. 36958 3695921:20. Thou shalt make a way that the sword may come to Rabbath of the 36960children of Ammon, and to Juda unto Jerusalem the strong city. 36961 3696221:21. For the king of Babylon stood in the highway, at the head of two 36963ways, seeking divination, shuffling arrows: he inquired of the idols, 36964and consulted entrails. 36965 3696621:22. On his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set 36967battering rams, to open the mouth in slaughter, to lift up the voice in 36968howling, to set engines against the gates, to cast up a mount, to build 36969forts. 36970 3697121:23. And he shall be in their eyes as one consulting the oracle in 36972vain, and imitating the leisure of sabbaths: but he will call to 36973remembrance the iniquity that they may be taken. 36974 3697521:24. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have remembered 36976your iniquity, and have discovered your prevarications, and your sins 36977have appeared in all your devices: because, I say, You have remembered, 36978you shall be taken with the hand. 36979 3698021:25. But thou profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come that 36981hath been appointed in the time of iniquity: 36982 36983Thou profane, etc. . .He speaks to king Sedecias, who had broken his 36984oath, and was otherwise a wicked prince. 36985 3698621:26. Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, take off the crown: 36987is it not this that hath exalted the low one, and brought down him that 36988was high? 36989 36990Is it not this that hath exalted the low one. . .The royal crown of Juda 36991had exalted Sedecias from a private state and condition to the 36992sovereign power, as the loss of it had brought down Jechonias, etc. 36993 3699421:27. I will shew it to be iniquity, iniquity, iniquity: but this was 36995not done till he came to whom judgment belongeth, and I will give it 36996him. 36997 36998I will shew it to be iniquity, etc. . .Or, I will overturn it, viz., the 36999crown of Juda for the manifold iniquities of the kings: but it shall 37000not be utterly removed, till Christ come whose right it is: and who 37001shall reign in the spiritual house of Jacob, that is, in his church, 37002for evermore. 37003 3700421:28. And thou son of man, prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God 37005concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach, and 37006thou shalt say: O sword, O sword, come out of the scabbard to kill, be 37007furbished to destroy, and to glitter, 37008 37009Concerning their reproach. . .By which they had reproached and insulted 37010over the Jews, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. 37011 3701221:29. Whilst they see vain things in thy regard, and they divine lies: 37013to bring thee upon the necks of the wicked that are wounded, whose 37014appointed day is come in the time of iniquity. 37015 3701621:30. Return into thy sheath. I will judge thee in the place wherein 37017thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity. 37018 37019Return into thy sheath, etc. . .The sword of Babylon, after raging 37020against many nations, was shortly to be judged and destroyed at home by 37021the Medes and Persians. 37022 3702321:31. And I will pour out upon thee my indignation: in the fire of my 37024rage will I blow upon thee, and will give thee into the hands of men 37025that are brutish and contrive thy destruction. 37026 3702721:32. Thou shalt be fuel for the fire, thy blood shall be in the midst 37028of the land, thou shalt be forgotten: for I the Lord have spoken it. 37029 37030 37031 37032Ezechiel Chapter 22 37033 37034 37035The general corruption of the inhabitants of Jerusalem: for which God 37036will consume them as dross in his furnace. 37037 3703822:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37039 3704022:2. And thou son of man, dost thou not judge, dost thou not judge the 37041city of blood? 37042 3704322:3. And thou shalt shew her all her abominations, and shalt say: Thus 37044saith the Lord God: This is the city that sheddeth blood in the midst 37045of her, that her time may come: and that hath made idols against 37046herself, to defile herself. 37047 3704822:4. Thou art become guilty in thy blood which thou hast shed: and 37049thou art defiled in thy idols which thou hast made: and thou hast made 37050thy days to draw near, and hast brought on the time of thy years: 37051therefore have I made thee a reproach to the Gentiles, and a mockery to 37052all countries. 37053 3705422:5. Those that are near, and those that are far from thee, shall 37055triumph over thee: thou filthy one, infamous, great in destruction. 37056 3705722:6. Behold the princes of Israel, every one hath employed his arm in 37058thee to shed blood. 37059 3706022:7. They have abused father and mother in thee, they have oppressed 37061the stranger in the midst of thee, they have grieved the fatherless and 37062widow in thee. 37063 3706422:8. Thou hast despised my sanctuaries, and profaned my sabbaths. 37065 3706622:9. Slanderers have been in thee to shed blood, and they have eaten 37067upon the mountains in thee, they have committed wickedness in the midst 37068of thee. 37069 3707022:10. They have discovered the nakedness of their father in thee, they 37071have humbled the uncleanness of the menstruous woman in thee. 37072 3707322:11. And every one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's 37074wife, and the father in law hath wickedly defiled his daughter in law, 37075the brother hath oppressed his sister the daughter of his father in 37076thee. 37077 3707822:12. They have taken gifts in thee to shed blood: thou hast taken 37079usury and increase, and hast covetously oppressed thy neighbours: and 37080thou hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. 37081 3708222:13. Behold, I have clapped my hands at thy covetousness, which thou 37083hast exercised: and at the blood that hath been shed in the midst of 37084thee. 37085 3708622:14. Shall thy heart endure, or shall thy hands prevail in the days 37087which I will bring upon thee: I the Lord have spoken, and will do it. 37088 3708922:15. And I will disperse thee in the nations, and will scatter thee 37090among the countries, and I will put an end to thy uncleanness in thee. 37091 3709222:16. And I will possess thee in the sight of the Gentiles, and thou 37093shalt know that I am the Lord. 37094 3709522:17. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37096 3709722:18. Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross to me: all these 37098are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace: 37099they are become the dross of silver. 37100 3710122:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you are all turned 37102into dross, therefore behold I will gather you together in the midst of 37103Jerusalem. 37104 3710522:20. As they gather silver, and brass, and tin, and iron, and lead in 37106the midst of the furnace: that I may kindle a fire in it to melt it: so 37107will I gather you together in my fury and in my wrath, and will take my 37108rest, and I will melt you down. 37109 3711022:21. And will gather you together, and will burn you in the fire of 37111my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst thereof. 37112 3711322:22. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall you be 37114in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord, when I 37115have poured out my indignation upon you. 37116 3711722:23. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37118 3711922:24. Son of man, say to her: Thou art a land that is unclean, and not 37120rained upon in the day of wrath. 37121 3712222:25. There is a conspiracy of prophets in the midst thereof: like a 37123lion that roareth and catcheth the prey, they have devoured souls, they 37124have taken riches and hire, they have made many widows in the midst 37125thereof. 37126 3712722:26. Her priests have despised my law, and have defiled my 37128sanctuaries: they have put no difference between holy and profane: nor 37129have distinguished between the polluted and the clean: and they have 37130turned away their eyes from my sabbaths, and I was profaned in the 37131midst of them. 37132 3713322:27. Her princes in the midst of her, are like wolves ravening the 37134prey to shed blood, and to destroy souls, and to run after gains 37135through covetousness. 37136 3713722:28. And her prophets have daubed them without tempering the mortar, 37138seeing vain things, and divining lies unto them, saying: Thus saith the 37139Lord God: when the Lord hath not spoken. 37140 3714122:29. The people of the land have used oppression, and committed 37142robbery: they afflicted the needy and poor, and they oppressed the 37143stranger by calumny without judgment. 37144 3714522:30. And I sought among them for a man that might set up a hedge, and 37146stand in the gap before me in favour of the land, that I might not 37147destroy it: and I found none. 37148 3714922:31. And I poured out my indignation upon them, in the fire of my 37150wrath I consumed them: I have rendered their way upon their own head, 37151saith the Lord God. 37152 37153 37154 37155Ezechiel Chapter 23 37156 37157 37158Under the names of the two harlots, Oolla and Ooliba, are described the 37159manifold disloyalties of Samaria and Jerusalem, with the punishment of 37160them both. 37161 3716223:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37163 3716423:2. Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother. 37165 3716623:3. And they committed fornication in Egypt, in their youth they 37167committed fornication: there were their breasts pressed down, and the 37168teats of their virginity were bruised. 37169 37170Committed fornication. . .That is, idolatry. 37171 3717223:4. And their names were Oolla the elder, and Ooliba her younger 37173sister: and I took them, and they bore sons and daughters. Now for 37174their names, Samaria is Oolla, and Jerusalem is Ooliba. 37175 37176Oolla and Ooliba. . .God calls the kingdom of Israel Oolla, which 37177signifies their own habitation, because they separated themselves from 37178his temple: and the kingdom of Juda, Ooliba, which signifies his 37179habitation in her, because of his temple among them in Jerusalem. 37180 3718123:5. And Oolla committed fornication against me, and doted on her 37182lovers, on the Assyrians that came to her, 37183 37184On the Assyraians, etc. . .That is, the idols of the Assyrians: for all 37185that is said in this chapter of the fornications of Israel and Juda, is 37186to be understood in a spiritual sense, of their disloyalty to the Lord, 37187by worshipping strange gods. 37188 3718923:6. Who were clothed with blue, princes, and rulers, beautiful 37190youths, all horsemen, mounted upon horses. 37191 3719223:7. And she committed her fornications with those chosen men, all 37193sons of the Assyrians: and she defiled herself with the uncleanness of 37194all them on whom she doted. 37195 3719623:8. Moreover also she did not forsake her fornications which she had 37197committed in Egypt: for they also lay with her in her youth, and they 37198bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured out their fornication 37199upon her. 37200 3720123:9. Therefore have I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into 37202the hands of the sons of the Assyrians, upon whose lust she doted. 37203 3720423:10. They discovered her disgrace, took away her sons and daughters, 37205and slew her with the sword: and they became infamous women, and they 37206executed judgments in her. 37207 3720823:11. And when her sister Ooliba saw this, she was mad with lust more 37209than she: and she carried her fornication beyond the fornication of her 37210sister. 37211 3721223:12. Impudently prostituting herself to the children of the 37213Assyrians, the princes, and rulers that came to her, clothed with 37214divers colours, to the horsemen that rode upon horses, and to young men 37215all of great beauty. 37216 3721723:13. And I saw that she was defiled, and that they both took one way. 37218 3721923:14. And she increased her fornications: and when she had seen men 37220painted on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans set forth in colours, 37221 3722223:15. And girded with girdles about their reins, and with dyed turbans 37223on their heads, the resemblance of all the captains, the likeness of 37224the sons of Babylon, and of the land of the Chaldeans wherein they were 37225born, 37226 3722723:16. She doted upon them with the lust of her eyes, and she sent 37228messengers to them into Chaldea. 37229 3723023:17. And when the sons of Babylon were come to her to the bed of 37231love, they defiled her with their fornications, and she was polluted by 37232them, and her soul was glutted with them. 37233 3723423:18. And she discovered her fornications, and discovered her 37235disgrace: and my soul was alienated from her, as my soul was alienated 37236from her sister. 37237 3723823:19. For she multiplied her fornications, remembering the days of her 37239youth, in which she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 37240 3724123:20. And she was mad with lust after lying with them whose flesh is 37242as the flesh of asses: and whose issue as the issue of horses. 37243 3724423:21. And thou hast renewed the wickedness of thy youth, when thy 37245breasts were pressed in Egypt, and the paps of thy virginity broken. 37246 3724723:22. Therefore, Ooliba, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will raise 37248up against thee all thy lovers with whom thy soul hath been glutted: 37249and I will gather them together against thee round about. 37250 3725123:23. The children of Babylon, and all the Chaldeans, the nobles, and 37252the kings, and princes, all the sons of the Assyrians, beautiful young 37253men, all the captains, and rulers, the princes of princes, and the 37254renowned horsemen. 37255 3725623:24. And they shall come upon thee well appointed with chariot and 37257wheel, a multitude of people: they shall be armed against thee on every 37258side with breastplate, and buckler, and helmet: and I will set judgment 37259before them, and they shall judge thee by their judgments. 37260 3726123:25. And I will set my jealousy against thee, which they shall 37262execute upon thee with fury: they shall cut off thy nose and thy ears: 37263and what remains shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons, and 37264thy daughters, and thy residue shall be devoured by fire. 37265 3726623:26. And they shall strip thee of thy garments, and take away the 37267instruments of thy glory. 37268 3726923:27. And I will put an end to thy wickedness in thee, and thy 37270fornication brought out of the land of Egypt: neither shalt thou lift 37271up thy eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more. 37272 3727323:28. For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will deliver thee into 37274the hands of them whom thou hatest, into their hands with whom thy soul 37275hath been glutted. 37276 3727723:29. And they shall deal with thee in hatred, and they shall take 37278away all thy labours, and shall let thee go naked, and full of 37279disgrace, and the disgrace of thy fornication shall be discovered, thy 37280wickedness, and thy fornications. 37281 3728223:30. They have done these things to thee, because thou hast played 37283the harlot with the nations among which thou wast defiled with their 37284idols. 37285 3728623:31. Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister and I will give her 37287cup into thy hand. 37288 3728923:32. Thus saith the Lord God: Thou shalt drink thy sister's cup, deep 37290and wide: thou shalt be had in derision and scorn, which containeth 37291very much. 37292 3729323:33. Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness, and sorrow: with the cup 37294of grief and sadness, with the cup of thy sister Samaria. 37295 3729623:34. And thou shalt drink it, and shalt drink it up even to the 37297dregs, and thou shalt devour the fragments thereof, thou shalt rend thy 37298breasts: because I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. 37299 3730023:35. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast forgotten 37301me, and hast cast me off behind thy back, bear thou also thy 37302wickedness, and thy fornications. 37303 3730423:36. And the Lord spoke to me, saying: Son of man, dost thou judge 37305Oolla, and Ooliba, and dost thou declare to them their wicked deeds? 37306 3730723:37. Because they have committed adultery, and blood is in their 37308hands, and they have committed fornication with their idols: moreover 37309also their children, whom they bore to me, they have offered to them to 37310be devoured. 37311 3731223:38. Yea, and they have done this to me. They polluted my sanctuary 37313on the same day, and profaned my sabbaths. 37314 3731523:39. And when they sacrificed their children to their idols, and went 37316into my sanctuary the same day to profane it: they did these things 37317even in the midst of my house. 37318 3731923:40. They sent for men coming from afar, to whom they had sent a 37320messenger: and behold they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, and 37321didst paint thy eyes, and wast adorned with women's ornaments. 37322 3732323:41. Thou sattest on a very fine bed, and a table was decked before 37324thee: whereupon thou didst set my incense, and my ointment. 37325 3732623:42. And there was in her the voice of a multitude rejoicing: and to 37327some that were brought of the multitude of men, and that came from the 37328desert, they put bracelets on their hands, and beautiful crowns on 37329their heads. 37330 3733123:43. And I said to her that was worn out in her adulteries: Now will 37332this woman still continue in her fornication. 37333 3733423:44. And they went in to her, as to a harlot: so went they in unto 37335Oolla, and Ooliba, wicked women. 37336 3733723:45. They therefore are just men: these shall judge them as 37338adulteresses are judged, and as shedders of blood are judged: because 37339they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. 37340 3734123:46. For thus saith the Lord God: Bring a multitude upon them, and 37342deliver them over to tumult and rapine: 37343 3734423:47. And let the people stone them with stone, and let them be 37345stabbed with their swords: they shall kill their sons and daughters, 37346and their houses they shall burn with fire. 37347 3734823:48. And I will take away wickedness out of the land: and all women 37349shall learn, not to do according to the wickedness of them. 37350 3735123:49. And they shall render your wickedness upon you, and you shall 37352bear the sins of your idols: and you shall know that I am the Lord God. 37353 37354 37355 37356Ezechiel Chapter 24 37357 37358 37359Under the parable of a boiling pot is shewn the utter destruction of 37360Jerusalem: for which the Jews at Babylon shall not dare to mourn. 37361 3736224:1. And the word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the 37363tenth month, the tenth day of the month, saying: 37364 3736524:2. Son of man, write thee the name of this day, on which the king of 37366Babylon hath set himself against Jerusalem to day. 37367 3736824:3. And thou shalt speak by a figure a parable to the provoking 37369house, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Set on a pot, set it 37370on, I say, and put water in it. 37371 3737224:4. Heap together into it the pieces thereof, every good piece, the 37373thigh and the shoulder, choice pieces and full of bones. 37374 3737524:5. Take the fattest of the flock, and lay together piles of bones 37376under it: the seething thereof is boiling hot, and the bones thereof 37377are thoroughly sodden in the midst of it. 37378 3737924:6. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city, to the 37380pot whose rust is in it, and its rust is not gone out of it: cast it 37381out piece by piece, there hath no lot fallen upon it. 37382 3738324:7. For her blood is in the midst of her, she hath shed it upon the 37384smooth rock: she hath not shed it upon the ground, that it might be 37385covered with dust. 37386 3738724:8. And that I might bring my indignation upon her, and take my 37388vengeance: I have shed her blood upon the smooth rock, that it should 37389not be covered. 37390 3739124:9. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city, of 37392which I will make a great bonfire. 37393 3739424:10. Heap together the bones, which I will burn with fire: the flesh 37395shall be consumed, and the whole composition shall be sodden, and the 37396bones shall be consumed. 37397 3739824:11. Then set it empty upon burning coals, that it may be hot, and 37399the brass thereof may be melted: and let the filth of it be melted in 37400the midst thereof, and let the rust of it be consumed. 37401 3740224:12. Great pains have been taken, and the great rust thereof is not 37403gone out, not even by fire. 37404 3740524:13. Thy uncleanness is execrable: because I desired to cleanse thee, 37406and thou art not cleansed from thy filthiness: neither shalt thou be 37407cleansed, before I cause my indignation to rest in thee. 37408 3740924:14. I the Lord have spoken: it shall come to pass, and I will do it: 37410I will not pass by, nor spare, nor be pacified: I will judge thee 37411according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, saith the Lord. 37412 3741324:15. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37414 3741524:16. Son of man, behold I take from thee the desire of thy eyes with 37416a stroke, and thou shall not lament, nor weep; neither shall thy tears 37417run down. 37418 3741924:17. Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead: let the tire of 37420thy head be upon thee, and thy shoes on thy feet, and cover not thy 37421face, nor eat the meat of mourners. 37422 3742324:18. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the 37424evening: and I did in the morning as he had commanded me. 37425 3742624:19. And the people said to me: Why dost thou not tell us what these 37427things mean that thou doest? 37428 3742924:20. And I said to them: The word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37430 3743124:21. Speak to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I 37432will profane my sanctuary, the glory of your realm, and the thing that 37433your eyes desire, and for which your soul feareth: your sons, and your 37434daughters, whom you have left, shall fall by the sword. 37435 3743624:22. And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your faces, 37437nor shall you eat the meat of mourners. 37438 3743924:23. You shall have crowns on your heads, and shoes on your feet: you 37440shall not lament nor weep, but you shall pine away for your iniquities, 37441and every one shall sigh with his brother. 37442 3744324:24. And Ezechiel shall be unto you for a sign of things to come: 37444according to all that he hath done, so shall you do, when this shall 37445come to pass: and you shall know that I am the Lord God. 37446 3744724:25. And thou, O son of man, behold in the day wherein I will take 37448away from them their strength, and the joy of their glory, and the 37449desire of their eyes, upon which their souls rest, their sons and their 37450daughters. 37451 3745224:26. In that day when he that escapeth shall come to thee, to tell 37453thee: 37454 3745524:27. In that day, I say, shall thy mouth be opened to him that hath 37456escaped, and thou shalt speak, and shalt be silent no more: and thou 37457shalt be unto them for a sign of things to come, and you shall know 37458that I am the Lord. 37459 37460 37461 37462Ezechiel Chapter 25 37463 37464 37465A prophecy against the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines, 37466for their malice against the Israelites. 37467 3746825:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37469 3747025:2. Son of man, set thy face against the children of Ammon, and thou 37471shalt prophesy of them. 37472 3747325:3. And thou shalt say to the children of Ammon: Hear ye the word of 37474the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast said: Ha, ha, 37475upon my sanctuary, because it was profaned: and upon the land of 37476Israel, because it was laid waste: and upon the house of Juda, because 37477they are led into captivity: 37478 3747925:4. Therefore will I deliver thee to the men of the east for an 37480inheritance, and they shall place their sheepcotes in thee, and shall 37481set up their tents in thee: they shall eat thy fruits: and they shall 37482drink thy milk. 37483 3748425:5. And I will make Rabbath a stable for camels, and the children of 37485Ammon a couching place for flocks: and you shall know that I am the 37486Lord. 37487 37488Rabbath. . .The capital city of the Ammonites: it was afterwards called 37489Philadelphia. 37490 3749125:6. For thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast clapped thy hands 37492and stamped with thy foot, and hast rejoiced with all thy heart against 37493the land of Israel: 37494 3749525:7. Therefore behold I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and will 37496deliver thee to be the spoil of nations, and will cut thee off from 37497among the people, and destroy thee out of the lands, and break thee in 37498pieces: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. 37499 3750025:8. Thus saith the Lord God: Because Moab and Seir have said: Behold 37501the house of Juda is like all other nations: 37502 3750325:9. Therefore behold I will open the shoulder of Moab from the 37504cities, from his cities, I say, and his borders, the noble cities of 37505the land of Bethiesimoth, and Beelmeon, and Cariathaim, 37506 3750725:10. To the people of the east with the children of Ammon, and I will 37508give it them for an inheritance: that there may be no more any 37509remembrance of the children of Ammon among the nations. 37510 3751125:11. And I will execute judgments in Moab: and they shall know that I 37512am the Lord. 37513 3751425:12. Thus saith the Lord God: Because Edom hath taken vengeance to 37515revenge herself of the children of Juda, and hath greatly offended, and 37516hath sought revenge of them: 37517 3751825:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: I will stretch forth my hand 37519upon Edom, and will take away out of it man and beast, and will make it 37520desolate from the south: and they that are in Dedan shall fall by the 37521sword. 37522 3752325:14. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people 37524Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to my wrath, and my fury: 37525and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God. 37526 3752725:15. Thus saith the Lord God: Because the Philistines have taken 37528vengeance, and have revenged themselves with all their mind, destroying 37529and satisfying old enmities: 37530 3753125:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will stretch forth 37532my hand upon the Philistines, and will kill the killers, and will 37533destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 37534 3753525:17. And I will execute great vengeance upon them, rebuking them in 37536fury: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my 37537vengeance upon them. 37538 37539 37540 37541Ezechiel Chapter 26 37542 37543 37544A prophecy of the destruction of the famous city of Tyre by 37545Nabuchodonosor. 37546 3754726:1. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, the first day of the 37548month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37549 3755026:2. Son of man, because Tyre hath said of Jerusalem: Aha, the gates 37551of the people are broken, she is turned to me: I shall be filled, now 37552she is laid waste. 37553 3755426:3. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, O 37555Tyre, and I will cause many nations to come up to thee, as the waves of 37556the sea rise up. 37557 3755826:4. And they shall break down the walls of Tyre, and destroy the 37559towers thereof: and I will scrape her dust from her, and make her like 37560a smooth rock. 37561 3756226:5. She shall be a drying place for nets in the midst of the sea, 37563because I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and she shall be a spoil 37564to the nations. 37565 3756626:6. Her daughters also that are in the field, shall be slain by the 37567sword: and they shall know that I am the Lord. 37568 3756926:7. For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will bring against Tyre 37570Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, the king of kings, from the north, with 37571horses, and chariots, and horsemen, and companies, and much people. 37572 3757326:8. Thy daughters that are in the field, he shall kill with the 37574sword: and he shall compass thee with forts, and shall cast up a mount 37575round about: and he shall lift up the buckler against thee. 37576 3757726:9. And he shall set engines of war and battering rams against thy 37578walls, and shall destroy thy towers with his arms. 37579 3758026:10. By reason of the multitude of his horses, their dust shall cover 37581thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and wheels, 37582and chariots, when they shall go in at thy gates, as by the entrance of 37583a city that is destroyed. 37584 3758526:11. With the hoofs of his horses he shall tread down all thy 37586streets, thy people he shall kill with the sword, and thy famous 37587statues shall fall to the ground. 37588 3758926:12. They shall waste thy riches, they shall make a spoil of thy 37590merchandise: and they shall destroy thy walls, and pull down thy fine 37591houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber, and thy dust in 37592the midst of the waters. 37593 3759426:13. And I will make the multitude of thy songs to cease, and the 37595sound of thy harps shall be heard no more. 37596 3759726:14. And I will make thee like a naked rock, thou shalt be a drying 37598place for nets, neither shalt thou be built any more: for I have spoken 37599it, saith the Lord God. 37600 3760126:15. Thus saith the Lord God to Tyre: Shall not the islands shake at 37602the sound of thy fall, and the groans of thy slain when they shall be 37603killed in the midst of thee? 37604 3760526:16. Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their 37606thrones: and take off their robes, and cast away their broidered 37607garments, and be clothed with astonishment: they shall sit on the 37608ground, and with amazement shall wonder at thy sudden fall. 37609 3761026:17. And taking up a lamentation over thee, they shall say to thee: 37611How art thou fallen, that dwellest in the sea, renowned city that wast 37612strong in the sea, with thy inhabitants whom all did dread? 37613 3761426:18. Now shall the ships be astonished in the day of thy terror: and 37615the islands in the sea shall be troubled because no one cometh out of 37616thee. 37617 3761826:19. For thus saith the Lord God: When I shall make thee a desolate 37619city like the cities that are not inhabited: and shall bring the deep 37620upon thee, and many waters shall cover thee: 37621 3762226:20. And when I shall bring thee down with those that descend into 37623the pit to the everlasting people, and shall set thee in the lowest 37624parts of the earth, as places desolate of old, with them that are 37625brought down into the pit, that thou be not inhabited: and when I shall 37626give glory in the land of the living, 37627 3762826:21. I will bring thee to nothing, and thou shalt not be, and if thou 37629be sought for, thou shalt not be found any more for ever, saith the 37630Lord God. 37631 37632 37633 37634Ezechiel Chapter 27 37635 37636 37637A description of the glory and riches of Tyre: and of her irrecoverable 37638fall. 37639 3764027:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37641 3764227:2. Thou therefore, O son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre: 37643 3764427:3. And say to Tyre that dwelleth at the entry of the sea, being the 37645mart of the people for many islands: Thus saith the Lord God: O Tyre, 37646thou hast said: I am of perfect beauty, 37647 3764827:4. And situate in the heart of the sea. Thy neighbours, that built 37649thee, have perfected thy beauty: 37650 3765127:5. With fir trees of Sanir they have built thee with all sea planks: 37652they have taken cedars from Libanus to make thee masts. 37653 37654Sea planks. . .That is, timber brought by sea to build the city. 37655 3765627:6. They have cut thy oars out of the oaks of Basan: and they have 37657made thee benches of Indian ivory and cabins with things brought from 37658the islands of Italy. 37659 3766027:7. Fine broidered linen from Egypt was woven for thy sail, to be 37661spread on thy mast: blue and purple from the islands of Elisa, were 37662made thy covering. 37663 3766427:8. The inhabitants of Sidon, and the Arabians were thy rowers: thy 37665wise men, O Tyre, were thy pilots. 37666 3766727:9. The ancients of Gebal, and the wise men thereof furnished 37668mariners for the service of thy various furniture: all the ships of the 37669sea, and their mariners were thy factors. 37670 3767127:10. The Persians, and Lydians, and the Libyans were thy soldiers in 37672thy army: they hung up the buckler and the helmet in thee for thy 37673ornament. 37674 3767527:11. The men of Arad were with thy army upon thy walls round about: 37676the Pygmeans also that were in thy towers, hung up their quivers on thy 37677walls round about: they perfected thy beauty. 37678 37679Pygmeans. . .That is, strong and valiant men. In Hebrew, Gammadim. 37680 3768127:12. The Carthaginians thy merchants supplied thy fairs with a 37682multitude of all kinds of riches, with silver, iron, tin, and lead, 37683 3768427:13. Greece, Thubal, and Mosoch, they were thy merchants, they 37685brought to thy people slaves and vessels of brass. 37686 3768727:14. From the house of Thogorma they brought horses, and horsemen, 37688and mules to thy market. 37689 3769027:15. The men of Dedan were thy merchants: many islands were the 37691traffic of thy hand, they exchanged for thy price teeth of ivory and 37692ebony. 37693 3769427:16. The Syrian was thy merchant: by reason of the multitude of thy 37695works, they set forth precious stories, and purple, and broidered 37696works, and fine linen, and silk, and chodchod in thy market. 37697 37698Chodchod. . .It is the Hebrew name for some precious stone; but of what 37699kind in particular interpreters are not agreed. 37700 3770127:17. Juda and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants with the 37702best corn: they set forth balm, and honey, and oil and rosin in thy 37703fairs. 37704 3770527:18. The men of Damascus were thy merchants in the multitude of thy 37706works, the multitude of divers riches, in rich wine, in wool of the 37707best colour. 37708 3770927:19. Dan, and Greece, and Mosel have set forth in thy marts wrought 37710iron: stacte, and calamus were in thy market. 37711 3771227:20. The men of Dedan were thy merchants in tapestry for seats. 37713 3771427:21. Arabia, and all the princes of Cedar, they were the merchants of 37715thy hand: thy merchants came to thee with lambs, and rams, and kids. 37716 3771727:22. The sellers of Saba, and Reema, they were thy merchants: with 37718all the best spices, and precious stones, and gold, which they set 37719forth in thy market. 37720 3772127:23. Haran, and Chene, and Eden were thy merchants; Saba, Assur, and 37722Chelmad sold to thee. 37723 3772427:24. They were thy merchants in divers manners, with bales of blue 37725cloth, and of embroidered work, and of precious riches, which were 37726wrapped up and bound with cords: they had cedars also in thy 37727merchandise. 37728 3772927:25. The ships of the sea, were thy chief in thy merchandise: and 37730thou wast replenished, and glorified exceedingly in the heart of the 37731sea. 37732 3773327:26. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the south wind 37734hath broken thee in the heart of the sea. 37735 3773627:27. Thy riches, and thy treasures, and thy manifold furniture, thy 37737mariners, and thy pilots, who kept thy goods, and were chief over thy 37738people: thy men of war also, that were in thee, with all thy multitude 37739that is in the midst of thee: shall fall in the heart of the sea in the 37740day of thy ruin. 37741 3774227:28. Thy fleets shall be troubled at the sound of the cry of thy 37743pilots. 37744 3774527:29. And all that handled the oar shall come down from their ships: 37746the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea shall stand upon the land: 37747 3774827:30. And they shall mourn over thee with a loud voice and shall cry 37749bitterly: and they shall cast up dust upon their heads and shall be 37750sprinkled with ashes. 37751 3775227:31. And they shall shave themselves bald for thee, and shall be 37753girded with haircloth: and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of 37754soul, with most bitter weeping. 37755 3775627:32. And they shall take up a mournful song for thee, and shall 37757lament thee: What city is like Tyre, which is become silent in the 37758midst of the sea? 37759 3776027:33. Which by thy merchandise that went from thee by sea didst fill 37761many people: which by the multitude of thy riches, and of thy people 37762didst enrich the kings of the earth. 37763 3776427:34. Now thou art destroyed by the sea, thy riches are in the bottom 37765of the waters, and all the multitude that was in the midst of thee is 37766fallen. 37767 3776827:35. All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at thee: and 37769all their kings being struck with the storm have changed their 37770countenance. 37771 3777227:36. The merchants of people have hissed at thee: thou art brought to 37773nothing, and thou shalt never be any more. 37774 37775 37776 37777Ezechiel Chapter 28 37778 37779 37780The king of Tyre, who affected to be like to God, shall fall under the 37781like sentence with Lucifer. The judgment of Sidon. The restoration of 37782Israel. 37783 3778428:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37785 3778628:2. Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus saith the Lord God: 37787Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said: I am God, and I sit 37788in the chair of God in the heart of the sea: whereas thou art a man, 37789and not God: and hast set thy heart as if it were the heart of God. 37790 3779128:3. Behold thou art wiser than Daniel: no secret is hid from thee. 37792 37793Thou art wiser than Daniel. . .Viz., in thy own conceit. The wisdom of 37794Daniel was so much celebrated in his days, that it became a proverb 37795amongst the Chaldeans, when any one would express an extraordinary 37796wisdom, to say he was as wise as Daniel. 37797 3779828:4. In thy wisdom and thy understanding thou hast made thyself 37799strong: and hast gotten gold an silver into thy treasures. 37800 3780128:5. By the greatness of thy wisdom, and by thy traffic thou hast 37802increased thy strength: and thy heart is lifted up with thy strength. 37803 3780428:6. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Because thy heart is lifted 37805up as the heart of God: 37806 3780728:7. Therefore behold, I will bring upon thee strangers: the strongest 37808of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of 37809thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy beauty. 37810 3781128:8. They shall kill thee, and bring thee down: and thou shalt die the 37812death of them that are slain in the heart of the sea. 37813 3781428:9. Wilt thou yet say before them that slay thee: I am God; whereas 37815thou art a man, and not God, in the hand of them that slay thee? 37816 3781728:10. Thou shalt die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of 37818strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. 37819 3782028:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, take up 37821a lamentation upon the king of Tyre: 37822 3782328:12. And say to him: Thus saith the Lord God: Thou wast the seal of 37824resemblance, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 37825 37826Thou wast the seal of resemblance. . .The king of Tyre, by his dignity 37827and his natural perfections, bore in himself a certain resemblance to 37828God, by reason of which he might be called the seal of resemblance, 37829etc. But what is here said to him is commonly understood of Lucifer, 37830the king over all the children of pride. 37831 3783228:13. Thou wast in the pleasures of the paradise of God: every 37833precious stone was thy covering: the sardius, the topaz, and the 37834jasper, the chrysolite, and the onyx, and the beryl, the sapphire, and 37835the carbuncle, and the emerald: gold the work of thy beauty: and thy 37836pipes were prepared in the day that thou wast created. 37837 3783828:14. Thou a cherub stretched out, and protecting, and I set thee in 37839the holy mountain of God, thou hast walked in the midst of the stones 37840of fire. 37841 37842A cherub stretched out. . .That is, thy wings extended. This alludes to 37843the figure of the cherubims in the sanctuary, which with stretched out 37844wings covered the ark.--Ibid. The stones of fire. . .That is, bright and 37845precious stones which sparkle like fire. 37846 3784728:15. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day of thy creation, 37848until iniquity was found in thee. 37849 3785028:16. By the multitude of thy merchandise, thy inner parts were filled 37851with iniquity, and thou hast sinned: and I cast thee out from the 37852mountain of God, and destroyed thee, O covering cherub, out of the 37853midst of the stones of fire. 37854 3785528:17. And thy heart was lifted up with thy beauty: thou hast lost thy 37856wisdom in thy beauty, I have cast thee to the ground: I have set thee 37857before the face of kings, that they might behold thee. 37858 3785928:18. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thy 37860iniquities, and by the iniquity of thy traffic: therefore I will bring 37861forth a fire from the midst of thee, to devour thee, and I will make 37862thee as ashes upon the earth in the sight of all that see thee. 37863 3786428:19. All that shall see thee among the nations, shall be astonished 37865at thee: thou art brought to nothing, and thou shalt never be any more. 37866 3786728:20. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37868 3786928:21. Son of man, set thy face against Sidon: and thou shalt prophesy 37870of it, 37871 3787228:22. And shalt say: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against 37873thee, Sidon, and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they 37874shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall execute judgments in her, 37875and shall be sanctified in her. 37876 3787728:23. And I will send into her pestilence, and blood in her streets: 37878and they shall fall being slain by the sword on all sides in the midst 37879thereof: and they shall know that I am the Lord. 37880 3788128:24. And the house of Israel shall have no more a stumblingblock of 37882bitterness, nor a thorn causing pain on every side round about them, of 37883them that are against them: and they shall know that I am the Lord God. 37884 3788528:25. Thus saith the Lord God: When I shall have gathered together the 37886house of Israel out of the people among whom they are scattered: I will 37887be sanctified in them before the Gentiles: and they shall dwell in 37888their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. 37889 3789028:26. And they shall dwell therein secure, and they shall build 37891houses, and shall plant vineyards, and shall dwell with confidence, 37892when I shall have executed judgments upon all that are their enemies 37893round about: and they shall know that I am the Lord their God. 37894 37895 37896 37897Ezechiel Chapter 29 37898 37899 37900The king of Egypt shall be overthrown, and his kingdom wasted: it shall 37901be given to Nabuchodonosor for his service against Tyre. 37902 3790329:1. In the tenth year, the tenth month, the eleventh day of the 37904month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37905 3790629:2. Son of man, set thy face against Pharao king of Egypt: and thou 37907shalt prophesy of him, and of all Egypt: 37908 3790929:3. Speak, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against 37910thee, Pharao king of Egypt, thou great dragon that liest in the midst 37911of thy rivers, and sayest: The river is mine, and I made myself. 37912 3791329:4. But I will put a bridle in thy jaws: and I will cause the fish of 37914thy rivers to stick to thy scales: and I will draw thee out of the 37915midst of thy rivers, and all thy fish shall stick to thy scales. 37916 3791729:5. And I will cast thee forth into the desert, and all the fish of 37918thy river: thou shalt fall upon the face of the earth, thou shalt not 37919be taken up, nor gathered together: I have given thee for meat to the 37920beasts of the earth, and to the fowls of the air. 37921 3792229:6. And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord: 37923because thou hast been a staff of a reed to the house of Israel. 37924 3792529:7. When they took hold of thee with the hand thou didst break, and 37926rent all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brokest, 37927and weakenest all their loins. 37928 3792929:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will bring the sword 37930upon thee: and cut off man and beast out of thee. 37931 3793229:9. And the land of Egypt shall become a desert, and a wilderness: 37933and they shall know that I am the Lord, because thou hast said: The 37934river is mine, and I made it. 37935 3793629:10. Therefore, behold I come against thee, and thy rivers: and I 37937will make the land of Egypt utterly desolate, and wasted by the sword, 37938from the tower of Syene, even to the borders of Ethiopia. 37939 3794029:11. The foot of man shall not pass through it, neither shall the 37941foot of beasts go through it: nor shall it be inhabited during forty 37942years. 37943 3794429:12. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the 37945lands that are desolate, and the cities thereof in the midst of the 37946cites that are destroyed, and they shall be desolate for forty years: 37947and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse 37948them through the countries. 37949 3795029:13. For thus saith the Lord God: At the end of forty years I will 37951gather the Egyptians from the people among whom they had been 37952scattered. 37953 3795429:14. And I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will place 37955them in the land of Phatures, in the land of their nativity, and they 37956shall be there a low kingdom: 37957 3795829:15. It shall be the lowest among other kingdoms, and it shall no 37959more be exalted over the nations, and I will diminish them that they 37960shall rule no more over the nations. 37961 3796229:16. And they shall be no more a confidence to the house of Israel, 37963teaching iniquity, that they may flee, and follow them: and they shall 37964know that I am the Lord God. 37965 3796629:17. And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year in the first 37967month, in the first of the month: that the word of the Lord came to me, 37968saying: 37969 3797029:18. Son of man, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath made his army to 37971undergo hard service against Tyre: every head was made bald, and every 37972shoulder was peeled and there hath been no reward given him, nor his 37973army for Tyre, for the service that he rendered me against it. 37974 3797529:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will set 37976Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon in the land of Egypt: and he shall 37977take her multitude, and take the booty thereof for a prey, and rifle 37978the spoils thereof: and it shall be wages for his army. 37979 3798029:20. And for the service that he hath done me against it: I have 37981given him the land of Egypt, because he hath laboured for me, saith the 37982Lord God. 37983 3798429:21. In that day a horn shall bud forth to the house of Israel, and I 37985will give thee an open mouth in the midst of them: and they shall know 37986that I am the Lord. 37987 37988 37989 37990Ezechiel Chapter 30 37991 37992 37993The desolation of Egypt and her helpers: all her cities shall be 37994wasted. 37995 3799630:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 37997 3799830:2. Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, 37999Woe, woe to the day: 38000 3800130:3. For the day is near, yea the day of the Lord is near: a cloudy 38002day, it shall be the time of the nations. 38003 3800430:4. And the sword shall come upon Egypt: and there shall be dread in 38005Ethiopia, when the wounded shall fall in Egypt, and the multitude 38006thereof shall be taken away, and the foundations thereof shall be 38007destroyed. 38008 3800930:5. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the rest of the crowd, 38010and Chub, and the children of the land of the covenant, shall fall with 38011them by the sword. 38012 3801330:6. Thus saith the Lord God: They also that uphold Egypt shall fall, 38014and the pride of her empire shall be brought down: from the tower of 38015Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord the God of 38016hosts. 38017 3801830:7. And they shall be desolate in the midst of the lands that are 38019desolate, and the cities thereof shall be in the midst of the cities 38020that are wasted. 38021 3802230:8. And they shall know that I am the Lord: when I shall have set a 38023fire in Egypt, and all the helpers thereof shall be destroyed. 38024 3802530:9. In that day shall messengers go forth from my face in ships to 38026destroy the confidence of Ethiopia, and there shall be dread among them 38027in the day of Egypt: because it shall certainly come. 38028 3802930:10. Thus saith the Lord God: I will make the multitude of Egypt to 38030cease by the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon. 38031 3803230:11. He and his people with him, the strongest of nations, shall be 38033brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords upon 38034Egypt: and shall fill the land with the slain. 38035 3803630:12. And I will make the channels of the rivers dry, and will deliver 38037the land into the hand of the wicked: and will lay waste the land and 38038all that is therein by the hands of strangers, I the Lord have spoken 38039it. 38040 3804130:13. Thus saith the Lord God: I will also destroy the idols, and I 38042will make an end of the idols of Memphis: and there shall: be no more a 38043prince of the land of Egypt and I will cause a terror in the land of 38044Egypt. 38045 3804630:14. And I will destroy the land of Phatures, and will make a fire in 38047Taphnis, and will execute judgments in Alexandria. 38048 38049Alexandria. . .In the Hebrew, No: which was the ancient name of that 38050city, which was afterwards rebuilt by Alexander the Great, and from his 38051name called Alexandria. 38052 3805330:15. And I will pour out my indignation upon Pelusium the strength of 38054Egypt, and will cut off the multitude of Alexandria. 38055 3805630:16. And I will make a fire in Egypt: Pelusium shall be in pain like 38057a woman in labour, and Alexandria shall be laid waste, and in Memphis 38058there shall be daily distresses. 38059 3806030:17. The young men of Heliopolis, and of Bubastus shall fall by the 38061sword, and they themselves shall go into captivity. 38062 3806330:18. And in Taphnis the day shall be darkened, when I shall break 38064there the sceptres of Egypt, and the pride of her power shall cease in 38065her: a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall be led into 38066captivity. 38067 3806830:19. And I will execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that 38069I am the Lord. 38070 3807130:20. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in 38072the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came, me, 38073saying: 38074 3807530:21. Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharao king of Egypt: and 38076behold it is not bound up, to be healed, to be tied up with clothes, 38077and swathed with linen, that it might recover strength, and hold the 38078sword. 38079 3808030:22. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against 38081Pharao king of Egypt, and I will break into pieces his strong arm, 38082which is already broken: and I will cause the sword to fall out of his 38083hand: 38084 3808530:23. And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and scatter them 38086through the countries. 38087 3808830:24. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and will 38089put my sword in his hand: and I will break the arms of Pharao, and they 38090shall groan bitterly being slain before his face. 38091 3809230:25. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the 38093arms of Pharao shall fall: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when 38094I shall have given my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and 38095he shall have stretched it forth upon the land of Egypt. 38096 3809730:26. And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will scatter 38098them through the countries, and they shall know that I am the Lord. 38099 38100 38101 38102Ezechiel Chapter 31 38103 38104 38105The Assyrian empire fell for their pride: the Egyptian shall fall in 38106like manner. 38107 3810831:1. And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the 38109first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38110 3811131:2. Son of man, speak to Pharao king of Egypt, and to his people: To 38112whom art thou like in thy greatness? 38113 3811431:3. Behold, the Assyrian like a cedar in Libanus, with fair branches, 38115and full of leaves, of a high stature, and his top was elevated among 38116the thick boughs. 38117 3811831:4. The waters nourished him, the deep set him tip on high, the 38119streams thereof ran round about his roots, and it sent, forth its 38120rivulets to all the trees of the country. 38121 3812231:5. Therefore was his height exalted above all the trees of the 38123country and his branches were multiplied, and his boughs were elevated 38124because of many waters. 38125 3812631:6. And when he had spread forth his shadow, all the fowls of the air 38127made their nests in his boughs, and all the beasts of the forest 38128brought forth their young under his branches, and the assembly of many 38129nations dwelt under his shadow. 38130 3813131:7. And he was most beautiful for his greatness, and for the 38132spreading of his branches: for his root was near great waters. 38133 3813431:8. The cedars in the paradise of God were not higher than he, the 38135fir trees did not equal his top, neither were the plane trees to be 38136compared with him for branches: no tree in the paradise of God was like 38137him in his beauty. 38138 3813931:9. For I made him beautiful and thick set with many branches: and 38140all the trees of pleasure, that were in the paradise of God, envied 38141him. 38142 3814331:10. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because he was exalted in 38144height, and shot up his top green and thick, and his heart was lifted 38145up in his height: 38146 3814731:11. I have delivered him into the hands of the mighty one of the 38148nations, he shall deal with him: I have cast him out according to his 38149wickedness. 38150 38151I have delivered. . .Here the time past is put for the future, i. e., I 38152shall deliver.--Ibid. The mighty one, etc. . .Viz., Nabuchodonosor, who 38153conquered both the Assyrians and Egyptians. 38154 3815531:12. And strangers, and the most cruel of the nations shall cut him 38156down, and cast him away upon the mountains, and his boughs shall fall 38157in every valley, and his branches shall be broken on every rock of the 38158country: and all the people of the earth shall depart from his shadow, 38159and leave him. 38160 3816131:13. All the fowls of the air dwelt upon his ruins, and all the 38162beasts of the field were among his branches. 38163 3816431:14. For which cause none of the trees by the waters shall exalt 38165themselves for their height: nor shoot up their tops among the thick 38166branches and leaves, neither shall any of them that are watered stand 38167up in their height: for they are all delivered unto death to the lowest 38168parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that 38169go down into the pit. 38170 3817131:15. Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went down to hell, I 38172brought in mourning, I covered him with the deep: and I withheld its 38173rivers, and restrained the many waters: Libanus grieved for him, and 38174all the trees of the field trembled. 38175 3817631:16. I shook the nations with the sound of his fall, when I brought 38177him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees 38178of pleasure, the choice and best in Libanus, all that were moistened 38179with waters, were comforted in the lowest parts of the earth. 38180 3818131:17. For they also shall go down with him to hell to them that are 38182slain by the sword; and the arm of every one shall sit down under his 38183shadow in the midst of the nations. 38184 3818531:18. To whom art thou like, O thou that art famous and lofty among 38186the trees of pleasure? Behold, thou art brought down with the trees of 38187pleasure to the lowest parts of the earth: thou shalt sleep in the 38188midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword: this 38189is Pharao, and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. 38190 38191 38192 38193Ezechiel Chapter 32 38194 38195 38196The prophet's lamentation for the king of Egypt. 38197 3819832:1. And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in 38199the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, 38200saying: 38201 3820232:2. Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharao the king of Egypt, 38203and say to him: Thou art like the lion of the nations, and the dragon 38204that is in the sea: and thou didst push with the horn in thy rivers, 38205and didst trouble the waters with thy feet, and didst trample upon 38206their streams. 38207 3820832:3. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: I will spread out my net over 38209thee with the multitude of many people, and I will draw thee up in my 38210net. 38211 3821232:4. And I will throw thee out on the land, I will cast thee away into 38213the open field and I will cause all the fowls of the air to dwell upon 38214thee, and I will fill the beasts of all the earth with thee. 38215 3821632:5. And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and will fill thy 38217hills with thy corruption, 38218 3821932:6. And I will water the earth with thy stinking blood upon the 38220mountains, and the valleys shall be filled with thee. 38221 3822232:7. And I will cover the heavens, when thou shalt be put out, and I 38223will make the stars thereof dark: I will cover the sun with a cloud, 38224and the moon shall not give her light. 38225 3822632:8. I will make all the lights of heaven to mourn over thee and I 38227will cause darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God, when thy wounded 38228shall fall in the midst of the land, saith the Lord God. 38229 3823032:9. And I shall provoke to anger the heart of many people, when I 38231shall have brought in thy destruction among the nations upon the lands, 38232which thou knowest not. 38233 3823432:10. And I will make many people to be amazed at thee, and their 38235kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when my sword shall begin to 38236fly upon their faces: and they shall be astonished on a sudden, every 38237one for his own life, in the day of their ruin. 38238 3823932:11. For thus saith the Lord God: The sword of the king of Babylon 38240shall come upon thee, 38241 3824232:12. By the swords of the mighty I will overthrow thy multitude: all 38243these nations are invincible: and they shall waste the pride of Egypt, 38244and the multitude thereof shall be destroyed. 38245 3824632:13. I will destroy also all the beasts thereof that were beside the 38247great waters: and the foot of man shall trouble them no more, neither 38248shall the hoof of beasts trouble them. 38249 3825032:14. Then will I make their waters clear, and cause their rivers to 38251run like oil, saith the Lord God: 38252 3825332:15. When I shall have made the land of Egypt desolate: and the land 38254shall be destitute of her fulness, when I shall have struck all the 38255inhabitants thereof and they shall know that I am the Lord. 38256 3825732:16. This is the lamentation, and they shall lament therewith: the 38258daughters of the nations shall lament therewith for Egypt, and for the 38259multitude thereof they shall lament therewith, saith the Lord God. 38260 3826132:17. And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of 38262the month, that the word of the Lord came to me saying: 38263 3826432:18. Son of man, sing a mournful song for the multitude of Egypt: and 38265cast her down, both her, and the daughters of the mighty nations to the 38266lowest part of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. 38267 3826832:19. Whom dost thou excel in beauty? go down and sleep with the 38269uncircumcised. 38270 3827132:20. They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain with the 38272sword: the sword is given, they have drawn her down, and all her 38273people. 38274 3827532:21. The most mighty among the strong ones shall speak to him from 38276the midst of hell, they that went down with his helpers and slept 38277uncircumcised, slain by the sword. 38278 3827932:22. Assur is there, and all his multitude: their graves are round 38280about him, all of them slain, and that fell by the sword. 38281 3828232:23. Whose graves are set in the lowest parts of the pit: and his 38283multitude lay round about his grave: all of them slain, and fallen by 38284the sword, they that heretofore spread terror in the land of the 38285living. 38286 3828732:24. There is Elam and all his multitude round about his grave, all 38288of them slain, and fallen by the sword; that went down uncircumcised to 38289the lowest parts of the earth: that caused their terror in the land of 38290the living, and they have borne their shame with them that go down into 38291the pit. 38292 3829332:25. In the midst of the slain they have set him a bed among all his 38294people: their graves are round about him: all these are uncircumcised, 38295and slain by the sword: for they spread their terror in the land of the 38296living, and have borne their shame with them that descend into the pit: 38297they are laid in the midst of the slain. 38298 3829932:26. There is Mosoch, and Thubal, and all their multitude: their 38300graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised and slain, and 38301fallen by the sword: though they spread their terror in the land of the 38302living. 38303 3830432:27. And they shall not sleep with the brave, and with them that fell 38305uncircumcised, that went down to hell with their weapons, and laid 38306their swords under their heads, and their iniquities were in their 38307bones, because they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the 38308living. 38309 3831032:28. So thou also shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, 38311and shalt sleep with them that are slain by the sword. 38312 3831332:29. There is Edom, and her kings, and all her princes, who with 38314their army are joined with them that are slain by the sword: and have 38315slept with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down into the pit. 38316 3831732:30. There are all the princes of the north, and all the hunters: who 38318were brought down with the slain, fearing, and confounded in their 38319strength: who slept uncircumcised with them that are slain by the 38320sword, and have borne their shame with them that go down into the pit. 38321 3832232:31. Pharao saw them, and he was comforted concerning all his 38323multitude, which was slain by the sword: Pharao, and all his army, 38324saith the Lord God: 38325 3832632:32. Because I have spread my terror in the land of the living, and 38327he hath slept in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are 38328slain by the sword: Pharao and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. 38329 38330 38331 38332Ezechiel Chapter 33 38333 38334 38335The duty of the watchman appointed by God: the justice of God's ways: 38336his judgments upon the Jews. 38337 3833833:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38339 3834033:2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say to them: 38341When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a 38342man, one of their meanest, and make him a watchman over them: 38343 3834433:3. And he sees the sword coming upon the land, and sound the 38345trumpet, and tell the people: 38346 3834733:4. Then he that heareth the sound of the trumpet, whosoever he be, 38348and doth not look to himself, if the sword come, and cut him off: his 38349blood shall be upon his own head. 38350 3835133:5. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and did not look to himself, 38352his blood shall be upon him: but if he look to himself, he shall save 38353his life. 38354 3835533:6. And if the watchman see the sword coming, and sound not the 38356trumpet: and the people look not to themselves, and the sword come, and 38357cut off a soul from among them: he indeed is taken away in his 38358iniquity, but I will require his blood at the hand of the watchman. 38359 3836033:7. So thou, O son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house 38361of Israel: therefore thou shalt hear the word from my mouth, and shalt 38362tell it them from me. 38363 3836433:8. When I say to the wicked: O wicked man, thou shalt surely die: if 38365thou dost not speak to warn the wicked man from his way: that wicked 38366man shall die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at thy 38367hand. 38368 3836933:9. But if thou tell the wicked man, that he may be converted from 38370his ways, and he be not converted from his way he shall die in his 38371iniquity: but thou hast delivered thy soul. 38372 3837333:10. Thou therefore, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: Thus 38374you have spoken, saying: Our iniquities, and our sins are upon us, and 38375we pine away in them: how then can we live? 38376 3837733:11. Say to them: As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the 38378death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live. 38379Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: and why will you die, O house of 38380Israel? 38381 3838233:12. Thou therefore, O son of man, say to the children of thy people: 38383The justice of the just shall not deliver him, in what day soever he 38384shall sin: and the wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him, in what 38385day soever he shall turn from his wickedness: and the just shall not be 38386able to live in his justice, in what day soever he shall sin. 38387 3838833:13. Yea, if I shall say to the just that he shall surely live, and 38389he, trusting in his justice, commit iniquity: all his justices shall be 38390forgotten, and his iniquity, which he hath committed, in the same shall 38391he die. 38392 3839333:14. And it I shall say to the wicked: Thou shalt surely die: and he 38394do penance for his sin, and do judgment and justice, 38395 3839633:15. And if that wicked man restore the pledge, and render what he 38397had robbed, and walk in the commandments of life, and do no unjust 38398thing: he shall surely live, and shall not die. 38399 3840033:16. None of his sins, which he hath committed, shall be imputed to 38401him: he hath done judgment and justice, he shall surely live. 38402 3840333:17. And the children of thy people have said: The way of the Lord is 38404not equitable: whereas their own way is unjust. 38405 3840633:18. For when the just shall depart from his justice, and commit 38407iniquities, he shall die in them. 38408 3840933:19. And when the wicked shall depart from his wickedness, and shall 38410do judgments, and justice, he shall live in them. 38411 3841233:20. And you say: The way of the Lord is not right, I will judge 38413every one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel. 38414 3841533:21. And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the 38416tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that there came to me one 38417that was fled from Jerusalem, saying: The city is laid waste. 38418 3841933:22. And the hand of the Lord had been upon me in the evening, before 38420he that was fled came: and he opened my mouth till he came to me in the 38421morning, and my mouth being opened, I was silent no more. 38422 3842333:23. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38424 3842533:24. Son of man, they that dwell in these ruinous places in the land 38426of Israel, speak, saying: Abraham was one, and he inherited the land, 38427but we are many, the land is given us in possession. 38428 3842933:25. Therefore say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: You that eat 38430with the blood and lift up your eyes to your uncleannesses, and that 38431shed blood: shall you possess the land by inheritance? 38432 3843333:26. You stood on your swords, you have committed abominations, and 38434every one hath defiled his neighbours wife; and shall you possess the 38435land by inheritance? 38436 3843733:27. Say thou thus to them: Thus saith the Lord God: As I live, they 38438that dwell in the ruinous places, shall fall by the sword: and he that 38439is in the field, shall be given to the beasts to be devoured: and they 38440that are in holds, and caves, shall die of the pestilence. 38441 3844233:28. And I will make the land a wilderness, and a desert, and the 38443proud strength thereof shall fail, and the mountains of Israel shall be 38444desolate, because there is none to pass by them, 38445 3844633:29. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have made 38447their land waste and desolate, for all their abominations which they 38448have committed. 38449 3845033:30. And thou son of man: the children of thy people, that talk of 38451thee by the walls, and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to 38452another each man to his neighbour, saying: Come, and let us hear what 38453is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. 38454 3845533:31. And they come to thee, as if people were coming in, and my 38456people sit before thee: and hear thy words, and do them not: for they 38457turn them into a song of their mouth, and their heart goeth after their 38458covetousness. 38459 3846033:32. And thou art to them as a musical song which is sung with a 38461sweet and agreeable voice: and they hear thy words, and do them not. 38462 3846333:33. And when that which was foretold shall come to pass, for behold 38464it is coming, then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. 38465 38466 38467 38468Ezechiel Chapter 34 38469 38470 38471Evil pastors are reproved. Christ the true pastor shall come, and 38472gather together his flock from all parts of the earth, and preserve it 38473for ever. 38474 3847534:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, it saying: 38476 3847734:2. Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: 38478prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the 38479shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed 38480by the shepherds? 38481 38482Shepherds. . .That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes. 38483 3848434:3. You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and 38485you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. 38486 3848734:4. The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you 38488have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that 38489which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you 38490sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and 38491with a high hand. 38492 3849334:5. And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd and 38494they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were 38495scattered. 38496 3849734:6. My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: 38498and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was 38499none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them. 38500 3850134:7. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 38502 3850334:8. As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been 38504made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the 38505field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek 38506after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my 38507flocks: 38508 3850934:9. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 38510 3851134:10. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the 38512shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them 38513to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds 38514feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, 38515and it shall no more be meat for them. 38516 3851734:11. For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, 38518and will visit them. 38519 3852034:12. As the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be 38521in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my 38522sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been 38523scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 38524 3852534:13. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them 38526out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will 38527feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the 38528habitations of the land. 38529 3853034:14. I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their 38531pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they 38532rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains 38533of Israel. 38534 3853534:15. I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith 38536the Lord God. 38537 3853834:16. I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, 38539I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I 38540will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong 38541I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment. 38542 3854334:17. And as for you, O my flocks, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I 38544judge between cattle and cattle, of rams and of he goats. 38545 3854634:18. Was it not enough for you to feed upon good pastures? but you 38547must also tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures: and 38548when you drank the clearest water, you troubled the rest with your 38549feet. 38550 3855134:19. And my sheep were fed with that which you had trodden with your 38552feet: and they drank what your feet had troubled. 38553 3855434:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God to you: Behold, I myself will 38555judge between the fat cattle and the lean. 38556 3855734:21. Because you thrusted with sides and shoulders, and struck all 38558the weak cattle with your horns, till they were scattered abroad: 38559 3856034:22. I will save my flock, and it shall be no more a spoil, and I 38561will judge between cattle and cattle. 38562 3856334:23. And I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, and he shall feed 38564them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their 38565shepherd. 38566 38567David. . .Christ, who is of the house of David. 38568 3856934:24. And I the Lord will be their God: and my servant David the 38570prince in the midst of them: I the Lord have spoken it. 38571 3857234:25. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause 38573the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they that dwell in the 38574wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests. 38575 3857634:26. And I will make them a blessing round about my hill: and I will 38577send down the rain in its season, there shall be showers of blessing. 38578 3857934:27. And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth 38580shall yield her increase, and they shall be in their land without fear: 38581and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have broken the 38582bonds of their yoke, and shall have delivered them out of the hand of 38583those that rule over them. 38584 3858534:28. And they shall be no more for a spoil to the nations, neither 38586shall the beasts of the earth devour them: but they shall dwell 38587securely without, any terror. 38588 3858934:29. And I will raise up for them a bud of renown: and they shall be 38590no more consumed with famine in the land, neither shall they bear any 38591more the reproach of the Gentiles. 38592 38593A bud of renown. . .Germen nominatum. He speaks of Christ our Lord, the 38594illustrious bud of the house of David, renowned over all the earth. See 38595Jer. 33.15. 38596 3859734:30. And they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and 38598that they are my people the house of Israel: saith the Lord God. 38599 3860034:31. And you my flocks, the flocks of my pasture are men: and I am 38601the Lord your God, saith the Lord God. 38602 38603 38604 38605Ezechiel Chapter 35 38606 38607 38608The judgment of mount Seir, for their hatred of Israel. 38609 3861035:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38611 3861235:2. Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy 38613concerning it, and say to it: 38614 3861535:3. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, mount Seir, 38616and I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I will make thee 38617desolate and waste. 38618 3861935:4. I will destroy thy cities, and thou shalt be desolate: and thou 38620shalt know that I am the Lord. 38621 3862235:5. Because thou hast been an everlasting enemy, and hast shut up the 38623children of Israel in the hands of the sword in the time of their 38624affliction, in the time of their last iniquity. 38625 3862635:6. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will deliver thee up 38627to blood, and blood shall pursue thee: and whereas thou hast hated 38628blood, blood shall pursue thee. 38629 3863035:7. And I will make mount Seir waste and desolate: and I will take 38631away from it him that goeth and him that returneth. 38632 3863335:8. And I will fill his mountains with his men that are slain: in thy 38634hills, and in thy valleys, and in thy torrents they shall fall that are 38635slain with the sword. 38636 3863735:9. I will make thee everlasting desolations, and thy cities shall 38638not be inhabited: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord God. 38639 3864035:10. Because thou hast said: The two nations, and the two lands shall 38641be mine, and I will possess them by inheritance: whereas the Lord was 38642there. 38643 3864435:11. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will do according to 38645thy wrath, and according to thy envy, which thou hast exercised in 38646hatred to them: and I will be made known by them, when I shall have 38647judged thee. 38648 3864935:12. And thou shalt know that I the Lord have heard all thy 38650reproaches, that thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, 38651saying. They are desolate, they are given to us to consume. 38652 3865335:13. And you rose up against me with your mouth, and have derogated 38654from me by your words: I have heard them. 38655 3865635:14. Thus saith the Lord God: When the whole earth shall rejoice, I 38657will make thee a wilderness. 38658 3865935:15. As thou hast rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of 38660Israel, because it was laid waste, so will I do to thee: thou shalt be 38661laid waste, O mount Seir, and all Idumea: and they shall know that I am 38662the Lord. 38663 38664 38665 38666Ezechiel Chapter 36 38667 38668 38669The restoration of Israel, not for their merits, but by God's special 38670grace. Christ's baptism. 38671 3867236:1. And thou son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and 38673say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord: 38674 3867536:2. Thus saith the Lord God: Because the enemy hath said to you: Aha, 38676the everlasting heights are given to us for an inheritance. 38677 3867836:3. Therefore prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Because you 38679have been desolate, and trodden under foot on every side, and made an 38680inheritance to the rest of the nations, and are become the subject of 38681the talk, and the reproach of the people: 38682 3868336:4. Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: 38684Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the 38685brooks, and to the valleys, and to desolate places, and ruinous walls, 38686and to the cities that are forsaken, that are spoiled, and derided by 38687the rest of the nations round about. 38688 3868936:5. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: In the fire of my zeal I have 38690spoken of the rest of the nations, and of all Edom, who have taken my 38691land to themselves, for an inheritance with joy, and with all the 38692heart, and with the mind: and have cast it out to lay it waste. 38693 3869436:6. Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say to the 38695mountains, and to the hills, to the ridges, and to the valleys: Thus 38696saith the Lord God: Behold I have spoken in my zeal, and in my 38697indignation, because you have borne the shame of the Gentiles. 38698 3869936:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: I have lifted up my hand, that 38700the Gentiles who are round about you, shall themselves bear their 38701shame. 38702 3870336:8. But as for you, O mountains of Israel, shoot ye forth your 38704branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel: for they are at 38705hand to come. 38706 3870736:9. For I, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be 38708ploughed and sown. 38709 3871036:10. And I will multiply men upon you, and all the house of Israel: 38711and the cities ball be inhabited, and the ruinous places shall be 38712repaired. 38713 3871436:11. And I will make you abound with men and with beasts: and they 38715shall be multiplied, and increased: and I will settle you as from the 38716beginning, and will give you greater gifts, than you had from the 38717beginning: and you shall know that I am the Lord. 38718 3871936:12. And I will bring men upon you, my people Israel, and they shall 38720possess thee for their inheritance: and thou shalt be their 38721inheritance, and shalt no more henceforth be without them. 38722 3872336:13. Thus saith the Lord God: Because thy say of you: Thou art a 38724devourer of men, and one that suffocatest thy nation: 38725 3872636:14. Therefore thou shalt devour men no more nor destroy thy nation 38727any more, saith the Lord God. 38728 3872936:15. Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the 38730nations any more, nor shalt thou bear the reproach of the people, nor 38731lose thy nation any more, saith the Lord God. 38732 38733Nor lose thy nation any more. . .This whole promise principally relates 38734to the church of Christ, and God's perpetual protection of her: for as 38735the carnal Jews, they have been removed out of their land these sixteen 38736hundred years. 38737 3873836:16. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38739 3874036:17. Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, 38741they defiled it with their ways, and with their doings: their way was 38742before me like the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. 38743 3874436:18. And I poured out my indignation upon them for the blood which 38745they had shed upon the land, and with their idols they defiled it. 38746 3874736:19. And I scattered them among the nations, and they are dispersed 38748through the countries: I have judged them according to their ways, and 38749their devices. 38750 3875136:20. And when they entered among the nations whither they went, they 38752profaned my holy name, when it was said of them: This is the people of 38753the Lord, and they are come forth out of his land. 38754 3875536:21. And I have regarded my own holy name, which the house of Israel 38756hath profaned among the nations to which they went in. 38757 3875836:22. Therefore thou shalt say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the 38759Lord God: It is not for your sake that I will do this, O house of 38760Israel, but for my holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the 38761nations whither you went. 38762 3876336:23. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the 38764Gentiles, which you have profaned in the midst of them: that the 38765Gentiles may know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord of hosts, when I 38766shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 38767 3876836:24. For I will take you from among the Gentiles, and will gather you 38769together out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own 38770land. 38771 3877236:25. And I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed 38773from all your filthiness, and I will cleanse you from all your idols. 38774 3877536:26. And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within 38776you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will 38777give you a heart of flesh. 38778 3877936:27. And I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause 38780you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them. 38781 3878236:28. And you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, 38783and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 38784 3878536:29. And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call 38786for corn, and will multiply it, and will lay no famine upon you. 38787 3878836:30. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of 38789the field, that you bear no more the reproach of famine among the 38790nations. 38791 3879236:31. And you shall remember your wicked ways, and your doings that 38793were not good: and your iniquities, and your wicked deeds shall 38794displease you. 38795 3879636:32. It is not for your sakes that I will do this, saith the Lord 38797God, be it known to you: be confounded, and ashamed at your own ways, O 38798house of Israel. 38799 3880036:33. Thus saith the Lord God: In the day that I shall cleanse you 38801from all your iniquities, and shall cause the cities to be inhabited, 38802and shall repair the ruinous places, 38803 3880436:34. And the desolate land shall be tilled, which before was waste in 38805the sight of all that passed by, 38806 3880736:35. They shall say: This land that was untilled is become as a 38808garden of pleasure: and the cities that were abandoned, and desolate, 38809and destroyed, are peopled and fenced. 38810 3881136:36. And the nations, that shall be left round about you, shall know 38812that I the Lord have built up what was destroyed, and planted what was 38813desolate, that I the Lord have spoken and done it. 38814 3881536:37. Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this shall the house of 38816Israel find me, that I will do it for them: I will multiply them as a 38817flock of men, 38818 3881936:38. As a holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts: 38820so shall the waste cities be full of flocks of men: and they shall know 38821that I am the Lord. 38822 38823 38824 38825Ezechiel Chapter 37 38826 38827 38828A vision of the resurrection of dry bones, foreshewing the deliverance 38829of the people from their captivity. Juda and Israel shall be all one 38830kingdom under Christ. God's everlasting covenant with the church. 38831 3883237:1. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me forth in the 38833spirit of the Lord: and set me down in the midst of a plain that was 38834full of bones. 38835 3883637:2. And he led me about through them on every side: now they were 38837very many upon the face of the plain, and they were exceeding dry. 38838 3883937:3. And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou think these bones shall 38840live and I answered: O Lord God, thou knowest. 38841 3884237:4. And he said to me: Prophesy concerning these bones; and say to 38843them: Ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 38844 3884537:5. Thus saith the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will send 38846spirit into you, and you shall live. 38847 38848Spirit. . .That is, soul, life, and breath. 38849 3885037:6. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to grow over 38851you, and will cover you with skin: and I will give you spirit and you 38852shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 38853 3885437:7. And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and as I prophesied 38855there was a noise, and behold a commotion: and the bones came together, 38856each one, its joint. 38857 3885837:8. And I saw, and behold the sinews, and the flesh came up upon 38859them: and the skin was stretched out over them, but there was no spirit 38860in them. 38861 3886237:9. And he said to me: Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, O son of 38863man, and say to the spirit: Thus saith the Lord God: Come, spirit, from 38864the four winds, and blow upon these slain, and let them live again. 38865 3886637:10. And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and the spirit came 38867into them, and they lived: and they stood up upon their feet, an 38868exceeding great army. 38869 3887037:11. And he said to me: Son of man: All these bones are the house of 38871Israel: they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost, and we 38872are cut off. 38873 3887437:12. Therefore prophesy, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: 38875Behold I will open your graves, and will bring you out of your 38876sepulchres, O my people: and will bring you into the land of Israel. 38877 3887837:13. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have opened 38879your sepulchres, and shall have brought you out of your graves, O my 38880people: 38881 3888237:14. And shall have put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I 38883shall make you rest upon your own land: and you shall know that I the 38884Lord have spoken, and done it, saith the Lord God: 38885 3888637:15. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38887 3888837:16. And thou son of man, take thee a stick: and write upon it: Of 38889Juda, and of the children of Israel his associates: and take another 38890stick and write upon it: For Joseph the stick of Ephraim, and for all 38891the house of Israel, and of his associates. 38892 3889337:17. And join them one to the other into one stick, and they shall 38894become one in thy hand. 38895 3889637:18. And when the children of thy people shall speak to thee, saying: 38897Wilt thou not tell us what thou meanest by this? 38898 3889937:19. Say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the 38900stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of 38901Israel that are associated with him, and I will put them together with 38902the stick of Juda, and will make them one stick: and they shall be one 38903in his hand. 38904 3890537:20. And the sticks whereon thou hast written, shall be in thy hand, 38906before their eyes. 38907 3890837:21. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I 38909will take of the children of Israel from the midst of the nations 38910whither they are gone: and I will gather them on every side, and will 38911bring them to their own land. 38912 3891337:22. And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of 38914Israel, and one king shall be king over them all: and they shall no 38915more be two nations, neither shall they be divided any more into two 38916kingdoms. 38917 3891837:23. Nor shall they be defiled any more with their idols, nor with 38919their abominations, nor with all their iniquities: and I will save them 38920out of all the places in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse 38921them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 38922 3892337:24. And my servant David shall be king over them, and they shall 38924have one shepherd: they shall walk in my judgments, and shall keep my 38925commandments, and shall do them. 38926 3892737:25. And they shall dwell in the land which I gave to my servant 38928Jacob, wherein your fathers dwelt, and they shall dwell in it, they and 38929their children, and their children's children, for ever: and David my 38930servant shall be their prince for ever. 38931 3893237:26. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, it shall be an 38933everlasting covenant with them: and I will establish them, and will 38934multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for ever. 38935 3893637:27. And my tabernacle shall be with them: and I will be their God, 38937and they shall be my people. 38938 3893937:28. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord the sanctifier of 38940Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever. 38941 38942 38943 38944Ezechiel Chapter 38 38945 38946 38947Gog shall persecute the church in the latter days. He shall be 38948overthrown. 38949 3895038:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 38951 3895238:2. Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the 38953chief prince of Mosoch and Thubal: and prophesy of him, 38954 38955Gog. . .This name, which signifies hidden or covered, is taken in this 38956place, either for the persecutors of the church of God in general, or 38957some arch-persecutor in particular: such as Antichrist shall be in the 38958latter days. See Apoc. 20.8. And what is said of the punishment of Gog, 38959is verified by the unhappy ends of persecutors.--Ibid. Magog. . .Scythia 38960or Tartary, from whence the Turks, and other enemies of the church of 38961Christ, originally sprung. 38962 3896338:3. And say to him: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against 38964thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Mosoch and Thubal. 38965 3896638:4. And I will turn thee about, and I will put a bit in thy jaws: and 38967I will bring thee forth, and all thy army, horses and horsemen all 38968clothed with coats of mail, a great multitude, armed with spears and 38969shields and swords. 38970 3897138:5. The Persians, Ethiopians, and Libyans with them, all with shields 38972and helmets. 38973 3897438:6. Gomer, and all his bands, the house of Thogorma, the northern 38975parts and all his strength, and many peoples with thee. 38976 3897738:7. Prepare and make thyself ready, and all thy multitude that is 38978assembled about thee, and be thou commander over them. 38979 3898038:8. After many days thou shalt be visited: at the end of years thou 38981shalt come to the land that is returned from the sword, and is gathered 38982out of many nations, to the mountains of Israel which have been 38983continually waste: but it hath been brought forth out of the nations, 38984and they shall all of them dwell securely in it. 38985 3898638:9. And thou shalt go up and come like a storm, and like a cloud to 38987cover the land, thou and all thy bands and many people with thee. 38988 3898938:10. Thus saith the Lord God: In that day projects shall enter into 38990thy heart, and thou shalt conceive a mischievous design. 38991 3899238:11. And thou shalt say: I will go up to the land which is without a 38993wall, I will come to them that are at rest, and dwell securely: all 38994these dwell without a wall, they have no bars nor gates: 38995 3899638:12. To take spoils, and lay hold on the prey, to lay thy hand upon 38997them that had been wasted, and afterwards restored, and upon the people 38998that is gathered together out of the nations, which hath begun to 38999possess and to dwell in the midst of the earth. 39000 3900138:13. Saba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tharsis, and all the lions 39002thereof shall say to thee: Art thou come to take spoils? behold, thou 39003hast gathered thy multitude to take a prey, to take silver, and gold, 39004and to carry away goods and substance, and to take rich spoils. 39005 3900638:14. Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: Thus saith 39007the Lord God: Shalt thou not know, in that day, when my people of 39008Israel shall dwell securely? 39009 3901038:15. And thou shalt come out of thy place from the northern parts, 39011thou and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great 39012company and a mighty army. 39013 3901438:16. And thou shalt come upon my people of Israel like a cloud, to 39015cover the earth. Thou shalt be in the latter days, and I will bring 39016thee upon my land: that the nations may know me, when I shall be 39017sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. 39018 3901938:17. Thus saith the Lord God: Thou then art he, of whom I have spoken 39020in the days of old, by my servants the prophets of Israel, who 39021prophesied in the days of those times that I would bring thee upon 39022them. 39023 3902438:18. And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day of the coming 39025of Gog upon the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my indignation 39026shall come up in my wrath. 39027 3902838:19. And I have spoken in my zeal, and in the fire of my anger, that 39029in that day there shall be a great commotion upon the land of Israel: 39030 3903138:20. So that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the 39032beasts of the field, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the 39033ground, and all men that are upon the face of the earth, shall be moved 39034at my presence: and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the hedges 39035shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 39036 3903738:21. And I will call in the sword against him in all my mountains, 39038saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be pointed against his 39039brother. 39040 3904138:22. And I will judge him with pestilence, and with blood, and with 39042violent rain, and vast hailstones: I will rain fire and brimstone upon 39043him, and upon his army, and upon the many nations that are with him. 39044 3904538:23. And I will be magnified, and I will be sanctified: and I will be 39046known in the eyes of many nations and they shall know that I am the 39047Lord. 39048 39049 39050 39051Ezechiel Chapter 39 39052 39053 39054God's judgments upon Gog. God's people were punished for their sins: 39055but shall be favoured with everlasting kindness. 39056 3905739:1. And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: Thus saith 39058the Lord God: Behold, I come against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of 39059Mosoch and Thubal. 39060 3906139:2. And I will turn thee round, and I will lead thee out, and will 39062make thee go up from the northern parts: and will bring thee upon the 39063mountains of Israel. 39064 3906539:3. And I will break thy bow in thy left hand, and I will cause thy 39066arrows to fall out of thy right hand. 39067 3906839:4. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy 39069bands, and thy nations that are with thee: I have given thee to the 39070wild beasts, to the birds, and to every fowl, and to the beasts of the 39071earth to be devoured. 39072 3907339:5. Thou shalt fall upon the face of the field: for I have spoken it, 39074saith the Lord God. 39075 3907639:6. And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them that dwell 39077confidently in the islands: and they shall know that I am the Lord. 39078 3907939:7. And I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people 39080Israel, and my holy name shall be profaned no more: and the Gentiles 39081shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. 39082 3908339:8. Behold it cometh, and it is done, saith the Lord God: this is the 39084day whereof I have spoken. 39085 3908639:9. And the inhabitants shall go forth of the cities of Israel, and 39087shall set on fire and burn the weapons, the shields, and the spears, 39088the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves and the pikes: and they 39089shall burn them with fire seven years. 39090 3909139:10. And they shall not bring wood out of the countries, nor cut down 39092out of the forests: for they shall burn the weapons with fire, and 39093shall make a prey of them to whom they had been a prey, and they shall 39094rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God. 39095 3909639:11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give Gog a 39097noted place for a sepulchre in Israel: the valley of the passengers on 39098the east of the sea, which shall cause astonishment in them that pass 39099by: and there shall they bury Gog, and all his multitude, and it shall 39100be called the valley of the multitude of Gog. 39101 3910239:12. And the house of Israel shall bury them for seven months to 39103cleanse the land. 39104 3910539:13. And all the people of the land shall bury him, and it shall be 39106unto them a noted day, wherein I was glorified, saith the Lord God. 39107 3910839:14. And they shall appoint men to go continually about the land, to 39109bury and to seek out them that were remaining upon the face of the 39110earth, that they may cleanse it: and after seven months they shall 39111begin to seek. 39112 3911339:15. And they shall go about passing through the land: and when they 39114shall see the bone of a man, they shall set up sign by it, till the 39115buriers bury it in the valley, of the multitude of Gog. 39116 3911739:16. And the name of the city shall be Amona, and they shall cleanse 39118the land. 39119 3912039:17. And thou, O son of man, saith the Lord God, say to every fowl, 39121and to all the birds, and to all the beasts of the field: Assemble 39122yourselves, make haste, come together from every side to my victim, 39123which I slay for you, a great victim upon the mountains of Israel: to 39124eat flesh, and drink blood. 39125 3912639:18. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and you shall drink the 39127blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, and of lambs, and of he 39128goats, and bullocks, and of all that are well fed and fat. 39129 3913039:19. And you shall eat the fat till you be full, and shall drink 39131blood till you be drunk of the victim which I shall slay for you. 39132 3913339:20. And you shall be filled at my table with horses, and mighty 39134horsemen, and all the men of war, saith the Lord God. 39135 3913639:21. And I will set my glory among the nations: and all nations shall 39137see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon 39138them. 39139 3914039:22. And the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God 39141from that day and forward. 39142 3914339:23. And the nations shall know that the house of Israel were made 39144captives for their iniquity, because they forsook me, and I hid my face 39145from them: and I delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and 39146they fell all by the sword. 39147 3914839:24. I have dealt with them according to their uncleanness, and 39149wickedness, and hid my face from them. 39150 3915139:25. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Now will I bring back the 39152captivity of Jacob, and will have mercy on all the house of Israel and 39153I will be jealous for my holy name. 39154 3915539:26. And they shall bear their confusion, and all the transgressions 39156wherewith they have transgressed against me, when they shall dwell in 39157their land securely fearing no man: 39158 3915939:27. And I shall have brought them back from among the nations, and 39160shall have gathered them together out of the lands of their enemies, 39161and shall be sanctified in them, in the sight of many nations. 39162 3916339:28. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I 39164caused them to be carried away among the nations; and I have gathered 39165them together unto their own land, and have not left any of them there. 39166 3916739:29. And I will hide my face no more from them, for I have poured out 39168my spirit upon all the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. 39169 39170 39171 39172Ezechiel Chapter 40 39173 39174 39175The prophet sees in a vision the rebuilding of the temple: the 39176dimensions of several parts thereof. 39177 3917840:1. In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning 39179of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the 39180city was destroyed: in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon 39181me, and he brought me thither. 39182 3918340:2. In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and 39184set me upon a very high mountain: upon which there was as the building 39185of a city, bending towards the south. 39186 3918740:3. And he brought me in thither, and behold a man, whose appearance 39188was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and 39189a measuring reed in his hand, and he stood in the gate. 39190 3919140:4. And this man said to me: Son of man, see with thy eyes, and hear 39192with thy ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall shew thee: for 39193thou art brought hither that they may be shewn to thee: declare all 39194that thou seest, to the house of Israel. 39195 3919640:5. And behold there was a wall on the outside of the house round 39197about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits and a 39198handbreadth: and he measured the breadth of the building one reed, and 39199the height one reed. 39200 3920140:6. And he came to the gate that looked toward the east, and he went 39202up the steps thereof: and he measured the breadth of the threshold of 39203the gate one reed, that is, one threshold was one reed broad; 39204 3920540:7. And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad: 39206and between the little chambers were five cubits: 39207 3920840:8. And the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within, 39209was one reed. 39210 3921140:9. And he measured the porch of the gate eight cubits, and the front 39212thereof two cubits: and the porch of the gate was inward. 39213 3921440:10. And the little chambers of the gate that looked eastward were 39215three on this side, and three on that side: all three were of one 39216measure, and the fronts of one measure, on both parts. 39217 3921840:11. And he measured the breadth of the threshold of the gate ten 39219cubits: and the length of the gate thirteen cubits: 39220 3922140:12. And the border before the little chambers one cubit: and one 39222cubit was the border on both sides: and the little chambers were six 39223cubits on this side and that side. 39224 3922540:13. And he measured the gate from the roof of one little chamber to 39226the roof of another, in breadth five and twenty cubits: door against 39227door. 39228 3922940:14. He made also fronts of sixty cubits: and to the front the court 39230of the gate on every side round about. 39231 3923240:15. And before the face of the gate which reached even to the face 39233of the porch of the inner gate, fifty cubits. 39234 3923540:16. And slanting windows in the little chambers, and in their 39236fronts, which were within the gate on every side round about: and in 39237like manner there were also in the porches windows round about within, 39238and before the fronts the representation of palm trees. 39239 3924040:17. And he brought me into the outward court, and behold there were 39241chambers, and a pavement of stone in the court round about: thirty 39242chambers encompassed the pavement. 39243 39244There were chambers. . .Gazophylacia, so called, because the priests and 39245Levites kept in them the stores and vessels that belonged to the 39246temple. 39247 3924840:18. And the pavement in the front of the gates according to the 39249length of the gates was lower. 39250 3925140:19. And he measured the breadth from the face of the lower gate to 39252the front of the inner court without, a hundred cubits to the east, and 39253to the north. 39254 3925540:20. He measured also both the length and the breadth of the gate of 39256the outward court, which looked northward. 39257 3925840:21. And the little chambers thereof three on this side, and three on 39259that side: and the front thereof, and the porch thereof according to 39260the measure of the former gate, fifty cubits long, and five and twenty 39261cubits broad. 39262 3926340:22. And the windows thereof, and the porch, and the gravings 39264according to the measure of the gate that looked to the east, and they 39265went up to it by seven steps, and a porch was before it. 39266 3926740:23. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate of the 39268north, and that of the east: and he measured from gate to gate a 39269hundred cubits. 39270 3927140:24. And he brought me out to the way of the south, and behold the 39272gate that looked to the south: and he measured the front thereof, and 39273the porch thereof according to the former measures. 39274 3927540:25. And the windows thereof, and the porches round about, as the 39276other windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and 39277twenty cubits. 39278 3927940:26. And there were seven steps to go up to it: and a porch before 39280the doors thereof: and there were graven palm trees, one on this side, 39281and another on that side in the front thereof. 39282 3928340:27. And there was a gate of the inner court towards the south: and 39284he measured from gate to gate towards the south, a hundred cubits. 39285 3928640:28. And he brought me into the inner court at the south gate: and he 39287measured the gate according to the former measures. 39288 3928940:29. The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch 39290thereof with the same measures: and the windows thereof, and the porch 39291thereof round about it was fifty cubits in length, and five and twenty 39292cubits in breadth. 39293 3929440:30. And the porch round about was five and twenty cubits long, and 39295five cubits broad. 39296 3929740:31. And the porch thereof to the outward court, and the palm trees 39298thereof in the front: and there were eight steps to go up to it. 39299 3930040:32. And he brought me into the inner court by the way of the east: 39301and he measured the gate according to the former measures. 39302 3930340:33. The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch 39304thereof as before: and the windows thereof, and the porches thereof 39305round about it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. 39306 3930740:34. And the porch thereof, that is, of the outward court: and the 39308graven palm trees in the front thereof on this side and on that side: 39309and the going up thereof was by eight steps. 39310 3931140:35. And he brought me into the gate that looked to the north: and he 39312measured according to the former measures. 39313 3931440:36. The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch 39315thereof, and the windows thereof round about it was fifty cubits long, 39316and five and twenty cubits broad. 39317 3931840:37. And the porch thereof looked to the outward court: and the 39319graving of palm trees in the front thereof was on this side and on that 39320side: and the going up to it was by eight steps. 39321 3932240:38. And at every chamber was a door in the forefronts of the gates: 39323there they washed the holocaust. 39324 3932540:39. And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and 39326two tables on that side: that the holocaust, and the sin offering, and 39327the trespass offering might be slain thereon. 39328 3932940:40. And on the outward side, which goeth up to the entry of the gate 39330that looketh toward the north, were two tables: and at the other side 39331before the porch of the gate were two tables, 39332 3933340:41. Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side at 39334the sides of the gate were eight tables, upon which they slew the 39335victims. 39336 3933740:42. And the four tables for the holocausts were made of square 39338stones: one cubit and a half long, and one cubit and a half broad, and 39339one cubit high: to lay the vessels upon, in which the holocaust and the 39340victim is slain. 39341 3934240:43. And the borders of them were of one handbreadth, turned inwards 39343round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering. 39344 3934540:44. And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singing men 39346in the inner court, which was on the side of the gate that looketh to 39347the north: and their prospect was towards the south, one at the side of 39348the east gate, which looketh toward the north. 39349 3935040:45. And he said to me: This chamber, which looketh toward the south 39351shall be for the priests that watch in the wards of the temple. 39352 3935340:46. But the chamber that looketh towards the north shall be for the 39354priests that watch over the ministry of the altar. These are the sons 39355of Sadoc, who among the sons of Levi, come near to the Lord, to 39356minister to him. 39357 3935840:47. And he measured the court a hundred cubits long, and a hundred 39359cubits broad foursquare: and the altar that was before the face of the 39360temple. 39361 3936240:48. And he brought me into the porch of the temple: and he measured 39363the porch five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and 39364the breadth of the gate three cubits on this side, and three cubits on 39365that side. 39366 3936740:49. And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth 39368eleven cubits, and there were eight steps to go up to it. And there 39369were pillars in the fronts: one on this side, and another on that side. 39370 39371 39372 39373Ezechiel Chapter 41 39374 39375 39376A description of the temple, and of all the parts of it. 39377 3937841:1. And he brought me into the temple, and he measured the fronts six 39379cubits broad on this side, and six cubits on that side, the breadth of 39380the tabernacle. 39381 39382The temple. . .This plan of a temple, which was here shewn to the 39383prophet in a vision, partly had relation to the material temple, which 39384was to be rebuilt: and partly, in a mystical sense, to the spiritual 39385temple of God, the church of Christ. 39386 3938741:2. And the breadth of the gate was ten cubits: and the sides of the 39388gate five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and he 39389measured the length thereof forty cubits, and the breadth twenty 39390cubits. 39391 3939241:3. Then going inward he measured the front of the gate two cubits: 39393and the gate six cubits, and the breadth of the gate seven cubits. 39394 3939541:4. And he measured the length thereof twenty cubits, and the breadth 39396twenty cubits, before the face of the temple: and he said to me: This 39397is the holy of holies. 39398 3939941:5. And he measured the wall of the house six cubits: and the breadth 39400of every side chamber four cubits round about the house on every side. 39401 3940241:6. And the side chambers one by another, were twice thirty-three: 39403and they bore outwards, that they might enter in through the wall of 39404the house in the sides round about, to hold in, and not to touch the 39405wall of the temple. 39406 39407One by another. . .Or one over another; literally, side to side, or side 39408upon side. 39409 3941041:7. And there was a broad passage round about, going up by winding 39411stairs, and it led into the upper loft of the temple all round: 39412therefore was the temple broader in the higher parts: and so from the 39413lower parts they went to the higher by the midst. 39414 3941541:8. And I saw in the house the height round about, the foundations of 39416the side chambers which were the measure of a reed the space of six 39417cubits: 39418 3941941:9. And the thickness of the wall for the side chamber without, which 39420was five cubits: and the inner house was within the side chambers of 39421the house, 39422 39423And the inner house was within the side chambers of the 39424house. . .Because these side chambers were in the very walls of the 39425temple all round. Or, it may also be rendered (more agreeably to the 39426Hebrew) so as to signify that the thickness of the wall for the side 39427chamber within, was the same as that of the wall without; that is, 39428equally five cubits. 39429 3943041:10. And between the chambers was the breadth of twenty cubits round 39431about the house on every side. 39432 3943341:11. And the door of the side chambers was turned towards the place 39434of prayer: one door was toward the north, and another door was toward 39435the south: and the breadth of the place for prayer, was five cubits 39436round about. 39437 3943841:12. And the building that was separate, and turned to the way that 39439looked toward the sea, was seventy cubits broad and the wall of the 39440building, five cubits thick round about: and ninety cubits long. 39441 3944241:13. And he measured the length of the house, a hundred cubits: and 39443the separate building, and the walls thereof, a hundred cubits in 39444length. 39445 3944641:14. And the breadth before the face of the house, and of the 39447separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits. 39448 3944941:15. And he measured the length of the building over against it, 39450which was separated at the back of it: and the galleries on both sides 39451a hundred cubits: and the inner temple, and the porches of the court. 39452 3945341:16. The thresholds, and the oblique windows, and the galleries round 39454about on three sides, over against the threshold of every one, and 39455floored with wood all round about: and the ground was up to the 39456windows, and the windows were shut over the doors. 39457 3945841:17. And even to the inner house, and without all the wall round 39459about within and without, by measure. 39460 3946141:18. And there were cherubims and palm trees wrought, so that a palm 39462tree was between a cherub and a cherub, and every cherub had two faces. 39463 3946441:19. The face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the 39465face of a lion was toward the palm tree on the other side: set forth 39466through all the house round about. 39467 3946841:20. From the ground even to the upper parts of the gate, were 39469cherubims and palm trees wrought in the wall of the temple. 39470 3947141:21. The threshold was foursquare, and the face of the sanctuary 39472sight to sight. 39473 39474The threshold was foursquare. . .That is, the gate of the temple was 39475foursquare: and so placed as to answer the gate of the sanctuary 39476within. 39477 3947841:22. The altar of wood was three cubits high: and the length thereof 39479was two cubits: and the corners thereof, aid the length thereof, and 39480the walls thereof, were of wood. And he said to me: This is the table 39481before the Lord. 39482 3948341:23. And there were two doors in the temple, and in the sanctuary. 39484 3948541:24. And in the two doors on both sides were two little doors, which 39486were folded within each other: for there were two wickets on both sides 39487of the doors. 39488 3948941:25. And there were cherubims also wrought in the doors of the 39490temple, and the figures of palm trees, like as were made on the walls: 39491for which cause also the planks were thicker in the front of the porch 39492without. 39493 3949441:26. Upon which were the oblique windows, and the representation of 39495palm trees on this side, and on that side in the sides of the porch, 39496according to the sides of the house, and the breadth of the walls. 39497 39498 39499 39500Ezechiel Chapter 42 39501 39502 39503A description of the courts, chambers, and other places belonging to 39504the temple. 39505 3950642:1. And he brought me forth into the outward court by the way that 39507leadeth to the north, and he brought me into the chamber that was over 39508against the separate building, and over against the house toward the 39509north. 39510 3951142:2. In the face of the north door was the length of hundred cubits, 39512and the breadth of fifty cubits. 39513 3951442:3. Over against the twenty cubits of the inner court, and over 39515against the pavement of the outward court that was paved with stone, 39516where there was a gallery joined to a triple gallery. 39517 3951842:4. And before the chambers was a walk ten cubits broad, looking to 39519the inner parts of a way of one cubit. And their doors were toward the 39520north. 39521 3952242:5. Where were the store chambers lower above: because they bore up 39523the galleries, which appeared above out of them from he lower parts, 39524and from the midst of the building. 39525 3952642:6. For they were of three stories, and had not pillars, as the 39527pillars of the courts: therefore did they appear above out of the lower 39528places, and out of the middle places, fifty cubits from the ground. 39529 3953042:7. And the outward wall that went about by the chambers, which were 39531towards the outward court on the forepart of the chambers, was fifty 39532cubits long. 39533 3953442:8. For the length of the chambers of the outward court was fifty 39535cubits: and the length before the face of the temple, a hundred cubits. 39536 3953742:9. And there was under these chambers, an entrance from the east, 39538for them that went into them out of the outward court. 39539 3954042:10. In the breadth of the outward wall of the court that was toward 39541the east, over against the separate building, and there were chambers 39542before the building. 39543 3954442:11. And the way before them was like the chambers which were toward 39545the north: they were as long as they, and as broad as they: and all the 39546going in to them, and their fashions, and their doors were alike. 39547 3954842:12. According to the doors of the chambers that were towards the 39549south: there was a door in the head of the way, which way was before 39550the porch, separated towards the east as one entereth in. 39551 3955242:13. And he said to me: The chambers of the north, and the chambers 39553of the south, which are before the separate building: they are holy 39554chambers, in which the priests shall eat, that approach to the Lord 39555into the holy of holies: there they shall lay the most holy things, and 39556the offering for sin, and for trespass: for it is a holy place. 39557 3955842:14. And when the priests shall have entered in, they shall not go 39559out of the holy places into the outward court: but there they shall lay 39560their vestments, wherein they minister, for they are holy: and they 39561shall put on other garments, and so they shall go forth to the people. 39562 3956342:15. Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he 39564brought me out by the way of the gate that looked toward the east: and 39565he measured it on every side round about. 39566 3956742:16. And he measured toward the east with the measuring reed, five 39568hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about. 39569 3957042:17. And he measured toward the north five hundred reeds with the 39571measuring reed round about. 39572 3957342:18. And towards the south he measured five hundred reeds with the 39574measuring reed round about. 39575 3957642:19. And toward the west he measured five hundred reeds, with the 39577measuring reed. 39578 3957942:20. By the four winds he measured the wall thereof on every side 39580round about, five hundred cubits and five hundred cubits broad, making 39581a separation between the sanctuary and the place of the people. 39582 39583 39584 39585Ezechiel Chapter 43 39586 39587 39588The glory of God returns to the new temple. The Israelites shall no 39589more profane God's name by idolatry: the prophet is commanded to shew 39590them the dimensions, and form of the temple, and of the altar, with the 39591sacrifices to be offered thereon. 39592 3959343:1. And he brought me to the gate that looked towards the east. 39594 3959543:2. And behold the glory of the God of Israel came in by the way of 39596the east: and his voice was like the noise of many waters, and the 39597earth shone with his majesty. 39598 3959943:3. And I saw the vision according to the appearance which I had seen 39600when he came to destroy the city: and the appearance was according to 39601the vision which I had seen by the river Chobar: and I fell upon my 39602face. 39603 3960443:4. And the majesty of the Lord went into the temple by the way of 39605the gate that looked to the east. 39606 3960743:5. And the spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court: 39608and behold the house was filled with the glory of the Lord. 39609 3961043:6. And I heard one speaking to me out of the house, and the man that 39611stood by me, 39612 3961343:7. Said to me: Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of 39614the soles of my feet, where I dwell in the midst of the children of 39615Israel for ever: and the house of Israel shall no more profane my holy 39616name, they and their kings by their fornications, and by the carcasses 39617of their kings, and by the high places. 39618 3961943:8. They who have set their threshold by my threshold, and their 39620posts by my posts: and there was but a wall between me, and them: and 39621they profaned my holy name by the abominations which they committed: 39622for which reason I consumed them in my wrath. 39623 3962443:9. Now therefore let them put away their fornications, and the 39625carcasses of their kings far from me: and I will dwell in the midst of 39626them for ever. 39627 3962843:10. But thou, son of man, shew to the house of Israel the temple, 39629and let them be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the 39630building: 39631 3963243:11. And be ashamed of all that they have done. Shew them the form of 39633the house, and of the fashion thereof, the goings out and the comings 39634in, and the whole plan thereof, and all its ordinances, and all its 39635order, and all its laws, and thou shalt write it in their sight: that 39636they may keep the whole form thereof, and its ordinances, and do them. 39637 3963843:12. This is the law of the house upon the top of the mountain: All 39639its border round about; most holy: this then is the law of the house. 39640 3964143:13. And these are the measures of the altar by the truest cubit, 39642which is a cubit and a handbreadth: the bottom thereof was a cubit, and 39643the breadth a cubit: and the border thereof unto its edge, and round 39644about, one handbreadth: and this was the trench of the altar. 39645 3964643:14. And from the bottom of the ground to the lowest brim two cubits, 39647and the breadth of one cubit: and from the lesser brim to the greater 39648brim four cubits, and the breadth of one cubit. 39649 3965043:15. And the Ariel itself was four cubits: and from the Ariel upward 39651were four horns. 39652 39653The Ariel. . .That is, the altar itself, or rather the highest part of 39654it, upon which the burnt offerings were laid. In the Hebrew it is 39655Harel, that is, the mountain of God: but in the following verse 39656Haariel, that is, the lion of God; a figure, from its consuming, and as 39657it were devouring the sacrifices, as a lion devours its prey. 39658 3965943:16. And the Ariel was twelve cubits long, and twelve cubits broad, 39660foursquare, with equal sides. 39661 3966243:17. And the brim was fourteen cubits long, and fourteen cubits broad 39663in the four corners thereof: and the crown round about it was half a 39664cubit, and the bottom of it one cubit round about: and its steps turned 39665toward the east. 39666 3966743:18. And he said to me: Son of man, thus saith the Lord God: These 39668are the ceremonies of the altar, in what day soever it shall be made: 39669that holocausts may be offered upon it, and blood poured out. 39670 3967143:19. And thou shalt give to the priests, and the Levites, that are of 39672the race of Sadoc, who approach to me, saith the Lord God, to offer to 39673me a calf of the herd for sin. 39674 3967543:20. And thou shalt take of his blood, and shalt put it upon the four 39676horns thereof, and upon the four corners of the brim, and upon the 39677crown round about: and thou shalt cleanse, and expiate it. 39678 3967943:21. And thou shalt take the calf, that is offered for sin: and thou 39680shalt burn him in a separate place of the house without the sanctuary. 39681 3968243:22. And in the second day thou shalt offer a he goat without blemish 39683for sin: and they shall expiate the altar, as they expiated it with the 39684calf. 39685 3968643:23. And when thou shalt have made an end of the expiation thereof, 39687thou shalt offer a calf of the herd without blemish, and a ram of the 39688flock without blemish. 39689 3969043:24. And thou shalt offer them in the sight of the Lord, and the 39691priests shall put salt upon them, and shall offer them a holocaust to 39692the Lord. 39693 3969443:25. Seven days shalt thou offer a he goat for sin daily: they shall 39695offer also a calf of the herd, and a ram of the flock without blemish. 39696 3969743:26. Seven days shall they expiate the altar, and shall cleanse it: 39698and they shall consecrate it. 39699 39700Consecrate it. . .Literally, fill its hand, that is, dedicate and apply 39701it to holy service. 39702 3970343:27. And the days being expired, on the eighth day and thenceforward, 39704the priests shall offer your holocausts upon the altar, and the peace 39705offerings: and I will be pacified towards you, saith the Lord God. 39706 39707 39708 39709Ezechiel Chapter 44 39710 39711 39712The east gate of the sanctuary shall be always shut. The uncircumcised 39713shall not enter into the sanctuary: nor the Levites that have served 39714idols: but the sons of Sadoc shall do the priestly functions, who stood 39715firm in the worst of times. 39716 3971744:1. And he brought me back to the way of the gate of the outward 39718sanctuary, which looked towards the east: and it was shut. 39719 3972044:2. And the Lord said to me: This gate shall be shut, it shall not be 39721opened, and no man shall pass through it: because the Lord the God of 39722Israel hath entered in by it, and it shall be shut 39723 3972444:3. For the prince. The prince himself shall sit in it, to eat bread 39725before the Lord: he shall enter in by the way of the porch of the gate, 39726and shall go out by the same way. 39727 3972844:4. And he brought me by the way of the north gate, in the sight of 39729the house: and I saw, and behold the glory of the Lord filled the house 39730of the Lord: and I fell on my face. 39731 3973244:5. And the Lord said to me: Son of man, attend with thy heart and 39733behold with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears, all that I say to thee 39734concerning all the ceremonies of the house of the Lord, and concerning 39735all the laws thereof: and mark well the ways of the temple, with all 39736the goings out of the sanctuary. 39737 3973844:6. And thou shalt say to the house of Israel that provoketh me: Thus 39739saith the Lord God: Let all your wicked doings suffice you, O house of 39740Israel: 39741 3974244:7. In that you have brought in strangers uncircumcised in heart, and 39743uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, and to defile my house: 39744and you offer my bread, the fat, and the blood: and you have broken my 39745covenant by all your wicked doings. 39746 3974744:8. And you have not kept the ordinances of my sanctuary: but you 39748have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. 39749 3975044:9. Thus saith the Lord God: No stranger uncircumcised in heart, and 39751uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, no stranger that 39752is in the midst of the children of Israel. 39753 3975444:10. Moreover the Levites that went away far from me, when the 39755children of Israel went astray, and have wandered from me after their 39756idols, and have borne their iniquity: 39757 3975844:11. They shall be officers in my sanctuary, and doorkeepers of the 39759gates of the house, and ministers to the house: they shall slay the 39760holocausts, and the victims of the people: and they shall stand in 39761their sight, to minister to them. 39762 3976344:12. Because they ministered to them before their idols, and were a 39764stumblingblock of iniquity to the house of Israel: therefore have I 39765lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear 39766their iniquity: 39767 3976844:13. And they shall not come near to me, to do the office of priest 39769to me, neither shall they come near to any of my holy things that are 39770by the holy of holies: but they shall bear their shame, and their 39771wickednesses which they have committed. 39772 3977344:14. And I will make them doorkeepers of the house, for all the 39774service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein. 39775 3977644:15. But the priests, and Levites, the sons of Sadoc, who kept the 39777ceremonies of my sanctuary, when the children of Israel went astray 39778from me, they shall come near to me, to minister to me: and they shall 39779stand before me, to offer me the fat, and the blood, saith the Lord 39780God. 39781 3978244:16. They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to 39783my table, to minister unto me, and to keep my ceremonies. 39784 3978544:17. And when they shall enter in at the gates of the inner court, 39786they shall be clothed with linen garments: neither shall any woollen 39787come upon them, when they minister in the gates of the inner court and 39788within. 39789 3979044:18. They shall have linen mitres on their heads, and linen breeches 39791on their loins, and they shall not be girded with any thing that 39792causeth sweat. 39793 3979444:19. And when they shall go forth to the outward court to the people, 39795they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them 39796up in the store chamber of the sanctuary, and they shall clothe 39797themselves with other garments: and they shall not sanctify the people 39798with their vestments. 39799 39800Shall not sanctify the people with their vestments. . .By exposing them 39801to the danger of touching the sacred vestments, which none were to 39802touch but they that were sanctified. 39803 3980444:20. Neither shall they shave their heads, nor wear long hair: but 39805they shall only poll their heads. 39806 3980744:21. And no priest shall drink wine when he is to go into the inner 39808court. 39809 3981044:22. Neither shall they take to wife a widow, nor one that is 39811divorced, but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of 39812Israel: but they may take a widow also, that is, the widow of a priest. 39813 3981444:23. And they shall teach my people the difference between holy and 39815profane, and shew them how to discern between clean and unclean. 39816 3981744:24. And when there shall be a controversy, they shall stand in my 39818judgments, and shall judge: they shall keep my laws, and my ordinances 39819in all my solemnities, and sanctify my sabbaths. 39820 3982144:25. And they shall come near no dead person, lest they be defiled, 39822only their father and mother, and son and daughter, and brother and 39823sister, that hath not had another husband: for whom they may become 39824unclean. 39825 3982644:26. And after one is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven 39827days. 39828 3982944:27. And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, to the inner 39830court, to minister unto me in the sanctuary, he shall offer for his 39831sin, saith the Lord God. 39832 3983344:28. And they shall have no inheritance, I am their inheritance: 39834neither shall you give them any possession in Israel, for I am their 39835possession. 39836 3983744:29. They shall eat the victim both for sin and for trespass: and 39838every vowed thing in Israel shall be theirs. 39839 3984030. And the firstfruits of all the firstborn, and all the libations of 39841all things that are offered, shall be the priest's: and you shall give 39842the firstfruits of your meats to the priest, that he may return a 39843blessing upon thy house. 39844 3984544:31. The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself or 39846caught by a beast, whether it be fowl or cattle. 39847 39848 39849 39850Ezechiel Chapter 45 39851 39852 39853Portions of land for the sanctuary, for the city, and for the prince. 39854Ordinances for the prince. 39855 3985645:1. And when you shall begin to divide the land by lot, separate ye 39857firstfruits to the Lord, a portion of the land to be holy, in length 39858twenty-five thousand and in breadth ten thousand: it shall be holy in 39859all the borders thereof round about. 39860 39861Twenty-five thousand. . .Viz., reeds or cubits. 39862 3986345:2. And there shall be for the sanctuary on every side five hundred 39864by five hundred, foursquare round about: and fifty cubits for the 39865suburbs thereof round about. 39866 3986745:3. And with this measure thou shalt measure the length of five and 39868twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand, and in it shall be 39869the temple and the holy of holies. 39870 3987145:4. The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the 39872ministers of the sanctuary, who come near to the ministry of the Lord: 39873and it shall be a place for their houses, and for the holy place of the 39874sanctuary. 39875 3987645:5. And five and twenty thousand of length, and ten thousand of 39877breadth shall be for the Levites, that minister in the house: they 39878shall possess twenty store chambers. 39879 3988045:6. And you shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand 39881broad, and five and twenty thousand long, according to the separation 39882of the sanctuary, for the whole house of Israel. 39883 3988445:7. For the prince also on the one side and on the other side, 39885according to the separation of the sanctuary, and according to the 39886possession of the city, over against the separation of the sanctuary, 39887and over against the possession of the city: from the side of the sea 39888even to the sea, and from the side of the east even to the east. And 39889the length according to every part from the west border to the east 39890border. 39891 3989245:8. He shall have a portion of the land in Israel: and the princes 39893shall no more rob my people: but they shall give the land to the house 39894of Israel according to their tribes: 39895 3989645:9. Thus saith the Lord God: Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: 39897cease from iniquity and robberies, and execute judgment and justice, 39898separate your confines from my people, saith the Lord God. 39899 3990045:10. You shall have just balances, and a just ephi, and a just bate. 39901 3990245:11. The ephi and the bate shall be equal, and of one measure: that 39903the bate may contain the tenth part of a core, and the ephi the tenth 39904part of a core: their weight shall be equal according to the measure of 39905a core. 39906 39907The ephi and the bate. . .These measures were of equal capacity, but the 39908bate served for liquids, and the ephi for dry things. 39909 3991045:12. And the sicle hath twenty obols. Now twenty sicles, and five and 39911twenty sicles, and fifteen sicles, make a mna, 39912 3991345:13. And these are the firstfruits, which you shall take: the sixth 39914part of an ephi of a core of wheat, and the sixth part of an ephi of a 39915core of barley. 39916 3991745:14. The measure of oil also, a bate of oil is the tenth part of a 39918core: and ten bates make a core: for ten bates fill a core. 39919 3992045:15. And one ram out of a flock of two hundred, of those that Israel 39921feedeth for sacrifice, and for holocausts, and for peace offerings, to 39922make atonement for them, saith the Lord God. 39923 3992445:16. All the people of the land shall be bound to these firstfruits 39925for the prince in Israel. 39926 3992745:17. And the prince shall give the holocaust, and the sacrifice, and 39928the libations on the feasts, and on the new moons, and on the sabbaths, 39929and on all the solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall offer the 39930sacrifice for sin, and the holocaust, and the peace offerings to make 39931expiation for the house of Israel. 39932 3993345:18. Thus saith the Lord God: In the first month, the first of the 39934month, thou shalt take a calf of the herd without blemish, and thou 39935shalt expiate the sanctuary. 39936 3993745:19. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering: and 39938he shall put it on the posts of the house, and on the four corners of 39939the brim of the altar, and oil the posts of the gate of the inner 39940court. 39941 3994245:20. And so shalt thou do in the seventh day of the month, for every 39943one that hath been ignorant, and hath been deceived by error, and thou 39944shalt make expiation for the house. 39945 3994645:21. In the first month, the fourteenth day of the month, you shall 39947observe the solemnity of the pasch: seven days unleavened bread shall 39948be eaten. 39949 3995045:22. And the prince on that day shall offer for himself, and for all 39951the people of the land, a calf for sin. 39952 3995345:23. And in the solemnity of the seven days he shall offer for a 39954holocaust to the Lord, seven calves, and seven rams without blemish 39955daily for seven days: and for sin a he goat daily. 39956 3995745:24. And he shall offer the sacrifice of an ephi for every calf, and 39958an ephi for every ram: and a hin of oil for every ephi. 39959 3996045:25. In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, in the 39961solemn feast, he shall do the like for the seven days: as well in 39962regard to the sin offering, as to the holocaust, and the sacrifice, and 39963the oil. 39964 39965 39966 39967Ezechiel Chapter 46 39968 39969 39970Other ordinances for the prince and for the sacrifices. 39971 3997246:1. Thus saith the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that looketh 39973toward the east, shall be shut the six days, on which work is done; but 39974on the sabbath day it shall be opened, yea and on the day of the new 39975moon it shall be opened. 39976 3997746:2. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate 39978from without, and he shall stand at the threshold of the gate: and the 39979priests shall offer his holocaust, and his peace offerings: and he 39980shall adore upon the threshold of the gate, and shall go out: but the 39981gate shall not be shut till the evening. 39982 3998346:3. And the people of the land shall adore at the door of that gate 39984before the Lord on the sabbaths, and on the new moons. 39985 3998646:4. And the holocaust that the prince shall offer to the Lord on the 39987sabbath day, shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without 39988blemish. 39989 3999046:5. And the sacrifice of all ephi for a ram: but for the lambs what 39991sacrifice his hand shall allow: and a hin of oil for every ephi. 39992 3999346:6. And on the day of the new moon a calf of the herd without 39994blemish: and the six lambs, and the rams shall be without blemish. 39995 3999646:7. And he shall offer in sacrifice an ephi for calf, an ephi also 39997for a ram: but for the lambs, as his hand shall find: and a hin of oil 39998for every ephi. 39999 4000046:8. And when the prince is to go in, let him go in by the way of the 40001porch of the gate, and let him go out the same way. 40002 4000346:9. But when the people of the land shall go in before the Lord in 40004the solemn feasts, he that goeth in by the north gate to adore, shall 40005go out by the way of the south gate; and he that goeth in by the way of 40006the south gate, shall go out by the way of the north gate: he shall not 40007return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go out at 40008that over against it. 40009 4001046:10. And the prince in the midst of them, shall go in when they go 40011in, and go out when they go out. 40012 4001346:11. And in the fairs, and in the solemnities there shall be the 40014sacrifice of an ephi to a calf, and an ephi to a ram: and to the lambs, 40015the sacrifice shall be as his hand shall find: and a hin of oil to 40016every ephi. 40017 4001846:12. But when the prince shall offer a voluntary holocaust, or 40019voluntary peace offering to the Lord: the gate that looketh towards the 40020east shall be opened to him, and he shall offer his holocaust, and his 40021peace offerings, as it is wont to be done on the sabbath day: and he 40022shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he is gone forth. 40023 4002446:13. And he shall offer every day for a holocaust to the Lord, a lamb 40025of the same year without blemish: he shall offer it always in the 40026morning. 40027 4002846:14. And he shall offer the sacrifice for it morning by morning, the 40029sixth part of an ephi: and the third part of a hin of oil to be mingled 40030with the fine flour: a sacrifice to the Lord by ordinance continual and 40031everlasting. 40032 4003346:15. He shall offer the lamb, and the sacrifice, and the oil morning 40034by morning: an everlasting holocaust. 40035 4003646:16. Thus saith the Lord God: If the prince give a gift to any of his 40037sons: the inheritance of it shall go to his children, they shall 40038possess it by inheritance. 40039 4004046:17. But if he give a legacy out of his inheritance to one of his 40041servants, it shall be his until the year of release, and it shall 40042return to the prince: but his inheritance shall go to his sons. 40043 4004446:18. And the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by 40045violence, nor of their possession: but out of his own possession he 40046shall give an inheritance to his sons: that my people be not dispersed 40047every man from his possession. 40048 4004946:19. And he brought me in by the entry that was at the side of the 40050gate, into the chambers of the sanctuary that were for the priests, 40051which looked toward the north. And there was a place bending to the 40052west. 40053 4005446:20. And he said to me: This is the place where the priests shall 40055boil the sin offering, and the trespass offering: where they shall 40056dress the sacrifice, that they may not bring it out into the outward 40057court, and the people be sanctified. 40058 4005946:21. And he brought me into the outward court, and he led me about by 40060the four corners of the court: and behold there was a little court in 40061the corner of the court, to every corner of the court there was a 40062little court. 40063 4006446:22. In the four corners of the court were little courts disposed, 40065forty cubits long, and thirty broad, all the four were of one measure. 40066 4006746:23. And there was a wall round about compassing the four little 40068courts, and there were kitchens built under the rows round about. 40069 4007046:24. And he said to me: This is the house of the kitchens wherein the 40071ministers of the house of the Lord shall boil the victims of the 40072people. 40073 40074 40075 40076Ezechiel Chapter 47 40077 40078 40079The vision of the holy waters issuing out from under the temple: the 40080borders of the land to be divided among the twelve tribes. 40081 4008247:1. And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and behold 40083waters issued out from under the threshold of the house toward the 40084east: for the forefront of the house looked toward the east: but the 40085waters came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of 40086the altar. 40087 40088Waters. . .These waters are not to be understood literally (for there 40089were none such that flowed from the temple); but mystically, of the 40090baptism of Christ, and of his doctrine and his grace: the trees that 40091grow on the banks are Christian virtues: the fishes are Christians, 40092that spiritually live in and by these holy waters, the fishermen are 40093the apostles, and apostolic preachers: the fenny places, where there is 40094no health, are such as by being out of the church are separated from 40095these waters of life. 40096 4009747:2. And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he caused me 40098to turn to the way without the outward gate to the way that looked 40099toward the east: and behold there ran out waters on the right side. 40100 4010147:3. And when the man that had the line in his hand went out towards 40102the east, he measured a thousand cubits: and he brought me through the 40103water up to the ankles. 40104 4010547:4. And again he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the 40106water up to the knees. 40107 4010847:5. And he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water 40109up to the loins. And he measured a thousand, and it was a torrent, 40110which I could not pass over: for the waters were risen so as to make a 40111deep torrent, which could not be passed over. 40112 4011347:6. And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man. And he 40114brought me out, and he caused me to turn to the bank of the torrent. 40115 4011647:7. And when I had turned myself, behold on the bank of the torrent 40117were very many trees on both sides. 40118 4011947:8. And he said to me: These waters that issue forth toward the 40120hillocks of sand to the east, and go down to the plains of the desert, 40121shall go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be 40122healed. 40123 4012447:9. And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent 40125shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after 40126these waters shall come thither, and they shall be healed, and all 40127things shall live to which the torrent shall come. 40128 4012947:10. And the fishers shall stand over these waters, from Engaddi even 40130to Engallim there shall be drying of nets: there shall be many sorts of 40131the fishes thereof, as the fishes of the great sea, a very great 40132multitude: 40133 4013447:11. But on the shore thereof, and in the fenny places they shall not 40135be healed, because they shall be turned into saltpits. 40136 4013747:12. And by the torrent on the banks thereof on both sides shall grow 40138all trees that bear fruit: their leaf shall not fall off, and their 40139fruit shall not fail: every month shall they bring forth firstfruits, 40140because the waters thereof shall issue out of the sanctuary: and the 40141fruits thereof shall be for food, and the leaves thereof for medicine. 40142 4014347:13. Thus saith the Lord God: This is the border, by which you shall 40144possess the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: for Joseph 40145hath a double portion. 40146 4014747:14. And you shall possess it, every man in like manner as his 40148brother: concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to your 40149fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for a possession. 40150 4015147:15. And this is the border of the land: toward the north side, from 40152the great sea by the way of Hethalon, as men go to Sedada, 40153 4015447:16. Emath, Berotha, Sabarim, which is between the border of Damascus 40155and the border of Emath the house of Tichon, which is by the border of 40156Auran. 40157 4015847:17. And the border from the sea even to the court of Enan, shall be 40159the border of Damascus, and from the north to the north: the border of 40160Emath, this is the north side. 40161 4016247:18. And the east side is from the midst of Auran, and from the midst 40163of Damascus, and from the midst of Galaad, and from the midst of the 40164land of Israel, Jordan making the bound to the east sea, and thus you 40165shall measure the east side. 40166 4016747:19. And the south side southward is, from Thamar even to the waters 40168of contradiction of Cades: and, the torrent even to the great sea: and 40169this is the south side southward. 40170 4017147:20. And the side toward the sea, is the great sea from the borders 40172straight on, till thou come to Emath: this is the side of the sea. 40173 4017447:21. And you shall divide this land unto you by the tribes of Israel: 40175 4017647:22. And you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you, and to 40177the strangers that shall come over to you, that shall beget children 40178among you: and they shall be unto you as men of the same country born 40179among the children of Israel: they shall divide the possession with you 40180in the midst of the tribes of Israel. 40181 4018247:23. And in what tribe soever the stranger shall be, there shall you 40183give him possession, saith the Lord God. 40184 40185 40186 40187Ezechiel Chapter 48 40188 40189 40190The portions of the twelve tribes, of the sanctuary, of the city, and 40191of the prince. The dimensions and gates of the city. 40192 4019348:1. And these are the names of the tribes from the borders of the 40194north, by the way of Hethalon, as they go to Emath, the court of Enan 40195the border of Damascus northward, by the way off Emath. And from the 40196east side thereof to the sea shall be one portion for Dan. 40197 4019848:2. And by the border of Dan, from the east side even to the side of 40199the sea, one portion for Aser: 40200 4020148:3. And by the border of Aser, from the east side even to the side of 40202the sea one portion for Nephthali. 40203 4020448:4. And by the border of Nephthali, from the east side even to the 40205side of the one portion for Manasses. 40206 4020748:5. And by the border of Manasses, from the east side even to the 40208side of the sea, one portion for Ephraim. 40209 4021048:6. And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the side 40211of the sea, one portion for Ruben. 40212 4021348:7. And by the border of Ruben, from the east side even to the side 40214of the sea, one portion for Juda. 40215 4021648:8. And by the border of Juda, from the east side even to the side of 40217the sea, shall be the firstfruits which you shall set apart, five and 40218twenty thousand in breadth, and length, as every one of the portions 40219from the east side to the side of the sea: and the sanctuary shall be 40220in the midst thereof. 40221 4022248:9. The firstfruits which you shall set apart for the Lord will be 40223the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten 40224thousand. 40225 4022648:10. And these shall be the firstfruits of the sanctuary for the 40227priests: toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and 40228toward the sea ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east also ten 40229thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in 40230length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof. 40231 4023248:11. The sanctuary shall be for the priests of the sons of Sadoc, who 40233kept my ceremonies, and went not astray when the children of Israel 40234went astray, as the Levites also went astray. 40235 4023648:12. And for them shall be the firstfruits of the firstfruits of the 40237land holy of holies, by the border of the Levites, 40238 4023948:13. And the Levites in like manner shall have by the borders of the 40240priests five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in 40241breadth. All the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the 40242breadth ten thousand. 40243 4024448:14. And they shall not sell thereof, nor exchange, neither shall the 40245firstfruits of the land be alienated, because they are sanctified to 40246the Lord. 40247 4024848:15. But the five thousand that remain in the breadth over against 40249the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city for 40250dwelling, and for suburbs and the city shall be in the midst thereof. 40251 4025248:16. And these are the measures thereof: on the north side four 40253thousand and five hundred: and on the south side four thousand and five 40254hundred: and on the east side four thousand and five hundred: and on 40255the west side four thousand and five hundred. 40256 4025748:17. And the suburbs of the city shall be to the north two hundred 40258and fifty, and the south two hundred and fifty, and to the east two 40259hundred and fifty, and to the sea two hundred and fifty. 40260 4026148:18. And the residue in length by the firstfruits of the sanctuary, 40262ten thousand toward the east, and ten thousand toward the west, shall 40263be as the firstfruits of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be 40264for bread to them that serve the city. 40265 4026648:19. And they that serve the city, shall serve it out of all the 40267tribes of Israel. 40268 4026948:20. All the firstfruits, of five and twenty thousand, by five and 40270twenty thousand foursquare, shall be set apart for the firstfruits of 40271the sanctuary, and for the possession of the city. 40272 4027348:21. And the residue shall be for the prince on every side of the 40274firstfruits of the sanctuary, and of the possession of the city over 40275against the five and twenty thousand of the firstfruits unto the east 40276border: toward the sea also over against the five and twenty thousand, 40277unto the border of the sea, shall likewise be the portion of the 40278prince: and the firstfruits of the sanctuary, and the sanctuary of the 40279temple shall be in the midst thereof. 40280 4028148:22. And from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession 40282of the city which are in the midst of the prince's portions: what shall 40283be to the border of Juda, and to the border of Benjamin, shall also 40284belong to the prince. 40285 4028648:23. And for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west 40287side, one portion for Benjamin. 40288 4028948:24. And over against the border of Benjamin, from the east side to 40290the west side, one portion for Simeon. 40291 4029248:25. And by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west 40293side, one portion for Issachar. 40294 4029548:26. And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west 40296side, one portion for Zabulon. 40297 4029848:27. And by the border of Zabulon, from the east side to the side of 40299the sea, one portion for Gad. 40300 4030148:28. And by the border of Gad, the south side southward: and the 40302border shall be from Thamar, even to the waters of contradiction of 40303Cades, the inheritance over against the great sea. 40304 4030548:29. This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of 40306Israel: and these are the portions of them, saith the Lord God. 40307 4030848:30. And these are the goings out of the city: on the north side thou 40309shalt measure four thousand and five hundred. 40310 4031148:31. And the gates of the city according to the names of the tribes 40312of Israel, three gates on the north side, the gate of Ruben one, the 40313gate of Juda one, the gate of Levi one. 40314 4031548:32. And at the east side, four thousand and five hundred: and three 40316gates, the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of 40317Dan one. 40318 4031948:33. And at the south side, thou shalt measure four thousand and five 40320hundred: and three gates, the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar 40321one, the gate of Zabulon one. 40322 4032348:34. And at the west side, four thousand and five hundred, and their 40324three gates, the gate of Gad one, the gate of Aser one, the gate of 40325Nephthali one. 40326 4032748:35. Its circumference was eighteen thousand: and the name of the 40328city from that day, The Lord is there. 40329 40330The Lord is there. . . This name is here given to the city, that is, to 40331the church of Christ: because the Lord is always with her till the end 40332of the world. Matt. 28.20. 40333 40334 40335 40336 40337THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL 40338 40339 40340 40341DANIEL, whose name signifies THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, was of the royal 40342blood of the kings of Juda: and one of those that were first of all 40343carried away into captivity. He was so renowned for wisdom and 40344knowledge, that it became a proverb among the Babylonians, AS WISE AS 40345DANIEL (Ezech. 28.3). And his holiness was so great from his very 40346childhood, that at the time when he was as yet but a young man, he is 40347joined by the SPIRIT of GOD with NOE and JOB, as three persons most 40348eminent for virtue and sanctity, Ezech. 14. He is not commonly numbered 40349by the Hebrews among THE PROPHETS: because he lived at court, and in 40350high station in the world: but if we consider his many clear 40351predictions of things to come, we shall find that no one better 40352deserves the name and title of A PROPHET: which also has been given him 40353by the SON of GOD himself, Matt. 24, Mark 13., Luke 21. 40354 40355 40356 40357Daniel Chapter 1 40358 40359 40360Daniel and his companions are taken into the palace of the king of 40361Babylon: they abstain from his meat and wine, and succeed better with 40362pulse and water. Their excellence and wisdom. 40363 403641:1. In the third year of the reign of Joakim, king of Juda, 40365Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem, and beseiged it. 40366 403671:2. And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim, the king of Juda, 40368and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away 40369into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he 40370brought into the treasure house of his god. 40371 40372His god. . .Bel or Belus, the principal idol of the Chaldeans. 40373 403741:3. And the king spoke to Asphenez, the master of the eunuchs, that he 40375should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, 40376and of the princes, 40377 403781:4. Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful 40379in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such 40380as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the 40381learning, and tongue of the Chaldeans. 40382 403831:5. And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, 40384and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three 40385years, afterwards they might stand before the king. 40386 403871:6. Now there was among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, 40388Misael, and Azarias. 40389 403901:7. And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, 40391Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, 40392Abdenago. 40393 403941:8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with 40395the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested 40396the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. 40397 40398Be defiled, etc. . .Viz., either by eating meat forbidden by the law, or 40399which had before been offered to idols. 40400 404011:9. And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince 40402of the eunuchs. 40403 404041:10. And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord, the 40405king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your 40406faces leaner than those of the other youths, your equals, you shall 40407endanger my head to the king. 40408 404091:11. And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had 40410appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: 40411 404121:12. Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be 40413given us to eat, and water to drink: 40414 40415Pulse. . .That is, pease, beans, and such like. 40416 404171:13. And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat 40418of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. 40419 404201:14. And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. 40421 404221:15. And after ten days, their faces appeared fairer and fatter than 40423all the children that ate of the king's meat. 40424 404251:16. So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should 40426drink: and he gave them pulse. 40427 404281:17. And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in 40429every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all 40430visions and dreams. 40431 404321:18. And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered 40433they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in 40434before Nabuchodonosor. 40435 404361:19. And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among 40437them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood 40438in the king's presence. 40439 404401:20. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king 40441enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, 40442and wise men, that were in all his kingdom. 40443 404441:21. And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus. 40445 40446 40447 40448Daniel Chapter 2 40449 40450 40451Daniel, by divine revelation, declares the dream of Nabuchodonosor, and 40452the interpretation of it. He is highly honoured by the king. 40453 404542:1. In the second year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, Nabuchodonosor 40455had a dream, and his spirit was terrified, and his dream went out of 40456his mind. 40457 40458The second year. . .Viz., from the death of his father Nabopolassar; for 40459he had reigned before as partner with his father in the empire. 40460 404612:2. Then the king commanded to call together the diviners and the wise 40462men, and the magicians, and the Chaldeans: to declare to the king his 40463dreams: so they came and stood before the king. 40464 40465The Chaldeeans. . .That is, the astrologers, that pretended to divine by 40466stars. 40467 404682:3. And the king said to them: I saw a dream: and being troubled in 40469mind I know not what I saw. 40470 404712:4. And the Chaldeans answered the king in Syriac: O king, live for 40472ever: tell to thy servants thy dream, and we will declare the 40473interpretation thereof. 40474 404752:5. And the king, answering, said to the Chaldeans: The thing is gone 40476out of my mind: unless you tell me the dream, and the meaning thereof, 40477you shall be put to death, and your houses shall be confiscated. 40478 404792:6. but if you tell the dream, and the meaning of it, you shall 40480receive of me rewards, and gifts, and great honour: therefore, tell me 40481the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 40482 404832:7. They answered again and said: Let the king tell his servants the 40484dream, and we will declare the interpretation of it. 40485 404862:8. The king answered and said: I know for certain, that you seek to 40487gain time, since you know that the thing is gone from me. 40488 404892:9. If, therefore, you tell me not the dream, there is one sentence 40490concerning you, that you have also framed a lying interpretation, and 40491full of deceit, to speak before me till the time pass away. Tell me, 40492therefore, the dream, that I may know that you also give a true 40493interpretation thereof. 40494 404952:10. Then the Chaldeans answered before the king, and said: There is 40496no man upon earth, that can accomplish thy word, O king; neither doth 40497any king, though great and mighty, ask such a thing of any diviner, or 40498wise man, or Chaldean. 40499 405002:11. For the thing that thou asketh, O king, is difficult: nor can any 40501one be found that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose 40502conversation is not with men. 40503 405042:12. Upon hearing this, the king in fury, and in great wrath, 40505commanded that all the wise men of Babylon should be put to death. 40506 405072:13. And the decree being gone forth, the wise men were slain: and 40508Daniel and his companions were sought for, to be put to death. 40509 405102:14. Then Daniel inquired concerning the law and the sentence, of 40511Arioch, the general of the king's army, who was gone forth to kill the 40512wise men of Babylon. 40513 405142:15. And he asked him that had received the orders of the king, why so 40515cruel a sentence was gone forth from the face of the king. And when 40516Arioch had told the matter to Daniel, 40517 405182:16. Daniel went in, and desired of the king, that he would give him 40519time to resolve the question, and declare it to the king. 40520 405212:17. And he went into his house, and told the matter to Ananias, and 40522Misael, and Azarias, his companions: 40523 405242:18. To the end that they should ask mercy at the face of the God of 40525heaven, concerning this secret, and that Daniel and his companions 40526might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 40527 405282:19. Then was the mystery revealed to Daniel by a vision in the night: 40529and Daniel blessed the God of heaven, 40530 405312:20. And speaking, he said: Blessed be the name of the Lord from 40532eternity and for evermore: for wisdom and fortitude are his. 40533 405342:21. And he changeth times and ages: taketh away kingdoms, and 40535establisheth them: giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them 40536that have understanding: 40537 405382:22. He revealeth deep and hidden things, and knoweth what is in 40539darkness: and light is with him. 40540 405412:23. To thee, O God of our fathers, I give thanks, and I praise thee: 40542because thou hast given me wisdom and strength: and now thou hast shewn 40543me what we desired of thee, for thou hast made known to us the king's 40544discourse. 40545 405462:24. After this Daniel went in to Arioch, to whom the king had given 40547orders to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and he spoke thus to him: 40548Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I 40549will tell the solution to the king. 40550 405512:25. Then Arioch in haste brought in Daniel to the king, and said to 40552him: I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Juda, that 40553will resolve the question to the king. 40554 405552:26. The king answered, and said to Daniel, whose name was Baltassar: 40556Thinkest thou indeed that thou canst tell me the dream that I saw, and 40557the interpretation thereof? 40558 405592:27. And Daniel made answer before the king, and said: The secret that 40560the king desireth to know, none of the wise men, or the philosophers, 40561or the diviners, or the soothsayers, can declare to the king. 40562 405632:28. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth mysteries, who hath 40564shewn to thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, what is to come to pass in the 40565latter times. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are 40566these: 40567 405682:29. Thou, O king, didst begin to think in thy bed, what should come 40569to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth mysteries shewed thee what 40570shall come to pass. 40571 405722:30. To me also this secret is revealed, not by any wisdom that I have 40573more than all men alive: but that the interpretation might be made 40574manifest to the king, and thou mightest know the thought of thy mind. 40575 405762:31. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold there was as it were a great 40577statue: this statue, which was great and high, tall of stature, stood 40578before thee, and the look thereof was terrible. 40579 405802:32. The head of this statue was of fine gold, but the breast and the 40581arms of silver, and the belly and the thighs of brass. 40582 405832:33. And the legs of iron, the feet part of iron and part of clay. 40584 405852:34. Thus thou sawest, till a stone was cut out of a mountain without 40586hands: and it struck the statue upon the feet thereof that were of iron 40587and clay, and broke them in pieces. 40588 405892:35. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold 40590broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of a summer's 40591threshing floor, and they were carried away by the wind: and there was 40592no place found for them: but the stone that struck the statue became a 40593great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 40594 405952:36. This is the dream: we will also tell the interpretation thereof 40596before thee, O king. 40597 405982:37. Thou art a king of kings: and the God of heaven hath given thee a 40599kingdom, and strength, and power, and glory: 40600 406012:38. And all places wherein the children of men, and the beasts of the 40602field do dwell: he hath also given the birds of the air into thy hand, 40603and hath put all things under thy power: thou, therefore, art the head 40604of gold. 40605 406062:39. And after thee shall rise up another kingdom, inferior to thee, 40607of silver: and another third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over 40608all the world. 40609 40610Another kingdom. . .Viz., that of the Medes and Persians. Ibid. Third 40611kingdom. . .Viz., that of Alexander the Great. 40612 406132:40. And the fourth kingdom shall be as iron. As iron breaketh into 40614pieces, and subdueth all things, so shall that break, and destroy all 40615these. 40616 40617The fourth kingdom, etc. . .Some understand this of the successors of 40618Alexander, the kings of Syria and Egypt, others of the Roman empire, 40619and its civil wars. 40620 406212:41. And whereas thou sawest the feet, and the toes, part of potter's 40622clay, and part of iron: the kingdom shall be divided, but yet it shall 40623take its origin from the iron, according as thou sawest the iron mixed 40624with the miry clay. 40625 406262:42. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay: 40627the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 40628 406292:43. And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall 40630be mingled indeed together with the seed of man, but they shall not 40631stick fast one to another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay. 40632 406332:44. But in the days of those kingdoms, the God of heaven will set up 40634a kingdom that shall never by destroyed, and his kingdom shall not be 40635delivered up to another people: and it shall break in pieces, and shall 40636consume all these kingdoms: and itself shall stand for ever. 40637 40638A kingdom. . .Viz., the kingdom of Christ in the Catholic Church which 40639cannot be destroyed. 40640 406412:45. According as thou sawest, that the stone was cut out of the 40642mountain without hands, and broke in pieces the clay and the iron, and 40643the brass, and the silver, and the gold, the great God hath shewn the 40644king what shall come to pass hereafter, and the dream is true, and the 40645interpretation thereof is faithful. 40646 406472:46. Then king Nabuchodonosor fell on his face, and worshipped Daniel, 40648and commanded that they should offer in sacrifice to him victims and 40649incense. 40650 406512:47. And the king spoke to Daniel, and said: Verily, your God is the 40652God of gods, and Lord of kings, and a revealer of hidden things: seeing 40653thou couldst discover this secret. 40654 406552:48. Then the king advanced Daniel to a high station, and gave him 40656many and great gifts: and he made him governor over all the provinces 40657of Babylon: and chief of the magistrates over all the wise men of 40658Babylon. 40659 406602:49. And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Sidrach, 40661Misach, and Abdenago, over the works of the province of Babylon: but 40662Daniel himself was in the king's palace. 40663 40664 40665 40666Daniel Chapter 3 40667 40668 40669Nabuchodonosor set up a golden statue; which he commands all to adore: 40670the three children for refusing to do it are cast into the fiery 40671furnace; but are not hurt by the flames. Their prayer and canticle of 40672praise. 40673 406743:1. King Nabuchodonosor made a statue of gold, of sixty cubits high, 40675and six cubits broad, and he set it up in the plain of Dura, of the 40676province of Babylon. 40677 406783:2. Then Nabuchodonosor, the king, sent to call together the nobles, 40679the magistrates, and the judges, the captains, the rulers, and 40680governors, and all the chief men of the provinces, to come to the 40681dedication of the statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. 40682 406833:3. Then the nobles, the magistrates, and the judges, the captains, 40684and rulers, and the great men that were placed in authority, and all 40685the princes of the provinces, were gathered together to come to the 40686dedication of the statue, which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. And 40687they stood before the statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. 40688 406893:4. Then a herald cried with a strong voice: To you it is commanded, O 40690nations, tribes and languages: 40691 406923:5. That in the hour that you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and 40693of the flute, and of the harp, of the sackbut, and of the psaltery, and 40694of the symphony, and of all kind of music, ye fall down and adore the 40695golden statue which king Nabuchodonosor hath set up. 40696 406973:6. But if any man shall not fall down and adore, he shall the same 40698hour be cast into a furnace of burning fire. 40699 407003:7. Upon this, therefore, at the time when all the people heard the 40701sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and the 40702psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music, all the nations, 40703tribes, and languages fell down and adored the golden statue which king 40704Nabuchodonosor had set up. 40705 407063:8. And presently at that very time some Chaldeans came and accused 40707the Jews, 40708 407093:9. And said to king Nabuchodonosor: O king, live for ever: 40710 407113:10. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear 40712the sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and 40713the psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music, shall 40714prostrate himself, and adore the golden statue: 40715 407163:11. And that if any man shall not fall down and adore, he should be 40717cast into a furnace of burning fire. 40718 407193:12. Now there are certain Jews, whom thou hast set over the works of 40720the province of Babylon, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago: these men, O 40721king, have slighted thy decree: they worship not thy gods, nor do they 40722adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. 40723 407243:13. Then Nabuchodonosor in fury, and in wrath, commanded that 40725Sidrach, Misach, ad Abdenago should be brought: who immediately were 40726brought before the king. 40727 407283:14. And Nabuchodonosor, the king, spoke to them, and said: Is it 40729true, O Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you do not worship my gods, 40730nor adore the golden statue that I have set up? 40731 407323:15. Now, therefore, if you be ready, at what hour soever, you shall 40733hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, harp, sackbut, and psaltery, and 40734symphony, and of all kind of music, prostrate yourselves, and adore the 40735statue which I have made: but if you do not adore, you shall be cast 40736the same hour into the furnace of burning fire: and who is the God that 40737shall deliver you out of my hand? 40738 407393:16. Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, answered, and said to king 40740Nabuchodonosor: We have no occasion to answer thee concerning this 40741matter. 40742 407433:17. For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to save us from the 40744furnace of burning fire, and to deliver us out of thy hands, O king. 40745 407463:18. But if he will not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not 40747worship thy gods, nor adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. 40748 407493:19. Then was Nabuchodonosor filled with fury: and the countenance of 40750his face was changed against Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and he 40751commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it 40752had been accustomed to be heated. 40753 407543:20. And he commanded the strongest men that were in his army, to bind 40755the feet of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the 40756furnace of burning fire. 40757 407583:21. And immediately these men were bound, and were cast into the 40759furnace of burning fire, with their coats, and their caps, and their 40760shoes, and their garments. 40761 407623:22. For the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace was heated 40763exceedingly. And the flame of the fire slew those men that had cast in 40764Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago. 40765 407663:23. But these three men, that is, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell 40767down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire. 40768 407693:24. And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God, and 40770blessing the Lord. 40771 40772And they walked, etc. . .Here St. Jerome takes notice, that from this 40773verse, to ver. 91, was not in the Hebrew in his time. But as it was in 40774all the Greek Bibles, (which were originally translated from the 40775Hebrew,) it is more than probable that it had been formerly in the 40776Hebrew or rather in the Chaldaic, in which the book of Daniel was 40777written. But this is certain: that it is, and has been of old, received 40778by the church, and read as canonical scripture in her liturgy, and 40779divine offices. 40780 407813:25. Then Azarias standing up, prayed in this manner, and opening his 40782mouth in the midst of the fire, he said: 40783 407843:26. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and thy name is 40785worthy of praise, and glorious for ever: 40786 407873:27. For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy 40788works are true, and thy ways right, and all thy judgments true. 40789 407903:28. For thou hast executed true judgments in all the things that thou 40791hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers: 40792for according to truth and judgment, thou hast brought all these things 40793upon us for our sins. 40794 407953:29. For we have sinned, and committed iniquity, departing from thee: 40796and we have trespassed in all things: 40797 407983:30. And we have not hearkened to thy commandments, nor have we 40799observed nor done as thou hadst commanded us, that it might go well 40800with us. 40801 408023:31. Wherefore, all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing 40803that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment: 40804 408053:32. And thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies that are 40806unjust, and most wicked, and prevaricators, and to a king unjust, and 40807most wicked beyond all that are upon the earth. 40808 408093:33. And now we cannot open our mouths: we are become a shame, and a 40810reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee. 40811 408123:34. Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, 40813and abolish not thy covenant. 40814 408153:35. And take not away thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, thy 40816beloved, and Isaac, thy servant, and Israel, thy holy one: 40817 408183:36. To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply 40819their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea 40820shore. 40821 408223:37. For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are 40823brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. 40824 408253:38. Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or 40826holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first 40827fruits before thee, 40828 408293:39. That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless, in a contrite heart and 40830humble spirit let us be accepted. 40831 408323:40. As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of 40833fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it 40834may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee. 40835 408363:41. And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and 40837seek thy face. 40838 408393:42. Put us not to confusion, but deal with us according to thy 40840meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. 40841 408423:43. And deliver us, according to thy wonderful works, and give glory 40843to thy name, O Lord: 40844 408453:44. And let all them be confounded that shew evils to thy servants, 40846let them be confounded in all thy might, and let their strength be 40847broken: 40848 408493:45. And let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and 40850glorious over all the world. 40851 408523:46. Now the king's servants that had cast them in, ceased not to heat 40853the furnace with brimstone and tow, and pitch, and dry sticks, 40854 408553:47. And the flame mounted up above the furnace nine and forth cubits: 40856 408573:48. And it broke forth, and burnt such of the Chaldeans as it found 40858near the furnace. 40859 408603:49. But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his 40861companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of 40862the furnace, 40863 408643:50. And made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind 40865bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, 40866nor did them any harm. 40867 408683:51. Then these three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and 40869blessed God, in the furnace, saying: 40870 408713:52. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers; and worthy to 40872be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed 40873is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised and exalted 40874above all, in all ages. 40875 408763:53. Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly 40877to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 40878 408793:54 Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be 40880praised, and exalted above all forever. 40881 408823:55. Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the 40883cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever. 40884 408853:56. Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of 40886praise, and glorious for ever. 40887 408883:57. All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40889above all for ever. 40890 408913:58. O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40892above all for ever. 40893 408943:59. O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for 40895ever. 40896 408973:60. O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: 40898praise and exalt him above all for ever. 40899 409003:61. O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40901above all for ever. 40902 409033:62. O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all 40904for ever. 40905 409063:63. O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above 40907all for ever. 40908 409093:64. O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him 40910above all for ever. 40911 409123:65. O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40913above all for ever. 40914 409153:66. O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above 40916all for ever. 40917 409183:67. O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above 40919all for ever. 40920 409213:68. O ye dews and hoar frost, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40922above all for ever. 40923 409243:69. O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above 40925all for ever. 40926 409273:70. O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all 40928for ever. 40929 409303:71. O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above 40931all for ever. 40932 409333:72. O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40934above all for ever. 40935 409363:73. O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40937above all for ever. 40938 409393:74. O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above 40940all for ever. 40941 409423:75 O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above 40943all for ever. 40944 409453:76. O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: 40946praise and exalt him above all for ever. 40947 409483:77. O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all 40949for ever. 40950 409513:78. O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above 40952all for ever. 40953 409543:79. O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: 40955praise and exalt him above all for ever. 40956 409573:80. O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40958above all for ever. 40959 409603:81. O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40961above all for ever. 40962 409633:82. O ye sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all 40964for ever. 40965 409663:83. O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above 40967all for ever. 40968 409693:84. O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40970above all for ever. 40971 409723:85. O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him 40973above all for ever. 40974 409753:86. O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and 40976exalt him above all for ever. 40977 409783:87. O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt 40979him above all for ever. 40980 409813:88. O Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt 40982him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, ad saved us 40983out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the 40984burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire. 40985 409863:89. O give thanks to the Lord, because he is good: because his mercy 40987endureth for ever and ever. 40988 409893:90. O all ye religious, bless the Lord, the God of gods: praise him, 40990and give him thanks, because his mercy endureth for ever and ever. 40991 409923:91. Then Nabuchodonosor, the king, was astonished, and rose up in 40993haste, and said to his nobles: Did we not cast three men bound into the 40994midst of the fire? They answered the king, and said: True, O king. 40995 409963:92. He answered, and said: Behold, I see four men loose, and walking 40997in the midst of the fire, and there is no hurt in them, and the form of 40998the fourth is like the son of God. 40999 410003:93. Then Nabuchodonosor came to the door of the burning fiery 41001furnace, and said: Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, ye servants of the 41002most high God, go ye forth, and come. And immediately Sidrach, Misach, 41003and Abdenago, went out from the midst of the fire. 41004 410053:94. And the nobles, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the 41006great men of the king, being gathered together, considered these men, 41007that the fire had no power on their bodies, and that not a hair of 41008their head had been singed, nor their garments altered, nor the smell 41009of the fire had passed on them. 41010 410113:95. Then Nabuchodonosor breaking forth, said: Blessed be the God of 41012them, to wit, of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, who hath sent his 41013angel, and delivered his servants that believed in him: and they 41014changed the king's word, and delivered up their bodies, that they might 41015not serve nor adore any god except their own God. 41016 410173:96. By me, therefore, this decree is made: That every people, tribe, 41018and tongue, which shall speak blasphemy against the God of Sidrach, 41019Misach, and Abdenago, shall be destroyed, and their houses laid waste: 41020for there is no other God that can save in this manner. 41021 410223:97. Then the king promoted Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, in the 41023province of Babylon. 41024 410253:98. Nabuchodonosor, the king, to all peoples, nations, and tongues, 41026that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied unto you. 41027 41028Nabuchodonosor, etc. . .These last three verses are a kind of preface to 41029the following chapter, which is written in the style of an epistle from 41030the king. 41031 410323:99. The most high God hath wrought signs and wonders towards me. It 41033hath seemed good to me, therefore, to publish 41034 410353:100. His signs, because they are great: and his wonders, because they 41036are mighty: and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power to 41037all generations. 41038 41039 41040 41041Daniel Chapter 4 41042 41043 41044Nabuchodonosor's dream, by which the judgments of God are denounced 41045against him for his pride, is interpreted by Daniel, and verified by 41046the event. 41047 410484:1. I, Nabuchodonosor, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my 41049palace: 41050 410514:2. I saw a dream that affrighted me: and my thoughts in my bed, and 41052the visions of my head, troubled me. 41053 410544:3. Then I set forth a decree, that all the wise men of Babylon should 41055be brought in before me, and that they should shew me the 41056interpretation of the dream. 41057 410584:4. Then came in the diviners, the wise men, the Chaldeans, and the 41059soothsayers, and I told the dream before them: but they did not shew me 41060the interpretation thereof. 41061 410624:5. Till their colleague, Daniel, came in before me, whose name is 41063Baltassar, according to the name of my god, who hath in him the spirit 41064of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him. 41065 41066Baltassar, according to the name of my god. . .He says this, because the 41067name of Baltassar, or Belteshazzar, is derived from the name of Bel, 41068the chief god of the Babylonians. 41069 410704:6. Baltassar, prince of the diviners, because I know that thou hast 41071in thee the spirit of the holy gods, and that no secret is impossible 41072to thee, tell me the visions of my dreams that I have seen, and the 41073interpretation of them? 41074 410754:7. This was the vision of my head in my bed: I saw, and behold a tree 41076in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was exceeding great. 41077 410784:8. The tree was great and strong, and the height thereof reached unto 41079heaven: the sight thereof was even to the ends of all the earth. 41080 410814:9. Its leaves were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much: and 41082in it was food for all: under it dwelt cattle and beasts, and in the 41083branches thereof the fowls of the air had their abode: and all flesh 41084did eat of it. 41085 410864:10. I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher, 41087and a holy one came down from heaven. 41088 41089A watcher. . .A vigilant angel, perhaps the guardian of Israel. 41090 410914:11. He cried aloud, and said thus: Cut down the tree, and chop off 41092the branches thereof: shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits: let 41093the beasts fly away that are under it, and the birds from its branches. 41094 410954:12. Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let 41096it be tied with a band of iron and of brass, among the grass, that is 41097without, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion 41098be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth. 41099 411004:13. Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be 41101given him: and let seven times pass over him. 41102 41103Let his heart be changed, etc. . .It does not appear by scripture that 41104Nabuchodonosor was changed from human shape; much less that he was 41105changed into an ox; but only that he lost his reason, and became mad; 41106and in this condition remained abroad in the company of beasts, eating 41107grass like an ox, till his hair grew in such manner as to resemble the 41108feathers of eagles, and his nails to be like birds' claws. 41109 411104:14. This is the decree by the sentence of the watchers, and the word 41111and demand of the holy ones: till the living know, that the most High 41112ruleth in the kingdom of men: and he will give it to whomsoever it 41113shall please him, and he will appoint the basest man over it. 41114 411154:15. I, king Nabuchodonosor, saw this dream: thou, therefore, O 41116Baltassar, tell me quickly the interpretation: for all the wise men of 41117my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me: but thou 41118art able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. 41119 411204:16. Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently to think 41121within himself for about one hour: and his thought troubled him. But 41122the king answering, said: Baltassar, let not the dream and the 41123interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My 41124lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation 41125thereof to thy enemies. 41126 411274:17. The tree which thou sawest, which was high and strong, whose 41128height reached to the skies, and the sight thereof into all the earth: 41129 411304:18. And the branches thereof were most beautiful, and its fruit 41131exceeding much, and in it was food for all, under which the beasts of 41132the field dwelt, and the birds of the air had their abode in its 41133branches. 41134 411354:19. It is thou, O king, who art grown great, and become mighty: for 41136thy greatness hath grown, and hath reached to heaven, and thy power 41137unto the ends of the earth. 41138 411394:20. And whereas the king saw a watcher, and a holy one come down from 41140heaven, and say: Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave the stump 41141of the roots thereof in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and 41142brass, among the grass without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of 41143heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, till seven times 41144pass over him. 41145 411464:21. This is the interpretation of the sentence of the most High, 41147which is come upon my lord, the king. 41148 411494:22. They shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall 41150be with cattle, and with wild beasts, and thou shalt eat grass, as an 41151ox, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass 41152over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth over the kingdom of 41153men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 41154 411554:23. But whereas he commanded, that the stump of the roots thereof, 41156that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shall remain to thee, 41157after thou shalt have known that power is from heaven. 41158 411594:24. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and 41160redeem thou thy sins with alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy 41161to the poor: perhaps he will forgive thy offences. 41162 411634:25. All these things came upon king Nabuchodonosor. 41164 411654:26. At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of 41166Babylon. 41167 411684:27. And the king answered, and said: Is not this the great Babylon, 41169which I have built, to be the seat of the kingdom, by the strength of 41170my power, and in the glory of my excellence? 41171 411724:28. And while the word was yet in the king's mouth, a voice came down 41173from heaven: To thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, it is said: Thy kingdom 41174shall pass from thee. 41175 411764:29. And they shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling 41177shall be with cattle and wild beasts: thou shalt eat grass like an ox, 41178and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High 41179ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 41180 411814:30. The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he 41182was driven away from among men, and did eat grass, like an ox, and his 41183body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the 41184feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds' claws. 41185 411864:31. Now at the end of the days, I, Nabuchodonosor, lifted up my eyes 41187to heaven, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the most 41188High, and I praised and glorified him that liveth for ever: for his 41189power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is to all generations. 41190 411914:32. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing 41192before him: for he doth according to his will, as well with the powers 41193of heaven, as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none 41194that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why hast thou done it? 41195 411964:33. At the same time my sense returned to me, and I came to the 41197honour and glory of my kingdom: and my shape returned to me: and my 41198nobles, and my magistrates, sought for me, and I was restored to my 41199kingdom: and greater majesty was added to me. 41200 412014:34. Therefore I, Nabuchodonosor, do now praise, and magnify, and 41202glorify the King of heaven: because all his works are true, and his 41203ways judgments, and them that walk in pride he is able to abase. 41204 41205I, Nabuchodonosor, do now, etc. . .From this place some commentators 41206infer that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, 41207was probably saved. 41208 41209 41210 41211Daniel Chapter 5 41212 41213 41214Baltasar's profane banquet: his sentence is denounced by a handwriting 41215on the wall, which Daniel reads and interprets. 41216 412175:1. Baltasar, the king, made a great feast for a thousand of his 41218nobles: and every one drank according to his age. 41219 41220Baltasar. . .He is believed to be the same as Nabonydus, the last of the 41221Chaldean kings, grandson to Nabuchodonosor. He is called his son, ver. 412222, 11, etc., according to the style of the scriptures, because he was a 41223descendant from him. 41224 412255:2. And being now drunk, he commanded that they should bring the 41226vessels of gold and silver, which Nabuchodonosor, his father, had 41227brought away out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, that the king 41228and his nobles, and his wives, and his concubines, might drink in them. 41229 412305:3. Then were the golden and silver vessels brought, which he had 41231brought away out of the temple that was in Jerusalem: and the king and 41232his nobles, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. 41233 412345:4. They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of 41235brass, of iron, and of wood, and of stone. 41236 412375:5. In the same hour there appeared fingers, as it were of the hand of 41238a man, writing over against the candlestick, upon the surface of the 41239wall of the king's palace: and the king beheld the joints of the hand 41240that wrote. 41241 412425:6. Then was the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled 41243him: and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck one 41244against the other. 41245 412465:7. And the king cried out aloud to bring in the wise men, the 41247Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the 41248wise men of Babylon: Whosoever shall read this writing, and shall make 41249known to me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, 41250and shall have a golden chain on his neck, and shall be the third man 41251in my kingdom. 41252 412535:8. Then came in all the king's wise men, but they could neither read 41254the writing, nor declare the interpretation to the king. 41255 412565:9. Wherewith king Baltasar was much troubled, and his countenance was 41257changed: and his nobles also were troubled. 41258 412595:10. Then the queen, on occasion of what had happened to the king, and 41260his nobles, came into the banquet-house: and she spoke, and said: O 41261king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, neither let thy 41262countenance be changed. 41263 41264The queen. . .Not the wife, but the mother of the king. 41265 412665:11. There is a man in thy kingdom that hath the spirit of the holy 41267gods in him: and in the days of thy father knowledge and wisdom were 41268found in him: for king Nabuchodonosor, thy father, appointed him prince 41269of the wise men, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, thy father, I 41270say, O king: 41271 412725:12. Because a greater spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, and 41273interpretation of dreams, and shewing of secrets, and resolving of 41274difficult things, were found in him, that is, in Daniel: whom the king 41275named Baltassar. Now, therefore, let Daniel be called for, and he will 41276tell the interpretation. 41277 412785:13. Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke, 41279and said to him: Art thou Daniel, of the children of the captivity of 41280Juda, whom my father, the king, brought out of Judea? 41281 412825:14. I have heard of thee, that thou hast the spirit of the gods, and 41283excellent knowledge, and understanding, and wisdom are found in thee. 41284 412855:15. And now the wise men, the magicians, have come in before me, to 41286read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof; and they 41287could not declare to me the meaning of this writing. 41288 412895:16. But I have heard of thee, that thou canst interpret obscure 41290things, and resolve difficult things: now if thou art able to read the 41291writing, and to shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be 41292clothed with purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck, and 41293shalt be the third prince in my kingdom. 41294 412955:17. To which Daniel made answer, and said before the king: thy 41296rewards be to thyself, and the gifts of thy house give to another: but 41297the writing I will read to thee, O king, and shew thee the 41298interpretation thereof. 41299 413005:18. O king, the most high God gave to Nabuchodonosor, thy father, a 41301kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and honour. 41302 413035:19. And for the greatness that he gave to him, all people, tribes, 41304and languages trembled, and were afraid of him: whom he would, he slew: 41305and whom he would, he destroyed: and whom he would, he set up: and whom 41306he would, he brought down. 41307 413085:20. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit hardened unto 41309pride, he was put down from the throne of his kingdom, and his glory 41310was taken away. 41311 413125:21. And he was driven out from the sons of men, and his heart was 41313made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses, and he 41314did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: 41315till he knew that the most High ruled in the kingdom of men, and that 41316he will set over it whomsoever it shall please him. 41317 413185:22. Thou also, his son, O Baltasar, hast not humbled thy heart, 41319whereas thou knewest all these things: 41320 413215:23. But hast lifted thyself up against the Lord of heaven: and the 41322vessels of his house have been brought before thee: and thou, and thy 41323nobles, and thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them: and 41324thou hast praised the gods of silver, and of gold, and of brass, of 41325iron, and of wood, and of stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor feel: 41326but the God who hath thy breath in his hand, and all thy ways, thou 41327hast not glorified. 41328 413295:24. Wherefore, he hath sent the part of the hand which hath written 41330this that is set down. 41331 413325:25. And this is the writing that is written: MANE, THECEL, PHARES. 41333 413345:26. And this is the interpretation of the word. MANE: God hath 41335numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it. 41336 413375:27. THECEL: thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting. 41338 413395:28. PHARES: thy kingdom is divided, and is given to the Medes and 41340Persians. 41341 413425:29. Then by the king's command, Daniel was clothed with purple, and a 41343chain of gold was put about his neck: and it was proclaimed of him that 41344he had power as the third man in the kingdom. 41345 413465:30. The same night Baltasar, the Chaldean king, was slain. 41347 413485:31. And Darius, the Mede, succeeded to the kingdom, being threescore 41349and two years old. 41350 41351Darius. . .He is called Cyaxares by the historians; and was the son of 41352Astyages, and uncle to Cyrus. 41353 41354 41355 41356Daniel Chapter 6 41357 41358 41359Daniel is promoted by Darius: his enemies procure a law forbidding 41360prayer; for the transgression of this law Daniel is cast into the 41361lions' den: but miraculously delivered. 41362 413636:1. It seemed good to Darius, and he appointed over the kingdom a 41364hundred and twenty governors, to be over his whole kingdom. 41365 413666:2. And three princes over them of whom Daniel was one: that the 41367governors might give an account to them, and the king might have no 41368trouble. 41369 413706:3. And Daniel excelled all the princes, and governors: because a 41371greater spirit of God was in him. 41372 413736:4. And the king thought to set him over all the kingdom; whereupon 41374the princes, and the governors, sought to find occasion against Daniel, 41375with regard to the king: and they could find no cause, nor suspicion, 41376because he was faithful, and no fault, nor suspicion was found in him. 41377 413786:5. Then these men said: We shall not find any occasion against this 41379Daniel, unless perhaps concerning the law of his God. 41380 413816:6. Then the princes, and the governors, craftily suggested to the 41382king, and spoke thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever: 41383 413846:7. All the princes of the kingdom, the magistrates, and governors, 41385the senators, and judges, have consulted together, that an imperial 41386decree, and an edict be published: That whosoever shall ask any 41387petition of any god, or man, for thirty days, but of thee, O king, 41388shall be cast into the den of the lions. 41389 413906:8. Now, therefore, O king, confirm the sentence, and sign the decree: 41391that what is decreed by the Medes and Persians may not be altered, nor 41392any man be allowed to transgress it. 41393 413946:9. So king Darius set forth the decree, and established it. 41395 413966:10. Now, when Daniel knew this, that is to say, that the law was 41397made, he went into his house: and opening the windows in his upper 41398chamber towards Jerusalem, he knelt down three times a day, and adored 41399and gave thanks before his God, as he had been accustomed to do before. 41400 414016:11. Wherefore those men carefully watching him, found Daniel praying 41402and making supplication to his God. 41403 414046:12. And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king, 41405hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to any 41406of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king, should be 41407cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them, saying: The 41408word is true, according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which 41409it is not lawful to violate. 41410 414116:13. Then they answered, and said before the king: Daniel, who is of 41412the children of the captivity of Juda, hath not regarded thy law, nor 41413the decree that thou hast made: but three times a day he maketh his 41414prayer. 41415 414166:14. Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much 41417grieved, and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him, and 41418even till sunset he laboured to save him. 41419 414206:15. But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: Know 41421thou, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree 41422which the king hath made, may be altered. 41423 414246:16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him 41425into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom 41426thou always servest, he will deliver thee. 41427 414286:17. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: 41429which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his 41430nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel. 41431 414326:18. And the king went away to his house, and laid himself down 41433without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep 41434departed from him. 41435 414366:19. Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to 41437the lions' den: 41438 414396:20. And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to 41440Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy 41441God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver 41442thee from the lions? 41443 414446:21. And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever: 41445 414466:22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the 41447lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath 41448been found in me: yea, and before thee, O king, I have done no offence. 41449 414506:23. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that 41451Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the 41452den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God. 41453 414546:24. And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had 41455accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their 41456children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the 41457den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. 41458 414596:25. Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, 41460dwelling in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you. 41461 414626:26. It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom, all 41463men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal 41464God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power 41465shall be for ever. 41466 414676:27. He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in 41468heaven, and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den. 41469 414706:28. Now Daniel continued unto the reign of Darius, and the reign of 41471Cyrus, the Persian. 41472 41473 41474 41475Daniel Chapter 7 41476 41477 41478Daniel's vision of the four beasts, signifying four kingdoms: of God 41479sitting on his throne: and of the opposite kingdoms of Christ and 41480Antichrist. 41481 414827:1. In the first year of Baltasar, king of Babylon, Daniel saw a 41483dream: and the vision of his head was upon his bed: and writing the 41484dream, he comprehended it in a few words: and relating the sum of it in 41485short, he said: 41486 414877:2. I saw in my vision by night, and behold the four winds of the 41488heavens strove upon the great sea. 41489 414907:3. And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of 41491the sea. 41492 41493Four great beasts. . .Viz., the Chaldean, Persian, Grecian, and Roman 41494empires. But some rather choose to understand the fourth beast of the 41495successors of Alexander the Great, more especially of them that reigned 41496in Asia and Syria. 41497 414987:4. The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I 41499beheld till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the 41500earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was 41501given to her. 41502 415037:5. And behold another beast, like a bear, stood up on one side: and 41504there were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, 41505and thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh. 41506 415077:6. After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had 41508upon it four wings, as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and 41509power was given to it. 41510 415117:7. After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth 41512beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great iron 41513teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest with 41514his feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen before 41515it, and had ten horns. 41516 41517Ten horns. . .That is, ten kingdoms, (as Apoc. 17.12,) among which the 41518empire of the fourth beast shall be parcelled. Or ten kings of the 41519number of the successors of Alexander; as figures of such as shall be 41520about the time of Antichrist. 41521 415227:8. I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out 41523of the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at 41524the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in 41525this horn, and a mouth speaking great things. 41526 41527Another little horn. . .This is commonly understood of Antichrist. It 41528may also be applied to that great persecutor Antiochus Epiphanes, as a 41529figure of Antichrist. 41530 415317:9. I beheld till thrones were placed, and the ancient of days sat: 41532his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean 41533wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning 41534fire. 41535 415367:10. A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of 41537thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand 41538stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. 41539 415407:11. I beheld, because of the voice of the great words which that horn 41541spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was 41542destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt: 41543 415447:12. And that the power of the other beasts was taken away: and that 41545times of life were appointed them for a time, and a time. 41546 415477:13. I beheld, therefore, in the vision of the night, and lo, one like 41548the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the 41549ancient of days: and they presented him before him. 41550 415517:14. And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, 41552tribes, and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power 41553that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be 41554destroyed. 41555 415567:15. My spirit trembled; I, Daniel, was affrighted at these things, 41557and the visions of my head troubled me. 41558 415597:16. I went near to one of them that stood by, and asked the truth of 41560him concerning all these things, and he told me the interpretation of 41561the words, and instructed me: 41562 415637:17. These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out 41564of the earth. 41565 415667:18. But the saints of the most high God shall take the kingdom: and 41567they shall possess the kingdom for ever and ever. 41568 415697:19. After this I would diligently learn concerning the fourth beast, 41570which was very different from all, and exceeding terrible: his teeth 41571and claws were of iron: he devoured and broke in pieces, and the rest 41572he stamped upon with his feet: 41573 415747:20. And concerning the ten horns that he had on his head: and 41575concerning the other that came up, before which three horns fell: and 41576of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and was 41577greater than the rest. 41578 415797:21. I beheld, and lo, that horn made war against the saints, and 41580prevailed over them, 41581 415827:22. Till the ancient of days came and gave judgment to the saints of 41583the most High, and the time came, and the saints obtained the kingdom. 41584 415857:23. And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom 41586upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall 41587devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in 41588pieces. 41589 415907:24. And the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings: and 41591another shall rise up after them, and he shall be mightier than the 41592former, and he shall bring down three kings. 41593 415947:25. And he shall speak words against the High One, and shall crush 41595the saints of the most High: and he shall think himself able to change 41596times and laws, and they shall be delivered into his hand until a time, 41597and times, and half a time. 41598 41599A time, and times, and half a time. . .That is, three years and a half; 41600which is supposed to be the length of the duration of the persecution 41601of Antichrist. 41602 416037:26. And a judgment shall sit, that his power may be taken away, and 41604be broken in pieces, and perish even to the end. 41605 416067:27. And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the 41607kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the 41608saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and 41609all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him. 41610 416117:28. Hitherto is the end of the word. I, Daniel, was much troubled 41612with my thoughts, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the 41613word in my heart. 41614 41615 41616 41617Daniel Chapter 8 41618 41619 41620Daniel's vision of the ram and the he goat interpreted by the angel 41621Gabriel. 41622 416238:1. In the third year of the reign of king Baltasar, a vision appeared 41624to me. I, Daniel, after what I had seen in the beginning, 41625 416268:2. Saw in my vision when I was in the castle of Susa, which is in the 41627province of Elam: and I saw in the vision that I was over the gate of 41628Ulai. 41629 416308:3. And I lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold a ram stood before 41631the water, having two high horns, and one higher than the other, and 41632growing up. Afterward 41633 41634A ram. . .The empire of the Medes and Persians. 41635 416368:4. I saw the ram pushing with his horns against the west, and against 41637the north, and against the south: and no beasts could withstand him, 41638nor be delivered out of his hand: and he did according to his own will, 41639and became great. 41640 416418:5. And I understood: and behold a he goat came from the west on the 41642face of the whole earth, and he touched not the ground, and the he goat 41643had a notable horn between his eyes. 41644 41645A he goat. . .The empire of the Greeks, or Macedonians. Ibid. He 41646touched not the ground. . .He conquered all before him, with so much 41647rapidity, that he seemed rather to fly, than to walk upon the 41648earth.--Ibid. A notable horn. . .Alexander the Great. 41649 416508:6. And he went up to the ram that had the horns, which I had seen 41651standing before the gate, and he ran towards him in the force of his 41652strength. 41653 416548:7. And when he was come near the ram, he was enraged against him, and 41655struck the ram: and broke his two horns, and the ram could not 41656withstand him: and when he had cast him down on the ground, he stamped 41657upon him, and none could deliver the ram out of his hand. 41658 416598:8. And the he goat became exceeding great: and when he was grown, the 41660great horn was broken, and there came up four horns under it towards 41661the four winds of heaven. 41662 41663Four horns. . .Seleucus, Antigonus, Philip, and Ptolemeus, the 41664successors of Alexander, who divided his empire among them. 41665 416668:9. And out of one of them came forth a little horn: and it became 41667great against the south, and against the east, and against the 41668strength. 41669 41670A little horn. . .Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of Seleucus. He grew 41671against the south, and the east, by his victories over the kings of 41672Egypt and Armenia: and against the strength, that is, against Jerusalem 41673and the people of God. 41674 416758:10. And it was magnified even unto the strength of heaven: and it 41676threw down of the strength, and of the stars, and trod upon them. 41677 41678Unto the strength of heaven. . .or, against the strength of heaven. So 41679are here called the army of the Jews, the people of God. 41680 416818:11. And it was magnified even to the prince of the strength: and it 41682took away from him the continual sacrifice, and cast down the place of 41683his sanctuary. 41684 416858:12. And strength was given him against the continual sacrifice, 41686because of sins: and truth shall be cast down on the ground, and he 41687shall do and shall prosper. 41688 416898:13. And I heard one of the saints speaking, and one saint said to 41690another I know not to whom, that was speaking: How long shall be the 41691vision, concerning the continual sacrifice, and the sin of the 41692desolation that is made: and the sanctuary, and the strength be trodden 41693under foot? 41694 416958:14. And he said to him: Unto evening and morning two thousand three 41696hundred days: and the sanctuary shall be cleansed. 41697 41698Unto evening and morning two thousand three hundred days. . .That is, 41699six years and almost four months: which was the whole time from the 41700beginning of the persecution of Antiochus till his death. 41701 417028:15. And it came to pass when I, Daniel, saw the vision, and sought 41703the meaning, that behold there stood before me as it were the 41704appearance of a man. 41705 417068:16. And I heard the voice of a man between Ulai: and he called, and 41707said: Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 41708 417098:17. And he came, and stood near where I stood: and when he was come, 41710I fell on my face, trembling, and he said to me: Understand, O son of 41711man, for in the time of the end the vision shall be fulfilled. 41712 417138:18. And when he spoke to me, I fell flat on the ground: and he 41714touched me, and set me upright. 41715 417168:19. And he said to me: I will shew thee what things are to come to 41717pass in the end of the malediction: for the time hath its end. 41718 417198:20. The ram, which thou sawest with horns, is the king of the Medes 41720and Persians. 41721 417228:21. And the he goat, is the king of the Greeks, and the great horn 41723that was between his eyes, the same is the first king. 41724 417258:22. But whereas when that was broken, there arose up four for it, 41726four kings shall rise up of his nation, but not with his strength. 41727 417288:23. And after their reign, when iniquities shall be grown up, there 41729shall arise a king of a shameless face, and understanding dark 41730sentences. 41731 417328:24. And his power shall be strengthened, but not by his own force: 41733and he shall lay all things waste, and shall prosper, and do more than 41734can be believed. And he shall destroy the mighty, and the people of the 41735saints, 41736 417378:25. According to his will, and craft shall be successful in his hand: 41738and his heart shall be puffed up, and in the abundance of all things he 41739shall kill many: and he shall rise up against the prince of princes, 41740and shall be broken without hand. 41741 417428:26. And the vision of the evening and the morning, which was told, is 41743true: thou, therefore, seal up the vision, because it shall come to 41744pass after many days. 41745 417468:27. And I, Daniel, languished, and was sick for some days: and when I 41747was risen up, I did the king's business, and I was astonished at the 41748vision, and there was none that could interpret it. 41749 41750 41751 41752Daniel Chapter 9 41753 41754 41755Daniel's confession and prayer: Gabriel informs him concerning the 41756seventy weeks to the coming of Christ. 41757 417589:1. In the first year of Darius, the son of Assuerus, of the seed of 41759the Medes, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: 41760 417619:2. The first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by books the 41762number of the years, concerning which the word of the Lord came to 41763Jeremias, the prophet, that seventy years should be accomplished of the 41764desolation of Jerusalem. 41765 417669:3. And I set my face to the Lord, my God, to pray and make 41767supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. 41768 417699:4. And I prayed to the Lord, my God, and I made my confession, and 41770said: I beseech thee, O Lord God, great and terrible, who keepest the 41771covenant, and mercy to them that love thee, and keep thy commandments. 41772 417739:5. We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly, 41774and have revolted: and we have gone aside from thy commandments, and 41775thy judgments. 41776 417779:6. We have not hearkened to thy servants, the prophets, that have 41778spoken in thy name to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, and to 41779all the people of the land. 41780 417819:7. To thee, O Lord, justice: but to us confusion of face, as at this 41782day to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all 41783Israel, to them that are near, and to them that are far off, in all the 41784countries whither thou hast driven them, for their iniquities, by which 41785they have sinned against thee. 41786 417879:8. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our princes, and to 41788our fathers, that have sinned. 41789 417909:9. But to thee, the Lord our God, mercy and forgiveness, for we have 41791departed from thee: 41792 417939:10. And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, our God, to 41794walk in his law, which he set before us by his servants, the prophets. 41795 417969:11. And all Israel have transgressed thy law, and have turned away 41797from hearing thy voice, and the malediction, and the curse, which is 41798written in the book of Moses, the servant of God, is fallen upon us, 41799because we have sinned against him. 41800 418019:12. And he hath confirmed his words which he spoke against us, and 41802against our princes that judged us, that he would bring in upon us a 41803great evil, such as never was under all the heaven, according to that 41804which hath been done in Jerusalem. 41805 418069:13. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon 41807us: and we entreated not thy face, O Lord our God, that we might turn 41808from our iniquities, and think on thy truth. 41809 418109:14. And the Lord hath watched upon the evil, and hath brought it upon 41811us: the Lord, our God, is just in all his works which he hath done: for 41812we have not hearkened to his voice. 41813 418149:15. And now, O Lord, our God, who hast brought forth thy people out 41815of the land of Egypt, with a strong hand, and hast made thee a name as 41816at this day: we have sinned, we have committed iniquity, 41817 418189:16. O Lord, against all thy justice: let thy wrath and thy 41819indignation be turned away, I beseech thee, from thy city, Jerusalem, 41820and from thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and the 41821iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and thy people, are a reproach to 41822all that are round about us. 41823 418249:17. Now, therefore, O our God, hear the supplication of thy servant, 41825and his prayers: and shew thy face upon thy sanctuary, which is 41826desolate, for thy own sake. 41827 418289:18. Incline, O my God, thy ear, and hear: open thy eyes, and see our 41829desolation, and the city upon which thy name is called: for it is not 41830for our justifications that we present our prayers before thy face, but 41831for the multitude of thy tender mercies. 41832 418339:19. O Lord, hear: O Lord, be appeased: hearken, and do: delay not, 41834for thy own sake, O my God: because thy name is invocated upon thy 41835city, and upon thy people. 41836 418379:20. Now while I was yet speaking, and praying, and confessing my 41838sins, and the sins of my people of Israel, and presenting my 41839supplications in the sight of my God, for the holy mountain of my God: 41840 418419:21. As I was yet speaking in prayer, behold the man, Gabriel, whom I 41842had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me at 41843the time of the evening sacrifice. 41844 41845The man Gabriel. . .The angel Gabriel in the shape of a man. 41846 418479:22. And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: O Daniel, I am 41848now come forth to teach thee, and that thou mightest understand. 41849 418509:23. From the beginning of thy prayers the word came forth: and I am 41851come to shew it to thee, because thou art a man of desires: therefore, 41852do thou mark the word, and understand the vision. 41853 41854Man of desires. . .that is, ardently praying for the Jews then in 41855captivity. 41856 418579:24. Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people, and upon thy holy 41858city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and 41859iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and 41860vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be 41861anointed. 41862 41863Seventy weeks. . .Viz., of years, (or seventy times seven, that is, 490 41864years,) are shortened; that is, fixed and determined, so that the time 41865shall be no longer. 41866 418679:25. Know thou, therefore, and take notice: that from the going forth 41868of the word, to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ, the prince, 41869there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and the street shall 41870be built again, and the walls, in straitness of times. 41871 41872From the going forth of the word, etc. . .That is, from the twentieth 41873year of king Artaxerxes, when by his commandment Nehemias rebuilt the 41874walls of Jerusalem, 2 Esd. 2. From which time, according to the best 41875chronology, there were just sixty-nine weeks of years, that is, 483 41876years to the baptism of Christ, when he first began to preach and 41877execute the office of Messias.--Ibid. In straitness of 41878times. . .angustia temporum: which may allude both to the difficulties 41879and opposition they met with in building: and to the shortness of the 41880time in which they finished the wall, viz., fifty-two days. 41881 418829:26. And after sixty-two weeks Christ shall be slain: and the people 41883that shall deny him shall not be his. And a people, with their leader, 41884that shall come, shall destroy the city, and the sanctuary: and the end 41885thereof shall be waste, and after the end of the war the appointed 41886desolation. 41887 41888A people with their leader. . .The Romans under Titus. 41889 418909:27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many, in one week: and in 41891the half of the week the victim and the sacrifice shall fail: and there 41892shall be in the temple the abomination of desolation: and the 41893desolation shall continue even to the consummation, and to the end. 41894 41895In the half of the week. . .or, in the middle of the week, etc. Because 41896Christ preached three years and a half: and then by his sacrifice upon 41897the cross abolished all the sacrifices of the law.--Ibid. The 41898abomination of desolation. . .Some understand this of the profanation of 41899the temple by the crimes of the Jews, and by the bloody faction of the 41900zealots. Others of the bringing in thither the ensigns and standard of 41901the pagan Romans. Others, in fine, distinguish three different times of 41902desolation: viz., that under Antiochus; that when the temple was 41903destroyed by the Romans; and the last near the end of the world under 41904Antichrist. To all which, as they suppose, this prophecy may have a 41905relation. 41906 41907 41908 41909Daniel Chapter 10 41910 41911 41912Daniel having humbled himself by fasting and penance seeth a vision, 41913with which he is much terrified; but he is comforted by an angel. 41914 4191510:1. In the third year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, a word was 41916revealed to Daniel, surnamed Baltassar, and a true word, and great 41917strength: and he understood the word: for there is need of 41918understanding in a vision. 41919 4192010:2. In those days I, Daniel, mourned the days of three weeks. 41921 4192210:3. I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine, entered 41923into my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment: till the days of 41924three weeks were accomplished. 41925 4192610:4. And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, I was by 41927the great river, which is the Tigris. 41928 4192910:5. And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw: and behold a man clothed in 41930linen, and his loins were girded with the finest gold: 41931 4193210:6. And his body was like the chrysolite, and his face as the 41933appearance of lightning, and his eyes as a burning lamp: and his arms, 41934and all downward even to the feet, like in appearance to glittering 41935brass: and the voice of his word like the voice of a multitude. 41936 4193710:7. And I, Daniel alone, saw the vision: for the men that were with 41938me saw it not: but an exceeding great terror fell upon them, and they 41939fled away, and hid themselves. 41940 4194110:8. And I, being left alone, saw this great vision: and there 41942remained no strength in me, and the appearance of my countenance was 41943changed in me, and I fainted away, and retained no strength. 41944 4194510:9. And I heard the voice of his words: and when I heard I lay in a 41946consternation upon my face, and my face was close to the ground. 41947 4194810:10. And behold a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees, 41949and upon the joints of my hands. 41950 4195110:11. And he said to me: Daniel, thou man of desires, understand the 41952words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am sent now to 41953thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling. 41954 4195510:12. And he said to me: Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that 41956thou didst set thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight 41957of thy God, thy words have been heard: and I am come for thy words. 41958 4195910:13. But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one 41960and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to 41961help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians. 41962 41963The prince, etc. . .That is, the angel guardian of Persia: who according 41964to his office, seeking the spiritual good of the Persians was desirous 41965that many of the Jews should remain among them. 41966 4196710:14. But I am come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people 41968in the latter days, for as yet the vision is for days. 41969 4197010:15. And when he was speaking such words to me, I cast down my 41971countenance to the ground, and held my peace. 41972 4197310:16. And behold as it were the likeness of a son of man touched my 41974lips: then I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him that stood 41975before me: O my lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed, and no 41976strength hath remained in me. 41977 4197810:17. And how can the servant of my lord speak with my lord? for no 41979strength remaineth in me; moreover, my breath is stopped. 41980 4198110:18. Therefore, he that looked like a man, touched me again, and 41982strengthened me. 41983 4198410:19. And he said: Fear not, O man of desires, peace be to thee: take 41985courage, and be strong. And when he spoke to me, I grew strong, and I 41986said: Speak, O my lord, for thou hast strengthened me. 41987 4198810:20. And he said: Dost thou know wherefore I am come to thee? And now 41989I will return, to fight against the prince of the Persians. When I went 41990forth, there appeared the prince of the Greeks coming. 41991 4199210:21. But I will tell thee what is set down in the scripture of truth: 41993and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince. 41994 41995Michael your prince. . .The guardian general of the church of God. 41996 41997 41998 41999Daniel Chapter 11 42000 42001 42002The angel declares to Daniel many things to come, with regard to the 42003Persian and Grecian kings: more especially with regard to Antiochus as 42004a figure of Antichrist. 42005 4200611:1. And from the first year of Darius, the Mede, I stood up, that he 42007might be strengthened, and confirmed. 42008 4200911:2. And now I will shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand yet 42010three kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be enriched exceedingly 42011above them all: and when he shall be grown mighty by his riches, he 42012shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. 42013 42014Three kings. . .Viz., Cambyses, Smerdes Magus, and Darius, the son of 42015Hystaspes.--Ibid. The fourth. . .Xerxes. 42016 4201711:3. But there shall rise up a strong king, and shall rule with great 42018power: and he shall do what he pleaseth. 42019 42020A strong king. . .Alexander. 42021 4202211:4. And when he shall come to his height, his kingdom shall be 42023broken, and it shall be divided towards the four winds of the heaven: 42024but not to his posterity, nor according to his power with which he 42025ruled. For his kingdom shall be rent in peices, even for strangers, 42026besides these. 42027 4202811:5. And the king of the south shall be strengthened, and one of his 42029princes shall prevail over him, and he shall rule with great power: for 42030his dominions shall be great. 42031 42032The king of the south. . .Ptolemeus the son of Lagus, king of Egypt, 42033which lies south of Jerusalem.--Ibid. One of his princes. . .that is, 42034one of Alexander's princes, shall prevail over him: that is, shall be 42035stronger than the king of Egypt. He speaks of Seleucus Nicator, king of 42036Asia and Syria, whose successors are here called the kings of the 42037north, because their dominions lay to the north in respect to 42038Jerusalem. 42039 4204011:6. And after the end of years they shall be in league together: and 42041the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the 42042north to make friendship, but she shall not obtain the strength of the 42043arm, neither shall her seed stand: and she shall be given up, and her 42044young men that brought her, and they that strengthened her in these 42045times. 42046 42047The daughter of the king of the south. . .Viz., Berenice, daughter of 42048Ptolemeus Philadelphus, given in marriage to Antiochus Theos, grandson 42049of Seleucus. 42050 4205111:7. And a plant of the bud of her roots shall stand up: and he shall 42052come with an army, and shall enter into the province of the king of the 42053north: and he shall abuse them, and shall prevail. 42054 42055A plant, etc. . .Ptolemeus Evergetes, the son of Philadelphus. 42056 4205711:8. And he shall also carry away captive into Egypt their gods, and 42058their graven things, and their precious vessels of gold and silver: he 42059shall prevail against the king of the north. 42060 42061The king of the north. . .Seleucus Callinicus. 42062 4206311:9. And the king of the south shall enter into the kingdom, and shall 42064return to his own land. 42065 4206611:10. And his sons shall be provoked, and they shall assemble a 42067multitude of great forces: and he shall come with haste like a flood: 42068and he shall return, and be stirred up, and he shall join battle with 42069his force. 42070 42071His sons. . .Seleucus Ceraunius, and Antiochus the Great, the sons of 42072Callinicus.--Ibid. He shall come. . .Viz., Antiochus the Great. 42073 4207411:11. And the king of the south being provoked, shall go forth, and 42075shall fight against the king of the north, and shall prepare an 42076exceeding great multitude, and a multitude shall be given into his 42077hands. 42078 42079The king of the south. . .Ptolemeus Philopator, son of Evergetes. 42080 4208111:12. And he shall take a multitude, and his heart shall be lifted up, 42082and he shall cast down many thousands: but he shall not prevail. 42083 4208411:13. For the king of the north shall return, and shall prepare a 42085multitude much greater than before: and in the end of times, and years, 42086he shall come in haste with a great army, and much riches. 42087 4208811:14. And in those times many shall rise up against the king of the 42089south, and the children of prevaricators of thy people shall lift up 42090themselves to fulfil the vision, and they shall fall. 42091 4209211:15. And the king of the north shall come, and shall cast up a mount, 42093and shall take the best fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall 42094not withstand, and his chosen ones shall rise up to resist, and they 42095shall not have strength. 42096 4209711:16. And he shall come upon him, and do according to his pleasure, 42098and there shall be none to stand against his face: and he shall stand 42099in the glorious land, and it shall be consumed by his hand. 42100 42101He shall come upon him. . .Viz., Antiochus shall come upon the king of 42102the south.--Ibid. The glorious land. . .Judea. 42103 4210411:17. And he shall set his face to come to possess all his kingdom, 42105and he shall make upright conditions with him: and he shall give him a 42106daughter of women, to overthrow it: and she shall not stand, neither 42107shall she be for him. 42108 42109All his kingdom. . .Viz., all the kingdom of Ptolemeus Epiphanes, son of 42110Philopator.--Ibid. A daughter of women. . .That is, a most beautiful 42111woman, viz., his daughter Cleopatra.--Ibid. To overthrow it. . .Viz., 42112the kingdom of Epiphanes: but his policy shall not succeed; for 42113Cleopatra shall take more to heart the interest of her husband, than that 42114of her father. 42115 4211611:18. And he shall turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: 42117and he shall cause the prince of his reproach to cease, and his 42118reproach shall be turned upon him. 42119 42120The prince of his reproach. . .Seipio the Roman general, called the 42121prince of his reproach, because he overthrew Antiochus, and obliged him 42122to submit to very dishonourable terms, before he would cease from the 42123war. 42124 4212511:19. And he shall turn his face to the empire of his own land, and he 42126shall stumble, and fall, ans shall not be found. 42127 4212811:20. And there shall stand up in his place one most vile, and 42129unworthy of kingly honour: and in a few days he shall be destroyed, not 42130in rage nor in battle. 42131 42132One most vile. . .Seleucus Philopator, who sent Heliodorus to plunder 42133the temple: and was shortly after slain by the same Heliodorus. 42134 4213511:21. And there shall stand up in his place one despised, and the 42136kingly honour shall not be given him: and he shall come privately, and 42137shall obtain the kingdom by fraud. 42138 42139One despised. . .Viz., Antiochus Epiphanes, who at first was despised 42140and not received for king. What is here said of this prince, is 42141accommodated by St. Jerome and others to Antichrist; of whom this 42142Antiochus was a figure. 42143 4214411:22. And the arms of the fighter shall be overcome before his face, 42145and shall be broken: yea, also the prince of the covenant. 42146 42147Of the fighter. . .That is, of them that shall oppose him, and shall 42148fight against him.--Ibid. The prince of the covenant. . .or, of the 42149league. The chief of them that conspired against him: or the king of 42150Egypt his most powerful adversary. 42151 4215211:23. And after friendships, he will deal deceitfully with him: and he 42153shall go up, and shall overcome with a small people. 42154 4215511:24. And he shall enter into rich and plentiful cities: and he shall 42156do that which his fathers never did, nor his fathers' fathers: he shall 42157scatter their spoils, and their prey, and their riches, and shall 42158forecast devices against the best fenced places: and this until a time. 42159 4216011:25. And his strength, and his heart, shall be stirred up against the 42161king of the south, with a great army: and the king of the south shall 42162be stirred up to battle with many and very strong succours: and they 42163shall not stand, for they shall form designs against him. 42164 42165The king. . .Ptolemeus Philometor. 42166 4216711:26. And they that eat bread with him, shall destroy him, and his 42168army shall be overthrown: and many shall fall down slain. 42169 4217011:27. And the heart of the two kings shall be to do evil, and they 42171shall speak lies at one table, and they shall not prosper: because as 42172yet the end is unto another time. 42173 4217411:28. And he shall return into his land with much riches: and his 42175heart shall be against the holy covenant, and he shall succeed, and 42176shall return into his own land. 42177 4217811:29. At the time appointed he shall return, and he shall come to the 42179south, but the latter time shall not be like the former. 42180 4218111:30. And the galleys and the Romans shall come upon him, and he shall 42182be struck, and shall return, and shall have indignation against the 42183covenant of the sanctuary, and he shall succeed: and he shall return, 42184and shall devise against them that have forsaken the covenant of the 42185sanctuary. 42186 42187The galleys and the Romans. . .Popilius, and the other Roman 42188ambassadors, who came in galleys, and obliged him to depart from Egypt. 42189 4219011:31. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall defile the 42191sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the continual sacrifice: and 42192they shall place there the abomination unto desolation. 42193 42194They shall place there the abomination, etc. . .The idol of Jupiter 42195Olympius, which Antiochus ordered to be set up in the sanctuary of the 42196temple: which is here called the sanctuary of strength, from the 42197Almighty that was worshipped there. 42198 4219911:32. And such as deal wickedly against the covenant shall deceitfully 42200dissemble: but the people that know their God shall prevail and 42201succeed. 42202 4220311:33. And they that are learned among the people shall teach many: and 42204they shall fall by the sword, and by fire, and by captivity, and by 42205spoil for many days. 42206 4220711:34. And when they shall have fallen, they shall be relieved with a 42208small help: and many shall be joined to them deceitfully. 42209 4221011:35. And some of the learned shall fall, that they may be tried, and 42211may be chosen, and made white, even to the appointed time: because yet 42212there shall be another time. 42213 4221411:36. And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall be 42215lifted up, and shall magnify himself against every god: and he shall 42216speak great things against the God of gods, and shall prosper, till the 42217wrath be accomplished. For the determination is made. 42218 4221911:37. And he shall make no account of the God of his fathers: and he 42220shall follow the lust of women, and he shall not regard any gods: for 42221he shall rise up against all things. 42222 4222311:38. But he shall worship the god Maozim, in his place: and a god 42224whom his fathers knew not, he shall worship with gold, and silver, and 42225precious stones, and things of great price. 42226 42227The god Maozim. . .That is, the god of forces or strong holds. 42228 4222911:39. And he shall do this to fortify Maozim with a strange god, whom 42230he hath acknowledged, and he shall increase glory, and shall give them 42231power over many, and shall divide the land gratis. 42232 42233And he shall increase glory, etc. . .He shall bestow honours, riches and 42234lands, upon them that shall worship his god. 42235 4223611:40. And at the time prefixed the king of the south shall fight 42237against him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a 42238tempest, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with a great navy, and 42239he shall enter into the countries, and shall destroy, and pass through. 42240 4224111:41. And he shall enter into the glorious land, and many shall fall: 42242and these only shall be saved out of his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the 42243principality of the children of Ammon. 42244 4224511:42. And he shall lay his hand upon the lands: and the land of Egypt 42246shall not escape. 42247 4224811:43. And he shall have power over the treasures of gold, and of 42249silver, and all the precious things of Egypt: and he shall pass through 42250Lybia, and Ethiopia. 42251 4225211:44. And tidings out of the east, and out of the north, shall trouble 42253him: and he shall come with a great multitude to destroy and slay many. 42254 4225511:45. And he shall fix his tabernacle, Apadno, between the seas, upon 42256a glorious and holy mountain: and he shall come even to the top 42257thereof, and none shall help him. 42258 42259Apadno. . .Some take it for the proper name of a place: others, from the 42260Hebrew, translate it his palace. 42261 42262 42263 42264Daniel Chapter 12 42265 42266 42267Michael shall stand up for the people of God: with other things 42268relating to Antichrist, and the end of the world. 42269 4227012:1. But at that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who 42271standeth for the children of thy people: and a time shall come, such as 42272never was from the time that nations began, even until that time. And 42273at that time shall thy people be saved, every one that shall be found 42274written in the book. 42275 4227612:2. And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall 42277awake: some unto life everlasting, and others unto reproach, to see it 42278always. 42279 4228012:3. But they that are learned, shall shine as the brightness of the 42281firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all 42282eternity. 42283 42284Learned. . .Viz., in the law of God and true wisdom, which consists in 42285knowing and loving God. 42286 4228712:4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to 42288the time appointed: many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be 42289manifold. 42290 4229112:5. And I, Daniel, looked, and behold as it were two others stood: 42292one on this side upon the bank of the river, and another on that side, 42293on the other bank of the river. 42294 4229512:6. And I said to the man that was clothed in linen, that stood upon 42296the waters of the river: How long shall it be to the end of these 42297wonders? 42298 4229912:7. And I heard the man that was clothed in linen, that stood upon 42300the waters of the river, when he had lifted up his right hand, and his 42301left hand to heaven, and had sworn by him that liveth for ever, that it 42302should be unto a time, and times, and half a time. And when the 42303scattering of the band of the holy people shall be accomplished, all 42304these things shall be finished. 42305 4230612:8. And I heard, and understood not. And I said: O my lord, what 42307shall be after these things? 42308 4230912:9. And he said: Go, Daniel, because the words are shut up, and 42310sealed until the appointed time. 42311 4231212:10. Many shall be chosen, and made white, and shall be tried as 42313fire: and the wicked shall deal wickedly, and none of the wicked shall 42314understand, but the learned shall understand. 42315 4231612:11. And from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken 42317away, and the abomination unto desolation shall be set up, there shall 42318be a thousand two hundred ninety days. 42319 4232012:12. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh unto a thousand three 42321hundred thirty-five days. 42322 4232312:13. But go thou thy ways until the time appointed: and thou shalt 42324rest, and stand in thy lot unto the end of the days. 42325 42326 42327 42328Daniel Chapter 13 42329 42330 42331The history of Susanna and the two elders. 42332 42333This history of Susanna, in all the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles, was 42334placed in the beginning of the book of Daniel: till St. Jerome, in his 42335translation, detached it from thence; because he did not find it in the 42336Hebrew: which is also the case of the history of Bel and the Dragon. 42337But both the one and the other are received by the Catholic Church: and 42338were from the very beginning a part of the Christian Bible. 42339 4234013:1. Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was 42341Joakim: 42342 4234313:2. And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of 42344Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God. 42345 4234613:3. For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter 42347according to the law of Moses. 42348 4234913:4. Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and 42350the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them 42351all. 42352 4235313:5. And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges 42354that year, of whom the Lord said: That iniquity came out from Babylon, 42355from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people. 42356 4235713:6. These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that hand any 42358matters of judgment came to them. 42359 4236013:7. And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and 42361walked in her husband's orchard. 42362 4236313:8. And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they 42364were inflamed with lust towards her: 42365 4236613:9. And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, 42367that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments. 42368 4236913:10. So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not 42370make known their grief one to the other. 42371 4237213:11. For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, 42373being desirous to have to do with her: 42374 4237513:12. And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to 42376the other: 42377 4237813:13. Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out, they 42379departed one from another. 42380 4238113:14. And turning back again, they came both to the same place: and 42382asking one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: and then 42383they agreed together upon a time, when they might find her alone. 42384 4238513:15. And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in on a 42386time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, and was 42387desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather. 42388 4238913:16. And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid 42390themselves, and were beholding her. 42391 4239213:17. So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and 42393shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me. 42394 4239513:18. And they did as she bade them: and they shut the doors of the 42396orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch what she had commanded 42397them, and they knew not that the elders were hid within. 42398 4239913:19. Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and 42400ran to her, and said: 42401 4240213:20. Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, 42403and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us. 42404 4240513:21. But if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a 42406young man was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy maids 42407form thee. 42408 4240913:22. Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if 42410I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not 42411escape your hands. 42412 4241313:23. But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing 42414it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. 42415 4241613:24. With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders 42417also cried out against her. 42418 4241913:25. And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it. 42420 4242113:26. So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, 42422they rushed in by the back door, to see what was the matter. 42423 4242413:27. But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly 42425ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on 42426the next day, 42427 4242813:28. When the people were come to Joakim, her husband, the two elders 42429also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death. 42430 4243113:29. And they said before the people: Send to Susanna, daughter of 42432Helcias, the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent. 42433 4243413:30. And she came with her parents, and children and all her kindred. 42435 4243613:31. Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold. 42437 4243813:32. But those wicked men commanded that her face should be 42439uncovered, (for she was covered) that so at least they might be 42440satisfied with her beauty. 42441 4244213:33. Therefore her friends, and all her acquaintance wept. 42443 4244413:34. But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid 42445their hands upon her head. 42446 4244713:35. And she weeping, looked up to heaven, for her heart had 42448confidence in the Lord. 42449 4245013:36. And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this 42451woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, ans 42452sent away the maids from her. 42453 4245413:37. Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with 42455her. 42456 4245713:38. But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this 42458wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together. 42459 4246013:39. And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than 42461us, and opening the doors, he leaped out: 42462 4246313:40. But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but 42464she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses. 42465 4246613:41. The multitude believed them, as being the elders, and the judges 42467of the people, and they condemned her to death. 42468 4246913:42. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O eternal 42470God, who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come 42471to pass, 42472 4247313:43. Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and 42474behold I must die, whereas I have done none of these things, which 42475these men have maliciously forged against me. 42476 4247713:44. And the Lord heard her voice. 42478 4247913:45. And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the 42480holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel: 42481 4248213:46. And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the blood of 42483this woman. 42484 4248513:47. Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What 42486meaneth this word that thou hast spoken? 42487 4248813:48. But he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, 42489ye children of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the 42490truth, you have condemned a daughter of Israel? 42491 4249213:49. Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against 42493her. 42494 4249513:50. So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to 42496him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and shew it us: seeing God hath 42497given thee the honour of old age. 42498 4249913:51. And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one 42500another, and I will examine them. 42501 4250213:52. So when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one 42503of them, and said to him: O thou that art grown old in evil days, now 42504are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before: 42505 4250613:53. In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and 42507letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: The innocent and 42508the just thou shalt not kill. 42509 4251013:54. Now then if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest 42511them conversing together: He said: Under a mastic tree. 42512 4251313:55. And Daniel said: Well hast thou lied against thy own head: for 42514behold the angel of God having received the sentence of him, shall cut 42515thee in two. 42516 4251713:56. And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should 42518come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, 42519beauty hath deceived tee, and lust hath perverted thy heart: 42520 4252113:57. Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they for fear 42522conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your 42523wickedness. 42524 4252513:58. Now, therefore, tell me, under what tree didst thou take them 42526conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree. 42527 4252813:59. And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own 42529head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in 42530two, and to destroy you. 42531 4253213:60. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they 42533blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him. 42534 4253513:61. And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had 42536convicted them of false witness by their own mouth) and they did to 42537them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour, 42538 4253913:62. To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and 42540innocent blood was saved in that day. 42541 4254213:63. But Helcias, and his wife, praised God, for their daughter, 42543Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her kindred, because there 42544was no dishonesty found in her. 42545 4254613:64. And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that 42547day, and thence forward. 42548 4254913:65. And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers; and Cyrus, the 42550Persian, received his kingdom. 42551 42552 42553 42554Daniel Chapter 14 42555 42556 42557The history of Bel, and of the great serpent worshipped by the 42558Babylonians. 42559 4256014:1. And Daniel was the king's guest, and was honoured above all his 42561friends. 42562 42563The king's guest. . .It seems most probable, that the king here spoken 42564of was Evilmerodach, the son and successor of Nabuchodonosor, and a 42565great favourer of the Jews. 42566 4256714:2. Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel: and there was spent 42568upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty 42569sheep, and six vessels of wine. 42570 4257114:3. The king also worshipped him, and went every day to adore him: 42572but Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him: Why dost thou not 42573adore Bel? 42574 4257514:4. And he answered, and said to him: Because I do not worship idols 42576made with hands, but the living God, that created heaven and earth, and 42577hath power over all flesh. 42578 4257914:5. And the king said to him: Doth not Bel seem to thee to be a 42580living god? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day? 42581 4258214:6. Then Daniel smiled, and said: O king, be not deceived: for this 42583is but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any 42584time. 42585 4258614:7. And the king being angry, called for his priests, and said to 42587them: If you tell me not who it is that eateth up these expenses, you 42588shall die. 42589 4259014:8. But if you can shew that Bel eateth these things, Daniel shall 42591die, because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel said to the 42592king: Be it done according to thy word. 42593 4259414:9. Now the priests of Bel were seventy, beside their wives, and 42595little ones, and children. And the king went with Daniel into the 42596temple of Bel. 42597 4259814:10. And the priests of Bel said: Behold, we go out: and do thou, O 42599king, set on the meats, and make ready the wine, and shut the door 42600fast, and seal it with thy own ring: 42601 4260214:11. And when thou comest in the morning, if thou findest not that 42603Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, that hath 42604lied against us. 42605 4260614:12. And they little regarded it, because they had made under the 42607table a secret entrance, and they always came in by it, and consumed 42608those things. 42609 4261014:13. So it came to pass after they were gone out, the king set the 42611meats before Bel: and Daniel commanded his servants, and they brought 42612ashes, and he sifted them all over the temple before the king: and 42613going forth, they shut the door, and having sealed it with the king's 42614ring, they departed. 42615 4261614:14. But the priests went in by night, according to their custom, 42617with their wives, and their children: and they eat and drank up all. 42618 4261914:15. And the king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him. 42620 4262114:16. And the king said: Are the seals whole, Daniel? And he answered: 42622They are whole, O king. 42623 4262414:17. And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the 42625table, and cried out with a loud voice: Great art thou, O Bel, and 42626there is not any deceit with thee. 42627 4262814:18. And Daniel laughed: and he held the king, that he should not go 42629in: and he said: Behold the pavement, mark whose footsteps these are. 42630 4263114:19. And the king said: I see the footsteps of men, and women, and 42632children. And the king was angry. 42633 4263414:20. Then he took the priests, and their wives, and their children: 42635and they shewed him the private doors by which they came in, and 42636consumed the things that were on the table. 42637 4263814:21. The king, therefore, put them to death, and delivered Bel into 42639the power of Daniel: who destroyed him and his temple. 42640 4264114:22. And there was a great dragon in that place, and the Babylonians 42642worshipped him. 42643 4264414:23. And the king said to Daniel: Behold, thou canst not say now, 42645that this is not a living god: adore him, therefore. 42646 4264714:24. And Daniel said: I adore the Lord, my God: for he is the living 42648God: but that is no living god. 42649 4265014:25. But give me leave, O king, and I will kill this dragon without 42651sword or club. And the king said, I give thee leave. 42652 4265314:26. Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and boiled them 42654together: and he made lumps, and put them into the dragon's mouth, and 42655the dragon burst asunder. And he said: Behold him whom you worship. 42656 4265714:27. And when the Babylonians had heard this, they took great 42658indignation: and being gathered together against the king, they said: 42659The king is become a Jew. He hath destroyed Bel, he hath killed the 42660dragon, and he hath put the priests to death. 42661 4266214:28. And they came to the king, and said: Deliver us Daniel, or else 42663we will destroy thee and thy house. 42664 4266514:29. And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently: and being 42666constrained by necessity: he delivered Daniel to them. 42667 4266814:30. And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six 42669days. 42670 42671The den of lions. . .Daniel was twice cast into the den of lions; one 42672under Darius the Mede, because he had transgressed the king's edict, by 42673praying three times a day: and another time under Evilmerodach by a 42674sedition of the people. This time he remained six days in the lions' 42675den; the other time only one night. 42676 4267714:31. And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to 42678them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not 42679given unto them, that they might devour Daniel. 42680 4268114:32. Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had 42682boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the 42683field, to carry it to the reapers. 42684 42685Habacuc. . .The same, as some think whose prophecy is found among the 42686lesser prophets but others believe him to be different. 42687 4268814:33. And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner 42689which thou hast into Babylon, to Daniel, who is in the lions' den. 42690 4269114:34. And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the 42692den. 42693 4269414:35. And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and 42695carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon, over the 42696den, in the force of his spirit. 42697 4269814:36. And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take 42699the dinner that God hath sent thee. 42700 4270114:37. And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast 42702not forsaken them that love thee. 42703 4270414:38. And Daniel arose, and eat. And the angel of the Lord presently 42705set Habacuc again in his own place. 42706 4270714:39. And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he 42708came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the 42709midst of the lions. 42710 4271114:40. And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art 42712thou, O Lord, the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions' den. 42713 4271414:41. But those that had been the cause of his destruction, he cast 42715into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him. 42716 4271714:42. Then the king said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth 42718fear the God of Daniel: for he is the Saviour, working signs, and 42719wonders in the earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den. 42720 42721 42722 42723 42724THE PROPHECY OF OSEE 42725 42726 42727 42728OSEE, or Hosea, whose name signifies A saviour, was the first in the 42729order of time among those who are commonly called lesser prophets, 42730because their prophecies are short. He prophesied in the kingdom of 42731Israel, that is, of the ten tribes, about the same time that Isaias 42732prophesied in the kingdom of Juda. 42733 42734 42735 42736Osee Chapter 1 42737 42738 42739By marrying a harlot, and by the names of his children, the prophet 42740sets forth the crimes of Israel and their punishment. He foretells 42741their redemption by Christ. 42742 427431:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Osee, the son of Beeri, in the 42744days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda, and in the 42745days of Jeroboam, the son of Joas, king of Israel. 42746 427471:2. The beginning of the Lord's speaking by Osee: and the Lord said to 42748Osee: Go, take thee a wife of fornications, and have of her children of 42749fornications: for the land by fornication shall depart from the Lord. 42750 42751A wife of fornications. . .That is, a wife that has been given to 42752fornication. This was to represent the Lord's proceedings with his 42753people Israel, who, by spiritual fornication, were continually 42754offending him.--Ibid. Children of fornications. . .So called from the 42755character of their mother, if not also from their own wicked 42756dispositions. 42757 427581:3. So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Debelaim: and she 42759conceived, and bore him a son. 42760 427611:4. And the Lord said to him: Call his name Jezrahel: for yet a little 42762while, and I will visit the blood of Jezrahel upon the house of Jehu, 42763and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 42764 427651:5. And in that day I will break in pieces the bow of Israel in the 42766valley of Jezrahel. 42767 427681:6. And she conceived again, and bore a daughter, and he said to him: 42769Call her name, Without mercy: for I will not add any more to have mercy 42770on the house of Israel, but I will utterly forget them. 42771 42772Without mercy. . .Lo-Ruhamah. 42773 427741:7. And I will have mercy on the house of Juda, and I will save them 42775by the Lord, their God: and I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, 42776nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen. 42777 427781:8. And she weaned her that was called Without mercy. And she 42779conceived, and bore a son. 42780 427811:9. And he said: Call his name, Not my people: for you are not my 42782people, and I will not be yours. 42783 42784Not my people. . .Lo-ammi. 42785 427861:10. And the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of 42787the sea, that is without measure, and shall not be numbered. And it 42788shall be in the place where it shall be said to them: You are not my 42789people: it shall be said to them: Ye are the sons of the living God. 42790 42791The number, etc. . .Viz., of the true Israelites, the children of the 42792church of Christ. 42793 427941:11. And the children of Juda, and the children of Israel, shall be 42795gathered together: and they shall appoint themselves one head, and 42796shall come up out of the land: for great is the day of Jezrahel. 42797 42798One head. . .viz., Christ.--Ibid. Great is the day of Jezrahel. . .That 42799is, of the seed of God; for Jezrahel signifies the seed of God. 42800 42801 42802 42803Osee Chapter 2 42804 42805 42806Israel is justly punished for leaving God. The abundance of grace in 42807the church of Christ. 42808 428092:1. Say ye to your brethren: You are my people: and to your sister: 42810Thou hast obtained mercy. 42811 42812Say to your brethren, etc. . .or, Call your brethren, My people: and 42813your sister, Her that hath obtained mercy. This is connected with the 42814latter end of the foregoing chapter, and relates to the converts of 42815Israel. 42816 428172:2. Judge your mother, judge her: because she is not my wife, and I am 42818not her husband. Let her put away her fornications from her face, and 42819her adulteries from between her breasts. 42820 42821Your mother. . .The synagogue. 42822 428232:3. Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was 42824born: and I will make her as a wilderness, and will set her as a land 42825that none can pass through and will kill her with drought. 42826 428272:4. And I will not have mercy on her children. for they are the 42828children of fornications. 42829 428302:5. For their mother hath committed fornication, she that conceived 42831them is covered with shame: for she said: I will go after my lovers, 42832that give me my bread, and my water, my wool, and my flax, my oil, and 42833my drink. 42834 428352:6. Wherefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will 42836stop it up with a wall, and she shall not find her paths. 42837 428382:7. And she shall follow after her lovers, and shall not overtake 42839them: and she shall seek them, and shall not find, and she shall say: I 42840will go, and return to my first husband: because it was better with me 42841then than now. 42842 428432:8. And she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and 42844multiplied her silver, and gold, which they have used in the service of 42845Baal. 42846 428472:9. Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in its season, and 42848my wine in its season, and I will set at liberty my wool, and my flax, 42849which covered her disgrace. 42850 428512:10. And now I will lay open her folly in the eyes of her lovers: and 42852no man shall deliver her out of my hand: 42853 428542:11. And I will cause all her mirth to cease, her solemnities, her new 42855moons, her sabbaths, and all her festival times. 42856 428572:12. And I will destroy her vines, and her fig trees, of which she 42858said: These are my rewards, which my lovers have given me: and I will 42859make her as a forest and the beasts of the field shall devour her. 42860 428612:13. And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, to whom she burnt 42862incense, and decked herself out with her earrings, and with her jewels, 42863and went after her lovers, and forgot me, saith the Lord. 42864 428652:14. Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the 42866wilderness: and I will speak to her heart. 42867 42868I will allure her, etc. . .After all her disloyalties, I will still 42869allure her by my grace etc., and send her vinedressers, viz., the 42870apostles: originally her own children, who shall open to her the gates 42871of hope; as heretofore at her coming into the land of promise, she had 42872all good success after she had satisfied the divine justice by the 42873execution of Achan in the valley of Achor. Jos. 7. 42874 428752:15. And I will give her vinedressers out of the same place, and the 42876valley of Achor for an opening of hope: and she shall sing there 42877according to the days of her youth, and according to the days of her 42878coming up out of the land of Egypt. 42879 428802:16. And it shall be in that day, saith the Lord: That she shall call 42881me: My husband, and she shall call me no more Banli. 42882 42883My husband. . .In Hebrew, Ishi. Baali, my lord. The meaning of this 42884verse is: that whereas Ishi and Baali were used indifferently in those 42885days by wives speaking to their husbands; the synagogue, whom God was 42886pleased to consider as his spouse, should call him only Ishi, and 42887abstain from the name of Baali, because of its affinity with the idol 42888Baal. 42889 428902:17. And I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and 42891she shall no more remember their name. 42892 42893Baalim. . .It is the plural number of Baal: for there were divers idols 42894of Baal. 42895 428962:18. And in that day I will make a covenant with them, with the beasts 42897of the field, and with the fowls of the air, and with the creeping 42898things of the earth: and I will destroy the bow, and the sword, and war 42899out of the land: and I will make them sleep secure. 42900 429012:19. And I will espouse thee to me for ever: and I will espouse thee 42902to me in justice, and judgment, and in mercy, and in commiserations. 42903 42904I will espouse thee, etc. . .This relates to the happy espousals of 42905Christ with his church: which shall never be dissolved. 42906 429072:20. And I will espouse thee to me in faith: and thou shalt know that 42908I am the Lord. 42909 429102:21. And it shall come to pass in that day: I will hear, saith the 42911Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth. 42912 42913Hear the heavens, etc. . .All shall conspire in favour of the church, 42914which in the following verse is called Jezrahel, that is, the seed of 42915God. 42916 429172:22. And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and 42918these shall hear Jezrahel. 42919 429202:23. And I will sow her unto me in the earth, and I will have mercy on 42921her that was without mercy. 42922 429232:24. And I will say to that which is not my people: Thou art my 42924people: and they shall say: Thou art my God. 42925 42926That which was not my people, etc. . .This relates to the conversion of 42927the Gentiles. 42928 42929 42930 42931Osee Chapter 3 42932 42933 42934The prophet is commanded again to love an adulteress; to signify God's 42935love to the synagogue. The wretched state of the Jews for a long time, 42936till at last they shall be converted. 42937 429383:1. And the Lord said to me: Go yet again, and love a woman beloved of 42939her friend, and an adulteress: as the Lord loveth the children of 42940Israel, and they look to strange gods, and love the husks of the 42941grapes. 42942 429433:2. And I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a 42944core of barley, and for half a core of barley. 42945 429463:3. And I said to her: Thou shalt wait for me many days: thou shalt 42947not play the harlot, and thou shalt be no man's, and I also will wait 42948for thee. 42949 429503:4. For the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and 42951without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without 42952ephod, and without theraphim. 42953 42954Theraphim. . .Images or representations. 42955 429563:5. And after this the children of Israel shall return and shall seek 42957the Lord, their God, and David, their king: and they shall fear the 42958Lord, and his goodness, in the last days. 42959 42960David their king. . .That is, Christ, who is of the house of David. 42961 42962 42963 42964Osee Chapter 4 42965 42966 42967God's judgment against the sins of Israel: Juda is warned not to follow 42968their example. 42969 429704:1. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel, for the Lord 42971shall enter into judgment with the inhabitants of the land: for there 42972is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in 42973the land. 42974 429754:2. Cursing, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery, have 42976overflowed, and blood hath touched blood. 42977 429784:3. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth in it 42979shall languish with the heat of the field, and with the fowls of the 42980air: yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be gathered together. 42981 429824:4. But yet let not any man judge: and let not a man be rebuked: for 42983thy people are as they that contradict the priest. 42984 42985Let not any man judge, etc. . .As if he would say: It is in vain to 42986strive with them, or reprove them, they are so obstinate in evil. 42987 429884:5. And thou shalt fall today, and the prophet also shall fall with 42989thee: in the night I have made thy mother to be silent. 42990 429914:6. My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because 42992thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not 42993do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of 42994thy God, I also will forget thy children. 42995 429964:7. According to the multitude of them, so have they sinned against 42997me: I will change their glory into shame. 42998 429994:8. They shall eat the sins of my people, and shall lift up their 43000souls to their iniquity. 43001 430024:9. And there shall be like people like priest: and I will visit their 43003ways upon them, and I will repay them their devices. 43004 430054:10. And they shall eat and shall not be filled: they have committed 43006fornication, and have not ceased: because they have forsaken the Lord 43007in not observing the law. 43008 430094:11. Fornication, and wine, and drunkenness, take away the 43010understanding. 43011 430124:12. My people have consulted their stocks, and their staff hath 43013declared unto them: for the spirit of fornication hath deceived them, 43014and they have committed fornication against their God. 43015 430164:13. They offered sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burnt 43017incense upon the hills: under the oak, and the poplar, and the 43018turpentine tree, because the shadow thereof was good: therefore shall 43019your daughters commit fornication, aud your spouses shall be 43020adulteresses. 43021 430224:14. I will not visit upon your daughters, when they shall commit 43023fornication, and upon your spouses when they shall commit adultery: 43024because themselves conversed with harlots, and offered sacrifice with 43025the effeminate, and the people that doth not understand shall be 43026beaten. 43027 430284:15. If thou play the harlot, O Israel, at least let not Juda offend: 43029and go ye not into Galgal, and come not up into Bethaven, and do not 43030swear: The Lord liveth. 43031 43032Galgal and Bethaven. . .Places where idols were worshipped. Bethel, 43033which signifies the house of God, is called by the prophet, Bethaven, 43034that is, the house of vanity, from Jeroboam's golden calf that was 43035worshipped there. 43036 430374:16. For Israel hath gone astray like a wanton heifer now will the 43038Lord feed them, as a lamb in a spacious place. 43039 430404:17. Ephraim is a partaker with idols, let him alone. 43041 430424:18. Their banquet is separated, they have gone astray by fornication: 43043they that should have protected them have loved to bring shame upon 43044them. 43045 430464:19. The wind hath bound them up in its wings, and they shall be 43047confounded because of their sacrifices. 43048 43049 43050 43051Osee Chapter 5 43052 43053 43054God's threats against the priests, the people, and princes of Israel, 43055for their idolatry. 43056 430575:1. Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and 43058give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, 43059because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over 43060and a net spread upon Thabor. 43061 43062O priests. . .What is said of priests in this prophecy is chiefly 43063understood of the priests of the kingdom of Israel; who were not true 43064priests of the race of Aaron; but served the calves at Bethel and Dan. 43065 430665:2. And you have turned aside victims into the depth and I am the 43067teacher of them all. 43068 430695:3. I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me for now Ephraim hath 43070committed fornication, Israel is defiled. 43071 430725:4. They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for the 43073spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known 43074the Lord. 43075 430765:5. And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel, and 43077Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them. 43078 430795:6. With their flocks and with their herds, they shall go to seek the 43080Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them. 43081 430825:7. They have transgressed against the Lord: for they have begotten 43083children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their 43084portions. 43085 43086Children that are strangers. . .That is, aliens from God: and therefore 43087they are threatened with speedy destruction. 43088 430895:8. Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in 43090Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin. 43091 430925:9. Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the 43093tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be. 43094 430955:10. The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I 43096will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 43097 43098As they that take up the bound. . .That is, they that remove the 43099boundary, encroaching on the property of their neighbors: figuratively: 43100going beyond the boundary of the laws of God. 43101 431025:11. Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he 43103began to go after filthiness. 43104 431055:12. And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the 43106house of Juda. 43107 431085:13. And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went 43109to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be 43110able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from 43111you. 43112 431135:14. For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion's whelp 43114to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and 43115there is none that can rescue. 43116 431175:15. I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and 43118seek my face. 43119 43120 43121 43122Osee Chapter 6 43123 43124 43125Affliction shall be a means to bring many to Christ, a complaint of the 43126untowardness of the Jews. God loves mercy more than sacrifice. 43127 431286:1. In their affliction they will rise early to me: Come, and let us 43129return to the Lord. 43130 431316:2. For he hath taken us, and he will heal us: he will strike, and he 43132will cure us. 43133 431346:3. He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise 43135us up, and we shall live in his sight. We shall know, and we shall 43136follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as 43137the morning light, and he will come to us as the early and the latter 43138rain to the earth. 43139 431406:4. What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? what shall I do to thee, O 43141Juda? your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth away 43142in the morning. 43143 431446:5. For this reason have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain 43145them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments shall go forth as the 43146light. 43147 431486:6. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God 43149more than holocausts. 43150 431516:7. But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant, there have 43152they dealt treacherously against me. 43153 431546:8. Galaad is a city of workers of idols, supplanted with blood. 43155 43156Supplanted with blood. . .that is, undermined and brought to ruin, for 43157shedding of blood: and, as it is signified in the following verse, for 43158conspiring with the priests (of Bethel) like robbers, to murder in the 43159way such as passed out of Sichem to go towards the temple of Jerusalem. 43160Or else . . .upplanted with blood. . .signifies flowing in such manner 43161with blood, as to suffer none to walk there without imbruing the soles 43162of their feet in blood. 43163 431646:9. And like the jaws of highway robbers, they conspire with the 43165priests who murder in the way those that pass out of Sichem: for they 43166have wrought wickedness. 43167 431686:10. I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: the 43169fornications of Ephraim there: Israel is defiled. 43170 431716:11. And thou also, O Juda, set thee a harvest, when I shall bring 43172back the captivity of my people. 43173 43174 43175 43176Osee Chapter 7 43177 43178 43179The manifold sins of Israel, and of their kings, hinder the Lord from 43180healing them. 43181 431827:1. When I would have healed Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was 43183discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria, for they have committed 43184falsehood, and the thief is come in to steal, the robber is without. 43185 431867:2. And lest they may say in their hearts, that I remember all their 43187wickedness: their own devices now have beset them about, they have been 43188done before my face. 43189 431907:3. They have made the king glad with their wickedness: and the 43191princes with their lies. 43192 43193Made the king glad, etc. . .To please Jeroboam, and their other kings 43194they have given themselves up to the wicked worship of idols, which are 43195mere falsehood and lies. 43196 431977:4. They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker: the 43198city rested a little from the mingling of the leaven, till the whole 43199was leavened. 43200 432017:5. The day of our king, the princes began to be mad with wine: he 43202stretched out his hand with scorners. 43203 432047:6. Because they have applied their heart like an oven, when he laid 43205snares for them: he slept all the night baking them, in the morning he 43206himself was heated as a flaming fire. 43207 432087:7. They were all heated like an oven, and have devoured their judges: 43209all their kings have fallen: there is none amongst them that calleth 43210unto me. 43211 432127:8. Ephraim himself is mixed among the nations: Ephraim is become as 43213bread baked under the ashes, that is not turned. 43214 432157:9. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knew it not: yea, 43216grey hairs also are spread about upon him, and he is ignorant of it. 43217 432187:10. And the pride of Israel shall be humbled before his face: and 43219they have not returned to the Lord their God, nor have they sought him 43220in all these. 43221 432227:11. And Ephraim is become as a dove that is decoyed, not having a 43223heart: they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians. 43224 432257:12. And when they shall go, I will spread my net upon them: I will 43226bring them down as the fowl of the air, I will strike them as their 43227congregation hath heard. 43228 432297:13. Woe to them, for they have departed from me: they shall be wasted 43230because they have transgressed against me: and I redeemed them: and 43231they have spoken lies against me. 43232 432337:14. And they have not cried to me with their heart, but they howled 43234in their beds: they have thought upon wheat and wine, they are departed 43235from me. 43236 432377:15. And I have chastised them, and strengthened their arms: and they 43238have imagined evil against me. 43239 432407:16. They returned, that they might be without yoke: they became like 43241a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of 43242their tongue. This is their derision in the land of Egypt. 43243 43244 43245 43246Osee Chapter 8 43247 43248 43249The Israelites are threatened with destruction for their impiety and 43250idolatry. 43251 432528:1. Let there be a trumpet in thy throat like an eagle upon the house 43253of the Lord: because they have transgressed my covenant, and have 43254violated my law. 43255 432568:2. They shall call upon me: O my God, we, Israel, know thee. 43257 432588:3. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good, the enemy shall 43259pursue him. 43260 432618:4. They have reigned, but not by me: they have been princes, and I 43262knew not: of their silver and their gold they have made idols to 43263themselves, that they might perish. 43264 432658:5. Thy calf, O Samaria, is cast off, my wrath is kindled against 43266them. How long will they be incapable of being cleansed? 43267 432688:6. For itself also is the invention of Israel: a workman made it, and 43269it is no god: for the calf of Samaria shall be turned to spiders' webs. 43270 432718:7. For they shall sow wind, and reap a whirlwind, there is no 43272standing stalk in it, the bud shall yield no meal; and if it should 43273yield, strangers shall eat it. 43274 432758:8. Israel is swallowed up: now is he become among the nations like an 43276unclean vessel. 43277 432788:9. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: 43279Ephraim hath given gifts to his lovers. 43280 432818:10. But even though they shall have hired the nations, now will I 43282gather them together: and they shall rest a while from the burden of 43283the king, and the princes. 43284 432858:11. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin: altars are become 43286to him unto sin. 43287 432888:12. I shall write to him my manifold laws, which have been accounted 43289as foreign. 43290 432918:13. They shall offer victims, they shall sacrifice flesh, and shall 43292eat it, and the Lord will not receive them: now will he remember their 43293iniquity, and will visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. 43294 432958:14. And Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and hath built temples: and 43296Juda hath built many fenced cities: and I will send a fire upon his 43297cities, and it shall devour the houses thereof. 43298 43299 43300 43301Osee Chapter 9 43302 43303 43304The distress and captivity of Israel for their sins and idolatry. 43305 433069:1. Rejoice not, O Israel: rejoice not as the nations do: for thou 43307hast committed fornication against thy God, thou hast loved a reward 43308upon every cornfloor. 43309 433109:2. The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the wine 43311shall deceive them. 43312 433139:3. They shall not dwell in the Lord's land: Ephraim is returned to 43314Egypt, and hath eaten unclean things among the Assyrians. 43315 433169:4. They shall not offer wine to the Lord, neither shall they please 43317him: their sacrifices shall be like the bread of mourners: all that 43318shall eat it shall be defiled: for their bread is life for their soul, 43319it shall not enter into the house of the Lord. 43320 433219:5. What will you do in the solemn day, in the day of the feast of the 43322Lord? 43323 433249:6. For behold they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall 43325gather them together, Memphis shall bury them: nettles shall inherit 43326their beloved silver, the bur shall be in their tabernacles. 43327 433289:7. The days of visitation are come, the days of repaying are come: 43329know ye, O Israel, that the prophet was foolish, the spiritual man was 43330mad, for the multitude of thy iniquity, and the multitude of thy 43331madness. 43332 433339:8. The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: the prophet is become a 43334snare of ruin upon all his ways, madness is in the house of his God. 43335 433369:9. They have sinned deeply, as in the days of Gabaa: he will remember 43337their iniquity, and will visit their sin. 43338 433399:10. I found Israel like grapes in the desert, I saw their fathers 43340like the firstfruits of the fig tree in the top thereof: but they went 43341in to Beelphegor, and alienated themselves to that confusion, and 43342became abominable, as those things were, which they loved. 43343 433449:11. As for Ephraim, their glory hath flown away like bird from the 43345birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 43346 433479:12. And though they should bring up their children, I will make them 43348without children among men: yea, and woe to them, when I shall depart 43349from them. 43350 433519:13. Ephraim, as I saw, was a Tyre, founded in beauty: and Ephraim 43352shall bring out his children to the murderer. 43353 433549:14. Give them, O Lord. What wilt thou give them? Give them a womb 43355without children, and dry breasts. 43356 433579:15. All their wickedness is in Galgal, for there I hated them: for 43358the wickedness of their devices I will cast them forth out of my house: 43359I will love them no more, all their princes are revolters. 43360 433619:16. Ephraim is struck, their root is dried up, they shall yield no 43362fruit. And if they should have issue, I will slay the best beloved 43363fruit of their womb. 43364 433659:17. My God will cast them away, because they hearkened not to him: 43366and they shall be wanderers among the nations. 43367 43368 43369 43370Osee Chapter 10 43371 43372 43373After many benefits, great affliction shall fall upon the ten tribes, 43374for their ingratitude to God. 43375 4337610:1. Israel a vine full of branches, the fruit is agreeable to it: 43377according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath multiplied altars, 43378according to the plenty of his land he hath abounded with idols. 43379 4338010:2. Their heart is divided: now they shall perish: he shall break 43381down their idols, he shall destroy their altars. 43382 4338310:3. For now they shall say: We have no king: because we fear not the 43384Lord: and what shall a king do to us? 43385 4338610:4. You speak words of an unprofitable vision, and you shall make a 43387covenant: and judgment shall spring up as bitterness in the furrows of 43388the field. 43389 4339010:5. The inhabitants of Samaria have worshipped the kine of Bethaven: 43391for the people thereof have mourned over it, and the wardens of its 43392temple that rejoiced over it in its glory because it is departed from 43393it. 43394 43395The kine of Bethaven. . .The golden calves of Jeroboam. 43396 4339710:6. For itself also is carried into Assyria, a present to the 43398avenging king: shame shall fall upon Ephraim, and Israel shall be 43399confounded in his own will. 43400 43401Itself also is carried, etc. . .One of the golden calves was given by 43402king Manahem, to Phul, king of the Assyrians, to engage him to stand by 43403him. 43404 4340510:7. Samaria hath made her king to pass as froth upon the face of the 43406water. 43407 4340810:8. And the high places of the idol, the sin of Israel shall be 43409destroyed: the bur and the thistle shall grow up over their altars: and 43410they shall say to the mountains Cover us; and to the hills: Fall upon 43411us. 43412 4341310:9. From the days of Gabaa, Israel hath sinned, there they stood: the 43414battle in Gabaa against the children of iniquity shall not overtake 43415them. 43416 4341710:10. According to my desire, I will chastise them: and the nations 43418shall be gathered together against them, when they shall be chastised 43419for their two iniquities. 43420 43421Their two iniquities. . .Their two calves. 43422 4342310:11. Ephraim is a heifer taught to love to tread out corn, but I 43424passed over upon the beauty of her neck: I will ride upon Ephraim, Juda 43425shall plough, Jacob shall break the furrows for himself. 43426 4342710:12. Sow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy, 43428break up your fallow ground: but the time to seek the Lord is, when he 43429shall come that shall teach you justice. 43430 4343110:13. You have ploughed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have 43432eaten the fruit of lying: because thou hast trusted in thy ways, in the 43433multitude of thy strong ones. 43434 4343510:14. A tumult shall arise among thy people: and all thy fortresses 43436shall be destroyed as Salmana was destroyed, by the house of him that 43437judged Baal in the day of battle, the mother being dashed in pieces 43438upon her children. 43439 43440As Salmana, king of the Midianites, was destroyed by the house, that 43441is, by the followers of him that judged Baal; that is, of Gideon, who 43442threw down the altar of Baal; and was therefore called Jerubaal. See 43443Judges 6 and 8. 43444 4344510:15. So hath Bethel done to you, because of the evil of your 43446iniquities. 43447 43448 43449 43450Osee Chapter 11 43451 43452 43453God proceeds in threatening Israel for their ingratitude: yet he will 43454not utterly destroy them. 43455 4345611:1. As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. 43457Because Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of 43458Egypt. 43459 43460I called my son. . .Viz., Israel. But as the calling of Israel out of 43461Egypt, was a figure of the calling of Christ from thence; therefore 43462this text is also applicable to Christ, as we learn from Matthew 2.15. 43463 4346411:2. As they called them, they went away from before their face: they 43465offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols. 43466 43467They called. . .Viz., Moses and Aaron called; but they went away after 43468other gods and would not hear. 43469 4347011:3. And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my 43471arms: and they knew not that I healed them. 43472 4347311:4. I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: 43474and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: 43475and I put his meat to him that he might eat. 43476 4347711:5. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian 43478shall be his king: because they would not be converted. 43479 4348011:6. The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his 43481chosen men, and shall devour their heads. 43482 4348311:7. And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put 43484upon them together, which shall not be taken off. 43485 4348611:8. How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O 43487Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my 43488heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up. 43489 43490Adama, etc. . .Adama and Seboim were two cities in the neighborhood of 43491Sodom: and underwent the like destruction. 43492 4349311:9. I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return 43494to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the 43495midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city. 43496 4349711:10. They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because 43498he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear. 43499 4350011:11. And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a 43501dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their 43502own houses, saith the Lord. 43503 4350411:12. Ephraim hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of 43505Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is 43506faithful with the saints. 43507 43508 43509 43510Osee Chapter 12 43511 43512 43513Israel is reproved for sin. God's favours to them. 43514 4351512:1. Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all 43516the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a 43517covenant with the Assyrians, and carried oil into Egypt. 43518 4351912:2. Therefore there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a 43520visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and 43521according to his devices. 43522 4352312:3. In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had 43524success with an angel. 43525 4352612:4. And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, 43527and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he 43528spoke with us. 43529 4353012:5. Even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial. 43531 4353212:6. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope 43533in thy God always. 43534 4353512:7. He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he 43536hath loved oppression. 43537 4353812:8. And Ephraim said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an 43539idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have 43540committed. 43541 4354212:9. And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet 43543cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the feast. 43544 4354512:10. And I have spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied 43546visions, and I have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets. 43547 4354812:11. If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering 43549sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the 43550furrows of the field. 43551 43552If Galaad be an idol, etc. . .That is, if Galaad with all its idols and 43553sacrifices be like a mere idol itself, being brought to nothing by 43554Theglathphalasar: how vain is it to expect, that the idols worshipped 43555in Galgal shall be of any service to the tribes that remain. 43556 4355712:12. Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a 43558wife, and was a keeper for a wife. 43559 4356012:13. But the Lord by a prophet brought Israel out of Egypt: and he 43561was preserved by a prophet. 43562 4356312:14. Ephraim hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his 43564blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto 43565him. 43566 43567 43568 43569Osee Chapter 13 43570 43571 43572The judgments of God upon Israel for their sins. Christ shall one day 43573redeem them. 43574 4357513:1. When Ephraim spoke, a horror seized Israel: and he sinned in 43576Baal, and died. 43577 4357813:2. And now they have sinned more and more: and they have made to 43579themselves a molten thing of their silver as the likeness of idols: the 43580whole is the work of craftsmen: to these that say: Sacrifice men, ye 43581that adore calves. 43582 4358313:3. Therefore they shall be as a morning cloud, and as the early dew 43584that passeth away, as the dust that is driven with a whirlwind out of 43585the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. 43586 4358713:4. But I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt: and thou shalt 43588know no God but me, and there is no saviour beside me. 43589 4359013:5. I knew thee in the desert, in the land of the wilderness. 43591 4359213:6. According to their pastures they were filled, and were made full: 43593and they lifted up their heart, and have forgotten me. 43594 4359513:7. And I will be to them as a lioness, as a leopard in the way of 43596the Assyrians. 43597 4359813:8. I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I 43599will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there 43600as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them. 43601 4360213:9. Destruction is thy own, O Israel: thy help is only in me. 43603 4360413:10. Where is thy king? now especially let him save thee in all thy 43605cities: and thy judges, of whom thou saidst: Give me kings and princes. 43606 4360713:11. I will give thee a king in my wrath, and will take him away in 43608my indignation. 43609 4361013:12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hidden. 43611 4361213:13. The sorrows of a woman in labour shall come upon him, he is an 43613unwise son: for now he shall not stand in the breach of the children. 43614 4361513:14. I will deliver them out of the hand of death. I will redeem them 43616from death: O death, I will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite: 43617comfort is hidden from my eyes. 43618 4361913:15. Because he shall make a separation between brothers: the Lord 43620will bring a burning wind that shall rise from the desert, and it shall 43621dry up his springs, and shall make his fountain desolate, and he shall 43622carry off the treasure of every desirable vessel. 43623 43624 43625 43626Osee Chapter 14 43627 43628 43629Samaria shall be destroyed. An exhortation to repentance: God's favour 43630through Christ to the penitent. 43631 4363214:1. Let Samaria perish, because she hath stirred up her God to 43633bitterness: let them perish by the sword, let their little ones be 43634dashed, and let the women with child be ripped up. 43635 43636Perish, because she hath stirred up her God to bitterness. . .It is not 43637a curse or imprecation, but a prophecy of what should come to pass. 43638 4363914:2. Return, O Israel, to the Lord thy God: for thou hast fallen down 43640by thy iniquity. 43641 4364214:3. Take with you words, and return to the Lord, and say to him: Take 43643away all iniquity, and receive the good: and we will render the calves 43644of our lips. 43645 4364614:4. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses, neither 43647will we say any more: The works of our hands are our gods: for thou 43648wilt have mercy on the fatherless that is in thee. 43649 4365014:5. I will heal their breaches, I will love them freely: for my wrath 43651is turned away from them. 43652 4365314:6. I will be as the dew, Israel shall spring as the lily, and his 43654root shall shoot forth as that of Libanus. 43655 4365614:7. His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive 43657tree: and his smell as that of Libanus. 43658 4365914:8. They shall be converted that sit under his shadow: they shall 43660live upon wheat, and they shall blossom as a vine: his memorial shall 43661be as the wine of Libanus. 43662 4366314:9. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I will 43664hear him, and I will make him flourish like a green fir tree: from me 43665is thy fruit found. 43666 4366714:10. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and 43668he shall know these things? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the 43669just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall in them. 43670 43671 43672 43673 43674THE PROPHECY OF JOEL 43675 43676 43677 43678JOEL, whose name, according to ST. JEROME, signifies THE LORD GOD: or, 43679as others say, THE COMING DOWN OF GOD: prophesied about the same time 43680in the kingdom of Judea, as OSEE did in the kingdom of Israel. He 43681foretells under figure the great evils that were coming upon the people 43682for their sins: earnestly exhorts them to repentance: and comforts them 43683with the promise of a TEACHER OF JUSTICE, viz., CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, 43684and of the coming down of his holy SPIRIT. 43685 43686 43687 43688Joel Chapter 1 43689 43690 43691The prophet describes the judgments that shall fall upon the people, 43692and invites them to fasting and prayer. 43693 436941:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Joel, the son of Phatuel. 43695 436961:2. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the 43697land: did this ever happen in your days, or in the days of your 43698fathers? 43699 437001:3. Tell ye of this to your children, and let your children tell their 43701children, and their children to another generation. 43702 437031:4. That which the palmerworm hath left, the locust hath eaten: and 43704that which the locust hath left, the bruchus hath eaten: and that which 43705the bruchus hath left, the mildew hath destroyed. 43706 43707That which the palmerworm hath left, etc. . .Some understand this 43708literally of the desolation of the land by these insects: others 43709understand it of the different invasions of the Chaldeans, or other 43710enemies. 43711 437121:5. Awake, ye that are drunk, and weep, and mourn all ye that take 43713delight; in drinking sweet wine: for it is cut off from your mouth. 43714 437151:6. For a nation come up upon my land, strong, and without number: his 43716teeth are like the teeth of a lion: and his cheek teeth as of a lion's 43717whelp. 43718 437191:7. He hath laid my vineyard waste, and hath pilled off the bark of my 43720fig tree: he hath stripped it bare, and cast it away; the branches 43721thereof are made white. 43722 437231:8. Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her 43724youth. 43725 437261:9. Sacrifice and libation is cut off from the house of the Lord: the 43727priests, the Lord's ministers, have mourned: 43728 437291:10. The country is destroyed, the ground hath mourned: for the corn 43730is wasted, the wine is confounded, the oil hath languished. 43731 437321:11. The husbandmen are ashamed, the vinedressers have howled for the 43733wheat, and for the barley, because the harvest of the field is 43734perished. 43735 437361:12. The vineyard is confounded, and the fig tree hath languished: the 43737pomegranate tree, and the palm tree, and the apple tree, and all the 43738trees of the field are withered: because joy is withdrawn from the 43739children of men. 43740 437411:13. Gird yourselves, and lament, O ye priests, howl, ye ministers of 43742the altars: go in, lie in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: because 43743sacrifice and libation is cut off from the house of your God. 43744 437451:14. Sanctify ye a fast, call an assembly, gather together the 43746ancients, all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God: 43747and cry ye to the Lord: 43748 437491:15. Ah, ah, ah, for the day: because the day of the Lord is at hand, 43750and it shall come like destruction from the mighty. 43751 437521:16. Is not your food cut off before your eyes, joy and gladness from 43753the house of our God? 43754 437551:17. The beasts have rotted in their dung, the barns are destroyed, 43756the storehouses are broken down: because the corn is confounded. 43757 437581:18. Why did the beasts groan, why did the herds of cattle low? 43759because there is no pasture for them: yea, and the flocks of sheep are 43760perished. 43761 437621:19. To thee, O Lord, will I cry: because fire hath devoured the 43763beautiful places of the wilderness: and the flame hath burnt all the 43764trees of the country. 43765 437661:20. Yea, and the beasts of the field have looked up to thee, as a 43767garden bed that thirsteth after rain, for the springs of waters are 43768dried up, and fire hath devoured the beautiful places of the 43769wilderness. 43770 43771 43772 43773Joel Chapter 2 43774 43775 437762:1. Blow ye the trumpet in Sion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain, 43777let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: because the day of the 43778Lord cometh, because it is nigh at hand. 43779 43780The day of the Lord. . .That is, the time when he will execute justice 43781upon sinners. 43782 437832:2. A day of darkness, and of gloominess, a day of clouds and 43784whirlwinds: a numerous and strong people as the morning spread upon the 43785mountains: the like to it hath not been from the beginning, nor shall 43786be after it, even to the years of generation and generation. 43787 43788A numerous and strong people. . .The Assyrians, or Chaldeans. Others 43789understand all this of an army of locusts laying waste the land. 43790 437912:3. Before the face thereof a devouring fire, and behind it a burning 43792flame: the land is like a garden of pleasure before it, and behind it a 43793desolate wilderness, neither is there any one that can escape it. 43794 437952:4. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and they 43796shall run like horsemen. 43797 437982:5. They shall leap like the noise of chariots upon the tops of 43799mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as 43800a strong people prepared to battle. 43801 438022:6. At their presence the people shall be in grievous pains: all faces 43803shall be made like a kettle. 43804 438052:7. They shall run like valiant men: like men of war they shall scale 43806the wall: the men shall march every one on his way, and they shall not 43807turn aside from their ranks. 43808 438092:8. No one shall press upon his brother: they shall walk every one in 43810his path: yea, and they shall fall through the windows, and shall take 43811no harm. 43812 438132:9. They shall enter into the city: they shall run upon the wall, they 43814shall climb up the houses, they shall come in at the windows, as a 43815thief. 43816 438172:10. At their presence the earth hath trembled, the heavens are moved: 43818the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their 43819shining. 43820 438212:11. And the Lord hath uttered his voice before the face of his army: 43822for his armies are exceedingly great, for they are strong, and execute 43823his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible: and who 43824can stand it? 43825 438262:12. Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your 43827heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and mourning. 43828 438292:13. And rend your hearts, and not your garments and turn to the Lord 43830your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, 43831and ready to repent of the evil. 43832 438332:14. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing 43834behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? 43835 438362:15. Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn 43837assembly, 43838 438392:16. Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the 43840ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the 43841breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of 43842her bridal chamber. 43843 438442:17. Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's 43845ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: 43846and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens should rule 43847over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? 43848 438492:18. The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his 43850people. 43851 438522:19. And the Lord answered, and said to his people: Behold I will send 43853you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I 43854will no more make you a reproach among the nations. 43855 438562:20. And I will remove far off from you the northern enemy: and I will 43857drive him into a land unpassable, and desert, with his face towards the 43858east sea, and his hinder part towards the utmost sea: and his stench 43859shall ascend, and his rottenness shall go up, because he hath done 43860proudly. 43861 43862The northern enemy. . .Some understand this of Holofernes and his army: 43863others, of the locusts. 43864 438652:21. Fear not, O land, be glad, and rejoice: for the Lord hath done 43866great things. 43867 438682:22. Fear not, ye beasts of the fields: for the beautiful places of 43869the wilderness are sprung, for the tree hath brought forth its fruit, 43870the fig tree, and the vine have yielded their strength. 43871 438722:23. And you, O children of Sion, rejoice, and be joyful in the Lord 43873your God: because he hath given you a teacher of justice, and he will 43874make the early and the latter rain to come down to you as in the 43875beginning. 43876 438772:24. And the floors shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall 43878overflow with wine, and oil. 43879 438802:25. And I will restore to you the years which the locust, and the 43881bruchus, and the mildew, and the palmerworm hath eaten; my great host 43882which I sent upon you. 43883 438842:26. And you shall eat in plenty, and shall be filled and you shall 43885praise the name of the Lord your God; who hath done wonders with you, 43886and my people shall not be confounded for ever. 43887 438882:27. And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: and I am the 43889Lord your God, and there is none besides: and my people shall not be 43890confounded forever. 43891 438922:28. And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my 43893spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: 43894your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 43895 438962:29. Moreover, upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will 43897pour forth my spirit. 43898 438992:30. And I will shew wonders in heaven; and in earth, blood, and fire, 43900and vapour of smoke. 43901 439022:31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood: 43903before the great and dreadful day of the Lord doth come. 43904 439052:32. And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall call upon 43906the name of the Lord, shall be saved: for in Mount Sion, and in 43907Jerusalem shall be salvation, as the Lord hath said, and in the residue 43908whom the Lord shall call. 43909 43910 43911 43912Joel Chapter 3 43913 43914 439153:1. For behold in those days, and in that time when I shall bring back 43916the captivity of Juda, and Jerusalem: 43917 439183:2. I will gather together all nations and will bring them down into 43919the valley of Josaphat: and I will plead with them there for my people, 43920and for my inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the 43921nations, and have parted my land. 43922 439233:3. And they have cast lots upon my people: and the boy they have put 43924in the stews, and the girl they have sold for wine, that they might 43925drink. 43926 439273:4. But what have you to do with me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the 43928coast of the Philistines? will you revenge yourselves on me? and if you 43929revenge yourselves on me, I will very soon return you a recompense upon 43930your own head. 43931 439323:5. For you have taken away my silver, and my gold: and my desirable, 43933and most beautiful things you have carried into your temples. 43934 439353:6. And the children of Juda, and the children of Jerusalem, you have 43936sold to the children of the Greeks, that you might remove them far off 43937from their own country. 43938 439393:7. Behold, I will raise them up out of the place wherein you have 43940sold them: and I will return your recompense upon your own heads. 43941 439423:8. And I will sell your sons, and your daughters, by the hands of the 43943children of Juda, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far 43944off, for the Lord hath spoken it. 43945 439463:9. Proclaim ye this among the nations: Prepare war, raise up the 43947strong: let them come, let all the men of war come up. 43948 439493:10. Cut your ploughshares into swords, and your spades into spears. 43950Let the weak say: I am strong. 43951 439523:11. Break forth, and come, all ye nations from round about, and 43953gather yourselves together: there will the Lord cause all thy strong 43954ones to fall down. 43955 439563:12. Let them arise, and let the nations come up into the valley of 43957Josaphat: for there I will sit to judge all nations round about. 43958 439593:13. Put ye in the sickles, for the harvest is ripe: come and go down, 43960for the press is full, the fats run over: for their wickedness is 43961multiplied. 43962 439633:14. Nations, nations in the valley of destruction: for the day of the 43964Lord is near in the valley of destruction. 43965 439663:15. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn 43967their shining. 43968 439693:16. And the Lord shall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from 43970Jerusalem: and the heavens and the earth shall be moved, and the Lord 43971shall be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of 43972Israel. 43973 439743:17. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Sion, 43975my holy mountain: and Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall pass 43976through it no more. 43977 439783:18. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall 43979drop down sweetness, aud the hills shall flow with milk: and waters 43980shall flow through all the rivers of Juda: and a fountain shall come 43981forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the torrent of thorns. 43982 43983A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, etc. . .Viz., the 43984fountain of grace in the church militant, and of glory in the church 43985triumphant: which shall water the torrent or valley of thorns, that is, 43986the souls that before, like barren ground brought forth nothing but 43987thorns; or that were afflicted with the thorns of crosses and 43988tribulations. 43989 439903:19. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a wilderness destroyed: 43991because they have done unjustly against the children of Juda, and have 43992shed innocent blood in their land. 43993 439943:20. And Judea shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to 43995generation and generation. 43996 43997Judea--and Jerusalem. . .That is, the spiritual Jerusalem, viz., the 43998church of Christ. 43999 440003:21. And I will cleanse their blood, which I had not cleansed: and the 44001Lord will dwell in Sion. 44002 44003 44004 44005 44006THE PROPHECY OF AMOS 44007 44008 44009 44010AMOS prophesied in Israel about the same time as OSEE: and was called 44011from following the cattle to denounce GOD'S judgments to the people of 44012Israel, and the neighbouring nations, for their repeated crimes, in 44013which they continued without repentance. 44014 44015 44016 44017Amos Chapter 1 44018 44019 44020The prophet threatens Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon with the 44021judgments of God, for their obstinacy in sin. 44022 440231:1. The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Thecua: which he 44024saw concerning Israel in the days of Ozias king of Juda, and in the 44025days of Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel two years before the 44026earthquake. 44027 44028The earthquake. . .Many understand this of a great earthquake, which 44029they say was felt at the time that king Ozias attempted to offer 44030incense in the temple. But the best chronologists prove that the 44031earthquake here spoken of must have been before that time: because 44032Jeroboam the second, under whom Amos prophesied, was dead long before 44033that attempt of Ozias. 44034 440351:2. And he said: The Lord will roar from Sion, and utter his voice 44036from Jerusalem: and the beautiful places of the shepherds have mourned, 44037and the top of Carmel is withered. 44038 440391:3. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Damascus, and for four I 44040will not convert it: because they have thrashed Galaad with iron wains. 44041 44042For three crimes--and for four. . .That is, for their many unrepented of 44043crimes.--Ibid. I will not convert it. . .That is, I will not spare them, 44044nor turn away the punishments I design to inflict upon them. 44045 440461:4. And I will send a fire into the house of Azael, and it shall 44047devour the houses of Benadad. 44048 440491:5. And I will break the bar of Damascus: and I will cut off the 44050inhabitants from the plain of the idol, and him that holdeth the 44051sceptre from the house of pleasure: and the people of Syria shall be 44052carried away to Cyrene, saith the Lord. 44053 440541:6. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Gaza, and for four I will 44055not convert it: because they have carried away a perfect captivity to 44056shut them up in Edom. 44057 440581:7. And I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour 44059the houses thereof. 44060 440611:8. And I will cut off the inhabitant from Azotus, and him that 44062holdeth the sceptre from Ascalon: and I will turn my hand against 44063Accaron, and the rest of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord 44064God. 44065 440661:9. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Tyre, and for four I will 44067not convert it: because they have shut up an entire captivity in Edom, 44068and have not remembered the covenant of brethren. 44069 440701:10. And I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour 44071the houses thereof. 44072 440731:11. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Edom, and for four I 44074will not convert him: because he hath pursued his brother with the 44075sword, and hath carried on his fury, and hath kept his wrath to the 44076end. 44077 440781:12. I will send a fire into Theman: and it shall devour the houses of 44079Bosra. 44080 440811:13. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of the children of Ammon, 44082and for four I will not convert him: because he hath ripped up the 44083women with child of Galaad to enlarge his border. 44084 440851:14. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabba: and it shall 44086devour the houses thereof with shouting in the day of battle, and with 44087a whirlwind in the day of trouble. 44088 440891:15. And Melchom shall go into captivity, both he, and his princes 44090together, saith the Lord. 44091 44092Melchom. . .The god or idol of the Ammonites, otherwise called Moloch, 44093and Melech: which in Hebrew signifies a king, and Melchom their king. 44094 44095 44096 44097Amos Chapter 2 44098 44099 44100The judgments with which God threatens Moab, Juda, and Israel for their 44101sins, and their ingratitude. 44102 441032:1. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will 44104not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom 44105even to ashes. 44106 441072:2. And I will send a fire into Moab, and it shall devour the houses 44108of Carioth: and Moab shall die with a noise, with the sound of the 44109trumpet: 44110 441112:3. And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay 44112all his princes with him, saith the Lord. 44113 441142:4. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Juda, and for four I will 44115not convert him: because he hath cast away the law of the Lord, and 44116hath not kept his commandments: for their idols have caused them to 44117err, after which their fathers have walked. 44118 441192:5. And I will send a fire into Juda, and it shall devour the houses 44120of Jerusalem. 44121 441222:6. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four I 44123will not convert him: because he hath sold the just man for silver, and 44124the poor man for a pair of shoes. 44125 441262:7. They bruise the heads of the poor upon the dust of the earth, and 44127turn aside the way of the humble: and the son and his father have gone 44128to the same young woman, to profane my holy name. 44129 441302:8. And they sat down upon garments laid to pledge by every altar: and 44131drank the wine of the condemned in the house of their God. 44132 441332:9. Yet I cast out the Amorrhite before their face: whose height was 44134like the height of cedars, and who was strong as an oak: and I 44135destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots beneath. 44136 441372:10. It is I that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and I led 44138you forty years through the wilderness, that you might possess the land 44139of the Amorrhite. 44140 441412:11. And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men 44142for Nazarites. Is it not so, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord? 44143 441442:12. And you will present wine to the Nazarites: and command the 44145prophets, saying: Prophesy not. 44146 441472:13. Behold, I will screak under you as a wain screaketh that is laden 44148with hay. 44149 44150I will screak. . .Unable to bear any longer the enormous load of your 44151sins, etc. The spirit of God, as St. Jerome takes notice, accommodates 44152himself to the education of the prophet and inspires him with 44153comparisons taken from country affairs. 44154 441552:14. And flight shall perish from the swift, and the valiant shall not 44156possess his strength, neither shall the strong save his life. 44157 441582:15. And he that holdeth the bow shall not stand, and the swift of 44159foot shall not escape, neither shall the rider of the horse save his 44160life. 44161 441622:16. And the stout of heart among the valiant shall flee away naked in 44163that day, saith the Lord. 44164 44165 44166 44167Amos Chapter 3 44168 44169 44170The evils that shall fall upon Israel for their sins. 44171 441723:1. Hear the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O ye 44173children of Israel: concerning the whole family that I brought up out 44174of the land of Egypt, saying: 44175 441763:2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore 44177will I visit upon you all your iniquities. 44178 44179Visit upon. . .That is, punish. 44180 441813:3. Shall two walk together except they be agreed? 44182 441833:4. Will a lion roar in the forest, if he have no prey? will the 44184lion's whelp cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? 44185 441863:5. Will the bird fall into the snare upon the earth, if there be no 44187fowler? Shall the snare be taken up from the earth, before it hath 44188taken somewhat? 44189 441903:6. Shall the trumpet sound in a city, and the people not be afraid? 44191Shall there be evil in a city, which the Lord hath not done? 44192 44193Evil in a city. . .He speaks of the evil of punishments of war, famine, 44194pestilence, desolation, etc., but not of the evil of sin, of which God 44195is not the author. 44196 441973:7. For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing his secret to his 44198servants the prophets. 44199 442003:8. The lion shall roar, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, 44201who shall not prophesy? 44202 442033:9. Publish it in the houses of Azotus, and in the houses of the land 44204of Egypt, and say: Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, 44205and behold the many follies in the midst thereof, and them that suffer 44206oppression in the inner rooms thereof. 44207 442083:10. And they have not known to do the right thing, saith the Lord, 44209storing up iniquity, and robberies in their houses. 44210 442113:11. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: The land shall be in 44212tribulation, and shall be compassed about: and thy strength shall be 44213taken away from thee, and thy houses shall be spoiled. 44214 442153:12. Thus saith the Lord: As if a shepherd should get out of the 44216lion's mouth two legs, or the tip of the ear: so shall the children of 44217Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, in a place of a bed, and in 44218the couch of Damascus. 44219 442203:13. Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord the 44221God of hosts: 44222 442233:14. That in the day when I shall begin to visit the transgressions of 44224Israel, I will visit upon him, and upon the altars of Bethel: and the 44225horns of the altars shall be cut off, and shall fall to the ground. 44226 442273:15. And I will strike the winter house with the summer house: and the 44228houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall be destroyed, saith 44229the Lord. 44230 44231 44232 44233Amos Chapter 4 44234 44235 44236The Israelites are reproved for their oppressing the poor, for their 44237idolatry, and their incorrigibleness. 44238 442394:1. Hear this word, ye fat kine that are in the mountains of Samaria: 44240you that oppress the needy, and crush the poor: that say to your 44241masters: Bring, and we will drink. 44242 44243Fat kine. . .He means the great ones that lived in plenty and wealth. 44244 442454:2. The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that lo, the days shall 44246come upon you, when they shall lift you up on pikes, and what shall 44247remain of you in boiling pots. 44248 442494:3. And you shall go out at the breaches one over against the other, 44250and you shall be cast forth into Armon, saith the Lord. 44251 44252Armon. . .A foreign country; some understand it of Armenia. 44253 442544:4. Come ye to Bethel, and do wickedly: to Galgal, and multiply 44255transgressions: and bring in the morning your victims, your tithes in 44256three days. 44257 442584:5. And offer a sacrifice of praise with leaven: and call free 44259offerings, and proclaim it: for so you would do, O children of Israel, 44260saith the Lord God. 44261 442624:6. Whereupon I also have given you dulness of teeth in all your 44263cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet you have not returned 44264to me, saith the Lord. 44265 442664:7. I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet 44267three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon on city, and 44268caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon: and 44269the piece whereupon I rained not, withered. 44270 442714:8. And two and three cities went to one city to drink water, and were 44272not filled: yet you returned not to me, saith the Lord. 44273 442744:9. I struck you with a burning wind, and with mildew, the palmerworm 44275hath eaten up your many gardens, and your vineyards: your olive groves, 44276and fig groves: yet you returned not to me, saith the Lord. 44277 442784:10. I sent death upon you in the way of Egypt, I slew your young men 44279with the sword, even to the captivity of your horses: and I made the 44280stench of your camp to come up into your nostrils: yet you returned not 44281to me, saith the Lord. 44282 442834:11. I destroyed some of you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, and 44284you were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet you returned 44285not to me, saith the Lord. 44286 442874:12. Therefore I will do these things to thee, O Israel: and after I 44288shall have done these things to thee, be prepared to meet thy God, O 44289Israel. 44290 442914:13. For behold he that formeth the mountains and createth the wind, 44292and declareth his word to man, he that maketh the morning mist, and 44293walketh upon the high places of the earth: the Lord the God of hosts is 44294his name. 44295 44296 44297 44298Amos Chapter 5 44299 44300 44301A lamentation for Israel: an exhortation to return to God. 44302 443035:1. Hear ye this word, which I take up concerning you for a 44304lamentation. The house of Israel is fallen, and it shall rise no more. 44305 443065:2. The virgin of Israel is cast down upon her land, there is none to 44307raise her up. 44308 443095:3. For thus saith the Lord God: The city, out of which came forth a 44310thousand, there shall be left in it a hundred: and out of which there 44311came a hundred, there shall be left in it ten, in the house of Israel. 44312 443135:4. For thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek ye me, and 44314you shall live. 44315 443165:5. But seek not Bethel, and go not into Galgal, neither shall you 44317pass over to Bersabee: for Galgal shall go into captivity, and Bethel 44318shall be unprofitable. 44319 44320Bethel,--Galgal,--Bersabee. . .The places where they worshipped their 44321idols. 44322 443235:6. Seek ye the Lord, and live: lest the house of Joseph be burnt with 44324fire, and it shall devour, and there shall be none to quench Bethel. 44325 443265:7. You that turn judgment into wormwood, and forsake justice in the 44327land, 44328 443295:8. Seek him that maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and that turneth 44330darkness into morning, and that changeth day into night: that calleth 44331the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: 44332The Lord is his name. 44333 44334Arcturus and Orion. . .Arcturus is a bright star in the north: Orion a 44335beautiful constellation in the south. 44336 443375:9. He that with a smile bringeth destruction upon the strong, and 44338waste upon the mighty. 44339 44340With a smile. . .That is, with all ease, and without making any effort. 44341 443425:10. They have hated him that rebuketh in the gate: and have abhorred 44343him that speaketh perfectly. 44344 443455:11. Therefore because you robbed the poor, and took the choice prey 44346from him: you shall build houses with square stone, and shall not dwell 44347in them: you shall plant most delightful vineyards, and shall not drink 44348the wine of them. 44349 443505:12. Because I know your manifold crimes, and your grievous sins: 44351enemies of the just, taking bribes, and oppressing the poor in the 44352gate. 44353 443545:13. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time, for it is 44355an evil time. 44356 443575:14. Seek ye good, and not evil, that you may live: and the Lord the 44358God of hosts will be with you, as you have said. 44359 443605:15. Hate evil, and love good, and establish judgment in the gate: it 44361may be the Lord the God of hosts may have mercy on the remnant of 44362Joseph. 44363 443645:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of hosts the sovereign 44365Lord: In every street there shall be wailing: and in all places that 44366are without, they shall say: Alas, alas! and they shall call the 44367husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentation to 44368lament. 44369 443705:17. And in all vineyards there shall be wailing: because I will pass 44371through in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 44372 443735:18. Woe to them that desire the day of the Lord: to what end is it 44374for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. 44375 443765:19. As if a man should flee from the face of a lion, and a bear 44377should meet him: or enter into the house, and lean with his hand upon 44378the wall, and a serpent should bite him. 44379 443805:20. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light: and 44381obscurity, and no brightness in it? 44382 443835:21. I hate, and have rejected your festivities: and I will not 44384receive the odour of your assemblies. 44385 443865:22. And if you offer me holocausts, and your gifts, I will not 44387receive them: neither will I regard the vows of your fat beasts. 44388 443895:23. Take away from me the tumult of thy songs: and I will not hear 44390the canticles of thy harp. 44391 443925:24. But judgment shall be revealed as water, and justice as a mighty 44393torrent. 44394 443955:25. Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me in the desert for 44396forty years, O house of Israel? 44397 44398Did you offer, etc. . .Except the sacrifices that were offered at the 44399first, in the dedication of the tabernacle, the Israelites offered no 44400sacrifices in the desert. 44401 444025:26.But you carried a tabernacle for your Moloch, and the image of 44403your idols, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves. 44404 44405A tabernacle, etc. . .All this alludes to the idolatry which they 44406committed, when they were drawn away by the daughters of Moab to the 44407worship of their gods. Num. 25. 44408 444095:27. And I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith 44410the Lord, the God of hosts is his name. 44411 44412 44413 44414Amos Chapter 6 44415 44416 44417The desolation of Israel for their pride and luxury. 44418 444196:1. Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have 44420confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the 44421people, that go in with state into the house of Israel. 44422 444236:2. Pass ye over to Chalane, and see, and go from thence into Emath 44424the great: and go down into Geth of the Philistines, and to all the 44425best kingdoms of these: if their border be larger than your border. 44426 444276:3. You that are separated unto the evil day: and that approach to the 44428throne of iniquity; 44429 444306:4. You that sleep upon beds of ivory, and are wanton on your couches: 44431that eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of 44432the herd; 44433 444346:5. You that sing to the sound of the psaltery: they have thought 44435themselves to have instruments of music like David; 44436 444376:6. That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best 44438ointments: and they are not concerned for the affliction of Joseph. 44439 444406:7. Wherefore now they shall go captive at the head of them that go 44441into captivity: and the faction of the luxurious ones shall be taken 44442away. 44443 444446:8. The Lord God hath sworn by his own soul, saith the Lord the God of 44445hosts: I detest the pride of Jacob, and I hate his houses, and I will 44446deliver up the city with the inhabitants thereof. 44447 444486:9. And if there remain ten men in one house, they also shall die. 44449 444506:10. And a man's kinsman shall take him up, and shall burn him, that 44451he may carry the bones out of the house; and he shall say to him that 44452is in the inner rooms of the house: Is there yet any with thee? 44453 444546:11. And he shall answer: There is an end. And he shall say to him: 44455Hold thy peace, and mention not the name of the Lord. 44456 444576:12. For behold the Lord hath commanded, and he will strike the 44458greater house with breaches, and the lesser house with clefts. 44459 444606:13. Can horses run upon the rocks, or can any one plough with 44461buffles? for you have turned judgment into bitterness, and the fruit of 44462justice into wormwood. 44463 444646:14. You that rejoice in a thing of nought: you that say: Have we not 44465taken unto us horns by our own strength? 44466 444676:15. But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of 44468Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall destroy you 44469from the entrance of Emath, even to the torrent of the desert. 44470 44471 44472 44473Amos Chapter 7 44474 44475 44476The prophet sees, in three visions, evils coming upon Israel: he is 44477accused of treason by the false priest of Bethel. 44478 444797:1. These things the Lord God shewed to me: and behold the locust was 44480formed in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter rain, and lo, 44481it was the latter rain after the king's mowing. 44482 44483The locust, etc. . .These judgments by locusts and fire, which, by the 44484prophet's intercession, were moderated, signify the former invasions of 44485the Assyrians under Phul and Theglathphalasar, before the utter 44486desolation of Israel by Salmanasar. 44487 444887:2. And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the 44489grass of the land, I said: O Lord God, be merciful, I beseech thee: who 44490shall raise up Jacob, for he is very little? 44491 444927:3. The Lord had pity upon this: It shall not be, said the Lord. 44493 444947:4. These things the Lord God shewed to me: and behold the Lord called 44495for judgment unto fire, and it devoured the great deep, and ate up a 44496part at the same time. 44497 444987:5. And I said: O Lord God, cease, I beseech thee, who shall raise up 44499Jacob, for he is a little one? 44500 445017:6. The Lord had pity upon this. Yea this also shall not be, said the 44502Lord God. 44503 445047:7. These things the Lord shewed to me: and behold the Lord was 44505standing upon a plastered wall, and in his hand a mason's trowel. 44506 445077:8. And the Lord said to me: What seest thou, Amos? And I said: A 44508mason's trowel. And the Lord said: Behold, I will lay down the trowel 44509in the midst of my people Israel. I will plaster them over no more. 44510 445117:9. And the high places of the idol shall be thrown down, and the 44512sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste: and I will rise up against 44513the house of Jeroboam with the sword. 44514 445157:10. And Amasias the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, 44516saying: Amos hath rebelled against thee in the midst of the house of 44517Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. 44518 445197:11. For thus saith Amos: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel 44520shall be carried away captive out of their own land. 44521 44522Jeroboam shall die by the sword. . .The prophet did not say this; but 44523that the Lord would rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the 44524sword: which was verified, when Zacharias, the son and successor of 44525Jeroboam, was slain by the sword. 4 Kings 15.10. 44526 445277:12. And Amasias said to Amos: Thou seer, go, flee away into the land 44528of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there. 44529 445307:13. But prophesy not again any more in Bethel: because it is the 44531king's sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom. 44532 445337:14. And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am 44534I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs. 44535 44536I am not a prophet. . .That is, I am not a prophet by education: nor is 44537prophesying my calling or profession: but I am a herdsman, whom God was 44538pleased to send hither to prophesy to Israel. 44539 445407:15. And the Lord took me when I followed the flock, and the Lord said 44541to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel. 44542 445437:16. And now hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, thou shalt 44544not prophesy against Israel, and thou shalt not drop thy word upon the 44545house of the idol. 44546 44547The house of the idol. . .Viz., of the calf worshipped in Bethel. 44548 445497:17. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Thy wife shall play the harlot in 44550the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and 44551thy land shall be measured by a line: and thou shalt die in a polluted 44552land, and Israel shall go into captivity out of their land. 44553 44554 44555 44556Amos Chapter 8 44557 44558 44559Under the figure of a hook, which bringeth down the fruit, the 44560approaching desolation of Israel is foreshewed for their avarice and 44561injustices. 44562 445638:1. These things the Lord shewed to me: and behold a hook to draw down 44564the fruit. 44565 445668:2. And he said: What seest thou, Amos? And I said: A hook to draw 44567down fruit. And the Lord said to me: The end is come upon my people 44568Israel: I will not again pass by them any more. 44569 445708:3. And the hinges of the temple shall screak in that day, saith the 44571Lord God: many shall die: silence shall be cast in every place. 44572 445738:4. Hear this, you that crush the poor, and make the needy of the land 44574to fail, 44575 445768:5. Saying: When will the month be over, and we shall sell our wares: 44577and the sabbath, and we shall open the corn: that we may lessen the 44578measure, and increase the sicle, and may convey in deceitful balances, 44579 445808:6. That we may possess the needy for money, and the poor for a pair 44581of shoes, and may sell the refuse of the corn? 44582 445838:7. The Lord hath sworn against the pride of Jacob: surely I will 44584never forget all their works. 44585 445868:8. Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that 44587dwelleth therein: and rise up altogether as a river, and be cast out, 44588and run down as the river of Egypt? 44589 445908:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that 44591the sun shall go down at midday, and I will make the earth dark in the 44592day of light: 44593 445948:10. And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs 44595into lamentation: and I will bring up sackcloth upon every back of 44596yours, and baldness upon every head: and I will make it as the mourning 44597of an only son, and the latter end thereof as a bitter day. 44598 445998:11. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send forth a 44600famine into the land: not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but 44601of hearing the word of the Lord. 44602 446038:12. And they shall move from sea to sea, and from the north to the 44604east: they shall go about seeking the word of the Lord, and shall not 44605find it. 44606 446078:13. In that day the fair virgins, and the young men shall faint for 44608thirst. 44609 446108:14. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say: Thy God, O Dan, 44611liveth: and the way of Bersabee liveth: and they shall fall, and shall 44612rise no more. 44613 44614 44615 44616Amos Chapter 9 44617 44618 44619The certainty of the desolation of Israel: the restoring of the 44620tabernacle of David, and the conversion of the Gentiles to the church; 44621which shall flourish for ever. 44622 446239:1. I saw the Lord standing upon the altar, and he said: Strike the 44624hinges, and let the lintels be shook: for there is covetousness in the 44625head of them all, and I will slay the last of them with the sword: 44626there shall be no flight for them: they shall flee, and he that shall 44627flee of them shall not be delivered. 44628 446299:2. Though they go down even to hell, thence shall my hand bring them 44630out: and though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down. 44631 446329:3. And though they be hid in the top of Carmel, I will search and 44633take them away from thence: and though they hide themselves from my 44634eyes in the depth of the sea, there will I command the serpent and he 44635shall bite them. 44636 446379:4. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there will I 44638command the sword, and it shall kill them. And I will set my eyes upon 44639them for evil, and not for good. 44640 446419:5. And the Lord the God of hosts is he who toucheth the earth, and it 44642shall melt: and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise 44643up as a river, and shall run down as the river of Egypt. 44644 446459:6. He that buildeth his ascension in heaven, and hath founded his 44646bundle upon the earth: who calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth 44647them out upon the face of the earth, the Lord is his name. 44648 44649His ascension. . .That is, his high throne.--Ibid. His bundle. . .That 44650is, his church bound up together by the bands of one faith and communion. 44651 446529:7. Are not you as the children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children 44653of Israel, saith the Lord? did not I bring up Israel, out of the land 44654of Egypt: and the Philistines out of Cappadocia, and the Syrians out of 44655Cyrene? 44656 44657As the children of the Ethiopians. . .That is, as black as they, by your 44658iniquities. 44659 446609:8. Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I 44661will destroy it from the face of the earth: but yet I will not utterly 44662destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. 44663 446649:9. For behold I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel 44665among all nations, as corn is sifted in a sieve: and there shall not a 44666little stone fall to the ground. 44667 446689:10. All the sinners of my people shall fall by the sword: who say: 44669The evils shall not approach, and shall not come upon us. 44670 446719:11. In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, that is 44672fallen: and I will close up the breaches of the walls thereof, and 44673repair what was fallen: and I will rebuild it as in the days of old. 44674 446759:12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all nations, 44676because my name is invoked upon them: saith the Lord that doth these 44677things. 44678 446799:13. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when the ploughman shall 44680overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed: 44681and the mountains shall drop sweetness, and every hill shall be tilled. 44682 44683Shall overtake, etc. . .By this is meant the great abundance of 44684spiritual blessings; which, as it were, by a constant succession, shall 44685enrich the church of Christ. 44686 446879:14. And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel: and they 44688shall build the abandoned cities, and inhabit them: and they shall 44689plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them: and shall make gardens, 44690and eat the fruits of them. And I will plant them upon their own land: 44691and I will no more pluck them out of their land which I have given 44692them, saith the Lord thy God. 44693 44694 44695 44696 44697THE PROPHECY OF ABDIAS 44698 44699 44700 44701ABDIAS, whose name is interpreted THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, is believed 44702to have prophesied about the same time as OSEE, JOEL, and AMOS: though 44703some of the Hebrews, who believe him to be the same with ACHAB's 44704steward, make him much more ancient. His prophecy is the shortest of 44705any in number of words, but yields to none, says ST. JEROME, in the 44706sublimity of mysteries. It contains but one chapter. 44707 44708 44709 44710Abdias Chapter 1 44711 44712 44713The destruction of Edom for their pride: and the wrongs they did to 44714Jacob: the salvation and victory of Israel. 44715 447161:1. The vision of Abdias. Thus saith the Lord God to Edom: We have 44717heard a rumour from the Lord, and he hath sent an ambassador to the 44718nations: Arise, and let us rise up to battle against him. 44719 447201:2. Behold I have made thee small among the nations: thou art 44721exceeding contemptible. 44722 447231:3. The pride of thy heart hath lifted thee up, who dwellest in the 44724clefts of the rocks, and settest up thy throne on high: who sayest in 44725thy heart: Who shall bring me down to the ground? 44726 447271:4. Though thou be exalted as an eagle, and though thou set thy nest 44728among the stars: thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. 44729 447301:5. If thieves had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how wouldst 44731thou have held thy peace? would they not have stolen till they had 44732enough? if the grapegatherers had come in to thee, would they not have 44733left thee at the least a cluster? 44734 447351:6. How have they searched Esau, how have they sought out his hidden 44736things? 44737 447381:7. They have sent thee out even to the border: all the men of thy 44739confederacy have deceived thee: the men of thy peace have prevailed 44740against thee: they that eat with thee shall lay snares under thee: 44741there is no wisdom in him. 44742 447431:8. Shall not I in that day, saith the Lord, destroy the wise out of 44744Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? 44745 447461:9. And thy valiant men of the south shall be afraid, that man may be 44747cut off from the mount of Esau. 44748 447491:10. For the slaughter, and for the iniquity against thy brother 44750Jacob, confusion shall cover thee, and thou shalt perish for ever. 44751 447521:11. In the day when thou stoodest against him, when strangers carried 44753away his army captive, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast 44754lots upon Jerusalem: thou also wast as one of them. 44755 447561:12. But thou shalt not look on in the day of thy brother, in the day 44757of his leaving his country: and thou shalt not rejoice over the 44758children of Juda, in the day of their destruction: and thou shalt not 44759magnify thy mouth in the day of distress. 44760 44761Thou shalt not look, etc. . .or, thou shouldst not, etc. It is a 44762reprehension for what they had done, and at the same time a declaration 44763that these things should not pass unpunished.--Ibid. Thou shalt not 44764magnify thy mouth. . .That is, thou shalt not speak arrogantly against 44765the children of Juda as insulting them in their distress. 44766 447671:13. Neither shalt thou enter into the gate of my people in the day of 44768their ruin: neither shalt thou also look on in his evils in the day of 44769his calamity: and thou shalt not be sent out against his army in the 44770day of his desolation. 44771 447721:14. Neither shalt thou stand in the crossways to kill them that flee: 44773and thou shalt not shut up them that remain of him in the day of 44774tribulation. 44775 447761:15. For the day of the Lord is at hand upon all nations: as thou hast 44777done, so shall it be done to thee: he will turn thy reward upon thy own 44778head. 44779 447801:16. For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so all nations shall 44781drink continually: and they shall drink, and sup up, and they shall be 44782as though they were not. 44783 447841:17. And in mount Sion shall be salvation, and it shall be holy, and 44785the house of Jacob shall possess those that possessed them. 44786 447871:18. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a 44788flame, and the house of Esau stubble: and they shall be kindled in 44789them, and shall devour them: and there shall be no remains of the house 44790of Esau, for the Lord hath spoken it. 44791 447921:19. And they that are toward the south, shall inherit the mount of 44793Esau, and they that are in the plains, the Philistines: and they shall 44794possess the country of Ephraim, and the country of Samaria: and 44795Benjamin shall possess Galaad. 44796 447971:20. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel, all the 44798places of the Chanaanites even to Sarepta: and the captivity of 44799Jerusalem that is in Bosphorus, shall possess the cities of the south. 44800 448011:21. And saviours shall come up into mount Sion to judge the mount of 44802Esau: and the kingdom shall be for the Lord. 44803 44804 44805 44806 44807THE PROPHECY OF JONAS 44808 44809 44810 44811JONAS prophesied in the reign of JEREBOAM the second: as we learn from 448124 Kings 14.25. To whom also he foretold his success in restoring all 44813the borders of Israel. He was of GETH OPHER in the tribe of ZABULON, 44814and consequently of GALILEE: which confutes that assertion of the 44815Pharisees, John 7.52, that no prophet ever rose out of GALILEE. He 44816prophesied and prefigured in his own person the death and resurrection 44817of CHRIST: and was the only one among the prophets that was sent to 44818preach to the Gentiles. 44819 44820 44821 44822Jonas Chapter 1 44823 44824 44825Jonas being sent to preach in Ninive, fleeth away by sea: a tempest 44826riseth: of which he being found, by lot, to be the cause, is cast into 44827the sea, which thereupon is calmed. 44828 448291:1. Now the word of the Lord came to Jonas, the son of Amathi, saying: 44830 448311:2. Arise and go to Ninive, the great city, and preach in it: For the 44832wickedness thereof is come up before me. 44833 44834Nineve. . .The capital city of the Assyrian empire. 44835 448361:3. And Jonas rose up to flee into Tharsis from the face of the Lord, 44837and he went down to Joppe, and found a ship going to Tharsis: and he 44838paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them to 44839Tharsis from the face of the Lord, 44840 44841Tharsis. . .Which some take to be Tharsus of Cilicia, others to be 44842Tartessus of Spain, others to be Carthage. 44843 448441:4. But the Lord sent a great wind to the sea: and a great tempest was 44845raised in the sea, and the ship was in danger to be broken. 44846 448471:5. And the mariners were afraid, and the men cried to their god: and 44848they cast forth the wares that were in the ship, into the sea, to 44849lighten it of them: and Jonas went down into the inner part of the 44850ship, and fell into a deep sleep. 44851 44852A deep sleep. . .This is a lively image of the insensibility of sinners, 44853fleeing from God, and threatened on every side with his judgments: and 44854yet sleeping as if they were secure. 44855 448561:6. And the ship master came to him and said to him: Why art thou fast 44857asleep? rise up call upon thy God, if so be that God will think of us 44858that we may not perish. 44859 448601:7. And they said every one to his fellow: Come and let us cast lots, 44861that we may know why this evil is upon us. And they cast lots, and the 44862lot fell upon Jonas. 44863 448641:8. And they said to him: Tell us for what cause this evil is upon us, 44865what is thy business? of what country art thou? and whither goest thou? 44866or of what people art thou? 44867 448681:9. And he said to them: I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, and the 44869God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land. 44870 448711:10. And the men were greatly afraid, and they said to him: Why hast 44872thou done this? (For the men knew that he fled from the face of the 44873Lord: because he had told them.) 44874 448751:11. And they said to him: What shall we do with thee, that the sea 44876may be calm to us? for the sea flowed and swelled. 44877 448781:12. And he said to them: take me up, and cast me into the sea, and 44879the sea shall be calm to you: for I know for my sake this great tempest 44880is upon you. 44881 448821:13. And the men rowed hard to return the land, but they were not 44883able: because the sea tossed and swelled upon them. 44884 448851:14. And they cried to the Lord, and said: We beseech thee, O Lord let 44886us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: 44887for thou, oh Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. 44888 448891:15. And they took Jonas, and cast him into the sea, and the sea 44890ceased from raging. 44891 448921:16. And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed victims 44893to the Lord, and made vows. 44894 44895 44896 44897Jonas Chapter 2 44898 44899 44900Jonas is swallowed up by a great fish: he prayeth with confidence in 44901God; and the fish casteth him out on the dry land. 44902 449032:1. Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonas: and Jonas 44904was in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights. 44905 449062:2. And Jonas prayed to the Lord, his God, out of the belly of the 44907fish. 44908 449092:3. And he said: I cried out of my affliction to the Lord, and he 44910heard me: I cried out of the belly of hell, and thou hast heard my 44911voice. 44912 449132:4. And thou hast cast me forth into the deep, in the heart of the 44914sea, and a flood hast compassed me: all thy billows, and thy waves have 44915passed over me. 44916 449172:5. And I said: I am cast away out of the sight of thy eyes: but yet I 44918shall see the holy temple again. 44919 449202:6. The waters compassed me about even to the soul: the deep hath 44921closed me round about, the sea hath covered my head. 44922 449232:7. I went down to the lowest parts of the mountains: the bars of the 44924earth have shut me up for ever: and thou wilt bring up my life from 44925corruption, O Lord, my God. 44926 449272:8. When my soul was in distress within me, I remembered the Lord: 44928that my prayer may come to thee, unto the holy temple. 44929 449302:9. They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy. 44931 449322:10. But I with the voice of praise will sacrifice to thee: I will pay 44933whatsoever I have vowed for my salvation to the Lord. 44934 449352:11. And the Lord spoke to the fish: and it vomited out Jonas upon the 44936dry land. 44937 44938Spoke to the fish. . .God's speaking to the fish, was nothing else but 44939his will, which all things obey. 44940 44941 44942 44943Jonas Chapter 3 44944 44945 44946Jonas is sent again to preach in Ninive. Upon their fasting and 44947repentance, God recalleth the sentence by which they were to be 44948destroyed. 44949 449503:1. And the word of the Lord came to Jonas the second time saying: 44951 449523:2. Arise, and go to Ninive, the great city: and preach in it the 44953preaching that I bid thee. 44954 449553:3. And Jonas arose, and went to Ninive, according to the word of the 44956Lord: now Ninive was a great city of three days' journey. 44957 44958Of three days' journey. . .By the computation of some ancient 44959historians, Ninive was about fifty miles round: so that to go through 44960all the chief streets and public places was three days' journey. 44961 449623:4. And Jonas began to enter into the city one day's journey: and he 44963cried and said: Yet forty days and Ninive shall be destroyed. 44964 449653:5. And the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, 44966and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. 44967 449683:6. And the word came to the king of Ninive: and he rose up out of his 44969throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed in sackcloth, 44970and sat in ashes. 44971 449723:7. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published in Ninive, from 44973the mouth of the king and of his princes, saying: Let neither men nor 44974beasts, oxen, nor sheep taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink 44975water. 44976 449773:8. And let men and beasts be covered with sackcloth, and cry to the 44978Lord with all their strength, and let them turn every one from his evil 44979way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands. 44980 449813:9. Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive: and will turn away 44982from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish? 44983 449843:10. And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil 44985way: and God had mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that 44986he would do to them, and he did it not. 44987 44988 44989 44990Jonas Chapter 4 44991 44992 449934:1. And Jonas was exceedingly troubled, and was angry: 44994 44995Was exceedingly troubled, etc. . .His concern was lest he should pass 44996for a false prophet; or rather, lest God's word, by this occasion, 44997might come to be slighted and disbelieved. 44998 449994:2. And he prayed to the Lord, and said: I beseech thee, O Lord, is 45000not this what I said, when I was yet in my own country? therefore I 45001went before to flee into Tharsis: for I know that thou art a gracious 45002and merciful God, patient, and of much compassion, and easy to forgive 45003evil. 45004 450054:3. And now, O Lord, I beseech thee take my life from me: for it is 45006better for me to die than to live. 45007 450084:4. And the Lord said: Dost thou think thou hast reason to be angry? 45009 450104:5. Then Jonas went out of the city, and sat toward the east side of 45011the city: and he made himself a booth there, and he sat under it in the 45012shadow, till he might see what would befall the city. 45013 450144:6. And the Lord God prepared an ivy, and it came up over the head of 45015Jonas, to be a shadow over his head, and to cover him (for he was 45016fatigued): and Jonas was exceeding glad of the ivy. 45017 45018The Lord God prepared an ivy. . .Hederam. In the Hebrew it is Kikajon, 45019which some render a gourd: others a palmerist, or palma Christi. 45020 450214:7. But God prepared a worm, when the morning arose on the following 45022day: and it struck the ivy and it withered. 45023 450244:8. And when the sun was risen, the Lord commanded a hot and burning 45025wind: and the sun beat upon the head of Jonas, and he broiled with the 45026heat: and he desired for his soul that he might die, and said: It is 45027better for me to die than to live. 45028 450294:9. And the Lord said to Jonas: Dost thou think thou hast reason to be 45030angry, for the ivy? And he said: I am angry with reason even unto 45031death. 45032 450334:10. And the Lord said: Thou art grieved for the ivy, for which thou 45034hast not laboured, nor made it to grow, which in one night came up, and 45035in one night perished. 45036 450374:11. And shall I not spare Ninive, that great city, in which there are 45038more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons, that know how to 45039distinguish between their right hand and their left, and many beasts? 45040 45041 45042 45043 45044THE PROPHECY OF MICHEAS 45045 45046 45047 45048MICHEAS, of Morasti, a little town in the tribe of JUDA, was 45049contemporary with the prophet ISAIAS: whom he resembles both in his 45050spirit and his style. He is different from the prophet MICHEAS 45051mentioned in the third book of Kings, chap. 22. For that MICHEAS lived 45052in the days of king ACHAB, one hundred and fifty years before the time 45053of EZECHIAS, under whom this MICHEAS prophesied. 45054 45055 45056 45057Micheas Chapter 1 45058 45059 45060Samaria for her sins shall be destroyed by the Assyrians; they shall 45061also invade Juda and Jerusalem. 45062 450631:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Micheas, the Morasthite, in the 45064days of Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda: which he saw 45065concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 45066 450671:2. Hear, all ye people: and let the earth give ear, and all that is 45068therein: and let the Lord God be a witness to you, the Lord from his 45069holy temple. 45070 450711:3. For behold the Lord will come forth out of his place: and he will 45072come down, and will tread upon the high places of the earth. 45073 450741:4. And the mountains shall be melted under him: and the valleys shall 45075be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as waters that run down a steep 45076place. 45077 450781:5. For the wickedness of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the 45079house of Israel. What is the wickedness of Jacob? is it not Samaria? 45080and what are the high places of Juda? are they not Jerusalem? 45081 450821:6. And I will make Samaria as a heap of stones in the field when a 45083vineyard is planted: and I will bring down the stones thereof into the 45084valley, and will lay her foundations bare. 45085 450861:7. And all her graven things shall be cut in pieces, and all her 45087wages shall be burnt with fire, and I will bring to destruction all her 45088idols: for they were gathered together of the hire of a harlot, and 45089unto the hire of a harlot they shall return. 45090 45091Her wages. . .That is, her donaries or presents offered to her idols: or 45092the hire of all her traffic and labour.--Ibid. Of the hire of a harlot, 45093etc. . .They were gathered together by one idolatrous city, viz., 45094Samaria: and they shall be carried away to another idolatrous city, 45095viz., Ninive. 45096 450971:8. Therefore will I lament, and howl: I will go stript and naked: I 45098will make a wailing like the dragons, and a mourning like the 45099ostriches. 45100 451011:9. Because her wound is desperate, because it is come even to Juda, 45102it hath touched the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. 45103 45104It hath touched the gate, etc. . .That is, the destruction of Samaria 45105shall be followed by the invasion of my people of Juda, and the 45106Assyrians shall come and lay all waste even to the confines of 45107Jerusalem. 45108 451091:10. Declare ye it not in Geth, weep ye not with tears: in the house 45110of Dust sprinkle yourselves with dust. 45111 45112Declare ye it not in Geth. . .Viz., amongst the Philistines, lest they 45113rejoice at your calamity.--Ibid. Weep ye not, etc. . .Keep in your 45114tears, that you may not give your enemies an occasion of insulting over 45115you; but in your own houses, or in your house of dust, your earthly 45116habitation, sprinkle yourselves with dust, and put on the habit of 45117penitents. Some take the house of dust (in Hebrew, Aphrah) to be the 45118proper name of a city. 45119 451201:11. And pass away, O thou that dwellest in the beautiful place, 45121covered with thy shame: she went not forth that dwelleth in the 45122confines: the house adjoining shall receive mourning from you, which 45123stood by herself. 45124 45125Thou that dwellest in the Beautiful place, viz., in Samaria. In the 45126Hebrew the Beautiful place is expressed by the word Sapir, which some 45127take for the proper name of a city.--Ibid. She went not forth, 45128etc. . .that is, they that dwelt in the confines came not forth, but kept 45129themselves within, for fear.--Ibid. The house adjoining, etc. . .Viz., 45130Judea and Jerusalem, neighbours to Samaria, and partners in her sins, 45131shall share also in her mourning and calamity; though they have 45132pretended to stand by themselves, trusting in their strength. 45133 451341:12. For she is become weak unto good that dwelleth in bitterness: for 45135evil is come down from the Lord into the gate of Jerusalem. 45136 45137She is become weak, etc. . .Jerusalem is become weak unto any good; 45138because she dwells in the bitterness of sin. 45139 451401:13. A tumult of chariots hath astonished the inhabitants of Lachis: 45141it is the beginning of sin to the daughter of Sion for in thee were 45142found the crimes of Israel. 45143 45144It is the beginning, etc. . .That is, Lachis was the first city of Juda 45145that learned from Samaria the worship of idols, and communicated it to 45146Jerusalem. 45147 451481:14. Therefore shall she send messengers to the inheritance of Geth: 45149the houses of lying to deceive the kings of Israel. 45150 45151Therefore shall she send, etc. . .Lachis shall send to Geth for help: 45152but in vain: for Geth, instead of helping, shall be found to be a house 45153of lying and deceit to Israel. 45154 451551:15. Yet will I bring an heir to thee that dwellest in Maresa: even to 45156Odollam shall the glory of Israel come. 45157 45158An heir, etc. . .Maresa (which was the name of a city of Juda) signifies 45159inheritance: but here God by his prophet tells the Jews, that he will 45160bring them an heir to take possession of their inheritance: and that 45161the glory of Israel shall be obliged to give place, and to retire even 45162to Odollam, a city in the extremity of their dominions. And therefore 45163he exhorts them to penance in the following verse. 45164 451651:16. Make thee bald, and be polled for thy delicate children: enlarge 45166thy baldness as the eagle: for they are carried into captivity from 45167thee. 45168 45169 45170 45171Micheas Chapter 2 45172 45173 45174The Israelites by their crying injustices provoke God to punish them. 45175He shall at last restore Jacob. 45176 451772:1. Woe to you that devise that which is unprofitable, and work evil 45178in your beds: in the morning light they execute it, because their hand 45179is against God. 45180 451812:2. And they have coveted fields, and taken them by violence, and 45182houses they have forcibly taken away: and oppressed a man and his 45183house, a man and his inheritance. 45184 451852:3. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I devise an evil against 45186this family: from which you shall not withdraw your necks, and you 45187shall not walk haughtily, for this is a very evil time. 45188 451892:4. In that day a parable shall be taken up upon you, and a song shall 45190be sung with melody by them that say: We are laid waste and spoiled: 45191the portion of my people is changed: how shall he depart from me, 45192whereas he is returning that will divide our land? 45193 45194How shall he depart, etc. . .How do you pretend to say that the Assyrian 45195is departing; when indeed he is coming to divide our lands amongst his 45196subjects? 45197 451982:5. Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the cord of a lot 45199in the assembly of the Lord. 45200 45201Thou shalt have none, etc. . .Thou shalt have no longer any lot or 45202inheritance in the land of the people of the Lord. 45203 452042:6. Speak ye not, saying: It shall not drop upon these, confusion 45205shall not take them. 45206 45207It shall not drop, etc. . .That is, the prophecy shall not come upon 45208these. Such were the sentiments of the people that were unwilling to 45209believe the threats of the prophets. 45210 452112:7. The house of Jacob saith: Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened or 45212are these his thoughts? Are not my words good to him that walketh 45213uprightly? 45214 452152:8. But my people, on the contrary, are risen up as an enemy: you have 45216taken away the cloak off from the coat: and them that passed harmless 45217you have turned to war. 45218 45219You have taken away, etc. . .You have even stripped people of their 45220necessary garments: and have treated such as were innocently passing on 45221the way, as if they were at war with you. 45222 452232:9. You have cast out the women of my people from their houses, in 45224which they took delight: you have taken my praise forever from their 45225children. 45226 45227You have cast out, etc. . .either by depriving them of their houses: or, 45228by your crimes, given occasion to their being carried away captives, 45229and their children, by that means, never learning to praise the Lord. 45230 452312:10. Arise ye, and depart, for there is no rest here for you. For that 45232uncleanness of the land, it shall be corrupted with a grievous 45233corruption. 45234 452352:11. Would God I were not a man that hath the spirit, and that I 45236rather spoke a lie: I will let drop to thee of wine, and of 45237drunkenness: and it shall be this people upon whom it shall drop. 45238 45239Would God, etc. . .The prophet could have wished, out of his love to his 45240people, that he might be deceived in denouncing to them these evils 45241that were to fall upon them: but by conforming himself to the will of 45242God, he declares to them, that he is sent to prophesy, literally to let 45243drop upon them, the wine of God's indignation, with which they should 45244be made drunk; that is, stupified and cast down. 45245 452462:12. I will assemble and gather together all of thee, O Jacob: I will 45247bring together the remnant of Israel, I will put them together as a 45248flock in the fold, as sheep in the midst of the sheepcotes, they shall 45249make a tumult by reason of the multitude of men. 45250 452512:13. For he shall go up that shall open the way before them: they 45252shall divide and pass through the gate, and shall come in by it: and 45253their king shall pass before them, and the Lord at the head of them. 45254 45255 45256 45257Micheas Chapter 3 45258 45259 45260For the sins of the rich oppressing the poor, of false prophets 45261flattering for lucre, and of judges perverting justice, Jerusalem and 45262the temple shall be destroyed. 45263 452643:1. And I said: Hear, O ye princes of Jacob, and ye chiefs of the 45265house of Israel: Is it not your part to know judgment, 45266 452673:2. You that hate good, and love evil: that violently pluck off their 45268skins from them and their flesh from their bones? 45269 452703:3. Who have eaten the flesh of my people, and have flayed their skin 45271off them: and have broken, and chopped their bones as for the kettle, 45272and as flesh in the midst of the pot. 45273 452743:4. Then shall they cry to the Lord, and he will not hear them: and he 45275will hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved 45276wickedly in their devices. 45277 452783:5. Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people 45279err: that bite with their teeth, and preach peace: and if a man give 45280not something into their mouth, they prepare war against him. 45281 452823:6. Therefore night shall be to you instead of vision, and darkness to 45283you instead of divination: and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, 45284and the day shall be darkened over them. 45285 452863:7. And they shall be confounded that see visions, and the diviners 45287shall be confounded: and they shall all cover their faces, because 45288there is no answer of God. 45289 452903:8. But yet I am filled with the strength of the spirit of the Lord, 45291with judgment and power: to declare unto Jacob his wickedness and to 45292Israel his sin. 45293 452943:9. Hear this, ye princes of the house of Jacob, and ye judges of the 45295house of Israel: you that abhor judgment and pervert all that is right. 45296 452973:10. You that build up Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. 45298 452993:11. Her princes have judged for bribes: and her priests have taught 45300for hire, and her prophets divined for money: and they leaned upon the 45301Lord, saying: Is not the Lord in the midst of us? no evil shall come 45302among us. 45303 453043:12. Therefore because of you, Sion shall be ploughed as a field, and 45305Jerusalem shall be as a heap of stones, and the mountain of the temple 45306as the high places of the forests. 45307 45308 45309 45310Micheas Chapter 4 45311 45312 45313The glory of the church of Christ, by the conversion of the Gentiles. 45314The Jews shall be carried captives to Babylon, and be delivered again. 45315 453164:1. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of 45317the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, 45318and high above the hills: and people shall flow to it. 45319 453204:2. And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up 45321to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and 45322he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the 45323law shall go forth out of Sion, and the word of the Lord out of 45324Jerusalem. 45325 453264:3. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations 45327afar off: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their 45328spears into spades: nation shall not take sword against nation: neither 45329shall they learn war anymore. 45330 45331Neither shall they learn, etc. . .The law of Christ is a law of peace; 45332and all his true subjects, as much as lies in them love and keep peace 45333with all the world. 45334 453354:4. And every man shall sit under his vine, and under his fig tree, 45336and there shall be none to make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord 45337of hosts hath spoken. 45338 453394:5. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god: but we 45340will walk in the name of the Lord, our God, for ever and ever. 45341 453424:6. In that day, saith the Lord, I will gather up her that halteth: 45343and her that I had cast out, I will gather up: and her whom I had 45344afflicted. 45345 453464:7. And I will make her that halted, a remnant: and her that had been 45347afflicted, a mighty nation: and the Lord will reign over them in Mount 45348Sion, from this time now and forever. 45349 453504:8. And thou, O cloudy tower of the flock, of the daughter of Sion, 45351unto thee shall it come: yea the first power shall come, the kingdom to 45352the daughter of Jerusalem. 45353 453544:9. Now, why art thou drawn together with grief? Hast thou no king in 45355thee, or is thy counselor perished, because sorrow hath taken thee as a 45356woman in labour. 45357 453584:10. Be in pain and labour, O daughter of Sion, as a woman that 45359bringeth forth: for now shalt thou go out of the city, and shalt dwell 45360in the country, and shalt come even to Babylon, there thou shalt be 45361delivered: there the Lord will redeem thee out of the hand of thy 45362enemies. 45363 453644:11. And now many nations are gathered together against thee, and they 45365say: Let her be stoned: and let our eye look upon Sion. 45366 453674:12. But they have not known the thoughts of the Lord, and have not 45368understood his counsel: because he hath gathered them together as the 45369hay of the floor. 45370 453714:13. Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn 45372iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces 45373many peoples, and shalt immolate the spoils of them to the Lord, and 45374their strength to the Lord of the whole earth. 45375 45376 45377 45378Micheas Chapter 5 45379 45380 45381The birth of Christ in Bethlehem: his reign and spiritual conquests. 45382 453835:1. Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have 45384laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the 45385judge of Israel. 45386 45387Daughter of the robber. . .Some understand this of Babylon; which robbed 45388and pillaged the temple of God: others understand it of Jerusalem; by 45389reason of the many rapines and oppressions committed there. 45390 453915:2. And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands 45392of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the 45393ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the 45394days of eternity. 45395 45396His going forth, etc. . .That is, he who as man shall be born in thee, 45397as God was born of his Father from all eternity. 45398 453995:3. Therefore will he give them up even till the time wherein she that 45400travaileth shall bring forth: and the remnant of his brethren shall be 45401converted to the children of Israel. 45402 454035:4. And he shall stand, and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the 45404height of the name of the Lord, his God: and they shall be converted, 45405for now shall he be magnified even to the ends of the earth. 45406 454075:5. And this man shall be our peace, when the Assyrian shall come into 45408our land, and when he shall set his foot in our houses: and we shall 45409raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 45410 45411The Assyrian. . .That is, the persecutors of the church: who are here 45412called Assyrians by the prophet: because the Assyrians were at that 45413time the chief enemies and persecutors of the people of God.--Ibid. 45414Seven shepherds, etc. . .Viz., the pastors of God's church, and the 45415defenders of the faith. The number seven in scripture is taken to 45416signify many: and when eight is joined with it, we are to understand 45417that the number will be very great. 45418 454195:6. And they shall feed the land of Assyria with the sword, and the 45420land of Nemrod with the spears thereof: and he shall deliver us from 45421the Assyrian when he shall come into our land, and when he shall tread 45422in our borders. 45423 45424They shall feed, etc. . .They shall make spiritual conquests in the 45425lands of their persecutors, with the word of the spirit, which is the 45426word of God. Eph. 6.17. 45427 454285:7. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, as 45429a dew from the Lord, and as drops upon the grass, which waiteth not for 45430man, nor tarrieth for the children of men. 45431 45432The remnant of Jacob. . .Viz., the apostles, and the first preachers of 45433the Jewish nation; whose doctrine, like dew, shall make the plants of 45434the converted Gentiles grow up, without waiting for any man to 45435cultivate them by human learning. 45436 454375:8. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst 45438of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a 45439young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, when he shall go through, 45440and tread down, and take there is none to deliver. 45441 45442As a lion, etc. . .This denotes the fortitude of these first preachers; 45443and their success in their spiritual enterprises. 45444 454455:9. Thy hand shall be lifted up over thy enemies, and all thy enemies 45446shall be cut off. 45447 454485:10. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I 45449will take away thy horses out of the midst of thee, and will destroy 45450thy chariots. 45451 45452I will take away thy horses, etc. . .Some understand this, and all that 45453follows to the end of the chapter, as addressed to the enemies of the 45454church. But it may as well be understood of the converts to the church: 45455who should no longer put their trust in any of these things. 45456 454575:11. And I will destroy the cities of thy land, and will throw down 45458all thy strong holds, and I will take away sorceries out of thy hand, 45459and there shall be no divinations in thee. 45460 454615:12. And I will destroy thy graven things, and thy statues, out of the 45462midst of thee: and thou shalt no more adore the works of thy hands. 45463 454645:13. And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: and will 45465crush thy cities. 45466 454675:14. And I will execute vengeance in wrath, and in indignation, among 45468all the nations that have not given ear. 45469 45470 45471 45472Micheas Chapter 6 45473 45474 45475God expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and sins: for 45476which they shall be punished. 45477 454786:1. Hear ye what the Lord saith: Arise, contend thou in judgment 45479against the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 45480 45481The mountains, etc. . .That is, the great ones, the princes of the 45482people. 45483 454846:2. Let the mountains hear the judgment of the Lord, and the strong 45485foundations of the earth: for the Lord will enter into judgment with 45486his people, and he will plead against Israel. 45487 454886:3. O my people, what have I done to thee, or in what have I molested 45489thee? answer thou me. 45490 454916:4. For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and delivered thee 45492out of the house of slaves: and I sent before thy face Moses, and 45493Aaron, and Mary. 45494 454956:5. O my people, remember, I pray thee, what Balach, the king of Moab, 45496purposed: and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him, from Setim to 45497Galgal, that thou mightest know the justice of the Lord. 45498 45499From Setim to Galgal. . .He puts them in mind of the favour he did them, 45500in not suffering them to be quite destroyed by the evil purpose of 45501Balach, and the wicked counsel of Balaam: and then gives them a hint of 45502the wonders he wrought, in order to bring them into the land of 45503Promise, by stopping the course of the Jordan, in their march from 45504Setim to Galgal. 45505 455066:6. What shall I offer to the Lord that is worthy? wherewith shall I 45507kneel before the high God? shall I offer holocausts unto him, and 45508calves of a year old? 45509 45510What shall I offer, etc. . .This is spoken in the person of the people, 45511desiring to be informed what they are to do to please God. 45512 455136:7. May the Lord be appeased with thousands of rams, or with many 45514thousands of fat he goats? shall I give my firstborn for my wickedness, 45515the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 45516 455176:8. I will shew thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth 45518of thee: Verily to do judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk 45519solicitous with thy God. 45520 455216:9. The voice of the Lord crieth to the city, and salvation shall be 45522to them that fear thy name: hear O ye tribes, and who shall approve it? 45523 455246:10. As yet there is a fire in the house of the wicked, the treasures 45525of iniquity, and a scant measure full of wrath. 45526 45527Full of wrath, etc. . .That is, highly provoking in the sight of God. 45528 455296:11. Shall I justify wicked balances, and the deceitful weights of the 45530bag? 45531 455326:12. By which her rich men were filled with iniquity, and the 45533inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue was deceitful in 45534their mouth. 45535 455366:13. And I therefore began to strike thee with desolation for thy 45537sins. 45538 455396:14. Thou shalt eat, but shalt not be filled: and thy humiliation 45540shall be in the midst of thee: and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not 45541save: and those whom thou shalt save, I will give up to the sword. 45542 455436:15. Thou shalt sow, but shalt not reap: thou shalt tread the olives, 45544but shalt not be anointed with oil: and the new wine, but shalt not 45545drink the wine. 45546 455476:16. For thou hast kept the statutes of Amri, and all the works of the 45548house of Achab: and thou hast walked according their wills, that I 45549should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing, 45550and you shall bear the reproach of my people. 45551 45552The statutes of Amri, etc. . .The wicked ways of Amri and Achab, 45553idolatrous kings. 45554 45555 45556 45557Micheas Chapter 7 45558 45559 45560The prophet laments, that notwithstanding all his preaching, the 45561generality are still corrupt in their manners: therefore their 45562desolation is at hand: but they shall be restored again and prosper; 45563and all mankind shall be redeemed by Christ. 45564 455657:1. Woe is me, for I am become as one that gleaneth in autumn the 45566grapes of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat, my soul desired the 45567first ripe figs. 45568 455697:2. The holy man is perished out of the earth, and there is none 45570upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood, every one hunteth 45571his brother to death. 45572 455737:3. The evil of their hands they call good: the prince requireth, and 45574the judge is for giving: and the great man hath uttered the desire of 45575his soul, and they have troubled it. 45576 455777:4. He that is best among them, is as a brier, and he that is 45578righteous, as the thorn of the hedge. The day of thy inspection, thy 45579visitation cometh: now shall be their destruction. 45580 455817:5. Believe not a friend, and trust not in a prince: keep the doors of 45582thy mouth from her that sleepeth in thy bosom. 45583 455847:6. For the son dishonoureth the father, and the daughter riseth up 45585against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law: and 45586a man's enemies are they of his own household. 45587 455887:7. But I will look towards the Lord, I will wait for God, my saviour: 45589my God will hear me. 45590 455917:8. Rejoice not, thou my enemy, over me, because I am fallen: I shall 45592arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light. 45593 455947:9. I will bear the wrath of the Lord, because I have sinned against 45595him: until he judge my cause, and execute judgement for me: he will 45596bring me forth into the light, I shall behold his justice. 45597 455987:10. And my enemy shall behold, and she shall be covered with shame, 45599who saith to me: Where is the Lord thy God? my eyes shall look down 45600upon her: now shall she be trodden under foot as the mire of the 45601streets. 45602 45603She shall be covered, etc. . .Viz., Babylon my enemy. 45604 456057:11. The day shall come, that thy walls may be built up: in that day 45606shall the law be far removed. 45607 45608The law. . .Viz., of thy enemies, who have tyrannized over thee. 45609 456107:12. In that day they shall come even from Assyria to thee, and to the 45611fortified cities: and from the fortified cities even to the river, and 45612from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 45613 456147:13. And the land shall be made desolate because of the inhabitants 45615thereof, and for the fruit of their devices. 45616 45617The land, etc. . .Viz., of Babylon. 45618 456197:14. Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy inheritance, them 45620that dwell alone in the forest, in the midst of Carmel: they shall feed 45621in Basan and Galaad, according to the days of old. 45622 456237:15. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt, I 45624will shew him wonders. 45625 456267:16. The nations shall see, and shall be confounded at all their 45627strength: they shall put the hand upon the mouth, their ears shall be 45628deaf. 45629 456307:17. They shall lick the dust like serpents, as the creeping things of 45631the earth, they shall be disturbed in their houses: they shall dread 45632the Lord, our God, and shall fear thee. 45633 456347:18. Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity, and passest 45635by the sin of the remnant of thy inheritance? he will send his fury in 45636no more, because he delighteth in mercy. 45637 456387:19. He will turn again, and have mercy on us: he will put away our 45639iniquities: and he will cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea. 45640 456417:20. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, the mercy to Abraham: which 45642thou hast sworn to our fathers from the days of old. 45643 45644 45645 45646 45647THE PROPHECY OF NAHUM 45648 45649 45650 45651NAHUM, whose name signifies A COMFORTER, was a native of Elcese, or 45652Elcesai, supposed to be a little town in Galilee. He prophesied, after 45653the ten tribes were carried into captivity, and foretold the utter 45654destruction of Ninive, by the Babylonians and Medes: which happened in 45655the reign of JOSIAS. 45656 45657 45658 45659Nahum Chapter 1 45660 45661 45662The majesty of God, his goodness to his people, and severity to his 45663enemies. 45664 456651:1. The burden of Ninive. The book of the vision of Nahum, the 45666Elcesite. 45667 456681:2. The Lord is a jealous God, and a revenger: the Lord is a revenger, 45669and hath wrath: the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he is 45670angry with his enemies. 45671 456721:3. The Lord is patient, and great in power, and will not cleanse and 45673acquit the guilty. The Lord's ways are in a tempest, and a whirlwind, 45674and clouds are the dust of his feet. 45675 456761:4. He rebuketh the sea and drieth it up: and bringeth all the rivers 45677to be a desert. Basan languisheth and Carmel: and the flower of Libanus 45678fadeth away. 45679 456801:5. The mountains tremble at him, and the hills are made desolate: and 45681the earth hath quaked at his presence, and the world, and all that 45682dwell therein. 45683 456841:6. Who can stand before the face of his indignation? and who shall 45685resist in the fierceness of his anger? his indignation is poured out 45686like fire: and the rocks are melted by him. 45687 456881:7. The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and 45689knoweth them that hope in him. 45690 456911:8. But with a flood that passeth by, he will make an utter end of the 45692place thereof: and darkness shall pursue his enemies. 45693 45694Of the place thereof. . .Viz., of Ninive. 45695 456961:9. What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make an utter end: 45697there shall not rise a double affliction. 45698 456991:10. For as thorns embrace one another: so while they are feasting and 45700drinking together, they shall be consumed as stubble that is fully dry. 45701 457021:11. Out of thee shall come forth one that imagineth evil against the 45703Lord, contriving treachery in his mind. 45704 45705Shall come forth one, etc. . .Some understand this of Sennacherib. But 45706as his attempt against the people seems to have been prior to the 45707prophecy of Nahum, we may better understand it of Holofernes. 45708 457091:12. Thus saith the Lord: Though they were perfect: and many of them 45710so, yet thus shall they be cut off, and he shall pass: I have afflicted 45711thee, and I will afflict thee no more. 45712 45713Though they were perfect, etc. . .That is, however strong or numerous 45714their forces may be, they shall be cut off; and their prince or leader 45715shall pass away and disappear. 45716 457171:13. And now I will break in pieces his rod with which he struck thy 45718back, and I will burst thy bonds asunder. 45719 457201:14. And the Lord will give a commandment concerning thee, that no 45721more of thy name shall be sown: I will destroy the graven and molten 45722thing out of the house of thy God, I will make it thy grave, for thou 45723art disgraced. 45724 45725Will give a commandment. . .That is, a decree, concerning thee, O king 45726of Ninive, thy seed shall fail, etc. 45727 457281:15. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good 45729tidings, and that preacheth peace: O Juda, keep thy festivals, and pay 45730thy vows: for Belial shall no more pass through thee again, he is 45731utterly cut off. 45732 45733Belial. . .The wicked one, viz., the Assyrian. 45734 45735 45736 45737Nahum Chapter 2 45738 45739 45740God sends his armies against Ninive to destroy it. 45741 457422:1. He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep 45743the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power 45744exceedingly. 45745 457462:2. For the Lord hath rendered the pride of Jacob, as the pride of 45747Israel: because the spoilers have laid them waste, and have marred 45748their vine branches. 45749 45750Hath rendered the pride of Jacob, etc. . .He hath punished Jacob for his 45751pride; and therefore Ninive must not expect to escape. Or else, 45752rendering the pride of Jacob means rewarding, that is, punishing Ninive 45753for the pride they exercised against Jacob. 45754 457552:3. The shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are 45756clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of his 45757preparation, and the drivers are stupefied. 45758 45759Of his mighty men, etc. . .He speaks of the Chaldeans and Medes sent to 45760destroy Ninive.--Ibid. Stupefied. . .consopiti. That is, they drive on 45761furiously like men intoxicated with wine. 45762 457632:4. They are in confusion in the ways, the chariots jostle one against 45764another in the streets: their looks are like torches, like lightning 45765running to and fro. 45766 457672:5. He will muster up his valiant men, they shall stumble in their 45768march: they shall quickly get upon the walls thereof: and a covering 45769shall be prepared. 45770 45771Stumble in their march. . .By running hastily on. 45772 457732:6. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is thrown down 45774to the ground. 45775 457762:7. And the soldier is led away captive: and her bondwomen were led 45777away mourning as doves, murmuring in their hearts. 45778 457792:8. And as for Ninive, her waters are like a great pool: but the men 45780flee away. They cry: Stand, stand, but there is none that will return 45781back. 45782 457832:9. Take ye the spoil of the silver, take the spoil of the gold: for 45784there is no end of the riches of all the precious furniture. 45785 457862:10. She is destroyed, and rent, and torn: the heart melteth, and the 45787knees fail, and all the loins lose their strength: and the faces of 45788them all are as the blackness of a kettle. 45789 457902:11. Where is now the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of 45791the young lions, to which the lion went, to enter in thither, the young 45792lion, and there was none to make them afraid? 45793 457942:12. The lion caught enough for his whelps, and killed for his 45795lionesses: and he filled his holes with prey, and his den with rapine. 45796 457972:13. Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will 45798burn thy chariots even to smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young 45799lions: and I will cut off thy prey out of the land, and the voice of 45800thy messengers shall be heard no more. 45801 45802 45803 45804Nahum Chapter 3 45805 45806 45807The miserable destruction of Ninive. 45808 458093:1. Woe to thee, O city of blood, all full of lies and violence: 45810rapine shall not depart from thee. 45811 458123:2. The noise of the whip, and the noise of the rattling of the 45813wheels, and of the neighing horse; and of the running chariot, and of 45814the horsemen coming up, 45815 458163:3. And of the shining sword, and of the glittering spear, and of a 45817multitude slain, and of a grievous destruction: and there is no end of 45818carcasses, and they shall fall down on their dead bodies. 45819 458203:4. Because of the multitude of the fornications of the harlot that 45821was beautiful and agreeable, and that made use of witchcraft, that sold 45822nations through her fornications, and families through her witchcrafts. 45823 458243:5. Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will 45825discover thy shame to thy face, and will shew thy nakedness to the 45826nations, and thy shame to kingdoms. 45827 458283:6. And I will cast abominations upon thee, and will disgrace thee, 45829and will make an example of thee. 45830 458313:7. And it shall come to pass that every one that shall see thee, 45832shall flee from thee, and shall say: Ninive is laid waste: who shall 45833bemoan thee? whence shall I seek a comforter for thee? 45834 458353:8. Art thou better than the populous Alexandria, that dwelleth among 45836the rivers? waters are round about it: the sea is its riches: the 45837waters are its walls. 45838 45839Populous Alexandria. . .No-Ammon. A populous city of Egypt destroyed by 45840the Chaldeans, and afterwards rebuilt by Alexander, and called 45841Alexandria. Others suppose No-Ammon to be the same as Diospolis. 45842 458433:9. Ethiopia and Egypt were the strength thereof, and there is no end: 45844Africa and the Libyans were thy helpers. 45845 458463:10. Yet she also was removed and carried into captivity: her young 45847children were dashed in pieces at the top of every street, and they 45848cast lots upon her nobles, and all her great men were bound in fetters. 45849 458503:11. Therefore thou also shalt be made drunk, and shalt be despised: 45851and thou shalt seek help from the enemies. 45852 458533:12. All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with their green 45854figs: if they be shaken, they shall fall into the mouth of the eater. 45855 458563:13. Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of 45857thy land shall be set wide open to thy enemies, the fire shall devour 45858thy bars. 45859 458603:14. Draw thee water for the siege, build up thy bulwarks: go into the 45861clay, and tread, work it and make brick. 45862 458633:15. There shall the fire devour thee: thou shalt perish by the sword, 45864it shall devour thee like the bruchus: assemble together like the 45865bruchus, make thyself many like the locust. 45866 458673:16. Thou hast multiplied thy merchandises above the stars of heaven: 45868the bruchus hath spread himself and flown away. 45869 458703:17. Thy guards are like the locusts: and thy little ones like the 45871locusts of locusts which swarm on the hedges in the day of cold: the 45872sun arose, and they flew away, and their place was not known where they 45873were. 45874 45875Locusts of locusts. . .The young locusts. 45876 458773:18. Thy shepherds have slumbered, O king of Assyria, thy princes 45878shall be buried: thy people are hid in the mountains, and there is none 45879to gather them. 45880 458813:19. Thy destruction is not hidden, thy wound is grievous: all that 45882have heard the fame of thee, have clapped their hands over thee: for 45883upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? 45884 45885 45886 45887 45888THE PROPHECY OF HABACUC 45889 45890 45891 45892HABACUC was a native of Bezocher, and prophesied in JUDA, some time 45893before the invasion of the CHALDEANS, which he foretold. He lived to 45894see this prophecy fulfilled, and for many years after, according to the 45895general opinion, which supposes him to be the same that was brought by 45896the ANGEL to DANIEL in BABYLON, Dan. 14. 45897 45898 45899 45900Habacuc Chapter 1 45901 45902 45903The prophet complains of the wickedness of the people: God reveals to 45904him the vengeance he is going to take of them by the Chaldeans. 45905 459061:1. The burden that Habacuc the prophet saw. 45907 45908Burden. . .Such prophecies more especially are called burdens, as 45909threaten grievous evils and punishments. 45910 459111:2. How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? shall I cry 45912out to thee suffering violence, and thou wilt not save? 45913 459141:3. Why hast thou shewn me iniquity and grievance, to see rapine and 45915injustice before me? and there is a judgment, but opposition is more 45916powerful. 45917 459181:4. Therefore the law is torn in pieces, and judgment cometh not to 45919the end: because the wicked prevaileth against the just, therefore 45920wrong judgment goeth forth. 45921 459221:5. Behold ye among the nations, and see: wonder, and be astonished: 45923for a work is done in your days, which no man will believe when it 45924shall be told. 45925 459261:6. For behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift 45927nation, marching upon the breadth of the earth, to possess the dwelling 45928places that are not their own. 45929 459301:7. They are dreadful, and terrible: from themselves shall their 45931judgment, and their burden proceed. 45932 459331:8. Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening 45934wolves; and their horsemen shall be spread abroad: for their horsemen 45935shall come from afar, they shall fly as an eagle that maketh haste to 45936eat. 45937 459381:9. They shall all come to the prey, their face is like a burning 45939wind: and they shall gather together captives as the sand. 45940 459411:10. And their prince shall triumph over kings, and princes shall be 45942his laughingstock: and he shall laugh at every strong hold, and shall 45943cast up a mount, and shall take it. 45944 459451:11. Then shall his spirit be changed, and he shall pass, and fall: 45946this is his strength of his god. 45947 45948Then shall his spirit, etc. . .Viz., the spirit of the king of Babylon. 45949It alludes to the judgment of God upon Nabuchodonosor, recorded Dan. 459504., and to the speedy fall of the Chaldean empire. 45951 459521:12. Wast thou not from the beginning, O Lord my God, my holy one, and 45953we shall not die? Lord, thou hast appointed him for judgment: and made 45954him strong for correction. 45955 459561:13. Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on 45957iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest 45958thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than 45959himself? 45960 459611:14. And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the 45962creeping things that have no ruler. 45963 459641:15. He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, 45965and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice. 45966 459671:16. Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will 45968sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and 45969his meat dainty. 45970 459711:17. For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare 45972continually to slay the nations. 45973 45974 45975 45976Habacuc Chapter 2 45977 45978 45979The prophet is admonished to wait with faith. The enemies of God's 45980people shall assuredly be punished. 45981 459822:1. I will stand upon my watch, and fix my foot upon the tower: and I 45983will watch, to see what will be said to me, and what I may answer to 45984him that reproveth me. 45985 45986Will stand, etc. . .Waiting to see what the Lord will answer to my 45987complaint, viz., that the Chaldeans, who are worse than the Jews, and 45988who attribute all their success to their own strength, or to their 45989idols, should nevertheless prevail over the people of the Lord. The 45990Lord's answer is, that the prophet must wait with patience and faith: 45991that all should be set right in due time; and the enemies of God and 45992his people punished according to their deserts. 45993 459942:2. And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it 45995plain upon tables: that he that readeth it may run over it. 45996 459972:3. For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, 45998and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall 45999surely come, and it shall not be slack. 46000 460012:4. Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in 46002himself: but the just shall live in his faith. 46003 460042:5. And as wine deceiveth him that drinketh it: so shall the proud man 46005be, and he shall not be honoured: who hath enlarged his desire like 46006hell: and is himself like death, and he is never satisfied: but will 46007gather together unto him all nations, and heap together unto him all 46008people. 46009 46010As wine deceiveth, etc. . .Viz., by affording only a short passing 46011pleasure; followed by the evils and disgrace that are the usual 46012consequences of drunkenness; so shall it be with the proud enemies of 46013the people of God; whose success affordeth them only a momentary 46014pleasure, followed by innumerable and everlasting evils. 46015 460162:6. Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a dark 46017speech concerning him: and it shall be said: Woe to him that heapeth 46018together that which is not his own? how long also doth he load himself 46019with thick clay? 46020 46021Thick clay. . .Ill-gotten goods, that, like mire, both burden and defile 46022the soul. 46023 460242:7. Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee: and they be 46025stirred up that shall tear thee, and thou shalt be a spoil to them? 46026 460272:8. Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all that shall be left of 46028the people shall spoil thee: because of men's blood, and for the 46029iniquity of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 46030 460312:9. Woe to him that gathereth together an evil covetousness to his 46032house, that his nest may be on high, and thinketh he may be delivered 46033out of the hand of evil. 46034 460352:10. Thou hast devised confusion to thy house, thou hast cut off many 46036people, and thy soul hath sinned. 46037 460382:11. For the stone shall cry out of the wall: and the timber that is 46039between the joints of the building, shall answer. 46040 460412:12. Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and prepareth a city 46042by iniquity. 46043 460442:13. Are not these things from the Lord of hosts? for the people shall 46045labour in a great fire: and the nations in vain, and they shall faint. 46046 46047Are not these things, etc. . .That is, shall not these punishments that 46048are here recorded, come from the Lord upon him that is guilty of such 46049crimes.--Ibid. The people shall labour, etc. . .Viz., the enemies of 46050God's people. 46051 460522:14. For the earth shall be filled, that men may know the glory of the 46053Lord, as waters covering the sea. 46054 460552:15. Woe to him that giveth drink to his friend, and presenteth his 46056gall, and maketh him drunk, that he may behold his nakedness. 46057 460582:16. Thou art filled with shame instead of glory: drink thou also, and 46059fall fast asleep: the cup of the right hand of the Lord shall compass 46060thee, and shameful vomiting shall be on thy glory. 46061 460622:17. For the iniquity of Libanus shall cover thee, and the ravaging of 46063beasts shall terrify them because of the blood of men, and the iniquity 46064of the land, and of the city, and of all that dwell therein. 46065 46066The iniquity of Libanus. . .That is, the iniquity committed by the 46067Chaldeans against the temple of God, signified here by the name of 46068Libanus. 46069 460702:18. What doth the graven thing avail, because the maker thereof hath 46071graven it, a molten, and a false image? because the forger thereof hath 46072trusted in a thing of his own forging, to make dumb idols. 46073 460742:19. Woe to him that saith to wood: Awake: to the dumb stone: Arise: 46075can it teach? Behold, it is laid over with gold, and silver, and there 46076is no spirit in the bowels thereof. 46077 460782:20. But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep 46079silence before him. 46080 46081 46082 46083Habacuc Chapter 3 46084 46085 460863:1. A PRAYER OF HABACUC THE PROPHET FOR IGNORANCES. 46087 46088For ignorances. . .That is, for the sins of his people. In the Hebrew, 46089it is Sigionoth: which some take to signify a musical instrument, or 46090tune; with which this sublime prayer and canticle was to be sung. 46091 460923:2. O Lord, I have heard thy hearing, and was afraid. O Lord, thy 46093work, in the midst of the years bring it to life: In the midst of the 46094years thou shalt make it known: when thou art angry, thou wilt remember 46095mercy. 46096 46097Thy hearing, etc. . .That is, thy oracles, the great and wonderful 46098things thou hast revealed to me; and I was struck with a reverential 46099fear and awe.--Ibid. Thy work. . .The great work of the redemption of 46100man, which thou wilt bring to life and light in the midst of the years, 46101when our calamities and miseries shall be at their height. 46102 461033:3. God will come from the south, and the holy one from mount Pharan: 46104His glory covered the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise. 46105 46106God will come from the south, etc. . .God himself will come to give us 46107his law, and to conduct us into the true land of promise: as heretofore 46108he came from the South (in the Hebrew Theman) and from mount Pharan to 46109give his law to his people in the desert. See Deut. 33.2. 46110 461113:4. His brightness shall be as the light: horns are in his hands: 46112There is his strength hid: 46113 46114Horns, etc. . .That is, strength and power, which, by a Hebrew phrase, 46115are called horns. Or beams of light, which come forth from his hands. 46116Or it may allude to the cross, in the horns of which the hands of 46117Christ were fastened, where his strength was hidden, by which he 46118overcame the world, and drove out death and the devil. 46119 461203:5. Death shall go before his face. And the devil shall go forth 46121before his feet. 46122 46123Death shall go before his face, etc. . .Both death and the devil shall 46124be the executioners of his justice against his enemies: as they were 46125heretofore against the Egyptians and Chanaanites. 46126 461273:6. He stood and measured the earth. He beheld, and melted the 46128nations: and the ancient mountains were crushed to pieces. The hills of 46129the world were bowed down by the journeys of his eternity. 46130 46131He beheld, etc. . .One look of his eye is enough to melt all the 46132nations, and to reduce them to nothing. For all heaven and earth 46133disappear when they come before his light. Apoc. 20.11. Ibid. The 46134ancient mountains, etc. . .By the mountains and hills are signified the 46135great ones of the world, that persecute the church, whose power was 46136quickly crushed by the Almighty. 46137 461383:7. I saw the tents of Ethiopia for their iniquity, the curtains of 46139the land of Madian shall be troubled. 46140 46141Ethiopia. . .the land of the Blacks, and Madian, are here taken for the 46142enemies of God and his people: who shall perish for their iniquity. 46143 461443:8. Wast thou angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or was thy wrath upon 46145the rivers? or thy indignation in the sea? Who will ride upon thy 46146horses: and thy chariots are salvation. 46147 46148With the rivers, etc. . .He alludes to the wonders wrought heretofore by 46149the Lord in favour of his people Israel, when the waters of the rivers, 46150viz., of Arnon and Jordan, and of the Red Sea, retired before their 46151face: when he came as it were with his horses and chariots to save them 46152when he took up his bow for their defence, in consequence of the oath 46153he had made to their tribes: when the mountains trembled, and the deep 46154stood with its waves raised up in a heap, as with hands lifted up to 46155heaven: when the sun and the moon stood still at his command, etc., to 46156comply with his anger, not against the rivers and sea, but against the 46157enemies of his people. How much more will he do in favour of his Son: 46158and against the enemies of his church? 46159 461603:9. Thou wilt surely take up thy bow: according to the oaths which 46161thou hast spoken to the tribes. Thou wilt divide the rivers of the 46162earth. 46163 461643:10. The mountains saw thee, and were grieved: the great body of 46165waters passed away. The deep put forth its voice: the deep lifted up 46166its hands. 46167 461683:11. The sun and the moon stood still in their habitation, in the 46169light of thy arrows, they shall go in the brightness of thy glittering 46170spear. 46171 461723:12. In thy anger thou wilt tread the earth under foot: in thy wrath 46173thou wilt astonish the nations. 46174 461753:13. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people: for salvation 46176with thy Christ. Thou struckest the head of the house of the wicked: 46177thou hast laid bare his foundation even to the neck. 46178 46179The head of the house of the wicked. . .Such was Pharao heretofore: such 46180shall Antichrist be hereafter. 46181 461823:14. Thou hast cursed his sceptres, the head of his warriors, them 46183that came out as a whirlwind to scatter me. Their joy was like that of 46184him that devoureth the poor man in secret. 46185 461863:15. Thou madest a way in the sea for thy horses, in the mud of many 46187waters. 46188 46189Thou madest a way in the sea, etc. . .To deliver thy people from the 46190Egyptian bondage: and thou shalt work the like wonders in the spiritual 46191way, to rescue the children of the church from their enemies. 46192 461933:16. I have heard and my bowels were troubled: my lips trembled at the 46194voice. Let rottenness enter into my bones, and swarm under me. That I 46195may rest in the day of tribulation: that I may go up to our people that 46196are girded. 46197 46198I have heard, etc. . .Viz., the evils that are now coming upon the 46199Israelites for their sins; and that shall come hereafter upon all 46200impenitent sinners; and the foresight that I have of these miseries 46201makes me willing to die, that I may be at rest, before this general 46202tribulation comes, in which all good things shall be withdrawn from the 46203wicked.--Ibid. That I may go up to our people, etc. . .That I may join 46204the happy company in the bosom of Abraham, that are girded, that is, 46205prepared for their journey, by which they shall attend their Lord, when 46206he shall ascend into heaven. To which high and happy place, my Jesus, 46207that is, my Saviour, the great conqueror of death and hell, shall one 46208day conduct me rejoicing and singing psalms of praise, ver. 18 and 19. 46209 462103:17. For the fig tree shall not blossom: and there shall be no spring 46211in the vines. The labour of the olive tree shall fail: and the fields 46212shall yield no food: the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and 46213there shall be no herd in the stalls. 46214 462153:18. But I will rejoice in the Lord: and I will joy in God my Jesus. 46216 462173:19. The Lord God is my strength: and he will make my feet like the 46218feet of harts: and he the conqueror will lead me upon my high places 46219singing psalms. 46220 46221 46222 46223 46224THE PROPHECY OF SOPHONIAS 46225 46226 46227 46228SOPHONIAS, whose name, saith St. Jerome, signifies The Watchman of the 46229Lord, or The hidden of the Lord, prophesied in the beginning of the 46230reign of Josias. He was a native of Sarabatha, and of the tribe of 46231Simeon, according to the more general opinion. He prophesied the 46232punishments of the Jews, for their idolatry and other crimes; also the 46233punishments that were to come on divers nations; the coming of Christ, 46234the conversion of the Gentiles, the blindness of the Jews, and their 46235conversion towards the end of the world. 46236 46237 46238 46239Sophonias Chapter 1 46240 46241 46242For divers enormous sins, the kingdom of Juda is threatened with severe 46243judgment. 46244 462451:1. The word of the Lord that came to Sophonias the son of Chusi, the 46246son of Godolias, the son of Amarias, the son of Ezechias, in the days 46247of Josias, the son of Amon king of Juda. 46248 462491:2. Gathering, I will gather together all things from off the face of 46250the land, saith the Lord: 46251 46252Gathering, I will gather, etc. . .That is, I will assuredly take away, 46253and wholly consume, either by captivity, or death, both men and beasts 46254out of this land. 46255 462561:3. I will gather man, and beast, I will gather the birds of the air, 46257and the fishes of the sea: and the ungodly shall meet with ruin: and I 46258will destroy men from off the face of the land, saith the Lord. 46259 462601:4. And I will stretch out my hand upon Juda, and upon all the 46261inhabitants of Jerusalem: and I will destroy out of this place the 46262remnant of Baal, and the names of the wardens of the temples with the 46263priests: 46264 46265The wardens, etc. . .Viz., of the temples of the idols. AEdituos, in 46266Hebrew, the Chemarims, that is, such as kindle the fires, or burn 46267incense. 46268 462691:5. And them that worship the host of heaven upon the tops of houses, 46270and them that adore, and swear by the Lord, and swear by Melchom. 46271 46272Melchom. . .The idol of the Ammonites. 46273 462741:6. And them that turn away from following after the Lord, and that 46275have not sought the Lord, nor searched after him. 46276 462771:7. Be silent before the face of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord 46278is near, for the Lord hath prepared a victim, he hath sanctified his 46279guests. 46280 462811:8. And it shall come to pass in the day of the victim of the Lord, 46282that I will visit upon the princes, and upon the king's sons, and upon 46283all such as are clothed with strange apparel: 46284 462851:9. And I will visit in that day upon every one that entereth 46286arrogantly over the threshold: them that fill the house of the Lord 46287their God with iniquity and deceit. 46288 462891:10. And there shall be in that day, saith the Lord, the noise of a 46290cry from the fish gate, and a howling from the Second, and a great 46291destruction from the hills. 46292 46293The Second. . .A part of the city so called. 46294 462951:11. Howl, ye inhabitants of the Morter. All the people of Chanaan is 46296hush, all are cut off that were wrapped up in silver. 46297 46298The Morter. . .Maktesh. A valley in or near Jerusalem. Ibid. The 46299people of Chanaan. . .So he calls the Jews, from their following the 46300wicked ways of the Chanaanites. 46301 463021:12. And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search 46303Jerusalem with lamps, and will visit upon the men that are settled on 46304their lees: that say in their hearts: The Lord will not do good, nor 46305will he do evil. 46306 46307Settled on their lees. . .That is, the wealthy, and such as live at 46308their ease, resting upon their riches, like wine upon the lees. 46309 463101:13. And their strength shall become a booty, and their houses as a 46311desert: and they shall build houses, and shall not dwell in them: and 46312they shall plant vineyards, and shall not drink the wine of them. 46313 463141:14. The great day of the Lord is near, it is near and exceeding 46315swift: the voice of the day of the Lord is bitter, the mighty man shall 46316there meet with tribulation. 46317 463181:15. That day is a day of wrath, a day of tribulation and distress, a 46319day of calamity and misery, a day of darkness and obscurity, a day of 46320clouds and whirlwinds, 46321 463221:16. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and 46323against the high bulwarks. 46324 463251:17. And I will distress men, and they shall walk like blind men, 46326because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be 46327poured out as earth, and their bodies as dung. 46328 463291:18. Neither shall their silver and their gold be able to deliver them 46330in the day of the wrath of the Lord: all the land shall be devoured by 46331the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy destruction 46332of all them that dwell in the land. 46333 46334 46335 46336Sophonias Chapter 2 46337 46338 46339An exhortation to repentance. The judgment of the Philistines, of the 46340Moabites, and the Ammonites; of the Ethiopians and the Assyrians. 46341 463422:1.Assemble yourselves together, be gathered together, O nation not 46343worthy to be loved: 46344 463452:2. Before the decree bring forth the day as dust passing away, before 46346the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the 46347Lord's indignation come upon you. 46348 463492:3. Seek the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, you that have wrought his 46350judgment: seek the just, seek the meek: if by any means you may be hid 46351in the day of the Lord's indignation. 46352 463532:4. For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ascalon shall be a desert, they 46354shall cast out Azotus at noonday, and Accaron shall be rooted up. 46355 463562:5. Woe to you that inhabit the sea coast, O nation of reprobates: the 46357word of the Lord upon you, O Chanaan, the land of the Philistines, and 46358I will destroy thee, so that there shall not be an inhabitant. 46359 463602:6. And the sea coast shall be the resting place of shepherds, and 46361folds for cattle: 46362 463632:7. And it shall be the portion of him that shall remain of the house 46364of Juda, there they shall feed: in the houses of Ascalon they shall 46365rest in the evening: because the Lord their God will visit them, and 46366bring back their captivity. 46367 463682:8. I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the blasphemies of the 46369children of Ammon, with which they reproached my people, and have 46370magnified themselves upon their borders. 46371 463722:9. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, 46373Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrha, the 46374dryness of thorns, and heaps of salt, and a desert even for ever: the 46375remnant of my people shall make a spoil of them, and the residue of my 46376nation shall possess them. 46377 463782:10. This shall befall them for their pride: because they have 46379blasphemed, and have been magnified against the people of the Lord of 46380hosts. 46381 463822:11. The Lord shall be terrible upon them, and shall consume all the 46383gods of the earth: and they shall adore him every man from his own 46384place, all the islands of the Gentiles. 46385 463862:12. You Ethiopians, also shall be slain with my sword. 46387 463882:13. And he will stretch out his hand upon the north, and will destroy 46389Assyria: and he will make the beautiful city a wilderness, and as a 46390place not passable, and as a desert. 46391 46392The beautiful city, viz. . .Ninive, which was destroyed soon after this, 46393viz., in the sixteenth year of the reign of Josias. 46394 463952:14. And flocks shall lie down in the midst thereof, all the beasts of 46396the nations: and the bittern and the urchin shall lodge in the 46397threshold thereof: the voice of the singing bird in the window, the 46398raven on the upper post, for I will consume her strength. 46399 464002:15. This is the glorious city that dwelt in security: that said in 46401her heart: I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a 46402desert, a place for beasts to lie down in? every one that passeth by 46403her shall hiss, and wag his hand. 46404 46405 46406 46407Sophonias Chapter 3 46408 46409 46410A woe to Jerusalem for her sins. A prophecy of the conversion of the 46411Gentiles, and of the poor of Israel: God shall be with them. The Jews 46412shall be converted at last. 46413 464143:1. Woe to the provoking and redeemed city, the dove. 46415 464163:2. She hath not hearkened to the voice, neither hath she received 46417discipline: she hath not trusted in the Lord, she drew not near to her 46418God. 46419 464203:3. Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges 46421are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning. 46422 464233:4. Her prophets are senseless, men without faith: her priests have 46424polluted the sanctuary, they have acted unjustly against the law. 46425 464263:5. The just Lord is in the midst thereof, he will not do iniquity: in 46427the morning, in the morning he will bring his judgment to light, and it 46428shall not be hid: but the wicked man hath not known shame. 46429 464303:6. I have destroyed the nations, and their towers are beaten down: I 46431have made their ways desert, so that there is none that passeth by: 46432their cities are desolate, there is not a man remaining, nor any 46433inhabitant. 46434 464353:7. I said: Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction: 46436and her dwelling shall not perish, for all things wherein I have 46437visited her: but they rose early, and corrupted all their thoughts. 46438 464393:8. Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in the day of my resurrection 46440that is to come, for my judgment is to assemble the Gentiles, and to 46441gather the kingdoms: and to pour upon them my indignation, all my 46442fierce anger: for with the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be 46443devoured. 46444 464453:9. Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all 46446may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one 46447shoulder. 46448 464493:10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, shall my suppliants, the 46450children of my dispersed people, bring me an offering. 46451 464523:11. In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein 46453thou hast transgressed against me for then I will take away out of the 46454midst of thee thy proud boasters, and thou shalt no more be lifted up 46455because of my holy mountain. 46456 464573:12. And I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and needy people: 46458and they shall hope in the name of the Lord. 46459 464603:13. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, nor 46461shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed, 46462and shall lie down, and there shall be none to make them afraid. 46463 464643:14. Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and 46465rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 46466 464673:15. The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy 46468enemies: the king of Israel, the Lord, is in the midst of thee, thou 46469shalt fear evil no more. 46470 464713:16. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: 46472Let not thy hands be weakened. 46473 464743:17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he 46475will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he 46476will be joyful over thee in praise. 46477 464783:18. The triflers that were departed from the law, I will gather 46479together, because they were of thee: that thou mayest no more suffer 46480reproach for them. 46481 464823:19. Behold I will cut off all that have afflicted thee at that time: 46483and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was cast 46484out: and I will get them praise, and a name, in all the land where they 46485had been put to confusion. 46486 464873:20. At that time, when I will bring you: and at the time that I will 46488gather you: for I will give you a name, and praise among all the people 46489of the earth, when I shall have brought back your captivity before your 46490eyes, saith the Lord. 46491 46492 46493 46494 46495THE PROPHECY OF AGGEUS 46496 46497 46498 46499AGGEUS was one of those that returned from the captivity of Babylon, in 46500the first year of the reign of king Cyrus. He was sent by the Lord, in 46501the second year of the reign of king Darius, the son of Hystaspes, to 46502exhort Zorobabel the prince of Juda, and Jesus the high priest, to the 46503building of the temple; which they had begun, but left off again 46504through the opposition of the Samaritans. In consequence of this 46505exhortation they proceeded in the building and finished the temple. And 46506the prophet was commissioned by the Lord to assure them that this 46507second temple should be more glorious than the former, because the 46508Messiah should honour it with his presence: signifying withal how much 46509the church of the New Testament should excel that of the Old Testament. 46510 46511 46512 46513Aggeus Chapter 1 46514 46515 46516The people are reproved for neglecting to build the temple. They are 46517encouraged to set about the work. 46518 465191:1. In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the 46520first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Aggeus 46521the prophet, to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, governor of Juda, and 46522to Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, saying: 46523 465241:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time 46525is not yet come for building the house of the Lord. 46526 465271:3. And the word of the Lord came by the hand of Aggeus the prophet, 46528saying: 46529 465301:4. Is it time for you to dwell in ceiled houses, and this house lie 46531desolate? 46532 465331:5. And now thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts to consider 46534your ways. 46535 465361:6. You have sowed much, and brought in little: you have eaten, but 46537have not had enough: you have drunk, but have not been filled with 46538drink: you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed: and he 46539that hath earned wages, put them into a bag with holes. 46540 465411:7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts upon your ways: 46542 465431:8. Go up to the mountain, bring timber, and build the house: and it 46544shall be acceptable to me, and I shall be glorified, saith the Lord. 46545 465461:9. You have looked for more, and behold it became less, and you 46547brought it home, and I blowed it away: why, saith the Lord of hosts? 46548because my house is desolate, and you make haste every man to his own 46549house. 46550 465511:10. Therefore the heavens over you were stayed from giving dew, and 46552the earth was hindered from yielding her fruits: 46553 465541:11. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, 46555and upon the corn, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon all 46556that the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon beasts, and upon 46557all the labour of the hands. 46558 465591:12. Then Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec 46560the high priest, and all the remnant of the people hearkened to the 46561voice of the Lord their God, and to the words of Aggeus the prophet, as 46562the Lord their God sent him to them: and the people feared before the 46563Lord. 46564 465651:13. And Aggeus the messenger of the Lord, as one of the messengers of 46566the Lord, spoke, saying to the people: I am with you, saith the Lord. 46567 465681:14. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of 46569Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son of Josedec 46570the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: and they 46571went in, and did the work in the house of the Lord of Hosts their God. 46572 46573 46574 46575Aggeus Chapter 2 46576 46577 46578Christ by his coming shall make the latter temple more glorious than 46579the former. The blessing of God shall reward their labour in building. 46580God's promise to Zorobabel. 46581 465822:1. In the four and twentieth day of the month, in the sixth month, in 46583the second year of Darius the king, they began. 46584 465852:2. And in the seventh month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of 46586Aggeus the prophet, saying: 46587 465882:3. Speak to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel the governor of Juda, and 46589to Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and to the rest of the 46590people, saying: 46591 465922:4. Who is left among you, that saw this house in its first glory? and 46593how do you see it now? is it not in comparison to that as nothing in 46594your eyes? 46595 465962:5. Yet now take courage, O Zorobabel, saith the Lord, and take 46597courage, Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and take courage, 46598all ye people of the land, saith the Lord of hosts: and perform (for I 46599am with you, saith the Lord of hosts) 46600 466012:6. The word that I convenanted with you when you came out of the land 46602of Egypt: and my spirit shall be in the midst of you: fear not. 46603 466042:7. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Yet one little while, and I will 46605move the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. 46606 466072:8. And I will move all nations: AND THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS SHALL 46608COME: and I will fill this house with glory: saith the Lord of hosts. 46609 466102:9. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. 46611 466122:10. Great shall be the glory of this last house more than of the 46613first, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place I will give peace, 46614saith the Lord of hosts. 46615 466162:11. In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second 46617year of Darius the king, the word of the Lord came to Aggeus the 46618prophet, saying: 46619 466202:12. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests the law, saying: 46621 466222:13. If a man carry sanctified flesh in the skirt of his garment, and 46623touch with his skirt, bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat: 46624shall it be sanctified? And the priests answered, and said: No. 46625 466262:14. And Aggeus said: If one that is unclean by occasion of a soul 46627touch any of all these things, shall it be defiled? And the priests 46628answered, and said: It shall be defiled. 46629 46630By occasion of a soul. . .That is, by having touched the dead; in which 46631case, according to the prescription of the law, Num. 19.13, 22, a 46632person not only became unclean himself, but made every thing that he 46633touched unclean. The prophet applies all this to the people, whose 46634souls remained unclean by neglecting the temple of God; and therefore 46635were not sanctified by the flesh they offered in sacrifice: but rather 46636defiled their sacrifices by approaching to them in the state of 46637uncleanness. 46638 466392:15. And Aggeus answered, and said: So is this people, and so is this 46640nation before my face, saith the Lord, and so is all the work of their 46641hands: and all that they have offered there, shall be defiled. 46642 466432:16. And now consider in your hearts, from this day and upward, before 46644there was a stone laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord. 46645 466462:17. When you went to a heap of twenty bushels, and they became ten: 46647and you went into the press, to press out fifty vessels, and they 46648became twenty. 46649 466502:18. I struck you with a blasting wind, and all the works of your hand 46651with the mildew and with hail, yet there was none among you that 46652returned to me, saith the Lord. 46653 466542:19. Set your hearts from this day, and henceforward, from the four 46655and twentieth day of the ninth month: from the day that the foundations 46656of the temple of the Lord were laid, and lay it up in your hearts. 46657 466582:20. Is the seed as yet sprung up? or hath the vine, and the fig tree, 46659and the pomegranate, and the olive tree as yet flourished? from this 46660day I will bless you. 46661 466622:21. And the word of the Lord came a second time to Aggeus in the four 46663and twentieth day of the month, saying: 46664 466652:22. Speak to Zorobabel the governor of Juda, saying: I will move both 46666heaven and earth. 46667 466682:23. And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and will destroy the 46669strength of the kingdom of the Gentiles: and I will overthrow the 46670chariot, and him that rideth therein: and the horses and their riders 46671shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. 46672 466732:24. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, I will take thee, O 46674Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, my servant, saith the Lord, and will 46675make thee as a signet, for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts. 46676 46677O Zorobabel. . .This promise principally relates to Christ, who was of 46678the race of Zorobabel. 46679 46680 46681 46682 46683THE PROPHECY OF ZACHARIAS 46684 46685 46686 46687ZACHARIAS began to prophesy in the same year as Aggeus, and upon the 46688same occasion. His prophecy is full of mysterious figures and promises 46689of blessings, partly relating to the synagogue, and partly to the 46690church of Christ. 46691 46692 46693 46694Zacharias Chapter 1 46695 46696 46697The prophet exhorts the people to return to God, and declares his 46698visions, by which he puts them in hopes of better times. 46699 467001:1. In the eighth month, in the second year of king Darius, the word 46701of the Lord came to Zacharias the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, 46702the prophet, saying: 46703 467041:2. The Lord hath been exceeding angry with your fathers. 46705 467061:3. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Turn ye 46707to me, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will turn to you, saith the Lord 46708of hosts. 46709 467101:4. Be not as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, 46711saying: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Turn ye from your evil ways, and 46712from your wicked thoughts: but they did not give ear, neither did they 46713hearken to me, saith the Lord. 46714 467151:5. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, shall they live 46716always? 46717 467181:6. But yet my words, and my ordinances, which I gave in charge to my 46719servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers, and they 46720returned, and said: As the Lord of hosts thought to do to us according 46721to our ways, and according to our devices, so he hath done to us. 46722 467231:7. In the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month which is 46724called Sabath, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came 46725to Zacharias the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the prophet, 46726saying: 46727 467281:8. I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he 46729stood among the myrtle trees, that were in the bottom: and behind him 46730were horses, red, speckled, and white. 46731 46732A man. . .An angel in the shape of a man. It was probably Michael, the 46733guardian angel of the church of God. 46734 467351:9. And I said: What are these, my Lord? and the angel that spoke in 46736me, said to me: I will shew thee what these are: 46737 467381:10. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered, and said: 46739These are they, whom the Lord hath sent to walk through the earth. 46740 46741These are they, etc. . .The guardian angels of provinces and nations. 46742 467431:11. And they answered the angel of the Lord, that stood among the 46744myrtle trees, and said: We have walked through the earth, and behold 46745all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest. 46746 467471:12. And the angel of the Lord answered, and said: O Lord of hosts, 46748how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the cities of 46749Juda, with which thou hast been angry? this is now the seventieth year. 46750 46751The seventieth year. . .Viz., from the beginning of the seige of 46752Jerusalem, in the ninth year of king Sedecias, to the second year of 46753king Darius. These seventy years of the desolation of Jerusalem and the 46754cities of Juda, are different from the seventy years of captivity 46755foretold by Jeremias; which began in the fourth year of Joakim, and 46756ended in the first year of king Cyrus. 46757 467581:13. And the Lord answered the angel, that spoke in me, good words, 46759comfortable words. 46760 467611:14. And the angel that spoke in me, said to me: Cry thou, saying: 46762Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Jerusalem, and Sion with 46763a great zeal. 46764 467651:15. And I am angry with a great anger with the wealthy nations: for I 46766was angry a little, but they helped forward the evil. 46767 467681:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord: I will return to Jerusalem in 46769mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts: and 46770the building line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. 46771 467721:17. Cry yet, saying: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: My cities shall 46773yet flow with good things: and the Lord will yet comfort Sion, and he 46774will yet choose Jerusalem. 46775 467761:18. And I lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold four horns. 46777 46778Four horns. . .The four horns represent the empires, or kingdoms, that 46779persecute and oppress the kingdom of God. 46780 467811:19. And I said to the angel that spoke in me: What are these? And he 46782said to me: These are the horns that have scattered Juda, and Israel, 46783and Jerusalem. 46784 467851:20. And the Lord shewed me four smiths. 46786 46787Four smiths. . .The four smiths, or carpenters ( for faber may signify 46788either) represent those whom God makes his instruments in bringing to 46789nothing the power of persecutors. 46790 467911:21. And I said: What come these to do? and he spoke, saying: These 46792are the horns which have scattered Juda every man apart, and none of 46793them lifted up his head: and these are come to fray them, to cast down 46794the horns of the nations, that have lifted up the horn upon the land of 46795Juda to scatter it. 46796 46797 46798 46799Zacharias Chapter 2 46800 46801 46802Under the name of Jerusalem, he prophesieth the progress of the church 46803of Christ, by the conversion of some Jews and many Gentiles. 46804 468052:1. And I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold a man, with a 46806measuring line in his hand. 46807 468082:2. And I said: Whither goest thou? and he said to me: To measure 46809Jerusalem, and to see how great is the breadth thereof, and how great 46810the length thereof. 46811 468122:3. And behold the angel that spoke in me went forth, and another 46813angel went out to meet him. 46814 468152:4. And he said to him: Run, speak to this young man, saying: 46816Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls, by reason of the multitude 46817of men, and of the beasts in the midst thereof. 46818 46819Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls. . .This must be understood 46820of the spiritual Jerusalem, the church of Christ. 46821 468222:5. And I will be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about: 46823and I will be in glory in the midst thereof. 46824 468252:6. O, O flee ye out of the land of the north, saith the Lord, for I 46826have scattered you into the four winds of heaven, saith the Lord. 46827 468282:7. O Sion, flee, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon: 46829 468302:8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: After the glory he hath sent me 46831to the nations that have robbed you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth 46832the apple of my eye: 46833 468342:9. For behold, I lift up my hand upon them, and they shall be a prey 46835to those that served them: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts 46836sent me. 46837 468382:10. Sing praise, and rejoice, O daughter of Sion: for behold I come, 46839and I will dwell in the midst of thee: saith the Lord. 46840 468412:11. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and 46842they shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: and 46843thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee. 46844 468452:12. And the Lord shall possess Juda his portion in the sanctified 46846land: and he shall yet choose Jerusalem. 46847 468482:13. Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is 46849risen up out of his holy habitation. 46850 46851 46852 46853Zacharias Chapter 3 46854 46855 46856In a vision Satan appeareth accusing the high priest. He is cleansed 46857from his sins. Christ is promised, and great fruit from his passion. 46858 468593:1. And the Lord shewed me Jesus the high priest standing before the 46860angel of the Lord: and Satan stood on his right hand to be his 46861adversary. 46862 46863Jesus. . .Alias, Josue, the son of Josedec, the high priest of that 46864time. 46865 468663:2. And the Lord said to Satan: The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan: and the 46867Lord that chose Jerusalem rebuke thee: Is not this a brand plucked out 46868of the fire? 46869 468703:3. And Jesus was clothed with filthy garments: and he stood before 46871the face of the angel. 46872 46873With filthy garments. . .Negligences and sins. 46874 468753:4. Who answered, and said to them that stood before him, saying: Take 46876away the filthy garments from him. And he said to him: Behold I have 46877taken away thy iniquity, and have clothed thee with change of garments. 46878 468793:5. And he said: Put a clean mitre upon his head: and they put a clean 46880mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments, and the angel of 46881the Lord stood. 46882 468833:6. And the angel of the Lord protested to Jesus, saying: 46884 468853:7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and 46886keep my charge, thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt keep my 46887courts, and I will give thee some of them that are now present here to 46888walk with thee. 46889 46890I will give thee, etc. . .Angels to attend and assist thee. 46891 468923:8. Hear, O Jesus thou high priest, thou and thy friends that dwell 46893before thee, for they are portending men: for behold, I WILL BRING MY 46894SERVANT THE ORIENT. 46895 46896Portending men. . .That is, men, who by words and actions are to 46897foreshew wonders that are to come.--Ibid. My servant the 46898Orient. . .Christ, who according to his humanity is the servant of God, 46899is called the Orient from his rising like the sun in the east to 46900enlighten the world. 46901 469023:9. For behold the stone that I have laid before Jesus: upon one stone 46903there are seven eyes: behold I will grave the graving thereof, saith 46904the Lord of hosts: and I will take away the iniquity of that land in 46905one day. 46906 46907The stone. . .Another emblem of Christ, the rock, foundation, and corner 46908stone of his church.--Ibid. Seven eyes. . .The manifold providence of 46909Christ over his church, or the seven gifts of the spirit of God.--Ibid. 46910One day. . .Viz., the day of the passion of Christ, the source of all 46911our good: when this precious stone shall be graved, that is, cut and 46912pierced, with whips, thorns, nails, and spear. 46913 469143:10. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, every man shall call his 46915friend under the vine and under the fig tree. 46916 46917 46918 46919Zacharias Chapter 4 46920 46921 46922The vision of the golden candlestick and seven lamps, and of the two 46923olive trees. 46924 469254:1. And the angel that spoke in me came again: and he waked me, as a 46926man that is wakened out of his sleep. 46927 469284:2. And he said to me: What seest thou? And I said: I have looked, 46929and behold a candlestick all of gold, and its lamp upon the top of it: 46930and the seven lights thereof upon it: and seven funnels for the lights 46931that were upon the top thereof. 46932 46933A candlestick, etc. . .The temple of God that was then in building; and 46934in a more sublime sense, the church of Christ. 46935 469364:3. And two olive trees over it: one upon the right side of the lamp, 46937and the other upon the left side thereof. 46938 469394:4. And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me, saying: 46940What are these things, my lord? 46941 469424:5. And the angel that spoke in me answered, and said to me: Knowest 46943thou not what these things are? And I said: No, my lord. 46944 469454:6. And he answered, and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the 46946Lord to Zorobabel, saying: Not with an army, nor by might, but by my 46947spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. 46948 46949To Zorobabel. . .This vision was in favour of Zorobabel: to assure him 46950of success in the building of the temple, which he had begun, signified 46951by the candlestick; the lamp of which, without any other industry, was 46952supplied with oil, dropping from the two olive trees, and distributed 46953by the seven funnels or pipes, to maintain the seven lights. 46954 469554:7. Who art thou, O great mountain, before Zorobabel? thou shalt 46956become a plain: and he shall bring out the chief stone, and shall give 46957equal grace to the grace thereof. 46958 46959Great mountain. . .So he calls the opposition made by the enemies of 46960God's people; which nevertheless, without an army or might on their 46961side, was quashed by divine providence.--Ibid. Shall give equal grace, 46962etc. . .Shall add grace to grace, or beauty to beauty. 46963 469644:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 46965 469664:9. The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundations of this house, 46967and his hands shall finish it: and you shall know that the Lord of 46968hosts hath sent me to you. 46969 469704:10. For who hath despised little days? and they shall rejoice, and 46971shall see the tin plummet in the hand of Zorobabel. These are the seven 46972eyes of the Lord, that run to and fro through the whole earth. 46973 46974Little days. . .That is, these small and feeble beginnings of the temple 46975of God.--Ibid. The tin plummet. . .Literally, the stone of tin. He 46976means the builder's plummet, which Zorobabel shall hold in his hand for 46977the finishing the building.--Ibid. The seven eyes. . .The providence of 46978God, that oversees and orders all things. 46979 469804:11. And I answered, and said to him: What are these two olive trees 46981upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof 46982? 46983 469844:12. And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive 46985branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of 46986gold? 46987 469884:13. And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And 46989I said: No, my lord. 46990 469914:14. And he said: These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord 46992of the whole earth. 46993 46994Two sons of oil. . .That is, the two anointed ones of the Lord; viz., 46995Jesus the high priest, and Zorobabel the prince. 46996 46997 46998 46999Zacharias Chapter 5 47000 47001 47002The vision of the flying volume, and of the woman in the vessel. 47003 470045:1. And I turned and lifted up my eyes: and I saw, and behold a volume 47005flying. 47006 47007A volume. . .That is, a parchment, according to the form of the ancient 47008books, which, from being rolled up, were called volumes. 47009 470105:2. And he said to me: What seest thou? And I said: I see a volume 47011flying: the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof 47012ten cubits. 47013 470145:3. And he said to me: This is the curse that goeth forth over the 47015face of the earth: for every thief shall be judged as is there written: 47016and every one that sweareth in like manner shall be judged by it. 47017 470185:4. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts: and it shall come 47019to the house of the thief, and to the house of him that sweareth 47020falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and 47021shall consume it, with the timber thereof, and the stones thereof. 47022 470235:5. And the angel went forth that spoke in me, and he said to me: Lift 47024up thy eyes, and see what this is, that goeth forth. 47025 470265:6. And I said: What is it? And he said: This is a vessel going 47027forth. And he said: This is their eye in all the earth. 47028 47029This is their eye. . .This is what they fix their eye upon: or this is a 47030resemblance and figure of them, viz., of sinners. 47031 470325:7. And behold a talent of lead was carried, and behold a woman 47033sitting in the midst of the vessel. 47034 470355:8. And he said: This is wickedness. And he cast her into the midst of 47036the vessel, and cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 47037 470385:9. And I lifted up my eyes and looked: and behold there came out two 47039women, and wind was in their wings, and they had wings like the wings 47040of a kite: and they lifted up the vessel between the earth and the 47041heaven. 47042 470435:10. And I said to the angel that spoke in me: Whither do these carry 47044the vessel? 47045 470465:11. And he said to me: That a house may be built for it in the land 47047of Sennaar, and that it may be established, and set there upon its own 47048basis. 47049 47050The land of Sennaar. . .Where Babel or Babylon was built, Gen. 11., 47051where note, that Babylon in holy writ is often taken for the city of 47052the devil: that is, for the whole congregation of the wicked: as 47053Jerusalem is taken for the city and people of God. 47054 47055 47056 47057Zacharias Chapter 6 47058 47059 47060The vision of the four chariots. Crowns are ordered for Jesus the high 47061priest, as a type of Christ. 47062 470636:1. And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold four 47064chariots came out from the midst of two mountains: and the mountains 47065were mountains of brass. 47066 47067Four chariots. . .The four great empires of the Chaldeans, Persians, 47068Grecians, and Romans. Or perhaps by the fourth chariot are represented 47069the kings of Egypt and of Asia, the descendants of Ptolemeus and 47070Seleucus. 47071 470726:2. In the first chariot were red horses, and in the second chariot 47073black horses. 47074 470756:3. And in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot 47076grisled horses, and strong ones. 47077 470786:4. And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me: What are 47079these, my lord? 47080 470816:5. And the angel answered, and said to me: These are the four winds 47082of the heaven, which go forth to stand before the Lord of all the 47083earth. 47084 470856:6. That in which were the black horses went forth into the land of 47086the north, and the white went forth after them: and the grisled went 47087forth to the land the south. 47088 47089The land of the north. . .So Babylon is called; because it lay to the 47090north in respect of Jerusalem. The black horses, that is, the Medes and 47091Persians: and after them Alexander and his Greeks, signified by the 47092white horses, went thither because they conquered Babylon, executed 47093upon it the judgments of God, which is signified, ver. 8, by the 47094expression of quieting his spirit.--Ibid. The land of the 47095south. . .Egypt, which lay to the south of Jerusalem, and was occupied 47096first by Ptolemeus, and then by the Romans. 47097 470986:7. And they that were most strong, went out, and sought to go, and to 47099run to and fro through all the earth. And he said: Go, walk throughout 47100the earth: and they walked throughout the earth. 47101 471026:8. And he called me, and spoke to me, saying: Behold they that go 47103forth into the land of the north, have quieted my spirit in the land of 47104the north. 47105 471066:9. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 47107 471086:10. Take of them of the captivity, of Holdai, and of Tobias, and of 47109Idaias; thou shalt come in that day, a shalt go into the house of 47110Josias, the son of Sophonias, who came out of Babylon. 47111 471126:11. And thou shalt take gold and silver: and shalt make crowns, and 47113thou shalt set them on the head of Jesus the son of Josedec, the high 47114priest. 47115 471166:12. And thou shalt speak to him, saying: Thus saith the Lord of 47117hosts, saying: BEHOLD A MAN, THE ORIENT IS HIS NAME: and under him 47118shall he spring up, a shall build a temple to the Lord. 47119 471206:13. Yea, he shall build a temple to the Lord: and he shall bear the 47121glory, and shall sit, and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a 47122priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them 47123both. 47124 47125Between them both. . .That is, he shall unite in himself the two offices 47126or dignities of king and priest. 47127 471286:14. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and Tobias, and Idaias, and to 47129Hem, the son of Sophonias, a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 47130 471316:15. And they that are far off, shall come and shall build in the 47132temple of the Lord: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts sent me 47133to you. But this shall come to pass, if hearing you will hear the voice 47134of the Lord your God. 47135 47136 47137 47138Zacharias Chapter 7 47139 47140 47141The people inquire concerning fasting: they are admonished to fast from 47142sin. 47143 471447:1. And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the 47145word of the Lord came to Zacharias, in the fourth day of the ninth 47146month, which is Casleu. 47147 471487:2. When Sarasar, and Rogommelech, and the men that were with him, 47149sent to the house of God, to entreat the face of the Lord: 47150 471517:3. To speak to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts, and to 47152the prophets, saying: Must I weep in the fifth month, or must I 47153sanctify myself as I have now done for many years? 47154 47155The fifth month. . .They fasted on the tenth day of the fifth month; 47156because on that day the temple was burnt. Therefore they inquire 47157whether they are to continue the fast, after the temple is rebuilt. See 47158this query answered in the 19th verse of the following chapter. 47159 471607:4. And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 47161 471627:5. Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying: 47163When you fasted, and mourned in the fifth and the seventh month for 47164these seventy years: did you keep a fast unto me? 47165 471667:6. And when you did eat and drink, did you not eat for yourselves, 47167and drink for yourselves? 47168 471697:7. Are not these the words which the Lord spoke by the hand of the 47170former prophets, when Jerusalem as yet was inhabited, and was wealthy, 47171both itself and the cities round about it, and there were inhabitants 47172towards the south, and in the plain? 47173 471747:8. And the word of the Lord came to Zacharias, saying: 47175 471767:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: Judge ye true judgment, and 47177shew ye mercy and compassion every man to his brother. 47178 471797:10. And oppress not the widow, and the fatherless, and the stranger, 47180and the poor: and let not a man devise evil in his heart against his 47181brother. 47182 471837:11. But they would not hearken, and they turned away the shoulder to 47184depart: and they stopped their ears, not to hear. 47185 471867:12. And they made their heart as the adamant stone, lest they should 47187hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts sent in his spirit 47188by the hand of the former prophets: so a great indignation came from 47189Lord of hosts. 47190 471917:13. And it came to pass that as he spoke, and they heard not: so 47192shall they cry, and I will not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. 47193 471947:14. And I dispersed them throughout all kingdoms, which they know 47195not: and the land was left desolate behind them, so that no man passed 47196through or returned: and they changed the delightful land into a 47197wilderness. 47198 47199 47200 47201Zacharias Chapter 8 47202 47203 47204Joyful promises to Jerusalem: fully verified in the church of Christ. 47205 472068:1. And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 47207 472088:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I have been jealous for Sion with a 47209great jealousy, and with a great indignation have I been jealous for 47210her. 47211 472128:3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am returned to Sion, and I will 47213dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city 47214of truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, The sanctified 47215mountain. 47216 472178:4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: There shall yet old men and old 47218women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem: and every man with his staff 47219in his hand through multitude of days. 47220 472218:5. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls, 47222playing in the streets thereof. 47223 472248:6. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If it seem hard in the eyes of the 47225remnant of this people in those days: shall it be hard in my eyes, 47226saith the Lord of hosts? 47227 472288:7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will save my people from 47229the land of the east, and from the land of the going down of the sun. 47230 472318:8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of 47232Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God in 47233truth and in justice. 47234 472358:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strengthened, you 47236that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, in 47237the day that the house of the Lord of hosts was founded, that the 47238temple might be built. 47239 472408:10. For before those days there was no hire for men, neither was 47241there hire for beasts, neither was there peace to him that came in, nor 47242to him that went out, because of the tribulation: and I let all men go 47243every one against his neighbour. 47244 472458:11. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people according 47246to the former days, saith the Lord of hosts. 47247 472488:12. But there shall be the seed of peace: the vine shall yield her 47249fruit, and the earth shall give her increase, and the heavens shall 47250give their dew: and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess 47251all these things. 47252 472538:13. And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the 47254Gentiles, O house of Juda, and house of Israel: so will I save you, and 47255you shall be a blessing: fear not, let your hands be strengthened. 47256 472578:14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: As I purposed io afflict you, 47258when your fathers had provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord, 47259 472608:15. And I had no mercy: so turning again I have thought in these days 47261to do good to the house of Juda, and Jerusalem: fear not. 47262 472638:16. These then are the things, which you shall do: Speak ye truth 47264every one to his neighbour; judge ye truth and judgment of peace in 47265your gates. 47266 472678:17. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his 47268friend: and love not a false oath: for all these are the things that I 47269hate, saith the Lord. 47270 472718:18. And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 47272 472738:19. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and 47274the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the 47275tenth shall be to the house of Juda, joy, and gladness, and great 47276solemnities: only love ye truth and peace. 47277 47278The fast of the fourth month, etc. . .They fasted, on the ninth day of 47279the fourth month, because on that day Nabuchodonosor took Jerusalem, 47280Jer. 52.6. On the tenth day of the fifth month, because on that day the 47281temple was burnt, Jer. 52.12. On the third day of the seventh month, 47282for the murder of Godolias, Jer. 41.2. And on the tenth day of the 47283tenth month, because on that day the Chaldeans began to besiege 47284Jerusalem, 4 Kings 25.1. All these fasts, if they will be obedient for 47285the future, shall be changed, as is here promised, into joyful 47286solemnities. 47287 472888:20. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, until people come and dwell in many 47289cities, 47290 472918:21. And the inhabitants go one to another, saying: Let us go, and 47292entreat the face of the Lord, and let us seek the Lord of hosts: I also 47293will go. 47294 472958:22. And many peoples, and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord 47296of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the face of the Lord. 47297 472988:23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: In those days, wherein ten men of 47299all languages of the Gentiles shall take hold, and shall hold fast the 47300skirt of one that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you: for we have 47301heard that God is with you. 47302 47303Ten men, etc. . .Many of the Gentiles became proselytes to the Jewish 47304religion before Christ: but many more were converted to Christ by the 47305apostles and other preachers of the Jewish nation. 47306 47307 47308 47309Zacharias Chapter 9 47310 47311 47312God will defend his church, and bring over even her enemies to the 47313faith. The meek coming of Christ, to bring peace, to deliver the 47314captives by his blood, and to give us all good things. 47315 473169:1. The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and of 47317Damascus the rest thereof: for the eye of man, and of all the tribes of 47318Israel is the Lord's. 47319 47320Hadrach. . .Syria. 47321 473229:2. Emath also in the borders thereof, and Tyre, and Sidon: for they 47323have taken to themselves to be exceeding wise. 47324 473259:3. And Tyre hath built herself a strong hold, and heaped together 47326silver as earth, and gold as the mire of the streets. 47327 473289:4. Behold the Lord shall possess her, and shall strike her strength 47329in the sea, and she shall be devoured with fire. 47330 473319:5. Ascalon shall see, and shall fear, and Gaza, and shall be very 47332sorrowful: and Accaron, because her hope is confounded: and the king 47333shall perish from Gaza, and Ascalon shall not be inhabited. 47334 473359:6. And the divider shall sit in Azotus, and I will destroy the pride 47336of the Philistines. 47337 473389:7. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his 47339abominations from between his teeth: and even he shall be left to our 47340God, and he shall be as a governor in Juda, and Accaron as a Jebusite. 47341 47342His blood. . .It is spoken of the Philistines, and particularly of 47343Azotus, (where the temple of Dagon was,) and contains a prophecy of the 47344conversion of that people from their bloody sacrifices and abominations 47345to the worship of the true God. 47346 473479:8. And I will encompass my house with them that serve me in war, 47348going and returning, and the oppressor shall no more pass through them: 47349for now I have seen with my eyes. 47350 47351That serve me in war. . .Viz., the Machabees. 47352 473539:9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of 47354Jerusalem: BEHOLD THY KING will come to thee, the just and saviour: he 47355is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass. 47356 473579:10. And I will destroy the chariot out of Ephraim, and the horse out 47358of Jerusalem, and the bow for war shall be broken: and he shall speak 47359peace to the Gentiles, and his power shall be from sea to sea, and from 47360the rivers even to the end of the earth. 47361 473629:11. Thou also by the blood of thy testament hast sent forth thy 47363prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. 47364 473659:12. Return to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope, I will render 47366thee double as I declare today. 47367 473689:13. Because I have bent Juda for me as a bow, I have filled Ephraim: 47369and I will raise up thy sons, O Sion, above thy sons, O Greece, and I 47370will make thee as the sword of the mighty. 47371 47372Thy sons, O Sion, etc. . .Viz., the apostles, who, in the spiritual way, 47373conquered the Greeks, and subdued them to Christ. 47374 473759:14. And the Lord God shall be seen over them, and his dart shall go 47376forth as lightning: and the Lord God will sound the trumpet, and go in 47377the whirlwind of the south. 47378 473799:15. The Lord of hosts will protect them: and they shall devour, and 47380subdue with the stones of the sling: and drinking they shall be 47381inebriated as it were with wine, and they shall be filled as bowls, and 47382as the horns of the altar. 47383 473849:16. And the Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock 47385of his people: for holy stones shall be lifted up over his land. 47386 47387Holy stones. . .The apostles, who shall be as pillars and monuments in 47388the church. 47389 473909:17. For what is the good thing of him, and what is his beautiful 47391thing, but the corn of the elect, and wine springing forth virgins? 47392 47393The corn, etc. . .His most excellent gift is the blessed Eucharist, 47394called here The corn, that is, the bread of the elect, and the wine 47395springing forth virgins; that is, maketh virgins to bud, or spring 47396forth, as it were, like flowers among thorns; because it has a 47397wonderful efficacy to give and preserve purity. 47398 47399 47400 47401Zacharias Chapter 10 47402 47403 47404God is to be sought to, and not idols. The victories of his church, 47405which shall arise originally from the Jewish nation. 47406 4740710:1. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the latter season, and the Lord will 47408make snows, and will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in 47409the field. 47410 4741110:2. For the idols have spoken what was unprofitable, and the diviners 47412have seen a lie, and the dreamers have spoken vanity: they comforted in 47413vain: therefore they were led away as a flock: they shall be afflicted, 47414because they have no shepherd. 47415 4741610:3. My wrath is kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit upon 47417the buck goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house 47418of Juda, and hath made them as the horse of his glory in the battle. 47419 4742010:4. Out of him shall come forth the corner, out of him the pin, out 47421of him the bow of battle, out of him ever exacter together. 47422 4742310:5. And they shall be as mighty men, treading under foot the mire of 47424the ways in battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with 47425them, and the riders of horses shall be confounded. 47426 4742710:6. And I will strengthen the house of Juda, and save the house of 47428Joseph: and I will bring them back again, because I will have mercy on 47429them: and they shall be as they were when I had not cast them off, for 47430I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. 47431 4743210:7. And they shall be as the valiant men of Ephraim, and their heart 47433shall rejoice as through wine: and their children shall see, and shall 47434rejoice, and their heart shall be joyful in the Lord. 47435 4743610:8. I will whistle for them, and I will gather them together, because 47437I have redeemed them: and I will multiply them as they were multiplied 47438before. 47439 4744010:9. And I will sow them among peoples: and from afar they shall 47441remember me: and they shall live with their children, and shall return. 47442 4744310:10. And I will bring them back out of the land of Egypt, and I will 47444gather them from among the Assyrians: and will bring them to the land 47445of Galaad, and Libanus, and place shall not be found for them. 47446 4744710:11. And he shall pass over the strait of the sea, and shall strike 47448the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the river shall be 47449confounded, and the pride of Assyria shall be humbled, and the sceptre 47450of Egypt shall depart. 47451 4745210:12. I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk in his 47453name, saith the Lord. 47454 47455 47456 47457Zacharias Chapter 11 47458 47459 47460The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. God's dealings with the 47461Jews, and their reprobation. 47462 4746311:1. Open thy gates, O Libanus, and let fire devour thy cedars. 47464 47465O Libanus. . .So Jerusalem, and more particularly the temple, is called 47466by the prophets, from its height, and from its being built of the 47467cedars of Libanus.--Ibid. Thy cedars. . .Thy princes and chief men. 47468 4746911:2. Howl, thou fir tree, for the cedar is fallen, for the mighty are 47470laid waste: howl, ye oaks of Basan, because the fenced forest is cut 47471down. 47472 4747311:3. The voice of the howling of the shepherds, because their glory is 47474laid waste: the voice of the roaring of the lions, because the pride of 47475the Jordan is spoiled. 47476 4747711:4. Thus saith the Lord my God: Feed the flock of the slaughter, 47478 4747911:5. Which they that possessed, slew, and repented not, and they sold 47480them, saying: Blessed be the Lord, we are become rich: and their 47481shepherds spared them not. 47482 4748311:6. And I will no more spare the inhabitants of the land, saith the 47484Lord: behold I will deliver the men, every one into his neighbour's 47485hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall destroy the land, 47486and I will not deliver it out of their hand. 47487 47488Every one into his neighbour's hand, etc. . .This alludes to the last 47489siege of Jerusalem, in which the different factions of the Jews 47490destroyed one another; and they that remained fell into the hands of 47491their king, that is, of the Roman emperor, of whom they had said, John 4749219.15, we have no king but Caesar. 47493 4749411:7. And I will feed the flock of slaughter for this, O ye poor of the 47495flock. And I took unto me two rods, one I called Beauty, and the other 47496I called a Cord, and I fed the flock. 47497 47498Two rods. . .Or shepherd's staves, meaning the different ways of God's 47499dealing with his people; the one, by sweet means, called the rod of 47500Beauty: the other, by bands and punishments, called the Cord. And where 47501both these rods are made of no use or effect by the obstinacy of 47502sinners, the rods are broken, and such sinners are given up to a 47503reprobate sense, as the Jews were. 47504 4750511:8. And I cut off three shepherds in one month, and my soul was 47506straitened in their regard: for their soul also varied in my regard. 47507 47508Three shepherds in one month. . .That is, in a very short time. By these 47509three shepherds probably are meant the latter princes and high priests 47510of the Jews, whose reign was short. 47511 4751211:9. And I said: I will not feed you: that which dieth, let it die: 47513and that which is cut off, let it be cut off: and let the rest devour 47514every one the flesh of his neighbour. 47515 4751611:10. And I took my rod that was called Beauty, and I cut it asunder 47517to make void my covenant, which I had made with all people. 47518 4751911:11. And it was made void in that day: and so the poor of the flock 47520that keep for me, understood that it is the word of the Lord. 47521 4752211:12. And I said to them: If it be good in your eyes, bring hither my 47523wages: and if not, be quiet. And they weighed for my wages thirty 47524pieces of silver. 47525 4752611:13. And the Lord said to me: Cast it to the statuary, a handsome 47527price, that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of 47528silver, and I cast them into the house of the Lord to the statuary. 47529 47530The statuary. . .The Hebrew word signifies also a potter. 47531 4753211:14. And I cut off my second rod that was called a Cord, that I might 47533break the brotherhood between Juda and Israel. 47534 4753511:15. And the Lord said to me: Take to thee yet the instruments of a 47536foolish shepherd. 47537 47538A foolish shepherd. . .This was to represent the foolish, that is, the 47539wicked princes and priests that should rule the people, before their 47540utter desolation. 47541 4754211:16. For behold I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who shall not 47543visit what is forsaken, nor seek what is scattered, nor heal what is 47544broken, nor nourish that which standeth, and he shall eat the flesh of 47545the fat ones, and break their hoofs. 47546 4754711:17. O shepherd, and idol, that forsaketh the flock: the sword upon 47548his arm and upon his right eye: his arm shall quite wither away, and 47549his right eye shall be utterly darkened. 47550 47551 47552 47553Zacharias Chapter 12 47554 47555 47556God shall protect his church against her persecutors. The mourning of 47557Jerusalem. 47558 4755912:1. The burden of the word of the Lord upon Israel. Thus saith the 47560Lord, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundations of 47561the earth, and formeth the spirit of man in him: 47562 4756312:2. Behold I will make Jerusalem a lintel of surfeiting to all the 47564people round about: and Juda also shall be in the siege against 47565Jerusalem. 47566 47567A lintel of surfeiting. . .That is, a door into which they shall seek to 47568enter, to glut themselves with blood; but they shall stumble, and fall 47569like men stupefied with wine. It seems to allude to the times of 47570Antiochus, and to the victories of the Machabees. 47571 4757212:3. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem 47573a burdensome stone to all people: all that shall lift it up shall be 47574rent and torn, and all the kingdoms of the earth shall be gathered 47575together against her. 47576 4757712:4. In that day, saith the Lord, I will strike every horse with 47578astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open my eyes upon 47579the house of Juda, and will strike every horse of the nations with 47580blindness. 47581 4758212:5. And the governors of Juda shall say in their heart: Let the 47583inhabitants of Jerusalem be strengthened for me in the Lord of hosts, 47584their God. 47585 4758612:6. In that day I will make the governors of Juda like a furnace of 47587fire amongst wood, and as a firebrand amongst hay: and they shall 47588devour all the people round about, to the right hand, and to the left: 47589and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place in Jerusalem. 47590 4759112:7. And the Lord shall save the tabernacles of Jada, as in the 47592beginning: that the house of David, and the glory of the inhabitants of 47593Jerusalem, may not boast and magnify themselves against Juda. 47594 4759512:8. In that day shall the Lord protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 47596and he that hath offended among them in that day shall be as David: and 47597the house of David, as that of God, as an angel of the Lord in their 47598sight. 47599 4760012:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to 47601destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 47602 4760312:10. And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the 47604inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of prayers: and they 47605shall look upon me, whom they have pierced: and they shall mourn for 47606him as one mourneth for an only son, and they shall grieve over him, as 47607the manner is to grieve for the death of the firstborn. 47608 4760912:11. In that day there shall be a great lamentation in Jerusalem like 47610the lamentation of Adadremmon in the plain of Mageddon. 47611 47612Adadremmon. . .A place near Mageddon, where the good king Josias was 47613slain, and much lamented by his people. 47614 4761512:12. And the land shall mourn: families and families apart: the 47616families of the house of David apart, and their women apart: 47617 4761812:13. The families of the house of Nathan apart, and their women 47619apart: the families of the house of Levi apart, and their women apart: 47620the families of Semei apart, and their women apart. 47621 4762212:14. All the rest of the families, families and families apart, and 47623their women apart. 47624 47625 47626 47627Zacharias Chapter 13 47628 47629 47630The fountain of Christ. Idols and false prophets shall be extirpated: 47631Christ shall suffer: his people shall be tried by fire. 47632 4763313:1. In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David, 47634and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: for the washing of the sinner, and 47635of the unclean woman. 47636 4763713:2. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, 47638that I will destroy the names of idols out of the earth, and they shall 47639be remembered no more: and I will take away the false prophets, and the 47640unclean spirit out of the earth. 47641 4764213:3. And it shall come to pass, that when any man shall prophesy any 47643more, his father and his mother that brought him into the world, shall 47644say to him: Thou shalt not live: because thou hast spoken a lie in the 47645name of the Lord. And his father, and his mother, his parents, shall 47646thrust him through, when he shall prophesy. 47647 4764813:4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be 47649confounded, every one by his own vision, when he shall prophesy, 47650neither shall they be clad with a garment of sackcloth, to deceive: 47651 4765213:5. But he shall say: I am no prophet, I am a husbandman: for Adam is 47653my example from my youth. 47654 4765513:6. And they shall say to him: What are these wounds in the midst of 47656thy hands? And he shall say: With these I was wounded in the house of 47657them that loved me. 47658 4765913:7. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that 47660cleaveth to me, saith the Lord of hosts: strike the shepherd, and the 47661sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand to the little ones. 47662 4766313:8. And there shall be in all the earth, saith the Lord, two parts in 47664it shall be scattered, and shall perish: but the third part shall be 47665left therein. 47666 4766713:9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine 47668them as silver is refined: and I will try them as gold is tried. They 47669shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say: Thou art my 47670people: and they shall say: The Lord is my God. 47671 47672 47673 47674Zacharias Chapter 14 47675 47676 47677After the persecutions of the church shall follow great prosperity. 47678Persecutors shall be punished: so shall all that will not serve God in 47679his church. 47680 4768114:1. Behold the days of the Lord shall come, and thy spoils shall be 47682divided in the midst of thee. 47683 4768414:2. And I will gather all nations to Jerusalem to battle, and the 47685city shall be taken, and the houses shall be rifled, and the women 47686shall be defiled: and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, 47687and the rest of the people shall not be taken away out of the city. 47688 47689I will gather, etc. . .This seems to be a prophecy of what was done by 47690Antiochus. 47691 4769214:3. Then the Lord shall go forth, and shall fight against those 47693nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 47694 4769514:4. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, 47696which is over against Jerusalem towards the east: and the mount of 47697Olives shall be divided in the midst thereof to the east, and to the 47698west with a very great opening, and half of the mountain shall be 47699separated to the north, and half thereof to the south. 47700 4770114:5. And you shall flee to the valley of those mountains, for the 47702valley of the mountains shall be joined even to the next, and you shall 47703flee as you fled from the face of the earthquake in the days of Ozias 47704king of Juda: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with 47705him. 47706 4770714:6. And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall be no 47708light, but cold and frost. 47709 47710No light. . .Viz., in that dismal time of persecution of Antiochus, when 47711it was neither day nor night: (ver. 7) because they neither had the 47712comfortable light of the day, nor the repose of the night. 47713 4771414:7. And there shall be one day, which is known to the Lord, not day 47715nor night: and in the time of the evening there shall be light: 47716 47717In the time of the evening there shall be light. . .An unexpected light 47718shall arise by the means of the Machabees, when things shall seem to be 47719at the worst. 47720 4772114:8. And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall 47722go out from Jerusalem: half of them to the east sea, and half of them 47723to the last sea: they shall be in summer and in winter. 47724 47725Living waters. . .Viz., the gospel of Christ. 47726 4772714:9. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day there 47728shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one. 47729 4773014:10. And all the land shall return even to the desert, from the hill 47731to Remmon to the south of Jerusalem: and she shall be exalted, and 47732shall dwell in her own place, from the gate of Benjamin even to the 47733place of the former gate, and even to the gate of the corners: and from 47734the tower of Hananeel even to the king's winepresses. 47735 47736All the land shall return, etc. . .This, in some measure, was verified 47737by the means of the Machabees: but is rather to be taken in a spiritual 47738sense, as relating to the propagation of the church, and kingdom of 47739Christ, the true Jerusalem, which alone shall never fall under the 47740anathema of destruction, or God's curse. 47741 4774214:11. And people shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more an 47743anathema: but Jerusalem shall sit secure. 47744 4774514:12. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord shall strike all 47746nations that have fought against Jerusalem: the flesh of every one 47747shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes 47748shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away 47749in their mouth. 47750 47751The flesh of every one shall consume, etc. . .Such judgments as these 47752have often fallen upon the persecutors of God's church, as appears by 47753many instances in history. 47754 4775514:13. In that day there shall be a great tumult from the Lord among 47756them: and a man shall take the hand of his neighbour, and his hand 47757shall be clasped upon his neighbour's hand. 47758 4775914:14. And even Juda shall fight against Jerusalem: and the riches of 47760all nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, 47761and garments in great abundance. 47762 47763Even Juda, etc. . .The carnal Jews, and other false brothers, shall join 47764in persecuting the church. 47765 4776614:15. And the destruction of the horse, and of the mule, and of the 47767camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts, that shall be in those 47768tents, shall be like this destruction. 47769 47770Shall be like this destruction. . .That is, the beasts shall be 47771destroyed as well as the men: the common soldiers as well as their 47772leaders. 47773 4777414:16. And all they that shall be left of all nations that came against 47775Jerusalem, shall go up from year to year, to adore the King, the Lord 47776of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 47777 47778They that shall be left, etc. . .That is, many of them that persecuted 47779the church shall be converted to its faith and communion.--Ibid. To keep 47780the feast of tabernacles. . .This feast was kept by the Jews in memory 47781of their sojourning forty years in the desert, in their way to the land 47782of promise. And in the spiritual sense is duly kept by all such 47783Christians as in their earthly pilgrimage are continually advancing 47784toward their true home, the heavenly Jerusalem; by the help of the 47785sacraments and sacrifice of the church. And they that neglect this must 47786not look for the kind showers of divine grace, to give fruitfulness to 47787their souls. 47788 4778914:17. And it shall come to pass, that he that shall not go up of the 47790families of the land to Jerusalem, to adore the King, the Lord of 47791hosts, there shall be no rain upon them. 47792 4779314:18. And if the family of Egypt go not up nor come: neither shall it 47794be upon them, but there shall be destruction wherewith the Lord will 47795strike all nations that will not go up to keep the feast of 47796tabernacles. 47797 4779814:19. This shall be the sin of Egypt, and this the sin of all nations, 47799that will not go up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 47800 4780114:20. In that day that which is upon the bridle of the horse shall be 47802holy to the Lord: and the caldrons in the house of the Lord shall be as 47803the phials before the altar. 47804 47805That which is upon the bridle, etc. . .The golden ornaments of the 47806bridles, etc., shall be turned into offerings in the house of God. And 47807there shall be an abundance of caldrons and phials for the sacrifices 47808of the temple; by which is meant, under a figure, the great resort 47809there shall be to the temple, that is, to the church of Christ, and her 47810sacrifice. 47811 4781214:21. And every caldron in Jerusalem and Juda shall be sanctified to 47813the Lord of hosts: and all that sacrifice shall come, and take of them, 47814and shall seethe in them: and the merchant shall be no more in the 47815house of the Lord of hosts in that day. 47816 47817The merchant shall be no more, etc. . .Or, as some render it, The 47818Chanaanite shall be no more, etc., that is, the profane and unbelievers 47819shall have no title to be in the house of the Lord. Or there shall be 47820no occasion for buyers or sellers of oxen, or sheep, or doves, in the 47821house of God, such as Jesus Christ cast out of the temple. 47822 47823 47824 47825 47826THE PROPHECY OF MALACHIAS 47827 47828 47829 47830MALACHIAS, whose name signifies The Angel of the Lord, was contemporary 47831with NEHEMIAS, and by some is believed to have been the same person as 47832ESDRAS. He was the last of the prophets, in the order of time, and 47833flourished about four hundred years before Christ. He foretells the 47834coming of Christ; the reprobation of the Jews and their sacrifices; and 47835the calling of the Gentiles, who shall offer up to God in every place 47836an acceptable sacrifice. 47837 47838 47839 47840Malachias Chapter 1 47841 47842 47843God reproaches the Jews with their ingratitude: and the priests for not 47844offering pure sacrifices. He will accept of the sacrifice that shall be 47845offered in every place among the Gentiles. 47846 478471:1. The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of 47848Malachias. 47849 478501:2. I have loved you, saith the Lord: and you have said: Wherein hast 47851thou loved us? Was not Esau brother to Jacob, saith the Lord, and I 47852have loved Jacob, 47853 47854I have loved Jacob, etc. . .I have preferred his posterity, to make them 47855my chosen people, and to lead them with my blessings, without any merit 47856on their part, and though they have been always ungrateful; whilst I 47857have rejected Esau, and executed severe judgments upon his posterity. 47858Not that God punished Esau, or his posterity, beyond their desert: but 47859that by his free election and grace he loved Jacob, and favoured his 47860posterity above their deserts. See the annotations upon Rom. 9. 47861 478621:3. But have hated Esau? and I have made his mountains a wilderness, 47863and given his inheritance to the dragons of the desert. 47864 478651:4. But if Edom shall say: We are destroyed, but we will return and 47866build up what hath been destroyed: thus saith the Lord of hosts: They 47867shall build up, and I will throw down: and they shall be called the 47868borders of wickedness, and the people with whom the Lord is angry for 47869ever. 47870 478711:5. And your eyes shall see: and you shall say: The Lord be magnified 47872upon the border of Israel. 47873 478741:6. The son honoureth the father, and the servant his master: if then 47875I be a father, where is my honour? and if I be a master, where is my 47876fear: saith the Lord of hosts. 47877 478781:7. To you, O priests, that despise my name, and have said: Wherein 47879have we despised thy name? You offer polluted bread upon my altar, and 47880you say: Wherein have we polluted thee? In that you say: The table of 47881the Lord is contemptible. 47882 478831:8. If you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you 47884offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it to thy prince, if 47885he will be pleased with it, or if he will regard thy face, saith the 47886Lord of hosts. 47887 478881:9. And now beseech ye the face of God, that he may have mercy on you, 47889(for by your hand hath this been done,) if by any means he will receive 47890your faces, saith the Lord of hosts. 47891 478921:10. Who is there among you, that will shut the doors, and will kindle 47893the fire on my altar gratis? I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord 47894of hosts: and I will not receive a gift of your hand. 47895 478961:11. For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is 47897great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and 47898there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great 47899among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts. 47900 47901A clean oblation. . .Viz., the precious body and blood of Christ in the 47902eucharistic sacrifice. 47903 479041:12. And you have profaned it in that you say: The table of the Lord 47905is defiled: and that which is laid thereupon is contemptible with the 47906fire that devoureth it. 47907 479081:13. And you have said: Behold of our labour, and you puffed it away, 47909saith the Lord of hosts, and you brought in of rapine the lame, and the 47910sick, and brought in an offering: shall I accept it at your hands, 47911saith the Lord? 47912 47913Behold of our labour, etc. . .You pretended labour and weariness, when 47914you brought your offering; and so made it of no value, by offering it 47915with an evil mind. Moreover, what you offered was both defective in 47916itself, and gotten by rapine and extortion. 47917 479181:14. Cursed is the deceitful man that hath in his flock a male, and 47919making a vow offereth in sacrifice that which is feeble to the Lord: 47920for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful 47921among the Gentiles. 47922 47923 47924 47925Malachias Chapter 2 47926 47927 47928The priests are sharply reproved for neglecting their covenant. The 47929evil of marrying with idolaters: and too easily putting away their 47930wives. 47931 479322:1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is to you. 47933 479342:2. If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give 47935glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will send poverty upon 47936you, and will curse your blessings, yea I will curse them, because you 47937have not laid it to heart. 47938 479392:3. Behold, I will cast the shoulder to you, and will scatter upon 47940your face the dung of your solemnities, and it shall take you away with 47941it. 47942 47943I will cast the shoulder to you. . .I will cast away the shoulder, which 47944in the law was appointed to be your portion, and fling it at you in my 47945anger: and will reject both you and your festivals like dung. 47946 479472:4. And you shall know that I sent you this commandment, that my 47948covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. 47949 479502:5. My covenant was with him of life and peace: and I gave him fear: 47951and he feared me, and he was afraid before my name. 47952 479532:6. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in 47954his lips: he walked with me in peace, and in equity, and turned many 47955away from iniquity. 47956 479572:7. For the lips of the priests shall keep knowledge, and they shall 47958seek the law at his mouth: because he is the angel of the Lord of 47959hosts. 47960 47961The angel. . .Viz., the minister and messenger. 47962 479632:8. But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to 47964stumble at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, saith the 47965Lord of hosts. 47966 479672:9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all 47968people, as you have not kept my ways, and have accepted persons in the 47969law. 47970 479712:10. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why then 47972doth every one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our 47973fathers? 47974 479752:11. Juda hath transgressed, and abomination hath been committed in 47976Israel, and in Jerusalem: for Juda hath profaned the holiness of the 47977Lord, which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 47978 479792:12. The Lord will cut off the man that hath done this, both the 47980master, and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that 47981offereth an offering to the Lord of hosts. 47982 479832:13. And this again have you done, you have covered the altar of the 47984Lord with tears, with weeping, and bellowing, so that I have no more a 47985regard to sacrifice, neither do I accept any atonement at your hands. 47986 47987With tears. . .Viz., by occasion of your wives, whom you have put away: 47988and who came to weep and lament before the altar. 47989 479902:14. And you have said: For what cause? Because the Lord hath been 47991witness between thee, and the wife of thy youth, whom thou hast 47992despised: yet she was thy partner, and the wife of thy covenant. 47993 479942:15. Did not one make her, and she is the residue of his spirit? And 47995what doth one seek, but the seed of God? Keep then your spirit, and 47996despise not the wife of thy youth. 47997 479982:16. When thou shalt hate her put her away, saith the Lord, the God of 47999Israel: but iniquity shalt cover his garment, saith the Lord of hosts, 48000keep your spirit, and despise not. 48001 48002Iniquity shall cover his garment. . .Viz., of every man that putteth 48003away his wife without just cause; notwithstanding that God permitted it 48004in the law, to prevent the evil of murder. 48005 480062:17. You have wearied the Lord with your words, and you said: Wherein 48007have we wearied him? In that you say: Every one that doth evil, is good 48008in the sight of the Lord, and such please him: or surely where is the 48009God of judgment? 48010 48011 48012 48013Malachias Chapter 3 48014 48015 48016Christ shall come to his temple, and purify the priesthood. They that 48017continue in their evil ways shall be punished: but true penitents shall 48018receive a blessing. 48019 480203:1. Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my 48021face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the 48022testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold, he 48023cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. 48024 48025My angel. . .Viz., John the Baptist, the messenger of God, and 48026forerunner of Christ. 48027 480283:2. And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who 48029shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the 48030fuller's herb: 48031 480323:3. And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall 48033purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, 48034and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. 48035 480363:4. And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, 48037as in the days of old, and in the ancient years. 48038 480393:5. And I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness 48040against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that 48041oppress the hireling in his wages, the widows, and the fatherless: and 48042oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith the Lord of hosts. 48043 480443:6. For I am the Lord, and I change not: and you the sons of Jacob are 48045not consumed. 48046 480473:7. For from the days of your fathers you have departed from my 48048ordinances, and have not kept them: Return to me, and I will return to 48049you, saith the Lord of hosts. And you have said: Wherein shall we 48050return? 48051 480523:8. Shall a man afflict God, for you afflict me. And you have said: 48053Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits. 48054 480553:9. And you are cursed with want, and you afflict me, even the whole 48056nation of you. 48057 480583:10. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat 48059in my house, and try me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you 48060the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to 48061abundance. 48062 480633:11. And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he shall not 48064spoil the fruit of your land: neither shall the vine in the field be 48065barren, saith the Lord of hosts. 48066 480673:12. And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a 48068delightful land, saith the Lord of hosts. 48069 480703:13. Your words have been unsufferable to me, saith the Lord. 48071 480723:14. And you have said: What have we spoken against thee? You have 48073said: He laboureth in vain that serveth God, and what profit is it that 48074we have kept his ordinances, and that we have walked sorrowful before 48075the Lord of hosts? 48076 480773:15. Wherefore now we call the proud people happy, for they that work 48078wickedness are built up, and they have tempted God and are preserved. 48079 480803:16. Then they that feared the Lord, spoke every one with his 48081neighbour: and the Lord gave ear, and heard it: and a book of 48082remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord, and 48083think on his name. 48084 480853:17. And they shall be my special possession, saith the Lord of hosts, 48086in the day that I do judgment: and I will spare them, as a man spareth 48087his son that serveth him. 48088 480893:18. And you shall return, and shall see the difference between the 48090just and the wicked: and between him that serveth God, and him that 48091serveth him not. 48092 48093 48094 48095Malachias Chapter 4 48096 48097 48098The judgment of the wicked, and reward of the just. An exhortation to 48099observe the law. Elias shall come for the conversion of the Jews. 48100 481014:1. For behold the day shall come kindled as a furnace: and all the 48102proud, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that 48103cometh shall set them on fire, saith the Lord of hosts, it shall not 48104leave them root, nor branch. 48105 481064:2. But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, 48107and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like 48108calves of the herd. 48109 481104:3. And you shall tread down the wicked when they shall be ashes under 48111the sole of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the Lord of 48112hosts. 48113 481144:4. Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him in 48115Horeb for all Israel, the precepts, and judgments. 48116 481174:5. Behold, I will send you Elias the prophet, before the coming of 48118the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 48119 481204:6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and 48121the heart of the children to their fathers: lest I come, and strike the 48122earth with anathema. 48123 48124He shall turn the heart, etc. . .By bringing over the Jews to the faith 48125of Christ, he shall reconcile them to their fathers, viz., the 48126partiarchs and prophets; whose hearts for many ages have been turned 48127away from them, because of their refusing to believe in Christ.--Ibid. 48128With anathema. . .In the Hebrew, Cherem, that is, with utter 48129destruction. 48130 48131 48132 48133 48134THE FIRST BOOK OF MACHABEES 48135 48136 48137 48138These books are so called, because they contain the history of the 48139people of God under the command of Judas Machabeus and his brethren: 48140and he, as some will have it, was surnamed Machabeus, from carrying in 48141his ensigns, or standards, those words of Exodus 15.11, Who is like to 48142thee among the strong, O Lord: in which the initial letters, in the 48143Hebrew, are M. C. B. E. I. It is not known who is the author of these 48144books. But as to their authority, though they are not received by the 48145Jews, saith St. Augustine, (lib. 18, De Civ. Dei, c. 36,) they are 48146received by the church: who, in settling her canon of the scriptures, 48147chose rather to be directed by the tradition she had received from the 48148apostles of Christ, than by that of the scribes and Pharisees. And as 48149the church has declared these two Books canonical, even in two general 48150councils, viz., Florence and Trent, there can be no doubt of their 48151authenticity. 48152 48153 48154 481551 Machabees Chapter 1 48156 48157 48158The reign of Alexander and his successors: Antiochus rifles and 48159profanes the temple of God: and persecutes unto death all that will not 48160forsake the law of God, and the religion of their fathers. 48161 481621:1. Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the 48163Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of 48164Cethim, had overthrown Darius, king of the Persians and Medes: 48165 481661:2. He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew 48167the kings of the earth: 48168 481691:3. And he went through even to the ends of the earth: and took the 48170spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him. 48171 481721:4. And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was 48173exalted and lifted up: 48174 481751:5. And he subdued countries of nations, and princes; and they became 48176tributaries to him. 48177 481781:6. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that 48179he should die. 48180 481811:7. And he called his servants, the nobles that were brought up with 48182him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was 48183yet alive. 48184 48185Divided his kingdom, etc. . .This is otherwise related by Q. Curtius; 48186though he acknowledges that divers were of that opinion, and that it 48187had been delivered by some authors, lib. 10. But here we find from the 48188sacred text, that he was in error. 48189 481901:8. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. 48191 481921:9. And his servants made themselves kings, every one in his place: 48193 481941:10. And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and 48195their sons after them, many years; and evils were multiplied in the 48196earth. 48197 481981:11. And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the 48199Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: 48200and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of 48201the Greeks. 48202 48203Antiochus the Illustrius. . .Epiphanes, the younger son of Antiochus the 48204Great, who usurped the kingdom, to the prejudice of his nephew 48205Demetrius, son of his elder brother Seleucus Philopater.--Ibid. Of the 48206kingdom of the Greeks. . .Counting, not from the beginning of the reign 48207of Alexander, but from the first year of Seleucus Nicator. 48208 482091:12. In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they 48210persuaded many, saying: Let us go and make a covenant with the heathens 48211that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils 48212have befallen us. 48213 482141:13. And the word seemed good in their eyes. 48215 482161:14. And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the 48217king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the 48218heathens. 48219 482201:15. And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the 48221laws of the nations: 48222 482231:16. And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy 48224covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do 48225evil: 48226 482271:17. And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a 48228mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two 48229kingdoms. 48230 482311:18. And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, 48232and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships: 48233 482341:19. And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt; but Ptolemee was 48235afraid at his presence and fled, and many were wounded unto death. 48236 482371:20. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took 48238the spoils of the land of Egypt. 48239 482401:21. And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt, in the hundred and 48241forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel. 48242 482431:22. And he went up to Jerusalem, with a great multitude. 48244 482451:23. And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the 48246golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels 48247thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the 48248vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, 48249and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them 48250all in pieces. 48251 482521:24. And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he 48253took the hidden treasures, which he found: and when he had taken all 48254away, he departed into his own country. 48255 482561:25. And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly. 48257 482581:26. And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where 48259they were: 48260 482611:27. And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and 48262the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was 48263changed. 48264 482651:28. Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that sat in 48266the marriage bed, mourned: 48267 482681:29. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the 48269house of Jacob was covered with confusion. 48270 482711:30. And after two full years, the king sent the chief collector of 48272his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a 48273great multitude. 48274 48275The chief collector, etc. . .Apollonius. 48276 482771:31. And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit; and they believed 48278him. 48279 482801:32. And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great 48281slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel. 48282 482831:33. And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and 48284threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about: 48285 482861:34. And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle 48287they possessed. 48288 482891:35. And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, 48290and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them: 48291 48292The city of David. . .That is, the castle of Sion. 48293 482941:36. And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they 48295fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour; and victuals, 48296and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem; 48297 482981:37. And laid them up there: and they became a great snare. 48299 483001:38. And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an 48301evil devil in Israel. 48302 48303An evil devil. . .That is, an adversary watching constantly to do harm, 48304as the evil spirit is always watching and seeking whom he may devour. 48305 483061:39. And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and 48307defiled the holy place. 48308 483091:40. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them and 48310the city was made the habitation of strangers, and she became a 48311stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her. 48312 483131:41. Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days 48314were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were 48315brought to nothing. 48316 483171:42. Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her 48318excellency was turned into mourning. 48319 483201:43. And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people 48321should be one: and every one should leave his own law. 48322 483231:44. And all nations consented, according to the word of king 48324Antiochus. 48325 483261:45. And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed 48327to idols, and profaned the sabbath. 48328 483291:46. And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to 48330Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda; that they should follow the 48331law of the nations of the earth. 48332 483331:47. And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be 48334made in the temple of God. 48335 483361:48. And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days to be 48337celebrated. 48338 483391:49. And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy 48340people of Israel. 48341 483421:50. And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and 48343swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts, 48344 483451:51. And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let 48346their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the 48347end that they should forget the law, and should change all the 48348justifications of God. 48349 483501:52. And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king 48351Antiochus, should be put to death. 48352 483531:53. According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom: and 48354he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these 48355things. 48356 483571:54. And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice. 48358 483591:55. Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken 48360the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land: 48361 483621:56. And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and 48363into the secret places of fugitives. 48364 483651:57. On the fifteenth day of the month, Casleu, in the hundred and 48366forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of 48367desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all 48368the cities of Juda round about: 48369 48370The abominable idol, etc. . .Viz., the statue of Jupiter Olympius. 48371 483721:58. And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses 48373and in the streets. 48374 483751:59. And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law 48376of God: 48377 483781:60. And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord 48379were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to 48380death, according to the edict of the king. 48381 483821:61. Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that 48383were found in the cities month after month. 48384 483851:62. And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed 48386upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God. 48387 483881:63. Now the women that circumcised their children were slain 48389according to the commandment of king Antiochus, 48390 483911:64. And they hanged the children about their neck in all their 48392houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death. 48393 483941:65. And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that 48395they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die, than 48396to be defiled with unclean meats: 48397 483981:66. And they would not break the holy law of God and they were put to 48399death: 48400 484011:67. And there was very great wrath upon the people. 48402 48403 48404 484051 Machabees Chapter 2 48406 48407 48408The zeal and success of Mathathias. His exhortation to his sons at his 48409death. 48410 484112:1. In those days arose Mathathias, the son of John, the son of 48412Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in 48413the mountain of Modin: 48414 484152:2. And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddis: 48416 484172:3. And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi; 48418 484192:4. And Judas, who was called Machabeus; 48420 484212:5. And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron; and Jonathan, who was 48422surnamed Apphus. 48423 484242:6. These saw the evils that were done in the people of Juda, and in 48425Jerusalem. 48426 484272:7. And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I born to see the 48428ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there, 48429when it is given into the hands of the enemies? 48430 484312:8. The holy places are come into the hands of strangers her temple is 48432become as a man without honour. 48433 484342:9. The vessels of her glory are carried away captive; her old men are 48435murdered in the streets, and her young men are fallen by the sword of 48436the enemies. 48437 484382:10. What nation hath not inherited her kingdom, and gotten of her 48439spoils? 48440 484412:11. All her ornaments are taken away. She that was free is made a 48442slave. 48443 484442:12. And behold our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our glory is laid 48445waste, and the Gentiles have defiled them. 48446 484472:13. To what end then should we live any longer? 48448 484492:14. And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and they covered 48450themselves with haircloth, and made great lamentation. 48451 484522:15. And they that were sent from king Antiochus, came thither, to 48453compel them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to 48454burn incense, and to depart from the law of God. 48455 484562:16. And many of the people of Israel consented and came to them: but 48457Mathathias and his sons stood firm. 48458 484592:17. And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to 48460Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable, and great man in this 48461city, and adorned with sons, and brethren. 48462 484632:18. Therefore, come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as 48464all nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in 48465Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons shall be in the number of the king's 48466friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many presents. 48467 484682:19. Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all 48469nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service 48470of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments: 48471 484722:20. I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers. 48473 484742:21. God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake 48475the law, and the justices of God: 48476 484772:22. We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will 48478we sacrifice and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another 48479way. 48480 484812:23. Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew 48482in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the 48483city of Modin, according to the king's commandment. 48484 484852:24. And Mathathias saw, and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and 48486his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running 48487upon him he slew him upon the altar: 48488 484892:25. Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them 48490to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar, 48491 484922:26. And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri, the son of 48493Salomi. 48494 484952:27. And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: 48496Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, 48497let him follow me. 48498 484992:28. So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that 48500they had in the city. 48501 485022:29. Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into 48503the desert 48504 485052:30. And they abode there, they and their children, and their wives, 48506and their cattle: because afflictions increased upon them. 48507 485082:31. And it was told to the king's men, and to the army that was in 48509Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the 48510king's commandment, were gone away into the secret places in the 48511wilderness, and that many were gone after them. 48512 485132:32. And forthwith they went out towards them, and made war against 48514them on the sabbath day. 48515 485162:33. And they said to them: Do you still resist? come forth, and do 48517according to the edict of king Antiochus, and you shall live. 48518 485192:34. And they said: We will not come forth, neither will we obey the 48520king's edict, to profane the sabbath day. 48521 485222:35. And they made haste to give them battle. 48523 485242:36. But they answered them not, neither did they cast a stone at 48525them, nor stopped up the secret places, 48526 485272:37. Saying: Let us all die in our innocency: and heaven and earth 48528shall be witnesses for us, that you put us to death wrongfully. 48529 485302:38. So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they were slain, 48531with their wives, and their children, and their cattle, to the number 48532of a thousand persons. 48533 485342:39. And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they mourned for 48535them exceedingly. 48536 485372:40. And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall all do as our 48538brethren have done, and not fight against the heathens for our lives, 48539and our justifications, they will now quickly root us out of the earth. 48540 485412:41. And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever shall come up 48542against us to fight on the sabbath day, we will fight against him: and 48543we will not all die, as our brethren that were slain in the secret 48544places. 48545 485462:42. Then was assembled to them the congregation of the Assideans, the 48547stoutest of Israel, every one that had a good will for the law. 48548 48549The Assideans. . .A set of men that led a religious life; and were 48550zealous for the law and worship of God. 48551 485522:43. And all they that fled from the evils, joined themselves to them, 48553and were a support to them. 48554 485552:44. And they gathered an army, and slew the sinners in their wrath, 48556and the wicked men in their indignation: and the rest fled to the 48557nations for safety. 48558 485592:45. And Mathathias and his friends went round about, and they threw 48560down the altars: 48561 485622:46. And they circumcised all the children whom they found in the 48563confines of Israel that were uncircumcised: and they did valiantly. 48564 485652:47. And they pursued after the children of pride, and the work 48566prospered in their hands: 48567 485682:48. And they recovered the law out of the hands of the nations, and 48569out of the hands of the kings: and they yielded not the horn to the 48570sinner. 48571 48572They yielded not the horn, etc. . .That is, they suffered not the power 48573of Antiochus, that man of sin, to abolish the law and religion of God. 48574 485752:49. Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die, and he said to 48576his sons: Now hath pride and chastisement gotten strength, and the time 48577of destruction, and the wrath of indignation: 48578 485792:50. Now, therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give 48580your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 48581 485822:51. And call to remembrance the works of the fathers, which they have 48583done in their generations: and you shall receive great glory, and an 48584everlasting name. 48585 485862:52. Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reputed 48587to him unto justice? 48588 485892:53. Joseph, in the time of his distress, kept the commandment, and he 48590was made lord of Egypt. 48591 485922:54. Phinees, our father, by being fervent in the zeal of God, 48593received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 48594 485952:55. Jesus, whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler in Israel. 48596 48597Jesus. . .That is, Josue. 48598 485992:56. Caleb, for bearing witness before the congregation, received an 48600inheritance. 48601 486022:57. David, by his mercy, obtained the throne of an everlasting 48603kingdom. 48604 486052:58. Elias, while he is full of zeal for the law, was taken up into 48606heaven. 48607 486082:59. Ananias and Azarias and Misael, by believing, were delivered out 48609of the flame. 48610 486112:60. Daniel, in his innocency, was delivered out of the mouth of the 48612lions. 48613 486142:61. And thus consider, through all generations: that none that trust 48615in him, fail in strength. 48616 486172:62. And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung and 48618worms: 48619 486202:63. Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, 48621because he is returned into his earth and his thought is come to 48622nothing. 48623 486242:64. You, therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave manfully in the 48625law: for by it you shall be glorious. 48626 486272:65. And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel: 48628give ear to him always, and he shall be a father to you. 48629 486302:66. And Judas Machabeus, who is valiant and strong from his youth up, 48631let him be the leader of your army, and he shall manage the war of the 48632people. 48633 486342:67. And you shall take to you all that observe the law: and revenge 48635ye the wrong of your people. 48636 486372:68. Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed to the 48638precepts of the law. 48639 486402:69. And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers. 48641 486422:70. And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year: and he was 48643buried by his sons in the sepulchres of his fathers, in Modin, and all 48644Israel mourned for him with great mourning. 48645 48646 48647 486481 Machabees Chapter 3 48649 48650 48651Judas Machabeus succeeds his father, and overthrows Apollonius and 48652Seron. A great army is sent against him out of Syria. He prepares his 48653people for battle by fasting and prayer. 48654 486553:1. Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his stead. 48656 486573:2. And all his brethren helped him, and all they that had joined 48658themselves to his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle 48659of Israel. 48660 486613:3. And he got his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a 48662giant, and girt his warlike armour about him in battles, and protected 48663the camp with his sword. 48664 486653:4. In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring 48666for his prey. 48667 486683:5. And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and them that 48669troubled his people he burnt with fire: 48670 486713:6. And his enemies were driven away for fear of him, and all the 48672workers of iniquity were troubled: and salvation prospered in his hand. 48673 486743:7. And he grieved many kings, and made Jacob glad with his works, and 48675his memory is blessed for ever. 48676 486773:8. And he went through the cities of Juda, and destroyed the wicked 48678out of them, and turned away wrath from Israel. 48679 486803:9. And he was renowned even to the utmost part of the earth, and he 48681gathered them that were perishing. 48682 486833:10. And Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, and a numerous and 48684great army from Samaria, to make war against Israel. 48685 486863:11. And Judas understood it, and went forth to meet him: and he 48687overthrew him, and killed him: and many fell down slain, and the rest 48688fled away. 48689 486903:12. And he took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, 48691and fought with it all his lifetime. 48692 486933:13. And Seron, captain of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had 48694assembled a company of the faithful, and a congregation with him, 48695 486963:14. And he said I will get me a name, and will be glorified in the 48697kingdom, and will overthrow Judas, and those that are with him, that 48698have despised the edict of the king. 48699 487003:15. And he made himself ready; and the host of the wicked went up 48701with him, strong succours, to be revenged of the children of Israel. 48702 487033:16. And they approached even as far as Bethoron: and Judas went forth 48704to meet him, with a small company. 48705 487063:17. But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to 48707Judas: How shall we, being few, be able to fight against so great a 48708multitude, and so strong, and we are ready to faint with fasting today? 48709 487103:18. And Judas said: It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in 48711the hands of a few: and there is no difference in the sight of the God 48712of heaven to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company: 48713 487143:19. For the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but 48715strength cometh from heaven. 48716 487173:20. They come against us with an insolent multitude, and with pride, 48718to destroy us, and our wives, and our children, and to take our spoils. 48719 487203:21. But we will fight for our lives, and our laws: 48721 487223:22. And the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face, but as 48723for you, fear them not 48724 487253:23. And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, he rushed suddenly 48726upon them: and Seron, and his host were overthrown before him: 48727 487283:24. And he pursued him by the descent of Bethoron, even to the plain, 48729and there fell of them eight hundred men, and the rest fled into the 48730land of the Philistines. 48731 487323:25. And the fear of Judas, and of his brethren, and the dread of 48733them, fell upon all the nations round about them. 48734 487353:26. And his fame came to the king, and all nations told of the 48736battles of Judas. 48737 487383:27. Now when king Antiochus heard these words, he was angry in his 48739mind: and he sent, and gathered the forces of all his kingdom, an 48740exceeding strong army. 48741 487423:28. And he opened his treasury, and gave out pay to the army for a 48743year: and he commanded them, that they should be ready for all things. 48744 487453:29. And he perceived that the money of his treasures failed, and that 48746the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension, and 48747the evil that he had brought upon the land, that he might take away the 48748laws of old times: 48749 487503:30. And he feared that he should not have as formerly enough for 48751charges and gifts, which he had given before with a liberal hand: for 48752he had abounded more than the kings that had been before him. 48753 487543:31. And he was greatly perplexed in mind, and purposed to go into 48755Persia, and to take tributes of the countries, and to gather much 48756money. 48757 487583:32. And he left Lysias, a nobleman of the blood royal to oversee the 48759affairs of the kingdom from the river Euphrates even to the river of 48760Egypt: 48761 487623:33. And to bring up his son, Antiochus, till he came again. 48763 487643:34. And he delivered to him half the army, and the elephants: and he 48765gave him charge concerning all that he would have done, and concerning 48766the inhabitants of Judea, and Jerusalem. 48767 487683:35. And that he should send an army against them to destroy and root 48769out the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take 48770away the memory of them from that place. 48771 487723:36. And that he should settle strangers, to dwell in all their 48773coasts, and divide their land by lot. 48774 487753:37. So the king took the half of the army that remained, and went 48776forth from Antioch, the chief city of his kingdom, in the hundred and 48777forty-seventh year: and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went 48778through the higher countries. 48779 487803:38. Then Lysias chose Ptolemee, the son of Dorymenus, and Nicanor, 48781and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's friends. 48782 487833:39. And he sent with them forty thousand men, and seven thousand 48784horsemen: to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, according to 48785the king's orders. 48786 487873:40. So they went forth with all their power, and came, and pitched 48788near Emmaus, in the plain country. 48789 487903:41. And the merchants of the countries heard the fame of them: and 48791they took silver and gold in abundance, and servants: and they came 48792into the camp, to buy the children of Israel for slaves: and there were 48793joined to them the forces of Syria, and of the land of the strangers. 48794 487953:42. And Judas, and his brethren, saw that evils were multiplied, and 48796that the armies approached to their borders: and they knew the orders 48797the king had given to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them. 48798 487993:43. And they said, every man to his neighbour: Let us raise up the 48800low condition of our people, and let us fight for our people, and our 48801sanctuary. 48802 488033:44. And the assembly was gathered, that they might be ready for 48804battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion. 48805 488063:45. Now Jerusalem was not inhabited, but was like a desert: there was 48807none of her children that went in or out: and the sanctuary was trodden 48808down: and the children of strangers were in the castle, there was the 48809habitation of the Gentiles: and joy was taken away from Jacob, and the 48810pipe and harp ceased there. 48811 488123:46. And they assembled together, and came to Maspha, over against 48813Jerusalem: for in Maspha was a place of prayer heretofore in Israel. 48814 488153:47. And they fasted that day, and put on haircloth, and put ashes 48816upon their heads: and they rent their garments: 48817 488183:48. And they laid open the books of the law, in which the Gentiles 48819searched for the likeness of their idols: 48820 488213:49. And they brought the priestly ornaments, and the first fruits and 48822tithes, and stirred up the Nazarites that had fulfilled their days: 48823 488243:50. And they cried with a loud voice toward heaven, saying: What 48825shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them? 48826 488273:51. For thy holies are trodden down, and are profaned, and thy 48828priests are in mourning, and are brought low. 48829 488303:52. And behold the nations are come together against us, to destroy 48831us: thou knowest what they intend against us. 48832 488333:53. How shall we be able to stand before their face, unless thou, O 48834God, help us? 48835 488363:64. Then they sounded with trumpets, and cried out with a loud voice. 48837 488383:66. And after this, Judas appointed captains over the people, over 48839thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. 48840 488413:66. And he said to them that were building houses, or had betrothed 48842wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, that they should 48843return every man to his house, according to the law. 48844 488453:67. So they removed the camp, and pitched on the south side of 48846Emmaus. 48847 488483:68. And Judas said: Gird yourselves, and be valiant men, and be ready 48849against the morning, that you may fight with these nations that are 48850assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. 48851 488523:59. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to see the evils 48853of our nation, and of the holies: 48854 488553:60. Nevertheless, as it shall be the will of God in heaven, so be it 48856done. 48857 48858 48859 488601 Machabees Chapter 4 48861 48862 48863Judas routs the king's army. Gorgias flies before him. Lysias comes 48864against him with a great army, but is defeated. Judas cleanses the 48865temple, sets up a new altar, and fortifies the sanctuary. 48866 488674:1. Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand of the best 48868horsemen; and they removed out of the camp by night. 48869 488704:2. That they might come upon the camp of the Jews and strike them 48871suddenly: and the men that were of the castle were their guides. 48872 488734:3. And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant men, to 48874attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus. 48875 488764:4. For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp 48877 48878The army was dispersed. . .That is, in different divisions, not 48879altogether encamped. 48880 488814:5. And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas, and found no 48882man; and he sought them in the mountains: for he said: These men flee 48883from us. 48884 488854:6. And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three 48886thousand men only, who neither had armour nor swords: 48887 48888Who neither had armour nor swords. . .Such as they wished for. 48889 488904:7. And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was strong, and the 48891men in breastplates, and the horsemen round about them, and these were 48892trained up to war. 48893 488944:8. And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear ye not their 48895multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault. 48896 488974:9. Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, 48898when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army. 48899 489004:10. And now let us cry to heaven, and the Lord will have mercy on us, 48901and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and will destroy this 48902army before our face this day: 48903 489044:11. And all nations shall know that there is one that redeemeth and 48905delivereth Israel. 48906 489074:12. And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming 48908against them. 48909 489104:13. And they went out of the camp to battle, and they that were with 48911Judas sounded the trumpet. 48912 489134:14. And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were routed, and fled 48914into the plain. 48915 489164:15. But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword and they pursued 48917them as far as Gezeron, and even to the plains of Idumea, and of 48918Azotus, and of Jamnia: and there fell of them to the number of three 48919thousand men. 48920 489214:16. And Judas returned again with his army that followed him. 48922 489234:17. And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the spoils; for there 48924is war before us: 48925 489264:18. And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountain: but stand 48927ye now against our enemies, and overthrow them, and you shall take the 48928spoils afterwards with safety. 48929 489304:19. And as Judas was speaking these words, behold part of them 48931appeared, looking forth from the mountain. 48932 489334:20. And Gorgias saw that his men were put to flight, and that they 48934had set fire to the camp: for the smoke that was seen declared what was 48935done. 48936 489374:21. And when they had seen this, they were seized with great fear, 48938seeing at the same time Judas and his army in the plain ready to fight. 48939 489404:22. So they all fled away into the land of the strangers. 48941 489424:23. And Judas returned to take the spoils of the camp, and they got 48943much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great 48944riches. 48945 489464:24. And returning home, they sung a hymn, and blessed God in heaven, 48947because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever. 48948 489494:25. So Israel had a great deliverance that day. 48950 489514:26. And such of the strangers as escaped, went and told Lysias all 48952that had happened. 48953 489544:27. And when he heard these things, he was amazed and discouraged: 48955because things had not succeeded in Israel according to his mind, and 48956as the king had commanded. 48957 489584:28. So the year following, Lysias gathered together threescore 48959thousand chosen men, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue 48960them. 48961 489624:29. And they came into Judea, and pitched their tents in Bethoron, 48963and Judas met them with ten thousand men. 48964 489654:30. And they saw that the army was strong, and he prayed and said: 48966Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst break the violence of 48967the mighty by the hand of thy servant David, and didst deliver up the 48968camp of the strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and 48969of his armour bearer. 48970 489714:31. Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel, and let them 48972be confounded in their host and their horsemen. 48973 489744:32. Strike them with fear, and cause the boldness of their strength to 48975languish, and let them quake at their own destruction. 48976 489774:33. Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee: and let all 48978that know thy name praise thee with hymns. 48979 489804:34. And they joined battle: and there fell of the army of Lysias five 48981thousand men. 48982 489834:35. And when Lysias saw that his men were put to flight, and how bold 48984the Jews were, and that they were ready either to live, or to die 48985manfully, he went to Antioch, and chose soldiers, that they might come 48986again into Judea with greater numbers. 48987 489884:36. Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are 48989discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places, and to repair 48990them. 48991 489924:37. And all the army assembled together, and they went up into Mount 48993Sion. 48994 489954:38. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and 48996the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the courts as in a forest, or 48997on the mountains, and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down. 48998 489994:39. And they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put 49000ashes on their heads: 49001 490024:40. And they fell down to the ground on their faces, and they sounded 49003with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried towards heaven. 49004 490054:41. Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that were in the 49006castle, till they had cleansed the holy places, 49007 490084:42. And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was set upon the 49009law of God. 49010 490114:43. And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the stones that 49012had been defiled into an unclean place. 49013 490144:44. And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been 49015profaned, what he should do with it. 49016 490174:45. And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest 49018it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; 49019so they threw it down. 49020 490214:46. And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple, in a 49022convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer 49023concerning them. 49024 490254:47. Then they took whole stones, according to the law and built a new 49026altar, according to the former: 49027 490284:48. And they built up the holy places, and the things that were 49029within the temple: and they sanctified the temple and the courts. 49030 490314:49. And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, 49032and the altar of incense, and the table, into the temple. 49033 490344:50. And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up the lamps 49035that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple. 49036 490374:51. And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, 49038and finished all the works that they had begun to make. 49039 490404:52. And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day 49041of the ninth month, (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and 49042forty-eighth year. 49043 490444:53. And they offered sacrifice, according to the law, upon the new 49045altar of holocausts which they had made. 49046 490474:54. According to the time, and according to the day wherein the 49048heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with 49049canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals. 49050 490514:55. And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed 49052up to heaven, him that had prospered them. 49053 490544:56. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they 49055offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of 49056praise. 49057 490584:57. And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and 49059escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged 49060doors upon them. 49061 490624:58. And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the 49063reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. 49064 490654:59. And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel 49066decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in 49067its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and 49068twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness. 49069 490704:60. They built up also at that time Mount Sion, with high walls, and 49071strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, 49072and tread it down, as they did before. 49073 490744:61. And he placed a garrison there, to keep it, and he fortified it, 49075to secure Bethsura, that the people might have a defence against 49076Idumea. 49077 49078 49079 490801 Machabees Chapter 5 49081 49082 49083Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver 49084them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to 49085order to fight against their enemies, are defeated. 49086 490875:1. Now it came to pass, when the nations round about heard that the 49088altar and the sanctuary were built up, as before, that they were 49089exceeding angry. 49090 490915:2. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were 49092among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute 49093them. 49094 490955:3. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, and them 49096that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites round 49097about, and he made a great slaughter of them. 49098 490995:4. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a 49100snare and a stumblingblock to the people, by lying in wait for them in 49101the way. 49102 491035:5. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and 49104devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, 49105and all that were in them. 49106 491075:6. Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a 49108mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was their captain: 49109 491105:7. And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited in 49111their sight, and he smote them: 49112 491135:8. And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and returned into 49114Judea. 49115 491165:9. And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled themselves 49117together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy 49118them: and they fled into the fortress of Datheman. 49119 491205:10. And they sent letters to Judas, and his brethren, saying: The 49121heathens that are round about are gathered together against us to 49122destroy us: 49123 491245:11. And they are preparing to come, and to take the fortress into 49125which we are fled: and Timotheus is the captain of their host. 49126 491275:12. Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their hands, for many 49128of us are slain. 49129 491305:13. And all our brethren that were in the places of Tubin, are 49131killed: and they have carried away their wives, and their children, 49132captives, and taken their spoils, and they have slain there almost a 49133thousand men. 49134 491355:14. And while they were yet reading these letters, behold there came 49136other messengers out of Galilee with their garments rent, who related 49137according to these words: 49138 491395:15. Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of Sidon, were 49140assembled against them, and all Galilee is filled with strangers, in 49141order to consume us. 49142 491435:16. Now when Judas and the people heard these words, a great assembly 49144met together to consider what they should do for their brethren that 49145were in trouble, and were assaulted by them. 49146 491475:17. And Judas said to Simon, his brother: Choose thee men, and go, 49148and deliver thy brethren in Galilee: and I, and my brother Jonathan, 49149will go into the country of Galaad: 49150 491515:18. And he left Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains 49152of the people, with the remnant of the army in Judea, to keep it: 49153 491545:19. And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge of this people; 49155but make no war against the heathens, till we return. 49156 491575:20. Now three thousand men were allotted to Simon, to go into 49158Galilee: and eight thousand to Judas, to go into the land of Galaad. 49159 491605:21. And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles with the 49161heathens: and the heathens were discomfited before his face, and he 49162pursued them even to the gate of Ptolemais. 49163 491645:22. And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand men, and he 49165took the spoils of them. 49166 491675:23. And he took with him those that were in Galilee and in Arbatis, 49168with their wives, and children, and all that they had, and he brought 49169them into Judea with great joy. 49170 491715:24. And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan, his brother, passed over the 49172Jordan, and went three days' journey through the desert. 49173 491745:25. And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a peaceable 49175manner, and told them all that happened to their brethren in the land 49176of Galaad, 49177 491785:26. And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in Bosor, and 49179in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth, and in Carnaim; all these 49180strong and great cities. 49181 491825:27. Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of the cities of 49183Galaad, and that they had appointed to bring their army on the morrow 49184near to these cities, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one 49185day. 49186 491875:28. Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march into the 49188desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and he slew every male by the edge 49189of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burnt it with fire. 49190 491915:29. And they removed from thence by night, and went till they came to 49192the fortress. 49193 491945:30. And it came to pass that early in the morning, when they lifted 49195up their eyes, behold there were people without number, carrying 49196ladders and engines to take the fortress, and assault them. 49197 491985:31. And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry of the battle 49199went up to heaven like a trumpet, and a great cry out of the city: 49200 492015:32. And he said to his host: Fight ye today for your brethren. 49202 492035:33. And he came with three companies behind them, and they sounded 49204their trumpets, and cried out in prayer. 49205 492065:34. And the host of Timotheus understood that it was Machabeus, and 49207they fled away before his face and they made a great slaughter of them, 49208and there fell of them in that day almost eight thousand men. 49209 492105:35. And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and took it, and 49211he slew every male thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burnt it 49212with fire. 49213 492145:36. From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth, and Bosor, 49215and the rest of the cities of Galaad. 49216 492175:37. But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and camped over 49218against Raphon, beyond the torrent. 49219 492205:38. And Judas sent men to view the army: and they brought him word, 49221saying: All the nations, that are round about us, are assembled unto 49222him an army exceeding great: 49223 492245:39. And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and they have 49225pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to come to fight against 49226thee. And Judas went to meet them. 49227 492285:40. And Timotheus said to the captains of his army: When Judas and 49229his army come near the torrent of water, if he pass over unto us first, 49230we shall not be able to withstand him: for he will certainly prevail 49231over us. 49232 492335:41. But if he be afraid to pass over, and camp on the other side of 49234the river, we will pass over to them, and shall prevail against him. 49235 492365:42. Now when Judas came near the torrent of water, he set the scribes 49237of the people by the torrent, and commanded them, saying: Suffer no man 49238to stay behind: but let all come to the battle. 49239 492405:43. And he passed over to them first, and all the people after him, 49241and all the heathens were discomfited before them, and they threw away 49242their weapons, and fled to the temple that was in Carnaim. 49243 492445:44. And he took that city, and the temple he burnt with fire, with 49245all things that were therein: and Carnaim was subdued, and could not 49246stand against the face of Judas. 49247 492485:45. And Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the 49249land of Galaad, from the least even to the greatest, and their wives 49250and children, and an army exceeding great, to come into the land of 49251Juda. 49252 492535:46. And they came as far as Ephron: now this was a great city, 49254situate in the way, strongly fortified, and there was no means to turn 49255from it on the right hand or on the left, but the way was through the 49256midst of it. 49257 492585:47. And they that were in the city shut themselves in, and stopped up 49259the gates with stones: and Judas sent to them with peaceable words, 49260 492615:48. Saying: Let us pass through your land, to go into our own 49262country, and no man shall hurt you; we will only pass through on foot. 49263But they would not open to them. 49264 492655:49. Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the camp, that 49266they should make an assault, every man in the place where he was. 49267 492685:50. And the men of the army drew near, and he assaulted that city all 49269the day, and all the night; and the city was delivered into his hands: 49270 492715:51. And they slew every male with the edge of the sword, and he razed 49272the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through all the city 49273over them that were slain. 49274 492755:52. Then they passed over the Jordan to the great plain that is over 49276against Bethsan. 49277 492785:53. And Judas gathered together the hindmost, and he exhorted the 49279people, all the way through, till they came into the land of Juda. 49280 492815:54. And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, and offered 49282holocausts, because not one of them was slain, till they had returned 49283in peace. 49284 492855:55. Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the land of 49286Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee, before Ptolemais, 49287 492885:56. Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captain of the 49289soldiers, heard of the good success, and the battles that were fought, 49290 492915:57. And he said: Let us also get us a name, and let us go fight 49292against the Gentiles that are round about us. 49293 492945:58. And he gave charge to them that were in his army, and they went 49295towards Jamnia. 49296 492975:59. And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to give them 49298battle. 49299 493005:60. And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto 49301the borders of Judea: and there fell on that day, of the people of 49302Israel, about two thousand men, and there was a great overthrow of the 49303people: 49304 493055:61. Because they did not hearken to Judas and his brethren, thinking 49306that they should do manfully. 49307 493085:62. But they were not of the seed of those men by whom salvation was 49309brought to Israel. 49310 493115:63. And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in the sight of 49312all Israel, and of all the nations where their name was heard. 49313 493145:64. And the people assembled to them with joyful acclamations. 49315 493165:65. Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked the children 49317of Esau, in the land towards the south, and he took Chebron and her 49318towns: and he burnt the walls thereof, and the towers all round it. 49319 493205:66. And he removed his camp to go into the land of the aliens, and he 49321went through Samaria. 49322 493235:67. In that day some priests fell in battle, while desiring to do 49324manfully they went out unadvisedly to fight. 49325 493265:68. And Judas turned to Azotus, into the land of the strangers, and 49327he threw down their altars, and he burnt the statues of their gods with 49328fire: and he took the spoils of the cities, and returned into the land 49329of Juda. 49330 49331 49332 493331 Machabees Chapter 6 49334 49335 49336The fruitless repentance and death of Antiochus. His son comes against 49337Judas with a formidable army. He besieges Sion: but at last makes peace 49338with the Jews. 49339 493406:1. Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he 49341heard that the city of Elymais in Persia, was greatly renowned, and 49342abounding in silver and gold, 49343 493446:2. And that there was in it a temple exceeding rich; and coverings of 49345gold, and breastplates, and shields, which king Alexander, son of 49346Philip, the Macedonian, that reigned first in Greece, had left there. 49347 493486:3. So he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it; but he 49349was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the 49350city. 49351 493526:4. And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from 49353thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards 49354Babylonia. 49355 493566:5. And whilst he was in Persia there came one that told him how the 49357armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight: 49358 493596:6. And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to 49360flight before the face of the Jews, and that they were grown strong by 49361the armour, and power, and store of spoils which they had gotten out of 49362the camps which they had destroyed: 49363 493646:7. And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up 49365upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the 49366sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also, his city. 49367 493686:8. And it came to pass, when the king heard these words, that he was 49369struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon 49370his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him 49371as he imagined. 49372 493736:9. And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and 49374more upon him, and he made account that he should die. 49375 493766:10. And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is 49377gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for 49378anxiety: 49379 493806:11. And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and 49381into what floods of sorrow wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and 49382beloved in my power! 49383 493846:12. But now I remember the evils that I did in Jerusalem, from whence 49385also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver, that were in 49386it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause. 49387 493886:13. I know, therefore, that for this cause these evils have found me: 49389and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land. 49390 493916:14. Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent 49392over all his kingdom. 49393 493946:15. And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his ring, that he 49395should go to Antiochus, his son, and should bring him up for the 49396kingdom. 49397 493986:16. So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and 49399forty-nine. 49400 494016:17. And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he set up 49402Antiochus, his son, to reign, whom he had brought up young: and he 49403called his name Eupator. 49404 494056:18. Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the Israelites 49406round about the holy places: and they were continually seeking their 49407hurt, and to strengthen the Gentiles. 49408 494096:19. And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all 49410the people, to besiege them. 49411 494126:20. And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred 49413and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines. 49414 494156:21. And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel 49416joined themselves unto them. 49417 494186:22. And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to 49419execute judgment, and to revenge our brethren? 49420 494216:23. We determined to serve thy father, and to do according to his 49422orders, and obey his edicts: 49423 494246:24. And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have 49425slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our 49426inheritances. 49427 494286:25. Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also 49429against all our borders. 49430 494316:26. And behold they have approached this day to the castle of 49432Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the strong hold of 49433Bethsura: 49434 494356:27. And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater 49436things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them. 49437 494386:28. Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called 49439together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that 49440were over the horsemen. 49441 494426:29. There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of 49443the sea, hired troops. 49444 494456:30. And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and 49446twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants trained to battle. 49447 494486:31. And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and 49449fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth, and 49450burnt them with fire, and fought manfully. 49451 49452But they sallied forth. . .That is, the citizens of Bethsura sallied 49453forth and burnt them, that is, burnt the engines of the besiegers. 49454 494556:32. And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to 49456Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp. 49457 494586:33. And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march 49459on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam: and the armies made 49460themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets: 49461 494626:34. And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes, and 49463mulberries, to provoke them to fight. 49464 494656:35. And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and there stood 49466by every elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of 49467brass on their heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were 49468chosen for every beast. 49469 494706:36. These before the time wheresoever the beast was they were there: 49471and whithersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it. 49472 49473These before the time. . .That is, these were ready for every occasion. 49474 494756:37. And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers which covered 49476every one of them: and engines upon them, and upon every one thirty-two 49477valiant men, who fought from above: and an Indian to rule the beast. 49478 494796:38. And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side and on that 49480side, at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to 49481hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof. 49482 494836:39. Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and of brass, 49484the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire. 49485 494866:40. And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high 49487mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on 49488warily and orderly. 49489 494906:41. And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of 49491their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of 49492the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong. 49493 494946:42. And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of 49495the king's army six hundred men. 49496 494976:43. And Eleazar, the son of Saura, saw one of the beasts harnessed 49498with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts; and 49499it seemed to him that the king was on it: 49500 495016:44. And he exposed himself to deliver his people, and to get himself 49502an everlasting name. 49503 495046:45. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on 49505the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and 49506that side. 49507 495086:46. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself 49509under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died 49510there. 49511 495126:47. Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of 49513his army, turned away from them. 49514 495156:48. But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the 49516king's army pitched their tents against Judea and Mount Sion. 49517 495186:49. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came 49519forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up 49520there, for it was the year of rest to the land. 49521 495226:50. And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to 49523keep it. 49524 495256:51. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and 49526he set up there battering slings, and engines, and instruments to cast 49527fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot 49528arrows, and slings. 49529 495306:52. And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought 49531for many days. 49532 495336:53. But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the 49534seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from 49535among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been 49536stored up. 49537 495386:54. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine 49539had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own 49540place. 49541 495426:55. Now Lysias heard that Philip; whom king Antiochus while he lived 49543had appointed to bring up his son, Antiochus, and to reign, 49544 495456:56. Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with 49546him and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom: 49547 495486:57. Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the 49549captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is 49550small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon 49551us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom. 49552 495536:58. Now, therefore, let us come to an agreement with these men, and 49554make peace with them and with all their nation. 49555 495566:59. And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to 49557their own laws, as before. For because of our despising their laws, 49558they have been provoked, and have done all these things. 49559 495606:60. And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of 49561the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of 49562it. 49563 495646:61. And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of 49565the strong hold. 49566 495676:62. Then the king entered into Mount Sion, and saw the strength of 49568the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave 49569commandment to throw down the wall round about. 49570 495716:63. And he departed in haste and returned to Antioch, where he found 49572Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the 49573city. 49574 49575 49576 495771 Machabees Chapter 7 49578 49579 49580Demetrius is made king, and sends Bacchides and Alcimus the priest into 49581Judea, and after them Nicanor, who is slain by Judas with all his army. 49582 495837:1. In the hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius, the son of 49584Seleucus, departed from the city of Rome, and came up with few men into 49585a city of the sea coast, and reigned there. 49586 495877:2. And it came to pass as he entered into the house of the kingdom of 49588his fathers, that the army seized upon Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring 49589them unto him. 49590 495917:3. And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their face. 49592 495937:4. So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his 49594kingdom: 49595 495967:5. And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of Israel: and 49597Alcimus was at the head of them, who desired to be made high priest. 49598 495997:6. And they accused the people to the king, saying: Judas and his 49600brethren have destroyed all thy friends, and he hath driven us out of 49601our land. 49602 496037:7. Now, therefore, send some men whom thou trustest, and let him go, 49604and see all the havoc he hath made amongst us, and in the king's lands: 49605and let him punish all his friends and their helpers. 49606 496077:8. Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends, that ruled 49608beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was faithful to the king: 49609and he sent him, 49610 496117:9. To see the havoc that Judas had made: and the wicked Alcimus he 49612made high priest, and commanded him to take revenge upon the children 49613of Israel. 49614 496157:10. And they arose, and came with a great army into the land of Juda: 49616and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas and his brethren with 49617peaceable words, deceitfully. 49618 496197:11. But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw that they were 49620come with a great army. 49621 496227:12. Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of the 49623scribes, to require things that are just: 49624 496257:13. And first the Assideans, that were among the children of Israel, 49626and they sought peace of them. 49627 496287:14. For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, 49629he will not deceive us. 49630 496317:15. And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them, saying: We 49632will do you no harm, nor your friends. 49633 496347:16. And they believed him. And he took threescore of them, and slew 49635them in one day, according to the word that is written: 49636 496377:17. The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of them they have shed round 49638about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. 49639 496407:18. Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people: for they said: 49641There is no truth, nor justice among them: for they have broken the 49642covenant, and the oath which they made. 49643 496447:19. And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and pitched in 49645Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of them that were fled away from 49646him, and some of the people he killed, and threw them into a great pit. 49647 496487:20. Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left with him 49649troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the king. 49650 496517:21. But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his chief priesthood. 49652 496537:22. And they that disturbed the people resorted to him, and they got 49654the land of Juda into their power, and did much hurt in Israel. 49655 496567:23. And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and they that were with 49657him, did to the children of Israel, much more than the Gentiles. 49658 496597:24. And he went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and 49660took vengeance upon the men that had revolted, and they ceased to go 49661forth any more into the country. 49662 496637:25. And Alcimus saw that Judas and they that were with him, 49664prevailed: and he knew that he could not stand against them, and he 49665went back to the king, and accused them of many crimes. 49666 496677:26. And the king sent Nicanor, one of his principal lords, who was a 49668great enemy to Israel: and he commanded him to destroy the people. 49669 496707:27. And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and he sent to 49671Judas and to his brethren deceitfully, with friendly words, 49672 496737:28. Saying: Let there be no fighting between me and you: I will come 49674with a few men, to see your faces with peace. 49675 496767:29. And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably: and 49677the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by force. 49678 496797:30. And the thing was known to Judas that he was come to him with 49680deceit: and he was much afraid of him, and would not see his face any 49681more. 49682 496837:31. And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered: and he went out 49684to fight against Judas, near Capharsalama. 49685 496867:32. And there fell of Nicanor's army almost five thousand men, and 49687they fled into the city of David. 49688 496897:33. And after this Nicanor went up into mount Sion: and some of the 49690priests and the people came out to salute him peaceably, and to shew 49691him the holocausts that were offered for the king. 49692 496937:34. But he mocked and despised them, and abused them: and he spoke 49694proudly, 49695 496967:35. And swore in anger, saying: Unless Judas and his army be 49697delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I return in peace, I will burn 49698this house. And he went out in a great rage. 49699 497007:36. And the priests went in, and stood before the face of the altar 49701and the temple: and weeping, they said: 49702 497037:37. Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to be called 49704upon therein, that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for 49705thy people. 49706 497077:38. Be avenged of this man, and his army, and let them fall by the 49708sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any 49709longer. 49710 497117:39. Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and encamped near to 49712Bethoron: and an army of Syria joined him. 49713 497147:40. But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men: and Judas 49715prayed, and said: 49716 497177:41. O Lord, when they that were sent by king Sennacherib blasphemed 49718thee, an angel went out, and slew of them a hundred and eighty-five 49719thousand: 49720 497217:42. Even so destroy this army in our sight today and let the rest 49722know that he hath spoken ill against thy sanctuary: and judge thou him 49723according to his wickedness. 49724 497257:43. And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of the month, 49726Adar: and the army of Nicanor was defeated, and he himself was first 49727slain in the battle. 49728 497297:44. And when his army saw that Nicanor was slain they threw away 49730their weapons, and fled: 49731 497327:45. And they pursued after them one day's journey from Adazer, even 49733till ye come to Gazara, and they sounded the trumpets after them with 49734signals. 49735 497367:46. And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, 49737and they pushed them with the horns, and they turned again to them, and 49738they were all slain with the sword, and there was not left of them so 49739much as one. 49740 497417:47. And they took the spoils of them for a booty, and they cut off 49742Nicanor's head, and his right hand, which he had proudly stretched out, 49743and they brought it, and hung it up over against Jerusalem. 49744 497457:48. And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent that day with 49746great joy. 49747 497487:49. And he ordained that this day should be kept every year, being 49749the thirteenth of the month of Adar 49750 497517:50. And the land of Juda was quiet for a short time. 49752 49753 49754 497551 Machabees Chapter 8 49756 49757 49758Judas hears of the great character of the Romans: he makes a league 49759with them. 49760 497618:1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful 49762and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of 49763them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with 49764them, and that they are mighty in power. 49765 497668:2. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they 49767had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them 49768under tribute: 49769 49770They heard, etc. . .What is here set down of the history and character 49771of the ancient Romans, is not an assertion, or affirmation of the 49772sacred writer: but only a relation of what Judas had heard of them. 49773 497748:3. And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that 49775they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that 49776are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel 49777and patience: 49778 497798:4. And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and 49780kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had 49781overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute 49782every year. 49783 497848:5. And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses the king of 49785the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had 49786conquered them: 49787 49788Ceteans. . .That is, the Macedonians. 49789 497908:6. And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to fight 49791against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and 49792chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them. 49793 497948:7. And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he 49795and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and 49796that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon, 49797 497988:8. And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the 49799Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken 49800from them, they gave to king Eumenes. 49801 49802Eumenes. . .King of Pergamus. 49803 498048:9. And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and to destroy 49805them: and they had knowledge thereof, 49806 498078:10. And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and 49808many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives, and their 49809children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, 49810and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto 49811this day. 49812 498138:11. And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had 49814resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power. 49815 498168:12. But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept 49817amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far 49818off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them. 49819 498208:13. That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: 49821and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were 49822greatly exalted. 49823 498248:14. And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to 49825be magnified thereby. 49826 498278:15. And that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted 49828daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in counsel always for the 49829people, that they might do the things that were right: 49830 498318:16. And that they committed their government to one man every year, 49832to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no 49833envy nor jealousy amongst them. 49834 49835To one man. . .There were two consuls: but one only ruled at one time, 49836each in his day.--Ibid. No envy, etc. . .So Judas had heard: and it was 49837so far true, with regard to the ancient Romans, that as yet no envy or 49838jealousy had divided them into such open factions and civil wars, as 49839they afterwards experienced in the time of Marius and Sylla, etc. 49840 498418:17. So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and 49842Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of 49843amity and confederacy with them: 49844 498458:18. And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, 49846for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude. 49847 498488:19. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into 49849the senate house, and said: 49850 498518:20. Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews, 49852have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we 49853may be registered your confederates and friends. 49854 498558:21. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight. 49856 498578:22. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, 49858graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with 49859them there for a memorial of the peace, and alliance. 49860 498618:23. GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by 49862sea, and by land, for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them. 49863 498648:24. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their 49865confederates, in all their dominions: 49866 498678:25. The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time 49868shall direct, with all their heart: 49869 498708:26. Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or 49871furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed 49872good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking 49873any thing of them. 49874 498758:27. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of 49876the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as 49877the time shall permit them: 49878 498798:28. And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, 49880either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to 49881the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit. 49882 498838:29. According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the 49884people of the Jews. 49885 498868:30. And, if after this, one party or the other shall have a mind to 49887add to these articles, or take away any thing, they may do it at their 49888pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be 49889ratified. 49890 498918:31. Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the king, hath 49892done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made 49893thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews. 49894 498958:32. If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of thee, we will 49896do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land. 49897 49898 49899 499001 Machabees Chapter 9 49901 49902 49903Bacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against him with eight 49904hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds him and revenges the murder 49905of his brother John. He fights against Bacchides. Alcimus dies 49906miserably. Bacchides besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the 49907siege and leave the country. 49908 499099:1. In the mean time, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army 49910were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; 49911and the right wing of his army with them. 49912 499139:2. And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in 49914Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made themselves masters of it, 49915and slew many people. 49916 499179:3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they 49918brought the army to Jerusalem: 49919 499209:4. And they arose and went to Berea, with twenty thousand men, and 49921two thousand horsemen. 49922 499239:5. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand 49924chosen men with him: 49925 499269:6. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and 49927they were seized with great fear: and many withdrew themselves out of 49928the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men. 49929 499309:7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed 49931upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to 49932gather them together, and he was discouraged. 49933 499349:8. Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against 49935our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them. 49936 499379:9. But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us 49938save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight 49939against them: for we are but few. 49940 499419:10. Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing, and flee 49942away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our 49943brethren, and let us not stain our glory. 49944 499459:11. And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood over against 49946them: and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers, 49947and the archers, went before the army, and they that were in the front 49948were all men of valour. 49949 499509:12. And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on 49951two sides, and they sounded the trumpets: 49952 499539:13. And they also that were on Judas's side, even they also cried 49954out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was 49955fought from morning even unto the evening. 49956 499579:14. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of 49958Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came 49959together with him: 49960 499619:15. And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them 49962even to the mount Azotus. 49963 499649:16. And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was 49965discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with 49966him, at their back: 49967 499689:17. And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of 49969the one side and of the other. 49970 499719:18. And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away. 49972 499739:19. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas, their brother, and buried him 49974in the sepulchre of their fathers, in the city of Modin. 49975 499769:20. And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, 49977and they mourned for him many days. 49978 499799:21. And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of 49980Israel! 49981 499829:22. But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and of the noble 49983acts that he did, and of his greatness, are not written: for they were 49984very many. 49985 499869:23. And it came to pass, after the death of Judas, that the wicked 49987began to put forth their heads in all the confines of Israel, and all 49988the workers of iniquity rose up. 49989 499909:24. In those days there was a very great famine, and they and all 49991their country yielded to Bacchides. 49992 499939:25. And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the 49994country: 49995 499969:26. And they sought out, and made diligent search after the friends 49997of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance of them, 49998and abused them. 49999 500009:27. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not 50001since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel. 50002 500039:28. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan: 50004 500059:29. Since thy brother Judas died there is not a man like him to go 50006forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and them that are the enemies of 50007our nation. 50008 500099:30. Now, therefore, we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, 50010and captain, in his stead, to fight our battles. 50011 500129:31. So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose 50013up in the place of Judas, his brother 50014 500159:32. And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him. 50016 500179:33. And Jonathan, and Simon, his brother, knew it, and all that were 50018with them: and they fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched by 50019the water of the lake Asphar, 50020 500219:34. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself, with all his 50022army, over the Jordan, on the sabbath day. 50023 500249:35. And Jonathan sent his brother, a captain of the people, to desire 50025the Nabutheans his friends, that they would lend them their equipage, 50026which was copious. 50027 500289:36. And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took 50029John, and all that he had, and went away with them. 50030 500319:37. After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon, his brother, that the 50032children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride 50033out of Madaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan, 50034with great pomp. 50035 500369:38. And they remembered the blood of John, their brother: and they 50037went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain. 50038 500399:39. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a tumult, and 50040great preparation: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends, and 50041his brethren to meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments and 50042many weapons. 50043 500449:40. And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in 50045ambush, and slew them, and there fell many wounded, and the rest fled 50046into the mountains, and they took all their spoils: 50047 500489:41. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their 50049musical instruments into lamentation. 50050 500519:42. And they took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they 50052returned to the bank of the Jordan. 50053 500549:43. And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to 50055the bank of the Jordan, with a great power. 50056 500579:44. And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and fight against 50058our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday, and the day before. 50059 500609:45. For behold the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan 50061on this side and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods: and 50062there is no place for us to turn aside. 50063 500649:46. Now, therefore, cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from 50065the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle. 50066 500679:47. And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he 50068turned away from him backwards. 50069 500709:48. And Jonathan, and they that were with him, leapt into the Jordan, 50071and swam over the Jordan to them. 50072 500739:49. And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand men: and 50074they returned to Jerusalem, 50075 500769:50. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in 50077Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, 50078and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars. 50079 500809:51. And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against 50081Israel: 50082 500839:52. And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the 50084castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals: 50085 500869:53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for 50087hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody. 50088 500899:54. Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second month, 50090Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be 50091thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he 50092began to destroy. 50093 500949:55. At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were hindered, and 50095his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no 50096more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house. 50097 500989:56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment. 50099 501009:57. And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the 50101king, and the land was quiet for two years. 50102 501039:58. And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold Jonathan, and 50104they that are with him, dwell at ease and without fear: now, therefore, 50105let us bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night. 50106 501079:59. So they went, and gave him counsel. 50108 501099:60. And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent secretly 50110letters to his adherents that were in Judea to seize upon Jonathan, and 50111them that were with him: but they could not, for their design was known 50112to them. 50113 501149:61. And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the 50115principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and he slew them. 50116 501179:62. And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, retired 50118into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and he repaired the breaches 50119thereof, and they fortified it. 50120 501219:63. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his 50122multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea. 50123 501249:64. And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it 50125many days, and made engines. 50126 501279:65. But Jonathan left his brother, Simon, in the city and went forth 50128into the country, and came with a number of men, 50129 501309:66. And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of 50131Phaseron, in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in 50132forces. 50133 501349:67. But Simon, and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, 50135and burnt the engines, 50136 501379:68. And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by 50138them: and they afflicted him exceedingly, for his counsel, and his 50139enterprise was in vain. 50140 501419:69. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given him counsel 50142to come into their country, and he slew many of them: and he purposed 50143to return with the rest into their country. 50144 501459:70. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him 50146to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners. 50147 501489:71. And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and 50149swore that he would do him no harm all the days of his life. 50150 501519:72. And he restored to him the prisoners which he before had taken 50152out of the land of Juda: and he returned, and went away into his own 50153country, and he came no more into their borders. 50154 501559:73. So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt in Machmas, 50156and Jonathan began there to judge the people, and he destroyed the 50157wicked out of Israel. 50158 50159 50160 501611 Machabees Chapter 10 50162 50163 50164Alexander Bales sets himself up for king: both he and Demetrius seek to 50165make Jonathan their friend. Alexander kills Demetrius in battle, and 50166honours Jonathan. His victory over Apollonius. 50167 5016810:1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, Alexander, the son of 50169Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up and took Ptolemais, and 50170they received him, and he reigned there. 50171 5017210:2. And king Demetrius heard of it, and gathered together an 50173exceeding great army, and went forth against him to fight. 50174 5017510:3. And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan, with peaceable words, to 50176magnify him. 50177 5017810:4. For he said: Let us first make a peace with him, before he make 50179one with Alexander against us. 50180 5018110:5. For he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, 50182and against his brother, and against his nation. 50183 5018410:6. And he gave him authority to gather together a army, and to make 50185arms, and that he should be his confederate: and the hostages that were 50186in the castle, he commanded to be delivered to him. 50187 5018810:7. And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the 50189hearing of all the people, and of them that were in the castle. 50190 5019110:8. And they were struck with great fear, because they heard that the 50192king had given him authority to gather together an army. 50193 5019410:9. And the hostages were delivered to Jonathan, and he restored them 50195to their parents. 50196 5019710:10. And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build, and to 50198repair the city. 50199 5020010:11. And he ordered workmen to build the walls, and mount Sion round 50201about with square stones for fortification: and so they did. 50202 5020310:12. Then the strangers that were in the strong holds, which 50204Bacchides had built, fled away. 50205 5020610:13. And every man left his place, and departed into his own country: 50207 5020810:14. Only in Bethsura there remained some of them, that had forsaken 50209the law, and the commandments of God: for this was a place of refuge 50210for them. 50211 5021210:15. And king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made 50213Jonathan: and they told him of the battles, and the worthy acts that he 50214and his brethren had done, and the labours that they had endured. 50215 5021610:16. And he said: Shall we find such another man? now, therefore, we 50217will make him our friend and our confederate. 50218 5021910:17. So he wrote a letter, and sent it to him according to these 50220words, saying: 50221 5022210:18. King Alexander to his brother, Jonathan, greetings. 50223 5022410:19. We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and 50225fit to be our friend: 50226 5022710:20. Now therefore, we make thee this day high priest of thy nation, 50228and that thou be called the king's friend, (and he sent him a purple 50229robe, and a crown of gold) and that thou be of one mind with us in our 50230affairs, and keep friendship with us. 50231 5023210:21. Then Jonathan put on the holy vestment in the seventh month, in 50233the year one hundred and threescore, at the feast day of the 50234tabernacles: and he gathered together an army, and made a great number 50235of arms. 50236 5023710:22. And Demetrius heard these words, and was exceeding sorry, and 50238said: 50239 5024010:23. What is this that we have done, that Alexander hath prevented us 50241to gain the friendship of the Jews to strengthen himself? 50242 5024310:24. I also will write to them words of request, and offer dignities, 50244and gifts: that they may be with me to aid me. 50245 5024610:25. And he wrote to them in these words: King Demetrius to the 50247nation of the Jews, greeting. 50248 5024910:26. Whereas you have kept covenant with us, and have continued in 50250our friendship, and have not joined with our enemies, we have heard of 50251it, and are glad. 50252 5025310:27. Wherefore now continue still to keep fidelity towards us, and we 50254will reward you with good things, for what you have done in our behalf. 50255 5025610:28. And we will remit to you many charges, and will give you gifts. 50257 5025810:29. And now I free you, and all the Jews, from tributes, and I 50259release you from the customs of salt, and remit the crowns, and the 50260thirds of the seed: 50261 5026210:30. And the half of the fruit of trees, which is my share, I leave 50263to you from this day forward, so that it shall not be taken of the land 50264of Juda, and of the three cities that are added thereto out of Samaria 50265and Galilee, from this day forth, and for ever: 50266 5026710:31. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, with the borders thereof: 50268and let the tenths, and tributes be for itself. 50269 5027010:32. I yield up also the power of the castle that is in Jerusalem, 50271and I give it to the high priest, to place therein such men as he shall 50272choose, to keep it. 50273 5027410:33. And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried captive from 50275the land of Juda in all my kingdom, I set at liberty freely, that all 50276be discharged from tributes, even of their cattle. 50277 5027810:34. And I will that all the feasts, and the sabbaths, and the new 50279moons, and the days appointed, and three days before the solemn day, 50280and three days after the solemn day, be all days of immunity and 50281freedom, for all the Jews that are in my kingdom: 50282 5028310:35. And no man shall have power to do any thing against them, or to 50284molest any of them, in any cause. 50285 5028610:36. And let there be enrolled in the king's army to the number of 50287thirty thousand of the Jews: and allowance shall be made them, as is 50288due to all the king's forces and certain of them shall be appointed to 50289be in the fortresses of the great king: 50290 5029110:37. And some of them shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, 50292that are of trust, and let the governors be taken from among 50293themselves, and let them walk in their own laws, as the king hath 50294commanded in the land of Juda. 50295 5029610:38. And the three cities that are added to Judea, out of the country 50297of Samaria, let them be accounted with Judea: that they may be under 50298one, and obey no other authority but that of the high priest: 50299 5030010:39. Ptolemais and the confines thereof, I give as a free gift to the 50301holy places that are in Jerusalem, for the necessary charges of the 50302holy things. 50303 5030410:40. And I give every year fifteen thousand sickles of silver out of 50305the king's accounts, of what belongs to me: 50306 5030710:41. And all that is above, which they that were over the affairs the 50308years before, had not paid, from this time they shall give it to the 50309works of the house. 50310 5031110:42. Moreover, the five thousand sickles of silver, which they 50312received from the account of the holy places, every year, shall also 50313belong to the priests that execute the ministry. 50314 5031510:43. And whosoever shall flee into the temple that is in Jerusalem, 50316and in all the borders thereof, being indebted to the king for any 50317matter, let them be set at liberty, and all that they have in my 50318kingdom, let them have it free. 50319 5032010:44. For the building also, or repairing the works of the holy 50321places, the charges shall be given out of the king's revenues: 50322 5032310:45. For the building also of the walls of Jerusalem, and the 50324fortifying thereof round about, the charges shall be given out of the 50325king's account, as also for the building of the walls in Judea. 50326 5032710:46. Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no 50328credit to them, nor received them because they remembered the great 50329evil that he had done in Israel, for he had afflicted them exceedingly. 50330 5033110:47. And their inclinations were towards Alexander, because he had 50332been the chief promoter of peace in their regard, and him they always 50333helped. 50334 5033510:48. And king Alexander gathered together a great army, and moved his 50336camp near to Demetrius. 50337 5033810:49. And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Demetrius fled 50339away, and Alexander pursued after him, and pressed them close. 50340 5034110:50. And the battle was hard fought, till the sun went down: and 50342Demetrius was slain that day. 50343 5034410:51. And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt, with 50345words to this effect, saying: 50346 50347Ptolemee. . .Surnamed Philometer. 50348 5034910:52. Forasmuch as I am returned into my kingdom and am set in the 50350throne of my ancestors, and have gotten the dominion, and have 50351overthrown Demetrius and possessed our country, 50352 5035310:53. And have joined battle with him, and both he and his army have 50354been destroyed by us, and we are placed in the throne of his kingdom: 50355 5035610:54. Now, therefore, let us make friendship one with another: and 50357give me now thy daughter to wife, and I will be thy son in law, and I 50358will give both thee and her gifts worthy of thee. 50359 5036010:55. And king Ptolomee answered, saying: Happy is the day wherein 50361thou didst return to the land of thy fathers, and sattest in the throne 50362of their kingdom. 50363 5036410:56. And now I will do to thee as thou hast written but meet me at 50365Ptolemais, that we may see one another, and I may give her to thee as 50366thou hast said. 50367 5036810:57. So Ptolemee went out of Egypt, with Cleopatra his daughter, and 50369he came to Ptolemais, in the hundred and sixty-second year. 50370 5037110:58. And king Alexander met him, and he gave him his daughter, 50372Cleopatra: and he celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great 50373glory, after the manner of kings. 50374 5037510:59. And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should come and 50376meet him. 50377 5037810:60. And he went honourably to Ptolemais, and he met there the two 50379kings, and he gave them much silver, and gold, and presents: and he 50380found favour in their sight. 50381 5038210:61. And some pestilent men of Israel, men of a wicked life, 50383assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: and the king gave no 50384heed to them. 50385 5038610:62. And he commanded that Jonathan's garments should be taken off, 50387and that he should be clothed with purple: and they did so. And the 50388king made him sit by himself. 50389 5039010:63. And he said to his princes: Go out with him into the midst of 50391the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of 50392any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause. 50393 5039410:64. So when his accusers saw his glory proclaimed, and him clothed 50395with purple, they all fled away. 50396 5039710:65. And the king magnified him, and enrolled him amongst his chief 50398friends, and made him governor, and partaker of his dominion. 50399 5040010:66. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with peace and joy. 50401 5040210:67. In the year one hundred and sixty-five, Demetrius, the son of 50403Demetrius, came from Crete into the land of his fathers. 50404 5040510:68. And king Alexander heard of it, and was much troubled, and 50406returned to Antioch. 50407 5040810:69. And king Demetrius made Apollonius his general, who was governor 50409of Celesyria: and he gathered together a great army, and came to 50410Jamnia: and he sent to Jonathan, the high priest, 50411 5041210:70. Saying: Thou alone standest against us, and I am laughed at and 50413reproached, because thou shewest thy power against us in the mountains. 50414 5041510:71. Now, therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us 50416into the plain, and there let us try one another: for with me is the 50417strength of war. 50418 5041910:72. Ask, and learn who I am, and the rest that help me, who also say 50420that your foot cannot stand before our face, for thy fathers have twice 50421been put to flight in their own land: 50422 5042310:73. And now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen, and so 50424great an army in the plain, where there is no stone, nor rock, nor 50425place to flee to? 50426 5042710:74. Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in 50428his mind: and he chose ten thousand men, and went out of Jerusalem, and 50429Simon, his brother, met him to help him. 50430 5043110:75. And they pitched their tents near Joppe, but they shut him out 50432of the city: because a garrison of Apollonius was in Joppe, and he laid 50433siege to it. 50434 5043510:76. And they that were in the city being affrighted, opened the 50436gates to him: so Jonathan took Joppe. 50437 5043810:77. And Apollonius heard of it, and he took three thousand horsemen, 50439and a great army. 50440 5044110:78. And he went to Azotus, as one that was making a journey, and 50442immediately he went forth into the plain: because he had a great number 50443of horsemen, and he trusted in them. And Jonathan followed after him to 50444Azotus, and they joined battle. 50445 5044610:79. And Apollonius left privately in the camp a thousand horsemen 50447behind them. 50448 5044910:80. And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind him, and they 50450surrounded his army, and cast darts at the people from morning till 50451evening. 50452 5045310:81. But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and 50454so their horses were fatigued. 50455 5045610:82. Then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the legion: for the 50457horsemen were wearied: and they were discomfited by him, and fled. 50458 5045910:83. And they that were scattered about the plain fled into Azotus, 50460and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple, there to save themselves. 50461 5046210:84. But Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that were round 50463about it, and took the spoils of them and the temple of Dagon: and all 50464them that were fled into it, he burnt with fire. 50465 5046610:85. So they that were slain by the sword, with them that were burnt, 50467were almost eight thousand men. 50468 5046910:86. And Jonathan, removed his army from thence and camped against 50470Ascalon: and they went out of the city to meet him with great honour. 50471 5047210:87. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with his people, having 50473many spoils. 50474 5047510:88. And it came to pass, when Alexander, the king heard these words, 50476that he honoured Jonathan yet more. 50477 5047810:89. And he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is, to be given 50479to such as are of the royal blood. And he gave him Accaron, and all the 50480borders thereof, in possession. 50481 50482 50483 504841 Machabees Chapter 11 50485 50486 50487Ptolemee invades the kingdom of Alexander: the latter is slain: and the 50488former dies soon after. Demetrius honours Jonathan, and is rescued by 50489the Jews from his own subjects in Antioch. Antiochus the younger 50490favours Jonathan. His exploits in divers places. 50491 5049211:1. And the king of Egypt gathered together an army, like the sand 50493that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships: and he sought to get the 50494kingdom of Alexander by deceit, and join it to his own kingdom. 50495 5049611:2. And he went out into Syria with peaceable words and they opened 50497to him the cities, and met him: for king Alexander had ordered them to 50498go forth to meet him, because he was his father in law. 50499 5050011:3. Now when Ptolemee entered into the cities, he put garrisons of 50501soldiers in every city. 50502 5050311:4. And when he came near to Azotns, they shewed him the temple of 50504Dagon that was burnt with fire, and Azotus, and the suburbs thereof, 50505that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad, and the 50506graves of them that were slain in the battle, which they had made near 50507the way. 50508 5050911:5. And they told the king that Jonathan had done these things, to 50510make him odious: but the king held his peace. 50511 5051211:6. And Jonathan came to meet the king at Joppe with glory, and they 50513saluted one another, and they lodged there. 50514 5051511:7. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river, called 50516Eleutherus: and he returned into Jerusalem. 50517 5051811:8. And king Ptolemee got the dominion of the cities by the sea side, 50519even to Seleucia, and he devised evil designs against Alexander. 50520 5052111:9. And he sent ambassadors to Demetrius, saying: Come, let us make a 50522league between us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander 50523hath, and thou shalt reign in the kingdom of thy father. 50524 5052511:10. For I repent that I have given him my daughter: for he hath 50526sought to kill me. 50527 5052811:11. And he slandered him, because he coveted his kingdom, 50529 5053011:12. And he took away his daughter, and gave her to Demetrius, and 50531alienated himself from Alexander, and his enmities were made manifest. 50532 5053311:13. And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two crowns upon his 50534head, that of Egypt, and that of Asia. 50535 5053611:14. Now king Alexander was in Cilicia at that time: because they 50537that were in those places had rebelled. 50538 5053911:15. And when Alexander heard of it, he came to give him battle: and 50540king Ptolemee brought forth his army, and met him with a strong power, 50541and put him to flight. 50542 5054311:16. And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be protected: and king 50544Ptolemee was exalted. 50545 5054611:17. And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it 50547to Ptolemee. 50548 5054911:18. And king Ptolemee died the third day after: and they that were 50550in the strong holds were destroyed by them that were within the camp. 50551 5055211:19. And Demetrius reigned in the hundred and sixty-seventh year. 50553 5055411:20. In those days Jonathan gathered together them that were in 50555Judea, to take the castle that was in Jerusalem: and they made many 50556engines of war against it. 50557 5055811:21. Then some wicked men that hated their own nation, went away to 50559king Demetrius, and told him that Jonathan was besieging the castle. 50560 5056111:22. And when he heard it, he was angry: and forthwith he came to 50562Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan that he should not besiege the castle, 50563but should come to him in haste, and speak to him. 50564 5056511:23. But when Jonathan heard this, he bade them besiege it still: and 50566he chose some of the ancients of Israel, and of the priests, and put 50567himself in danger 50568 5056911:24. And he took gold, and silver, and raiment, and many other 50570presents, and went to the king to Ptolemais and he found favour in his 50571sight. 50572 5057311:25. And certain wicked men of his nation made complaints against 50574him. 50575 5057611:26. And the king treated him as his predecessors had done before: 50577and he exalted him in the sight of all his friends. 50578 5057911:27. And he confirmed him in the high priesthood and all the honours 50580he had before, and he made him the chief of his friends. 50581 5058211:28. And Jonathan requested of the king that he would make Judea free 50583from tribute, and the three governments, and Samaria, and the confines 50584thereof: and he promised him three hundred talents. 50585 5058611:29. And the king consented: and he wrote letters to Jonathan of all 50587these things, to this effect. 50588 5058911:30. King Demetrius to his brother, Jonathan, and to the nation of 50590the Jews, greeting. 50591 5059211:31. We send you here a copy of the letter which we have written to 50593Lasthenes, our parent, concerning you, that you might know it. 50594 5059511:32. King Demetrius to Lasthenes, his parent, greetings. 50596 5059711:33. We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are 50598our friends, and keep the things that are just with us, for their good 50599will which they bear towards us. 50600 5060111:34. We have ratified, therefore, unto them all the borders of Judea, 50602and the three cities, Apherema, Lydda, and Ramatha, which are added to 50603Judea, out of Samaria, and all their confines, to be set apart to all 50604them that sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the 50605king received of them every year, and for the fruits of the land, and 50606of the trees. 50607 50608Apherema. . .is found only in the Greek version. 50609 5061011:35. And as for other things that belonged to us of the tithes, and 50611of the tributes, from this time we discharge them of them: the saltpans 50612also, and the crowns that were presented to us. 50613 5061411:36. We give all to them, and nothing hereof shall be revoked from 50615this time forth and for ever. 50616 5061711:37. Now, therefore, see that thou make a copy of these things, and 50618let it be given to Jonathan, and set upon the holy mountain, in a 50619conspicuous place. 50620 5062111:38. And king Demetrius, seeing that the land was quiet before him, 50622and nothing resisted him, sent away all his forces, every man to his 50623own place, except the foreign army, which he had drawn together from 50624the islands of the nations: so all the troops of his fathers hated him. 50625 5062611:39. Now there was one Tryphon who had been of Alexander's party 50627before: who seeing that all the army murmured against Demetrius, went 50628to Emalchuel, the Arabian, who brought up Antiochus, the son of 50629Alexander: 50630 5063111:40. And he pressed him much to deliver him to him, that he might be 50632king in his father's place: and he told him all that Demetrius had 50633done, and how his soldiers hated him. And he remained there many days. 50634 5063511:41. And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, desiring that he would cast 50636out them that were in the castle in Jerusalem, and those that were in 50637the strong holds: because they fought against Israel. 50638 5063911:42. And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying: I will not only do this 50640for thee, and for thy people, but I will greatly honour thee, and thy 50641nation, when opportunity shall serve. 50642 5064311:43. Now, therefore, thou shalt do well if thou send me men to help 50644me: for all my army is gone from me. 50645 5064611:44. And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and 50647they came to the king, and the king was very glad of their coming. 50648 5064911:45. And they that were of the city assembled themselves together, to 50650the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have killed 50651the king. 50652 5065311:46. And the king fled into the palace: and they of the city kept the 50654passages of the city, and began to fight. 50655 5065611:47. And the king called the Jews to his assistance: and they came to 50657him all at once, and they all dispersed themselves through the city. 50658 5065911:48. And they slew in that day a hundred thousand men, and they set 50660fire to the city, and got many spoils that day, and delivered the king. 50661 5066211:49. And they that were of the city saw that the Jews had got the 50663city as they would: and they were discouraged in their mind, and cried 50664to the king, making supplication, and saying 50665 506661:50. Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us, and 50667the city. 50668 5066911:51. And they threw down their arms, and made peace, and the Jews 50670were glorified in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that 50671were in his realm, and were renowned throughout the kingdom, and 50672returned to Jerusalem with many spoils. 50673 5067411:52. So king Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom: and the land 50675was quiet before him. 50676 5067711:53. And he falsified all whatsoever he had said, and alienated 50678himself from Jonathan, and did not reward him according to the benefits 50679he had received from him, but gave him great trouble. 50680 5068111:54. And after this Tryphon returned, and with him Antiochus, the 50682young boy, who was made king, and put on the diadem. 50683 5068411:55. And there assembled unto him all the hands which Demetrius had 50685sent away, and they fought against Demetrius who turned his back and 50686fled. 50687 5068811:56. And Tryphon took the elephants, and made himself master of 50689Antioch. 50690 5069111:57. And young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying: I confirm thee in 50692the high priesthood, and I appoint thee ruler over the four cities, and 50693to be one of the king's friends. 50694 5069511:58. And he sent him vessels of gold for his service, and he gave him 50696leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a 50697golden buckle: 50698 5069911:59. And he made his brother, Simon, governor, from the borders of 50700Tyre even to the confines of Egypt. 50701 5070211:60. Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond 50703the river, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him to 50704help him, and he came to Ascalon, and they met him honourably out of 50705the city. 50706 5070711:61. And he went from thence to Gaza: and they that were in Gaza shut 50708him out: and he besieged it, and burnt all the suburbs round about, and 50709took the spoils. 50710 5071111:62. And the men of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan, and he gave 50712them the right hand: and he took their sons for hostages, and sent them 50713to Jerusalem: and he went through the country, as far as Damascus. 50714 5071511:63. And Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come 50716treacherously to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great army, 50717purposing to remove him from the affairs of the kingdom. 50718 5071911:64. And he went against them: but left his brother, Simon, in the 50720country. 50721 5072211:65. And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and assaulted it many days, 50723and shut them up. 50724 5072511:66. And they desired him to make peace, and he granted it them: and 50726he cast them out from thence, and took the city, and placed a garrison 50727in it. 50728 5072911:67. And Jonathan and his army encamped by the water of Genesar, and 50730before it was light they were ready in the plain of Asor. 50731 5073211:68. And behold the army of the strangers met him in the plain, and 50733they laid an ambush for him in the mountains: but he went out against 50734them. 50735 5073611:69. And they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined 50737battle. 50738 5073911:70. And all that were on Jonathan's side fled, and none was left of 50740them, but Mathathias, the son of Absalom, and Judas, the son of Calphi, 50741chief captain of the army. 50742 5074311:71. And Jonathan rent his garments, and cast earth upon his head, 50744and prayed. 50745 5074611:72. And Jonathan turned again to them to battle, and he put them to 50747flight, and they fought. 50748 5074911:73. And they of his part that fled saw this, and they turned again 50750to him, and they all with him pursued the enemies, even to Cades, to 50751their own camp, and they came even thither. 50752 5075311:74. And there fell of the aliens in that day three thousand men: and 50754Jonathan returned to Jerusalem. 50755 50756 50757 507581 Machabees Chapter 12 50759 50760 50761Jonathan renews his league with the Romans and Lacedemonians. The 50762forces of Demetrius flee away from him. He is deceived and made 50763prisoner by Tryphon. 50764 5076512:1. And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain 50766men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with 50767them: 50768 5076912:2. And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places, 50770according to the same form. 50771 5077212:3. And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and 50773said: Jonathan, the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent 50774us to renew the amity, and alliance, as it was before. 50775 5077612:4. And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to 50777conduct them into the land of Juda with peace. 50778 5077912:5. And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the 50780Spartans: 50781 5078212:6. Jonathan, the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and 50783the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, 50784their brethren, greeting. 50785 5078612:7. There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest, from 50787Arius, who reigned then among you to signify that you are our brethren, 50788as the copy here underwritten doth specify. 50789 5079012:8. And Onias received the ambassador with honour and received the 50791letters, wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity. 50792 5079312:9. We, though we needed none of these things having for our comfort 50794the holy books that are in our hands, 50795 5079612:10. Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and 50797friendship, lest we should become stranger to you altogether: for there 50798is a long time passed since you sent to us. 50799 5080012:11. We, therefore, at all times without ceasing, both in our 50801festivals, and other days wherein it is convenient, remember you in the 50802sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet and 50803becoming to remember brethren. 50804 5080512:12. And we rejoice at your glory. 50806 5080712:13. But we have had many troubles and wars on every side; and the 50808kings that are round about us have fought against us. 50809 5081012:14. But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest of our 50811allies and friends, in these wars. 50812 5081312:15. For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, 50814and our enemies are humbled. 50815 5081612:16. We have chosen, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and 50817Antipater, the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew 50818with them the former amity and alliance. 50819 5082012:17. And we have commanded them to go also to you, and salute you, 50821and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our 50822brotherhood. 50823 5082412:18. And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto. 50825 5082612:19. And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias: 50827 5082812:20. Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, 50829greeting. 50830 5083112:21. It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, 50832that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham. 50833 5083412:22. And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to 50835write to us of your prosperity. 50836 5083712:23. And we also have written back to you, That our cattle, and our 50838possessions, are yours: and yours, ours. We, therefore, have commanded 50839that these things should be told you. 50840 5084112:24. Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come 50842again with a greater army than before to fight against him. 50843 5084412:25. So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of 50845Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country. 50846 5084712:26. And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back, and 50848brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night. 50849 5085012:27. And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, 50851and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels 50852round about the camp. 50853 5085412:28. And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for 50855battle: and they were struck with fear and dread in their heart: and 50856they kindled fires in their camp. 50857 5085812:29. But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it not till the 50859morning: for they saw the lights burning. 50860 5086112:30. And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they 50862had passed the river Eleutherus. 50863 5086412:31. And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are called 50865Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them. 50866 5086712:32. And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through 50868all that country. 50869 5087012:33. Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the 50871neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took 50872possession of it, 50873 5087412:34. (For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them 50875that took part with Demetrius) and he put a garrison there to keep it. 50876 5087712:35. And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the 50878people; and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in 50879Judea, 50880 5088112:36. And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between 50882the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might 50883have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell. 50884 5088512:37. And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that 50886was upon the brook, towards the east, was broken down, and he repaired 50887that which is called Caphetetha: 50888 5088912:38. And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up 50890gates and bars. 50891 5089212:39. Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of 50893Asia and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king 50894Antiochus: 50895 5089612:40. Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight 50897against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose 50898up and came to Bethsan. 50899 5090012:41. And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen 50901for battle, and came to Bethsan. 50902 5090312:42. Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he 50904durst not stretch forth his hand against him. 50905 5090612:43. But received him with honour, and commended him to all his 50907friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey 50908him, as himself. 50909 5091012:44. And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, 50911whereas we have no war? 50912 5091312:45. Now, therefore, send them back to their own houses: and choose 50914thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, 50915and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and 50916the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: 50917for this is the cause of my coming. 50918 5091912:46. And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his 50920army, and they departed into the land of Juda: 50921 5092212:47. But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two 50923thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him. 50924 5092512:48. Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of 50926Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and all them that 50927came in with him they slew with the sword. 50928 5092912:49. Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into 50930the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's company. 50931 5093212:50. But they, when they understood that Jonathan, and all that were 50933with him, were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out 50934ready for battle. 50935 5093612:51. Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for 50937their lives, returned back. 50938 5093912:52. Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda and they 50940bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and 50941Israel mourned with great lamentation. 50942 5094312:53. Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to 50944destroy them. For they said: 50945 5094612:54. They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore, let us 50947make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst men. 50948 50949 50950 509511 Machabees Chapter 13 50952 50953 50954Simon is made captain general in the room of his brother. Jonathan is 50955slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by Demetrius: he taketh Gaza, and 50956the castle of Jerusalem. 50957 5095813:1. Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great 50959army to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it. 50960 5096113:2. And seeing that the people was in dread and in fear, he went up 50962to Jerusalem, and assembled the people, 50963 5096413:3. And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my 50965brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the 50966sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen: 50967 5096813:4. By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for 50969Israel's sake, and I am left alone. 50970 5097113:5. And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of 50972trouble: for I am not better than my brethren. 50973 5097413:6. I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, 50975and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out 50976of mere malice. 50977 5097813:7. And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard 50979these words: 50980 5098113:8. And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader 50982in the place of Judas, and Jonathan, thy brother: 50983 5098413:9. Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say 50985to us. 50986 5098713:10. So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to 50988finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about. 50989 5099013:11. And he sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, and with him a new 50991army, into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself 50992remained there. 50993 5099413:12. And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade 50995the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody. 50996 5099713:13. But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain. 50998 5099913:14. And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place 51000of his brother, Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he 51001sent messengers to him, 51002 5100313:15. Saying: We have detained thy brother, Jonathan, for the money 51004that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he 51005had the management of. 51006 5100713:16. But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for 51008hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and 51009we will release him. 51010 5101113:17. Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him; nevertheless, 51012he ordered the money and the children to be sent, lest he should bring 51013upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have 51014said: 51015 5101613:18. Because he sent not the money and the children therefore is he 51017lost. 51018 5101913:19. So he sent the children and the hundred talents and he lied, and 51020did not let Jonathan go. 51021 5102213:20. And after this, Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy 51023it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and 51024his army marched to every place whithersoever they went. 51025 51026Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they 51027went. . .That is, whithersoever Tryphon and his horsemen went in order 51028to oppose them. 51029 5103013:21. And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, 51031that he should make haste to come through the desert, and send them 51032victuals. 51033 5103413:22. And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night; but 51035there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of 51036Galaad. 51037 5103813:23. And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons 51039there. 51040 5104113:24. And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country. 51042 5104313:25. And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan, his brother, and 51044buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers. 51045 5104613:26. And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they 51047mourned for him many days. 51048 5104913:27. And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his 51050brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone, behind and 51051before: 51052 5105313:28. And he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his 51054father, and his mother, and his four brethren: 51055 5105613:29. And round about these he set great pillars; and upon the 51057pillars, arms, for a perpetual memory; and by the arms, ships carved, 51058which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea. 51059 5106013:30. This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin, even unto this day. 51061 5106213:31. But Tryphon, when he was upon a journey with the young king, 51063Antiochus, treacherously slew him. 51064 5106513:32. And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and 51066brought great evils upon the land. 51067 5106813:33. And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them 51069with high towers, and great walls, and gates and bars: and he stored up 51070victuals in the fortresses. 51071 5107213:34. And Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that 51073he should grant an immunity to the land; for all that Tryphon did, was 51074to spoil. 51075 5107613:35. And king Demetrius, in answer to this request, wrote a letter in 51077this manner: 51078 5107913:36. King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest, and friend of kings, 51080and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting: 51081 5108213:37. The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have 51083received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write 51084to the king's chief officers to release you the things that we have 51085released. 51086 5108713:38. For all that we have decreed in your favour shall stand in 51088force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own. 51089 5109013:39. And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we 51091forgive it: and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were 51092taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed. 51093 5109413:40. And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be 51095enrolled, and let there be peace between us. 51096 5109713:41. In the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the Gentiles 51098was taken off from Israel. 51099 5110013:42. And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and 51101public records, The first year under Simon, the high priest, the great 51102captain, and prince of the Jews. 51103 5110413:43. In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, 51105and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, 51106and took it. 51107 5110813:44. And they that were within the engine leapt into the city: and 51109there was a great uproar in the city. 51110 5111113:45. And they that were in the city went up, with their wives and 51112children, upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with 51113a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace. 51114 5111513:46. And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but 51116according to thy mercy. 51117 5111813:47. And Simon being moved, did not destroy them but yet he cast them 51119out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, 51120and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord: 51121 5112213:48. And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men 51123that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his 51124habitation. 51125 5112613:49. But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from 51127going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and 51128they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through 51129famine. 51130 5113113:50. And they cried to Simon for peace, and he granted it to them: 51132and he cast them out from thence and cleansed the castle from 51133uncleannesses. 51134 5113513:51. And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the 51136second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with 51137thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and 51138psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was 51139destroyed out of Israel. 51140 5114113:52. And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with 51142gladness. 51143 5114413:53. And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the 51145castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him. 51146 5114713:54. And Simon saw that John, his son, was a valiant man for war: and 51148he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara. 51149 51150 51151 511521 Machabees Chapter 14 51153 51154 51155Demetrius is taken by the king of Persia. Judea flourishes under the 51156government of Simon. 51157 5115814:1. In the year one hundred and seventy-two king Demetrius assembled 51159his army, and went into Media to get him succours to fight against 51160Tryphon. 51161 5116214:2. And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius 51163was entered within his borders, and he sent one of his princes to take 51164him alive, and bring him to him. 51165 5116614:3. And he went, and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, 51167and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody. 51168 5116914:4. And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of Simon, and 51170he sought the good of his nation: and his power, and his glory pleased 51171them well all his days. 51172 5117314:5. And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an 51174entrance to the isles of the sea. 51175 5117614:6. And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master 51177of the country. 51178 5117914:7. And he gathered together a great number of captives, and had the 51180dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the castle: and took away 51181all uncleanness out of it, and there was none that resisted him. 51182 5118314:8. And every man tilled his land with peace, and the land of Juda 51184yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit. 51185 5118614:9. The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of 51187the good things of the land, and the young men put on them glory, and 51188the robes of war. 51189 5119014:10. And he provided victuals for the cities, and he appointed that 51191they should be furnished with ammunition, so that the fame of his glory 51192was renowned even to the end of the earth. 51193 5119414:11. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy. 51195 5119614:12. And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and 51197there was none to make them afraid. 51198 5119914:13. There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings 51200were discomfited in those days. 51201 5120214:14. And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought 51203low, and he sought the law, and took away every unjust and wicked man. 51204 5120514:15. He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the 51206holy places. 51207 5120814:16. And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan 51209was dead: and they were very sorry. 51210 5121114:17. But when they heard that Simon, his brother, was made high 51212priest in his place, and was possessed of all the country, and the 51213cities therein: 51214 5121514:18. They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship 51216and alliance which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his 51217brethren. 51218 5121914:19. And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is 51220the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent. 51221 5122214:20. The princes and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the high 51223priest, and to the ancients, and the priests, and the rest of the 51224people of the Jews, their brethren, greeting. 51225 5122614:21. The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of 51227your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoiced at their coming. 51228 5122914:22. And we registered what was said by them in the councils of the 51230people, in this manner: Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, 51231the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the 51232former friendship with us. 51233 5123414:23. And it pleased the people to receive the men honourably, and to 51235put a copy of their words in the public records, to be a memorial to 51236the people of the Spartans. And we have written a copy of them to 51237Simon, the high priest. 51238 5123914:24. And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield 51240of gold, of the weight of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with 51241them. And when the people of Rome had heard 51242 5124314:25. These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to Simon, and 51244his sons: 51245 5124614:26. For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven away in fight 51247the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and 51248registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount 51249Sion. 51250 5125114:27. And this is a copy of the writing. The eighteenth day of the 51252month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third 51253year under Simon, the high priest, at Asaramel, 51254 5125514:28. In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the 51256princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things 51257were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country, 51258 5125914:29. And Simon, the son of Mathathias, of the children of Jarib, and 51260his brethren, have put themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies 51261of their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: 51262and have raised their nation to great glory. 51263 5126414:30. And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their 51265high priest, and he was laid to his people. 51266 5126714:31. And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their 51268country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places. 51269 5127014:32. Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much 51271of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them 51272wages. 51273 5127414:33. And he fortified the cities of Judea and Bethsura that lieth in 51275the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and 51276he placed there a garrison of Jews. 51277 5127814:34. And he fortified Joppe, which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, 51279which bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he 51280placed Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for 51281their reparation. 51282 5128314:35. And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what glory he 51284meant to bring his nation, made him their prince and high priest, 51285because he had done all these things, and for the justice and faith 51286which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to 51287advance his people. 51288 5128914:36. And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the 51290heathens were taken away out of their country, and they also that were 51291in the city of David, in Jerusalem, in the castle, out of which they 51292issued forth, and profaned all places round about the sanctuary, and 51293did much evil to purity. 51294 5129514:37. And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the country, and 51296of the city, and he raised up the walls of Jerusalem. 51297 5129814:38. And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood. 51299 5130014:39. According to these things he made him his friend, and glorified 51301him with great glory. 51302 5130314:40. For he had heard that the Romans had called the Jews their 51304friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that they had received 51305Simon's ambassadors with honour: 51306 5130714:41. And that the Jews, and their priests, had consented that he 51308should be their prince and high priest for ever, till there should 51309arise a faithful prophet: 51310 5131114:42. And that he should be chief over them, and that he should have 51312the charge of the sanctuary, and that he should appoint rulers over 51313their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the 51314strong holds; 51315 5131614:43. And that he should have care of the holy places; and that he 51317should be obeyed by all, and that all the writings in the country 51318should be made in his name; and that he should be clothed with purple 51319and gold: 51320 5132114:44. And that it should not be lawful for any of the people, or of 51322the priests, to disannul any of these things, or to gainsay his words, 51323or to call together an assembly in the country without him: or to be 51324clothed with purple, or to wear a buckle of gold. 51325 5132614:45. And whosoever shall do otherwise, or shall make void any of 51327these things, shall be punished. 51328 5132914:46. And it pleased all the people to establish Simon, and to do 51330according to these words. 51331 5133214:47. And Simon accepted thereof, and was well pleased to execute the 51333office of the high priesthood, and to be captain, and prince of the 51334nation of the Jews, and of the priests, and to be chief over all. 51335 5133614:48. And they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of 51337brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the 51338sanctuary, in a conspicuous place: 51339 5134014:49. And that a copy thereof should be put in the treasury, that 51341Simon, and his sons, may have it. 51342 51343 51344 513451 Machabees Chapter 15 51346 51347 51348Antiochus son of Demetrius honours Simon. The Romans write to divers 51349nations in favour of the Jews. Antiochus quarrels with Simon, and sends 51350troops to annoy him. 51351 5135215:1. And king Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, sent letters from the 51353isles of the sea to Simon, the priest, and prince of the nation of the 51354Jews, and to all the people: 51355 5135615:2. And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon, the high 51357priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting. 51358 5135915:3. Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of 51360our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the kingdom, and to restore 51361it to its former estate; and I have chosen a great army, and have built 51362ships of war. 51363 5136415:4. And I design to go through the country, that I may take revenge 51365of them that have destroyed our country, and that have made many cities 51366desolate in my realm. 51367 5136815:5. Now, therefore, I confirm unto thee all the oblations which all 51369the kings before me remitted to thee, and what other gifts soever they 51370remitted to thee: 51371 5137215:6. And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy country: 51373 5137415:7. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the armour that hath 51375been made, and the fortresses which thou hast built, and which thou 51376keepest in thy hands, let them remain to thee. 51377 5137815:8. And all that is due to the king, and what should be the king's 51379hereafter, from this present and for ever, is forgiven thee. 51380 5138115:9. And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we will glorify 51382thee, and thy nation, and the temple, with great glory, so that your 51383glory shall be made manifest in all the earth. 51384 5138515:10. In the year one hundred and seventy-four, Antiochus entered into 51386the land of his fathers, and all the forces assembled to him, so that 51387few were left with Tryphon. 51388 5138915:11. And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled along by the 51390sea coast and came to Dora. 51391 5139215:12. For he perceived that evils were gathered together upon him, and 51393his troops had forsaken him. 51394 5139515:13. And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and twenty 51396thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen: 51397 5139815:14. And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by sea: and 51399they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and suffered none to come 51400in, or to go out. 51401 5140215:15. And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came from the 51403city of Rome, having letters written to the kings, and countries, the 51404contents whereof were these: 51405 5140615:16. Lucius, the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee, greeting. 51407 51408Ptolemee. . .Surnamed Physeon, brother and successor to Philometer. 51409 5141015:17. The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to us, to renew 51411the former friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon, the high 51412priest, and the people of the Jews. 51413 5141415:18. And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand pounds. 51415 5141615:19. It hath seemed good therefore to us, to write to the kings and 51417countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, 51418their cities, or countries: and that they should give no aid to them 51419that fight against them. 51420 5142115:20. And it hath seemed good to us to receive the shield of them. 51422 5142315:21. If, therefore, any pestilent men are fled out of their country 51424to you, deliver them to Simon, the high priest, that he may punish them 51425according to their law. 51426 5142715:22. These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to 51428Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces, 51429 51430Attalus, etc. . .Attalus was king of Pergamus; Ariarathes was king of 51431Cappadocia; and Arsaces was king of the Parthians. 51432 5143315:23. And to all the countries: and to Lampsacus and to the Spartans, 51434and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samus, and 51435Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, 51436and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and 51437Cyrene. 51438 5143915:24. And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon, the high priest, and to 51440the people of the Jews. 51441 5144215:25. But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second time, 51443assaulting it continually, and making engines: and he shut up Tryphon, 51444that he could not go out. 51445 5144615:26. And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid him, silver 51447also, and gold, and abundance of furniture. 51448 5144915:27. And he would not receive them, but broke all the covenant that 51450he had made with him before, and alienated himself from him. 51451 5145215:28. And he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to treat with 51453him, saying: You hold Joppe and Gazara, and the castle that is in 51454Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom: 51455 5145615:29. Their borders you have wasted, and you have made great havoc in 51457the land, and have got the dominion of many places in my kingdom. 51458 5145915:30. Now, therefore, deliver up the cities that you have taken, and 51460the tributes of the places whereof you have gotten the dominion without 51461the borders of Judea. 51462 5146315:31. But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and 51464for the havoc that you have made, and the tributes of the cities, other 51465five hundred talents: or else we will come and fight against you. 51466 5146715:32. So Athenobius, the king's friend came to Jerusalem, and saw the 51468glory of Simon and his magnificence in gold, and silver, and his great 51469equipage, and he was astonished, and told him the king's words. 51470 5147115:33. And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have neither taken 51472other men's land, neither do we hold that which is other men's, but the 51473inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed 51474by our enemies. 51475 5147615:34. But we having opportunity, claim the inheritance of our fathers. 51477 5147815:35. And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and Gazara, they did 51479great harm to the people, and to our country: yet for these we will 51480give a hundred talents. And Athenobius answered him not a word. 51481 5148215:36. But returning in a rage to the king, made report to him of these 51483words, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen, and the 51484king was exceeding angry. 51485 5148615:37. And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias. 51487 5148815:38. And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and 51489gave him an army of footmen and horsemen. 51490 5149115:39. And he commanded him to march with his army towards Judea: and 51492he commanded him to build up Gedor, and to fortify the gates of the 51493city, and to war against the people. But the king himself pursued after 51494Tryphon. 51495 5149615:40. And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, 51497and to ravage Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and to kill, and 51498to build Gedor. 51499 5150015:41. And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that they might issue 51501forth, and make incursions upon the ways of Judea, as the king had 51502commanded him. 51503 51504 51505 515061 Machabees Chapter 16 51507 51508 51509The sons of Simon defeat the troops of Antiochus. Simon with two of his 51510sons are treacherously murdered by Ptolemee his son in law. 51511 5151216:1. Then John came up from Gazara, and told Simon, his father, what 51513Cendebeus had done against their people. 51514 51515John. . .He was afterwards surnamed Hircanus, and succeeded his father 51516in both his dignities of high priest and prince. He conquered the 51517Edomites, and obliged them to a conformity with the Jews in religion; 51518and destroyed the schismatical temple of the Samaritans. 51519 5152016:2. And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said to 51521them: I and my brethren, and my father's house, have fought against the 51522enemies of Israel from our youth even to this day: and things have 51523prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel 51524oftentimes. 51525 5152616:3. And now I am old, but be you instead of me, and my brethren, and 51527go out, and fight for our nation: and the help from heaven be with you. 51528 5152916:4. Then he chose out of the country twenty thousand fighting men, 51530and horsemen, and they went forth against Cendebeus: and they rested in 51531Modin. 51532 5153316:5. And they arose in the morning, and went into the plain: and 51534behold a very great army of footmen and horsemen came against them, and 51535there was a running river between them. 51536 5153716:6. And he and his people pitched their camp over against them, and 51538he saw that the people were afraid to go over the river, so he went 51539over first: then the men seeing him, passed over after him. 51540 51541He. . .Viz., John. 51542 5154316:7. And he divided the people, and set the horsemen in the midst of 51544the footmen: but the horsemen of the enemies were very numerous. 51545 5154616:8. And they sounded the holy trumpets: and Cendebeus and his army 51547were put to flight: and there fell many of them wounded, and the rest 51548fled into the strong hold. 51549 5155016:9. At that time, Judas, John's brother, was wounded: but John 51551pursued after them, till he came to Cedron, which he had built: 51552 51553Cedron. . .Otherwise called Gedon, the city that Cendebeus was 51554fortifying. 51555 5155616:10. And they fled even to the towers that were in the fields of 51557Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And there fell of them two 51558thousand men, and he returned into Judea in peace. 51559 5156016:11. Now Ptolemee, the son of Abobus, was appointed captain in the 51561plain of Jericho, and he had abundance of silver and gold. 51562 5156316:12. For he was son in law of the high priest. 51564 5156516:13. And his heart was lifted up, and he designed to make himself 51566master of the country, and he purposed treachery against Simon and his 51567sons, to destroy them. 51568 5156916:14. Now Simon, as he was going through the cities that were in the 51570country of Judea, and taking care for the good ordering of them, went 51571down to Jericho, he and Mathathias and Judas, his sons, in the year one 51572hundred and seventy-seven, the eleventh month: the same is the month 51573Sabath. 51574 5157516:15. And the son of Abobus received them deceitfully into a little 51576fortress, that is called Doch, which he had built: and he made them a 51577great feast, and hid men there. 51578 5157916:16. And when Simon and his sons had drunk plentifully, Ptolemee and 51580his men rose up, and took their weapons, and entered into the 51581banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and some of his 51582servants. 51583 5158416:17. And he committed a great treachery in Israel, and rendered evil 51585for good. 51586 5158716:18. And Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king that he 51588should send him an army to aid him, and he would deliver him the 51589country, and their cities, and tributes. 51590 5159116:19. And he sent others to Gazara to kill John: and to the tribunes 51592he sent letters to come to him, and that he would give them silver, and 51593gold, and gifts. 51594 5159516:20. And he sent others to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the 51596temple. 51597 5159816:21. Now one running before, told John in Gazara, that his father and 51599his brethren were slain, and that he hath sent men to kill thee also. 51600 5160116:22. But when he heard it, he was exceedingly afraid: and he 51602apprehended the men that came to kill him, and he put them to death: 51603for he knew that they sought to make him away. 51604 5160516:23. And as concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, 51606and the worthy deeds, which he bravely achieved, and the building of 51607the walls, which he made, and the things that he did: 51608 5160916:24. Behold, these are written in the book of the days of his 51610priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his 51611father. 51612 51613 51614 51615 51616THE SECOND BOOK OF MACHABEES 51617 51618 51619 51620This second book of MACHABEES is not a continuation of the history 51621contained in the first: nor does is come down so low as the first does: 51622but relates many of the same facts more at large, and adds other 51623remarkable particulars, omitted in the first book, relating to the 51624state of the Jews, as well before as under the persecution of 51625ANTIOCHUS. The author, who is not the same with that of the first book, 51626has given (as we learn from chap. 2.20, etc.) a short abstract of what 51627JASON of Cyrene had written in the five volumes, concerning JUDAS and 51628his brethren. He wrote in Greek, and begins with two letters, sent by 51629the Jews of Jerusalem to their brethren in Egypt. 51630 51631 51632 516332 Machabees Chapter 1 51634 51635 51636Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give 51637thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to 51638keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous 51639fire. 51640 516411:1. To the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt; the brethren, 51642the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health 51643and good peace. 51644 516451:2. May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made 51646with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants: 51647 516481:3. And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a 51649great heart, and a willing mind. 51650 516511:4. May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and 51652send you peace. 51653 516541:5. May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never 51655forsake you in the evil time. 51656 516571:6. And now here we are praying for you. 51658 516591:7. When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we 51660Jews wrote to you in the trouble and violence that came upon us in 51661those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from 51662the kingdom. 51663 516641:8. They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to 51665the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, 51666and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves. 51667 516681:9. And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of 51669Casleu. 51670 51671Scenopegia. . .Viz., the Encenia, or feast of the dedication of the 51672altar, called here Scenopegia, or feast of tabernacles, from being 51673celebrated with the like solemnity. 51674 516751:10. In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is at 51676Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the 51677preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed 51678priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare. 51679 516801:11. Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him 51681great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king. 51682 51683Such a king. . .Viz., Antiochus Sidetes, who began to make war upon the 51684Jews, whilst Simon was yet alive. 1 Mac. 15.39. And afterwards besieged 51685Jerusalem under John Hircanus. So that the Judas here mentioned, ver. 5168610, is not Judas Machabeus, who was dead long before the year 188 of 51687the kingdom of the Greeks, for he died in the year 146 of that epoch, 51688(see above 1 Mac. chap. 2., ver. 70, also the note on chap. 1, ver. 2,) 51689but either Judas the eldest son of John Hircanus, or Judas the Essene, 51690renowned for the gift of prophecy, who flourished about that time. 51691 516921:12. For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia, that have fought 51693against us, and the holy city. 51694 516951:13. For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very 51696great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the 51697counsel of the priests of Nanea. 51698 51699Nanea. . .A Persian goddess, which some have taken for Diana, others for 51700Venus. 51701 517021:14. For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he 51703would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under 51704the title of a dowry. 51705 517061:15. And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a 51707small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the 51708temple, 51709 517101:16. When Antiochus was come in: and opening a secret entrance of the 51711temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with 51712him, and hewed them in pieces; and cutting off their heads, they threw 51713them forth. 51714 517151:17. Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked. 51716 517171:18. Therefore, whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the 51718temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought 51719it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of 51720Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias 51721offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built. 51722 517231:19. For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that then 51724were worshippers of God, took privately the fire from the altar, and 51725hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there 51726they kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men. 51727 51728Persia. . .Babylonia, called here Persia, from being afterwards a part 51729of the Persian empire. 51730 517311:20. But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias 51732should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of 51733those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told 51734us, they found no fire, but thick water. 51735 517361:21. Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the 51737priest, Nehemias, commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be 51738sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were 51739laid upon it. 51740 517411:22. And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, 51742which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that 51743all wondered. 51744 517451:23. And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was 51746consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering. 51747 517481:24. And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God, 51749Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who 51750alone art the good king, 51751 517521:25. Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and 51753eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the 51754fathers, and didst sanctify them: 51755 517561:26. Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy 51757own portion, and sanctify it. 51758 517591:27. Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are 51760slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and 51761abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God 51762 517631:28. Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with 51764pride. 51765 517661:29. Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken. 51767 517681:30. And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed. 51769 517701:31. And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water 51771that was left to be poured out upon the great stones. 51772 517731:32. Which being done, there was kindled a flame from them: but it was 51774consumed by the light that shined from the altar. 51775 517761:33. And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of 51777Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid 51778the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were 51779with him had purified the sacrifices. 51780 517811:34. And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, 51782made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened. 51783 51784A temple. . .That is, an enclosure, or a wall round about the place 51785where the fire was hid, to separate it from profane uses, to the end 51786that it might be respected as a holy place. 51787 517881:35. And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and 51789divers presents, and he took and distributed them to them with his own 51790hand. 51791 517921:36. And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted 51793purification. But many call it Nephi. 51794 51795 51796 517972 Machabees Chapter 2 51798 51799 51800A continuation of the second letter. Of Jeremias' hiding the ark at the 51801time of the captivity. The author's preface. 51802 518032:1.Now it is found in the descriptions of Jeremias, the prophet, that 51804he commanded them that went into captivity, to take the fire, as it 51805hath been signified, and how he gave charge to them that were carried 51806away into captivity. 51807 51808The descriptions. . .That is, the records or memoirs of Jeremias, a work 51809that is now lost. 51810 518112:2. And how he gave them the law, that they should not forget the 51812commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, 51813seeing the idols of gold, and silver, and the ornaments of them. 51814 518152:3. And with other such like speeches, he exhorted them that they 51816would not remove the law from their heart. 51817 518182:4. It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being 51819warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should 51820accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain where Moses went up, 51821and saw the inheritance of God. 51822 518232:5. And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he 51824carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of 51825incense, and so stopped the door. 51826 518272:6. Then some of them that followed him, came up to mark the place: 51828but they could not find it. 51829 518302:7. And when Jeremias perceived it, he blamed them, saying: The place 51831shall be unknown, till God gather together the congregation of the 51832people, and receive them to mercy. 51833 518342:8. And then the Lord will shew these things, and the majesty of the 51835Lord shall appear, and there shall be a cloud as it was also shewed to 51836Moses, and he shewed it when Solomon prayed that the place might be 51837sanctified to the great God. 51838 518392:9. For he treated wisdom in a magnificent manner: and like a wise 51840man, he offered the sacrifice of the dedication, and of the finishing 51841of the temple. 51842 518432:10. And as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven, 51844and consumed the holocaust: so Solomon also prayed, and fire came down 51845from heaven and consumed the holocaust. 51846 518472:11. And Moses said: Because the sin offering was not eaten, it was 51848consumed. 51849 518502:12. So Solomon also celebrated the dedication eight days. 51851 518522:13. And these same things were set down in the memoirs, and 51853commentaries of Nehemias: and how he made a library, and gathered 51854together out of the countries, the books both of the prophets, and of 51855David, and the epistles of the kings, and concerning the holy gifts. 51856 518572:14. And in like manner Judas also gathered together all such things 51858as were lost by the war we had, and they are in our possession. 51859 518602:15. Wherefore, if you want these things, send some that may fetch 51861them to you. 51862 518632:16. As we are then about to celebrate the purification, we have 51864written unto you: and you shall do well, if you keep the same days. 51865 51866The purification. . .That is, the feast of the purifying or cleansing of 51867the temple. 51868 518692:17. And we hope that God, who hath delivered his people, and hath 51870rendered to all the inheritance, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, 51871and the sanctuary, 51872 518732:18. As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and 51874will gather us together from every land under heaven into the holy 51875place. 51876 518772:19. For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed 51878the place. 51879 518802:20. Now as concerning Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the 51881purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar: 51882 518832:21. As also the wars against Antiochus, the Illustrious, and his son, 51884Eupator: 51885 518862:22. And the manifestations that came from heaven to them, that 51887behaved themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being 51888but a few they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to 51889flight the barbarous multitude: 51890 518912:23. And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, 51892and delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the 51893Lord with all clemency shewing mercy to them. 51894 518952:24. And all such things as have been comprised in five books by 51896Jason, of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book. 51897 518982:25. For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that 51899they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because 51900of the multitude of the matter, 51901 519022:26. We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, 51903that it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they 51904may more easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive 51905profit. 51906 519072:27. And as to ourselves indeed, in undertaking this work of 51908abridging, we have taken in hand no easy task; yea, rather a business 51909full of watching and sweat. 51910 51911No easy task, etc. . .The spirit of God, that assists the sacred penmen, 51912does not exempt them from labour in seeking out the matter which they 51913are to treat of, and the order and manner in which they are to deliver 51914it. So St. Luke writ the gospel having diligently attained to all 51915things. Luke 1. ver. 3. 51916 519172:28. But as they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of 51918others: for the sake of many, we willingly undergo the labour. 51919 519202:29. Leaving to the authors the exact handling of every particular, 51921and as for ourselves, according to the plan proposed, studying to be 51922brief. 51923 519242:30. For as the master builder of a new house must have care of the 51925whole building: but he that taketh care to paint it, must seek out fit 51926things for the adorning of it: so must it be judged of us. 51927 519282:31. For to collect all that is to be known, to put the discourse in 51929order, and curiously to discuss every particular point, is the duty of 51930the author of a history: 51931 519322:32. But to pursue brevity of speech, and to avoid nice declarations 51933of things, is to be granted to him that maketh an abridgment. 51934 519352:33. Here then we will begin the narration: let this be enough by way 51936of a preface: for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to 51937be short in the story itself. 51938 51939 51940 519412 Machabees Chapter 3 51942 51943 51944Heliodorus is sent by king Seleucus to take away the treasures 51945deposited in the temple. He is struck by God, and healed by the prayers 51946of the high priest. 51947 519483:1. Therefore, when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and 51949the laws as yet were very well kept, because of the godliness of Onias, 51950the high priest and the hatred his soul had of evil, 51951 519523:2. It came to pass that even the kings themselves and the princes 51953esteemed the place worthy of the highest honour, and glorified the 51954temple with very great gifts: 51955 519563:3. So that Seleucus, king of Asia, allowed out of his revenues all 51957the charges belonging to the ministry of the sacrifices. 51958 51959Seleucus. . .Son of Antiochus the Great, and elder brother of Antiochus 51960Epiphanes. 51961 519623:4. But one Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was appointed 51963overseer of the temple, strove in opposition to the high priest, to 51964bring about some unjust thing in the city. 51965 519663:5. And when he could not overcome Onias, he went to Apollonius, the 51967son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria, and 51968Phenicia: 51969 519703:6. And told him, that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of immense 51971sums of money, and the common store was infinite, which did not belong 51972to the account of the sacrifices: and that it was possible to bring all 51973into the king's hands. 51974 519753:7. Now when Apollonius had given the king notice concerning the money 51976that he was told of, he called for Heliodorus, who had the charge over 51977his affairs, and sent him with commission to bring him the foresaid 51978money. 51979 519803:8. So Heliodorus forthwith began his journey, under a colour of 51981visiting the cities of Celesyria and Phenicia, but indeed to fulfil the 51982king's purpose. 51983 519843:9. And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously 51985received in the city by the high priest, he told him what information 51986had been given concerning the money: and declared the cause for which 51987he was come: and asked if these things were so indeed. 51988 519893:10. Then the high priest told him that these were sums deposited, and 51990provisions for the subsistence of the widows and the fatherless: 51991 519923:11. And that some part of that which wicked Simon had given 51993intelligence of belonged to Hircanus, son of Tobias, a man of great 51994dignity; and that the whole was four hundred talents of silver, and two 51995hundred of gold. 51996 519973:12. But that to deceive them who had trusted to the place and temple 51998which is honoured throughout the whole world, for the reverence and 51999holiness of it, was a thing which could not by any means be done. 52000 520013:13. But he, by reason of the orders he had received from the king, 52002said, that by all means the money must be carried to the king. 52003 520043:14. So on the day he had appointed, Heliodorus entered in to order 52005this matter. But there was no small terror throughout the whole city. 52006 520073:15. And the priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their 52008priests' vestments, and called upon him from heaven, who made the law 52009concerning things given to be kept, that he would preserve them safe, 52010for them that had deposited them. 52011 520123:16. Now whosoever saw the countenance of the high priest, was wounded 52013in heart: for his face, and the changing of his colour, declared the 52014inward sorrow of his mind. 52015 520163:17. For the man was so compassed with sadness and horror of the body, 52017that it was manifest to them that beheld him, what sorrow he had in his 52018heart. 52019 520203:18. Others also came flocking together out of their houses, praying 52021and making public supplication, because the place was like to come into 52022contempt. 52023 520243:19. And the women, girded with haircloth about their breasts, came 52025together in the streets. And the virgins also that were shut up, came 52026forth, some to Onias, and some to the walls, and others looked out of 52027the windows. 52028 520293:20. And all holding up their hands towards heaven made supplication. 52030 520313:21. For the expectation of the mixed multitude, and of the high 52032priest, who was in an agony, would have moved any one to pity. 52033 520343:22. And these indeed called upon almighty God, to preserve the things 52035that had been committed to them safe and sure for those that had 52036committed them. 52037 520383:23. But Heliodorus executed that which he had resolved on, himself 52039being present in the same place with his guard about the treasury. 52040 520413:24. But the spirit of the Almighty God gave a great evidence of his 52042presence, so that all that had presumed to obey him, falling down by 52043the power of God, were struck with fainting and dread. 52044 520453:25. For there appeared to them a horse, with a terrible rider upon 52046him, adorned with a very rich covering: and he ran fiercely and struck 52047Heliodorus with his fore feet, and he that sat upon him seemed to have 52048armour of gold. 52049 520503:26. Moreover there appeared two other young men, beautiful and 52051strong, bright and glorious, and in comely apparel: who stood by him, 52052on either side, and scourged him without ceasing with many stripes. 52053 520543:27. And Heliodorus suddenly fell to the ground, and they took him up, 52055covered with great darkness, and having put him into a litter, they 52056carried him out. 52057 520583:28. So he that came with many servants, and all his guard, into the 52059aforesaid treasury, was carried out, no one being able to help him, the 52060manifest power of God being known. 52061 520623:29. And he indeed, by the power of God, lay speechless, and without 52063all hope of recovery. 52064 520653:30. But they praised the Lord, because he had glorified his place: 52066and the temple, that a little before was full of fear and trouble, when 52067the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness. 52068 520693:31. Then some of the friends of Heliodorus forthwith begged of Onias, 52070that he would call upon the Most High to grant him his life, who was 52071ready to give up the ghost. 52072 520733:32. So the high priest, considering that the king might perhaps 52074suspect that some mischief had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, 52075offered a sacrifice of health for the recovery of the man. 52076 520773:33. And when the high priest was praying, the same young men in the 52078same clothing stood by Heliodorus, and said to him: Give thanks to 52079Onias the priest: because for his sake the Lord hath granted thee life. 52080 520813:34. And thou having been scourged by God, declare unto all men the 52082great works and the power of God. And having spoken thus, they appeared 52083no more. 52084 520853:35. So Heliodorus, after he had offered a sacrifice to God, and made 52086great vows to him, that had granted him life, and given thanks to 52087Onias, taking his troops with him, returned to the king. 52088 520893:36. And he testified to all men the works of the great God, which he 52090had seen with his own eyes. 52091 520923:37. And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be 52093sent yet once more to Jerusalem, he said: 52094 520953:38. If thou hast any enemy, or traitor to thy king dom, send him 52096thither, and thou shalt receive him again scourged, if so be he escape: 52097for there is undoubtedly in that place a certain power of God. 52098 520993:39. For he that hath his dwelling in the heavens, is the visitor and 52100protector of that place, and he striketh and destroyeth them that come 52101to do evil to it. 52102 521033:40. And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the 52104treasury, fell out in this manner. 52105 52106 52107 521082 Machabees Chapter 4 52109 52110 52111Onias has recourse to the king. The ambition and wickedness of Jason 52112and Menelaus. Onias is treacherously murdered. 52113 521144:1. But Simon, of whom we spoke before, who was the betrayer of the 52115money, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited 52116Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils: 52117 521184:2. And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided 52119for the city, and defended his nation, and was zealous for the law of 52120God. 52121 521224:3. But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were 52123committed by some of Simon's friends: 52124 521254:4. Onias, considering the danger of this contention, and that 52126Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyia, and Phenicia, was 52127outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king, 52128 521294:5. Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with view to the 52130common good of all the people. 52131 521324:6. For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that 52133matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his 52134folly. 52135 521364:7. But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called 52137the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason, the 52138brother of Onias, ambitiously sought the high priesthood: 52139 521404:8. And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty 52141talents of silver, and out of other revenues fourscore talents. 52142 521434:9. Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he 52144might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for 52145youth, and to entitle them that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians. 52146 521474:10. Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into 52148his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the 52149fashion of the heathens. 52150 521514:11. And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special 52152favour by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John, the 52153father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and 52154alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and 52155brought in fashions that were perverse. 52156 521574:12. For he had the boldness to set up, under the very castle, a place 52158of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses. 52159 521604:13. Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of 52161heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of 52162wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch, and no priest. 52163 521644:14. Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices 52165of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, 52166hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance 52167thereof, and of the exercise of the discus. 52168 521694:15. And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed 52170the Grecian glories for the best: 52171 521724:16. For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and 52173followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to 52174be like them, who were their enemies and murderers. 52175 521764:17. For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass 52177unpunished: but this the time following will declare. 52178 521794:18. Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at 52180Tyre, the king being present, 52181 521824:19. The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men, to carry three 52183hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the 52184bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, 52185because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges. 52186 521874:20. So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice 52188of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for the 52189making of galleys. 52190 521914:21. Now when Apollonius, the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to 52192treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that 52193he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his 52194own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to 52195Jerusalem. 52196 521974:22. Where he was received in a magnificent manner by Jason, and the 52198city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, and from thence 52199he returned with his army into Phenicia. 52200 522014:23. Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the 52202aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from 52203him concerning certain necessary affairs. 52204 522054:24. But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the 52206appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by 52207offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver. 52208 522094:25. So having received the king's mandate, he returned, bringing 52210nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel 52211tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast. 52212 522134:26. Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself 52214undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the 52215Ammonites. 52216 522174:27. So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had 52218promised to the king, he took no care, when Sostratus, the governor of 52219the castle, called for it. 52220 522214:28. For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they 52222were both called before the king. 52223 522244:29. And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus, his 52225brother, succeeding: and Sostratus alas made governor of the Cyprians. 52226 522274:30. When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of 52228Tharsus, and Mallos, raised a sedition, because they were given for a 52229gift to Antiochus, the king's concubine. 52230 522314:31. The king, therefore, went in all haste to appease them, leaving 52232Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy. 52233 522344:32. Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, 52235having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to 52236Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighbouring 52237cities: 52238 522394:33. Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, 52240keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch, beside Daphne. 52241 522424:34. Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill 52243Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, 52244and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out 52245of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to 52246justice. 52247 522484:35. For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, 52249conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of 52250so great a man. 52251 522524:36. And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the 52253Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Greeks, went to him: 52254complaining of the unjust murder of Onias. 52255 522564:37. Antiochus, therefore, was grieved in his mind for Onias, and 52257being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty 52258of the deceased. 52259 522604:38. And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be 52261stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and 52262that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against 52263Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord 52264repaying him his deserved punishment. 52265 522664:39. Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the 52267temple, by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour of it was spread 52268abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, 52269a great quantity of gold being already carried away. 52270 522714:40. Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds 52272being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and 52273began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both 52274in age and in madness. 52275 522764:41. But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up 52277stones, some strong clubs, and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus. 52278 522794:42. And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the 52280ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow 52281himself, they slew him beside the treasury. 52282 522834:43. Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against 52284Menelaus. 52285 522864:44. And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the 52287ancients to plead the cause before him. 52288 522894:45. But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much 52290money to persuade the king to favour him. 52291 52292Ptolemee. . .The son of Dorymenus, a favourite of the king. 52293 522944:46. So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as 52295it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind: 52296 522974:47. So Menelaus, who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him 52298of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their 52299cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were 52300condemned to death. 52301 523024:48. Thus they that persecuted the cause for the city, and for the 52303people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment. 52304 523054:49. Wherefore even the Tyrians, being moved with indignation, were 52306very liberal towards their burial. 52307 523084:50. And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, 52309Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying 52310of the citizens. 52311 52312 52313 523142 Machabees Chapter 5 52315 52316 52317Wonderful signs are seen in the air. Jason's wickedness and end. 52318Antiochus takes Jerusalem, and plunders the temple. 52319 523205:1. At the same time Antiochus prepared for a second journey into 52321Egypt. 52322 523235:2. And it came to pass, that through the whole city of Jerusalem, for 52324the space of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in the air, 52325in gilded raiment, and armed with spears, like bands of soldiers. 52326 523275:3. And horses set in order by ranks, running one against another, 52328with the shakings of shields, and a multitude of men in helmets, with 52329drawn swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden armour, 52330and of harnesses of all sorts. 52331 523325:4. Wherefore all men prayed that these prodigies might turn to good. 52333 523345:5. Now when there was gone forth a false rumour as though Antiochus 52335had been dead, Jason taking with him no fewer than a thousand men, 52336suddenly assaulted the city: and though the citizens ran together to 52337the wall, the city at length was taken, and Menelaus fled into the 52338castle. 52339 523405:6. But Jason slew his countrymen without mercy, not considering that 52341prosperity against one's own kindred is a very great evil, thinking 52342they had been enemies, and not citizens, whom he conquered. 52343 523445:7. Yet he did not get the principality, but received confusion at the 52345end, for the reward of his treachery, and fled again into the country 52346of the Ammonites. 52347 523485:8. At the last, having been shut up by Aretas, the king of the 52349Arabians, in order for his destruction, flying from city to city, hated 52350by all men, as a forsaker of the laws and execrable, as an enemy of his 52351country and countrymen, he was thrust out into Egypt: 52352 523535:9. And he that had driven many out of their country perished in a 52354strange land, going to Lacedemon, as if for kindred sake he should have 52355refuge there: 52356 523575:10. But he that had cast out many unburied, was himself cast forth 52358both unlamented and unburied, neither having foreign burial, nor being 52359partaker of the sepulchre of his fathers. 52360 523615:11. Now when these things were done, the king suspected that the Jews 52362would forsake the alliance: whereupon departing out of Egypt with a 52363furious mind, he took the city by force of arms, 52364 523655:12. And commanded the soldiers to kill, and not to spare any that 52366came in their way, and to go up into the houses to slay. 52367 523685:13. Thus there was a slaughter of young and old, destruction of women 52369and children, and killing of virgins and infants. 52370 523715:14. And there were slain in the space of three whole days fourscore 52372thousand, forty thousand were made prisoners, and as many sold. 52373 523745:15. But this was not enough, he presumed also to enter into the 52375temple, the most holy in all the world Menelaus, that traitor to the 52376laws, and to his country, being his guide. 52377 523785:16. And taking in his wicked hands the holy vessels, which were given 52379by other kings and cities, for the ornament and the glory of the place, 52380he unworthily handled and profaned them. 52381 523825:17. Thus Antiochus going astray in mind, did not consider that God 52383was angry for a while, because of the sins of the inhabitants of the 52384city: and therefore this contempt had happened to the place: 52385 523865:18. Otherwise had they not been involved in many sins, as Heliodorus, 52387who was sent by king Seleucus to rob the treasury, so this man also, as 52388soon as he had come, had been forthwith scourged, and put back from his 52389presumption. 52390 523915:19. But God did not choose the people for the place's sake, but the 52392place for the people's sake. 52393 523945:20. And, therefore, the place also itself was made partaker of the 52395evils of the people: but afterwards shall communicate in the good 52396things thereof, and as it was forsaken in the wrath of Almighty God, 52397shall be exalted again with great glory, when the great Lord shall be 52398reconciled. 52399 524005:21. So when Antiochus had taken away out of the temple a thousand and 52401eight hundred talents, he went back in all haste to Antioch, thinking 52402through pride that he might now make the land navigable, and the sea 52403passable on foot: such was the haughtiness of his mind. 52404 524055:22. He left also governors to afflict the people: at Jerusalem, 52406Philip, a Phrygian by birth, but in manners more barbarous than he that 52407set him there: 52408 524095:23. And in Gazarim, Andronicus and Menelaus, who bore a more heavy 52410hand upon the citizens than the rest. 52411 524125:24. And whereas he was set against the Jews, he sent that hateful 52413prince, Apollonius, with an army of two and twenty thousand men, 52414commanding him to kill all that were of perfect age, and to sell the 52415women and the younger sort. 52416 524175:25. Who, when he was come to Jerusalem, pretending peace, rested till 52418the holy day of the sabbath: and then the Jews keeping holiday, he 52419commanded his men to take arms. 52420 524215:26. And he slew all that were come forth to flee: and running through 52422the city with armed men, he destroyed a very great multitude. 52423 524245:27. But Judas Machabeus, who was the tenth, had withdrawn himself 52425into a desert place, and there lived amongst wild beasts in the 52426mountains with his company: and they continued feeding on herbs, that 52427they might not be partakers of the pollution. 52428 52429Was the tenth. . .That is, he had nine others in his company. 52430 52431 52432 524332 Machabees Chapter 6 52434 52435 52436Antiochus commands the law to be abolished, sets up an idol in the 52437temple, and persecutes the faithful. The martyrdom of Eleazar. 52438 524396:1. But not long after the king sent a certain old man of Antioch, to 52440compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and of God: 52441 524426:2. And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it the 52443temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that in Garazim of Jupiter Hospitalis, 52444according as they were that inhabited the place. 52445 52446That in Gazarim. . .Viz., the temple of the Samaritans. And as they were 52447originally strangers, the name of Hospitalis (which signifies of or 52448belonging to strangers) was applicable to the idol set up in their 52449temple. 52450 524516:3. And very bad was this invasion of evils, and grievous to all. 52452 524536:4. For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of the 52454Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And women thrust themselves 52455of their accord into the holy places, and brought in things that were 52456not lawful. 52457 524586:5. The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were 52459forbidden by the laws. 52460 524616:6. And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the 52462fathers observed, neither did any man plainly profess himself to be a 52463Jew. 52464 524656:7. But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to 52466the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were 52467compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus. 52468 524696:8. And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the 52470Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should 52471act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice: 52472 524736:9. And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the 52474Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen. 52475 524766:10. For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: 52477whom, when they had openly led about through the city, with the infants 52478hanging at their breasts, they threw down headlong from the walls. 52479 524806:11. And others that had met together in caves that were near, and 52481were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, 52482were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves 52483with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day. 52484 52485Philip. . .The governor of Jerusalem. 52486 524876:12. Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not 52488shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that 52489happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of 52490our nation. 52491 524926:13. For it is a token of great goodness, when sinners are not 52493suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently 52494punished. 52495 524966:14. For, not as with other nations, (whom the Lord patiently 52497expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them 52498in the fulness of their sins:) 52499 525006:15. Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins to come to 52501their height, and then take vengeance on us. 52502 525036:16. And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though 52504he chastise his people with adversity he forsaketh them not. 52505 525066:17. But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. 52507And now we must come to the narration. 52508 525096:18. Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, 52510and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat 52511swine's flesh. 52512 525136:19. But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful 52514life, went forward voluntarily to the torment. 52515 525166:20. And considering in what manner he was to come to it, patiently 52517bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of 52518life. 52519 525206:21. But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old 52521friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh 52522might be brought which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make 52523as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the 52524sacrifice: 52525 52526Wicked pity. . .Their pity was wicked, inasmuch as it suggested that 52527wicked proposal of saving his life by dissimulation. 52528 525296:22. That by so doing he might be delivered from death; and for the 52530sake of their old friendship with the man, they did him this courtesy. 52531 525326:23. But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient 52533years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and 52534conversation from a child; and he answered without delay, according to 52535the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would 52536rather be sent into the other world. 52537 525386:24. For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby 52539many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore 52540and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens: 52541 525426:25. And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a 52543corruptible life, should be deceived, and hereby I should bring a stain 52544and a curse upon my old age. 52545 525466:26. For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the 52547punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty 52548neither alive nor dead. 52549 525506:27. Wherefore, by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew 52551myself worthy of my old age: 52552 525536:28. And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a 52554ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most 52555venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith 52556carried to execution. 52557 525586:29. And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, 52559were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought 52560were uttered out of arrogancy. 52561 525626:30. But when be was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned: 52563and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly 52564that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grievous pains 52565in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I 52566fear thee. 52567 525686:31. Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to 52569the whole nation, the memory of his death, for an example of virtue and 52570fortitude. 52571 52572 52573 525742 Machabees Chapter 7 52575 52576 52577The glorious martyrdom of the seven brethren and their mother. 52578 525797:1. It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their 52580mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine's 52581flesh against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and 52582scourges. 52583 525847:2. But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What wouldst thou 52585ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the 52586laws of God, received from our fathers. 52587 525887:3. Then the king being angry, commanded fryingpans and brazen 52589caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated, 52590 525917:4. He commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had spoken first: 52592and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the 52593extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren and his 52594mother looking on. 52595 525967:6. And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded him, being 52597yet alive, to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the fryingpan: 52598and while he was suffering therein long torments, the rest, together 52599with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully, 52600 526017:6. Saying: The Lord God will look upon the truth, and will take 52602pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the profession of the canticle; 52603And in his servants he will take pleasure. 52604 526057:7. So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the 52606next to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin 52607of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he 52608were punished throughout the whole body in every limb. 52609 526107:8. But he answered in his own language, and said: I will not do it. 52611Wherefore he also, in the next place, received the torments of the first: 52612 526137:9. And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: Thou indeed, O 52614most wicked man, destroyest us out of this present life: but the King 52615of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the 52616resurrection of eternal life. 52617 526187:10. After him the third was made a mocking-stock, and when he was 52619required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched 52620out his hands: 52621 526227:11. And said with confidence: These I have from heaven, but for the 52623laws of God I now despise them, because I hope to receive them again 52624from him. 52625 526267:12. So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the 52627young man's courage, because he esteemed the torments as nothing. 52628 526297:13. And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in the like 52630manner. 52631 526327:14. And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It is better, 52633being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up 52634again by him; for, as to thee, thou shalt have no resurrection unto 52635life. 52636 526377:15. And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he, 52638looking upon the king, 52639 526407:16. Said: Whereas thou hast power among men though thou art 52641corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt but think not that our nation is 52642forsaken by God. 52643 526447:17. But stay patiently a while, and thou shalt see his great power, 52645in what manner he will torment thee and thy seed. 52646 526477:18. After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready to die, 52648spoke thus: Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things 52649for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of 52650admiration are done to us: 52651 526527:19. But do not think that thou shalt escape unpunished, for that thou 52653hast attempted to fight against God. 52654 526557:20. Now the mother was to be admired above measure, and worthy to be 52656remembered by good men, who beheld her seven sons slain in the space of 52657one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in 52658God: 52659 526607:21. And she bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language, 52661being filled with wisdom; and joining a man's heart to a woman's 52662thought, 52663 526647:22. She said to them: I know not how you were formed in my womb; for 52665I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the 52666limbs of every one of you. 52667 526687:23. But the Creator of the world, that formed the nativity of man, 52669and that found out the origin of all, he will restore to you again, in 52670his mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise yourselves for the 52671sake of his laws. 52672 526737:24. Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal despising 52674the voice of the upbraider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not 52675only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he 52676would make him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the 52677laws of his fathers, would take him for a friend, and furnish him with 52678things necessary. 52679 526807:25. But when the young man was not moved with these things, the king 52681called the mother, and counselled her to deal with the young man to 52682save his life. 52683 526847:26. And when he had exhorted her with many words she promised that 52685she would counsel her son. 52686 526877:27. So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant, she 52688said in her own language: My son have pity upon me, that bore thee nine 52689months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, 52690and brought thee up unto this age. 52691 526927:28. I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that 52693is in them, and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind 52694also: 52695 526967:29. So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy 52697partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may 52698receive thee again with thy brethren. 52699 527007:30. While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: For 52701whom do you stay? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but the 52702commandment of the law which was given us by Moses. 52703 527047:31. But thou that hast been the author of all mischief against the 52705Hebrews, shalt not escape the hand of God. 52706 527077:32. For we suffer thus for our sins. 52708 527097:33. And though the Lord, our God, is angry with us a little while, 52710for our chastisement and correction, yet he will be reconciled again to 52711his servants. 52712 527137:34. But thou, O wicked, and of all men most flagitious, be not lifted 52714up without cause with vain hopes, whilst thou art raging against his 52715servants. 52716 527177:35. For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of the Almighty God, 52718who beholdeth all things. 52719 527207:36. For my brethren having now undergone a short pain, are under the 52721covenant of eternal life: but thou, by the judgment of God, shalt 52722receive just punishment for thy pride. 52723 527247:37. But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body for the 52725laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our 52726nation, and that thou by torments and stripes mayst confess that he 52727alone is God. 52728 527297:38. But in me, and in my brethren, the wrath of the Almighty, which 52730hath justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease. 52731 527327:39. Then the king being incensed with anger, raged against him more 52733cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was mocked. 52734 527357:40. So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in the Lord. 52736 527377:41. And last of all, after the sons, the mother also was consumed. 52738 527397:42. But now there is enough said of the sacrifices and of the 52740excessive cruelties. 52741 52742 52743 527442 Machabees Chapter 8 52745 52746 52747Judas Machabeus gathering an army gains divers victories. 52748 527498:1. But Judas Machabeus, and they that were with him, went privately 52750into the towns: and calling together their kinsmen and friends, and 52751taking unto them such as continued in the Jews' religion, they 52752assembled six thousand men. 52753 527548:2. And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon his people 52755that was trodden down by all and would have pity on the temple, that 52756was defiled by the wicked: 52757 527588:3. That he would have pity also upon the city that was destroyed, 52759that was ready to be made even with the ground, and would hear the 52760voice of the blood that cried to him: 52761 527628:4. That he would remember also the most unjust deaths of innocent 52763children, and the blasphemies offered to his name, and would shew his 52764indignation on this occasion. 52765 527668:5. Now when Machabeus had gathered a multitude, he could not be 52767withstood by the heathens: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into 52768mercy. 52769 527708:6. So coming unawares upon the towns and cities, he set them on fire, 52771and taking possession of the most commodious places, he made no small 52772slaughter of the enemies: 52773 527748:7. And especially in the nights he went upon these expeditions, and 52775the fame of his valour was spread abroad every where. 52776 527778:8. Then Philip seeing that the man gained ground by little and 52778little, and that things for the most part succeeded prosperously with 52779him, wrote to Ptolemee, the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, to send 52780aid to the king's affairs. 52781 52782Philip seeing, etc. . .The governor of Jerusalem found himself unable to 52783contend with Judas, especially after the victories he had obtained over 52784Apollonius and Seron. 1 Mac. 3. 52785 527868:9. And he with all speed sent Nicanor, the son of Patroclus, one of 52787his special friends, giving him no fewer than twenty thousand armed men 52788of different nations, to root out the whole race of the Jews, joining 52789also with him Gorgias, a good soldier, and of great experience in 52790matters of war. 52791 52792Twenty thousand. . .The whole number of the forces sent at that time 52793into Judea, was 40,000 footmen, and 7000 horsemen, 1 Mac. 3.30. But 52794only 20,000 are here taken notice of, because there were no more with 52795Nicanor at the time of the battle. 52796 527978:10. And Nicanor purposed to raise for the king the tribute of two 52798thousand talents, that was to be given to the Romans, by making so much 52799money of the captive Jews: 52800 528018:11. Wherefore he sent immediately to the cities upon the sea coast, 52802to invite men together to buy up the Jewish slaves, promising that they 52803should have ninety slaves for one talent, not reflecting on the 52804vengeance which was to follow him from the Almighty. 52805 528068:12. Now when Judas found that Nicanor was coming, he imparted to the 52807Jews that were with him, that the enemy was at hand. 52808 528098:13. And some of them being afraid, and distrusting the justice of 52810God, fled away. 52811 528128:14. Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord, 52813that he would deliver them from the wicked Nicanor, who had sold them 52814before he came near them: 52815 528168:15. And if not for their sakes, yet for the covenant that he had made 52817with their fathers, and for the sake of his holy and glorious name that 52818was invoked upon them. 52819 528208:16. But Machabeus calling together seven thousand that were with him, 52821exhorted them not to be reconciled to the enemies, nor to fear the 52822multitude of the enemies who came wrongfully against them, but to fight 52823manfully: 52824 52825Seven thousand. . .In the Greek it is six thousand. But then three 52826thousand of them had no arms. 1 Mac. 4.6. 52827 528288:17. Setting before their eyes the injury they had unjustly done the 52829holy place, and also the injury they had done to the city, which had 52830been shamefully abused, besides their destroying the ordinances of the 52831fathers. 52832 528338:18. For, said he, they trust in their weapons, and in their boldness: 52834but we trust in the Almighty Lord, who at a beck can utterly destroy 52835both them that come against us, and the whole world. 52836 528378:19. Moreover, he put them in mind also of the helps their fathers had 52838received from God: and how, under Sennacherib, a hundred and 52839eighty-five thousand had been destroyed. 52840 528418:20. And of the battle that they had fought against the Galatians, in 52842Babylonia; how they, being in all but six thousand, when it came to the 52843point, and the Macedonians, their companions, were at a stand, slew a 52844hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help they had from heaven, 52845and for this they received many favours. 52846 52847Galatians. . .That is, the Gauls, who having ravaged Italy and Greece, 52848poured themselves in upon Asia, in immense multitudes, where also they 52849founded the kingdom of Galatia or Gallo Graecia. 52850 528518:21. With these words they were greatly encouraged and disposed even 52852to die for the laws and their country. 52853 528548:22. So he appointed his brethren captains over each division of his 52855army; Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving to each one fifteen 52856hundred men. 52857 528588:23. And after the holy book had been read to them by Esdras, and he 52859had given them for a watchword, The help of God: himself leading the 52860first band, he joined battle with Nicanor: 52861 528628:24. And the Almighty being their helper, they slew above nine 52863thousand men: and having wounded and disabled the greater part of 52864Nicanor's army, they obliged them to fly. 52865 52866Above nine thousand. . .Viz., including the three thousand slain in the 52867pursuit. 52868 528698:25. And they took the money of them that came to buy them, and they 52870pursued them on every side. 52871 528728:26. But they came back for want of time: for it was the day before 52873the sabbath: and therefore they did not continue the pursuit. 52874 528758:27. But when they had gathered together their arms and their spoils, 52876they kept the sabbath: blessing the Lord who had delivered them that 52877day, distilling the beginning of mercy upon them. 52878 528798:28. Then after the sabbath they divided the spoils to the feeble and 52880the orphans, and the widows, and the rest they took for themselves and 52881their servants. 52882 528838:29. When this was done, and they had all made a common supplication, 52884they besought the merciful Lord, to be reconciled to his servants unto 52885the end. 52886 528878:30. Moreover, they slew above twenty thousand of them that were with 52888Timotheus and Bacchides, who fought against them, and they made 52889themselves masters of the high strong holds: and they divided amongst 52890them many spoils, giving equal portions to the feeble, the fatherless, 52891and the widows; yea, and the aged also 52892 528938:31. And when they had carefully gathered together their arms, they 52894laid them all up in convenient places, and the residue of their spoils 52895they carried to Jerusalem: 52896 528978:32. They slew also Philarches, who was with Timotheus, a wicked man, 52898who had many ways afflicted the Jews. 52899 529008:33. And when they kept the feast of the victory at Jerusalem, they 52901burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire to the holy gates, who had taken 52902refuge in a certain house, rendering to him a worthy reward for his 52903impieties: 52904 529058:34. But as for that most wicked man, Nicanor, who had brought a 52906thousand merchants to the sale of the Jews, 52907 529088:35. Being, through the help of the Lord, brought down by them, of 52909whom he had made no account, laying aside his garment of glory, fleeing 52910through the midland country, he came alone to Antioch, being rendered 52911very unhappy by the destruction of his army. 52912 52913Laying aside his garment of glory. . .That is, his splendid apparel, 52914which he wore through ostentation; he now throws it off, lest he should 52915be known on his flight. 52916 529178:36. And he that had promised to levy the tribute for the Romans, by 52918the means of the captives of Jerusalem, now professed that the Jews had 52919God for their protector, and therefore they could not be hurt, because 52920they followed the laws appointed by him. 52921 52922 52923 529242 Machabees Chapter 9 52925 52926 52927The wretched end, and fruitless repentance of king Antiochus. 52928 529299:1. At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia. 52930 529319:2. For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted 52932to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude running 52933together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus 52934being put to flight, returned with disgrace. 52935 52936Persepolis. . .Otherwise called Elymais. 52937 529389:3. Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what 52939had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus. 52940 529419:4. And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the 52942injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he 52943commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, 52944the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so 52945proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying 52946place of the Jews. 52947 529489:5. But the Lord, the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him 52949with an incurable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended 52950these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter 52951torments of the inner parts. 52952 529539:6. And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of 52954others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from 52955his malice. 52956 529579:7. Moreover, being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage 52958against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened 52959as he was going with violence, that he fell from the chariot, so that 52960his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body. 52961 529629:8. Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the 52963sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights 52964of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was 52965carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in 52966himself: 52967 529689:9. So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he 52969lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his 52970smell was noisome to the army. 52971 529729:10. And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the 52973stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable 52974stench. 52975 529769:11. And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began 52977to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of 52978God, his pains increasing every moment. 52979 529809:12. And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke 52981thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not 52982equal himself to God. 52983 529849:13. Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like 52985to obtain mercy. 52986 52987Of whom he was not like to obtain mercy. . .Because his repentance was 52988not for the offence committed against God: but barely on account of his 52989present sufferings. 52990 529919:14. And the city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with 52992the ground, and to make it a common burying place, he now desireth to 52993make free: 52994 529959:15. And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so 52996much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and 52997wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now 52998promiseth to make equal with the Athenians. 52999 530009:16. The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to 53001adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow 53002out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices. 53003 530049:17. Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go 53005through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God. 53006 530079:18. But his pains not ceasing, (for the just judgment of God was come 53008upon him) despairing of life, he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a 53009supplication, a letter in these words: 53010 530119:19. To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, 53012wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness. 53013 530149:20. If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you 53015to your mind, we give very great thanks. 53016 530179:21. As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, 53018returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous 53019disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good: 53020 530219:22. Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the 53022sickness. 53023 530249:23. But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army 53025into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him: 53026 530279:24. To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall 53028out, or any bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the 53029countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be 53030troubled. 53031 530329:25. Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes, and borderers, 53033wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have 53034appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of 53035you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him 53036what I have joined here below. 53037 530389:26. I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering 53039favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to 53040be faithful to me and to my son. 53041 530429:27. For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and 53043following my intentions, will be gracious unto you. 53044 530459:28. Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as 53046himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange 53047country, among the mountains. 53048 530499:29. But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: 53050and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee 53051Philometor. 53052 53053 53054 530552 Machabees Chapter 10 53056 53057 53058The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His 53059victory over Timotheus. 53060 5306110:1. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of 53062the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again. 53063 5306410:2. But he threw down the altars which the heathens had set up in the 53065streets, as also the temples of the idols. 53066 5306710:3. And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and 53068taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two 53069years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition. 53070 5307110:4. And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, 53072lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such 53073evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised 53074by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and 53075blasphemous men. 53076 5307710:5. Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the 53078strangers on the very same day it was cleansed again; to wit, on the 53079five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu. 53080 5308110:6. And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast 53082of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the 53083feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens 53084like wild beasts. 53085 5308610:7. Therefore they now carried boughs and green branches and palms, 53087for him that had given them good success in cleansing his place. 53088 5308910:8. And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the 53090nation of the Jews should keep those days every year. 53091 5309210:9. And this was the end of Antiochus, that was called the 53093Illustrious. 53094 5309510:10. But now we will repeat the acts of Eupator, the son of that 53096wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in 53097the wars. 53098 5309910:11. For when he was come to the crown, he appointed over the affairs 53100of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria. 53101 5310210:12. For Ptolemee, that was called Macer, was determined to be 53103strictly just to the Jews and especially by reason of the wrong that 53104had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them. 53105 5310610:13. But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being 53107oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus, which Philometor 53108had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had 53109revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison. 53110 5311110:14. But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the 53112strangers, often fought against the Jews. 53113 5311410:15. And the Jews that occupied the most commodious holds, received 53115those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war. 53116 53117The Jews, etc. . .He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion, 53118and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or 53119Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed 53120their countrymen. 53121 5312210:16. Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by 53123prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds 53124of the Idumeans: 53125 5312610:17. And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them 53127that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty 53128thousand. 53129 5313010:18. And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all 53131manner of provision to sustain a siege, 53132 5313310:19. Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were 53134with them, in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those 53135expeditions which urged more. 53136 5313710:20. Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were 53138persuaded for the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and 53139taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape. 53140 5314110:21. But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the 53142rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their 53143brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape. 53144 5314510:22. So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two 53146towers. 53147 5314810:23. And having good success in arms, and all things he took in hand, 53149he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds. 53150 5315110:24. But Timotheus, who before had been overcome by the Jews, having 53152called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen 53153out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms. 53154 5315510:26. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, when he drew near, 53156prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads, and girding 53157their loins with haircloth, 53158 5315910:26. And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be 53160merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary 53161to their adversaries, as the law saith. 53162 5316310:27. And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further 53164from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they 53165rested. 53166 5316710:28. But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the 53168one part having, with their valour, the Lord for a surety of victory, 53169and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in 53170battle. 53171 5317210:29. But when they were in the heat of the engagement, there appeared 53173to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely, with golden 53174bridles, conducting the Jews: 53175 5317610:30. Two of them took Machabeus between them, and covered him on 53177every side with their arms, and kept him safe; but cast darts and 53178fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both 53179confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble. 53180 5318110:31. And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six 53182hundred horsemen. 53183 5318410:32. But Timotheus fled into Gazara, a strong hold where Chereas was 53185governor. 53186 5318710:33. Then Machabeus, and they that were with him cheerfully laid 53188siege to the fortress four days. 53189 5319010:34. But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the 53191place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words. 53192 5319310:35. But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that 53194were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds, because of the blasphemy, 53195approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce 53196courage, got up upon it: 53197 5319810:36. Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to 53199the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive. 53200 5320110:37. And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the 53202fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: 53203they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes. 53204 53205Timotheus. . .This man, who was killed at the taking of Gazara, is 53206different from that Timotheus who is mentioned in the fifth chapter of 53207the first book of Machabees, and of whom there is mention in the 53208following chapter. 53209 5321010:38. And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and 53211thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the 53212victory. 53213 53214 53215 532162 Machabees Chapter 11 53217 53218 53219Lysias is overthrown by Judas. He sues for peace. 53220 5322111:1. A short time after this Lysias, the king's lieutenant, and 53222cousin, and who had chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly 53223displeased with what had happened, 53224 5322511:2. Gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, 53226and came against the Jews, thinking to take the city, and make it a 53227habitation of the Gentiles: 53228 5322911:3. And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the 53230Gentiles and to set the high priesthood to sale every year: 53231 5323211:4. Never considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and 53233trusting in the multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of 53234his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants. 53235 5323611:5. So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in 53237a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid 53238siege to that fortress. 53239 5324011:6. But when Machabeus, and they that were with him, understood that 53241the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the 53242Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to 53243save Israel. 53244 5324511:7. Then Machabeus himself first taking his arms, exhorted the rest 53246to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succour 53247their brethren. 53248 5324911:8. And when they were going forth together with a willing mind, 53250there appeared at Jerusalem a horseman going before them in white 53251clothing, with golden armour, shaking a spear. 53252 5325311:9. Then they all together blessed the merciful Lord, and took great 53254courage: being ready to break through not only men, but also the 53255fiercest beasts, and walls of iron. 53256 5325711:10. So they went on courageously, having a helper from heaven, and 53258the Lord, who shewed mercy to them. 53259 5326011:11. And rushing violently upon the enemy, like lions, they slew of 53261them eleven thousand footmen, and one thousand six hundred horsemen: 53262 5326311:12. And put all the rest to flight; and many of them being wounded, 53264escaped naked: Yea, and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and 53265escaped. 53266 5326711:13. And as he was a man of understanding, considering with himself 53268the loss he had suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be 53269overcome, because they relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he 53270sent to them: 53271 5327211:14. And promised that he would agree to all things that are just, 53273and that he would persuade the king to be their friend. 53274 5327511:15. Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias, providing for 53276the common good in all things; and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to 53277Lysias, concerning the Jews, the king allowed of. 53278 5327911:16. For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this 53280effect: Lysias, to the people of the Jews, greeting. 53281 5328211:17. John, and Abesalom, who were sent from you, delivering your 53283writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which were 53284signified by them. 53285 5328611:18. Therefore whatsoever things could be reported to the king, 53287I have represented to him: and he hath granted as much as the matter 53288permitted. 53289 5329011:19. If, therefore, you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, 53291hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good. 53292 5329311:20. But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word 53294both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you. 53295 5329611:21. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four 53297and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus. 53298 53299In the year 148. . .Viz., according to the computation followed by the 53300Greeks; which was different from that of the Hebrews, followed by the 53301writer of the first book of Machabees. However, by this date, as well 53302as by other circumstances, it appears that the expedition of Lysias, 53303mentioned in this chapter, is different from that which is recorded, 533041 Mac. 6. 53305 5330611:22. But the king's letter contained these words King Antiochus to 53307Lysias, his brother, greeting. 53308 5330911:23. Our father being translated amongst the gods we are desirous 53310that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply 53311themselves diligently to their own concerns. 53312 5331311:24. And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father 53314to turn to the rites of the Greeks but that they would keep to their 53315own manner of living and therefore that they request us to allow them 53316to live after their own laws. 53317 5331811:25. Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at 53319rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored 53320to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their 53321ancestors. 53322 5332311:26. Thou shalt do well, therefore, to send to them, and grant them 53324peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and 53325look to their own affairs. 53326 5332711:27. But the king's letter to the Jews was in this manner: King 53328Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, 53329greeting. 53330 5333111:28. If you are well, you are as we desire: we ourselves also are 53332well. 53333 5333411:29. Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to 53335your countrymen, that are with us. 53336 5333711:30. We grant, therefore, a safe conduct to all that come and go, 53338until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus, 53339 5334011:31. That the Jews may use their own kind of meats, and their own 53341laws, as before: and that none of them any manner of ways be molested 53342for things which have been done by ignorance. 53343 5334411:32. And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you. 53345 5334611:33. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the 53347fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus. 53348 5334911:34. The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect: Quintus 53350Memmius, and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people 53351of the Jews, greeting. 53352 5335311:35. Whatsoever Lysias, the king's cousin, hath granted to you, we 53354also have granted. 53355 5335611:36. But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the 53357king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some 53358one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we 53359are going to Antioch. 53360 5336111:37. And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what 53362mind you are. 53363 5336411:38. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the 53365fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus. 53366 53367 53368 533692 Machabees Chapter 12 53370 53371 53372The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers 53373victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead. 53374 5337512:1. When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the 53376Jews gave themselves to husbandry. 53377 5337812:2. But they that were behind, viz. Timotheus, and Apollonius, the 53379son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them 53380Nicanor, the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in 53381peace, and to be quiet. 53382 5338312:3. The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: 53384they desired the Jews, who dwelt among them, to go with their wives and 53385children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no 53386enmity to them. 53387 5338812:4. Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree 53389of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace: when they were 53390gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of 53391them. 53392 5339312:5. But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his 53394countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having 53395called upon God, the just judge, 53396 5339712:6. He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the 53398haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword 53399them that escaped from the fire. 53400 5340112:7. And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as 53402if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites. 53403 5340412:8. But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do 53405in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them, 53406 5340712:9. He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set the haven on 53408fire, with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at 53409Jerusalem, two hundred and forty furlongs off. 53410 5341112:10. And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were 53412marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen, and five hundred 53413horsemen of the Arabians, set upon them. 53414 5341512:11. And after a hard fight, in which, by the help of God, they got 53416the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas 53417for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in other 53418things. 53419 5342012:12. And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many 53421things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they 53422departed to their tents. 53423 5342412:13. He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompassed with 53425bridges and walls, and inhabited by multitudes of different nations, 53426the name of which is Casphin. 53427 5342812:14. But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the 53429walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent 53430manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering 53431such words as were not to be spoken. 53432 5343312:15. But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who 53434without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho, in 53435the time of Josue, fiercely assaulted the walls. 53436 53437Rams. . .That is, engines for battering walls, etc., which were used in 53438sieges in those times. 53439 5344012:16. And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an 53441unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining, of two furlongs broad, 53442seemed to run with the blood of the slain. 53443 5344412:17. From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and 53445came to Characa, to the Jews that are called Tubianites. 53446 5344712:18. But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for 53448before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very 53449strong garrison in a certain hold: 53450 5345112:19. But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, 53452slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten 53453thousand men. 53454 5345512:20. And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, 53456and divided them by bands, went forth against Timotheus, who had with 53457him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five 53458hundred horsemen. 53459 5346012:21. Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent 53461the women and children, and the other baggage, before him into a 53462fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable, and hard to come at, 53463by reason of the straitness of the places. 53464 5346512:22. But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were 53466struck with fear, by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and 53467they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often 53468thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of 53469their own swords. 53470 5347112:23. But Judas pursued them close, punishing the profane, of whom he 53472slew thirty thousand men. 53473 5347412:24. And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of 53475Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let 53476him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many 53477of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived. 53478 5347912:25. And when he had given his faith that he would restore them 53480according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the 53481saving of their brethren. 53482 5348312:26. Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty 53484thousand persons. 53485 5348612:27. And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he removed 53487his army to Ephron, a strong city, wherein there dwelt a multitude of 53488divers nations: and stout young men standing upon the walls, made a 53489vigorous resistance: and in this place there were many engines of war, 53490and a provision of darts. 53491 5349212:28. But when they had invocated the Almighty, who with his power 53493breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city: and slew five 53494and twenty thousand of them that were within. 53495 5349612:29. From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six 53497hundred furlongs from Jerusalem. 53498 53499Scythopolis. . .Formerly called Bethsan. 53500 5350112:30. But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that 53502they were used kindly by them, and that even in the times of their 53503adversity they had treated them with humanity: 53504 5350512:31. They gave them thanks, exhorting them to be still friendly to 53506their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks 53507being at hand. 53508 5350912:32. And after Pentecost they marched against Gorgias, the governor 53510of Idumea. 53511 5351212:33. And he came out with three thousand footmen and four hundred 53513horsemen. 53514 5351512:34. And when they had joined battle, it happened that a few of the 53516Jews were slain. 53517 5351812:35. But Dositheus, a horseman, one of Bacenor's band, a valiant man, 53519took hold of Gorgias: and when he would have taken him alive, a certain 53520horseman of the Thracians came upon him, and cut off his shoulder: and 53521so Gorgias escaped to Maresa. 53522 5352312:36. But when they that were with Esdrin had fought long, and were 53524weary, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper, and leader of the 53525battle: 53526 5352712:37. Then beginning in his own language, and singing hymns with a 53528loud voice, he put Gorgias's soldiers to flight. 53529 5353012:38. So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city 53531Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves 53532according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the same place. 53533 5353412:39. And the day following Judas came with his company, to take away 53535the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their 53536kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers. 53537 5353812:40. And they found under the coats of the slain, some of the 53539donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: 53540so that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain. 53541 53542Of the donaries, etc. . .That is, of the votive offerings, which had 53543been hung up in the temples of the idols, which they had taken away 53544when they burnt the port of Jamnia, ver. 9., contrary to the 53545prohibition of the law, Deut. 7.25. 53546 5354712:41. Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had 53548discovered the things that were hidden. 53549 5355012:42. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that 53551the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most 53552valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, 53553forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of 53554the sins of those that were slain. 53555 5355612:43. And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of 53557silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the 53558dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection. 53559 5356012:44. (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise 53561again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) 53562 5356312:45. And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with 53564godliness, had great grace laid up for them. 53565 53566With godliness. . .Judas hoped that these men who died fighting for the 53567cause of God and religion, might find mercy: either because they might 53568be excused from mortal sin by ignorance; or might have repented of 53569their sin, at least at their death. 53570 5357112:46. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the 53572dead, that they may be loosed from sins. 53573 53574It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the 53575dead. . .Here is an evident and undeniable proof of the practice of 53576praying for the dead under the old law, which was then strictly observed 53577by the Jews, and consequently could not be introduced at that time by 53578Judas, their chief and high priest, if it had not been always their 53579custom. 53580 53581 53582 535832 Machabees Chapter 13 53584 53585 53586Antiochus and Lysias again invade Judea. Menelaus is put to death. The 53587king's great army is worsted twice. The peace is renewed. 53588 5358913:1. In the year one hundred and forty-nine, Judas understood that 53590Antiochus Eupator was coming with a multitude against Judea, 53591 5359213:2. And with him Lysias, the regent, who had charge over the affairs 53593of the realm, having with him a hundred and ten thousand footmen, five 53594thousand horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots. 53595 53596A hundred and ten thousand, etc. . .The difference between the numbers 53597here set down, and those recorded, 1 Mac. 4, is easily accounted for; 53598if we consider that such armies as these are liable to be at one time 53599more numerous than at another; either by sending away large 53600detachments, or being diminished by sickness; or increased by receiving 53601fresh supplies of troops, according to different exigencies or 53602occurrences. 53603 5360413:3. Menelaus also joined himself with them: and with great 53605deceitfulness besought Antiochus, not for the welfare of his country, 53606but in hopes that he should be appointed chief ruler. 53607 5360813:4. But the King of kings stirred up the mind of Antiochus against 53609the sinner, and upon Lysias suggesting that he was the cause of all the 53610evils, he commanded (as the custom is with them) that he should be 53611apprehended and put to death in the same place. 53612 5361313:5. Now there was in that place a tower fifty cubits high, having a 53614heap of ashes on every side: this had a prospect steep down. 53615 5361613:6. From thence he commanded the sacrilegious wretch to be thrown 53617down into the ashes, all men thrusting him forward unto death. 53618 5361913:7. And by such a law it happened that Menelaus the transgressor of 53620the law, was put to death: not having so much as burial in the earth. 53621 5362213:8. And indeed very justly, for insomuch as he had committed many 53623sins against the altar of God, the fire and ashes of which were holy: 53624he was condemned to die in ashes. 53625 5362613:9. But the king, with his mind full of rage, came on to shew himself 53627worse to the Jews than his father was. 53628 5362913:10. Which when Judas understood, he commanded the people to call 53630upon the Lord day and night, that as he had always done, so now also he 53631would help them: 53632 5363313:11. Because they were afraid to be deprived of the law, and of their 53634country, and of the holy temple: and that he would not suffer the 53635people, that had of late taken breath for a little while, to be again 53636in subjection to blasphemous nations. 53637 5363813:12. So when they had all done this together, and had craved mercy of 53639the Lord with weeping and fasting, lying prostrate on the ground for 53640three days continually, Judas exhorted them to make themselves ready. 53641 5364213:13. But he, with the ancients, determined before the king should 53643bring his army into Judea, and make himself master of the city, to go 53644out, and to commit the event of the thing to the judgment of the Lord. 53645 5364613:14. So committing all to God, the Creator of the world, and having 53647exhorted his people to fight manfully, and to stand up even to death 53648for the laws, the temple, the city, their country, and citizens: he 53649placed his army about Modin. 53650 5365113:15. And having given his company for a watchword, The victory of 53652God, with most valiant chosen young men, he set upon the king's quarter 53653by night, and slew four thousand men in the camp, and the greatest of 53654the elephants, with them that had been upon him, 53655 5365613:16. And having filled the camp of the enemies with exceeding great 53657fear and tumult, they went off with good success. 53658 5365913:17. Now this was done at the break of day, by the protection and 53660help of the Lord. 53661 5366213:18. But the king having taken a taste of the hardiness of the Jews, 53663attempted to take the strong places by policy: 53664 5366513:19. And he marched with his army to Bethsura, which was a strong 53666hold of the Jews: but he was repulsed, he failed, he lost his men. 53667 5366813:20. Now Judas sent necessaries to them that were within 53669 5367013:21. But Rhodocus, one of the Jews' army, disclosed the secrets to 53671the enemies, so he was sought out, and taken up, and put in prison. 53672 5367313:22. Again the king treated with them that were in Bethsura: gave his 53674right hand: took theirs: and went away. 53675 5367613:23. He fought with Judas: and was overcome. And when he understood 53677that Philip, who had been left over the affairs, had rebelled at 53678Antioch, he was in a consternation of mind, and entreating the Jews, 53679and yielding to them, he swore to all things that seemed reasonable, 53680and, being reconciled, offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and left 53681gifts. 53682 5368313:24. He embraced Machabeus, and made him governor and prince from 53684Ptolemais unto the Gerrenians. 53685 5368613:25. But when he was come to Ptolemais, the men of that city were 53687much displeased with the conditions of the peace, being angry for fear 53688they should break the covenant. 53689 5369013:26. Then Lysias went up to the judgment seat, and set forth the 53691reason, and appeased the people, and returned to Antioch: and thus 53692matters went with regard to the king's coming and his return. 53693 53694 53695 536962 Machabees Chapter 14 53697 53698 53699Demetrius challenges the kingdom. Alcimus applies to him to be made 53700high priest: Nicanor is sent into Judea: his dealings with Judas: his 53701threats. The history of Razias. 53702 5370314:1. But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with 53704him, understood that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, was come up with a 53705great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis, to places proper for 53706his purpose, 53707 5370814:2. And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, 53709and his general, Lysias. 53710 5371114:3. Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully 53712defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that 53713there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar, 53714 53715Now Alcimus, who had been chief priest. . .This Alcimus was of the stock 53716of Aaron, but for his apostasy here mentioned was incapable of the high 53717priesthood, but king Antiochus Eupator appointed him in place of the 53718high priest, (see above, 1 Mac. chap. 7., ver. 9,) as Menelaus had been 53719before him, set up by Antiochus (above chap. 4.), yet neither of them 53720were truly high priests; for the true high priesthood was amongst the 53721Machabees, who were also of the stock of Aaron, and had strictly held 53722their religion, and were ordained according to the rites commanded in 53723the law of Moses.--Ibid. Mingling. . .with the heathens; that is, in 53724their idolatrous worship. 53725 5372614:4. Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, 53727presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, 53728some boughs that seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he 53729held his peace. 53730 5373114:5. But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being 53732called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, 53733and what were their counsels, 53734 5373514:6. He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called 53736Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise 53737seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace. 53738 5373914:7. For I also being deprived of my ancestor's glory (I mean of the 53740high priesthood) am now come hither: 53741 5374214:8. Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king's interests, but 53743in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for 53744all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of these men. 53745 5374614:9. Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, take 53747care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according 53748to thy humanity which is known to all men. 53749 5375014:10. For as long as Judas liveth it is not possible that the state 53751should be quiet. 53752 5375314:11. Now when this man had spoken to this effect the rest also of the 53754king's friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against 53755him. 53756 5375714:12. And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, 53758governor into Judea: 53759 5376014:13. Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all 53761them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the 53762great temple. 53763 5376414:14. Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea, from Judas, came to 53765Nicanor by flocks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to 53766be the welfare of their affairs. 53767 5376814:15. Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the 53769nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, 53770and made supplication to him who chose his people to keep them for 53771ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs. 53772 5377314:16. Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed 53774from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet 53775them. 53776 5377714:17. Now Simon, the brother of Judas, had joined battle with Nicanor: 53778but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries. 53779 5378014:18. Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas's 53781companions, and the greatness of courage, with which they fought for 53782their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword. 53783 5378414:19. Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius and Matthias before 53785to present and receive the right hands. 53786 5378714:20. And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the 53788captain had acquainted the multitude with it, they were all of one mind 53789to consent to covenants. 53790 5379114:21. So they appointed a day upon which they might come together by 53792themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one. 53793 5379414:22. But Judas ordered armed men to be ready in convenient places, 53795lest some mischief might be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they 53796made an agreeable conference. 53797 5379814:23. And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away 53799the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together. 53800 5380114:24. And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well 53802affected to the man. 53803 5380414:25. And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he 53805married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common. 53806 5380714:26. But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the 53808covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor had assented to 53809the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a 53810traitor to the kingdom, his successor. 53811 5381214:27. Then the king, being in a rage, and provoked with this man's 53813wicked accusation, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was greatly 53814displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him 53815nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch. 53816 5381714:28. When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it 53818grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, 53819having received no injury from the man. 53820 5382114:29. But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an 53822opportunity to comply with the orders 53823 5382414:30. But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, 53825and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough 53826manner; and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he 53827gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor. 53828 5382914:31. But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the 53830great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the 53831accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man. 53832 5383314:32. And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man 53834was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple, 53835 5383614:33. And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I 53837will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down 53838the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus. 53839 5384014:34. And when he had spoken thus, he departed. But the priests 53841stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever 53842the defender of their nation, saying in this manner: 53843 5384414:35. Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased 53845that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us. 53846 5384714:36. Therefore now, O Lord, the holy of all holies, keep this house 53848for ever undefiled, which was lately cleansed. 53849 5385014:37. Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to 53851Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who 53852for his kindness was called the father of the Jews. 53853 5385414:38. This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping 53855himself pure in the Jews' religion, and was ready to expose his body 53856and life, that he might persevere therein. 53857 5385814:39. So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the 53859Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him. 53860 5386114:40. For he thought by ensnaring him to hurt the Jews very much. 53862 5386314:41. Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break 53864open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he 53865struck himself with his sword: 53866 53867He struck himself, etc. . .St. Augustine, (Epist. 61, ad Dulcitium, et 53868lib. 2, cap. 23, ad Epist. 2, Gaud.) discussing this fact of Razias, 53869says, that the holy scripture relates it, but doth not praise it, as to 53870be admired or imitated, and that either it was not well done by him, or 53871at least not proper in this time of grace. 53872 5387314:42. Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the 53874wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth. 53875 5387614:43. But whereas through haste he missed of giving a sure wound, and 53877the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and 53878manfully threw himself down to the crowd: 53879 5388014:44. But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the 53881midst of the neck. 53882 53883He came upon the midst of the neck. . .Venit per mediam cervicem. In the 53884Greek it is keneona, which signifies a void place, where there is no 53885building. 53886 5388714:45. And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind, he 53888arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was 53889grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd: 53890 5389114:46. And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without 53892blood, grasping his bowels, with both hands he cast them upon the 53893throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to 53894him again: and so he departed this life. 53895 53896 53897 538982 Machabees Chapter 15 53899 53900 53901Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The 53902conclusion. 53903 5390415:1. But when Nicanor understood that Judas was in the places of 53905Samaria, he purposed to set upon him with all violence, on the sabbath 53906day. 53907 5390815:2. And when the Jews that were constrained to follow him, said: Do 53909not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honour to the day that is 53910sanctified: and reverence him that beholdeth all things: 53911 5391215:3. That unhappy man asked, if there were a mighty One in heaven, 53913that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept. 53914 5391515:4. And when they answered: There is the living Lord himself in 53916heaven, the mighty One, that commanded the seventh day to be kept. 53917 5391815:5. Then he said: And I am mighty upon the earth, and I command to 53919take arms, and to do the king's business. Nevertheless he prevailed not 53920to accomplish his design. 53921 5392215:6. So Nicanor being puffed up with exceeding great pride, thought to 53923set up a public monument of his victory over Judas. 53924 5392515:7. But Machabeus ever trusted with all hope that God would help 53926them. 53927 5392815:8. And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations, 53929but to remember the help they had before received from heaven, and now 53930to hope for victory from the Almighty. 53931 5393215:9. And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and withal 53933putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made 53934them more cheerful: 53935 5393615:10. Then after he had encouraged them, he shewed withal the 53937falsehood of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths. 53938 5393915:11. So he armed every one of them, not with defence of shield and 53940spear, but with very good speeches, and exhortations, and told them a 53941dream worthy to be believed, whereby he rejoiced them all. 53942 5394315:12. Now the vision was in this manner. Onias, who had been high 53944priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his 53945manners, and graceful in speech, and who from a child was exercised in 53946virtues holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews: 53947 5394815:13. After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, 53949and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty: 53950 5395115:14. Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and 53952of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, 53953and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God. 53954 5395515:15. Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to 53956Judas a sword of gold, saying: 53957 5395815:16. Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt 53959overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel. 53960 5396115:17. Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very 53962good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of 53963the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: 53964that valour might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the 53965temple were in danger. 53966 5396715:18. For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and 53968for their brethren, and kinsfolks: but their greatest and principal 53969fear was for the holiness of the temple. 53970 5397115:19. And they also that were in the city, had no little concern for 53972them that were to be engaged in battle. 53973 5397415:20. And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the 53975enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the 53976horsemen ranged in convenient places, 53977 5397815:21. Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the 53979divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, 53980stretching out his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, that worketh 53981wonders, who giveth victory to them that are worthy, not according to 53982the power of their arms, but according as it seemeth good to him. 53983 5398415:22. And in his prayer he said after this manner: Thou, O Lord, who 53985didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst 53986kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib: 53987 5398815:23. Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for 53989the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm, 53990 5399115:24. That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy 53992holy people. And thus he concluded his prayer. 53993 5399415:25. But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with 53995trumpets and songs. 53996 5399715:26. But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, 53998calling upon God by prayers: 53999 5400015:27. So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their 54001hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly 54002cheered with the presence of God. 54003 5400415:28. And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy, 54005they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour. 54006 5400715:29. Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the 54008Almighty Lord in their own language. 54009 5401015:30. And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die 54011for his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor's head, and his hand, with 54012the shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem. 54013 5401415:31. And when he was come thither, having called together his 54015countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that 54016were in the castle, 54017 5401815:32. And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which 54019he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the 54020Almighty God, 54021 5402215:33. He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor should 54023be cut out, and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious 54024man to be hanged up over against the temple. 54025 5402615:34. Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that 54027hath kept his own place undefiled. 54028 5402915:35. And he hung up Nicanor's head in the top of the castle, that it 54030might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God. 54031 5403215:36. And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let 54033this day pass without solemnity: 54034 5403515:37. But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called 54036in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias' day. 54037 5403815:38. So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from 54039that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here 54040make an end of my narration. 54041 5404215:39. Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is 54043what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me. 54044 54045If not so perfectly, etc. . .This is not said with regard to the truth 54046of the narration; but with regard to the style and manner of writing: 54047which in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. 54048Paul, 2 Cor. 11.6. 54049 5405015:40. For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but 54051pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the 54052speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers. 54053But here it shall be ended. 54054 54055 54056 54057 54058 54059APPENDICES 54060 54061 54062 54063These texts come from the 1610 Doway printing of the second tome of the 54064Old Testament (see the 'History' section at the top of the e-text). The 54065primary sources provide a glimpse both into the history of the Douay- 54066Rheims version and the English language itself. The reader will quickly 54067notice that the letter 'j' does not appear in the texts, rather 'i' 54068functions either as a vowel or a consonant. Likewise 'u' is not a 54069distinct letter; it is employed typographically in the lower-case in 54070place of 'v' where not starting a word. The letters 'u' and 'v' both 54071function either as vowels or consonants. The word 'vniuersity' 54072demonstrates this rule. The letter 'w' is often employed, but in some 54073cases the earlier form of a double-v (vv) appears instead. 54074 54075The transcriber has done his best to render the text accurately. Note 54076the relaxed spelling standards of the time; many variants appear. While 54077the errata section from the 1610 edition observed: "We haue also found 54078some other faultes of lesse importance; and feare there be more. But we 54079trust the reader may easely correct them, as they occurre." only obvious 54080errors have been amended. Where the transcriber has doubt between 54081whether an irregular spelling is either an error and a variant, the 54082printed text stands. 7-bit ASCII cannot fully represent the 54083typographical standards of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and 54084many special characters have been replaced with modern equivalents. 54085Where verse numbers stand in the margins of the printed texts, they have 54086been transferred to the body; the verse numbers in the 'Prayer of 54087Manasses' have been supplied from other versions. Reference notes have 54088been transferred from the margins, and their abbreviations modernized. 54089 54090 54091 54092 54093 54094ADDITIONAL BOOKS 54095 54096 54097 54098The prayer of Manasses, vvith the third & fourth Bookes of Esdras, extant 54099in most Latin and vulgare Bibles, are here placed after al the Canonical 54100bookes, of the old Testament: because they are not receiued into the 54101Canon of Diuine Scriptures by the Catholique Church. 54102 54103 54104 54105 54106THE PRAYER OF MANASSES KING OF IVDA, WHEN HE WAS HELD CAPTIVE IN BABYLON. 54107 54108 54109 54110LORD omnipotent God of our fathers, Abraham, & Isaac, and Iacob, and of 54111their iust sede, (2 Par 33:12) [2] which didst make heauen and earth: 54112with al the ornamentes of them, [3] which hast bound the sea with the 54113word of thy precept, which hast shut vp the depth, and sealed it with 54114thy terrible and laudable name: [4] whom al thinges dread, & tremble at 54115the countinance of thy powre, [5] because the magnificence of thy glorie 54116is importable, & the wrath of thy threatning vpon sinners is 54117intollerable: [6] but the mercie of thy promise is infinite and 54118vnsearchable: [7] because thou art our Lord, most high, benigne, long 54119suffering, and very merciful, and penitent vpon the wickednes of men. 54120Thou Lord according to the multitude of thy goodnes hast promised 54121penance, and remission to them that haue sinned to thee, and by the 54122multitude of thy mercies thou hast decreed penance to sinners, vnto 54123saluation. [8] Thou therfore Lord God of the iust, hast not appointed 54124penance to the iust, Abraham, & Isaac and Iacob, them that haue not 54125sinned to thee, but hast appointed penance for me a sinner: [9] because 54126I haue sinned aboue the number of the sand of the sea. Myne iniquities 54127Lord be multiplied, mine iniquities be multiplied, and I am not worthie 54128to behold, & looke vpon the height of heauen, for the multitude of mine 54129iniquities. [10] I am made crooked with manie a band of yron, that I can 54130not lift vp my head, and I haue not respiration: because I haue stirred 54131vp thy wrath, and haue done euil before thee: I haue not done thy wil, 54132and thy commandmentes I haue not kept: I haue set vp abominations, and 54133multiplied offenses. [11] And now I bowe the knee of my hart, beseeching 54134goodnes of thee. [12] I haue sinned Lord, I haue sinned, & I acknowlege 54135myne iniquities. [13] Wherefore I beseech disiring thee, forgeue me 54136Lord, forgeue me: and destroy me not together with myne iniquities, 54137neither reserue thou for euer, being angrie, euils for me, neither damme 54138me into the lowest places of the earth: because thou art Lord, God, I 54139say, of the penitent: [14] in me thou shalt shew al thy goodnes because 54140thou shalt saue me vnworthie according to thy great mercie, [15] and I 54141wil prayse thee alwayes al the dayes of my life: because al the power of 54142the heauens prayseth thee, and to thee is glorie for euer and euer. 54143Amen. 54144 54145 54146 54147 54148THE THIRD BOOKE OF ESDRAS. 54149 54150 54151 54152For helpe of the readers, especially such as haue not leysure to read al, 54153vve haue gathered the contentes of the chapters; but made no Annotations: 54154because the text it self is but as a Commentarie to the Canonical bookes; 54155and therfore we haue only added the concordance of other Scriptures in 54156the margin. 54157 54158 54159 54160CHAP. I. 54161 54162 54163Iosias king of Iuda maketh a great Pasch, 7. geuing manie hostes to such 54164as wanted for sacrifice: 14. the Priestes and Leuites performing their 54165functions therin: 22. in the eightenth yeare of his reigne, 25. He is 54166slayne in battel by the king of AEgypt, 32. and much lamented by the 54167Iewes. 34. His sonne Ieconias succedeth. 37. After him Ioacim, 40. who 54168is deposed by the king of Babylon. 43. Ioachim reigneth three monethes, 54169and is caried into Babylon. 46. Sedecias reigneth eleuen yeares 54170wickedly. 52. and he with his people is caried captiue into Babylon, the 54171citie and temple are destroyed. 57. so remayned til the Monarchie of the 54172Persians. 54173 54174AND Iosias made a Pasch in Ierusalem to our Lord & immolated the Phase 54175the fourtenth moone of the moneth: (4 Kings 23:21 / 2 Par 35:1) 541762 appointing the Priestes by courses of dayes clothed with stoles in the 54177temple of our Lord. 3 And he spake to the Leuites the sacred seruantes 54178of Isreal, that they should sanctifie them selues to our Lord in the 54179placing of the holie arke of our Lord in the house, which king Salomon 54180sonne of Dauid built. 4 It shal not be for you to take it vpon your 54181shoulders. And now serue your Lord, and take the care of that nation 54182Israel, in part according to your villages and tribes, 5 according to the 54183writing of Dauid king of Israel, and according to the magnificence of 54184Salomon his sonne, al in the temple, and according to your fathers 54185portion of principalitie, among them that stand in the sight of your 54186brethren the children of Isreal. 6 Immolate the Pasch, and prepare the 54187sacrifices for your bretheren, and doe according to the precept of our 54188Lord which was geuen to Moyses. (Ex 12 / Lev 23 / Num 28) 7 And Iosias 54189gaue vnto the people that was found of sheepe, lambes, and kiddes, and 54190goates thirtie thousand, calues there thousand. 8 These thinges were 54191geuen to the people of the kinges goodes according to promisse: and to 54192the priestes for the Phase, sheepe in number two thousand, and calues an 54193hundred. 9 And Iechonias, and Semeias, and Nathanael bretheren, and 54194Hasabias, and Oziel, and Coraba for the Phase sheepe fiue thousand, 54195calues fiue hundred. 10 And when these thinges were done in good order, 54196the Priestes an the Leuites stood hauing azymes by tribes. 11 And 54197according to the portions of their fathers principalitie, in the sight of 54198the people they did offer, to our Lord according to those thinges, which 54199were written in the booke of Moyses: 12 and rosted the Phase with fire 54200as it ought: and the hostes they boyled in cauldrons, and in pottes with 54201beneuolence: 13 and they brought to al that were of the people: and 54202afterward they prepared for them selues and the priestes. 14 For the 54203Priestes offered the fatte, vntil the houre was ended: and the Leuites 54204prepared for them selues, and their brethren, the children of Aaron. 5420515 And the sacred singing men, the children of Asaph were by order 54206according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph, and Zacharias, and Ieddimus, 54207which was from the king. 16 And the porters at euerie gate, so that none 54208transgressed his owne: for their brethren prepared for them. 17 And the 54209thinges were consummate that perteyned to the sacrifice of our Lord. 5421018 In that day they celebrated the Phase, and offered hostes vpon the 54211sacrifice of our Lord, according to the precept of king Iosias. 19 And 54212the children of Israel, that were found at that time, celebrated the 54213Phase: and the festiual day of Azymes for seuen dayes: 20 and there was 54214not celebrated such a Phase in Isreal, from the times of Samuel the 54215prophet: 21 and al the kinges of Israel did not celebrate such a Phase 54216as Iosias did, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the Iewes, and al 54217Israel, that were found in their abode at Ierusalem. 22 In the eightenth 54218yeare, Iosias reigning was the Phase celebrated. 23 And the workes of 54219Iosias were directed in the sight of his Lord in a hart ful of feare: 5422024 and the thinges concerning him are writen in the ancient times, 54221touching them that sinned, and were irreligous against our Lord aboue al 54222nations, and that sought not the wordes of our Lord vpon Israel. 25 And 54223after al this fact of Iosias, came vp Pharao the king of AEgypt comming 54224in Charcamis from the way vpon Euphrates, and Iosias went forth to meete 54225him. (4 Kings 23:29 / 2 Par 35:20) 26 And the king of AEgypt sent to 54226Iosias saying: What is there betwen me & thee king of Iuda? 27 I was 54227not sent of the Lord to fight against thee: for my battel is vpon 54228Euphrates, goe downe in hast. 28 And Iosias did not returne vpon his 54229chariote: but endeuoured to ouerthrow him, not attending the word of the 54230prophet from the mouth of our Lord: 29 but he made battel against him in 54231the field of Mageddo. And princes went downe to king Iosias. 30 And the 54232king said to his seruantes: Remoue me from the battel, for I am weakned 54233excedingly. And forthwith his seruantes remoued him out of the battel. 5423431 And he went vp into his second chariote: & comming to Ierusalem, 54235dyed, and was buried in his fathers sepulchre. 32 And in al Iurie they 54236mourned for Iosias, & the rulers with their wiues lamented him vntil this 54237day. And this was geuen out to be done alwayes vnto al the stocke of 54238Israel. 33 But these thinges were writen before in the booke of the 54239histories of the kinges of Iuda: and al the actes of the doing of 54240Iosias, and his glorie and his vnderstanding in the law of our Lord: and 54241the thinges that were done by him, and that are not writen in the booke 54242of the kinges of Israel and Iuda. 34 And they that were of the nation, 54243taking Iechonias the sonne of Iosias, made him king for Iosias his 54244father, when he was three and twentie yeares old. (4 Kings 23:30 / 542452 Par 36:1) 35 And he reigned ouer Israel three monethes. And the king 54246of AEgypt remoued him, that he should not reigne in Ierusalem: 36 and he 54247put a taxe vpon the nation of siluer an hundred talentes, and of gold one 54248talent. 37 And the king of AEgypt made Ioacim his brother king of Iuda 54249and Ierusalem: 38 and he bound the magistrates of Ioacim, and Zaracel 54250his brother, and taking them brought them backe into AEgypt. 39 Ioacim 54251was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne in the land of 54252Iuda and Ierusalem: and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. 40 And 54253after this man came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and binding 54254him with a bande of brasse, brought him into Babylon. 41 And 54255Nabuchodonosor tooke the sacred vessels of our Lord, and carried away, 54256and consecrated them in his temple in Babylon. 42 For his vncleanes, and 54257lacke of religion is written in the booke of the times of the kinges. 5425843 And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him. And when he was made king, he 54259was eightene yeares old. 44 And reigned three monethes and ten dayes in 54260Ierusalem, and did euil in the sight of our Lord: 45 and after a yeare 54261Nabuchodonosor sending, transported him into Babylon together with the 54262sacred vessels of our Lord. (4 Kings 24:13) 46 And he made Sedecias 54263king of Iuda and Ierusalem, when he was one and twentie yeares old: 54264(4 Kings 24:17) and he reigned eleuen yeares. 47 And he did euil in the 54265sight of our Lord, and was not afraid of the wordes which were spoken by 54266Ieremie the prophet from the mouth of our Lord: (Jer 37:2) 48 and being 54267sworne of king Nabuchodonosor, forsworne he did reuolt: and his necke 54268being hardened, & his hart, he transgressed the ordinances of our Lord 54269the God of Israel. 49 And the princes of the people of our Lord did 54270manie thinges wickedly, and they did impiously aboue al the vncleannes of 54271the nations: and they polluted the temple of our Lord that was holie of 54272Ierusalem. 50 And the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to 54273reclame them, for that he would spare them, and his tabernacle. 51 But 54274they scorned at his messengers: and in the day that our Lord spake to 54275them, they were mocking his prophetes. 52 Who was moued euen vnto wrath 54276vpon his nation for their impietie, and commanded the kinges of the 54277Chaldees to come vp. 53 These slewe their yong men with the sword, round 54278about their holie temple, and spared not yong man, and old man, and 54279virgin, and youth: 54 but al were deliuered into their handes: & taking 54280al the sacred vessels of our Lord, and the kinges treasures, they caried 54281them into Babylon, 55 and burnt the house of our Lord, and threwe downe 54282the walles of Ierusalem: and the towres therof they burnt with fire, 5428356 and consumed al their honorable thinges, and brought them to naught, 54284and those that were left of the sword, they led into Babylon. 57 And 54285they were his seruants vntil the Persians reigned in the fulfilling of 54286the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie: (Jer 25:12 / Jer 29:10 / 54287Dan 9:2) 58 as long as the land quietly kept her sabbathes, al the time 54288of her desolation she sabbathized in the application of seuentie yeares. 54289 54290 54291 54292CHAP. II. 54293 54294 54295Cyrus king of Persia permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrie: 5429610. and deliuereth to them the holie vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had 54297taken from the temple. 16. Certaine aduersaries writing to king 54298Artaxerxes, hinder those that would repayre the ruines of Ierusalem. 54299 54300CYRVS king of the Persians reigning for the accomplishment of the word of 54301our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie, (2 Par 36:22 / 1 Esd 1:1 / 1 Esd 6:3 / 54302Jer 25:12 / Jer 29:10 / Dan 9:2) 2 our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus 54303king of the Persians, and he proclaymed in al his kingdomes, and that by 54304writing, 3 saying: Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord of 54305Israel, the high Lord, hath made me king ouer the whole earth. 4 and 54306hath signified to me to build him a house in Ierusalem, which is in 54307Iurie. 5 If there be any of your kinred, his Lord goe vp with him into 54308Ierusalem. 6 Whosoeuer therefore dwel about the places, let them helpe 54309them that are in the same place, in gold and siluer, 7 in giftes, with 54310horses, and beastes, and with other thinges which by vowes are added into 54311the temple of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem. 8 And the princes of the 54312tribes, of the villages and of Iurie, of the tribe of Beniamin, & the 54313Priestes, and the Leuites standing vp, whom our Lord moued to goe vp, and 54314to build the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem, and they that were 54315round about them, 9 did helpe them with al their gold and siluer, and 54316beastes, and manie whose minde was stirred vp, with many vowes. 10 And 54317Cyrus the king brought forth the sacred vessel of our Lord, which 54318Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon transported out of Ierusalem, and 54319consecrated them to his Idol. 11 And Cyrus the king of Persians bringing 54320them forth, deliuered them to Mithridatus, who was ouer his treasures. 5432112 And by him they were deliuered to Salmanasar president of Iurie. 5432213 And of these this was the number: Cuppes for libamentes of siluer two 54323thousand foure hundred, basens of siluer thirtie: phials of gold 54324thirtie, also of siluer two thousand foure hundred: and other vessels a 54325thousand. 14 and al the vessels of gold and siluer, were fiue thousand 54326eight hundred sixtie. 15 And they were numbered to Salmanasar together 54327with them, that came out of the captiuite of Babylon into Ierusalem. 5432816 But in the times of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, there wrote to 54329him of them that dwelt in Iurie and Ierusalem, Balsamus, and Mithridatus, 54330and Sabellius, and Rathimus, Balthemus, Sabellius scribe, and the rest 54331dweling in Samaria, and other places the epistle folowing to king 54332Artaxerxes. (1 Esd 4:7) 17 SIR, thy seruantes Rathimus ouer 54333occurrentes, and Sabellius the scribe, and the other iudges of thy court 54334in Caelesyria, and Phenice. 18 And now be it knowen to our Lord the 54335king, that Iewes came vp from you to vs, coming into Ierusalem a 54336rebellious, & very naughty citie, do build the fornaces thereof, and set 54337vp the walles, and rayse the temple. 19 And if this citie, and the 54338walles shal be finished, they wil not onlie not abyde to pay tributes, 54339but also wil resist the kinges. 20 And because that is in doing about 54340the temple, we thought it should doe wel not to neglect this same thing: 5434121 but to make it knowen to our Lord the king, that if it shal seme good, 54342o king it may be sought in the bookes of thy fathers, 22 and thou shalt 54343find in the recordes, thinges writen of these, and thou shalt know that 54344this citie hath bene rebellious, and trubling kinges, and cities, 23 and 54345the Iewes rebelles, & making battels in it from time out of mind, for the 54346which cause this citie was made desolate. 24 Now therfore we doe thee to 54347vnderstand, Lord king, that if this citie shal be built, and the walles 54348therof shal be erected, there wil be no comming downe for thee into 54349Caelesyria, & Phenice. 25 Then wrote the king to Rathimus, the writer of 54350the occurrentes, and to Balthemus, and to Sabellius the scribe, and to 54351the rest ioyned with them, and to the dwellers in Syria, and Phenice, as 54352foloweth: 26 I haue read the epistle that you sent me. I commanded 54353therfore search to be made, & it was found that the same citie is from 54354the beginning rebellious to kinges, 27 and the men rebelles, and making 54355battels in it, & there were most valient kinges ruling in Ierusalem, and 54356exacting tributes in Caelesyria, & Phenice. 28 Now therfore I haue geuen 54357commandment to forbid those men to build the citie, and to stay them that 54358nothing be done more then is: 29 and that they proceeded not farder, 54359wherof are euils, so that there may be truble brougt vpon the kinges. 5436030 Then these things being read which were writen of king Artaxerxes, 54361Rathimus, and Sabellius the scribe, and they that were apointed with them 54362ioyning together in hast came to Ierusalem with a troupe of horsemen, and 54363multitude, & companie: 31 and they begane to forbid the builders, and 54364they ceased from building of the temple in Ierusalem, til in the second 54365yeare of the reigne of Darius king of the Persians. 54366 54367 54368 54369CHAP. III. 54370 54371 54372After a solemne supper made to al the court, and chief princes, king 54373Darius sleeping: 4. three esquires of the bodie keeping watch, proposed 54374the question: 10. VVhether wine, or a King, or wemen, or the truth doth 54375excel? 17. The first prayseth wine. 54376 54377KING Darius made a great supper to al his domestical seruantes, and to al 54378the magistrates of Media and Persia, 2 and to al that were purple, and to 54379the praetors, and counsuls, and liuetenantes vnder him from India vnto 54380AEthiopia, an hundred twentie seuen prouinces. 3 And when they had eaten 54381and drunken, and returned ful, then Darius went vp into his chamber, and 54382slept, and awaked. 4 Then those three youngmen kepers of his bodie, 54383which garded the kings bodie, sayd one to an other; 5 Let euerie one of 54384vs say a word that may excel: & whose word soeuer shal appeare wiser 54385then the others, to him wil king Darius geue great giftes, 6 to be 54386couered with purple, & to drinke in gold, and to sleepe vpon gold, & a 54387chariote with a bridle of gold, & a bonet of silke, and a cheyne about 54388his necke: 7 and he shal sit in the second place next Darius for his 54389wisdome. And he shal be called the cosin of Darius. 8 Then euerie one 54390writing his word signed it, and they put it vnder the pillow of Darius 54391the king, 9 and they sayd. When the king shal rise, we wil geue him our 54392writinges: and which soeuer of the three the king shal iudge, and the 54393magistrates of Persia, that his word is the wiser, to him shal the 54394victorie be geuen as is writen. 10 One wrote: Wine is strong. 11 An 54395other wrote, a King is stronger. 12 The third wrote, Wemen are more 54396strong: but aboue al thinges truth ouercometh. 13 And when the king was 54397risen, they tooke their writinges, and gaue him, and he read. 14 And 54398sending he called al the Magistrates of Persians, and the Medes, and them 54399that weare purple, and the pretors, and the ouerseers; 15 and they sate 54400in the councel: and the writinges were read before them. 16 And he 54401sayd: Cal the youngmen, and they shal declare their owne wordes. And 54402they were called, and went in. 17 And he sayd to them: Declare vnto vs 54403concerning these thinges which are writen. And the first began, he that 54404had spoken of the strength of wine, 18 and sayd: O ye men, how doth wine 54405preuaile ouer al men that drinke! it seduceth the minde. 19 And also 54406the mind of king and orphane it maketh vaine. Also of the bondman and 54407the free, of the rich man and the poore, 20 and euerie mind it turneth 54408into securitie and pleasantnes, and it remembreth not any sorow and 54409dewtie, 21 and al hartes it maketh honest, and it remembreth not king, 54410nor magistrate, and it maketh a man speake al thinges by talentes. 5441122 And when they haue drunke, they remember not frendship, nor 54412brotherhood: yea and not long after they take swordes. 23 And when they 54413are recouered and risen from the wine, they remember not what they haue 54414done. 24 O ye men, doth not wine excel? who thinketh to doe so? And 54415hauing sayd this, he held his peace. 54416 54417 54418 54419CHAP. IIII. 54420 54421 54422The second prayseth the excellencie of a king: 13. The third (which is 54423Zorobabel) commendeth wemen: 33. but preferreth truth aboue al. 5442441. VVhich is so approued, and he is rewarded. 42. The king moreouer at 54425his request restoreth the holie vessels of the temple, and granteth 54426meanes to build the citie of Ierusalem, and the temple. 54427 54428AND the next began to speake, he that spake of the strength of a king. 544292 O ye men doe not the men excel, which obteyne land and sea, and al 54430thinges that are in them? 3 But a king excelleth aboue al thinges, and 54431hath dominion ouer them: and euerie thing whatsoeuer he shal say to 54432them, they doe. 4 And if he send them to warryers, they goe, and throw 54433downe mountaines, and the walles, and towers. 5 They kil, and are 54434killed: and the kinges word they transgresse not. For if they shal 54435ouercome, they bring to the king al thinges whatsoeuer they haue taken 54436for a praye. 6 In like maner also al others, for so many as are not 54437souldiars, nor fight, but til the ground: when they shal reape, againe 54438they bring tributes to the king. 7 And he being one onlie if he say: 54439Kil ye, they kil: say he: forgeue, the forgeue. 8 say he: strike: 54440they strike: say he, destroy, they destroy: say he build, they build. 544419 say he, cut downe, they cut downe, say he plant, they plant: 10 and al 54442the people, & potestates here him, and beside this he sitteth downe, and 54443drinketh, and sleepeth. 11 And others gard him round about, and can not 54444goe euerie one, and doe their owne workes, but at a word are obedient to 54445him. 12 O ye men, how doth not a king excel that is so renowmed? And he 54446held his peace. 13 The third that spake of wemen and truth, this is 54447Zorobabel, began to speake. 14 O ye men, not the great king, & many men, 54448neither is it wine that dothe excel. Who is it then that hath the 54449dominion of them? 15 Haue not wemen brought forth the king, and al the 54450people, that ruleth ouer land & sea: 16 and were they not borne of them, 54451and did not they bring vp them which planted the vineyardes, whereof wine 54452is made? 17 And they make the garmentes of al men, & they doe honor to 54453al men, and men can not be separed from wemen. 18 If they haue gathered 54454gold and siluer, and euerie beutiful thing, & see a woman comelie and 54455fayre, 19 leauing al these thinges they fixe their looke vpon her, & with 54456open mouth beholde her, and allure her more then gold and siluer, and 54457euerie precious thing. 20 Man forsaketh his father that brought him vp, 54458and his countrie, and ioyneth himself to a woman. 21 And with a woman he 54459refresheth his soul: and neither doth he remember father, nor mother, 54460nor countrie. 22 And hereby you must know that wemen rule ouer you. Are 54461you not sorie? 23 And a man taketh his sword, & goeth into the way to 54462commit theftes and murders, & to sayle seas & riuers, 24 and seeth a 54463lyon, and goeth in darkenes: and when he hath committed theft, and 54464fraude, and spoyles, he bringeth it to his beloued. 25 And againe, man 54465loueth his wife more then father or mother. 26 And many haue become 54466madde for their wiues: and haue been made bondmen for them: 27 and many 54467haue perished and bene slayne, and haue sinned for wemen. 28 And now 54468beleue me, that the king is great in his powre: because al countries are 54469afrayd to touch him. 29 Neuertheles I saw Apemes the daughter of Bezaces 54470the concubine of a meruelous king, sitting by the king at his right hand, 5447130 and taking of the crowne from his head, and putting it vpon her self, 54472and with the palme of her left hand she stroke the king. 31 And beside 54473these thinges he with open mouth beheld her: and if she smiled he 54474laugheth, and if she be angrie with him, he flattereth, til he be 54475reconciled to her fauour. 32 O ye men, why are not wemen stronger? 54476Great is the earth, and high is the heauen: who doeth these thinges? 5447733 And then the king and they that weare purple looked one vpon an other. 54478And he began to speake of truth. 34 O ye men, are not wemen strong? The 54479earth is great and heauen is high: & the swift course of the sunne 54480turneth the heauen round into his place in one day. 35 Is not he 54481magnifical that doth these thinges, and the truth great, and stronger 54482aboue al thinges? 36 Al the earth calleth vpon the truth, heauen also 54483blesseth it, and al workes are moued, and tremble at it, and there is not 54484any thing with it vniust. 37 Wine is vniust, the king is vniust, wemen 54485are vniust, al the sonnes of men are vniust, and al their workes are 54486vniust, and in them is not truth, and they shal perish in their 54487iniquitie: 38 and truth abydeth, and groweth strong for euer, and 54488liueth, and preuayleth for euer and euer. 39 Neither is there with it 54489acception of persons, nor differences: but the thinges that are iust it 54490doth to al men, to the vniust and malignant, and al men are wel pleased 54491in the workes thereof. 40 And there is no vniust thing in the iudgement 54492therof, but strength, and reigne, and power, and maiestie of worldes. 54493Blessed be the God of truth. 41 And he left speaking. And al the people 54494cryed, and sayd: Great is truth and it preuaileth. 42 Then the king 54495sayd to him: Aske, if thou wilt any more, then the thinges that are 54496writen, and I wil geue it thee, according as thou art found wiser then 54497thy neighbours, & thou shalt sitte next to me, and shalt be called my 54498cosin. 43 Then sayd he to the king: Be midful of thy vow, which thou 54499hast vowed, to build Ierusalem in the day that thou didst receiue the 54500kingdom: 44 and to send backe al the vessels that were taken out of 54501Ierusalem, which Cyrus separated, when he sacked Babylon, and would haue 54502sent them backe thither. 45 And thou hast vowed to build the temple, 54503which the Idumeians burnt, when Iurie was destroyed of the Chaldees. 5450446 And now this is that which I aske Lord, & which I desire, this is the 54505maiestie which I desire of thee, that thou performe the vowe which thou 54506hast vowed to the king of heauen by thy mouth. 47 Then Darius the king 54507rising vp, kissed him: and wrote letters to al the officers, and 54508ouerseers, and them that weare purple, that they should conduct him, and 54509them that were with him, al going vp to build Ierusalem. 48 And to al 54510the ouerseers that were in Syria, and Phoenice, and Libanus he wrote 54511letters, that they should draw Ceder trees from Libanus into Ierusalem, 54512to build the citie with them. 49 And he wrote to al the Iewes which went 54513vp from the kingdome into Iurie for libertie, euerie mightie man, & 54514magistrate, & ouerseer not to come vpon them to their gates, 50 and al 54515the countrie which they had obtayned to be free vnto them, & that the 54516Idumeians leaue the castels which they possesse of the Iewes, 51 and to 54517the building of the temple to geue euerie yeare twentie talentes vntil it 54518were throughly built: 52 & vpon the altars to burne holocausts dayly, as 54519they haue commandment: to offer other ten talentes euery yeare, 53 & to 54520al that go forth from Babylon to build the citie, that there should be 54521libertie as wel to them as to their children, and to al the priestes that 54522goe before. 54 And he wrote a quantitie also, and commanded the sacred 54523stole to be geuen, wherein they should serue; 55 and to the Leuites he 54524wrote to geue preceptes, vntil the day wherein the house shal be 54525finished, and Ierusalem builded. 56 And to al that kepe the citie, he 54526wrote portions and wages to be geuen to them. 57 And he sent away al the 54527vessels whatsoeuer Cyrus had separated from Babylon, and al thinges 54528whatsoeuer Cyrus sayd, he also commanded to be donne, and to be sent to 54529Ierusalem. 58 And when that yong man was gone forth, lyfting vp his face 54530toward Ierusalem, he blessed the king of heauen, 59 & sayd: Of thee is 54531victorie, and of thee is wisdome, and glorie. And I am thy seruant. 5453260 Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisedom, and I wil confesse to 54533thee Lord God of our fathers. 61 And he toke the letters, and went into 54534Babylon. And he came, and told al his brethren that were in Babylon: 5453562 and they blessed the God of their fathers, because he gaue them 54536remission and refreshing, 63 that they should goe vp and build Ierusalem, 54537and the temple wherein his name was renowmed, and they reioyced with 54538musike and ioy seuen dayes. 54539 54540 54541 54542CHAP. V. 54543 54544 54545Those that returned from captiuitie of Bablyon into Ierusalem, and Iurie, 54546are recited. 47. They restore Gods seruice: 66. but are hindered from 54547building. 54548 54549AFTER these thinges there were chosen, to goe vp the princes of townes by 54550their houses, and tribes, and their wiues, and their sonnes and 54551daughters, and their men seruantes and wemen seruantes, and their cattel. 54552(1 Esd 2:1) 2 And Darius the king sent together with them a thousand 54553horsmen, til they conducted them to Ierusalem with peace, & with musicke 54554& with tymbrels, and shaulmes: 3 and al the brethren were playing, and 54555he made them goe vp together with them. 4 And these are the names of the 54556men that went vp by their townes according to tribes, and according to 54557the portion of their principalitie. 5 Priestes: The children of 54558Phinees, the sonne of Aaron, Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, Ioacim the sonne 54559of Zorobabel, the sonne of Salatheil of the house of Dauid, of the 54560progenie of Phares, of the tribe of Iuda. 6 Who spake vnder Darius king 54561of the Persians the meruelous wordes in the second yeare of his reigne 54562the first moneth Nisan. 7 And they are these, that of Iurie came vp from 54563the captiuitie of the transmigration, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of 54564Babylon transported into Babylon, and returned into Ierusalem. 54565(1 Esd 2:2 / 2 Esd 7:6) 8 And euerie one sought a part of Iurie 54566according to his owne citie, they that came with Zorobabel, and Iesus, 54567Nehemias, Areores, Elimeo, Emmanio, Mardocheo, Beelsuro, Mechpsatochor, 54568Olioro, Emonia one of their princes. 9 And the number of them of the 54569same nation, of their rulers the children of Phares, two thousand an 54570hundred seuentie two: 10 The children of Ares, three thousand an hundred 54571fiftie seuen: 11 The children of Phoemo, an hundred fourtie two: in the 54572children of Iesus and Ioabes, a thousand three hundred two: 12 the 54573children of Demu, two thousand foure hundred seuentie: the children of 54574Choraba, two hundred fiue: the children of Banica, an hundred sixtie 54575eight, 13 the children of Bebech, foure hundred three: the children of 54576Archad, foure hundred twentie seuen: 14 the children of Cham, thirtie 54577seuen: the children of Zoroar, two thousand sixtie seuen: the children 54578of Adin, foure hundred sixtie one: 15 the children of Aderectes, an 54579hundred eight: the children of Ciaso and Zelas an hundred seuen: the 54580children of Azoroc, foure hundred thirtie nine: 16 the children of 54581Iedarbone, an hundred thirtie two: the children of Ananias, an hundred 54582thirtie: the children of Asoni, ninetie: 17 the children of Marsar, 54583foure hundred twentie two: the children of Zabarus, nintie fiue: the 54584children of Sepolemon, an hundred twentie three: 18 the children of 54585Nepopas, fiftie fiue: the children of Hechanatus, an hundred fiftie 54586eight: the children of Cebethamus, an hundred thirite two: 19 the 54587children of Crearpatros, which are of Enocadie and Modia, foure hundred 54588twentie three: they of Gramas and Babea, an hundred twentie one. 5458920 They of Besselon, and Ceagge, sixtie fiue: they of Bastraro, an 54590hundred twentie two: 21 they of Bechenobes, fiftie fiue: the children 54591of Liptis, an hundred fiftie fiue: the children of Labonni, three 54592hundred fiftie seuen: 22 the children of Sichem, three hundred seuentie: 54593the children of Suadon, & Cliomus, three hundred seuentie eight: 23 the 54594children of Ericus, two thousand an hundred fourtie fiue: the children 54595of Anaas, three hundred seuentie. The priestes: 24 the children of 54596Ieddus, the sonne of Euther, the sonne of Eliasib, three hundred seuenty 54597two: the children of Emerus, two hundred fiftie two: 25 the children of 54598Phasurius, three hundred fiftie seuen the children of Caree, two hundred 54599twentie seuen. 26 The Leuites: The children of Iesus in Caduhel, and 54600Bamis, and Serebias, and Edias, seuentie foure, the whole number from the 54601twelfth yeare, thiritie thousand foure hundred sixtie two. 27 The 54602sonnes, and daughters, and wiues, the whole number, fourtie thousand two 54603hundred fourtie two. 28 The children of the Priestes, that sang in the 54604temple: the children of Asaph, an hundred twentie eight. 29 And the 54605porters: the children of Esmeni, the children of Azer, the children of 54606Amon, the children of Accuba, of Topa, the children of Tobi, al an 54607hundred thirtie nine. 30 Priestes that serued in the temple: the 54608children of Sel, the children of Gaspha, the children of Tobloch, the 54609children of Caria, the children of Su, the children of Hellu, the 54610children of Lobana, the children of Armacha, the children of Accub, the 54611children of Vtha, the children of Cetha, the children of Aggab, the 54612children of Obai, the children of Anani, the children of Canna, the 54613children of Geddu, 31 the children or An, the children of Radin, the 54614children of Desanon, the children of Nachoba, the children of Caseba, the 54615children of Gaze, the children of Ozui, the children of Sinone, the 54616children of Attre, the children of Hasten, the children of Asiana, the 54617children of Manei, the children of Nasissim, the children of Acusu, the 54618children of Agista, the children of Azui, the children of Fauon, the 54619children of Phasalon, 32 the children of Meedda, the children of Phusa, 54620the children of Caree, the children of Burcus, the children of Saree, the 54621children of Coesi, the children of Nasith, the children of Agisti, the 54622children of Pedon. 33 Salomon his children, the children of Asophot, the 54623children of Phasida, the children of Celi, the children of Dedon, the 54624children of Gaddehel, the children of Sephegi, 34 the children of Aggia, 54625the children of Sachareth, the children of Sabathen, the children of 54626Caroneth, the children of Malsith, the children of Ama, the children of 54627Sasus, the children of Addus, the children of Suba, the children of Eura, 54628the children of Rahotis, the children of Phasphat, the children of 54629Malmon. 35 Al that serued the sanctuarie, and the seruantes of Salomon, 54630foure hundred eightie two. 36 These are the children that came vp from 54631Thelmela, Thelharsa: the princes of them, Carmellam, and Careth: 37 and 54632they could not declare their cities, and their progenies, how they are of 54633Israel. The children of Dalari, the children of Tubal, the children of 54634Nechodaici, 38 of the Priestes, that did the function of priesthood: and 54635there were not found the children of Obia, the children of Achisos, the 54636children of Addin, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Pargeleu: 39 and 54637they were called by his name, and the writing of the kinred of these was 54638sought in the register, and it was not found, and they were forbid to doe 54639the function of priesthood. 40 And Nehemias and Astharus sayd to them: 54640Let not the holie thinges be participated, til there arise a hiegh priest 54641lerned for declaration and truth. 41 And al Israel was beside men 54642seruantes, and wemen seruantes, fourtie two thousand three hundred 54643fourtie. 42 Their men seruantes and wemen seruantes, seuen thousand 54644three hundred thirtie seuen. Singing men and singing wemen, two hundred 54645three score fiue. 43 Camels, foure hundred thiritie fiue. Horses, seuen 54646thousand thirtie six. Mules, two hundred thousand fourtie fiue. Beastes 54647vnder yoke, fiue thousand twentie fiue. 44 And of the rulers themselues 54648by their villages, when they came into the temple of God, which was in 54649Ierusalem, to renew and raise vp the temple in his place, according to 54650their power: 45 and to be geuen into the temple to the sacred treasure 54651of the workes, of gold twelue thousand mnas, and fiue thousand mnas of 54652siluer, and stoles for Priestes an hundred. 46 And the Priestes and 54653Leuites, and they that came out of the people, dwelt in Ierusalem, and in 54654the countrie, and the sacred singingmen, and porters, and al Israel in 54655their countries. 47 And the seuenth moneth being at hand, and when the 54656children of Israel were euerie man in his owne affayres, they came 54657together with one minde into the court, that was before the east gate. 54658(1 Esd 3:1) 48 And Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren the 54659priestes: Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and his brethren standing 54660vp, prepared an altar, 49 that they might offer vpon it holocaustes, 54661according to the thinges that are writen in the booke of Moyses the man 54662of God. 50 And there assembled there of other nations of the land, and 54663al the nations of the land erected the altar in his place, and they 54664offered hostes, and morning holocaustes to our Lord. 51 And they 54665celebrated the feast of Tabernacles, and the solemne day, as it is 54666commanded in the lawe: and sacrifices dayly, as it behoued: 52 and 54667after these the appointed oblations, and the hostes of the sabbathes, and 54668of the newmoones, and of al the solemne sanctified dayes. 53 And as 54669manie as vowed to our Lord from the new moone of the seuenth moneth, 54670began to offer the hostes to God, and the temple of our Lord was not yet 54671built. 54 And they gaue monie to the masones and workemen, and drinke 54672and victuals with ioy. 55 And they gaue cartes to the Sidonians, and 54673Tyrianes, that with them they should carie ceder beames from Lybanus, and 54674should make boates in the hauen Ioppe, according to the decre that was 54675writen for them by Cyrus king of the Persians. 56 And in the second 54676yeare coming into the temple of God in Ierusalem, in the second moneth 54677began Zorobel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and 54678their bretheren, and the Priestes and Leuites, and al that were come from 54679the captiuitie into Ierusalem. 57 and they founded the temple of God in 54680the newmoone of the second moneth of the second yeare, after that they 54681came into Iurie and Ierusalem. 58 And they appoynted the Leuites from 54682twentie yeares, ouer the workes of our Lord: and Iesus stood and his 54683sonne, and the bretheren, al Leuites ioyning together, & executors of the 54684lawe, doing the workes in the house of our Lord. 59 And al the Priestes 54685stood, hauing stoles with trumpettes: 60 and Leuites the children of 54686Asaph, hauing cymbals together praysing our Lord, and blessing him 54687according to Dauid king of Israel. 61 And they song a song to our Lord, 54688because his sweetenes, and honour is for euer vpon Israel. 62 And al the 54689people sounded with trumpet, and cried out with a loud voice, praysing 54690our Lord in the raysing vp of the house of our Lord. 63 And there came 54691of the Priestes and Leuites, and presidentes by their villages the more 54692ancientes, which had sene the old house: 64 and to the building of this 54693with crie and great lamentation, and manie with trumpettes and great ioy: 5469465 in so much that the people heard not the trumpettes for the 54695lamentatinon of the people. For the multitude was sounding with 54696trumpettes magnifically, so that it was heard far of. 66 And the enimes 54697of the tribe of Iuda, and Beniamin heard it, and they came to knowe what 54698the voyce of the trumpettes was: 67 And they knew that they which were 54699of the captiuitie doe build a temple to our Lord the God of Israel. 5470068 And coming to Zorobabel & Iesus, the ouerseers of the villages, they 54701sayd to them: We will build together with you: (1 Esd 4:2) 69 For we 54702haue in like maner heard your Lord, & we walke like from the dayes of 54703Asbazareth king of the Assyrians, who transported vs hither. 70 And 54704Zorobabel, and Iesus, & the princes of the villages of Israel, sayd to 54705them: 71 It is not for vs and you to build the house of our God. For we 54706alone wil build to our Lord of Israel according as Cyrus the king of the 54707Persians hath commanded. 72 And the nations of the land lying vpon them 54708that are in Iurie, and lifting vp the worke of the building, and bringing 54709ambushmentes, and peoples, prohibited them to build. 73 and practising 54710assaultes hindred them, that the building might not be finished al the 54711time of the life of king Cyrus, and they differred the building for two 54712yeares vntil the reigne of Darius. 54713 54714 54715 54716CHAP. VI. 54717 54718 54719The Iewes by assistance of king Darius build vp the Temple in Ierusalem. 54720 54721AND in the second yeare of the reigne of Darius prophecied Aggeus, and 54722Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophet to Iurie and Ierusalem in the 54723name of God of Israel vpon them. (1 Esd 5:1) 2 Then Zorobabel the sonne 54724of Salathiel standing vp, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec begane to build 54725the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem. 3 When the prophetes of 54726our Lord were present with them, and did helpe them. At the same time 54727came Sisennes to them, the deputie of Syria, and of Phenice, and 54728Satrabuzanes, and his felowes: 4 and they sayd to them: By whose 54729commandment, build ye this house, and this roofe, and perfite al other 54730thinges? And who are the workmen that build these thinges? 5 And the 54731ancientes of the Iewes, which were left of the captiuitie by our Lord, 54732had fauoure when the visitation was made vpon them. 6 And they were not 54733hindered from building, til it was signified to Darius of al these 54734thinges, and answer was receiued. 7 A copie of the letter, which they 54735sent to Darius. SISENNES deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Satrabuzanes, 54736and his felowes in Syria and Phenice presidents, to king Darius 54737greetings: 8 Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the king, that when we 54738came into the countrie of Iurie, and had entered into Ierusalem, we found 54739them building the great house of God. 9 And the temple of polished 54740stones, and of great and precious matter in the walles. 10 And the 54741workes to be a doing earnestly, and to succede, and prosper in their 54742handes, and in al glorie to be perfited most diligently. 11 Then we 54743asked the ancients saying, by whose permission build ye this house, & 54744found these workes? 12 And therfore we asked them, that we might doe 54745thee to know the men & the ouerseers, and we required of them a rolle of 54746the names of the ouerseers. 13 But they answered vs saying: We are the 54747seruantes of the Lord, which made heauen and earth. 14 And this house 54748was built these manie yeares past by a king of Israel, that was great and 54749most valiant, and was finished. 15 And because our fathers were 54750prouoking to wrath, and sinned agaynst God of Israel, he deliuered them 54751into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, king of the 54752Chaldees. 16 And throwing downe this house they burnt it, and they led 54753the people captiue into Babylon. 17 In the first yeare when Cyrus 54754reigned the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king wrote to build this house. 5475518 And these sacred vessels of gold and siluer which Nabuchodonosor had 54756taken out of the house which is in Ierusalem, and had consecrated them in 54757his owne temple, Cyrus brought them forth agayne out of the temple which 54758was in Babylon, and they were deliuered to Zorobabel, & to Salmanasar the 54759deputie. 19 And it was commanded them that they should offer these 54760vessels, & lay them vp in the temple, which was in Ierusalem, and build 54761the temple of God itself in his place. 20 Then did Salmanasar lay the 54762fundations of the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem: and from 54763that time vntil now it is a building, and is not accomplished. 21 Now 54764therfore if thou thincke it good o king, let it be sought in the kings 54765liberaries of Cyrus the king, which are in Babylon: 22 and if it shal be 54766found, that the building of the house of the Lord, which is in Ierusalem, 54767begane by the counsel of Cyrus the king, and it be thought good of our 54768Lord the king, let him write to vs of these thinges. 23 Then Darius the 54769king commanded search to be made in the libraries: and there was found 54770in Ecbatana a towne that is in the countrie of Media, one place wherin 54771were writen these wordes: (1 Esd 6:1) 24 IN THE FIRST YEARE of the 54772reigne of Cyrus, king Cyrus commanded to build the house of the Lord 54773which is in Ierusalem, where they did burne incense with dayly fire, 5477425 the height wherof shal be of ten cubits, & the bredth three score 54775cubites, foure square with three stones polished, and with a loft galerie 54776of wood of the same countrie, & one new galerie, and the expenses to be 54777geuen out of the house of Cyrus the king. 26 And the sacred vesseles of 54778the house of the Lord, as wel of gold as of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor 54779tooke from the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem where they were 54780layed, that they be put there: 27 And he commanded Sisennes the deputie 54781of Syria & Phoenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes & them that were 54782ordayned presidentes in Syria & Phoenice, that they should refraine 54783themselues from that place. 28 And I also haue geuen commandment to 54784build it wholly: and haue prouided, that they helpe them, which are of 54785the captiuitie of the Iewes, til the temple of the house of the Lord be 54786accomplished. 29 And from the vexation of the tributes of Coelesyria & 54787Phoenice, a quantitie to be geuen diligently to these men for the 54788sacrifice of the Lord, to Zorobabel the gouernour, for oxen, and rammes, 54789and lambes. 30 And in like maner corne also, and salt, and wine, and 54790oyle continually yeare by yeare, according as the priestes which are in 54791Ierusalem, haue prescribed to be spent dayly: 31 that libamentes may be 54792offered to the most high God for the king & his children, & that they may 54793pray for their life. 32 And that it be denounced, that whosoeuer shal 54794transgresse anie thing of these which are writen, or shal despise it, a 54795beame be taken of theyr owne, & they be hanged, & their goodes be 54796confiscate to the king. 33 Therfore the Lord also, whose name is 54797inuocated there, destroy euery king & nation, that shal extend their hand 54798to hinder or to handle il the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem. 5479934 I Darius the king haue decreed that it be most diligently done 54800according to these thinges. 54801 54802 54803 54804CHAP. VII. 54805 54806 54807The house of God is finished, 7. and dedicated, 10. the feast of Pasch is 54808also celebrated seuen dayes with Azimes. 54809 54810THEN Sisennes the deputie of Coelesyria, and Phaenice, and Satrabuzames, 54811and their felowes, obeying those thinges which were decreed of Darius the 54812king, (1 Esd 6:13) 2 applied the sacred workes most diligently, working 54813together with the ancientes of the Iewes, the princes of Syria. 3 And 54814the sacred workes prospered, Aggeus & Zacharias the prophetes 54815prophecying. 4 And they accomplished al thinges by the precept of our 54816Lord the God of Israel, and by the counsel of Cyrus, & Darius, and 54817Artaxerxes the king of the Persians. 5 And our house was a finishing 54818vntil the three and twentith day of the moneth of Adar, the sixth yeare 54819of Darius the king. 6 And the children of Israel, and the Priestes and 54820Leuites, and the rest that were of the captiuitie, which were added did 54821according to those thinges that are written in the booke of Moyses. 548227 And they offered for the dedication of the temple of our Lord, oxen an 54823hundred, rammes two hundred, lambes foure hundred. 8 And kiddes for the 54824sinnes of al Israel, twelue, according to the number of the tribes of 54825Israel. 9 And the Priestes and Leuites stood clothed with stoles by 54826tribes, ouer al the workes of our Lord the God of Israel, according to 54827the booke of Moyses, and the porters at euerie gate. 10 And the children 54828of Israel, wih them that were of the captiuitie celebrated the phase of 54829the fourtenth moone of the first moneth, when the Priestes and Leuites 54830were sanctified. 11 Al the children of the captiuitie were not 54831sanctified together, because al the Leuites were sanctified together. 5483212 And al the children of the captuitie immolated the phase, both for 54833their brethren the Priestes, and for them selues. 13 And the children of 54834Israel did eate, they that were of the captiuitie al that remayned apart 54835from al the abominations of the nations of the land seeking our Lord. 5483614 And they celebrated the festiual day of Azymes seuen dayes feasting in 54837the sight of our Lord. 15 Because he turned the counsel of the king of 54838the Assirians toward them, to strengthen their handes to the workes of 54839our Lord the God of Israel. 54840 54841 54842 54843CHAP. VIII. 54844 54845 54846Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem, 9. carieth king Artaxerxes 54847fauourable letters, 14. with licence to take gold, siluer, and al thinges 54848necessarie at their pleasure. 31. The chief men that goe with him are 54849recited. 51. He voweth a fast praying for good success in their iorney. 5485056. weigheth the gold and siluer, which he deliuereth to the Priestes, 54851and Leuites. 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance, for 54852their mariages made with infideles. 54853 54854AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned, came Esdras 54855the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome, 54856(1 Esd 7:1) 2 the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of 54857Ameri, the sonne of Azahel, the sonne of Bocci, the sonne of Abisue, the 54858sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the first 54859priest. 3 This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe & wise in the 54860law of Moyses, which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and 54861to doe. 4 And the king gaue him glorie, because he had found grace in al 54862dignitie and desire in his sight. 5 And there went vp with him of the 54863children of Israel, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the sacred 54864singers of the temple, and the porters, and the seuantes of the temple 54865into Ierusalem. 6 In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the 54866fifth moneth, this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne, going forth of 54867Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth, 7 they came to Ierusalem 54868according to his commandment, according to the prosperitie of their 54869iourney, which their Lord gaue them. 8 For in these Esdras had great 54870knowlege, that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges, which were 54871according to the law, and the preceptes of our Lord, and in teaching al 54872Israel al iusticie and iudgement. 9 And they that wrote the writinges of 54873Araxerxes the king, coming deliuered the writing which was granted of 54874Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest, & the reader of the law of our 54875Lord, the copie wherof here foloweth. 10 KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the 54876Priest, and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting. 11 I of curtesie 54877esteming it among benifites, haue commanded them that of their owne 54878accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes, and of the Priestes and 54879Leuites, which are in my kingdom, to goe with thee into Ierusalem. 12 If 54880anie therfore desire to goe with thee, let them come together, and set 54881forward as it hath pleased me, and my seuen freindes my counselers: 5488213 that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and 54883Ierusalem, obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. 14 And let 54884them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel, which I haue vowed 54885and my freindes to Ierusalem, and al the gold and siluer, that shal be 54886found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem, with that, 5488715 which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord 54888which is in Ierusalem: that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen, 54889and rammes, and lambes, and kiddes, and for the thinges that are agreable 54890to these, 16 that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of 54891their Lord, which is in Ierusalem. 17 And al thinges whatsoeuer thou 54892with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer, doe it at thy pleasure 54893according to the precept of the Lord thy God. 18 And the sacred vessels, 54894which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God, 54895which is in Ierusalem. 19 And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee 54896to the workes of the temple of thy God, thou shalt geue it out of the 54897kings treasure. 20 When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold 54898and siluer, doe according to the wil of the Lord. 21 And I king 54899Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria 54900and Phaenice, that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of 54901the law of the Lord, shal write for, they geue him vnto an hundred 54902talentes of siluer, likewise also of gold. 22 And vnto an hundred 54903measures of corne, & an hundred vessels of wine, and other thinges 54904whatsoeuer abound without taxing. 23 Let al thinges be done to the most 54905high God according to the law of God, lest perhaps there arise wrath in 54906the reigne of the king, and of his sonne, and his sonnes. 24 And to you 54907it is sayd, that vpon al the Priestes, and Leuites, and sacred singers, 54908and seruantes of the temple, & scribes of this temple 25 no tribute, nor 54909any other taxe be sette, and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any 54910thing to them. 26 But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God 54911appoynt iudges, and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice: and teach al 54912them that know no the law of thy God: 27 that whosoeuer shal transgresse 54913the law, they be diligently punished either with death, or with torment, 54914or els with a forfeite of money, or with banishment. 28 And Esdras the 54915scribe sayd: Blessed be the God of our fathers, which hath geuen this 54916wil into the kings hart, to glorifie his house, which is in Ierusalem. 5491729 And hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and of his counselers, 54918and freindes, and them that weare purple. 30 And I was made constant in 54919minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God, and gathered together of 54920Israel men, that should goe vp together with me. 31 And these are the 54921princes according to their kindredes, and seueral principalities of them 54922that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes. (1 Esd 8:1) 32 Of 54923the children of Phares, Gerfomus: and of the children of Siemarith, 54924Amenus: of the children of Dauid, Acchus the sonne of Scecilia: 33 Of 54925the children of Phares, Zacharias, and with him returned an hundred 54926fiftie men. 34 Of the children of leader Moabilion, Zaraei, and with him 54927two hundred fiftie men: 35 Of the children of Zachues, Iechonias of 54928Zechoel, and with him two hundred fiftie men: 36 of the children of 54929Sala, Maasias of Gotholia, & with him seuentie men: 37 of the children 54930of Saphatia, Zarias of Michel, and with him eightie men: 38 of the 54931children of Iob, Abdias of Iehel, and with him two hundred twelue men: 5493239 of the children of Bania, Salimoth, the sonne of Iosaphia, and with 54933him an hundred sixtie men: 40 of the children of Beer, Zacharias Bebei, 54934and with him two hundred eight men: 41 of the children of Ezead, Ioannes 54935of Eccetan, and with him an hundred ten men: 42 of the children of 54936Adonicam, which were last, and these are their names, Eliphalam the sonne 54937of Gebel, and Semeias, and with him seuentie men. 43 And I gathered them 54938together to the riuer that is called Thia, and we camped there three 54939dayes, and vewed them againe. 44 And of the children of the Priestes and 54940Leuites I found not there. 45 And I sent to Eleazarus, and Eccelon, and 54941Masman, and Maloban, and Enaathan, and Samea, and Ioribum, Nathan, 54942Enuaugam, Zacharias, and Mosolam the leaders them selues, and that were 54943skilful. 46 And I sayd to them that they should come to Loddeus, who was 54944at the place of the treasurie. 47 And I commanded them to say to 54945Loddeus, and his brethren, and to them that were in the treasurie, that 54946they should send vs them that might doe the function of priesthood in the 54947house of the Lord our God. 48 And they brought vnto vs according to the 54948mightie hand of the Lord our God cunning men: of the children of Moholi, 54949the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel, Sebebia, & his sonnes and 54950brethren, which were eightene: 49 Asbia, and Amin of the sonnes of the 54951children of Chananeus, and their children twentie men. 50 And of them 54952that serued the temple, whom Dauid gaue, and the princes themselues to 54953the ministerie of the Leuites of them that serued the temple, two hundred 54954twentie. Al their names were signified in writings. 51 And I vowed 54955there a fast to the yong men in the sight of God, that I might aske of 54956him a good iourney for vs, and them that were with vs, and for the 54957children, and the cattel because of ambushementes. 52 For I was ashamed 54958to aske of the king footemen and horsemen in my companie, to guard vs, 54959against our aduersaries. 53 For we sayd to the king that the power of 54960our Lord wil be with them that seeke him with al affection. 54 And 54961agayne we besought the Lord our God according to these thinges: whom 54962also we had propicious, and we obteyned of our God. 55 And I separated 54963of the rulers of the people, and of the Priestes of the temple, twelue 54964men, and Sedebia, and Asanna, and with them of their brethren ten men. 5496556 And I weyed to them the gold and siluer, and the vessels of the house 54966of our God perteyning to the Priestes, which the king had geuen, and his 54967counselers, and the princes, and al Israel. 57 And when I had weyed it, 54968I deliuered of siluer an hundred fiftie talentes, and siluer vessels of 54969an hundred talentes, and of gold an hundred talentes. 58 And of vessels 54970of gold seuen score and twelue brasen vessels good of shyning brasse, 54971resembling the forme of gold. 59 And I sayd to them: You are also 54972sanctified to our Lord, and the vessels be holie, and the gold and siluer 54973is vowed to our Lord the God of our fathers. 60 Watch and keepe, til you 54974deliuer them to some of the rulers of the people, and to the Priestes, 54975and Leuites, and to the princes of the cities of Israel in Ierusalem, in 54976the treasurie of the house of our God. 61 And those Priestes and Leuites 54977that receiued the gold and siluer and vessels, brought it to Ierusalem 54978into the temple of our Lord. 62 And we went forward from the riuer Thia, 54979the twelfth day of the first moneth, til we entred into Ierusalem. 5498063 And when the third day was come, in the fourth day the gold being 54981weyed, and the siluer, was deliuered in the house of the Lord our God, to 54982Marimoth Priest the sonne of Iori. 64 And with him was Eleazar the sonne 54983of Phinees: and with them were Iosadus the sonne of Iesus, and Medias, 54984and Banni the sonne of a Leuite, by number and weight al thinges. 65 And 54985the weight of them was writen the same houre. 66 And they that came out 54986of the captiuitie, offered sacrifice to our Lord the God of Israel, oxen 54987twelue, for al Israel, rammes eightie six, 67 lambes seuentie two, bucke 54988goates for sinne twelue, and for health twelue kyne, al for the sacrifice 54989of our Lord. 68 And they read againe the preceptes of the king to the 54990kinges officers, and to the deputies of Coelesyria, and Phoenice: and 54991they honored the nation, and the temple of our Lord. 69 And these 54992thinges being finished, the rulers came to me, saying: The stocke of 54993Isreal, and the princes, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, (1 Esd 9:1) 5499470 and the strange people, and nations of the land haue not separated 54995their vncleannes from the Chananeites, and Hetheites, and Pherezeites, 54996and Iebuseites, and Moobites, & AEgyptians, and Idumeians. 71 For they 54997are ioyned to their daughters both themselues, and their sonnes: and the 54998holie sede is mingled with the strange nations of the earth, and the 54999rulers and magistrates were partakers of that iniquitie from the 55000beginning of the reigne it self. 72 And forthwith as I heard these 55001thinges, I rent my garmentes and sacred tunike: and tearing the heares 55002of my head, and my beard, I sate sorowful and heauie. 73 And there 55003assembled to me mourning vpon this iniquitie, as manie as were then moued 55004by the word of our Lord the God of Israel, and I sate sad vntil the 55005euening sacrifice. 74 And I rising vp from fasting, hauing my garmentes 55006rent and the sacred tunike, kneeling, and stretching forth my handes to 55007our Lord, 75 I sayd: Lord I am confounded, and ashamed before thy face, 5500876 for our sinnes are multiplied ouer our heades, and our iniquities are 55009exalted euen to heauen. 77 Because from the times of our fathers we are 55010in great sinne vnto this day. 78 And for the sinnes of vs, and of our 55011fathers we haue bene deliuered with our brethren, and with our Priestes 55012to the kinges of the earth, into sword and captiuitie, and spoile with 55013confusion vnto this present day. 79 And now what a great thing is this 55014that mercie hath happened to vs from thee o Lord God, & leaue thou vnto 55015vs a roote, and a name in the place of thy sanctification, 80 to discouer 55016our light in the house of the Lord our God, to geue vs meate in al the 55017time of our bondage. 81 And when we serued, we were not forsaken of the 55018Lord our God: but he sette vs in fauour, appointing the kinges of the 55019Persians to geue us meate, 82 and to glorifie the temple of the Lord our 55020God, and to build the desolations of Sion, to geue vs stabilitie in 55021Iurie, and Ierusalem. 83 And now what say we Lord, hauing these thinges? 55022For we haue transgressed thy preceptes, which thou gauest into the handes 55023of thy seruantes the prophetes, 84 saying: That the land into which ye 55024entred to possesse the inheritance therof, is a land polluted with the 55025coinquinations of the strangers of the land, and their vncleanes hath 55026filled it wholy with their filthines. 85 And now your daughters you shal 55027not match with their sonnes, and their daughters you shal not take for 55028your sonnes. 86 And you shal not seeke to haue peace with them for euer, 55029that growing strong you may eate the best things of the land, and may 55030distribute the inheritance to your children for euer. 87 And the thinges 55031that happen to vs, al are done for our nauhtie workes, and our great 55032sinnes. 88 And thou gauest vs such a roote, and we are returned againe 55033to transgresse thy ordinances, that we would be mingled with the 55034vncleannes of the nations of this land. 89 Wilt not thou be wrath with 55035vs to destroy vs, til there be no roote left nor our name? 90 Lord God 55036of Israel thou art true. For there is a roote left vntil this present 55037day. 91 Behold, now we are in thy sight in our iniquities. For it is 55038not to stand any longer before thee in these matters. 92 And when Esdras 55039with adoration confessed weeping, lying flat on the ground before the 55040temple, there were gathered before him out of Ierusalem a verie great 55041multitude, men and wemen, and yong men and yong wemen. For there was 55042great weeping in the multitude it self. (1 Esd 10:1) 93 And when he had 55043cried, Iechonias of Ieheli of the children of Israel, sayd to Esdras: We 55044haue sinned against our Lord, for that we haue taken vnto vs in mariage 55045strange wemen of the nations of the land. 94 And now thou art ouer al 55046Israel, in these therfore let there be an othe from our Lord to expel al 55047our wiues that are of strangers with their children. 95 As it was 55048decreed to thee of the ancesters according to the law of our Lord, rising 55049vp declare it. 96 For to thee the busines perteineth, and we are with 55050thee: doe manfully. 97 And Esdras rysing vp adiured the princes of the 55051Priestes and Leuites, and al Israel to doe according to these thinges and 55052they sware. 55053 55054 55055 55056CHAP. IX. 55057 55058 55059Esdras fasting for the sinnes of the people, commandeth that they 55060separate al strange wemen from them. 18. The Priestes and Leuites, which 55061had offended herein, are recited. 38 He readeth the law before the 55062people: 48 certaine doe expound to the multitudes in seueral places. 5506352 And so they are dismissed with ioy. 55064 55065AND Esdras rysing vp from before the court of the temple, went into the 55066chamber of Ionathas the sonne of Nasabi. (1 Esd 10:6) 2 And lodging 55067there he tasted no bread, nor dranke water for the iniquitie of the 55068multitude. 3 And there was proclamation made in al Iurie, & in Ierusalem 55069to al that were of the captiuitie gathered in Ierusalem, 4 that whosoeuer 55070shal not appeare with in two or three dayes, according to the iudgement 55071of the ancients sitting vpon it, their goods should be taken away, and 55072himselfe should be iudged an alien from the multitude of the captiuitie. 550735 And al were gathered that were of the tribe of Iuda, and of Beniamin 55074within three dayes in Ierusalem: this is the ninth moneth, the twentith 55075day of the moneth. 6 And al the multitude sate in the court of the 55076temple trembling, for the present winter. 7 And Esdras rysing vp sayd to 55077them: You haue done vnlawfully taking to you in mariage strang wiues, 55078that you might adde to the sinnes of Israel. 8 And now geue confession, 55079& magnificence to our Lord the God of our fathers: 9 and accomplish his 55080wil, and depart from the nations of the land, and from your wiues the 55081strangers. 10 And al the multitude cried, and they sayd with a lowde 55082voice: As thou hast sayd, we wil doe. 11 But because the multitude is 55083great, and winter time, and we can not stand in the ayre without succour: 55084and this is a worke for vs not of one day, nor of two, for we haue sinned 55085much in these thinges: 12 Let the rulers of the multitude stand, and 55086that dwel with vs, and as manie as haue with them forreine wiues, 13 and 55087at a time appointed let the priestes out of euerie place, and the iudges 55088assist, vntil they appeaze the wrath of our Lord concerning this busines. 5508914 And Ionathas the sonne of Ezeli, and Ozias of Thecam tooke vpon them 55090according to these wordes: and Bosoramus, and Leuis, and Sabbathaeus, 55091wrought together with them. 15 And al that were of the captiuitie stood 55092according to al these thinges. 16 And Esdras the priest chose vnto him 55093men the great princes of their fathers according to their names: & they 55094sate together in the newmoone of the tenth moneth to examine this 55095busines. 17 And they determined of the men that had outlandish wiues, 55096vntil the newmoone of the first moneth. 18 And there were found of the 55097priestes entermingled that had outlandish wiues. 19 Of the sonnes of 55098Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren: Maseas, and Eleazarus, and 55099Ioribus, and Ioadeus, 20 and they put to their handes to expel their 55100wiues: and to offer a ramme to obtayne pardon for their ignorance. 5510121 And the sonnes of Semmeri: Maseas and Esses, Ieelech, and Azarias. 5510222 And of the children of Fofere: Limosias, Hismaenis, and Nathanee, 55103Iussio, Reddus, and Thalsas. 23 And of the Leuites: Iorabdus, and 55104Semeis, and Colnis, and Calitas, and Facteas, and Coluas, and Eliomas, 5510524 and of the sacred singing men, Eliasib, Zaccarus. 25 And of the 55106porters, Salumus, and Tolbanes. 26 And of Israel: of the sonnes of 55107Foro, Ozi, and Remias, and Geddias, & Melchias, and Michelus, Eleazarus, 55108and Iammebias, and Bannas. 27 And of the sonnes of Iolaman: Chamas, and 55109Zacharias, and Iezuelus, and Ioddius, and Erimoth, and Helias. 28 And of 55110the sonnes of Zathoim: Eliadas, and Liasumus, Zochias, and Larimoth, & 55111Zabdis, and Thebedias. 29 And of the sonnes of Zebes: Ioannes, and 55112Amanias, and Zabdias, and Emeus. 30 And of the sonnes of Banni: Olamus, 55113& Maluchus, and Ieddeus, and Iasub, and Azabus, & Ierimoth. 31 And of 55114the sonnes of Addin: Nathus, and Moosias, & Caleus, and Raanas, Maaseas, 55115Mathathias, and Beseel, and Bonnus, and Manasses. 32 And of the sonnes 55116of Nuae: Noneas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sameas, and Simon, 55117Beniamin, and Malchus, and Marras. 33 And of the sonnes of Asom: 55118Carianeus, Mathathias, & Bannus, & Eliphalach, and Manasses, and Semei. 5511934 And of the sonnes of Banni: Ieremias, and Moadias, and Abramus, & 55120Iohel, and Baneas, & Pelias, and Ionas, and Marimoth, & Eliasib, and 55121Matheneus, and Eliasis, and Orizas, and Dielus, and Semedius, & Zambris, 55122and Iosephus. 35 And of the sonnes of Nobei: Idelus, and Mathathias, 55123and Sabadus, and Zecheda, Zedmi, and Iessei, Baneas. 36 Al these maried 55124outlandish wiues, and did put them away with their children. 37 And the 55125Priestes and the Leuites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in 55126Ierusalem, and in the whole countrie in the newmoone of the seuenth 55127moneth. And the children of Israel were in their habitations. 38 And al 55128the multitude was gathered together into the court, which is on the east 55129of the sacred gate: 39 and they sayd to Esdras the high priest, and 55130reader, that he should bring the law of Moyses, which was deliuered of 55131our Lord the God of Israel. 40 And Esdras the high priest brought the 55132law to al the multitude of them from man vnto woman, and to al the 55133priestes to heare the law in the newmoone of the seuenth moneth. 41 And 55134he read in the court, which is before the sacred gate of the temple, from 55135breake of day vntil euening before men and wemen. And they al gaue their 55136minde to the law. 42 And Esdras the priest, and reader of the law stoode 55137vpon a tribunal of wood, which was made. 43 And by him stood Mathathias, 55138and Samus, and Ananias, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Balsamus on the 55139right hand, 44 and on the left Faldeus, Misael, Malachias, Ambusthas, 55140Sabus, Nabadias, and Zacharias. 45 And Esdras tooke the booke before al 55141the multitude: for he was chiefe in glorie in the sight of al. 46 And 55142when he had ended the law, they stood al vpright: and Esdras blessed our 55143Lord the most high God, the God of Sabaoth omnipotent. 47 And al the 55144people answered: Amen. And lifting vp their handes falling on the 55145ground, they adored our Lord. 48 Iesus and Banaeus, and Sarebias, and 55146Iaddimus, and Accubus, and Sabbathaeus, and Calithes, & Azarias, and 55147Ioradus, and Ananias, and Philias Leuites, 49 who taught the law of our 55148Lord, and read the same in the multitude, & euerie one preferred them 55149that vnderstood the lesson. 50 And Atharathes sayd to Esdras the high 55150priest and the reader, and to the Leuites, that taught the multitude, 5515151 saying: This day is sancitified to our Lord. And they al wept, when 55152they had heard the law. 52 And Esdras sayd, departing therfore eate ye 55153al the fattest thinges, & drinke al most swete things, and send giftes to 55154them that haue not. 53 For this is the holy day of our Lord, & be not 55155sad. For our Lord wil glorifie you. 54 And the Leuites denounced openly 55156to al, saying: This day is holie, be not sad. 55 And they went al to 55157eate, and drinke, and make merie, and to geue giftes to them that had 55158not, that they might make merie, for they were excedingly exalted with 55159the wordes that they were taught. 56 And they were al gathered in 55160Ierusalem to celebrate the ioy, according to the testament of our Lord 55161the God of Israel. 55162 55163 55164 55165 55166THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ESDRAS. 55167 55168 55169 55170CHAP. I. 55171 55172 55173Esdras is sent to expostulate with the vngratful Iewes for neglecting 55174Gods manie great benefites. 55175 55176THE second book of Esdras the prophet, the sonne of Sarei, the sonne of 55177Azarei, the sonne of Helcias, the sonne of Sadanias, the sonne of Sadoch, 55178the sonne of Achitob, (1 Esd 7:1) 2 the sonne of Achias, the sonne of 55179Phinees, the sonne of Heli, the sonne of Amerias, the sonne of Asiel, the 55180sonne of Marimoth, the sonne of Arna, the sonne of Ozias, the sonne of 55181Borith, the sonne of Abisei, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar, 551823 the sonne of Aaron of the tribe of Leui; who was captiue in the 55183countrie of the Medes, in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of the Persians. 551844 And the word of our Lord came to me, saying: 5 Goe, and tel my people 55185their wicked deedes, and their children the iniquities, that they haue 55186done against me, that they may tel their childrens children: 6 because 55187the sinnes of their parentes are increased in them, for they being 55188forgetful of me haue sacrified to strange goddes. 7 Did not I bring them 55189out of the land of AEgypt from the house of bondage? But they haue 55190prouoked me, & haue despised my counsels. 8 But doe thou shake of the 55191heare of thy head, and throw al euils vpon them: because they haue not 55192obeyed my law. And it is a people without discipline. 9 How long shal I 55193beare with them, on whom I haue bestowed so great benefiates? 10 I haue 55194ouer throwen manie kinges from them. I haue stroke Pharao with his 55195seruantes, and al his hoste. (Ex 14) 11 Al nations did I destroy before 55196their face, & in the East I dissipated the peoples of two prouinces Tyre 55197and Sidon, and I slew al their aduersaries. 12 But speake thou to them, 55198saying: Thus sayth our Lord: 13 I made you passe through the sea, and 55199gaue you fensed streates from the beginning. I gaue you Moyses for your 55200gouernour, and Aaron for the Priest: 14 I gaue you light by the piller 55201of fire, & did manie meruelous things among you: but you haue forgotten 55202me, sayth our Lord. (Ex 13) 15 Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent: The 55203quayle was a signe to you, I gaue you a campe for defense, and there you 55204murmured: 16 And you triumphed not in my name for the destruction of 55205your enemies, but yet vntil now you haue murmured. (Ex 16) 17 Where 55206are the benefites, that I haue geuen you? Did you not crie out to me 55207when you were hungrie in the desert, 18 saying: Why hast thou brought vs 55208into this desert to kil vs? it had bene better for vs to serue the 55209AEgyptians, then to dye in this desert. (Num 14) 19 I was sorie for 55210your mournings, & gaue you manna to eate. You did eate bread of Angels. 55211(Ex 16 / Wis 16:20) 20 When you thirsted did not I cleaue the rocke, & 55212waters flowed in abundance? for the heates I couered you with the leaues 55213of trees. 21 I deliuered vnto you fatte landes: The Chananeites, and 55214Pherezeites, and Philistheans I threw out from your face: what shal I 55215yet doe to you, sayth our Lord? (Isa 9:4) 22 Thus sayth our Lord 55216omnipotent: In the desert when you were thirstie in the riuer of the 55217Amorrheites, and blasphemeing my name, (Ex 15:25) 23 I gaue you not fire 55218for blasphemies, but casting wood into the water, I made the riuer swete. 5521924 What shal I doe to thee Iacob? Thou wouldest not obey o Iuda. I wil 55220transferre my self to other nations, and wil geue them my name, that they 55221may keepe my ordinances. (Ex 32) 25 Because you haue forsaken me, I 55222aslo forsake you: when you aske mercie of me, I wil not haue mercie. 55223(Isa 1:15) 26 When you shal inuocate me, I wil not heare you. For you 55224haue defiled your handes with bloud, and your fete are quicke to commit 55225murders. 27 Not as though you haue forsaken me, but yourselues, sayth 55226our Lord. 28 Thus saith our Lord omnipotent, haue not I desired you, as 55227a father his sonnes, and a mother her daughters, and as a nurce her litle 55228ones, 29 that you would be my people, and I your God, and to me for 55229children, and I to you for a father? 30 So haue I gathered you, as the 55230henne her chickenes vnder her winges. But now what shal I doe to you? I 55231wil throw you from my face. (Matt 23:37) 31 When you shal bring me 55232oblation, I wil turne away my face from you. (Isa 66:5) For I haue 55233refused your festiual dayes, & newmoones, and circumcisions. 32 I sent 55234my seruantes the prophetes to you, whom being taken you slew, and mangled 55235their bodies, whose bloud I wil require, sayth our Lord. 33 Thus sayth 55236our Lord omnipotent, your house is made desolate, I wil throw you away, 55237as the winde doth stubble, 34 and your children shal not haue issue: 55238because they haue neglected my commandment, and haue done that which is 55239euil before me. 35 I wil deliuer your houses to a people comming, who 55240not hearing me do beleue: to whom I haue not shewed signes, they wil do 55241the thinges that I haue commanded. 36 The prophetes they haue not sene, 55242and they wil be mindful of their iniquities. 37 I cal to witnes the 55243grace of the people comming, whose litle ones reioyce with ioy, not seing 55244me with their carnal eyes, but in spirit beleuing the thinges that I haue 55245sayd. 38 And now brother behold what glorie: and see people comming 55246from the east, 39 to whom I wil geue the conduction of Abraham, Isaac, 55247and Iacob, and of Osee, and Amos, and of Ioel, and Abdias, and Ionas, and 55248Michaeas, 40 and Naum and Habacuc, of Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zacharias, and 55249Malachias, who also is called the Angel of our Lord. (Mal 3:1) 55250 55251 55252 55253CHAP. II. 55254 55255 55256The Synagogue expostulateth with her children for their ingratitude; 5525710. shewing that they shal be forsaken, and the gentiles called. 55258 55259THVS saith our Lord: I brought this people out of bondage, to whom I 55260gaue commandment by my seruantes the Prophetes, whom they would not 55261heare, but made my counsel frustrate. 2 Their mother that bare them, 55262sayth to them: Goe children, because I am a wydow and forsaken. 3 I 55263brought you vp with ioy, & haue lost you with mourning & sorow, because 55264you haue sinned before our Lord your God, & haue done that which is euil 55265before him. 4 But now what shal I doe to you? I am a wydow and 55266desolote, goe my children, & aske mercie of our Lord. 5 And I cal thee o 55267father a witnes vpon the mother of the children, that would not keepe my 55268testament, 6 that thou geue them confusion, & their mother into spoile, 55269that there be no generation of them. 7 Let their names be dispersed into 55270the Gentiles, let them be destroyed out of the land: because they haue 55271despised my sacrament. 8 Woe be to thee Assur, which hidest the wicked 55272with thee. Thou naughtie nation, remember what I did to Sodom & 55273Gomorrha: (Gen 19:24) 9 whose land lieth in cloddes of pitch, & heapes 55274of ashes: so wil I make them, that haue not heard me, saith our Lord 55275omnipotent. 10 Thus saith our Lord to Esdras: Tel my pople, that I wil 55276geue them the kingdom of Ierusalem, which I ment to geue to Isreal. 5527711 And I wil take to me the glorie of them, and wil geue them eternal 55278tabernacles, which I had prepared for them. 12 The wood of life shal be 55279to them for an odour of oyntment, and they shal not labour, nor be 55280wearied. 13 Goe & you shal receiue. Aske for your selues a few dayes, 55281that they may abide. Now the kingdom is prepared for you, watch ye. 5528214 Cal thou heauen and earth to witnes: for I haue destroyed euil, and 55283haue created good, because I liue sayth our Lord. 15 Mother embrace thy 55284children, bring them vp with ioy. As a doue confirme their feete: 55285because I haue chosen thee, sayth our Lord. 16 And I wil raise againe 55286the dead out of their places, and out of the monumentes I wil bring them 55287forth, because I haue knowen my name in Israel. 17 Feare not o mother of 55288the children, because I haue chosen thee, saith our Lord. 18 I wil send 55289thee ayde, my seruantes I saie, and Ieremie, at whose counsel I haue 55290sanctified, and prepared for thee tweleue trees loden with diuerse 55291fruites, 19 and as manie fountaines flowing milke and honie: and seuen 55292huge mountaines, hauing the rose and the lilie, in the which I wil fil 55293thy children with ioy. (Ex 15:27) 20 Iustifie thou the widow, iudge for 55294the pupil, geue to the needie, defend the orphane, cloth the naked, 5529521 cure the broken & feeble, mocke not the lame, defend the maimed, and 55296admitte the blind to the vision of my glorie. 22 The old man & the yong 55297keepe with in thy walles: 23 where thou shalt finde the dead, committe 55298them to the graue signing it, & I wil geue thee the first seate in my 55299resurrection. (Tob 1:20) 24 Pause and rest my people, because thy rest 55300shal come. 25 As a good nurce nourish thy children, confirme their 55301feete. 26 The seruantes that I haue geuen thee, none of them shal 55302perish. For I wil require them of thy number. 27 Be not wearied. For 55303when the day of affliction and distresse shal come, others shal weepe, 55304and be sad, but thou shalt be merie and plenteous. 28 The gentiles shal 55305enuie, and shal be able to doe nothing against thee, sayth our Lord. 5530629 My handes shal couer thee, that thy children see not hel. 30 Be 55307pleasant thou mother with thy children, because I wil deliuer thee sayth 55308our Lord. 31 Remember thy children that sleepe, for I wil bring them out 55309of the sides of the earth, & wil doe mercie with them: because I am 55310merciful, sayth our Lord omnipotent. 32 Embrace thy children til I come, 55311& shew them mercie: because my fountaines runne ouer, and my grace shal 55312not faile. 33 I Esdras receiued commandment of our Lord, in mount Oreb; 55313that I should goe to Israel: to whom when I came, they refused me, and 55314reiected the commandement of our Lord. 34 And therfore, I say vnto you 55315gentiles, which heare, and vnderstand, Looke for your pastor, he wil geue 55316you the rest of eternitie: because he is at hand, that shal come in the 55317end of the world. 35 Be ye readie for the rewardes of the kingdom, 55318because perpetual light shal shine to you for time euerlasting. 36 Flee 55319from the shadow of this world: receiue ye the pleasantnes of your 55320glorie. I openly cal to witnes my sauiour. 37 Receiue the commended 55321gift and be pleasant, geuing thankes to him that called you to the 55322heauenlie kingdomes. 38 Arise, & stand & see the number of them that are 55323signed in the feast of our Lord. 39 They that haue transferred them 55324selues from the shadow of the world, haue receiued glorious garmentes of 55325our Lord. 40 Receiue o Sion thy number, and shut vp thyne made white, 55326which haue accomplished the law of our Lord. 41 The number of thy 55327children, which thou didst wish is ful. Desire the powre of our Lord 55328that thy people may be sanctified, which was called from the beginning. 5532942 I Esdras saw in mount Sion a great multiude, which I could not number, 55330and they did al prayse our Lord with songes. (Apoc 7:9) 43 And in the 55331middes of them was a young man high of stature, appearing aboue ouer them 55332al, & he put crownes vpon euerie one of their heades, and he was more 55333exalted. And I was astonied at the miracle. 44 Then asked I an Angel, 55334and sayd: Who are these Lord? 45 Who answering sayd to me: These are 55335they that haue laid of the mortal garment, and taken an immortal, and 55336haue confessed the name of God. Now they are crowned, and receiue 55337palmes. 46 And I sayd to the Angel: That yongman what is he, which 55338putteth the crownes vpon them, and geueth palmes into their handes? 5533947 And answering he sayd to me: The same is the Sonne of God, whom they 55340did confesse in the world: & I begane to magnifie them, that stood 55341strongly for the name of our Lord. 48 Then sayd the Angel to me: Goe, 55342tel my people, what maner of meruelous thinges and how great, thou hast 55343sene of the Lord God. 55344 55345 55346 55347CHAP. III. 55348 55349 55350The workes of God are wonderful from the beginning, 7. and men vngrateful 5535113. In Abraham God chose to himself a peculiar people: who neuertheles 55352were froward, and obstinate. 23. He also chose Dauid, but stil the 55353people were sinful: 28. the Babylonians also, by whom the are afflicted, 55354are no lesse but rather greater sinners. 55355 55356IN the thirteth yeare of the ruine of the citie I was in Babylon, and was 55357trubled lying in my chamber, and my cogitations came vp ouer my hart: 553582 because I saw the desolation of Sion, and the abundance of them that 55359dwelt in Babylon. 3 And my spirit was tossed excedingly, and I began to 55360speake to the highest timorous wordes, 4 and sayd: O Lord dominatour 55361thou spakest from the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and 55362that alone, and didst rule ouer the people, (Gen 1) 5 and gauest Adam a 55363dead bodie: but that also was the worke of thy handes, & didst breath 55364into him the spirit of life, and he was made to liue before thee: 55365(Gen 2:7) 6 and thou broughst him into paradise, which thy right hand 55366had planted, before the earth came. 7 And him thou didst command to loue 55367thy way, and he transgressed it, & forth with thou didst institute death 55368in him, and in his posteritie, and there were borne nations, and tribes, 55369and peoples, and kindreds, wherof there is no number. 8 And euerie 55370nation walked in their owne wil, & they did meruelous thinges before 55371thee, and despised thy preceptes. 9 And agane in time thou broughst in 55372the floud vpon inhabitantes of the world, and didst destroy them. 55373(Gen 7) 10 And there was made in euery one of them, as vnto Adam to dye, 55374so to them the floud, 11 But thou didst leaue one of them, Noe with his 55375house and of him were al the iust. 12 And it came to passe, when they 55376began to be multiplied, that dwelt vpon the earth, & multiplied children 55377and peoples and manie nations: and they begane againe to doe impietie 55378more then the former. 13 And it came to passe when they did iniquitie 55379before thee, thou didst choose thee a man of them whose name was Abraham. 5538014 And thou didst loue him and to him onlie thou didst shew thy wil. 55381(Gen 12) 15 And thou didst dispose vnto him an euerlasting testament, 55382and toldst him that thou wouldst neuer forsake his seede. And thou 55383gauest him Issac, and to Isaac thou gauest Iacob and Esau. 16 And Iacob 55384thou didst seuer to thy selfe, but Esau thou didst separate. And Iacob 55385grewe to a great multitude. 17 And it came to passe when thou didst 55386bring forth his sede out of AEgypt, thou broughst it vpon mount Sinai. 55387(Ex 19) 18 And thou didst bowe the heauens, and fasten the earth, and 55388didst shake the world, and madest the depthes to tremble, and trubledst 55389the world, 19 and thy glorie passed foure gates of fire, and of 55390earthquake, and winde, and frost, that thou mightst geue a law to the 55391seede of Iacob, and to the generation of Israel diligence. 20 And thou 55392didst not take away from them a malignant hart, that thy law might bring 55393forth fruite in them. 21 For Adam the first bearing a vicious hart 55394transgressed and was ouercome, yea and al that were borne of him. 22 And 55395it was made a permanent infirmitie, and the law with the hart of the 55396people, with the wickednes of the roote, and that which is good departed, 55397and the wicked remayned. 23 And the times passed, & the yeares were 55398ended: and thou didst raise vp vnto thee a seruant named Dauid, 24 and 55399spakest vnto him to build a citie of thy name, and to offer vnto thee in 55400it frankencense, and oblations. 25 And this was done manie yeares, and 55401they that inhabited the citie forsooke thee, 26 in al things as Adam and 55402al his generations. For they also vsed a wicked hart. 27 And thou didst 55403deliuer thy citie into the hands of thyne enimies. 28 Why, doe they 55404better thinges, that inhabite Babylon? And for this shal she rule ouer 55405Sion? (Jer 12) 29 It came to passe when I was come hither, and had sene 55406the impieties that can not be numbred: and my soul saw manie offending 55407this thirteth yeare, & my hart was astonied: 30 because I saw how thou 55408bearest with their sinne, and didst spare them that did impiously, and 55409didst destroy thine owne people, and preserue thine enimies, and didst 55410not signifie it. 31 I nothing remember how this way should be forsaken: 55411doth Babylon better thinges then Sion? 32 Or hath anie nation knowen 55412thee beside Israel: or what tribes haue beleued thy testamentes as 55413Iacob? 33 Whose reward hath not appeared, nor their labour fructified. 55414For passing through I passed among the nations, and I saw them abound, 55415and not mindeful of thy commandmentes. 34 Now therfore wey our 55416iniquities in a ballance, and theirs that dwel in the world: & thy name 55417shal not be found, but in Israel. 35 Or when haue not they sinned in thy 55418sight, that inhabite the earth? or what nation hath so obserued thy 55419commandmentes? 36 These certes by their names thou shalt finde to haue 55420kept thy commandments, but the nations thou shalt not finde. 55421 55422 55423 55424CHAP. IIII. 55425 55426 55427Mans witte and reason is not able to vnderstand the counsel and iudgement 55428of God, 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations, 33. nor of 55429times, and thinges to come. 55430 55431AND the Angel answered me, that was sent to me, whose name was Vriel, 554322 and sayd to me: Thy hart exceding hath exceded in this world, & thou 55433thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest. 3 And I sayd: It is so 55434my Lord. And he answered me, & sayd: I am sent to shew thee three 55435wayes, & to propose to thee three similitudes. 4 Of the which if thou 55436shalt declare to me one of them, I also wil shew thee the way which thou 55437desirest to see, and wil teach thee whence a wicked hart is. 5 And I 55438sayd, Speak my Lord. And he sayd to me: Goe, wey me the weight of the 55439fire, or measure me the blast of the winde, or cal me backe the day that 55440is past. 6 And I answered, and sayd: what man borne can doe it, that 55441thou askest me of these thinges? 7 And he sayd to me: If I should aske 55442thee, saying: How great habitations are there in the hart of the sea, or 55443how great vaines be there in the beginning of the depth, or how great 55444vaines be there aboue the firmament, and what are the issues of paradise: 554458 thou wouldest perhaps say to me: I haue not descended into the depth, 55446nor into hel as yet, neither haue I ascended at anie time into heauen. 554479 But now I haue not asked thee, sauing of the fire, and the winde, and 55448the day by the which thou hast passed, and from the which thou canst not 55449be separated: and thou hast not answered me of them. 10 And he sayd to 55450me: Thou canst not know the thinges that are thine which grow together 55451with thee: 11 and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest, 55452and now the world being outwardly corrupted, vnderstand the corruption 55453euident in my sight: 12 I sayd to him: Better were it for vs not to be, 55454then yet liuing to liue in impieties, and to suffer, and not to 55455vnderstand for what thing. 13 And he answered me, & said: Going forth I 55456went forward to a wood of trees in the filde, and they deuised a deuise, 55457(Judges 9 / 2 Par 25) 14 and said: Come and let vs goe, and make warre 55458against the sea, that it may retyre backe before vs, and we may make vs 55459other woodes. 15 And in like maner the waues of the sea they also 55460deuised a deuise, and sayd: Come let vs goe vp, let vs ouerthrow the 55461woodes of the filde, that there also we may consummate an other countrie 55462for our selues. 16 And the woodes deuise was made vaine, for fire came, 55463and consumed it. 17 Likewise also the deuise of the waues of the sea. 55464For the sand stood, & stayed them. 18 For if thou wert iudge of these, 55465whom wouldest thou begin to iustifie, or whom to condemne? 19 And I 55466answered, and sayd: Verely they deuised a vayne deuise. For the earth 55467is geuen to the wood, and a place to the sea to carie her waues. 20 And 55468he answered me, and sayed: Thou hast iudged wel, and why hast thou not 55469iudged for thy self? 21 For as the earth is geuen to the wood, and the 55470sea for the waues therof: so they that inhabite vpon the earth, can 55471vnderstand onlie the thinges that are vpon the earth: and they vpon the 55472heauens, the thinges that are aboue the height of the heauens. 22 And I 55473answered, and sayd: I besech thee Lord, that sense may be geuen me to 55474vnderstand. 23 For I meant not to aske of thy superiour thinges, but of 55475those that passe by vs dayly. For what cause Israel is geuen into 55476reproche to the gentiles, the people whom thou hast loued, is geuen to 55477impious tribes, & the law of our fathers is brought to destruction, & the 55478written ordinances are no where: 24 and we haue passed out of the world, 55479as locustes, and our life is astonishment and dreade, and we are not 55480worthie to obtaine mercie. 25 But what wil he doe to his name that is 55481inuocated vpon vs? and of these thinges I did aske. 26 And he answered 55482me, and sayd: If thou search very much, thou shalt often meruail: 55483because the world hastening hasteneth to passe, 27 and can not comprehend 55484the thinges which in times to come are promised to the iust: because 55485this world is ful of iniustice and infirmities. 28 But conerning the 55486thinges that thou demandest I wil tel thee: for the euil is sowed, and 55487the destruction therof is not yet come. 29 If then that which is sowen 55488be not turned vp, and the place depart where the euil is sowen, that shal 55489not come where the good is sowen. 30 Because the grayne of il seede hath 55490bene sowen in the hart of Adam from the beginning: and how much impietie 55491hath it ingendered vntil now, and doth ingender vntil the floore come? 5549231 And esteme with thy self the graine of the il seede, how much fruite 55493of impietie it hath ingendred: 32 When the eares shal be cut, which are 55494innumerable, what a great floore wil they begin to make? 33 And I 55495answered, and sayd: How, and when shal these things be? why are our 55496yeares few and euil? 34 And he answered me, and sayd to me, Hasten not 55497aboue the Highest. For thou doest hasten in vaine to be aboue him, for 55498thy excesse is much. 35 Did not the soules of the iust in the cellars, 55499aske of these things, saying: How hope I so, and when shal the fruite 55500come of the floore of our reward? 36 And Ieremiel the Archangel answered 55501to those things, and sayd: When the number of the sedes in you shal be 55502filled, because he hath weyed the world in a balance, 37 and with a 55503measure hath he measured the times, and in number he hath numbered the 55504times, and hath not moued, nor stirred them, vntil the foresayd measure 55505be filled. 38 And I answered, and sayd: O Lord Dominatour, we also are 55506al ful of impietie. 39 And left perhaps for vs the floores of the iust 55507be not filled, for the sinnes of the inhabitantes vpon the earth. 40 And 55508he answered me, and sayd: Goe, and aske a woman with childe, if when 55509she hath accomplished her nine monethes, her wombe can yet hold the 55510infant within it? 41 And I sayd it can not Lord. And he sayd to me, in 55511hel the cellars of the soules are like to the matrice. 42 For as she 55512that is: In trauail maketh hast, to escape the necessitie of trauailing: 55513so this also hasteneth to render those thinges which are commended to it. 5551443 From the beginning it shal be shewed thee touching those thinges, 55515which thou doest couet to see. 44 And I answered, and sayd: If I haue 55516found grace before thine eyes, & if it be possible, and if I by fitte, 5551745 shew mee if there be more to come then is passed, or more things haue 55518passed, then are to come. 46 What passed, I know: but what is to come, 55519I know not. 47 And he sayd to me: Stand vpon the right side, and I wil 55520shew thee the interpretation of the similitude. 48 And I stood, and saw: 55521and behold a burning fornace passed before me, & it came to passe when 55522the flame passed, I saw: and behold the smoke ouercame. 49 And these 55523thinges there passed before me a clowd ful of water, and with violence 55524casting in much raine: and when the violence of raine was cast, the 55525droppes therin ouercame. 50 And he sayd to me: Thinke with thyself, as 55526the raine increaseth more then the droppes, and the fire then the smoke: 55527so did the measure that passed, more a bound. But the droppes, and the 55528smoke ouercame: 51 and I prayed, & sayd, shal I liue thinkest thou vntil 55529these dayes? or what shal be in those dayes? 52 He answered me, and 55530sayd: Of the signes wherof thou askest me, in part I can tel thee, 55531howbeit of thy life I was not sent to tel thee, neither doe I know. 55532 55533 55534 55535CHAP. V. 55536 55537 55538Diuers signes of thinges to come are shewed to Esdras by an Angel: 5553916. for the comforth of the people in captiuitie. 55540 55541BVT concerning signes: behold the dayes shal come, wherin they that 55542inhabite the earth shal be taken in a great number: and the way of truth 55543shal be hid: and the countrie shal be barren from fayth. 2 And 55544iniustice shal be multiplied aboue that which thy self seest, & aboue 55545that which thou hast heard in time past. (Matt 24) 3 And they shal put 55546their foote into the countrie which now thou seest to reigne, and they 55547shal see it desolate. 4 And if the Highest geue thee life, thou shalt 55548see after the third trumpet, and the sunne shal sodenly shine agayne in 55549the night, and the moone thrise in a day, 5 and out of wood bloud shal 55550distil, and the stone shal geue his voice, and the peoples shal be moued: 555516 and he reigne, whom they hope not that inhabite vpon the earth, and 55552soules shal make their flight away. 7 & the sea of Sodom shal cast the 55553fishes, and shal make a noise in the night, which manie knew not, and al 55554shal heare the voice therof, 8 and there shal be made a confusion in 55555manie places, and the fire shal often be sent backe, and the sauage 55556beastes shal goe to other places, and wemen in their monethlie flowers 55557shal bring forth monsters, 9 and in swete waters shal salt waters be 55558found, and al frendes shal ouerthrow one an other: and then shal witte 55559be hid, and vnderstanding shal be separated into his cellar: 10 and it 55560shal be sought of manie, and shal not be found: and iniustice shal be 55561multiplied, and incontinencie vpon the earth. 11 And one countrie shal 55562aske her neighbour, and shal say: Hath iustice doing iust passed 55563throught thee? and she shal denie it. 12 And it shal be in that time, 55564men shal hope, and shal not obtaine: they shal labour, and their wayes 55565shal not haue successe. 13 These signes I am permitted to tel thee: and 55566if thou pray againe and weepe, as also now, and fast seuen dayes, thou 55567shalt heare againe greater thinges then these. 14 And I awaked, and my 55568bodie did shiuer excedingly: and my soule laboured, that it fainted: 5556915 and the Angel that came, that spake in me, held me, and strengthened 55570me, and sette me vpon my feete. 16 And it came to passe in the second 55571night, and Salathiel the prince of the people came to me, and sayd to me: 55572Where wast thou? and why is thy countenance heauie? 17 Knowest thou not 55573that Isreal is committed to thee in the countrie of their transmigration? 5557418 Rise vp therfore, and taste bread, and forsake vs not, as the pastour 55575his flocke in the hand of wicked wolues. 19 And I sayd to him: Goe from 55576me, & approch not vnto me. And he heard, as I sayd: and he departed 55577from me. 20 And I fasted seuen dayes howling & weeping, as Vriel the 55578Angel commanded me. 21 And it came to passe after seuen dayes, and 55579againe cogitations of my hart molested me very much, 22 and my soule 55580resumed the spirit of vnderstanding: & agayne I began to speake wordes 55581before the Highest: 23 and I sayd: Lord Dominatour of euerie wood of 55582the earth, & al the trees therof, thou hast chosen one vineyard: 24 & of 55583euerie land of the world thou hast chosen thee one ditch: & of al the 55584flowers of the world thou hast chosen thee one lilie: 25 and of al 55585depthes of the sea, thou hast filled thee one riuer: and of al the 55586builded cities, thou hast sanctified vnto thyself Sion: 26 and of al 55587created soules, thou hast named thee one doue: and of al beastes that 55588were made, thou hast prouided thee one shepe: 27 and of al multiplied 55589peoples, thou host purchased thee one people: and a law approued of al 55590thou hast geuen to this people, whom thou didst desire. 28 And now Lord, 55591why hast thou deliuered one vnto manie? And thou hast perpared vpon one 55592roote others, and hast dispersed thy onlie one in manie: 29 and they 55593haue troden vpon it, which gainesayd thy couenants, and which beleued not 55594thy testamentes. 30 And if hating thou hatest thy people, it ought to be 55595chastised with thy handes. 31 And it came to passe, when I had spoken 55596the wordes, and the Angel was sent to me, that came to me before the 55597night past, 32 and he sayd to me: Heare me, and I wil instruct thee: 55598and harken to me, and I wil adde before thee. 33 And I sayd: Speake my 55599Lord. And he sayd to me: Thou art become excedingly in excesse of minde 55600for Israel: hast thou loued it more then him that made it? 34 And I 55601sayd to him: No Lord, but for sorow I haue spoken, for my veynes torment 55602me euerie houre, to apprehend the pathe of the Highest, and to search 55603part of his iudgement. 35 And he sayd to me: Thou canst not. And I 55604sayd: Why Lord? To what was I borne, or why was not my mothers wombe my 55605graue, that I might not see the labour of Iacob, & the wearines of the 55606stocke of Israel? 36 And he sayd to me: Number me the thinges that are 55607not yet come, and gather me the dispersed droppes, and make me the 55608withered flowers grene againe, 37 and open me the shut cellars, & bring 55609me forth the blastes inclosed in them, shew me the image of a voice: and 55610then wil I shew thee the labour that thou desirest to see. 38 And I 55611sayd: Lord Dominatour, for who is there that can know these thinges, but 55612he that hath not his habitation with men? 39 And I am vnwise, and how 55613can I speake of these thinges, which thou hast asked me? 40 And he sayd 55614to me: As thou canst not doe one of these thiges, which haue bene sayd: 55615so canst thou not finde my iudgement, or in the end the charitie, which I 55616haue promised to the people. 41 And I sayd: But behold Lord thou art 55617nigh to them that are nere the end: and what shal they doe that haue 55618bene before me, or we, or they after vs? 42 And he sayd to me: I wil 55619resemble my iudgement to a crowne. As there shal not be slacknes of the 55620last, so neither swiftnes of the former. 43 And I answered, and sayd: 55621Couldst thou not make them that haue bene, and that are, and that shal 55622be, at once, that thou mayst shew thy iudgement the quicker? 44 And he 55623answered me, and sayd: The creature can not hasten aboue the Creatour, 55624nor the world sustayne them that are to be created in it, at once. 5562545 And I sayd: As thou didst say to thy seruant, that quickening thou 55626didst quicken the creature created by thee at once, and the creature 55627susteined it: it may now also beare them present at once. 46 And he 55628sayd to me: Aske the matrice of a woman, & thou shalt say to it: And if 55629thou bring forth children, why by times? Aske it therfore, that it geue 55630ten at once. 47 And I sayd, it can not verily: but according to time. 5563148 And he sayd to me: And I haue geuen a matrice to the earth for them, 55632that are sowen vpon it by time. 49 For as the infant bringeth not forth 55633the thinges that perteyne to the aged, so haue I disposed the world 55634created of me. 50 And I asked, and sayd: Wheras thou hast now geuen me 55635a way, I wil speake before thee: for our mother, of whom thou toldest 55636me, yet she is yong: now draweth nigh to old age. 51 And he answered 55637me, and sayd: Aske her that beareth children, and she wil tel thee. 5563852 For thou shalt say to her: Why are not they whom thou hast brought 55639forth, now like to them that were before thee, but lesse of stature? 5564053 And she also wil say vnto thee: They that are borne in the youth of 55641streingth are of one sort, and they of an other, that are borne about the 55642time of old age, when the matrice fayleth. 54 Consider therfore thou 55643also, that you are of lesse stature, then they that were before you: 5564455 and they that are after you, of lesser then you, as it were creatures 55645now waxing old, and past the strength of youth. 56 And I sayd: I besech 55646thee Lord, if I haue found grace before thine eyes, shew vnto thy 55647seruant, by whom thou doest visite thy creature. 55648 55649 55650 55651CHAP. VI. 55652 55653 55654God knowing al thinges before they were made, created them 54. for man: 55655and considerth the endes of al. 55656 55657AND he sayd to me: In the beginning of the earthlie world, and before 55658the endes of the world stood, and before the congregation of the windes 55659did blow, (Prov 8) 2 and before the voyces of thunders sounded, & before 55660the flashinges of lightenings shined, and before the fundations of 55661paradise were confirmed, 3 and before beautiful flowers were sene, and 55662before the moued powers were established, and before the innumerable 55663hostes of Angels were gathered, 4 and before the heightes of the ayre 55664were aduanced, and before the measures of the firmaments were named, and 55665before the chymneies were hote in Sion, 5 and before the present yeares 55666were searched out, and before their inuentions that now sinne, were put 55667away, and they signed that made fayth their treasure: 6 then I thought, 55668and they were made by me only, and not by any other: and the end by me, 55669and not by any other. 7 And I answered, and sayd: What separation of 55670times shal there be? and when shal the end of the former be, and the 55671begynning of that which foloweth? 8 And he sayd to me, from Abraham vnto 55672Isaac, when Iacob and Esau were borne of him, the hand of Iacob held from 55673the begynning the heele of Esau, 9 for the end of this world is Esau, and 55674the begynning of the next Iacob. 10 The hand of a man betwen the heele 55675and the hand. Aske no other thing Esdras. 11 And I answered, and sayd: 55676O Lord dominatour, if I haue found grace before thyne eyes, 12 I pray 55677thee shew thy seruant the end of thy signes, wherof thou didst shew me 55678part the night before. 13 And he answered, and sayd to me: Arise vpon 55679thy feete, and heare a voice most ful of sound. 14 And it shal be as it 55680were a commotion, neither shal the place be moued wherin thou standest. 5568115 Therfore when it speaketh be not thou afrayd, because of the end is 55682the word, and the fundation of the earth vnderstood, 16 for concerning 55683them the word trembleth and is moued, for it knoweth that their end must 55684be changed. 17 And it came to passe, when I had heard, I rose vpon my 55685feete, and I heard: and behold a voice speaking, and the sound therof as 55686the sound of manie waters: 18 and it sayd: Behold the dayes come, and 55687the time shal be when I wil begyne to approch, that I may visite the 55688inhabitantes vpon the earth. 19 And when I wil begin to enquire of them 55689that vniustly haue hurt with their iniustice, and when the humilitie of 55690Sion shal be accomplished. 20 And when the world shal be ouersigned that 55691shal beginne to passe, I wil doe these signes: Bookes shal be opened 55692before the face of the firmament, and al shal see together, 21 and 55693infantes of one yeare shal speake with their voices, & wemen with child 55694shal bring forth vntimely infantes not ripe of three or foure monethes, 55695and shal liue, and shal be raysed vp. 22 And sodenly shal appeare sowen 55696places not sowen, & ful cellers shal sodenly be found emptie: 23 and a 55697trumpet shal sound; which when al shal heare, they wil sodenly be afrayd. 5569824 And it shal be in that time, freindes as enimies shal ouerthrow 55699freindes, and the earth shal be afrayd with them: & the vaynes of 55700fountaynes shal stand, and shal not runne in three howres: 25 and it 55701shal be, euerie one that shal be leaft of al these, of whom I haue 55702foretold thee, he shal be saued, and shal see my saluation, & the end of 55703your world. 26 And the men that are receiued, shal see, they that tasted 55704not death from their natiuitie, and the hart of the inhabitantes shal be 55705turned into an other sense. 27 For euil shal be put out, and deceite 55706shal be extinguished, 28 but fayth shal florish, and corruption shal be 55707ouercome, and truth shal be shewed, which was without fruite so manie 55708dayes. 29 And it came to passe, when he spake to me, & I loe by litle & 55709litle looked on him before whom I stood, 30 and he sayd to me these 55710wordes: I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come. 31 If 55711therfore thou pray agayne, and fast agayne seuen dayes, agayne I wil tel 55712thee greater thinges by the day which I haue heard. 32 For thy voice is 55713heard before the Highest. For the strong hath sene thy direction, and 55714hath fore sene the chastitie which thou hast had from thy youth: 33 and 55715for this cause he hath sent me to shew thee al these thinges, and to say 55716to thee, haue confidence, and feare not, 34 and hasten not with the 55717former times to thinke vayne thinges, that thou hasten not from the last 55718times. 35 And it came to passe after these thinges, and I wept againe, 55719and in like maner I fasted seuen dayes, to accomplish the three weekes, 55720that were told me. 36 And it came to passe in the eight night, and my 55721hart was trubled againe in me, and I began to speake before the Highest. 5572237 For my spirit was inflamed excedingly, and my soul was distressed. 5572338 And I sayd: O Lord, speaking thou didst speake from the beginning of 55724creature from the first day, saying: Let heauen be made and earth: and 55725thy word was a perfect worke. 39 And then there was spirit, and 55726darknesse was caried about, and silence, the sound of the voyce of man 55727was not yet from thee. 40 Then thou didst command the lighsome light to 55728be brought forth of thy treasures, wherby thy worke might appeare. 5572941 And in the second day thou didst create the spirit of the firmament, 55730and commandest it to diuide, and to make a diuision betwen the waters, 55731that a certayn part should depart vpward, and part should remaine beneth. 5573242 And in the third day thou didst command the waters to be gathered 55733together in the seuenth part of the earth: but sixe partes thou didst 55734drie and preserue, that of them might be seruing before thee thinges 55735sowen of God, and tilled. 43 For thy word proceded, and the worke forth 55736with was made. 44 For sodenly came forth fruite of multitude infinite, 55737and diurse tastes of concupiscence, and flowers of vnchangeable colour, 55738and odours of vnsearcheable smel, and in the third day these thinges were 55739made. 45 And in the fourth day thou didst command to be made the 55740brightnesse of the sunne, the light of the moone, the disposition of the 55741starres: 46 and didst command them that they should serue man, that 55742should be made. 47 And in the fifth day: thou saydst to the seuenth 55743part, where the water was gathered together, that it should bring forth 55744beastes, and foules, and fishes: and so was it done, 48 the dumme water 55745and without life, the thinges that by Gods appointement were commanded, 55746made beastes, that therby the nations may declare thy meruelous workes. 5574749 And then thou didst preserue two soules: the name of one thou didst 55748cal Henoch, and the name of the second thou didst cal Leuiathan, 50 and 55749thou didst separate them from eche other. For the seuenth part, where 55750the water was gathered together, could not hold them. 51 And thou gauest 55751to Henoch one part, which was dried the third day, to dwelt therin, where 55752are a thousand mountaynes. 52 But to Leuiathan thou gauest the seuenth 55753part being moyst, and kepst it, that it might be to deuoure whom thou 55754wilt, and when thou wilt. 53 And in the sixt day thou didst command the 55755earth, to create before thee cattel, and beastes, and creeping creatures: 5575654 and ouer these Adam, whom thou madest ruler ouer al the workes, which 55757thou didst make, & out of him are al we brought forth, and the people 55758whom thou hast chosen. 55 And al these thinges I haue sayd before thee o 55759Lord, because thou didst create the world for vs. 56 But the residue of 55760the nations borne of Adam thou saydst that they were nothing, and that 55761they were like to spittle, and as it were the droping out of a vessel 55762thou didst liken the abundance of them. 57 And now Lord, behold these 55763nations which are reputed for nothing, haue begune to rule ouer vs, and 55764to deuoure vs: 58 but we thy people whom thou didst cal thy first onlie 55765begotten emulatour, are deliuered into their handes: 59 and if the world 55766was created for vs, why doe not we possesse inheritance with the world? 55767how long these thinges? 55768 55769 55770 55771CHAP. VII. 55772 55773 55774Without tribulations no man can attayne immortal life: 17. which the 55775iust shal inherite: and the wicked shal perish. 28. Christ wil come, 55776and dye for mankind. 36. Prayers of the iust shal profite til the end of 55777this world, but not after the general iudgement. 48. Al sinned in Adam. 5577852. and haue added more sinnes, 57. but it is in mans powre, 62. by Gods 55779grace, to liue eternally. 55780 55781AND it came to passe when I had ended to speake these wordes, the Angel 55782was sent to me, which had bene sent to me the first nights, 2 and he sayd 55783to me: Arise Esdras, and heare the wordes which I am come to speake to 55784thee. 3 And I sayd: Speake my God. And he sayd to me: The sea is set 55785in a large place, that it might be deepe and wide: 4 but the entrance to 55786it shal be set in a straict place, that it might be like to riuers. 557875 For who witting wil enter into the sea, and see it, or rule ouer it: 55788if he passe not the streite, how shal he come into the bredth? 6 Also an 55789other thing: A citie is built, and set in a plaine place, and it is ful 55790of al goodes. 7 The entrance therof narrow, and set in a stepe place, so 55791that on the right hand there was fire, & on the left depe water: 8 and 55792there is one onlie pathe set betwen them, that is, betwen the fire and 55793the water, so that the pathe can not conteyne, but onlie a mans steppe. 557949 And if the citie shal be geuen a man for inheritance, if he neuer passe 55795through the peril set before it, how shal he receiue his inhertance? 5579610 And I sayd: So Lord. And he sayd to me, So it is: Israel also a 55797part. 11 For I made the world for them: and when Adam transgressed my 55798constitution, that was iudged which was done. 12 And the entrance of 55799this world were made streite, and sorowful, & paynful, and few and euil, 55800and ful of dangers, & stuffed very much with labour. 13 For the 55801entrances of the greater world are large andsecure, and making fruite of 55802immortalitie. 14 If then they that liue entring in enter into these 55803streite and vayne thinges: they can not receiue the thinges that are 55804layd vp. 15 Now therfore why art thou trubled, wheras thou art 55805corruptible? and why art thou moued, wheras thou art mortal? 16 And why 55806hast thou not taken in thy hart that which is to come, but that which is 55807present? 17 I answered, and sayd: Lord dominatour: behold thou hast 55808disposed by thy law that the iust shal inherite these thinges, and the 55809impious shal perish. (Deut 8) 18 But the iust shal suffer the streites, 55810hoping for the wyde places, for they that haue done impiously, haue both 55811suffered the streites, and shal not see the wide places. 19 And he sayd 55812to me: There is no iudge aboue God, nor that vnderstandeth aboue the 55813Highest. 20 For manie present doe perish, because the law of God which 55814was set before, is neglected. 21 For God commanding commanded them that 55815came, when they came, what doing they should liue, and what obseruing 55816they should not be punished. 22 But they were not perswaded, and 55817gaynesayd him, and made to them selues a cogitation of vanitie, 23 and 55818proposed to them selues deceites of sinnes, & they sayd to the Highest 55819that he was not, and they knew not his wayes, 24 and dispised his law, 55820and denyed his couenaunces, and had not fidelitie in his ordinances, and 55821did not accomplish his workes. 25 For this cause Esdras, the emptie to 55822the emptie, and the ful to the ful. 26 Behold the time shal come, and it 55823shal be when the signes shal come, which I haue foretold thee, and the 55824bride shal appeare, and appearing she shal be shewed that now is hid with 55825the earth: 27 and euerie one that is deliuered from the foresaid euils, 55826he shal see my meruelous thinges. 28 For my sonne IESVS shal be reueled 55827with them that are with him, and they shal be merie that are leaft in the 55828foure hundred yeares. 29 And it shal be after these yeares, and my sonne 55829CHRIST shal dye: and al men that haue breath, 30 and the world shal be 55830turned into the old silence seuen dayes, as in the former iudgementes, so 55831that none shal be leaft. 31 And it shal be after seuen dayes, and the 55832world shal be raysed vp that yet waketh not, and shal dye corrupted: 5583332 and the earth shal render the thinges that sleepe in it, & the dust 55834them that dwel in it with silence, and the cellars shal render the soules 55835that are commended to them. 33 And the Highest shal be reueled vpon the 55836seate of iudgement, and miseries shal passe, and long sufferance shal be 55837gathered together. 34 And iudgement onlie shal remayne, truth shal 55838stand, and fayth shal waxe strong, 35 and the worke shal folow, and the 55839reward shal be shewed, and iustice shal awake, and iniustice shal not 55840haue dominion. [See note below.] 36 And I sayd: First Abraham prayed 55841for the Sodomites, and Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the desert. 55842(Gen 18 / Ex 32) 37 And they that were after him for Isreal in the dayes 55843of Achaz, and of Samuel, 38 and Dauid for the destruction, and Salomon 55844for them that came vnto the sanctification. (2 Kings 24:17 / 2 Par 6:13) 5584539 And Elias for them that receiued raine, and for the dead that he might 55846liue, (3 Kings 17 & 18) 40 and Ezechias for the people in the dayes of 55847Sennacherib, and manie for manie. (4 Kings 19:15) 41 If therfore now 55848when corruptible did increase, and iniustice was multiplied, and the iust 55849prayed for the impious: why now also shal it not be so? 42 And he 55850answered me and sayd: This present world is not the end, much glorie 55851remaineth in it: for this cause they prayed for the impotent. 43 For 55852the day of iudgement shal be the end of this time, and the beginning of 55853the immortalitie to come, wherein corruption is past: 44 intemperance is 55854dissolued, incredulitie is cut of: and iustice hath increased, truth is 55855strong. 45 For then no man can saue him that hath perished, nor drowne 55856him that hath ouercome. And I answered, 46 and sayd: This is my word 55857the first and the last, that it had bene better not to geue the earth to 55858Adam, or when he had now geuen it, to restraine him that he should not 55859sinne. 47 For what doth it profit men presently to liue in sorow, and 55860being dead to hope for punishment? 48 O what hast thou done Adam? For 55861if thou didst sinne, it was not made thy fal only, but ours also which 55862came of thee. (Rom 5:12) 49 For what doth it profit vs if immortal time 55863be promised to vs: but we haue done mortal workes? 50 And that 55864euerlasting hope is foretold vs: but we most wicked are become vayne? 5586551 And that habitations of health and securitie are reserued for vs, but 55866we haue conuerst naughtely? 52 And that the glorie of the Highest is 55867reserued to protect them that haue slowly conuerst: but we haue walked 55868in most wicked wayes. 53 And that paradise shal be shewed, whose fruite 55869continueth incorrupted, wherin is securitie and remedie: 54 but we shal 55870not enter in: for we haue conuerst in vnlawful places. 55 And their 55871faces which haue had abstinence, shal shyne aboue the starres: but our 55872faces blacke aboue darkenes. 56 For we did not thinke liuing when we 55873did iniquitie, that we shal beginne after death to suffer. 57 And he 55874answered, and sayd: This is the cogitation of the battel which man shal 55875fight, who is borne vpon the earth, 58 that if he shal be ouercome, he 55876suffer that which thou hast sayd: but if he ouercome he shal receiue 55877that which I say: 59 for this is the life which Moyses spake of when he 55878liued, to the people, saying: Choose vnto thee life, that thou mayst 55879liue. (Deut 30:19) 60 But they beleued him not, no nor the Prophetes 55880after him, no nor me which haue spoken to them. 61 Because there should 55881not be sorow vnto their perdition, as there shal be ioy vpon them, to 55882whom saluation is perswaded. 62 And I answered, and sayd: I know Lord, 55883that the Highest is called merciful in that, that he hath mercie on them 55884which are not yet come into the world, 63 and that he hath mercie on them 55885which conuerse in his law: 64 and he is long suffering, because he 55886sheweth long sufferance to them that haue sinned, as it were with their 55887owne workes: 65 and he is bountiful, because he wil geue according to 55888exigentes: 66 and of freat mercie, because he multiplieth more mercies 55889to them that are present, and that are past, and that are to come. 5589067 For if he shal not multiplie his mercies, the world shal not be made 55891aliue with them that did inherite it. 68 And he geueth: for if he shal 55892not geue of his bountie, that they may be releeued which haue done 55893iniquitie, the tenth thousand part of men can not be quickned from their 55894iniquities. 69 And the iudge if he shal not forgeue them that are cured 55895with his word, and wype away a multitude of contentions: there should 55896not perhaps be leaft in an innumerable multitiude, but very few. 55897 55898 55899 55900CHAP. VIII. 55901 55902 55903God is merciful in this world, yet fewe are saued. 6. Gods workes, and 55904disposition of his creatures are meruelous. 15. Esdras prayeth for the 55905people of Israel: 37. and saluation is promised to the iust, and 55906punishment threatned to the wicked. 55907 55908AND he answered me, & sayd: This world the Highest made for manie, but 55909that to come for few. 2 And I wil speake a similitude Esdras before 55910thee. For as thou shalt aske the earth, and it wil tel thee, that it wil 55911geue much more earth wherof earthen worke may be made, but a litle dust 55912wherof gold is made: so also is the act of this present world. 3 Manie 55913in deede are created, but few shal be saued. (Matt 20:16) 4 And I 55914answered, and sayd: Then o soul swallow vp the sense, and deuoure that 55915which is wise. 5 For thou art agred to obey, and willing to prophecie. 55916For there is no space geuen thee but only to liue. 6 O Lord if thou wilt 55917not permitte thy seruant, that we pray before thee, and thou geue vs 55918seede to the hart, and tillage to the vnderstanding, wherof may the 55919fruite be made, wherby euerie corrupt person may liue, that shal beare 55920the place of a man? 7 For thou art alone, and we are one workmanshippe 55921of thy handes, as thou hast spoken: 8 and as now the bodie made in the 55922matrice, and thou doest geue the members, thy creature is preserued in 55923fire & water: and nine monethes thy workemanship doth suffer thy 55924creature that is created in it: 9 and it self that keepeth, and that 55925which is kept, both shal be preserued: and the matrice being preserued 55926rendreth agayne at some time the thinges that are growen in it. 10 For 55927thou hast commanded of the members, that is the brestes to geue milke 55928vnto the fruite of the brestes, 11 that the thing which is made, may be 55929nourished til a certayne time, and afterward thou mayst dispose him to 55930thy mercie. 12 For thou hast, brought him vp in thy iustice, and hast 55931instructed him in thy law, and hast corrected him in thy vnderstanding: 5593213 and thou shalt mortifie him, as thy creature: and shalt geue him 55933life, as thy worke. 14 If then thou wilt destroy him that is made with 55934so great labours: it is easie by thy commandment to be ordayned, that 55935also which was made, might be preserued. 15 And now Lord I wil speake, 55936of euerie man thou rather knowest: but concerning thy people, for which 55937I am sorowful: 16 and concerning thine inheritance, for which I mourne, 55938and for Israel for whom I am pensiue, and concerning Iacob, for whom I am 55939sorowful. 17 Therfore wil I begin to pray before thee for me, & for 55940them: because I see our defaultes that inhabite the earth. 18 But I 55941haue heard of the celeritie of the iudge that shal be. 19 Therfore heare 55942my voyce, and vnderstand my word, and I wil speake before thee. 20 The 55943beginning of the wordes of Esdras before he was assumpted: and I sayd: 55944Lord which inhabitest the world, whose eyes are eleuated vnto thinges on 55945high and in the ayre: 21 and whose throne is inestimable, and glorie 55946incomprehensible: by whom standeth an host of Angels with trembling, 5594722 whose keping is turned in wynde and fire, thou whose word is true, and 55948sayings premanent: 23 whose commandment is strong, and disposition 55949terrible: whose looke dryeth vp the depthes, and indignation maketh the 55950mountaynes to melt, and truth doth testifie. 24 Heare the prayer of thy 55951seruant, & with thine eares receiue the petition of thy creature. 25 For 55952whiles I liue, I wil speake: and whiles I vnderstand, I wil answere: 5595326 Neither doe thou respect the sinnes of thy people, but them that serue 55954thee in truth. 27 Neither doe thou attend the impious endeuours of the 55955nations, but them that with sorowes haue kept thy testimonies. 5595628 Neither thinke thou of them that in thy sight haue conuerst falsly, 55957but remember them that according to thy wil haue knowen thy feare. 5595829 Neither be thou willing to destroy them that haue had the maners of 55959beastes: but respect them that haue taught thy law gloriously. 5596030 Neither haue indignation towards them, which are iudged worse then 55961beastes: but loue them that alwayes haue confidence in thy iustice, and 55962glorie. 31 Because we and our fatheres languish with such diseases: but 55963thou for sinners shalt be called merciful. 32 For if thou shalt be 55964desirous to haue mercie on vs, then thou shalt be called merciful, to vs 55965hauing no workes of iustice. 33 For the iust which haue manie workes 55966layd vp, of their owne workes shal receiue reward. 34 For what is man, 55967that thou art angrie with him: or the corruptible kinde, that thou art 55968so bitter touching it? 35 For in truth there is no man of them that be 55969borne, which hath not done impiously, and of them that confesse, which 55970haue not sinned. (3 Kings 8:46 / 2 Par 6:36) 36 For in this shal thy 55971iustice be declared, and thy goodnes, o Lord, when thou shalt haue mercie 55972on them, that haue no substance of good workes. 37 And he answered me, 55973and sayd: Thou hast spoken somethinges rightly: and according to thy 55974wordes, so also shal it be done, 38 because I wil not in dede thinke vpon 55975the worke of them that haue sinned before death, before the iudgement, 55976before perdition: 39 but I wil reioyce vpon the creature of the iust, 55977and I wil remember their pilgrimage also, and saluation, and receiuing of 55978reward. 40 Therfore as I haue spoken, so also it is. 41 For as the 55979husbandman soweth vpon the ground manie seedes, and planteth manie 55980plantes, but not al which were sowen in time, are preserued, nor yet al 55981that were planted, shal take roote: so they also that are sowen in the 55982world, shal not al be saued. (Matt 13 & 20) 42 And I answered, and 55983sayd: If I haue found grace, let me speake. 43 As the seede of the 55984husbandman, if it come not vp, or receiue not the rayne in time, if it be 55985corupted with much rayne, perisheth: 44 so likewise also man who made 55986with thy handes, and thou named his image: because thou art likened to 55987him, for whom thou hast made al thinges, and hast likened him to the 55988seede of the husbandman. 45 Be not angrie vpon vs, but spare thy people, 55989and haue mercie on thy inheritance. And thou hast mercie on thy 55990creature. 46 And he answered me, and sayd: The thinges that are present 55991to them that are present, and that shal be, to them that shal be. 47 For 55992thou lackest much to be able to loue my creature aboue me: and to thee 55993often times, euen to thyselfe I haue approched, but to the vniust neuer. 5599448 But in this also thou art meruelous before the Highest, 49 because 55995thou hast humbled thyself as becometh thee: & hast not iudged thyself, 55996that among the iust thou maist be very much glorified. 50 For which 55997cause manie miseries, and miserable thinges shal be done to them that 55998inhabite the world in the later dayes: because they haue walked in much 55999pride. 51 But thou for thyselfe vnderstand, & for them that are like 56000vnto thee seeke glorie. 52 For to you paradise is open, the tree of life 56001is planted, time to come is prepared, abundance is prepared, a citie is 56002builded, rest is approued, goodnes is perfited, & perfit wisdome. 53 The 56003roote of euil is signed from you: infirmitie, and mothe is hid from you: 56004& corruption is fled into hel in obliuion. 54 Sorowes are past, & the 56005treasure of immortalitie is shewed in the end. 55 Adde not therfore 56006inquiring of the multitude of them that perish. 56 For they also 56007receiuing libertie, haue despised the Highest, and contemned his lawe, 56008and forsaken his wayes. 57 Yea and moreouer they haue troden downe his 56009iust ones, 58 and haue sayd in their hart, that there is no God: and 56010that, knowing that they dye. (Ps 13 & 52) 59 For as the thinges 56011aforesayd shal receiue you: so thirst and torment, which are prepared 56012shal take them: for he would not man to be destroyed. 60 But they them 56013selues also which are created, haue defyled his name which made them: & 56014haue bene vnkind to him that prepared life. 61 Wherfore my iudgement now 56015approcheth. 62 Which thinges I haue not shewed to al, but to thee, & to 56016few like vnto thee. And I answered, and sayd: 63 Behold now Lord thou 56017hast shewed me a multitude of signes, which thou wilt beginne to doe in 56018the latter times: but thou hast not shewed me at what time. 56019 56020 56021 56022CHAP. IX. 56023 56024 56025Certaine signes shal goe before the day of iudgement. 14. More shal 56026perish then be saued. 25. Prayer with other good workes, are meanes to 56027saluation. 56028 56029AND he answered me, and sayd: Measuring measure thou the time in it 56030selfe: and it shal be when thou seest, after a certaine part of the 56031signes which are spoken of before shal passe, 2 then shalt thou 56032vnderstand, that the same is the time wherin the Highest wil beginne to 56033visite the world that was made by him. 3 And when there shal be sene in 56034the world mouing of places, and truble of peoples, 4 then shalt thou 56035vnderstand, that of these spake the Highest, from the dayes that were 56036before thee, from the beginning. 5 For as al that is made in the world 56037hath a beginning, and also a consummation, and the consummation is 56038manifest: 6 so also the times of the Highest haue the beginning manifest 56039in wonders and powers, and the consummations in worke and in signes. 560407 And it shal be, euery one that shal be saued, and that can escape by 56041his workes, and by fayth, in which you haue beleeued, 8 shal be leaft out 56042of the foresayd dangers, and shal see my saluation in my land, and in my 56043costes, because I haue sancitifed my selfe from the world. 9 And then 56044shal they be in miserie, that now haue abused my wayes: and they that 56045haue reiected them in contempt, shal abide in torments. 10 For they that 56046knew not me, hauing obtained benefits when they liued: 11 and they that 56047loathed my law, when they yet had libertie, 12 and when as yet place of 56048penance was open to them vnderstoode not, but despised: they must after 56049death in torment know it. 13 Thou therfore be not yet curious, how the 56050impious shal be tormented: but inquire how the iust shal be saued, and 56051whose the world is, and for whom the world is, and when. 14 And I 56052answered, and sayd: 15 I haue spoken hertofore, and now I say, and 56053hereafter wil say: that they are more which perish then that shal be 56054saued: (Matt 10) 16 as a floud is multiplied aboue, more then a droppe. 5605517 And he ansvvered me, and sayd: Like as the field so also the sedes: 56056and as the flovvers, such also the colours: and as the workeman, such 56057also the worke: and such as the husbandman, such is the husbandrie: 56058because it was the time of the world. 18 And now when I was preparing 56059for them, for these that now are before the world was made, wherin they 56060should dwel: and no man gaynsayd me. 19 For then euery man, and now the 56061creator in this world prepared, and haruest not fayling, and law 56062vnsearchable their manners are corrupted. 20 And I considered the world, 56063and behold there was danger because of the cogitations that came in it. 5606421 And I saw, and spared it very much: and I kept vnto my selfe a grape 56065kernel of a cluster, and a plant of a great trybe. 22 Let the multitude 56066therfore perish, which was borne without cause, and let my kernel be 56067kept, & my plant: because I finished it with much labour. 23 And thou 56068if thou adde yet seuen other dayes, but thou shalt not fast in them, 5606924 thou shalt goe into a field of flowers, where no house is built: & 56070thou shalt eate only of the flowers of the field, and flesh thou shalt 56071not tast, and wine thou shalt not drinke, but only flowers. 25 Pray to 56072the Highest without intermission, and I wil come, and wil speake with 56073thee. 26 And I went forth, as he sayd to me, into a field which is 56074called Ardath, and I sate there among the flowers. And I did eate of the 56075herbes of the field, and the meate of them made me ful. 27 And it came 56076to passe after seuen dayes, and I sate downe vpon the grasse, and my hart 56077was trubled ayayne as before. 28 And my mouth was opened, and I beganne 56078to speake before the Highest, and sayd: 29 O Lord thou shewing thy selfe 56079to vs, wast shewed to our fathers in the desert, which is not troden, and 56080vnfruitful, when they came out of AEgypt: and saying thou saydst: 56081(Ex 19 & 24 / Deut 4) 30 Thou Israel heare me, and sede of Iacob attend 56082to my wordes. 31 For behold, I sow my lawe in you, and it shal bring 56083forth fruite in you, and you shal be glorified in it for euer. 32 For 56084our fathers receiuing the law obserued it not, and kept not my 56085ordinances, and the fruite of the law did not appeare: for it could not, 56086because it was thine. 33 For they that receiued it, perished, not 56087keeping that which had bene sowen in them. (Ex 32) 34 And behold it is 56088the custome, that when the earth hath receiued sede, or the sea a shippe, 56089or some vessel meate or drinke: when that shal be destroyed wherin it 56090was sowne, or into the which it was cast: 35 that which was sowne, or 56091cast in, or the thinges that were receiued, are destroyed withal, and the 56092thinges receiued now tarye not with vs: but it is not so done to vs. 5609336 We in dede that receiued the law, sinning haue perished, and our hart 56094that receiued it: 37 For the law hath not perished, but hath remayned in 56095his labour. (Ezech 48) 38 And when I spake these thinges in my hart, I 56096looked backe with myne eyes, and saw a woman on the right side, and 56097behold she mourned, and wept with a lowd voice, and was sorrowful in 56098mynde exceedingly, and her garments rent, and ashes vpon her heade. 5609939 And I left the cogitations, wherin I was thinking, and I turned to her 56100and sayd to her: 40 Why weepest thou? and why art thou sorie in mynde. 56101And she sayd to me: 41 Suffer me my Lord, that I may lament myselfe, & 56102adde sorrow: because I am of a very pensiue mynde, and am humbled 56103exceedingly. 42 And I sayd to her, What ayleth thee: tel me. And she 56104sayd to me: 43 I thy seruant haue beene barren, and haue not borne 56105childe, hauing a husband thirty yeares. 44 For I euery howre, and euerie 56106day, and these thirty yeares do beseche the Highest night and day. 5610745 And it came to passe, after thirtie yeares God heard me thy handmayd, 56108and saw my humilitie, and attended to my tribulation, and gaue me a 56109sonne: and I was very ioyful vpon him, and my husband, and al my 56110citizens, and we did glorifie the Strong exceedingly. 46 And I nourished 56111him with much labour. 47 And it came to passe when he was growen, and 56112came to take a wife, I made a feast day. 56113 56114 56115 56116CHAP. X. 56117 56118 56119The state of Ierusalem is prefigured by a woman mourning, 25. and 56120afterwardes reioycing. 56121 56122AND it came to passe, when my sonne was entred into his inner chamber, he 56123fel downe, and dyed: 2 and we al ouerthrewe the lights, and al my 56124citizens rose vp to comfort me, and I was quiet vntil the other day at 56125night. 3 And it came to passe, when al were quiet to comfort me, that I 56126might be quiet: and I arose in the night, and fled: and came as thou 56127seest into this field. 4 And I meane nowe not to returne into the citie, 56128but to stay here: and neither eate, nor drinke, but without intermission 56129to mourne, and to fast vntil I dye. 5 And I left the talke wherin I was, 56130and with anger answered her, & sayd: 6 Thou foole aboue al wemen, seest 56131thou not our mourning, & what thinges chance to vs? 7 Because Sion our 56132mother is sorroweful with al sorrowe, and humbled, and mourneth most 56133bitterly. 8 And now wheras we al mourne, and are sadde: wheras we are 56134sorrowful, and art thou sorrowful for one sonne? 9 For aske the earth, 56135and it wil tel thee: that it is she, that ought to lament the fal of so 56136manie thinges that spring vpon it. 10 And of her were al borne from the 56137beginning, and others shal come: and behold, almost al walke into 56138perdition, and the multitude of them commeth to destruction. 11 And who 56139then ought to mourne more, but she that hath lost so great a multitude, 56140rather then thou which art sorie for one? 12 And if thou say vnto me, 56141that my mourning is not lyke the earthes: because I haue lost the fruite 56142of my wombe, which I bare with sorrowes, and brought forth with paynes: 5614313 but the earth according to the maner of the earth, and the present 56144multitude in it hath departed as it came: and I saye to thee, 14 as thou 56145hast brought forth with payne, so the earth also geueth her fruite for 56146man from the beginning to him that made her. 15 Now therfore kepe in 56147with thy sorrowe, and beare stoutly the chances that haue befallen thee. 5614816 For if thou iustifie the end of God, thou shalt in time both receiue 56149his counsel, and also in such thinges thou shalt be praysed. 17 Goe in 56150therfore into the citie to thy husband. And she sayd to me: 18 I wil 56151not doe it, neither wil I enter into the citie, but here wil I dye. 5615219 And I added yet to speake to her, & sayd: 20 Doe not this word, but 56153consent to him that counseleth thee. For how manie are the chances of 56154Sion? Take comfort for the sorrowe of Ierusalem. 21 For thou seest that 56155our sanctification is made desert, and our altar is throwen downe, and 56156our temple is destroyed, 22 and our psalter is humbled, and hymne is 56157silent, and our exultation is dissolued, and the light of our 56158candelsticke is extinguished, and the arke of our testament is taken for 56159spoyle, & our holie thinges are contaminated, and the name that is 56160inuocated vpon vs, is almost prophaned: and our children haue suffred 56161contumelie, and our Priestes are burnt, & our Leuites are gone into 56162captiuitie, & our virgins are defloured, and our wiues haue suffered 56163rape, and our iust men are violently taken, and our litle ones are lost, 56164and our yong men are in bondage, and our valiants are made impotent: 5616523 and that which is greatest of al, the seale of Sion, because she is 56166vnsealed of her glorie: For she is also deliuered into the handes of 56167them that hate vs. 24 Thou therfore shake of thy great heauines, and lay 56168away from thee the multitude of sorrowes, that the Strong may be 56169propicious to thee agayne, and the Highest wil geue thee rest, rest from 56170thy labours. 25 And it came to passe, when I spake to her, her face did 56171shine suddenly, and her shape, and her visage was made glistering, so 56172that I was afrayde excedingly at her, & thought what this thing should 56173be. 26 And Behold, suddenly she put forth a great sound of a voyce ful 56174of feare, that the earth was moued at the womans sound. And I saw: 5617527 and behold, the woman did no more appeare vnto me, but a citie was 56176built, & a place was shewed of great fundations: and I was afrayd, & 56177crying with a loude voyce I sayd: 28 Where is Vriel the Angel, that from 56178the beginning came to me? for he made me come in multitude in excesse of 56179this minde, and my end is made into corruption, & my prayer into reproch. 5618029 And when I was speaking these thinges, behold he came to me, and sawe 56181me. 30 And behold I was layd as dead, & my vnderstanding was alienated, 56182and he held my right hand, and strengthned me, & set me vpon my feete, & 56183sayd to me: 31 What ayleth thee? and why is thy vnderstanding, and the 56184sense of thy hart trubled, & why art thou trubled? And I sayd: 5618532 Because thou hast forsaken me, and I in dede haue done according to 56186thy wordes, & went out into the field: & behold, I haue seene, & doe see 56187that which I cannot vtter. And he sayd to me: 33 Stand like a man, & I 56188wil moue thee. And I sayd: 34 Speake thou my Lord in me, forsake me 56189not, that I die not in vaine: 35 because I haue seene thinges that I 56190knew not, & I doe heare thinges that I know not. 36 Or is my sense 56191deceiued, & doth my soule dreame? 37 Now therfore I besech thee, that 56192thou shew vnto thy seruant concerning this trance. And he answered me, & 56193sayd: 38 Heare me, and I wil teach thee, and wil tel thee of what 56194thinges thou art afrayd: because the Highest hath reuealed vnto thee 56195manie mysteries. 39 He hath seene thy right way, that without 56196intermission thou was forrowful for thy people, and didst mourne 56197exceedingly for Sion. 40 This therfore is the vnderstanding of the 56198vision which appeared to thee a litle before. 41 The woman whom thou 56199sawest mourning, thou beganst to comfort her. 42 And now thou seest not 56200the forme of the woman, but there appeared to thee a citie to be built. 5620143 And because she tolde thee of the fal of her sonne, this is the 56202interpretation. 44 This woman which thou sawest, she is Sion, and wheras 56203she told thee of her, whom now also thou shalt see, as a citie builded. 5620445 And whereas she told thee, that she was barren thirtie yeares: for 56205the which there were thirtie yeares, when there was not yet oblation 56206offered in it. 46 And it came to passe after thirtie yeares, Salomon 56207built the citie, and offered oblations: then it was, when the barren 56208bare a childe. 47 And that which she sayd vnto thee, that she nourished 56209him with labour, this was the habitation in Ierusalem. 48 And wheras she 56210sayd to thee, that my sonne comming into the bryde chamber dyed, and that 56211a fal chanced vnto him, this was the ruine of Ierusalem that is made. 5621249 And behold, thou hast seene the similitude of her: and because she 56213lamented her sonne, thou beganst to comfort her: and of these thinges 56214that haue chanced, these were to be opened to thee. 50 And now the 56215Highest seeth that thou wast sorie from the hart: and because with thy 56216whole hart thou sufferest for her, he hath shewed thee the clearnes of 56217her glorie, and the fayrenes of her beautie. 51 For therfore did he say 56218to thee, that thou shouldest tarie in a field where house is not built. 5621952 For I knew that the Highest beganne to shew thee these thinges: 5622053 therfore I sayd vnto thee, that thou shouldest goe into a field, where 56221is no fundation of building. 54 For the worke of mans building could not 56222be borne in the place, where the citie of the Highest began to be shewed. 5622355 Thou therfore feare not, neither let thy hart dread: but goe in, and 56224see the beautie, and greatnes of the building, as much as the sight of 56225thyne eyes is capable to see: 56 & afterward thou shalt heare as much, 56226as the hearing of thyne eares is capable to heare. 57 For thou art 56227blessed aboue manie, and art called with the Highest as few. 58 And to 56228morrow night thou shalt tarie here: 59 and the Highest wil shew thee 56229those visions of the thinges on high, which the Highest wil doe to them 56230that inhabite vpon the earth in the later dayes. 60 And I slept that 56231night, and the other next, as he had sayd to me. 56232 56233 56234 56235CHAP. XI. 56236 56237 56238An eagle appeareth to Esdras coming forth of the sea, with three heades, 56239and twelue winges: sometimes one reigning in the world, sometimes an 56240other, but euerie one vanisheth away. 36. A lion also appeareth coming 56241forth of the wood, to suppresse the eagle. 56242 56243AND I sawe a dreame, & behold an eagle came vp out of the sea: which had 56244twelue winges of fethers, and three heades. 2 And I saw, and behold she 56245spred her winges into al the earth, and al the windes of heauen blew vpon 56246her, and were gathered together. 3 And I saw, and of her fethers sprang 56247contrarie feathers, and they became litle winges, and smale. 4 For her 56248heades were at rest, and the midle head was greater then the other 56249heades, but she rested with them. 5 And I saw, and behold the eagle flew 56250with her winges, and reigned ouer the earth, and ouer them that dwel in 56251it. 6 And I saw, that al thinges vnder heauen were subiect to her, and 56252no man gaynesayd her, no not one of the creature that is vpon the earth. 562537 And I saw, and behold the eagle rose vp vpon her talons, and made a 56254voice with her winges, saying: 8 Watch not al together, sleepe euerie 56255one in his place, & watch according to time. 9 But let the heades be 56256preserued to the last. 10 And I saw, and behold the voice came not out 56257of her heades, but from the middes of her bodie. 11 And I numbered her 56258contrarie winges, and behold they were eight. 12 And I saw, and behold 56259on the right side rose one wing, and reighned ouer al the earth. 13 And 56260it came to passe, when it reigned, an end came to it, and the place 56261therof appeared not: and the next rose vp, & reigned, that held much 56262time. 14 And it came to passe, when it reigned, & the end of it also 56263came, that it appeared not as the former. 15 And behold, a voice was 56264sent forth to it, saying: 16 Heare thou that hast held the earth of long 56265time. Thus I tel thee before thou beginne not to appeare. 17 None after 56266thee shal hold thy time, no nor the halfe therof. 18 And the third 56267lifted vp it selfe, and held the principalitie as also the former: and 56268that also appeared not. 19 And so it chanced to al the other by one & by 56269one to haue the principalitie, & agayne to appeare nowhere. 20 And I 56270saw, and behold in time the rest of the winges were sent vp on the right 56271side, that they also might hold the principalitie: and of them there 56272were that held it, but yet forthwith they appeared not. 21 For some also 56273of them stoode vp, but they held not the principalitie. 22 And I saw 56274after these thinges, and behold the twelue winges, and two litle winges 56275appeared not: 23 and nothing remayned in the bodie of the eagle but two 56276heades resting, and six litle winges. 24 And I saw, and behold from the 56277six litle winges two were diuided, and they remayned vnder the head, that 56278is on the right side. For foure taried in their place. 25 And I saw, 56279and behold the vnderwinges thought to set vp them selues, and to hold the 56280principalities. 26 And I saw, and behold one was set vp, but forthwith 56281it appeared not. 27 And they that were second did sooner vanish away 56282then the former. 28 And I saw, and behold the two that remayned, thought 56283with them selues that they also would reigne: 29 and when they were 56284thincking thereon, behold one of the resting heades, which was the midde 56285one awaked, for this was greater then the other two heades. 30 And I saw 56286that the two heades were complete with themselues. 31 And behold the 56287head with them that were with him turned, and did eate the two 56288vnderwinges that thought to reigne. 32 And this head terrified al the 56289earth, & ruled in it ouer them that inhabite the earth with much labour, 56290and he that held the dominion of the whole world aboue al the winges that 56291were. 33 And I saw after these thinges, and behold the midle head 56292sodenly appeared not, as did the winges. 34 And there remained two 56293heads, which reigned also themselues ouer the earth, and ouer them that 56294dwelt therein. 35 And I saw, and behold the head on the right side 56295deuoured that which was on the left. 36 And I heard a voice saying to 56296me, Looke against thee, and consider what thou seest. 37 And I saw, & 56297behold as a lion raysed out of the wood roaring: and I saw that he sent 56298out a mans voyce to the eagle. And he spake saying. 38 Heare thou, and 56299I wil speake to thee, and the Highest wil say to thee: 39 Is it not thou 56300that hast ouercome of the foure beastes, which I made to reigne in my 56301world, and that by them the end of their times might come? 40 And the 56302fourth coming ouercame al the beastes that were past, and by might held 56303the world with much feare, and al the world with most wicked laboure, and 56304he inhabitied the whole earth so long time with deceipte. 41 And thou 56305hast iudged the earth not with truth. 42 For thou hast afflicted the 56306meeke, and hast trubled them that were quiet, and hast loued lyers, & 56307hast destroyed their habitations that did fructifie, and hast ouerthrowen 56308their walles that did not hurt thee. 43 And thy contumelie is ascended 56309euen to the Highest, and thy pride to the Strong. 44 And the Highest 56310hath looked vpon the proud times: and behold they are ended, and the 56311abominations therof are accomplished. 45 Therfore thou eagle appeare no 56312more, and thy horrible winges, & thy litle winges most wicked, and thy 56313heades malignant, and thy talons most wicked, and al thy bodie vayne, 5631446 that al the earth may be refreshed, and may returne deliuered from thy 56315violence, and may hope for his iudgement, and mercie that made it. 56316 56317 56318 56319CHAP. XII. 56320 56321 56322The eagle vanisheth away, 5. Esdras prayeth, 10. and the former visions 56323are declared to him. 56324 56325AND it came to passe, whiles the lyon spake these wordes to the eagle: I 56326saw, 2 and behold the head that had ouercome, and those foure winges 56327appeared not which passed to him, and were set vp to reigne: and their 56328reigne was smal, and ful of tumult. 3 And I saw, and behold they 56329appeared not, and al the bodie of the eagle was burnt, & the earth was 56330afrayd excedingly, and I by the tumult and traunce of minde, and for 56331great feare awaked, and sayd to my spirit: 4 Behold thou hast geuen me 56332this, in that, that thou searchest the wayes of the Highest. 5 Behold 56333yet I am wearie in minde, and in my spirit I am very feeble, and there is 56334not so much as a litle strength in me for the great feare, that I was 56335afrayd of this night. 6 Now therfore I wil pray the Highest, that he 56336strengthen me euen to the end. 7 And I sayd: Lord Dominatour, if I haue 56337found grace before thine eyes, and if I am iustified before thee aboue 56338manie, and if in deede my prayer be ascended before thy face, 563398 strengthen me, and shew vnto me thy seruant the interpretation, and 56340distinction of this horrible vision, that thou mayst comfort my soule 56341most fully. 9 For thou hast counted me worthie to shew vnto me the later 56342times. And he sayd to me: 10 This is the interpretation of this vision. 5634311 The eagle which thou sawest coming vp from the sea, this is the 56344kingdom which was sene in a vision to Daniel thy brother. (Dan 7:7) 5634512 But it was not interpreted to him, therfore I do now interprete it to 56346thee. 13 Behold the dayes come, and there shal rise a kingdon vpon the 56347earth, and the feare shal be more terrible then of al the kingdomes that 56348were before it. 14 And there shal twelue kinges reigne in it, one after 56349an other. 15 For the second shal beginne to reigne, and he shal continew 56350more time then the rest of the twelue. 16 This is the interpretation of 56351the twelue winges which thou sawest. 17 And the voice that spake which 56352thou heardst, not coming forth of her heads, but from the middes of her 56353bodie, 18 this is the interpretation, that after the time of that kingdom 56354shal rise no smal contentions, and it shal be in danger to fal: and it 56355shal not fal then, but shal be constituted againe according to the 56356beginning therof. 19 And wheras thou sawest eight vnderwings cleauing to 56357the wings therof, 20 this is the interpretation, eight kinges shal arise 56358in it, whose times shal be light, and yeares swift, and two of them shal 56359perish. 21 But when the middest time approcheth, foure shal be kept til 56360a time, when the time therof shal beginne to approch to be ended, yet two 56361shal be kept to the end. 22 And wheras thou sawest three heads resting, 5636223 this is the interpretation: in her last dayes the Highest wil rayse 56363vp three kingdoms, and wil cal backe manie thinges into them, and they 56364shal rule ouer the earth, 24 and them that dwel in it, with much labour 56365aboue al them that vvere before them. For this cause they are called the 56366heads of the eagle. 25 For these shal be they that shal recapitulate her 56367impieties, and that shal accomplish her last thinges. 26 And wheras thou 56368sawest a greater head not appearing, this is the interpretation therof: 56369that one of them shal dye vpon his bed, and yet with torments. 27 For 56370the two that shal remayne, the sword shal eate them. 28 For the sword of 56371one shal deuoure him that is with him: but yet this also at the last 56372shal fal by the sword. 29 And wheras thou sawest two vnderwings passing 56373ouer the head that is on the right side, 30 this is the interpretation: 56374these are they whom the Highest hath kept to their end, this is a smal 56375kingdom, and ful of truble. 31 As thou sawest the lyon also, whom thou 56376sawest awaking out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, 56377and rebuking her, and her iniustices by al his wordes as thou hast heard: 5637832 this is the wynde which the Highest hath kept vnto the end for them, 56379and their impieties: and he shal rebuke them, and shal cast in their 56380spoyles before them. 33 For he shal sette them in iudgment aliue: and 56381it shal be, when he hath reproued them, then shal he chastise them. 5638234 For the rest of my people he shal deliuer with miserie, them that are 56383saued vpon my borders, and he shal make them ioyful til the end shal 56384come, the day of iudgment, wherof I haue spoken to thee from the 56385beginning. 35 This is the dreame which thou sawest, and these be the 56386interpretations. 36 Thou therfore only hast bene worthie to know this 56387secrete of the Highest. 37 Write therfore in a booke al these thinges 56388which thou hast sene, and put them in a hidden place: 38 and thou shalt 56389teach them the wise men of thy people, whose harts thou knowest able to 56390take, and to kepe these secretes. 39 But doe thou stay here yet other 56391seuen dayes, that there may be shewed thee whatsoeuer shal seme good to 56392the Highest to shew thee. 40 And he departed from me. And it came to 56393passe, when al the people had heard that the seuen dayes were past, and I 56394had not returned into the citie, and al gathered them selues together 56395from the least vnto the greatest: & came to me, & spake to me saying: 5639641 What haue we sinned to thee, or what haue we done vniustly against 56397thee, that leauing vs thou hast sitten in this place? 42 For thou alone 56398art remayning to vs of al peoples, as a cluster of grapes of the 56399vineyard, and as a candle in a darke place, and as an hauen and shippe 56400saued from the tempest. 43 Or are not the euiles that chance, sufficient 56401for vs? 44 If then thou shalt forsake vs, how much better had it bene to 56402vs, if we also had bene burnt with the burning of Sion? 45 For we are 56403not better then they that dyed there. And they wept with a lowd voice. 56404And I answered them, and sayd: 46 Be of good chere Israel, and be not 56405sorowful thou house of Iacob. 47 For there is remebrance of you before 56406the Highest, and the Strong hath not forgotten you in tentation. 48 For 56407I haue not forsaken you, neither did I depart form you: but I came into 56408this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and to seeke mercie for 56409the low estate of your sanctification. 49 And now goe euery one of you 56410into his house, and I wil come to you after these dayes. 50 And the 56411people departed, as I sayd to them, into the citie: 51 but I sate in the 56412fielde seuen dayes, as he commanded me: and I did eate of the flowers of 56413the field only, of the herbes was my meate made in those dayes. 56414 56415 56416 56417CHAP. XIII. 56418 56419 56420A vision of a winde (as it first semed, but) in dede, v. 3. of a man: 564215. strong against the enimies: 21. with the interpretation. 56422 56423AND it came to passe after seuen dayse, and I dreamed a dreame in the 56424night. 2 And behold there rose a winde from the sea, that trubled al the 56425waues therof. 3 And I saw, and behold that man grew strong with 56426thousandes of heauen: and when he turned his countenance to consider, al 56427thinges trembled that were sene vnder him: 4 and whersoeuer voyce 56428proceded out of his mouth, al that heard his voices begane to burne, as 56429the earth is quiet when it feeleth the fire. 5 And I saw after these, 56430and behold a multitude of men was gathered together, of whom there was no 56431number, from the foure windes of heauen, to fight against the man that 56432was come vp out of the sea. 6 And I saw, and behold he had grauen to 56433himself a great mountaine, & he flew vpon it. 7 And I sought to see the 56434countrie, or the place whence the mountaine was grauen, & I could not. 564358 And after these thinges I saw, and behold al that were gathered to him, 56436to ouerthrowe him, feared exceedingly, yet they were bold to fieght. 564379 And behold as he sawe the violence of the multitude that came, he 56438lifted not vp his hand, nor held sword, nor anie warlyke instrument but 56439only as I saw, 10 that he sent forth out of his mouth as it were a blaste 56440of fire, and from his lippes a spirit of flame, & from his tongue he 56441sentforth sparkles & tempests, and al thinges were mingled together with 56442this blast of fire, & spirit of flame, & multitude of tempests. 11 And 56443it fel with violence vpon the multitude, that was prepared to fight, and 56444burned them al, that suddenly there was nothing sene of an innumerable 56445multitude, but only dust, & the sauour of smoke: and I saw, and was 56446afrayd. 12 And after these thinges I saw the man himself descending from 56447the mountaine, and calling to him an other peaceable multitude, 13 and 56448there came to him the countenance of manie men some reioycing, and some 56449sorrowing: and some bond, some bringing of them them that were offered. 56450And I was sicke for much feare, and awaked, and sayd. 14 Thou from the 56451beginning hast shewed thy seruant these meruelous thinges, and hast 56452counted me worthie that thou wouldest receiue my petition. 15 And now 56453shew me yet the interpretation of this dreame. 16 For as I thinke in my 56454iudgement, woe to them that were leaft in those dayes: & much more woe 56455to them that were not leaft. 17 For they that were not leaft, were 56456sorrowful. 18 I vnderstand now what thinges are layde vp in the later 56457dayes, and they shal happen to them, yea and to them that are leaft. 5645819 For therefore they came into great dangers, and manie necessities, as 56459these dreames do shew. 20 But yet it is easier, aduenturing to come into 56460it, then to passe, as a cloud from the world, and vow to see the thinges 56461that happen in the later time. And he answered me, and sayd: 21 Both 56462the interpretation of the vision I wil tel thee: and also concerning the 56463thinges that thou hast spoken I wil open to thee. 22 Wheras thou 56464speakest of them that were leaft, this is the interpretation. 23 He that 56465taketh away danger at that time, he hath garded himself. They that haue 56466fallen into danger, these are they that haue workes, and fayth in the 56467Strongest. 24 Know therefore that they are more blessed which are leaft, 56468then they that are dead. 25 These are the interpretations of the vision, 56469wheras thou sawest a man coming from the hart of the sea, 26 the same is 56470he whom the Highest preserueth much time, which by himself shal deliuer 56471his creature: and he shal dispose them that are leaft. 27 And wheras 56472thou sawest proceede out of his mouth, as it were winde, and fire, and 56473tempest: 28 and wheras he held no sworde, nor warlike instrument: for 56474his violence destroyed the multitude that came to ouerthrow him: this is 56475the interpretation. 29 Behold the dayes come, when the Highest shal 56476begin to deliuer them, that are vpon the earth: 30 and he shal come in 56477excesse of minde vpon them that inhabit the earth. 31 And one shal 56478thinke to ouerthrow an other: one citie an other citie, one place an 56479other place, and nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 56480(Matt 24 / Luke 21) 32 And it shal be, when these thinges shal come to 56481passe, and the signes shal happen, which I shewed thee before: and then 56482shal my sonne be reueled, whom thou sawest, as a man coming vp. 33 And 56483it shal be when al nations shal heare his voice: and euery one in his 56484countrie shal leaue their warre, that they haue toward each other: 5648534 and an innumerable multitude shal be gathered in one, as willing to 56486come to ouerthrow him. 35 But he shal stand vpon the top of mount Sion. 5648736 And Sion shal come, and it shal be shewed to al prepared and builded, 56488as thou sawest the mountaine to be grauen without handes. 37 And the 56489same my sonne shal reproue the thinges that the gentils haue inuented, 56490these their impieties which came nere to the tempest, because of their 56491euil cogitaitons, and torments wherewith they shal begin to be tormented. 5649238 Which were likened to the flame, and he shal destroy them without 56493labour by the law that was likened to the fyre. 39 And wheras thou 56494sawest him gathering vnto him an other peaceable multitude. 40 These are 56495the ten tribes, which were made captiue out of their land in the dayes of 56496Osee the King, whom Salmanasar the King of the Assyrians led captiue: 56497and he transported them beyond the riuer, and they were transported into 56498an other land. (4 Kings 17) 41 But they gaue themselues this counsel, 56499to forsake the multitude of nations, and to goe forth into a farther 56500countrie, where mankind neuer inhabited. 42 Or there to obserue their 56501ordinances, which they had not kept in their countrie. 43 And they 56502entred in by the narrow entrances of the riuer Euphrates. 44 For the 56503Highest then wrought them signes, and stayed the vaines of the riuer til 56504they passed. (Ex 14 / Jos 3) 45 For by that countie was a great way to 56505goe, of one yeare and a half: for the countrie is called Arsareth. 5650646 Then did they inhabite there til in the later time: and now againe 56507when they beginne to come, 47 againe the Highest shal stay the vaines of 56508the riuer, that they may passe: for these thou sawest a multitiude with 56509peace. 48 But they also that were leaft of the people, these are they 56510that be within my border. 49 In shal come to passe therefore, when he 56511shal begine to destroy the multitude of these nations, that are gathered, 56512he shal protect them that haue ouercome the people: 50 and then shal he 56513shew them very manie wonders. 51 And I sayd: Lord dominatour, shew me 56514this, why I saw a man comming vp from the hart of the sea, and he sayd to 56515me: 52 As thou canst not either search these thinges, or know what 56516thinges are in the depth of the sea: so can not any man vpon the earth 56517see my sonne, or them that are with him, but in the time of a day. 5651853 This is the interpretation of the dreame which thou sawest, and for 56519the which thou only art here illuminated. 54 For thou hast leaft thyne 56520owne law, and hast bene occupied about my law, and hast sought it. 5652155 For thou hast disposed thy lyfe in wisdom, and thyne vnderstanding 56522thou hast called mother: 56 and for this I haue shewed thee riches with 56523the Highest. For it shal be after other three dayes, I wil speake other 56524thinges to thee, and I wil expound to thee weightie and meruelous 56525thinges. 57 And I went forth, and passed into the fielde, much 56526glorifying & praising the Highest for the meruelous thinges that he did 56527by time. 58 And because he gouerneth it, and the thinges that are 56528brought in times, & I sate there three dayes. 56529 56530 56531 56532CHAP. XIIII. 56533 56534 56535God appeareth in a bush, 6. reuealing some thinges to be published, and 56536some thinges to be hid. 10. As the world waxeth old, al thinges become 56537worse. 27. The people of Israel are vngratful. 32. Al shal be iudged in 56538the Resurrection according to their deedes. 56539 56540AND it came to passe the third day, and I sate vnder an oke. 2 And 56541behold a voice came forth against me out of a bush, and sayd: Esdras, 56542Esdras: and I sayd: Loe here I am Lord. And I arose vpon my feete. 56543And he sayd to me: 3 Reueling I was reueled vpon the bush, and spake to 56544Moyses, when the people serued in AEgypt, (Ex 3) 4 and I sent him, and 56545brought my people out of AEgypt, and brought him vpon mount Sina, & held 56546him with me manie dayes. 5 And I told him manie meruelous thinges, & 56547shewed him the secrets of times, and the end: and I commanded him, 56548saying: 6 These wordes thou shalt publish abroade, and these thou shalt 56549hyde. 7 And now to thee I say: 8 The signes which I haue shewed, and 56550the dreames which thou hast sene, and the interpretations which thou hast 56551sene, lay them vp in thy hart. 9 For thou shalt be receiued of al, thou 56552shalt be conuerted the residue with thy counsel, and with the like to 56553thee, til the times be finished: 10 Because the world hath lost his 56554youth, and the times draw nere to waxe old. 11 For the world is diuided 56555by twelue partes, & the tenth part, & half of the tenth part are passed: 5655612 and there remaineth hereafter the half of the tenth part. 13 Now 56557therefore dispose thy house, and correct thy people, & comfort the humble 56558of them, & forsake now corruption, 14 and put from thee mortal 56559cogitations, and cast from thee humane burdens, and doe from thee now 56560infirme nature, & lay at one side cogitations most trublesome to thee, & 56561make speedie transmigration from these times, 15 for the euiles which 56562thou hast sene to haue chanced now, worse then these wil they doe againe: 56563(Matt 24 / 1 John 2) 16 for looke how much the world shal become weake 56564by age, so much shal euiles be multiplied vpon the inhabitants. 17 For 56565truth hath remoued it self farther of, and lying hath approched, for now 56566the vision which thou sawest, hasteneth to come. 18 And I answered, and 56567sayd before thee o Lord: 19 For behold I wil goe, as thou hast commanded 56568me, & wil rebuke the people that now is. But them that shal yet be born, 56569who shal admonish? 20 The world therfore is set in darknes, and they 56570that dwel in it without light. 21 Because thy law is burnt, therefore no 56571man knowth the workes that haue bene done by thee, or that shal begin. 5657222 For if I haue found grace with thee, send the Holie Ghost to me, & I 56573wil write al that hath bene done in the world from the beginning, the 56574thinges that were written in thy law, that men may finde the pathe: and 56575they that wil liue in the later times, may liue. 23 And he answered me, 56576and sayd: Goe gather together the people, and thou shalt say to them, 56577that they seeke thee not for fourtie dayes. 24 And doe thou prepare thee 56578manie tables of boxe, & take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Salemia, Echanus, 56579and Asiel, these fiue which are readie to write sweeftly. 25 And come 56580hither, & I wil light in thy hart a candle of vnderstanding, which shal 56581not be put out til the things be finished, which thou shalt begine to 56582write. 26 And then some thinges thou shalt open to the perfect, some 56583thou shalt deliuer secretly to the wyse. For to morrow this houre thou 56584shalt begine to write. 27 And I went as he commanded me, & gathered 56585together al the people, and sayd: 28 Heare Israel these wordes: 29 Our 56586fathers were pilgrimes from the beginning in AEgypt, and were deliuered 56587from thence. (Gen 47) 30 And they receiued the law of life, which they 56588kept not, which you also after them haue transgressed: (Deut 4 / Acts 7) 5658931 and the land was geuen you by lotte, and the land of Sion, and your 56590fathers, and you haue done iniquitie, and haue not kept the wayes which 56591the Highest commanded you. 32 And whereas he is a iust iudge, he hath 56592taken from you in time that which he had geuen. 33 And now you are here, 56593and your brethren are among you. 34 If then you wil rule ouer your 56594sense, & instruct your hart, you shal be preserued aliue, and after death 56595shal obtaine mercie. 35 For the iudgement shal come after death, when we 56596shal returne to lyfe againe: and then the names of the iust shal 56597appeare, and the dedes of the impious shal be shewed. 36 Let no man 56598therfore come to me now, nor aske for me vntil fourtie dayes. 37 And I 56599tooke the fiue men, as he commandede me, and we went forth into the 56600field, and taried there. 38 And I was come to the morrow, & behold as 56601voice called me, saying: Esdras open thy mouth, and drinke that which I 56602wil geue thee to drinke. (Ezech 3) 39 And I opened my mouth, & behold a 56603ful cuppe was brought me, this was ful as it were with water: but the 56604colour therof like as fire. 40 And I tooke it, and dranke; and when I 56605had drunken of it, my hart was tormented with vnderstanding, and wisdome 56606grewe into my brest. For my spirit was kept by memorie. 41 And my mouth 56607was opened, and was shut no more. 42 The Highest gaue vnderstanding vnto 56608the fiue men, and they wrote excesses of the night which were spoken, 56609which they knewe not. 43 And at night they did eate breade, but I spake 56610by day, & by night held not my peace. 44 And there were written in the 56611fourtie dayes two hundred foure bookes. 45 And it came to passe when 56612they had ended the fourtie daies, the Highest spake, saying: 46 The 56613former thinges which thou hast written, set abrode, and let the worthie 56614and vnworthiereade: but the last seuentie bookes thou shalt keepe, that 56615thou mayest deliuer them to the wyse of thy people. 47 For in these is 56616the vaine of vnderstanding, and the fountaine of wisdome, and the streame 56617of knowledge. and I did soe. 56618 56619 56620 56621CHAP. XV. 56622 56623 56624Esdras is bid to denounce, that assuredly manie euiles wil come to the 56625world. 9. God wil protect his people, the wicked shal be punished, and 56626lament their final miseries, God reuenging for the good. 56627 56628BEHOLD speake into the eares of my people the wordes of prophecie, which 56629I shal put into thy mouth, sayth our Lord: 2 and see that they be 56630written in paper, because they be faithful and true. 3 Be not afrayd of 56631the cogitations against thee, neither let the incredulities truble thee 56632of them that speake. 4 Because euerie incredulous person shal dye in his 56633incredulitie. 5 Behold I bring in, sayth our Lord, vpon the whole earth 56634euils, sword, and famine, and death, and destruction. 6 Because 56635iniquitie hath fully polluted ouer al the earth, and their hurtful workes 56636are accomplished. 7 Therefore sayth our Lord: 8 I wil not now kepe 56637silence of their impieties which they doe irreligiously, neither wil I 56638beare with those thinges, which they practise vniustly. Behold the 56639innocent & iust bloud crieth to me, & the soules of the iust crie 56640continually. 9 Reuenging I wil reuenge them, sayth our Lord, and I wil 56641take al innocent bloud out of them vnto me. (Apoc 6:10 & 19:2) 5664210 Behold my people is led to slaughter as a flocke, I wil no more suffer 56643it to dwel in the land of AEgypt. 11 But I wil bring them forth in a 56644mightie hand and valiant arme, and wil strike with plague as before, and 56645wil corrupt al the land thereof. 12 AEgypt shal mourne, and fundations 56646thereof beaten with plague, and with the chastisement which God wil bring 56647vpon it. 13 The husbandmen that til the ground shal mourne, because 56648their seedes shal perish by blasting, and haile, and by a terible starre. 5664914 Woe to the world and them that dwel therein. 15 Because the sword is 56650at hand and the destruction of them, and nation shal rise vp against 56651nation to fight, & sword in their handes. (Matt 24 / Luke 21) 16 For 56652there shal be instabilitie to men, & growing one against an other they 56653shal not care for their king, & the princes of the way of their doinges, 56654in their might. 17 For a man shal desire to go into the citie & can not. 5665518 Because of their prides the cities shal be trubled, the houses raised, 56656the men shal feare. 19 Man shal not pitie his neighbour, to make their 56657houses nothing worth in the sword, to spoyle their goodes for famine of 56658bread, & much tribulation. 20 Behold, I cal together sayth God, al the 56659kinges of the earth to feare me, that are from the Orient, & from the 56660South, from the East, & from Libanus, to be turned vpon themselues, and 56661to render the thinges that they haue geuen them. 21 As they doe vntil 56662this day to myne elect, so wil I doe, and render in their bosome. Thus 56663sayth our Lord God: 22 My right hand shal not spare sinners, neither 56664shal the sword cease vpon them that shede innocent bloud vpon the earth. 5666523 Fire came forth from his wrath, and hath deuoured the fundations of 56666the earth, and sinners as it were straw set on fire. 24 Woe to them that 56667sinne, and obserue not my comandmentes, sayth our Lord. 25 I wil not 56668spare them: depart o children from the powre. Defile not my 56669sanctification: 26 because the Lord knoweth al that sinne against him; 56670therefore hath he deliuered them into death and into slaughter. 27 For 56671now are euils come vpon the world, and you shal tarrie in them. For God 56672wil not deliuer you, because you haue sinned against him. 28 Behold an 56673horrible vision, and the face of it from the east. 29 And the nations of 56674dragons of Arabians shal come forth in manie chariots, & as a winde the 56675number of them is caried vpon the earth, so that now al doe feare and 56676tremble, that shal heare them. 30 the Carmonians madde for anger, and 56677they shal goe forth as wild boares out of the wood, & they shal come with 56678great power, and shal stand in fight with them, & they shal waste the 56679portion of the land of the Assirians. 31 And after these thinges the 56680dragons shal preuaile mindful of their natiuitie, and conspiring shal 56681turne themselues in great force to pursue them. 32 These shal be trubled 56682and hold their peace at their force, and shal turne their fete into 56683flight. 33 And from the territorie of the Assirians the besiegers shal 56684beseige them, and shal consume one of them, and there shal be feare and 56685trembling in their armie, and contention against their kinges. 34 Behold 56686cloudes from the east, and from the north vnto the south, and their face 56687very horrible, ful of wrath and storme. 35 And they shal beate one 56688against an other, and they shal beate downe manie starres, and their 56689starre vpon the earth, and bloud shal be from the sword vnto the bellie. 5669036 And mans dung vnto the camels litter, and there shal be much feare, 56691and trembling vpon the earth. 37 And they shal shake that shal see that 56692wrath, and tremble shal take them: and after these thinges there shal 56693manie showers be moued: 38 from the south, and the north: and an other 56694portion from the weast. 39 And the windes from the east shal reuaile 56695vpon it, and shal shut it vp, and the cloudes which he raised in wrath, 56696and the starre to make terrour to the east winde, and the west shal be 56697destroyed. 40 And there shal be exalted great and mightie cloudes ful of 56698wrath, and a starre to terrifie al the earth, and the inhabitantes 56699therof, and they shal powre in vpon euerie high, and eminent place a 56700terrible starre, 41 fire, and haile, and flying swordes, and manie 56701waters, so that al fildes also shal be filled, and al riuers with the 56702fulnes of manie waters. 42 And they shal throw downe cities, and walles, 56703and mountaines, and hilles, and the trees of the woodes, and the grasse 56704of the medowes, and their corne. 43 And they shal passe constant vnto 56705Babylon, and shal raise her. (Apoc 18) 44 They shal come together 56706against her, and shal compasse her, and shal power out the starre, and al 56707wrath vpon her, and the dust and smoke shal goe vp euen into heauen, and 56708round about shal lament her. 45 And they that shal remaine vnder her, 56709shal serue them that terified her. 46 And thou Asia agreeing into the 56710hope of Babylon, and the glorie of her person, 47 woe be to thee thou 56711wretch, because thou art like to her, and hast adorned thy daughters in 56712fornication, to please & glorie in thy louers, which haue desired alwayes 56713to fornicate with thee. 48 Thou hast imitated the odious in al her 56714workes, and in her inuentions: therefore sayth God: 49 I wil send in 56715euils vpon thee, widowhood, pouertie, and famine, and sword, and 56716pestilence, to destroy thy houses by violation, and death, and glorie of 56717thy vertue. 50 As a flower shal be withered, when the heate shal rise 56718that is sent forth vpon thee, 51 thou shalt be weakned as a litle poore 56719soule plaged and chastised of wemen, that the mightie and the louers may 56720not receiue thee. 52 Wil I be zealous against thee sayth our Lord, 5672153 vnles thou hadst slayne myne elect at al times, exalting the slaughter 56722of the handes, and saying vpon their death, when thou wast drunken. 5672354 Adorne the beautie of thy countenance. 55 The reward of thy 56724fornication is in thy bosome, therefore thou shalt receiue recompence. 5672556 As thou shalt doe to my elect, sayth our Lord, so shal God do to thee, 56726and shal deliuer thee vnto euil. 57 And thy children shal dye for 56727famine: and thou shalt fal by the sword, and thy cities shal be 56728destroyed, & al thyne shal fal in the filde by the sword. 58 And they 56729that are in the mountaines, shal perish, with famine, and shal eate their 56730owne flesh, & drinke bloud, for the famine of bread and thirst of waters. 5673159 Vnhappie by the seas shalt thou come, and againe thou shalt receuie 56732euils. 60 And in the passage they shal beate against the idle citie, and 56733shal destroy some portion of thy land, and shal deface part of thy 56734glorie, againe returning to Babylon ourethrowen. 61 And being throwen 56735downe thou shalt be to them for stubble, and they shal be to thee fire: 5673662 and deuoure thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountaynes, al thy 56737woodes and fruitful trees they wil burne with fire. 63 Thy children they 56738shal lead captiue, & shal haue thy goodes for a praye, and the glorie of 56739thy face they shal destroy. 56740 56741 56742 56743CHAP. XVI. 56744 56745 56746Al are admonished, that extreme calamities shal fal vpon this world, 5674736. the penitent returning to iustice shal escape, 55. & as al thinges 56748were made by Gods omnipotent powre at his wil, so al thinges shal serue 56749to the reward of the blessed, and punishment of the wicked. 56750 56751VVOE to thee Babylon & Asia, woe to thee AEgypt, and Syria. 2 Gird 56752yourselues with sackclothes and shirtes of heare, & mourne for your 56753children, & be sorie: because your destruction is at hand. 3 The sword 56754is sent in vpon you, and who is he that can turne it away? 4 Fire is 56755sent in vpon you, and who is he that can quench it? 5 Euiles are sent in 56756vpon you, and who is he that can repel them? 6 Shal anie man repel the 56757lion being hungrie in the woode, or quench the fire in stubble, forthwith 56758when it beginneth to burne? 7 Shal anie man repel the arrow shot of a 56759strong archer? 8 Our strong Lord sendeth in euiles, and who is he that 56760can repel them? 9 Fire came forth from his wrath, and who is he that can 56761quench it? 10 He wil lighten, who shal not feare, he wil thunder, and 56762who shal not be afrayed? 11 Our Lord wil threaten, and who shal not 56763vtterly be destroyed before his face? 12 The earth hath trembled, and 56764the fundations thereof, the sea tosseth vp waues from the depth, and the 56765floudes of it shal be destroyed, and the fishes thereof at the face of 56766our Lord, and at the glorie of his powre: 13 because his right hand is 56767strong which bendeth the bow, his arrowes be sharpe that are shot of him, 56768they shal not misse, when they shal begine to be shot into the endes of 56769the earth. 14 Behold euiles are sent, and they shal not returne til they 56770come vpon the earth. 15 The fire is kindled and it shal not be quenched, 56771til it consume the fundations of the earth. 16 For as the arrow shot of 56772a strong archer returneth not, so shal not the euils returne backe, that 56773shal be sent vpon the earth. 17 Woe is me, woe is me: who shal deliuer 56774me in those dayes? 18 The beginning of sorrowes and much mourning, the 56775beginning of famine and much destruction. The beginning of warres and 56776the potestates shal feare, the beginning of euiles and al shal tremble. 5677719 In these what shal I doe, when the euils shal come? 20 Behold famine, 56778and plague, and tribulation, and distresse are sent al as scourges for 56779amendment, 21 and in al these they wil not conuert themselues from their 56780iniquities, neither wil they be alwayes mindful of the scourges. 5678122 Behold, there shal be good cheape victuals vpon the earth, so that 56782they may thinke that peace is directly coming toward them, and then shal 56783euiles spring vpon the earth, sword, famine, and great confusion. 23 For 56784by famine manie that inhabit the earth shal dye, and the sword shal 56785destroy the rest that remained aliue of the famine, 24 and the dead shal 56786be cast forth as dung, and there shal be none to comfort them. For the 56787earth shal be left desert, and the cities therof shal be throwen downe. 5678825 There shal not be left a man to til the ground and to sow it. 26 The 56789trees shal yeeld fruites, and who shal gather them? 27 The grape shal 56790become ripe, & who shal tread it? For there shal be great desolation to 56791places. 28 For a man shal desire to see a man, or to heare his voyce. 5679229 For there shal be leaft ten of a citie, and two of the field that haue 56793hid themselues in thicke woodes, and cliffes of rockes. 30 As there are 56794left in the oliuet, and on euerie tree, three of foure oliues. 31 Or as 56795in a vinyeard when it is gathered there are grapes left by them, that 56796diligently search the vineyard: 32 so shal there be left in those dayes 56797three or foure, by them that search their houses in the sword. 33 And 56798the earth shal be left desolate, and the fildes thereof shal waxe old, & 56799the wayes thereof, and al the pathes thereof shal bringforth thornes, 56800because no man shal passe by it. 34 Virgins shal mourne hauing no 56801bridegromes, wemen shal mourne hauing no husbandes, their daughters shal 56802mourne hauing no helpe: 35 their bridegromes shal be consumed in battel, 56803and their husbandes be destroyed in famine. 36 But heare these thinges, 56804and know them ye seruantes of our Lord. 37 Behold the word of our Lord, 56805receiue it: beleue not the goddes of whom our Lord speaketh. 38 Behold 56806the euiles approch, and slacke not. 39 As a woman with childe when shee 56807bringeth forth her child in the ninth moneth, the houre of her 56808deliuerance approching, two or three howres before, paines come about her 56809wombe, and the infants coming out of her wombe, they wil not tarrie one 56810moment. 40 So the euiles shal not slacke to come forth vpon the earth, 56811and the world shal lament, and sorowes shal hold it round about. 5681241 Heare the word, my people: prepare yourselues vnto the fight, & in 56813the euiles so be ye as strangers of the earth. 42 He that selleth as if 56814he should flee, and he that byeth as he that should lose it. 43 He that 56815playeth the marchant, as he that should take no fruite: and he that 56816buildeth as he that should not inhabite. 44 He that soweth, as he that 56817shal not reape: so he also that pruneth a vinyeard, as if he should not 56818haue the vintage. 45 They that marie so as if they should not get 56819children, & they that marie not, so as if were widowes. 46 Wherfore they 56820that labour, labour without cause: 47 for foreners shal reape their 56821fruites, & shal violently take their goodes, and ouerthrow their houses, 56822and lead theire children captiue, because in captiuitie, and famine they 56823beget their children. 48 And they that play the marchantes by robrie, 56824the longer they adorne their cities and houses, and their possessions and 56825persons: 49 so much the more wil I be zealous toward them, vpon their 56826sinnes, sayth our Lord. 50 As a whore enuieth an honest & very good 56827woman: 51 so shal iustice hate impietie when she adorneth herselfe, and 56828accuseth her to her face, when he shal come that may defend him that 56829searcheth out al vpon the earth. 52 Therefore be not made like to her, 56830nor to her workes. 53 For yet a little whyle & iniquitie shal be taken 56831away from the earth, & iustice shal reigne ouer you. 54 Let not the 56832sinner say he hath not sinned: because he shal burne coales of fire vpon 56833his head, that sayth I haue not sinned before our Lord God and his 56834glorie. 55 Behold our Lord shal know al the workes of men, and their 56835inuentions, & their cogitations, and their hartes. (Eccli 23 / Luke 16) 5683656 For he sayd: Let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heauen 56837be made, & it was made. (Gen 1) 57 And by his worde the starrs were 56838made, & he noweth the number of the starres. (Ps 146:4) 58 Who 56839searcheth the depth and the treasures therof: who hath measured the sea, 56840& capacitie therof. (Job 38) 59 Who hath shut vp the sea in the midest 56841of waters, & hath hanged the earth vpon the waters with his word. 60 Who 56842hath spred heauen as it were a vault, ouer the waters he hath founded it. 5684361 Who hath put fountaines of waters in the desert, and lakes vpon the 56844toppes of mountaines, to send forth riuers from the high rocke to watter 56845the earth. 62 Who made man & put his hart in the midds of the bodie, and 56846gaue him spirit, life and vnderstanding. 63 And the inspiration of God 56847omnipotent that made al thinges, and searcheth al hid thinges, in the 56848secretes of the earth. 64 He knoweth your inuention, and what you thinke 56849in your hartes sinning, and willing to hide your sinnes. 65 Wherfore our 56850Lord in searching hath searched al your workes, and he wil put you al to 56851open shame, 66 and you shal be confounded when your sinnes shal come 56852forth before men, and the iniquities shal be they, that shal stand 56853accusers in that day. 67 What wil you doe? or how shal you hide your 56854sinnes before God and his Angels? 68 Behold God is the Iudge, feare him. 56855Cease from your sinnes, and now forget your iniquities to doe them anie 56856more, & God wil bring you out, and deliuer you from al tribulation. 5685769 For behold the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you, and 56858they shal take certaine of you by violence, & shal make the slaine to be 56859meate for idols. 70 And they that shal consent vnto them, shal be to 56860them in derision, and in reproch, and in conculcation. 71 For there shal 56861be place against places, and against the next cities great insurrection 56862vpon them that feare our Lord. 72 They shal be as it were madde sparing 56863no bodie, to spoyle and waste yet them that feare our Lord. 73 because 56864they shal waste and spoyle the goodes, and shal cast them out of their 56865houses. 74 Then shal appeare the probation of mine elect, as gold that 56866is proued by the fire. 75 Heare be beloued, sayth our Lord: Behold the 56867dayes of tribulation are come: and out of them I wil deliuer you. 5686876 Doe not feare, nor stagger, because God is your guide. 77 And he that 56869kepeth my commandmentes, and precepts, sayth our Lord God: Let not your 56870sinnes ouerway you, nor your inquities be aduanced ouer you. 78 Woe to 56871them that are entangled with their sinnes, and are couered with their 56872iniquities, as a filde is entangled with the wood, & the path therof 56873couered with thornes, by which no man passeth, & it is closed out, & cast 56874to be deuoured of the fire. 56875 56876FINIS. 56877 56878 56879 56880Note: This translation comes from the Latin text, usually printed in an 56881appendix to editions of the Vulgate, but these editions miss seventy 56882verses between 7:35 and 7:36. The missing fragment was discovered in a 56883Latin manuscript by Robert Lubbock Bensly in 1874. Below is a 56884translation of this fragment from a revised Authorized Version. 56885Although often numbered 7:36-7:105, they are here number as A:1-A:70 to 56886avoid any repetition in chapter:verse designations. 56887 56888A:1. And the pit of torment shall appear, and over against it shall be 56889the place of rest: and the furnace of hell shall be shewed, and over 56890against it the paradise of delight. 56891A:2. And then shall the Most High say to the nations that are raised from 56892the dead, See ye and understand whom ye have denied, or whom ye have not 56893served, or whose commandments ye have despised. 56894A:3. Look on this side and on that: here is delight and rest, and there 56895fire and torments. Thus shall he speak unto them in the day of 56896judgement: 56897A:4. This is a day that hath neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, 56898A:5. neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning, neither wind, nor water, 56899nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor morning, 56900A:6. neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor winter, neither frost, nor 56901cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew, 56902A:7. neither noon, nor night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, 56903nor light, save only the splendour of the glory of the Most High, whereby 56904all shall see the things that are set before them: 56905A:8. for it shall endure as it were a week of years. 56906A:9. This is my judgement and the ordinance thereof; but to thee only 56907have I shewed these things. 56908A:10. And I answered, I said even then, O Lord, and I say now: Blessed 56909are they that be now alive and keep the statutes ordained of thee. 56910A:11. But as touching them for whom my prayer was made, what shall I say? 56911for who is there of them that be alive that hath not sinned, and who of 56912the sons of men that hath not transgressed thy covenant? 56913A:12. And now I see, that the world to come shall bring delight to few, 56914but torments unto many. 56915A:13. For an evil heart hath grown up in us, which hath led us astray 56916from these statutes, and hath brought us into corruption and into the 56917ways of death, hath shewed us the paths of perdition and removed us far 56918from life; and that, not a few only, but well nigh all that have been 56919created. 56920A:14. And he answered me, and said, Hearken unto me, and I will instruct 56921thee; and I will admonish thee yet again: 56922A:15. for this cause the Most High hath not made one world, but two. 56923A:16. For whereas thou hast said that the just are not many, but few, and 56924the ungodly abound, hear the answer thereunto. 56925A:17. If thou have choice stones exceeding few, wilt thou set for thee 56926over against them according to their number things of lead and clay? 56927A:18. And I say, Lord, how shall this be? 56928A:19. And he said unto me, Not only this, but ask the earth, and she 56929shall tell thee; intreat her, and she shall declare unto thee. 56930A:20. For thou shalt say unto her, Thou bringest forth gold and silver 56931and brass, and iron also and lead and clay: 56932A:21. but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and 56933iron than brass, lead than iron, and clay than lead. 56934A:22. Judge thou therefore which things are precious and to be desired, 56935whatso is abundant or what is rare. 56936A:23. And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, that which is plentiful is of 56937less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious. 56938A:24. And he answered me, and said, Weigh within thyself the things that 56939thou hast thought, for he that hath what is hard to get rejoiceth over 56940him that hath what is plentiful. 56941A:25. So also is the judgement which I have promised: for I will rejoice 56942over the few that shall be saved, inasmuch as these are they that have 56943made my glory now to prevail, and of whom my name is now named. 56944A:26. And I will not grieve over the multitude of them that perish; for 56945these are they that are now like unto vapour, and are become as flame and 56946smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are quenched. 56947A:27. And I answered and said, O thou earth, wherefore hast thou brought 56948forth, if the mind is made out of dust, like as all other created things? 56949A:28. For it were better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that 56950the mind might not have been made therefrom. 56951A:29. But now the mind groweth with us, and by reason of this we are 56952tormented, because we perish and know it. 56953A:30. Let the race of men lament and the beasts of the field be glad; let 56954all that are born lament, but let the fourfooted beasts and the cattle 56955rejoice. 56956A:31. For it is far better with them than with us; for they look not for 56957judgement, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised unto 56958them after death. 56959A:32. For what doth it profit us, that we shall be preserved alive, but 56960yet be afflicted with torment? 56961A:33. For all that are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of 56962sins and laden with offences: 56963A:34. and if after death we were not to come into judgement, peradventure 56964it had been better for us. 56965A:35. And he answered me, and said, When the Most High made the world, 56966and Adam and all them that came of him, he first prepared the judgement 56967and the things that pertain unto the judgement. 56968A:36. And now understand from thine own words, for thou hast said that 56969the mind groweth with us. 56970A:37. They therefore that dwell upon the earth shall be tormented for 56971this reason, that having understanding they have wrought iniquity, and 56972receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they 56973dealt unfaithfully with that which they received. 56974A:38. What then will they have to say in the judgement, or how will they 56975answer in the last times? 56976A:39. For how great a time hath the Most High been longsuffering with 56977them that inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the 56978times which he hath foreordained! 56979A:40. And I answered and said, If I have found grace in thy sight, O 56980Lord, shew this also unto thy servant, whether after death, even now when 56981every one of us giveth up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those 56982times come, in which thou shalt renew the creation, of whether we shall 56983be tormented forthwith. 56984A:41. And he answered me, and said, I will shew thee this also; but join 56985not thyself with them that are scorners, nor number thyself with them 56986that are tormented. 56987A:42. For thou hast a treasure of good works laid up with the Most High, 56988but it shall not be shewed thee until the last times. 56989A:43. For concerning death the teaching is: When the determinate 56990sentence hath gone forth from the Most High that a man should die, as the 56991spirit leaveth the body to return again to him who gave it, it adoreth 56992the glory of the Most High first of all. 56993A:44. And if it be one of those that have been scorners and have not kept 56994the way of the Most High, and that have despised his law, and that hate 56995them that fear God, 56996A:45. these spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall wander 56997and be in torments forthwith, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. 56998A:46. The first way, because they have despised the law of the Most High. 56999A:47. The second way, because they cannot now make a good returning that 57000they may live. 57001A:48. The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for them that have 57002believed the covenants of the Most High. 57003A:49. The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for 57004themselves in the last days. 57005A:50. The fifth way, they shall see the dwelling places of the others 57006guarded by angels, with great quietness. 57007A:51. The sixth way, they shall see how forthwith some of them shall pass 57008into torment. 57009A:52. The seventh way, which is more grievous than all the aforesaid 57010ways, because they shall pine away in confusion and be consumed with 57011shame, and shall be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most 57012High before whom they have sinned whilst living, and before whom they 57013shall be judged in the last times. 57014A:53. Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most 57015High, when they shall be separated from the corruptible vessel. 57016A:54. In the time that they dwelt therin they painfully served the Most 57017High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that they might keep the law of 57018the lawgiver perfectly. 57019A:55. Wherefore this is the teaching concerning them: 57020A:56. First of all they shall see with great joy the glory of him who 57021taketh them up, for they shall have rest in seven orders. 57022A:57. The first order, because they have striven with great labour to 57023overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together with them, that it 57024might not lead them astray from life into death. 57025A:58. The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the 57026souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaiteth them. 57027A:59. The third order, they see the witness which he that fashioned them 57028beareth concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law which 57029was given them in trust. 57030A:60. The fourth order, they understand the rest which, being gathered in 57031their chambers, they now enjoy with great quietness, guarded by angels, 57032and the glory that awaiteth them in the last days. 57033A:61. The fifth order, they rejoice, seeing how they have now escaped 57034from that which is corruptible, and how they shall inherit that which is 57035to come, while they see moreover the straitness and the painfulness from 57036which they have been delivered, and the large room which they shall 57037receive with joy and immortality. 57038A:62. The sixth order, when it is shewed unto them how their face shall 57039shine as the sun, and how they shall be made like unto the light of the 57040stars, being henceforth incorruptible. 57041A:63. The seventh order, which is greater than all the aforesaid orders, 57042because they shall rejoice with confidence, and because they shall be 57043bold without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten 57044to behold the face of him whom in their lifetime they served, and from 57045whom they shall receive their reward in glory. 57046A:64. This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth is 57047announced unto them, and aforesaid are the ways of torture which they 57048that would not give heed shall suffer from henceforth. 57049A:65. And I answered and said, Shall time therefore be given unto the 57050souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see that 57051whereof thou hast spoken unto me? 57052A:66. And he said, Their freedom shall be for seven days, that for seven 57053days they may see the things whereof thou hast been told, and afterwards 57054they shall be gathered together in their habitations. 57055A:67. And I answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, shew 57056further unto me thy servant whether in the day of judgement the just will 57057be able to intercede for the ungodly or to intreat the Most High for 57058them, 57059A:68. whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or brethren 57060for brethren, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for them that 57061are most dear. 57062A:69. And he answered me, and said, Since thou hast found favour in my 57063sight, I will shew thee this also: The day of judgement is a day of 57064decision, and displayeth unto all the seal of truth; even as now a father 57065sendeth not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a 57066friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may be sick, or sleep, 57067or eat, or be healed: 57068A:70. so never shall any one pray for another in that day, neither shall 57069one lay a burden on another, for then shall all bear every one his own 57070righteousness or unrighteousness. 57071 57072 57073 57074 57075 57076BOOK FOR COMPARISON 57077 57078 57079 57080 57081THE PROPHECIE OF ABDIAS. 57082 57083 57084 57085ABDIAS borne in Sichem, of the tribe Ephraim, prophecied the same time 57086with Amos; so briefly that his prophecie is not parted into chapters: 570871. against the Idumeans; foreshewing their destruction; 10. for their 57088perpetual emnitie against the Iewes, and confederacie with the Chaldees. 5708917. The captiuitie and relaxation of the Iewes. 19. And redemption of 57090the whole world by Christ. 57091 57092 57093THE vision of Abdias. Thus sayth our Lord God to Edom: We haue heard a 57094bruit from our Lord, and he hath sent a legate to the Gentils: Rise ye, 57095and let vs arise against him into battel. 2 Behold I haue geuen thee a 57096litle one in the Gentils: thou art contemptible excedingly. 3 The pride 57097of thy hart hath extolled thee, dwelling in the clefts of rockes, 57098exalting thy throne: which sayst in thy hart: Who shal plucke me downe 57099to the earth. 4 If thou shalt be exalted as an eagle, and if thou shalt 57100set thy nest among the starres: thence wil I plucke thee downe, sayth 57101our Lord. 5 If theues had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how 57102hadst thou held thy peace. would not they haue stolen thinges sufficent 57103for themselues. if the grape gathereres had entered in to thee, would 57104they not haue left thee at the least a cluster. 6 How haue they searched 57105Esau, haue they sought out his hidden thinges. 7 Euen to the border haue 57106they cast thee out: al the men of thy league haue mocked thee: the men 57107of thy peace haue peuailed against thee: they that eate with thee, shal 57108lay embushments vnder thee: there is no wisedom in him. 8 Why, shal not 57109I in that day, sayth our Lord, destroy the wise out of Idumea, and 57110prudence from the mount of Esau, 9 And thy valients of the South shal 57111feare, that man may perish from the mount of Esau. 10 For the slaughter, 57112and for the iniquitie against thy brother Iacob, confusion shal couer 57113thee, and thou shalt perish for euer. 11 In the day when thou stoodest 57114against him, when strangers tooke his armie, and foreners entered his 57115gates, and vpon Ierusalem cast lotte: thou also wast as one of them. 5711612 And thou shalt not dispise in the day of thy brother, in the day of 57117his peregrination: and thou shalt not reioyce ouer the children of Iuda, 57118in the day of their perdition: & thou shalt not magnifie thy mouth in 57119the day of distresse. 13 Neither shalt thou enter the gate of my people 57120in the day of their ruine: neither shalt thou also dispise in his euils 57121in the day of his distruction: and thou shalt not be sent out against 57122his armie in the day of his destruction. 14 Neither shalt thou stand in 57123the outgoings to kil them that flee: and thou shalt not shut vp his 57124remnant in the day of tribulation. 15 Because the day of our Lord is at 57125hand vpon al nations: as thou hast done, so shal it be done to thee: 57126thy retribution he wil returne vpon thine owne head. 16 For as you haue 57127drunke vpon my holie mount, shal al Gentils drinke continually: & they 57128shal drinke, and swallow vp, and they shal be as though they were not. 5712917 And in mount Sion shal be saluation, and it shal be holie: and the 57130house of Iacob shal possesse those that had possessed them. 18 And the 57131house of Iacob shal be a fyre, and the house of Ioseph a flame, and the 57132house of Esau stubble: and they shal be kindled in them, and shal 57133deuoure them: and there shal be no remaynes of the house of Esau, 57134because our Lord hath spoken. 19 And they that are toward the South, 57135shal inherite the mount of Esau, and they in the champaine countries, 57136Philisthiims: and they shal possesse the region of Ephraim, and the 57137region of Samaria: and Beniamin shal possesse Galaad. 20 And the 57138transmigration of this host of the children of Israel, al places of the 57139Chananeits euen to Sarepta: and the transmigration of Ierusalem, that is 57140in Bosphorus, shal possesse the cities of the South. 21 And sauiours 57141shal ascend into mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau: and the kingdom 57142shal be to our Lord. 57143 57144 57145 57146 57147 57148End of Project Gutenberg Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version, O.T. 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