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diff --git a/old/2drvb10.txt b/old/2drvb10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..91ee2f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2drvb10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,57150 @@ +Project Gutenberg Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version, O.T. Part 2 + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by Dennis McCarthy, Atlanta, Georgia +and Tad Book, student, Pontifical North American College, Rome. + + + + + +THE HOLY BIBLE + + + + +Translated from the Latin Vulgate + + +Diligently Compared with the Hebrew, Greek, +and Other Editions in Divers Languages + + +THE OLD TESTAMENT +First Published by the English College at Douay +A.D. 1609 & 1610 + +and + +THE NEW TESTAMENT +First Published by the English College at Rheims +A.D. 1582 + + +With Annotations + + +The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with +the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner +A.D. 1749-1752 + + + +VOLUME II: THE SECOND PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT + + + + +CREDITS + + +Without the assistance of many individuals and groups, this text of the +Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible would not be available for the +Project Gutenberg collection. Our most grateful and sincere thanks goes +to those at 'Catholic Software' who have provided the electronic plain +texts of the 73 books of the Bible. 'Catholic Software' also produces a +Douay Bible program on CD-ROM that features a fully searchable Douay- +Rheims Bible, footnotes, Latin text and dictionary, topical index, maps, +Biblical art gallery, and other features. For more information of this +and many other products contact: + +Catholic Software +Box 1914 +Murray, KY 42071 +(502) 753-8198 +http://www.catholicity.com/market/CSoftware/ +waubrey@aol.com + +Additional production assistance has been provided by volunteers from +the Atlanta Council of the Knights of Columbus. Tad Book compiled and +reformatted the texts to Project Gutenberg standards. Dennis McCarthy +assisted Mr. Book and transcribed selections from the first editions +included as appendices. + + + + +HISTORY + + +This three volume e-text set comes from multiple editions of Challoner's +revised Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible. The division of the Old +Testaments into two parts follows the two tome format of the 1609/1610 +printing of the Old Testament. In 1568 English exiles, many from +Oxford, established the English College of Douay (Douai/Doway), Flanders, +under William (later Cardinal) Allen. In October, 1578, Gregory Martin +began the work of preparing an English translation of the Bible for +Catholic readers, the first such translation into Modern English. +Assisting were William Allen, Richard Bristow, Thomas Worthington, and +William Reynolds who revised, criticized, and corrected Dr. Martin's +work. The college published the New Testament at Rheims (Reims/Rhemes), +France, in 1582 through John Fogny with a preface and explanatory notes, +authored chiefly by Bristol, Allen, and Worthington. Later the Old +Testament was published at Douay in two parts (1609 and 1610) by Laurence +Kellam through the efforts of Dr. Worthington, then superior of the +seminary. The translation had been prepared before the appearance of the +New Testament, but the publication was delayed due to financial +difficulties. The religious and scholarly adherence to the Latin Vulgate +text led to the less elegant and idiomatic words and phrases often found +in the translation. In some instances where no English word conveyed the +full meaning of the Latin, a Latin word was Anglicized and its meaning +defined in a glossary. Although ridiculed by critics, many of these +words later found common usage in the English language. Spellings of +proper names and the numbering of the Psalms are adopted from the Latin +Vulgate. + +In 1749 Dr. Richard Challoner began a major revision of the Douay and +Rheims texts, the spellings and phrasing of which had become increasingly +archaic in the almost two centuries since the translations were first +produced. He modernized the diction and introduced a more fluid style, +while faithfully maintaining the accuracy of Dr. Martin's texts. This +revision became the 'de facto' standard text for English speaking +Catholics until the twentieth century. It is still highly regarded by +many for its style, although it is now rarely used for liturgical +purposes. The notes included in this electronic edition are generally +attributed to Bishop Challoner. + +The 1610 printing of the second tome of the Old Testament includes an +appendix containing the non-canonical books 'Prayer of Manasses,' 'Third +Booke of Esdras,' and 'Fourth Booke of Esdras.' While not part of +Challoner's revision, the 1610 texts are placed in the appendices of +Vol. II of this e-text set. Also included are the original texts of two +short books, 'The Prophecie of Abdias' (Vol. II) and 'The Catholike +Epistle of Iude the Apostle' (Vol. III), to give the reader a sense of +the language of the first editions in comparison to the Challoner +revision. Further background on the Douay-Rheims version may be found in +a selection from the preface to the 1582 edition and the original +glossary included in the appendices of Vol. III. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +The Second Part of the Old Testament + + Book of Psalms + Book of Proverbs + Ecclesiastes + Solomon's Canticle of Canticles + Book of Wisdom + Ecclesiasticus + Prophecy of Isaias + Prophecy of Jeremias + Lamentations of Jeremias + Prophecy of Baruch + Prophecy of Ezechiel + Prophecy of Daniel + Prophecy of Osee + Prophecy of Joel + Prophecy of Amos + Prophecy of Abdias + Prophecy of Jonas + Prophecy of Micheas + Prophecy of Nahum + Prophecy of Habacuc + Prophecy of Sophonias + Prophecy of Aggeus + Prophecy of Zacharias + Prophecy of Malachias + First Book of Machabees + Second Book of Machabees + + +Appendices + + The Prayer of Manasses + The Third Booke of Esdras + The Fourth Booke of Esdras + + The Prophecie of Abdias + + + + + +THE BOOK OF PSALMS + + + +The psalms are called by the Hebrews TEHILLIM, that is, Hymns of +Praise. The author, of a great part of them at least, was king David: +but many are of opinion that some of them were made by Asaph, and +others whose names are prefixed in the titles. + + + +Psalms Chapter 1 + + +Beatus vir. + +The happiness of the just and the evil state of the wicked. + +1:1. Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the +ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of +pestilence: + +1:2. But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall +meditate day and night. + +1:3. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running +waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf +shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper. + +1:4. Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind +driveth from the face of the earth. + +1:5. Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgment: nor sinners +in the council of the just. + +1:6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of the +wicked shall perish. + + + +Psalms Chapter 2 + + +Quare fremuerunt. + +The vain efforts of persecutors against Christ and his church. + +2:1. Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? + +2:2. The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, +against the Lord, and against his Christ. + +2:3. Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke +from us. + +2:4. He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall +deride them. + +2:5. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his +rage. + +2:6. But I am appointed king by him over Sion, his holy mountain, +preaching his commandment. + +2:7. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my son, this day have I +begotten thee. + +2:8. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, +and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. + +2:9. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in +pieces like a potter's vessel. + +2:10. And now, O ye kings, understand: receive instruction, you that +judge the earth. + +2:11. Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling. + +2:12. Embrace discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you +perish from the just way. + +2:13. When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all +they that trust in him. + + + +Psalms Chapter 3 + + +Domine, quid multiplicati. + +The prophet's danger and delivery from his son Absalom: mystically, the +passion and resurrection of Christ. + +3:1. The psalm of David when he fled from the face of his son Absalom. + +3:2. Many say to my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God. + +3:4. But thou, O Lord, art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of +my head. + +3:5. I have cried to the Lord with my voice: and he hath heard me from +his holy hill. + +3:6. I have slept and have taken my rest: and I have risen up, because +the Lord hath protected me. + +3:7. I will not fear thousands of the people surrounding me: arise, O +Lord; save me, O my God. + +3:8. For thou hast struck all them who are my adversaries without +cause: thou hast broken the teeth of sinners. + +3:9. Salvation is of the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people. + + + +Psalms Chapter 4 + + +Cum invocarem. + +The prophet teacheth us to flee to God in tribulation, with confidence +in him. + +4:1. Unto the end, in verses. A psalm for David. + +Unto the end. . .Or, as St. Jerome renders it, victori, to him that +overcometh: which some understand of the chief musician; to whom they +suppose the psalms, which bear that title, were given to be sung: we +rather understand the psalms thus inscribed to refer to Christ, who is +the end of the law, and the great conqueror of death and hell, and to +the New Testament.--Ibid. In verses, in carminibus. . .In the Hebrew, it +is neghinoth, supposed by some to be a musical instrument, with which +this psalm was to be sung.--Ibid. For David, or to David. . .That is, +inspired to David himself, or to be sung. + +4:2. When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me: when I was +in distress, thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy on me: and hear my +prayer. + +4:3. O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you +love vanity, and seek after lying? + +4:4. Know ye also that the Lord hath made his holy one wonderful: the +Lord will hear me when I shall cry unto him. + +4:5. Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be +sorry for them upon your beds. + +4:6. Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many +say, Who sheweth us good things? + +4:7. The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast +given gladness in my heart. + +4:8. By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they rest: + +4:9. In peace in the self same I will sleep, and I will rest: + +4:10. For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope. + + + +Psalms Chapter 5 + + +Verba mea auribul. + +A prayer to God against the iniquities of men. + +5:1. Unto the end, for her that obtaineth the inheritance. A psalm for +David. + +For her that obtaineth the inheritance. . .That is, for the church of +Christ. + +5:2. Give ear, O Lord, to my words, understand my cry. + +5:3. Hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God. + +5:4. For to thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my +voice. + +5:5. In the morning I will stand before thee, and I will see: because +thou art not a God that willest iniquity. + +5:6. Neither shall the wicked dwell near thee: nor shall the unjust +abide before thy eyes. + +5:7. Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity: thou wilt destroy all +that speak a lie. The bloody and the deceitful man the Lord will abhor. + +5:8. But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy +house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear. + +5:9. Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct +my way in thy sight. + +5:10. For there is no truth in their mouth: their heart is vain. + +5:11. Their throat is an open sepulchre: they dealt deceitfully with +their tongues: judge them, O God. Let them fall from their devices: +according to the multitude of their wickednesses cast them out: for +they have provoked thee, O Lord. + +5:12. But let all them be glad that hope in thee: they shall rejoice +for ever, and thou shalt dwell in them. And all they that love thy name +shall glory in thee. + +5:13. For thou wilt bless the just. O Lord, thou hast crowned us, as +with a shield of thy good will. + + + +Psalms Chapter 6 + + +Domine, ne in furore. + +A prayer of a penitent sinner, under the scourge of God. The first +penitential psalm. + +6:1. Unto the end, in verses, a psalm for David, for the octave. + +For the octave. . .That is, to be sung on an instrument of eight +strings. St. Augustine understands it mystically, of the last +resurrection, and the world to come; which is, as it were, the octave, +or eighth day, after the seven days of this mortal life: and for this +octave, sinners must dispose themselves, like David, by bewailing their +sins, whilst they are here upon earth. + +6:2. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy indignation, nor chastise me in thy +wrath. + +6:3. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my +bones are troubled. + +6:4. And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long? + +6:5. Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's +sake. + +6:6. For there is no one in death, that is mindful of thee: and who +shall confess to thee in hell? + +6:7. I have laboured in my groanings, every night I will wash my bed: I +will water my couch with my tears. + +6:8. My eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old amongst +all my enemies. + +6:9. Depart from em, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath +heard the voice of my weeping. + +6:10. The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my +prayer. + +6:11. Let all my enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled: let +them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily. + + + +Psalms Chapter 7 + + +Domine, Deus meus. + +David, trusting in the justice of his cause, prayeth for God's help +against his enemies. + +7:1. The psalm of David, which he sung to the Lord, for the words of +Chusi, the son of Jemini. + +7:2. O Lord, my God, in thee have I put my trust; same me from all them +that persecute me, and deliver me. + +7:3. Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is +no one to redeem me, nor to save. + +7:4. O Lord, my God, if I have done this thing, if there be iniquity in +my hands: + +7:5. If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly +fall empty before my enemies. + +7:6. Let the enemy pursue my soul, and take it, and tread down my life, +on the earth, and bring down my glory to the dust. + +7:7. Rise up, O Lord, in thy anger: and be thou exalted in the borders +of my enemies. And arise, O Lord, my God, in the precept which thou +hast commanded: + +7:8. And a congregation of people shall surround thee. And for their +sakes return thou on high. + +7:9. The Lord judgeth the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my +justice, and according to my innocence in me. + +7:10. The wickedness of sinners shall be brought to nought; and thou +shalt direct the just: the searcher of hearts and reins is God. Just + +7:11. Is my help from the Lord; who saveth the upright of heart. + +7:12. God is a just judge, strong and patient: is he angry every day? + +7:13. Except you will be converted, he will brandish his sword; he hath +bent his bow, and made it ready. + +7:14. And in it he hath prepared to instruments of death, he hath made +ready his arrows for them that burn. + +For them that burn. . .That is, against the persecutors of his saints. + +7:15. Behold he hath been in labour with injustice: he hath conceived +sorrow, and brought forth iniquity. + +7:16. He hath opened a pit and dug it: and he is fallen into the hole +he made. + +7:17. His sorrow shall be turned on his own head: and his iniquity +shall come down upon his crown. + +7:18. I will give glory to the Lord according to his justice: and will +sing to the name of the Lord the most high. + + + +Psalms Chapter 8 + + +Domine, Dominus noster. + +God is wonderful in his works; especially in mankind, singularly +exalted by the incarnation of Christ. + +8:1. Unto the end, for the presses: a psalm for David. + +The presses. . .In Hebrew, Gittith, supposed to be a musical instrument. + +8:2. O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! +For thy magnificence is elevated above the heavens. + +8:3. Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings thou hast perfected +praise, because of thy enemies, that thou mayst destroy the enemy and +the avenger. + +8:4. For I will behold thy heavens, the works of thy fingers: the moon +and the stars which thou hast founded. + +8:5. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that +thou visitest him? + +8:6. Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast +crowned him with glory and honour: + +8:7. And hast set him over the works of thy hands. + +8:8. Thou hast subjected all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen: +moreover, the beasts also of the fields. + +8:9. The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through +the paths of the sea. + +8:10. O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! + + + +Psalms Chapter 9 + + +Confitebor tibi, Domine. The church praiseth God for his protection +against her enemies. + +9:1. Unto the end, for the hidden things of the Son. A psalm for David. + +The hidden things of the Son. . .The humility and sufferings of Christ, +the Son of God; and of good Christians, who are his sons by adoption; +are called hidden things, with regard to the children of this world, +who know not the value and merit of them. + +9:2. I will give praise to thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will +relate all thy wonders. + +9:3. I will be glad, and rejoice in thee: I will sing to thy name, O +thou most high. + +9:4. When my enemy shall be turned back: they shall be weakened, and +perish before thy face. + +9:5. For thou hast maintained my judgment and my cause: thou hast sat +on the throne, who judgest justice. + +9:6. Thou hast rebuked the Gentiles, and the wicked one hath perished; +thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever. + +9:7. The swords of the enemy have failed unto the end: and their cities +thou hast destroyed. Their memory hath perished with a noise: + +9:8. But the Lord remaineth for ever. He hath prepared his throne in +judgment: + +9:9. And he shall judge the world in equity, he shall judge the people +in justice. + +9:10. And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor: a helper in due +time in tribulation. + +9:11. And let them trust in thee who know thy name: for thou hast not +forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord. + +9:12. Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion: declare his ways among +the Gentiles: + +9:13. For requiring their blood, he hath remembered them: he hath not +forgotten the cry of the poor. + +9:14. Have mercy on me, O Lord: see my humiliation which I suffer from +my enemies. + +9:15. Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, that I may +declare all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion. + +9:16. I will rejoice in thy salvation: the Gentiles have stuck fast in +the destruction which they prepared. Their foot hath been taken in the +very snare which they hid. + +9:17. The Lord shall be known when he executeth judgments: the sinner +hath been caught in the works of his own hands. + +9:18. The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget +God. + +9:19. For the poor man shall not be forgotten to the end: the patience +of the poor shall not perish for ever. + +9:20. Arise, O Lord, let not man be strengthened: let the Gentiles be +judged in thy sight. + +9:21. Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: that the Gentiles may know +themselves to be but men. + +Here the late Hebrew doctors divide this psalm into two, making ver. 22 +the beginning of Psalm 10. And again they join Psalms 146 and 147 into +one, in order that the whole number of psalms should not exceed 150. +And in this manner the psalms are numbered in the Protestant Bible. + +Psalm 10 according to the Hebrews. + +9a:1. Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off? why dost thou slight us +in our wants, in the time of trouble? + +9a:2. Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire: they are +caught in the counsels which they devise. + +9a:3. For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul: and the +unjust man is blessed. + +9a:4. The sinner hath provoked the Lord, according to the multitude of +his wrath, he will not seek him: + +9a:5. God is not before his eyes: his ways are filthy at all times. Thy +judgments are removed form his sight: he shall rule over all his +enemies. + +9a:6. For he hath said in his heart: I shall not be moved from +generation to generation, and shall be without evil. + +9a:7. His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit: +under his tongue are labour and sorrow. + +9a:8. He sitteth in ambush with the rich, in private places, that he may +kill the innocent. + +9a:9. His eyes are upon the poor man: he lieth in wait, in secret, like +a lion in his den. He lieth in ambush, that he may catch the poor man: +so catch the poor, whilst he draweth him to him. + +9a:10. In his net he will bring him down, he will crouch and fall, when +he shall have power over the poor. + +9a:11. For he hath said in his heart: God hath forgotten, he hath turned +away his face, not to see to the end. + +9a:12. Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be exalted: forget not the poor. + +9a:13. Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? for he hath said in his +heart: He will not require it. + +9a:14. Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow: that thou +mayst deliver them into thy hands. To thee is the poor man left: thou +wilt be a helper to the orphan. + +9a:15. Break thou the arm of the sinner and of the malignant: his sin +shall be sought, and shall not be found. + +9a:16. The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: ye +Gentiles shall perish from his land. + +9a:17. The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor: thy ear hath heard +the preparation of their heart. + +9a:18. To judge for the fatherless and for the humble, that man may no +more presume to magnify himself upon earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 10 + + +In Domino confido. + +The just man's confidence in God in the midst of persecutions. + +10:1. Unto the end. A psalm to David. + +10:2. In the Lord I put my trust: how then do you say to my soul: Get +thee away from hence to the mountain, like a sparrow. + +10:3. For, lo, the wicked have bent their bow: they have prepared their +arrows in the quiver, to shoot in the dark the upright of heart. + +10:4. For they have destroyed the things which thou hast made: but what +has the just man done? + +10:5. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven. +His eyes look on the poor man: his eyelids examine the sons of men. + +10:6. The Lord trieth the just and the wicked: but he that loveth +iniquity, hateth his own soul. + +10:7. He shall rain snares upon sinners: fire and brimstone, and storms +of winds, shall be the portion of their cup. + +10:8. For the Lord is just, and hath loved justice: his countenance +hath beheld righteousness. + + + +Psalms Chapter 11 + + +Salvum me fac. + +The prophet calls for God's help against the wicked. + +11:1. Unto the end: for the octave, a psalm for David. + +11:2. Save me, O Lord, for there is now no saint: truths are decayed +from among the children of men. + +11:3. They have spoken vain things, every one to his neighbour: with +deceitful lips, and with a double heart have they spoken. + +11:4. May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips, and the tongue that +speaketh proud things. + +11:5. Who have said: We will magnify our tongue: our lips are our own: +who is Lord over us? + +11:6. By reason of the misery of the needy, and the groans of the poor, +now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will set him in safety: I will deal +confidently in his regard. + +11:7. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried by the +fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times. + +11:8. Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve us: and keep us from this generation +for ever. + +11:9. The wicked walk round about: according to thy highness, thou hast +multiplied the children of men. + + + +Psalms Chapter 12 + + +Usquequo, Domine. + +A prayer in tribulation. + +12:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou +forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me? + +12:2. How long shall I take counsels in my soul, sorrow in my heart all +the day? + +12:3. How long shall my enemy be exalted over Me? + +12:4. Consider, and hear me, O Lord, my God. Enlighten my eyes, that I +never sleep in death: + +12:5. Lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They +that trouble me, will rejoice when I am moved: + +12:6. But I have trusted in thy mercy. My heart shall rejoice in thy +salvation: I will sing to the Lord, who giveth me good things: yea, I +will sing to the name of the Lord, the most high. + + + +Psalms Chapter 13 + + +Dixit insipiens. + +The general corruption of man before our redemption by Christ. + +13:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. The fool hath said in his heart: +There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their +ways: there is none that doth good, no not one. + +13:2. The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, +to see if there be any that understand and seek God. + +13:3. They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: +there is none that doth good: no not one. Their throat is an open +sepulchre; with their tongues they acted deceitfully: the poison of +asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and +bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and +unhappiness in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known: +there is no fear of God before their eyes. + +13:4. Shall not all they know that work iniquity, who devour my people +as they eat bread? + +13:5. They have not called upon the Lord: there have they trembled for +fear, where there was no fear. + +13:6. For the Lord is in the just generation: you have confounded the +counsel of the poor man; but the Lord is his hope. + +13:7. Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when the Lord +shall have turned away the captivity of his people, Jacob shall +rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. + + + +Psalms Chapter 14 + + +Domine, quis habitabit. + +What kind of men shall dwell in the heavenly Sion. + +14:1. A psalm for David. Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or +who shall rest in thy holy hill? + +14:2. He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice: + +14:3. He that speaketh truth in his heart, who hath not used deceit in +his tongue: Nor hath done evil to his neighbour: nor taken up a +reproach against his neighbours. + +14:4. In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing: but he +glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his neighbour, +and deceiveth not; + +14:5. He that hath not put out his money to usury, nortaken bribes +against the innocent: He that doth these things, shall not be moved for +ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 15 + + +Conserva me, Domine. + +Christ's future victory and triumph over the world and death. + +15:1. The inscription of a title to David himself. Preserve me, O Lord, +for I have put my trust in thee. + +The inscription of a title. . .That is, of a pillar or monument, +staylographia: which is as much as to say, that this psalm is most +worthy to be engraved on an everlasting monument. + +15:2. I have said to the Lord, thou art my God, for thou hast no need +of my goods. + +15:3. To the saints, who are in his land, he hath made wonderful all my +desires in them. + +15:4. Their infirmities were multiplied: afterwards they made haste. I +will not gather together their meetings for bloodofferings: nor will I +be mindful of their names by my lips. + +15:5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is +thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me. + +15:6. The lines are fallen unto me in goodly places: for my inheritance +is goodly to me. + +15:7. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover, +my reins also have corrected me even till night. + +15:8. I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, +that I be not moved. + +15:9. Therefore my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: +moreover, my flesh also shall rest in hope. + +15:10. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; nor wilt thou give +thy holy one to see corruption. + +15:11. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me +with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand are delights even to +the end. + + + +Psalms Chapter 16 + + +Exaudi, Domine, justitiam. + +A just man's prayer in tribulation against the malice of his enemy. + +16:1. The prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my justice: attend to my +supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which proceedeth not from +deceitful lips. + +16:2. Let my judgment come forth from thy countenance: let thy eyes +behold the things that are equitable. + +16:3. Thou hast proved my heart, and visited it by night, thou hast +tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me. + +16:4. That my mouth may not speak the works of men: for the sake of the +words of thy lips, I have kept hard ways. + +16:5. Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not +moved. + +16:6. I have cried to thee, for thou, O God, hast heard me: O incline +thy ear unto me, and hear my words. + +16:7. Shew forth thy wonderful mercies; thou who savest them that trust +in thee. + +16:8. From them that resist thy right hand keep me, as the apple of thy +eye. Protect me under the shadow of thy wings. + +16:9. From the face of the wicked who have afflicted me. My enemies +have surrounded my soul: + +16:10. They have shut up their fat: their mouth hath spoken proudly. + +Their fat. . .That is, their bowels of compassion: for they have none +for me. + +16:11. They have cast me forth, and now they have surrounded me: they +have set their eyes bowing down to the earth. + +16:12. They have taken me, as a lion prepared for the prey; and as a +young lion dwelling in secret places. + +16:13. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him and supplant him; deliver my soul +from the wicked one; thy sword + +16:14. From the enemies of thy hand. O Lord, divide them from the few +of the earth in their life: their belly is filled from thy hidden +stores. They are full of children: and they have left to their little +ones the rest of their substance. + +Divide them from the few, etc. . .That is, cut them off from the earth, +and the few trifling things thereof; which they are so proud of, or +divide them from the few; that is, from thy elect, who are but few; +that they may no longer have it in their power to oppress them. It is +not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; but, as many other the like +passages in the psalms, by way of a prediction, or prophecy of what +should come upon them, in punishment of their wickedness. Ibid. Thy +hidden stores. . .Thy secret treasures, out of which thou furnishest +those earthly goods, which, with a bountiful hand thou hast distributed +both to the good and the bad. + +16:15. But as for me, I will appear before thy sight in justice: I +shall be satisfied when thy glory shall appear. + + + +Psalms Chapter 17 + + +Diligam te, Domine. + +David's thanks to God for his delivery from all his enemies. + +17:1. Unto the end, for David, the servant of the Lord, who spoke to +the Lord the words of this canticle, in the day that the Lord delivered +him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he +said: + +17:2. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength: + +17:3. The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is +my helper, and in him will I put my trust. My protector, and the horn +of my salvation, and my support. + +17:4. Praising, I will call upon the Lord: and I shall be saved from my +enemies. + +17:5. The sorrows of death surrounded me: and the torrents of iniquity +troubled me. + +17:6. The sorrows of hell encompassed me: and the snares of death +prevented me. + +17:7. In my affliction I called upon the Lord, and I cried to my God: +And he heard my voice from his holy temple: and my cry before him came +into his ears. + +17:8. The earth shook and trembled: the foundations of the mountains +were troubled and were moved, because he was angry with them. + +17:9. There went up a smoke in his wrath: and a fire flamed from his +face: coals were kindled by it. + +17:10. He bowed the heavens, and came down, and darkness was under his +feet. + +17:11. And he ascended upon the cherubim, and he flew; he flew upon the +wings of the winds. + +17:12. And he made darkness his covert, his pavilion round about him: +dark waters in the clouds of the air. + +17:13. At the brightness that was before him the clouds passed, hail +and coals of fire. + +17:14. And the Lord thundered from heaven, and the Highest gave his +voice: hail and coals of fire. + +17:15. And he sent forth his arrows, and he scattered them: he +multiplied lightnings, and troubled them. + +17:16. Then the fountains of waters appeared, and the foundations of +the world were discovered: At thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the +spirit of thy wrath. + +17:17. He sent from on high, and took me: and received me out of many +waters. + +17:18. He delivered me from my strongest enemies, and from them that +hated me: for they were too strong for me. + +17:19. They prevented me in the day of my affliction: and the Lord +became my protector. + +17:20. And he brought me forth into a large place: he saved me, because +he was well pleased with me. + +17:21. And the Lord will reward me according to my justice; and will +repay me according to the cleanness of my hands: + +17:22. Because I have kept the ways of the Lord; and have not done +wickedly against my God. + +17:23. For all his judgments are in my sight: and his justices I have +not put away from me. + +17:24. And I shall be spotless with him: and shall keep myself from my +iniquity. + +17:25. And the Lord will reward me according to my justice: and +according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes. + +17:26. With the holy thou wilt be holy; and with the innocent man thou +wilt be innocent: + +17:27. And withe the elect thou wilt be elect: and with the perverse +thou wilt be perverted. + +17:28. For thou wilt save the humble people; but wilt bring down the +eyes of the proud. + +17:29. For thou lightest my lamp, O Lord: O my God, enlighten my +darkness. + +17:30. For by thee I shall be delivered from temptation; and through my +God I shall go over a wall. + +17:31. As for my God, his way is undefiled: the words of the Lord are +fire-tried: he is the protector of all that trust in him. + +17:32. For who is God but the Lord? or who is God but our God? + +17:33. God, who hath girt me with strength; and made my way blameless. + +17:34. Who hath made my feet like the feet of harts: and who setteth me +upon high places. + +17:35. Who teacheth my hands to war: and thou hast made my arms like a +brazen bow. + +17:36. And thou hast given me the protection of thy salvation: and thy +right hand hath held me up: And thy discipline hath corrected me unto +the end: and thy discipline, the same shall teach me. + +17:37. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; and my feet are not +weakened. + +17:38. I will pursue after my enemies, and overtake them: and I will +not turn again till they are consumed. + +17:39. I will break them, and they shall not be able to stand: they +shall fall under my feet. + +17:40. And thou hast girded me with strength unto battle; and hast +subdued under me them that rose up against me. + +17:41. And thou hast made my enemies furn their back upon me, and hast +destroyed them that hated me. + +17:42. They cried, but there was none to save them, to the Lord: but he +heard them not. + +17:43. And I shall beat them as small as the dust before the wind; I +shall bring them to nought, like the dirt in the streets. + +17:44. Thou wilt deliver me from the contradictions of the people; thou +wilt make me head of the Gentiles. + +17:45. A people which I knew not, hath served me: at the hearing of the +ear they have obeyed me. + +17:46. The children that are strangers have lied to me, strange +children have faded away, and have halted from their paths. + +17:47. The Lord liveth, and blessed by my God, and let the God of my +salvation be exalted. + +17:48. O God, who avengest me, and subduest the people under me, my +deliverer from my enraged enemies. + +17:49. And thou wilt lift me up above them that rise up against me: +from the unjust man thou wilt deliver me. + +17:50. Therefore will I give glory to thee, O Lord, among the nations, +and I will sing a psalm to thy name. + +17:51. Giving great deliverance to his king, and shewing mercy to +David, his anointed: and to his seed for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 18 + + +Coeli enarrant. + +The works of God shew forth his glory: his law is greatly to be +esteemed and loved. + +18:1. Unto the end. A Psalm for David. + +18:2. The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament +declareth the work of his hands. + +18:3. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. + +18:4. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not +heard. + +18:5. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words +unto the ends of the world. + +18:6. He hath set his tabernacle in the sun: and he as a bridegroom +coming out of his bridechamber, Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the +way: + +18:7. His going out is from the end of heaven, And his circuit even to +the end thereof: and there is no one that can hide himself from his +heat. + +18:8. The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony +of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones. + +18:9. The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the +commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. + +18:10. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: the +judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves. + +18:11. More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and +sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. + +18:12. For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is a +great reward. + +18:13. Who can understand sins? from my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord: + +18:14. And from those of others spare thy servant. If they shall have +no dominion over me, then shall I be without spot: and I shall be +cleansed form the greatest sin. + +18:15. And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: and the +meditation of my heart always in thy sight. O Lord, my helper and my +Redeemer. + + + +Psalms Chapter 19 + + +Exaudiat te Dominus. + +A prayer for the king. + +19:1. Unto the end. A psalm for David. + +19:2. May the Lord hear thee in the day of tribulation: may the name of +the God of Jacob protect thee. + +19:3. May he send thee help from the sanctuary: and defend thee out of +Sion. + +19:4. May he be mindful of all thy sacrifices: and may thy whole +burntoffering be made fat. + +19:5. May he give thee according to thy own heart; and confirm all thy +counsels. + +19:6. We will rejoice in thy salvation; and in the name of our God we +shall be exalted. + +19:7. The Lord fulfil all thy petitions: now have I known that the Lord +hath saved his anointed. He will hear him from his holy heaven: the +salvation of his right hand is in powers. + +The salvation of his right hand is in powers. . .That is, in strength. +His right hand is strong and mighty to save them that trust in him. + +19:8. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will call upon +the name of the Lord, our God. + +19:9. They are bound, and have fallen: but we are risen, and are set +upright. O Lord, save the king: and hear us in the day that we shall +call upon thee. + + + +Psalms Chapter 20 + + +Domine, in virtute. + +Praise to God for Christ's exaltation after his passion. + +20:1. Unto the end. A psalm for David. + +20:2. In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy; and in thy salvation +he shall rejoice exceedingly. + +20:3. Thou hast given him his heart's desire: and hast not withholden +from him the will of his lips. + +20:4. For thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou +hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. + +20:5. He asked life of thee: and thou hast given him length of days for +ever and ever. + +20:6. His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt +thou lay upon him. + +20:7. For thou shalt give him to be a blessing for ever and ever: thou +shalt make him joyful in gladness with thy countenance. + +20:8. For the king hopeth in the Lord: and through the mercy of the +most High he shall not be moved. + +20:9. Let thy hand be found by all thy enemies: let thy right hand find +out all them that hate thee. + +20:10. Thou shalt make them as an oven of fire, in the time of thy +anger: the Lord shall trouble them in his wrath, and fire shall devour +them. + +20:11. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth: and their seed +from among the children of men. + +20:12. For they have intended evils against thee: they have devised +counsels which they have not been able to establish. + +20:13. For thou shalt make them turn their back: in thy remnants thou +shalt prepare their face. + +In thy remnants thou shalt prepare their face. . .Or thou shalt set thy +remnants against their faces. That is, thou shalt make them see what +punishments remain for them hereafter from thy justice. Instead of +remnants, St. Jerome renders it funes, that is, cords or strings, viz., +of the bow of divine justice, from which God directs his arrows against +the faces of his enemies. + +20:14. Be thou exalted, O Lord, in thy own strength: we will sing and +praise thy power. + + + +Psalms Chapter 21 + + +Deus Deus meus. + +Christ's passion: and the conversion of the Gentiles. + +21:1. Unto the end, for the morning protection, a psalm for David. + +21:2. O God my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? Far from +my salvation are the words of my sins. + +The words of my sins. . .That is, the sins of the world, which I have +taken upon myself, cry out against me, and are the cause of all my +sufferings. + +21:3. O my God, I shall cry by day, and thou wilt not hear: and by +night, and it shall not be reputed as folly in me. + +21:4. But thou dwellest in the holy place, the praise of Israel. + +21:5. In thee have our fathers hoped: they have hoped, and thou hast +delivered them. + +21:6. They cried to thee, and they were saved: they trusted in thee, +and were not confounded. + +21:7. But I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast +of the people. + +21:8. All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken +with the lips, and wagged the head. + +21:9. He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him: let him save him, +seeing he delighteth in him. + +21:10. For thou art he that hast drawn me out of the womb: my hope from +the breasts of my mother. + +21:11. I was cast upon thee from the womb. From my mother's womb thou +art my God, + +21:12. Depart not from me. For tribulation is very near: for there is +none to help me. + +21:13. Many calves have surrounded me: fat bulls have besieged me. + +21:14.They have opened their mouths against me, as a lion ravening and +roaring. + +21:15. I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My +heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels. + +21:16. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath +cleaved to my jaws: and thou hast brought me down into the dust of +death. + +21:17. For many dogs have encompassed me: the council of the malignant +hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet. + +21:18. They have numbered all my bones. And they have looked and stared +upon me. + +21:19. They parted my garments amongst them; and upon my vesture they +cast lots. + +21:20. But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a distance from me; +look towards my defence. + +21:21. Deliver, O God, my soul from the sword: my only one from the +hand of the dog. + +21:22. Save me from the lion's mouth; and my lowness from the horns of +the unicorns. + +21:23. I will declare thy name to my brethren: in the midst of the +church will I praise thee. + +21:24. Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye the seed of Jacob, +glorify him. + +21:25. Let all the seed of Israel fear him: because he hath not +slighted nor despised the supplication of the poor man. Neither hath he +turned away his face form me: and when I cried to him he heard me. + +21:26. With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in +the sight of them that fear him. + +21:27. The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise +the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever. + +21:28. All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted +to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his +sight. + +21:29. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he shall have dominion over +the nations. + +21:30. All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all +they that go down to the earth shall fall before him. + +21:31. And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him. + +21:32. There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and +the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be +born, which the Lord hath made. + + + +Psalms Chapter 22 + + +Dominus regit me. + +God's spiritual benefits to faithful souls. + +22:1. A psalm for David. The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing. + +Ruleth me. . .In Hebrew, Is my shepherd, viz., to feed, guide, and +govern me. + +22:2. He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on +the water of refreshment: + +22:3. He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of +justice, for his own name's sake. + +22:4. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I +will fear no evils, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they +have comforted me. + +22:5. Thou hast prepared a table before me against them that afflict +me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; and my chalice which +inebreateth me, how goodly is it! + +22:6. And thy mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And that I +may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days. + + + +Psalms Chapter 23 + + +Domini est terra. + +Who are they that shall ascend to heaven: Christ's triumphant ascension +thither. + +23:1. On the first day of the week, a psalm for David. The earth is the +Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell +therein. + +23:2. For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon +the rivers. + +23:3. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall +stand in his holy place? + +23:4. The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his +soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. + +23:5. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his +Saviour. + +23:6. This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek +the face of the God of Jacob. + +23:7. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal +gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. + +23:8. Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the +Lord mighty in battle. + +23:9. Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal +gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in. + +23:10. Who is this King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of +Glory. + + + +Psalms Chapter 24 + + +Ad te, Domine, levavi. + +A prayer for grace, mercy, and protection against our enemies. + +24:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. To thee, O Lord, have I lifted +up my soul. + +24:2. In thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed. + +24:3. Neither let my enemies laugh at me: for none of them that wait on +thee shall be confounded. + +24:4. Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause. +Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths. + +24:5. Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my +Saviour; and on thee have I waited all the day long. + +24:6. Remember, O Lord, thy bowels of compassion; and thy mercies that +are from the beginning of the world. + +24:7. The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember. According +to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness' sake, O Lord. + +24:8. The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore he will give a law to +sinners in the way. + +24:9. He will guide the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his +ways. + +24:10. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, to them that seek +after his covenant and his testimonies. + +24:11. For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt pardon my sin: for it is +great. + +24:12. Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He hath appointed him a +law in the way he hath chosen. + +24:13. His soul shall dwell in good things: and his seed shall inherit +the land. + +24:14. The Lord is a firmament to them that fear him: and his covenant +shall be made manifest to them. + +24:15. My eyes are ever towards the Lord: for he shall pluck my feet +out of the snare. + +24:16. Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am alone and +poor. + +24:17. The troubles of my heart are multiplied: deliver me from my +necessities. + +24:18. See my abjection and my labour; and forgive me all my sins. + +24:19. Consider my enemies for they are multiplied, and have hated me +with an unjust hatred. + +24:20. Deep thou my soul, and deliver me: I shall not be ashamed, for I +have hoped in thee. + +24:21. The innocent and the upright have adhered to me: because I have +waited on thee. + +24:22. Deliver Israel, O God, from all his tribulations. + + + +Psalms Chapter 25 + + +Judica me, Domine. + +David's prayer to God in his distress, to be delivered, that he may +come to worship him in his tabernacle. + +25:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. Judge me, O Lord, for I have +walked in my innocence: and I have put my trust in the Lord, and shall +not be weakened. + +25:2. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; burn my reins and my heart. + +25:3. For thy mercy is before my eyes; and I am well pleased with thy +truth. + +25:4. I have not sat with the council of vanity: neither will I go in +with the doers of unjust things. + +25:5. I have hated the assembly of the malignant; and with the wicked I +will not sit. + +25:6. I will wash my hands among the innocent; and will compass thy +altar, O Lord: + +25:7. That I may hear the voice of thy praise: and tell of all thy +wondrous works. + +25:8. I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house; and the place +where thy glory dwelleth. + +25:9. Take not away my soul, O God, with the wicked: nor my life with +bloody men: + +25:10. In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with +gifts. + +25:11. But as for me, I have walked in my innocence: redeem me, and +have mercy on me. + +25:12. My foot hath stood in the direct way: in the churches I will +bless thee, O Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 26 + + +Dominus illuminatio. + +David's faith and hope in God. + +26:1. The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light +and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my +life: of whom shall I be afraid? + +26:2. Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My +enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have +fallen. + +26:3. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart +shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I +be confident. + +26:4. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that +I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I +may see the delight of the Lord, and may visit his temple. + +26:5. For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; in the day of evils, he +hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle. + +26:6. He hath exalted me upon a rock: and now he hath lifted up my head +above my enemies. I have gone round, and have offered up in his +tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation: I will sing, and recite a psalm +to the Lord. + +26:7. Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee: have +mercy on me and hear me. + +26:8. My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee: thy face, O +Lord, will I still seek. + +26:9. Turn not away thy face from me; decline not in thy wrath from thy +servant. Be thou my helper, forsake me not; do not thou despise me, O +God my Saviour. + +26:10. For my father and my mother have left me: but the Lord hath +taken me up. + +26:11. Set me, O Lord, a law in thy way, and guide me in the right +path, because of my enemies. + +26:12. Deliver me not over to the will of them that trouble me; for +unjust witnesses have risen up against me; and iniquity hath lied to +itself. + +26:13. I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the +living. + +26:14. Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, +and wait thou for the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 27 + + +Ad te, Domine, clamabo. + +David's prayer that his enemies may not prevail over him. + +27:1. A psalm for David himself. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord: O my +God, be not thou silent to me: lest if thou be silent to me, I become +like them that go down into the pit. + +27:2. Hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication, when I pray to thee; +when I lift up my hands to thy holy temple. + +27:3. Draw me not away together with the wicked; and with the workers +of iniquity destroy me not: Who speak peace with their neighbour, but +evils are in their hearts. + +27:4. Give them according to their works, and according to the +wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands +give thou to them: render to them their reward. + +27:5. Because they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the +operations of his hands: thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build +them up. + +27:6. Blessed be the Lord, for he hath heard the voice of my +supplication. + +27:7. The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart +confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, +and with my will I will give praise to him. + +27:8. The Lord is the strength of his people, and the protector of the +salvation of his anointed. + +27:9. Save, O Lord, thy people, and bless thy inheritance: and rule +them and exalt them for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 28 + + +Afferte Domino. + +An invitation to glorify God, with a commemoration of his mighty works. + +28:1. A psalm for David, at the finishing of the tabernacle. Bring to +the Lord, O ye children of God: bring to the Lord the offspring of +rams. + +28:2. Bring to the Lord glory and honour: bring to the Lord glory to +his name: adore ye the Lord in his holy court. + +28:3. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of majesty hath +thundered, The Lord is upon many waters. + +28:4. The voice of the Lord is in power; the voice of the Lord in +magnificence. + +28:5. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars: yea, the Lord shall +break the cedars of Libanus. + +28:6. And shall reduce them to pieces, as a calf of Libanus, and as the +beloved son of unicorns. + +Shall reduce them to pieces, etc. . .In Hebrew, shall make them to skip +like a calf. The psalmist here describes the effects of thunder (which +he calls the voice of the Lord) which sometimes breaks down the tallest +and strongest trees; and makes their broken branches skip, etc. All +this is to be understood mystically of the powerful voice of God's word +in his church; which has broken the pride of the great ones of this +world, and brought many of them meekly and joyfully to submit their +necks to the sweet yoke of Christ. + +28:7. The voice of the Lord divideth the flame of fire: + +28:8. The voice of the Lord shaketh the desert: and the Lord shall +shake the desert of Cades. + +28:9. The voice of the Lord prepareth the stags: and he will discover +the thick woods: and in his temple all shall speak his glory. + +28:10. The Lord maketh the flood to dwell: and the Lord shall sit king +for ever. The Lord will give strength to his people: the Lord will +bless his people with peace. + + + +Psalms Chapter 29 + + +Exaltabo te, Domine. + +David praiseth God for his deliverance, and his merciful dealings with +him. + +29:1. A psalm of a canticle, at the dedication of David's house. + +29:2. I will extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast upheld me: and hast not +made my enemies to rejoice over me. + +29:3. O Lord my God, I have cried to thee, and thou hast healed me. + +29:4. Thou hast brought forth, O Lord, my soul from hell: thou hast +saved me from them that go down into the pit. + +29:5. Sing to the Lord, O ye his saints: and give praise to the memory +of his holiness. + +29:6. For wrath is in his indignation; and life in his good will. In +the evening weeping shall have place, and in the morning gladness. + +29:7. And in my abundance I said: I shall never be moved. + +29:8. O Lord, in thy favour, thou gavest strength to my beauty. Thou +turnedst away thy face from me, and I became troubled. + +29:9. To thee, O Lord, will I cry: and I will make supplication to my +God. + +29:10. What profit is there in my blood, whilst I go down to +corruption? Shall dust confess to thee, or declare thy truth? + +29:11. The Lord hath heard, and hath had mercy on me: the Lord became +my helper. + +29:12. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into joy: thou hast cut my +sackcloth, and hast compassed me with gladness: + +29:13. To the end that my glory may sing to thee, and I may not regret: +O Lord my God, I will give praise to thee for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 30 + + +In te, Domine, speravi. + +A prayer of a just man under affliction. + +30:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy. + +30:2. In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: +deliver me in thy justice. + +30:3. Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me +a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me. + +30:4. For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake +thou wilt lead me, and nourish me. + +30:5. Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for +me: for thou art my protector. + +30:6. Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O +Lord, the God of truth. + +30:7. Thou hast hated them that regard vanities, to no purpose. But I +have hoped in the Lord: + +30:8. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy. For thou hast regarded +my humility, thou hast saved my soul out of distresses. + +30:9. And thou hast not shut me up in the hands of the enemy: thou hast +set my feet in a spacious place. + +30:10. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted: my eye is troubled +with wrath, my soul, and my belly: + +30:11. For my life is wasted with grief: and my years in sighs. My +strength is weakened through poverty and my bones are disturbed. + +30:12. I am become a reproach among all my enemies, and very much to my +neighbours; and a fear to my acquaintance. They that saw me without +fled from me. + +30:13. I am forgotten as one dead from the heart. I am become as a +vessel that is destroyed. + +30:14. For I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about. While +they assembled together against me, they consulted to take away my +life. + +30:15. But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my +God. + +30:16. My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my +enemies; and from them that persecute me. + +30:17. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me in thy mercy. + +30:18. Let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon thee. +Let the wicked be ashamed, and be brought down to hell. + +30:19. Let deceitful lips be made dumb. Which speak iniquity against +the just, with pride and abuse. + +30:20. O how great is the multitude of thy sweetness, O Lord, which +thou hast hidden for them that fear thee! Which thou hast wrought for +them that hope in thee, in the sight of the sons of men. + +30:21. Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy face, from the +disturbance of men. Thou shalt protect them in thy tabernacle from the +contradiction of tongues. + +30:22. Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewn his wonderful mercy to me +in a fortified city. + +30:23. But I said in the excess of my mind: I am cast away from before +thy eyes. Therefore thou hast heard the voice of my prayer, when I +cried to thee. + +30:24. O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord will require +truth, and will repay them abundantly that act proudly. + +30:25. Do ye manfully, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that +hope in the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 31 + + +Beati quorum. + +The second penitential psalm. + +31:1. To David himself, understanding. Blessed are they whose +iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. + +31:2. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, and in +whose spirit there is no guile. + +31:3. Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all +the day long. + +Because I was silent, etc. . .That is, whilst I kept silence, by +concealing, or refusing to confess my sins, thy hand was heavy upon me, +etc. + +31:4. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in my +anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened. + +I am turned, etc. . .That is, I turn and roll about in my bed to seek +for ease in my pain whilst the thorn of thy justice pierces my flesh, +and sticks fast in me. Or, I am turned: that is, I am converted to +thee, my God, by being brought to a better understanding by thy +chastisements. In the Hebrew it is, my moisture is turned into the +droughts of the summer. + +31:5. I have acknowledged my sin to thee, and my injustice I have not +concealed. I said I will confess against my self my injustice to the +Lord: and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin. + +31:6. For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee in a +seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters, they shall not come +nigh unto him. + +31:7. Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: my +joy, deliver me from them that surround me. + +31:8. I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this +way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix my eyes upon thee. + +31:9. Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no +understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not +near unto thee. + +31:10. Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encompass +him that hopeth in the Lord. + +31:11. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, and glory, all ye +right of heart. + + + +Psalms Chapter 32 + + +Exultate, justi. + +An exhortation to praise God, and to trust in him. + +32:1. A psalm for David. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise +becometh the upright. + +32:2. Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the +psaltery, the instrument of ten strings. + +32:3. Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise. + +32:4. For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done +with faithfulness. + +32:5. He loveth mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of +the Lord. + +32:6. By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; and all the +power of them by the spirit of his mouth: + +32:7. Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; laying +up the depths in storehouses. + +32:8. Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of +the world be in awe of him. + +32:9. For he spoke and they were made: he commanded and they were +created. + +32:10. The Lord bringeth to nought the counsels of nations; and he +rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of +princes. + +32:11. But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: the thoughts of +his heart to all generations. + +32:12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he +hath chosen for his inheritance. + +32:13. The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of +men. + +32:14. From his habitation which he hath prepared, he hath looked upon +all that dwell on the earth. + +32:15. He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: who +understandeth all their works. + +32:16. The king is not saved by a great army: nor shall the giant be +saved by his own great strength. + +32:17. Vain is the horse for safety: neither shall he be saved by the +abundance of his strength. + +32:18. Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on +them that hope in his mercy. + +32:19. To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine. + +32:20. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and +protector. + +32:21. For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have +trusted. + +32:22. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hooped in thee. + + + +Psalms Chapter 33 + + +Benedicam Dominum. + +An exhortation to the praise, and service of God. + +33:1. For David, when he changed his countenance before Achimelech, who +dismissed him, and he went his way. [1 Kings 21.] + +33:2. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in +my mouth. + +33:3. In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and +rejoice. + +33:4. O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together. + +33:5. I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all +my troubles. + +33:6. Come ye to him and be enlightened: and your faces shall not be +confounded. + +33:7. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him: and saved him out of +all his troubles. + +33:8. The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear +him: and shall deliver them. + +33:9. O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that +hopeth in him. + +33:10. Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them +that fear him. + +33:11. The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that +seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good. + +33:12. Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the +Lord. + +33:13. Who is the man that desireth life: who liveth to see good days? + +33:14. Keep thy tongue form evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. + +33:15. Turn away from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it. + +33:16. The eyes of the Lord are upon the just: and his ears unto their +prayers. + +33:17. But the countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil +things: to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. + +33:18. The just cried, and the Lord heard them: and delivered them out +of all their troubles. + +33:19. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he +will save the humble of spirit. + +33:20. Many are the afflictions of the just; but out of them all will +the Lord deliver them. + +33:21. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart: and he +will save the humble of spirit. + +33:22. The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the +just shall be guilty. + +33:23. The Lord will redeem the souls of his servants: and none of them +that trust in him shall offend. + + + +Psalms Chapter 34 + + +Judica, Domine, nocentes me. + +David, in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors: +prophetically foreshewing the punishments that shall fall upon them. + +34:1. For David himself. Judge thou, O Lord, them that wrong me: +overthrow them that fight against me. + +34:2. Take hold of arms and shield: and rise up to help me. + +34:3. Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that +persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation. + +34:4. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek after my soul. Let +them be turned back and be confounded that devise evil against me. + +34:5. Let them become as dust before the wind: and let the angel of the +Lord straiten them. + +34:6. Let their way become dark and slippery; and let the angel of the +Lord pursue them. + +34:7. For without cause they have hidden their net for me unto +destruction: without cause they have upbraided my soul. + +34:8. Let the snare which he knoweth not come upon him: and let the net +which he hath hidden catch him: and into that very snare let them fall. + +34:9. But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord; and shall be delighted in +his salvation. + +34:10. All my bones shall say: Lord, who is like to thee? Who +deliverest the poor from the hand of them that are stronger than he; +the needy and the poor from them that strip him. + +34:11. Unjust witnesses rising up have asked me things I knew not. + +34:12. They repaid me evil for good: to the depriving me of my soul. + +34:13. But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed +with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be +turned into my bosom. + +34:14. As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please: as one +mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled. + +34:15. But they rejoiced against me, and came together: scourges were +gathered together upon me, and I knew not. + +34:16. They were separated, and repented not: they tempted me, they +scoffed at me with scorn: they gnashed upon me with their teeth. + +34:17. Lord, when wilt thou look upon me? rescue thou my soul from +their malice: my only one from the lions. + +34:18. I will give thanks to thee in a great church; I will praise thee +in a strong people. + +34:19. Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: who +have hated me without cause, and wink with the eyes. + +34:20. For they spoke indeed peaceably to me; and speaking in the anger +of the earth they devised guile. + +34:21. And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said: Well +done, well done, our eyes have seen it. + +34:22. Thou hast seen, O Lord, be not thou silent: O Lord, depart not +from me. + +34:23. Arise, and be attentive to my judgment: to my cause, my God, and +my Lord. + +34:24. Judge me, O Lord my God according to thy justice, and let them +not rejoice over me. + +34:25. Let them not say in their hearts: It is well, it is well, to our +mind: neither let them say: We have swallowed him up. + +34:26. Let them blush: and be ashamed together, who rejoice at my +evils. Let them be clothed with confusion and shame, who speak great +things against me. + +34:27. Let them rejoice and be glad, who are well pleased with my +justice, and let them say always: The Lord be magnified, who delights +in the peace of his servant. + +34:28. And my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day +long. + + + +Psalms Chapter 35 + + +Dixit injustus. + +The malice of sinners, and the goodness of God. + +35:1. Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself. + +35:2. The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is +no fear of God before his eyes. + +35:3. For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may +be found unto hatred. + +Unto hatred. . .That is, hateful to God. + +35:4. The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not +understand that he might do well. + +35:5. He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every +way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated. + +35:6. O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth even to +the clouds. + +35:7. Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great +deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord: + +35:8. O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! But the children of +men shall put their trust under the covert of thy wings. + +35:9. They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou +shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure. + +35:10. For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall +see light. + +35:11. Extend thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy justice to them +that are right in heart. + +35:12. Let not the foot of pride come to me, and let not the hand of +the sinner move me. + +35:13. There the workers of iniquity are fallen, they are cast out, and +could not stand. + + + +Psalms Chapter 36 + + +Noli aemulari. + +An exhortation to despise this world; and the short prosperity of the +wicked; and to trust in Providence. + +36:1. Be not emulous of evildoers; nor envy them that work iniquity. + +36:2. For they shall shortly wither away as grass, and as the green +herbs shall quickly fall. + +36:3. Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land, and thou +shalt be fed with its riches. + +36:4. Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy +heart. + +36:5. Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it. + +36:6. And he will bring forth thy justice as the light, and thy +judgment as the noonday. + +36:7. Be subject to the Lord and pray to him. Envy not the man who +prospereth in his way; the man who doth unjust things. + +36:8. Cease from anger, and leave rage; have no emulation to do evil. + +36:9. For evildoers shall be cut off: but they that wait upon the Lord, +they shall inherit the land. + +36:10. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: and thou +shalt seek his place, and shalt not find it. + +36:11. But the meek shall inherit the land, and shall delight in +abundance of peace. + +36:12. The sinner shall watch the just man: and shall gnash upon him +with his teeth. + +36:13. But the Lord shall laugh at him: for he foreseeth that his day +shall come. + +36:14. The wicked have drawn out the sword: they have bent their bow. +To cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart. + +36:15. Let their sword enter into their own hearts, and let their bow +be broken. + +36:16. Better is a little to the just, than the great riches of the +wicked. + +36:17. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken in pieces; but the +Lord strengtheneth the just. + +36:18. The Lord knoweth the days of the undefiled; and their +inheritance shall be for ever. + +36:19. They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days +of famine they shall be filled: + +36:20. Because the wicked shall perish. And the enemies of the Lord, +presently after they shall be honoured and exalted, shall come to +nothing and vanish like smoke. + +36:21. The sinner shall borrow, and not pay again; but the just sheweth +mercy and shall give. + +36:22. For such as bless him shall inherit the land: but such as curse +him shall perish. + +36:23. With the Lord shall the steps of a man be directed, and he shall +like well his way. + +36:24. When he shall fall he shall not be bruised, for the Lord putteth +his hand under him. + +36:25. I have been young and now am old; and I have not seen the just +forsaken, nor his seed seeking bread. + +36:26. He sheweth mercy, and lendeth all the day long; and his seed +shall be in blessing. + +36:27. Decline from evil and do good, and dwell for ever and ever. + +36:28. For the Lord loveth judgment, and will not forsake his saints: +they shall be preserved for ever. The unjust shall be punished, and the +seed of the wicked shall perish. + +36:29. But the just shall inherit the land, and shall dwell therein for +evermore. + +36:30. The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue +shall speak judgment. + +36:31. The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be +supplanted. + +36:32. The wicked watcheth the just man, and seeketh to put him to +death, + +36:33. But the Lord will not leave him in his hands; nor condemn him +when he shall be judged. + +36:34. Expect the Lord and keep his way: and he will exalt thee to +inherit the land: when the sinners shall perish thou shalt see. + +36:35. I have seen the wicked highly exalted, and lifted up like the +cedars of Libanus. + +36:36. And I passed by, and lo, he was not: and I sought him and his +place was not found. + +36:37. Keep innocence, and behold justice: for there are remnants for +the peaceable man. + +36:38. But the unjust shall be destroyed together: the remnants of the +wicked shall perish. + +36:39. But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their +protector in the time of trouble. + +36:40. And the Lord will help them and deliver them: and he will rescue +them from the wicked, and save them because they have hoped in him. + + + +Psalms Chapter 37 + + +Domine, ne in furore. + +A prayer of a penitent for the remission of his sins. The third +penitential psalm. + +37:1. A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath. + +For a remembrance. . .Viz., of our miseries and sins: and to be sung on +the sabbath day. + +37:2. Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy +wrath. + +37:3. For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong +upon me. + +37:4. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no +peace for my bones, because of my sins. + +37:5. For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden +are become heavy upon me. + +37:6. My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness. + +37:7. I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I +walked sorrowful all the day long. + +37:8. For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in +my flesh. + +37:9. I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the +groaning of my heart. + +37:10. Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not +hidden from thee. + +37:11. My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of +my eyes itself is not with me. + +37:12. My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against +me. And they that were near me stood afar off: + +37:13. And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought +evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long. + +37:14. But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening +his mouth. + +37:15. And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no +reproofs in his mouth. + +37:16. For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my +God. + +37:17. For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and +whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me. + +37:18. For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before +me. + +37:19. For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin. + +37:20. But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate +me wrongfully are multiplied. + +37:21. They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I +followed goodness. + +37:22. For sake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me. + +37:23. Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation. + + + +Psalms Chapter 38 + + +Dixi custodiam. + +A just man's peace and patience in his sufferings; considering the +vanity of the world, and the providence of God. + +38:1. Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David. + +38:2. I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my +tongue. I have set a guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against +me. + +38:3. I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: +and my sorrow was renewed. + +38:4. My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall +flame out. + +38:5. I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is +the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me. + +38:6. Behold thou hast made my days measurable. and my substance is as +nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man +living. + +38:7. Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in +vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these +things. + +38:8. And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is +with thee. + +38:9. Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a +reproach to the fool. + +38:10. I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done +it. + +38:11. Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made +me faint in rebukes: + +38:12. Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his +soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted. + +38:13. Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my +tears. Be no silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as +all my fathers were. + +38:14. O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be +no more. + + + +Psalms Chapter 39 + + +Expectans expectavi. + +Christ's coming, and redeeming mankind. + +39:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. + +39:2. With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive +to me. + +39:3. And he heard my prayers, and brought me out of the pit of misery +and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock, and directed my +steps. + +39:4. And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many +shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord. + +39:5. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and +who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies. + +39:6. Thou hast multiplied thy wonderful works, O Lord my God: and in +thy thoughts there is no one like to thee. I have declared and I have +spoken they are multiplied above number. + +39:7. Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast +pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not +require: + +39:8. Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written +of me + +39:9. That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy +law in the midst of my heart. + +39:10. I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not +restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it. + +39:11. I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy +truth and thy salvation. I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth +from a great council. + +39:12. Withhold not thou, O Lord, thy tender mercies from me: thy mercy +and thy truth have always upheld me. + +39:13. For evils without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have +overtaken me, and I was not able to see. They are multiplied above the +hairs of my head: and my heart hath forsaken me. + +My iniquities. . .That is, the sins of all mankind, which I have taken +upon me. + +39:14. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me. look down, O Lord, to help +me. + +39:15. Let them be confounded and ashamed together, that seek after my +soul to take it away. Let them be turned backward and be ashamed that +desire evils to me. + +39:16. Let them immediately bear their confusion, that say to me: 'T is +well, t' is well. + +'T is well. . .The Hebrew here is an interjection of insult and +derision, like the Vah. Matt. 27.49. + +39:17. Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such +as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified. + +39:18. But I am a beggar and poor: the Lord is careful for me. Thou art +my helper and my protector: O my God, be not slack. + + + +Psalms Chapter 40 + + +Beatus qui intelligit. + +The happiness of him that shall believe in Christ; notwithstanding the +humility and poverty in which he shall come: the malice of his enemies, +especially of the traitor Judas. + +40:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David himself. + +40:2. Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the +poor: the Lord will deliver him in the evil day. + +40:3. The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed +upon the earth: and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. + +40:4. The Lord help him on his bed of sorrow: thou hast turned all his +couch in his sickness. + +40:5. I said: O Lord, be thou merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have +sinned against thee. + +40:6. My enemies have spoken evils against me: when shall he die and +his name perish? + +40:7. And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart +gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same +purpose. + +40:8. All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils +to me. + +40:9. They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth +rise again no more? + +40:10. For even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my +bread, hath greatly supplanted me. + +40:11. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise my up again: and I +will requite them. + +40:12. By this I know, that thou hast had a good will for me: because +my enemy shall not rejoice over me. + +40:13. But thou hast upheld me by reason of my innocence: and hast +established me in thy sight for ever. + +40:14. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel from eternity to eternity. +So be it. So be it. + + + +Psalms Chapter 41 + + +Quemadmodum desiderat. + +The fervent desire of the just after God: hope in afflictions. + +41:1. Unto the end, understanding for the sons of Core. + +41:2. As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul +panteth after thee, O God. + +41:3. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I +come and appear before the face of God? + +41:4. My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to +me daily: Where is thy God? + +41:5. These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: for I +shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the +house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one +feasting. + +41:6. Why art thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou trouble me? Hope +in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation of my +countenance, + +41:7. And my God. My soul is troubled within my self: therefore will I +remember thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniim, from the little +hill. + +41:8. Deep calleth on deep, at the noise of thy flood-gates. All thy +heights and thy billows have passed over me. + +41:9. In the daytime the Lord hath commanded his mercy; and a canticle +to him in the night. With me is prayer to the God of my life. + +41:10. I will say to God: Thou art my support. Why hast thou forgotten +me? and why go I mourning, whilst my enemy afflicteth me? + +41:11. Whilst my bones are broken, my enemies who trouble me have +reproached me; Whilst they say to me day by day: Where is thy God? + +41:12. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet +me? Hope thou in God, for I will still give praise to him: the +salvation of my countenance, and my God. + + + +Psalms Chapter 42 + + +Judica me, Deus. + +The prophet aspireth after the temple and altar of God. + +42:1. A psalm for David. Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from +the nation that is not holy: deliver me from the unjust and deceitful +man. + +42:2. For thou art God my strength: why hast thou cast me off? and why +do I go sorrowful whilst the enemy afflicteth me? + +42:3. Sent forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted me, and +brought me unto thy holy hill, and into thy tabernacles. + +42:4. And I will go in to the altar of God: to God who giveth joy to my +youth. + +42:5. To thee, O God my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art +thou sad, O my soul? and why dost thou disquiet me? + +42:6. Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him: the salvation +of my countenance, and my God. + + + +Psalms Chapter 43 + + +Deus auribus nostris. + +The church commemorates former favours, and present afflictions; under +which she prays for succour. + +43:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core, to give understanding. + +43:2. We have heard, O God, with our ears: our fathers have declared to +us, The work thou hast wrought in their days, and in the days of old. + +43:3. Thy hand destroyed the Gentiles, and thou plantedst them: thou +didst afflict the people and cast them out. + +43:4. For they got not the possession of the land by their own sword: +neither did their own arm save them. But thy right hand and thy arm, +and the light of thy countenance: because thou wast pleased with them. + +43:5. Thou art thyself my king and my God, who commandest the saving of +Jacob. + +43:6. Through thee we will push down our enemies with the horn: and +through thy name we will despise them that rise up against us. + +43:7. For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me. + +43:8. But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put +them to shame that hate us. + +43:9. In God shall we glory all the day long: and in thy name we will +give praise for ever. + +43:10. But now thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame: and thou , O +God, wilt not go out with our armies. + +43:11. Thou hast made us turn our back to our enemies: and they that +hated us plundered for themselves. + +43:12. Thou hast given us up like sheep to be eaten: thou hast +scattered us among the nations. + +43:13. Thou hast sold thy people for no price: and there was no +reckoning in the exchange of them. + +43:14. Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoff and +derision to them that are round about us. + +43:15. Thou hast made us a byword among the Gentiles: a shaking of the +head among the people. + +43:16. All the day long my shame is before me: and the confusion of my +face hath covered me, + +43:17. At the voice of him that reproacheth and detracteth me: at the +face of the enemy and persecutor. + +43:18. All these things have come upon us, yet we have not forgotten +thee: and we have not done wickedly in thy covenant. + +43:19. And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned +aside our steps from thy way. + +43:20. For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the +shadow of death hath covered us. + +43:21. If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread +forth our hands to a strange god: + +43:22. Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the +secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day +long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. + +43:23. Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to +the end. + +43:24. Why turnest thou thy face away? and forgettest our want and our +trouble? + +43:25. For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to +the earth. + +43:26. Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name's sake. + + + +Psalms Chapter 44 + + +Eructavit cor meum. + +The excellence of Christ's kingdom, and the endowments of his church. + +44:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of +Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. + +For them that shall be changed. . .i.e., for souls happily changed, by +being converted to God.--Ibid. The Beloved. . .Viz., Our Lord Jesus +Christ. + +44:2. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king: +My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly. + +44:3. Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad +in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. + +44:4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty. + +44:5. With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, +and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right +hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. + +44:6. Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the +hearts of the king's enemies. + +44:7. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy +kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. + +44:8. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy +God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. + +44:9. Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory +houses: out of which + +44:10. The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The +queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with +variety. + +44:11. Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget +thy people and thy father's house. + +44:12. And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord +thy God, and him they shall adore. + +44:13. And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among +the people, shall entreat thy countenance. + +44:14. All the glory of the king's daughter is within in golden +borders, + +44:15. Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be +brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee. + +44:16. They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be +brought into the temple of the king. + +44:17. Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make +them princes over all the earth. + +44:18. They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. +Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 45 + + +Deus noster refugium. + +The church in persecution trusteth in the protection of God. + +45:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core, for the hidden. + +45:2. Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which +have found us exceedingly. + +45:3. Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and +the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea. + +45:4. Their waters roared and were troubled: the mountains were +troubled with his strength. + +45:5. The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most +High hath sanctified his own tabernacle. + +45:6. God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help +it in the morning early. + +45:7. Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: he uttered +his voice, the earth trembled. + +45:8. The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector. + +45:9. Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath +done upon earth, + +45:10. Making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall +destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in +the fire. + +45:11. Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the +nations, and I will be exalted in the earth. + +45:12. The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our +protector. + + + +Psalms Chapter 46 + + +Omnes gentes, plaudite. + +The Gentiles are invited to praise God for the establishment of the +kingdom of Christ. + +46:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core. + +46:2. O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice +of joy, + +46:3. For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth. + +46:4. He hath subdued the people under us; and the nations under our +feet. + +46:5. He hath chosen for us his inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which +he hath love. + +46:6. God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of +trumpet. + +46:7. Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing +ye. + +46:8. For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely. + +46:9. God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne. + +46:10. The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of +Abraham: for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted. + + + +Psalms Chapter 47 + + +Magnus Dominus. + +God is greatly to be praised for the establishment of his church. + +47:1. A psalm of a canticle, for the sons of Core, on the second day of +the week. + +47:2. Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of +our God, in his holy mountain. + +47:3. With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, on the +sides of the north, the city of the great king. + +47:4. In her houses shall God be known, when he shall protect her. + +47:5. For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: they +gathered together. + +47:6. So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were +moved: + +47:7. Trembling took hold of them. There were pains as of a woman in +labour. + +47:8. With a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of +Tharsis. + +47:9. As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of +hosts, in the city of our God: God hath founded it for ever. + +47:10. We have received thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy temple. + +47:11. According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the +ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice. + +47:12. Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; +because of thy judgments, O Lord. + +47:13. Surround Sion, and encompass her: tell lye in her towers. + +47:14. Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, that +ye may relate it in another generation. + +47:15. For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: +he shall rule us for evermore. + + + +Psalms Chapter 48 + + +Audite haec, omnes gentes. + +The folly of worldlings, who live on in sin, without thinking of death +or hell. + +48:1. Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core. + +48:2. Hear these things, all ye nations: give ear, all ye inhabitants +of the world. + +48:3. All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both rich and +poor together. + +48:4. My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart +understanding. + +48:5. I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my proposition on +the psaltery. + +48:6. Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall +encompass me. + +The iniquity of my heel. . .That is, the iniquity of my steps or ways: +or the iniquity of my pride, with which as with the heel, I have +spurned and kicked at my neighbours: or the iniquity of my heel, that +is, the iniquity in which I shall be found in death. The meaning of +this verse is, Why should I now indulge those passions and sinful +affections, or commit now those sins, which will cause me so much fear +and anguish in the evil day; when the sorrows of death shall compass +me, and the perils of hell shall find me? + +48:7. They that trust in their own strength, and glory in the multitude +of their riches, + +They that trust, etc. . .As much as to say, let them fear that trust in +their strength or riches: for they have great reason to fear: seeing no +brother or other man, how much a friend soever, can by any price or +labour rescue them from death. + +48:8. No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to +God his ransom, + +48:9. Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for +ever, + +And shall labour for ever, etc. . .This seems to be a continuation of +the foregoing sentence: as much as to say no man can by any price or +ransom prolong his life, that so he may still continue to labour here, +and live to the end of the world. Others understand it of the eternal +sorrows, and dying life of hell, which is the dreadful consequence of +dying in sin. + +48:10. And shall still live unto the end. + +48:11. He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: +the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave +their riches to strangers: + +He shall not see destruction, etc. . .Or, shall he not see destruction? +As much as to say, however thoughtless he may be of his death, he must +not expect to escape; when even the wise and the good are not exempt +from dying. + +48:12. And their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever. Their +dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by +their names. + +They have called, etc. . .That is, they have left their names on their +graves, which alone remain of their lands. + +48:13. And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared +to senseless beasts, and is become like to them. + +48:14. This way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards +they shall delight in their mouth. + +They shall delight in their mouth. . .Notwithstanding the wretched way +in which they walk, they shall applaud themselves with their mouths, +and glory in their doings. + +48:15. They are laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. +And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their +help shall decay in hell from their glory. + +In the morning. . .That is, in the resurrection to a new life; when the +just shall judge and condemn the wicked. Ibid. From their +glory. . .That is, when their short-lived glory in this world shall be +past, and be no more. + +48:16. But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall +receive me. + +48:17. Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rick, and when the +glory of his house shall be increased. + +48:18. For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his +glory descend with him. + +48:19. For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise +thee when thou shalt do well to him. + +48:20. He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and he shall +never see light. + +48:21. Man when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been +compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them. + + + +Psalms Chapter 49 + + +Deus deorum. + +The coming of Christ: who prefers virtue and inward purity before the +blood of victims. + +49:1. A psalm for Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: and he +hath called the earth. From the rising of the sun, to the going down +thereof: + +49:2. Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty. + +49:3. God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, and shall not keep +silence. A fire shall burn before him: and a mighty tempest shall be +round about him. + +49:4. He shall call heaven from above, and the earth, to judge his +people. + +49:5. Gather ye together his saints to him: who set his covenant before +sacrifices. + +49:6. And the heavens shall declare his justice: for God is judge. + +49:7. Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify +to thee: I am God, thy God. + +49:8. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: and thy burnt +offerings are always in my sight. + +49:9. I will not take calves out of thy house: nor he goats out of thy +flocks. + +49:10. For all the beasts of the woods are mine: the cattle on the +hills, and the oxen. + +49:11. I know all the fowls of the air: and with me is the beauty of +the field. + +49:12. If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is +mine, and the fulness thereof. + +49:13. Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? or shall I drink the blood of +goats? + +49:14. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: and pay thy vows to the +most High. + +49:15. And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and +thou shalt glorify me. + +49:16. But to the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my +justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth? + +49:17. Seeing thou hast hated discipline: and hast cast my words behind +thee. + +49:18. If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: and with +adulterers thou hast been a partaker. + +49:19. Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, and thy tongue framed +deceits. + +49:20. Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a +scandal against thy mother's son: + +49:21. These things hast thou done, and I was silent. Thou thoughtest +unjustly that I should be like to thee: but I will reprove thee, and +set before thy face. + +49:22. Understand these things, you that forget God; lest he snatch you +away, and there be none to deliver you. + +49:23. The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: and there is the way +by which I will shew him the salvation of God. + + + +Psalms Chapter 50 + + +Miserere. + +The repentance and confession of David after his sin. The fourth +penitential psalm. + +50:1. Unto the end, a psalm of David, + +50:2. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with +Bethsabee. [2 Kings 12.] + +50:3. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And +according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity. + +50:4. Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. + +50:5. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. + +50:6. To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that +thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art +judged. + +50:7. For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my +mother conceive me. + +50:8. For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things +of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me. + +50:9. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou +shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. + +50:10. To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones +that have been humbled shall rejoice. + +50:11. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. + +50:12. Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit +within my bowels. + +50:13. Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit +from me. + +50:14. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with +a perfect spirit. + +50:15. I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be +converted to thee. + +50:16. Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my +tongue shall extol thy justice. + +50:17. O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy +praise. + +50:18. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given +it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted. + +50:19. A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and +humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. + +50:20. Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the +walls of Jerusalem may be built up. + +50:21. Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and +whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar. + + + +Psalms Chapter 51 + + +Quid gloriaris. + +David condemneth the wickedness of Doeg, and foretelleth his +destruction. + +51:1. Unto the end, understanding for David, + +51:2. When Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul: David went to the house +of Achimelech. + +51:3. Why dost thou glory in malice, thou that art mighty in iniquity? + +51:4. All the day long thy tongue hath devised injustice: as a sharp +razor, thou hast wrought deceit. + +51:5. Thou hast loved malice more than goodness: and iniquity rather +than to speak righteousness. + +51:6. Thou hast loved all the words of ruin, O deceitful tongue. + +51:7. Therefore will God destroy thee for ever: he will pluck thee out, +and remove thee from thy dwelling place: and thy root out of the land +of the living. + +51:8. The just shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, and say: + +51:9. Behold the man that made not God his helper: But trusted in the +abundance of his riches: and prevailed in his vanity. + +51:10. But I, as a fruitful olive tree in the house of God, have hoped +in the mercy of God for ever, yea for ever and ever. + +51:11. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I +will wait on thy name, for it is good in the sight of thy saints. + + + +Psalms Chapter 52 + + +Dixit insipiens. + +The general corruption of man before the coming of Christ. + +52:1. Unto the end, for Maeleth, understandings to David. The fool said +in his heart: There is no God. + +Maeleth. . .Or Machalath. A musical instrument, or a chorus of +musicians, for St. Jerome renders it, per chorum. + +52:2. They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: there is +none that doth good. + +52:3. God looked down from heaven on the children of men: to see if +there were any that did understand, or did seek God. + +52:4. All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable together, there +is none that doth good, no not one. + +52:5. Shall not all the workers of iniquity know, who eat up my people +as they eat bread? + +52:6. They have not called upon God: there have they trembled for fear, +where there was no fear. For God hath scattered the bones of them that +please men: they have been confounded, because God hath despised them. + +God hath scattered the bones, etc. . .That is, God has brought to +nothing the strength of all those that seek to please men, to the +prejudice of their duty to their Maker. + +52:7. Who will give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? when God shall +bring back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel +shall be glad. + + + +Psalms Chapter 53 + + +Deus, in nomine tuo. + +A prayer for help in distress. + +53:1. Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. + +53:2. When the en of Ziph had come and said to Saul: Is not David +hidden with us? [1 Kings 23.19] + +53:3. Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength. + +53:4. O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth. + +53:5. For strangers have risen up against me; and the mighty have +sought after my soul: and they have not set God before their eyes. + +53:6. For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my +soul. + +53:7. Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy +truth. + +53:8. I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to +thy name: because it is good: + +53:9. For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath +looked down upon my enemies. + + + +Psalms Chapter 54 + + +Exaudi, Deus. + +A prayer of a just man under persecution from the wicked. It agrees to +Christ persecuted by the Jews, and betrayed by Judas. + +54:1. Unto the end, in verses, understanding for David. + +54:2. Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication: + +54:3. Be attentive to me and hear me. I am grieved in my exercise; and +am troubled, + +54:4. At the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. +For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were +troublesome to me. + +54:5. My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen +upon me. + +54:6. Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered +me. + +54:7. And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly +and be at rest? + +54:8. Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the +wilderness. + +54:9. I waited for him that hath saved me from pusillanimity of spirit, +and a storm. + +54:10. Cast down, O Lord, and divide their tongues; for I have seen +iniquity and contradiction in the city. + +54:11. Day and night shall iniquity surround it upon its walls: and in +the midst thereof are labour, + +54:12. And injustice. And usury and deceit have not departed from its +streets. + +54:13. For if my enemy had reviled me, I would verily have borne with +it. And if he that hated me had spoken great things against me, I would +perhaps have hidden my self from him. + +54:14. But thou a man of one mind, my guide, and my familiar, + +54:15. Who didst take sweetmeats together with me: in the house of God +we walked with consent. + +54:16. Let death come upon them, and let them go down alive into hell. +For there is wickedness in their dwellings: in the midst of them. + +Let death, etc. . .This, and such like imprecations which occur in the +psalms, are delivered prophetically; that is, by way of foretelling the +punishments which shall fall upon the wicked from divine justice, and +approving the righteous ways of God: but not by way of ill will, or +uncharitable curses, which the law of God disallows. + +54:17. But I have cried to God: and the Lord will save me. + +54:18. Evening and morning, and at noon I will speak and declare: and +he shall hear my voice. + +54:19. He shall redeem my soul in peace from them that draw near to me: +for among many they were with me. + +Among many, etc. . .That is, they that drew near to attack me were many +in company all combined to fight against me. + +54:20. God shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is +no change with them, and they have not feared God: + +54:21. He hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled his +covenant, + +54:22. They are divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart +hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are +darts. + +They are divided, etc. . .Dispersed, scattered, and brought to nothing, +by the wrath of God; who looks with indignation on their wicked and +deceitful ways. + +54:23. Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall +not suffer the just to waver for ever. + +54:24. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of +destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their +days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 55 + + +Miserere mei, Deus. + +A prayer of David in danger and distress. + +55:1. Unto the end, for a people that is removed at a distance form the +sanctuary: for David, for an inscription of a title (or pillar) when +the Philistines held him in Geth. + +55:2. Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all +the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me. + +55:3. My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many +that make war against me. + +55:4. From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in +thee. + +The height of the day. . .That is, even at noonday, when the sun is the +highest, I am still in danger. + +55:5. In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will +not fear what flesh can do against me. + +My words. . .The words or promises God has made in my favour. + +55:6. All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were +against me unto evil. + +55:7. They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As +they have waited for my soul, + +55:8. For nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break +the people in pieces. O God, + +For nothing shalt thou save them. . .That is, since they lie in wait to +ruin my soul, thou shalt for no consideration favour or assist them, +but execute thy justice upon them. + +55:9. I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set me tears in thy +sight, As also in thy promise. + +55:10. Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall +call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God. + +55:11. In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his +speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me. + +55:12. In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to +thee: + +55:13. Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from +falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the +living. + + + +Psalms Chapter 56 + + +Miserere mei, Deus. The prophet prays in his affliction, and praises +God for his delivery. + +56:1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a +title, when he fled from Saul into the cave. [1 Kings 24.] + +Destroy not. . .Suffer me not to be destroyed. + +56:2. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth +in thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity +pass away. + +56:3. I will cry to God the most high; to God who hath done good to me. + +56:4. He hath sent from heaven and delivered me: he hath made them a +reproach that trod upon me. God hath sent his mercy and his truth, + +56:5. And he hath delivered my soul from the midst of the young lions. +I slept troubled. The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, +and their tongue a sharp sword. + +56:6. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above +all the earth. + +56:7. They prepared a snare for my feet; and they bowed down my soul. +They dug a pit before my face, and they are fallen into it. + +56:8. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and +rehearse a psalm. + +56:9. Arise, O my glory, arise psaltery and harp: I will arise early. + +56:10. I will give praise to thee, O Lord, among the people: I will +sing a psalm to thee among the nations. + +56:11. For thy mercy is magnified even to the heavens: and thy truth +unto the clouds. + +56:12. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above +all the earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 57 + + +Si vere utique. + +David reproveth the wicked, and foretelleth their punishment. + +57:1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a +title. + +57:2. If in very deed ye speak justice: judge right things, ye sons of +men. + +57:3. For in your heart you work iniquity: your hands forge injustice +in the earth. + +57:4. The wicked are alienated from the womb; they have gone astray +from the womb: they have spoken false things. + +57:5. Their madness is according to the likeness of a serpent: like the +deaf asp that stoppeth her ears: + +57:6. Which will not hear the voice of the charmers; nor of the wizard +that charmeth wisely. + +57:7. God shall break in pieces their teeth in their mouth: the Lord +shall break the grinders of the lions. + +57:8. They shall come to nothing, like water running down; he hath bent +his bow till they be weakened. + +57:9. Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen +on them, and they shall not see the sun. + +57:10. Before your thorns could know the brier; he swalloweth them up, +as alive, in his wrath. + +Before your thorns, etc. . .That is, before your thorns grow up, so as +to become strong briers, they shall be overtaken and consumed by divine +justice, swallowing them up, as it were, alive in his wrath. + +57:11. The just shall rejoice when he shall see the revenge: he shall +wash his hands in the blood of the sinner. + +Shall wash his hands, etc. . .Shall applaud the justice of God, and take +occasion from the consideration of the punishment of the wicked to wash +and cleanse his hands from sin. + +57:12. And man shall say: If indeed there be fruit to the just: there +is indeed a God that judgeth them on the earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 58 + + +Eripe me. + +A prayer to be delivered from the wicked, with confidence in God's help +and protection. It agrees to Christ and his enemies the Jews. + +58:1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a +title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him. [1 Kings 19.] + +58:2. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them +that rise up against me. + +58:3. Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody +men. + +58:4. For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in +upon me: + +58:5. Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity +have I run, and directed my steps. + +58:6. Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God +of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no +mercy on all them that work iniquity. + +58:7. They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: +and shall go round about the city. + +58:8. Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their +lips: for who, say they, hath heard us? + +58:9. But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the +nations to nothing. + +58:10. I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector: + +58:11. My God, his mercy shall prevent me. + +58:12. God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any +time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, +O Lord, my protector: + +58:13. For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let +them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they +shall be talked of, + +58:14. When they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and +they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, +and all the ends of the earth. + +58:15. They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: +and shall go round about the city. + +58:16. They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they +be not filled. + +58:17. But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the +morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of +my trouble. + +58:18. Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my +defence: my God my mercy. + + + +Psalms Chapter 59 + + +Deus, repulisti nos. + +After many afflictions, the church of Christ shall prevail. + +59:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the inscription +of a title, to David himself, for doctrine, + +59:2. When he set fire to Mesopotamia of Syria and Sobal: and Joab +returned and slew of Edom, in the vale of the saltpits, twelve thousand +men. + +59:3. O God, thou hast cast us off, and hast destroyed us; thou hast +been angry, and hast had mercy on us. + +59:4. Thou hast moved the earth, and hast troubled it: heal thou the +breaches thereof, for it has been moved. + +59:5. Thou hast shewn thy people hard things; thou hast made us drink +the wine of sorrow. + +59:6. Thou hast given a warning to them that fear thee: that they may +flee from before the bow: That thy beloved may be delivered. + +59:7. Save me with thy right hand, and hear me. + +59:8. God hath spoken in his holy place: I will rejoice, and I will +divide Sichem; and will mete out the vale of tabernacles. + +59:9. Galaad is mine, and Manasses is mine: and Ephraim is the strength +of my head. Juda is my king: + +59:10. Moab is the pot of my hope. Into Edom will I stretch out my +shoe: to me the foreigners are made subject. + +The pot of my hope. . .Or my watering pot. That is, a vessel for meaner +uses, by being reduced to serve me, even in the meanest +employments.--Ibid. Foreigners. . .So the Philistines are called, who +had no kindred with the Israelites; whereas the Edomites, Moabites, etc., +were originally of the same family. + +59:11. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into +Edom? + +59:12. Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O +God, go out with our armies? + +59:13. Give us help from trouble: for vain is the salvation of man. + +59:14. Through God we shall do mightily: and he shall bring to nothing +them that afflict us. + + + +Psalms Chapter 60 + + +Exaudi, Deus. + +A prayer for the coming of the kingdom of Christ, which shall have no +end. + +60:1. Unto the end, in hymns, for David. + +60:2. Hear, O God, my supplication: be attentive to my prayer. + +60:3. To thee have I cried from the ends of the earth: when my heart +was in anguish, thou hast exalted me on a rock. Thou hast conducted me; + +60:4. For thou hast been my hope; a tower of strength against the face +of the enemy. + +60:5. In thy tabernacle I shall dwell for ever: I shall be protected +under the covert of thy wings. + +60:6. For thou, my God, hast heard my prayer: thou hast given an +inheritance to them that fear thy name. + +60:7. Thou wilt add days to the days of the king: his years even to +generation and generation. + +60:8. He abideth for ever in the sight of God: his mercy and truth who +shall search? + +60:9. So will I sing a psalm to thy name for ever and ever: that I may +pay my vows from day to day. + + + +Psalms Chapter 61 + + +Nonne Deo. + +The prophet encourageth himself and all others to trust in God, and +serve him. + +61:1. Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of David. + +61:2. Shall not my soul be subject to God? for from him is my +salvation. + +61:3. For he is my God and my saviour: he is my protector, I shall be +moved no more. + +61:4. How long do you rush in upon a man? you all kill, as if you were +thrusting down a leaning wall, and a tottering fence. + +61:5. But they have thought to cast away my price; I ran in thirst: +they blessed with their mouth, but cursed with their heart. + +61:6. But be thou, O my soul, subject to God: for from him is my +patience. + +61:7. For he is my God and my saviour: he is my helper, I shall not be +moved. + +61:8. In God is my salvation and my glory: he is the God of my help, +and my hope is in God. + +61:9. Trust in him, all ye congregation of people: pour out your hearts +before him. God is our helper for ever. + +61:10. But vain are the sons of men, the sons of men are liars in the +balances: that by vanity they may together deceive. + +Are liars in the balances, etc. . .They are so vain and light, that if +they are put into the scales, they will be found to be of no weight; +and to be mere lies, deceit, and vanity. Or, They are liars in their +balances, by weighing things by false weights, and preferring the +temporal before the eternal. + +61:11. Trust not in iniquity, and cover not robberies: if riches +abound, set not your heart upon them. + +61:12. God hath spoken once, these two things have I heard, that power +belongeth to God, + +61:13. And mercy to thee, O Lord; for thou wilt render to every man +according to his works. + + + +Psalms Chapter 62 + + +Deus Deus meus, ad te. + +The prophet aspireth after God. + +62:1. A psalm of David while he was in the desert of Edom. + +62:2. O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my +soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways! + +62:3. In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in +the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory. + +62:4. For thy mercy is better than lives: thee my lips will praise. + +62:5. Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will +lift up my hands. + +62:6. Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth +shall praise thee with joyful lips. + +62:7. If I have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in +the morning: + +62:8. Because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the +covert of thy wings: + +62:9. My soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received +me. + +62:10. But they have fought my soul in vain, they shall go into the +lower parts of the earth: + +62:11. They shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they shall +be the portions of foxes. + +62:12. But the king shall rejoice in God, all they shall be praised +that swear by him: because the mouth is stopped of them that speak +wicked things. + + + +Psalms Chapter 63 + + +Exaudi Deus orationem. + +A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God that he will bring to +nought the machinations of persecutors. + +63:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. + +63:2. Hear O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to thee: deliver +my soul from the fear of the enemy. + +63:3. Thou hast protected me from the assembly of the malignant; from +the multitude of the workers of iniquity. + +63:4. For they have whetted their tongues like a sword; they have bent +their bow a bitter thing, + +63:5. To shoot in secret the undefiled. + +63:6. They will shoot at him on a sudden, and will not fear: they are +resolute in wickedness. They have talked of hiding snares; they have +said: Who shall see them? + +63:7. They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their +search. Man shall come to a deep heart: + +A deep heart. . .That is, crafty, subtle, deep projects and designs; +which nevertheless shall not succeed; for God shall be exalted in +bringing them to nought by his wisdom and power. + +63:8. And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their +wounds: + +The arrows of children are their wounds. . .That is, the wounds, +stripes, or blows, they seek to inflict upon the just, are but like the +weak efforts of children's arrows, which can do no execution: and their +tongues, that is, their speeches against them come to nothing. + +63:9. And their tongues against them are made weak. All that saw them +were troubled; + +63:10. And every man was afraid. And they declared the works of God, +and understood his doings. + +63:11. The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in him: and +all the upright in heart shall be praised. + + + +Psalms Chapter 64 + + +Te decet. + +God is to be praised in his church, to which all nations shall be +called. + +64:1. To the end, a psalm of David. The canticle of Jeremias and +Ezechiel to the people of the captivity, when they began to go out. + +Of the captivity. . .That is, the people of the captivity of Babylon. +This is not in the Hebrew, but is found in the ancient translation of +the Septuagint. + +64:2. A hymn, O God, becometh thee in Sion: and a vow shall be paid to +thee in Jerusalem. + +64:3. O hear my prayer: all flesh shall come to thee. + +64:4. The words of the wicked have prevailed over us: and thou wilt +pardon our transgressions. + +64:5. Blessed is he whom thou hast chosen and taken to thee: he shall +dwell in thy courts. We shall be filled with the good things of thy +house; holy is thy temple, + +64:6. Wonderful in justice. Hear us, O God our saviour, who art the +hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the sea afar off. + +64:7. Thou who preparest the mountains by thy strength, being girded +with power: + +64:8. Who troublest the depth of the sea, the noise of its waves. The +Gentiles shall be troubled, + +64:9. And they that dwell in the uttermost borders shall be afraid at +thy signs: thou shalt make the outgoings of the morning and of the +evening to be joyful. + +64:10. Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it; +thou hast many ways enriched it. The river of God is filled with water, +thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation. + +64:11. Fill up plentifully the streams thereof, multiply its fruits; it +shall spring up and rejoice in its showers. + +64:12. Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of thy goodness: and thy +fields shall be filled with plenty. + +64:13. The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow fat: and the +hills shall be girded about with joy, + +64:14. The rams of the flock are clothed, and the vales shall abound +with corn: they shall shout, yea they shall sing a hymn. + + + +Psalms Chapter 65 + + +Jubilate Deo. + +An invitation to praise God. + +65:1. Unto the end, a canticle of a psalm of the resurrection. Shout +with joy to God, all the earth, + +65:2. Sing ye a psalm to his name; give glory to his praise. + +65:3. Say unto God, How terrible are thy works, O Lord! in the +multitude of thy strength thy enemies shall lie to thee. + +65:4. Let all the earth adore thee, and sing to thee: let it sing a +psalm to thy name. + +65:5. Come and see the works of God; who is terrible in his counsels +over the sons of men. + +65:6. Who turneth the sea into dry land, in the river they shall pass +on foot: there shall we rejoice in him. + +65:7. Who by his power ruleth for ever: his eyes behold the nations; +let not them that provoke him be exalted in themselves. + +65:8. O bless our God, ye Gentiles: and make the voice of his praise to +be heard. + +65:9. Who hath set my soul to live: and hath not suffered my feet to be +moved: + +65:10. For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us by fire, as +silver is tried. + +65:11. Thou hast brought us into a net, thou hast laid afflictions on +our back: + +65:12. Thou hast set men over our heads. We have passed through fire +and water, and thou hast brought us out into a refreshment. + +65:13. I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee +my vows, + +65:14. Which my lips have uttered, And my mouth hath spoken, when I was +in trouble. + +65:15. I will offer up to thee holocausts full of marrow, with burnt +offerings of rams: I will offer to thee bullocks with goats. + +65:16. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what +great things he hath done for my soul. + +65:17. I cried to him with my mouth: and I extolled him with my tongue. + +65:18. If I have looked at iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear +me. + +65:19. Therefore hath God heard me, and hath attended to the voice of +my supplication. + +65:20. Blessed be God, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his +mercy from me. + + + +Psalms Chapter 66 + + +Deus misereatur. + +A prayer for the propagation of the church. + +66:1. Unto the end, in hymns, a psalm of a canticle for David. + +66:2. May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may he cause the light of +his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us. + +66:3. That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation in all +nations. + +66:4. Let people confess to thee, O God: let all people give praise to +thee. + +66:5. Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for thou judgest the people +with justice, and directest the nations upon earth. + +66:6. Let the people, O God, confess to thee: let all the people give +praise to thee: + +66:7. The earth hath yielded her fruit. May God, our God bless us, + +66:8. May God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him. + + + +Psalms Chapter 67 + + +Exurgat Deus. + +The glorious establishment of the church of the New Testament, +prefigured by the benefits bestowed on the people of Israel. + +67:1. Unto the end, a psalm of a canticle for David himself. + +67:2. Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered: and let them +that hate him flee from before his face. + +67:3. As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away: as wax melteth +before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. + +67:4. And let the just feast, and rejoice before God: and be delighted +with gladness. + +67:5. Sing ye to God, sing a psalm to his name, make a way for him who +ascendeth upon the west: the Lord is his name. Rejoice ye before him: +but the wicked shall be troubled at his presence, + +Who ascendeth upon the west. . .Super occasum. St. Gregory understands +it of Christ, who after his going down, like the sun, in the west, by +his passion and death, ascended more glorious, and carried all before +him. St. Jerome renders it, who ascendeth, or cometh up, through the +deserts. + +67:6. Who is the father of orphans, and the judge of widows. God in his +holy place: + +67:7. God who maketh men of one manner to dwell in a house: Who +bringeth out them that were bound in strength; in like manner them that +provoke, that dwell in sepulchres. + +Of one manner. . .That is, agreeing in faith, unanimous in love, and +following the same manner of discipline. It is verified in the servants +of God, living together in his house, which is the church. 1 Tim. +3.15.--Ibid. Them that were bound, etc. . .The power and mercy of God +appears in his bringing out of their captivity those that were strongly +bound in their sins: and in restoring to his grace those whose +behaviour had been most provoking; and who by their evil habits were +not only dead, but buried in their sepulchres. + +67:8. O God, when thou didst go forth in the sight of thy people, when +thou didst pass through the desert: + +67:9. The earth was moved, and the heavens dropped at the presence of +the God of Sina, at the presence of the God of Israel. + +67:10. Thou shalt set aside for thy inheritance a free rain, O God: and +it was weakened, but thou hast made it perfect. + +A free rain. . .the manna, which rained plentifully from heaven, in +favour of God's inheritance, that is, of his people Israel: which was +weakened indeed under a variety of afflictions, but was made perfect by +God; that is, was still supported by divine providence, and brought on +to the promised land. It agrees particularly to the church of Christ +his true inheritance, which is plentifully watered with the free rain +of heavenly grace; and through many infirmities, that is, crosses and +tribulations, is made perfect, and fitted for eternal glory. + +67:11. In it shall thy animals dwell; in thy sweetness, O God, thou +hast provided for the poor. + +In it, etc. . .That is, in this church, which is thy fold and thy +inheritance, shall thy animals, thy sheep, dwell: where thou hast +plentifully provided for them. + +67:12. The Lord shall give the word to them that preach good tidings +with great power. + +To them that preach good tidings. . .Evangelizantibus. That is, to the +preachers of the gospel; who receiving the word from the Lord, shall +with great power and efficacy preach throughout the world the glad +tidings of a Saviour, and of eternal salvation through him. + +67:13. The king of powers is of the beloved, of the beloved; and the +beauty of the house shall divide spoils. + +The king of powers. . .That is, the mighty King, the Lord of hosts, is +of the beloved, of the beloved; that is, is on the side of Christ, his +most beloved son: and his beautiful house, viz., the church, in which +God dwells forever, shall by her spiritual conquests divide the spoils +of many nations. The Hebrew (as it now stands pointed) is thus +rendered, The kings of armies have fled, they have fled, and she that +dwells at home (or the beauty of the house) shall divide the spoils. + +67:14. If you sleep among the midst of lots, you shall be as the wings +of a dove covered with silver, and the hinder parts of her back with +the paleness of gold. + +If you sleep among the midst of lots (intermedios cleros, etc.). . .Viz., +in such dangers and persecutions, as if your enemies were casting +lots for your goods and persons: or in the midst of the lots, +(intermedios terminos, as St. Jerome renders it,) that is, upon the +very bounds or borders of the dominions of your enemies: you shall be +secure nevertheless under the divine protection; and shall be enabled +to fly away, like a dove, with glittering wings and feathers shining +like the palest and most precious gold; that is, with great increase of +virtue, and glowing with the fervour of charity. + +67:15. When he that is in heaven appointeth kings over her, they shall +be whited with snow in Selmon. + +Kings over her. . .That is, pastors and rulers over his church, viz., +the apostles and their successors. Then by their ministry shall men be +made whiter than the snow which lies on the top of the high mountain +Selmon. + +67:16. The mountain of God is a fat mountain. A curdled mountain, a fat +mountain. + +The mountain of God. . .The church, which, Isa. 2.2, is called The +mountain of the house of the Lord upon the top of mountains. It is here +called a fat and a curdled mountain; that is to say, most fruitful, and +enriched by the spiritual gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost. + +67:17. Why suspect, ye curdled mountains? A mountain in which God is +well pleased to dwell: for there the Lord shall dwell unto the end. + +Why suspect, ye curdled mountains?. . .Why do you suppose or imagine +there may be any other such curdled mountains? You are mistaken: the +mountain thus favoured by God is but one; and this same he has chosen +for his dwelling for ever. + +67:18. The chariot of God is attended by ten thousands; thousands of +them that rejoice: the Lord is among them in Sina, in the holy place. + +The chariot of God. . .Descending to give his law on mount Sina: as also +of Jesus Christ his Son, ascending into heaven, to send from thence the +Holy Ghost, to publish his new law, is attended with ten thousands, +that is, with an innumerable multitude of joyful angels. + +67:19. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; +thou hast received gifts in men. Yea for those also that do not +believe, the dwelling of the Lord God. + +Led captivity captive. . .Carrying away with thee to heaven those who +before had been the captives of Satan; and receiving from God the +Father gifts to be distributed to men; even to those who were before +unbelievers. + +67:20. Blessed be the Lord day by day: the God of our salvation will +make our journey prosperous to us. + +67:21. Our God is the God of salvation: and of the Lord, of the Lord +are the issues from death. + +The issues from death. . .The Lord alone is master of the issues, by +which we may escape from death. + +67:22. But God shall break the heads of his enemies: the hairy crown of +them that walk on in their sins. + +67:23. The Lord said: I will turn them from Basan, I will turn them +into the depth of the sea: + +I will turn them from Basan, etc. . .I will cast out my enemies from +their rich possessions, signified by Basan, a fruitful country; and I +will drive them into the depth of the sea: and make such a slaughter of +them, that the feet of my servants may be dyed in their blood, etc. + +67:24. That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thy enemies; the +tongue of thy dogs be red with the same. + +67:25. They have seen thy goings, O God, the goings of my God: of my +king who is in his sanctuary. + +Thy goings. . .Thy ways, thy proceedings, by which thou didst formerly +take possession of the promised land in favour of thy people; and shalt +afterwards of the whole world, which thou shalt subdue to thy Son. + +67:26. Princes went before joined with singers, in the midst of young +damsels playing on timbrels. + +Princes. . .The apostles, the first converters of nations; attended by +numbers of perfect souls, singing the divine praises, and virgins +consecrated to God. + +67:27. In the churches bless ye God the Lord, from the fountains of +Israel. + +From the fountains of Israel. . .From whom both Christ and his apostles +sprung. By Benjamin, the holy fathers on this place understand St. +Paul, who was of that tribe, named here a youth, because he was the +last called to the apostleship. By the princes of Juda, Zabulon, and +Nephthali, we may understand the other apostles, who were of the tribe +of Juda; or of the tribes of Zabulon, and Nephthali, where our Lord +began to preach, Matt. 4.13, etc. + +67:28. There is Benjamin a youth, in ecstasy of mind. The princes of +Juda are their leaders: the princes of Zabulon, the princes of +Nephthali. + +67:29. Command thy strength, O God confirm, O God, what thou hast +wrought in us. + +Command thy strength. . .Give orders that thy strength may be always with +us. + +67:30. From thy temple in Jerusalem, kings shall offer presents to +thee. + +67:31. Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds, the congregation of bulls +with the kine of the people; who seek to exclude them who are tried +with silver. Scatter thou the nations that delight in wars: + +Rebuke the wild beasts of the reeds. . .or the wild beasts, which lie +hid in the reeds. That is, the devils, who hide themselves in order to +surprise their prey. Or by wild beasts, are here understood +persecutors, who, for all their attempts against the Church, are but as +weak reeds, which cannot prevail against them who are supported by the +strength of the Almighty. The same are also called the congregation of +bulls (from their rage against the Church) who assemble together all +their kine, that is, the people their subjects, to exclude if they can, +from Christ and his inheritance, his constant confessors, who are like +silver tried by fire. + +67:32. Ambassadors shall come out of Egypt: Ethiopia shall soon stretch +out her hands to God. + +Ambassadors shall come, etc. . .It is a prophecy of the conversion of +the Gentiles, and by name of the Egyptians and Ethiopians. + +67:33. Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth: sing ye to the Lord: Sing +ye to God, + +67:34. Who mounteth above the heaven of heavens, to the east. Behold he +will give to his voice the voice of power: + +To the east. . .From mount Olivet, which is on the east side of +Jerusalem.--Ibid. The voice of power. . .That is, he will make his voice +to be a powerful voice: by calling from death to life, such as were +dead in mortal sin: as at the last day he will by the power of his +voice call all the dead from their graves. + +67:35. Give ye glory to God for Israel, his magnificence, and his power +is in the clouds. + +67:36. God is wonderful in his saints: the God of Israel is he who will +give power and strength to his people. Blessed be God. + + + +Psalms Chapter 68 + + +Salvum me fac, Deus. + +Christ in his passion declareth the greatness of his sufferings, and +the malice of his persecutors the Jews; and foretelleth their +reprobation. + +68:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed; for David. + +For them that shall be changed. . .A psalm for Christian converts, to +remember the passion of Christ. + +68:2. Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul. + +The waters. . .Of afflictions and sorrows. My soul is sorrowful even +unto death. Matt. 26.38. + +68:3. I stick fast in the mire of the deep and there is no sure +standing. I am come into the depth of the sea, and a tempest hath +overwhelmed me. + +68:4. I have laboured with crying; my jaws are become hoarse, my eyes +have failed, whilst I hope in my God. + +68:5. They are multiplied above the hairs of my head, who hate me +without cause. My enemies are grown strong who have wrongfully +persecuted me: then did I pay that which I took not away. + +I pay that which I took not away. . .Christ in his passion made +restitution of what he had not taken away, by suffering the punishment +due to our sins, and so repairing the injury we had done to God. + +68:6. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my offences are not +hidden from thee: + +My foolishness and my offences. . .which my enemies impute to me: or the +follies and sins of men, which I have taken upon myself. + +68:7. Let not them be ashamed for me, who look for thee, O Lord, the +Lord of hosts. Let them not be confounded on my account, who seek thee, +O God of Israel. + +68:8. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my +face. + +68:9. I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to the sons +of my mother. + +68:10. For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches +of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. + +68:11. And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to +me. + +68:12. And I made haircloth my garment: and I became a byword to them. + +68:13. They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank +wine made me their song. + +68:14. But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy +good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the +truth of thy salvation. + +68:15. Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me +from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. + +68:16. Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep water +swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. + +68:17. Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is kind; look upon me according +to the multitude of thy tender mercies. + +68:18. And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in +trouble, hear me speedily. + +68:19. Attend to my soul, and deliver it: save me because of my +enemies. + +68:20. Thou knowest my reproach, and my confusion, and my shame. + +68:21. In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath +expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve +together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort +me, and I found none. + +68:22. And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me +vinegar to drink. + +68:23. Let their table become as a snare before them, and a recompense, +and a stumblingblock. + +Let their table, etc. . .What here follows in the style of an +imprecation, is a prophecy of the wretched state to which the Jews +should be reduced in punishment of their wilful obstinacy. + +68:24. Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and their back +bend thou down always. + +68:25. Pour out thy indignation upon them: and let thy wrathful anger +take hold of them. + +68:26. Let their habitation be made desolate: and let there be none to +dwell in their tabernacles. + +68:27. Because they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and +they have added to the grief of my wounds. + +68:28. Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not come +into thy justice. + +68:29. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; and with the +just let them not be written. + +68:30. But I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, O God, hath set me +up. + +68:31. I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will +magnify him with praise. + +68:32. And it shall please God better than a young calf, that bringeth +forth horns and hoofs. + +68:33. Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall +live. + +68:34. For the Lord hath heard the poor: and hath not despised his +prisoners. + +68:35. Let the heavens and the earth praise him; the sea, and every +thing that creepeth therein. + +68:36. For God will save Sion, and the cities of Juda shall be built +up. And they shall dwell there, and acquire it by inheritance. + +Sion. . .The catholic church. The cities of Juda, etc., her places of +worship, which shall be established throughout the world. And there, +viz., in this church of Christ, shall his servants dwell, etc. + +68:37. And the seed of his servants shall possess it; and they that +love his name shall dwell therein. + + + +Psalms Chapter 69 + + +Deus in adjutorium. + +A prayer in persecution. + +69:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David, to bring to remembrance that the +Lord saved him. + +69:2. O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make haste to help me. + +69:3. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek my soul: + +69:4. Let them be turned backward, and blush for shame that desire +evils to me: Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame that +say to me: 'Tis well, 'tis well. + +'T is well, 't is well. . .Euge, euge. St. Jerome renders it, vah, vah! +which is the voice of one insulting and deriding. Some understand it as +a detestation of deceitful flatterers. + +69:5. Let all that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; and let such +as love thy salvation say always: The Lord be magnified. + +69:6. But I am needy and poor; O God, help me. Thou art my helper and +my deliverer: O lord, make no delay. + + + +Psalms Chapter 70 + + +In te, Domine. + +A prayer for perseverance. + +70:1. A psalm for David. Of the sons of Jonadab, and the former +captives. In thee, O Lord, I have hoped, let me never be put to +confusion: + +Of the sons of Jonadab. . .The Rechabites, of whom see Jer. 35. By this +addition of the seventy-two interpreters, we gather that this psalm was +usually sung in the synagogue, in the person of the Rechabites, and of +those who were first carried away into captivity. + +70:2. Deliver me in thy justice, and rescue me. Incline thy ear unto +me, and save me. + +70:3. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a place of strength: that +thou mayst make me safe. For thou art my firmament and my refuge. + +70:4. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the sinner, and out of +the hand of the transgressor of the law and of the unjust. + +70:5. For thou art my patience, O Lord: my hope, O Lord, from my youth. + +70:6. By thee have I been confirmed from the womb: from my mother's +womb thou art my protector. Of thee I shall continually sing: + +70:7. I am become unto many as a wonder, but thou art a strong helper. + +70:8. Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing thy glory; +thy greatness all the day long. + +70:9. Cast me not off in the time of old age: when my strength shall +fail, do not thou forsake me. + +70:10. For my enemies have spoken against me; and they that watched my +soul have consulted together, + +70:11. Saying: God hath forsaken him: pursue and take him, for there is +none to deliver him. + +70:12. O God, be not thou far from me: O my God, make haste to my help. + +70:13. Let them be confounded and come to nothing that detract my soul; +let them be covered with confusion and blame that seek my hurt. + +70:14. But I will always hope; and will add to all thy praise. + +70:15. My mouth shall shew forth thy justice; thy salvation all the day +long. Because I have not known learning, + +Learning. . .As much as to say, I build not upon human learning, but +only on the power and justice of God. + +70:16. I will enter into the powers of the Lord: O Lord, I will be +mindful of thy justice alone. + +70:17. Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth: and till now I will +declare thy wonderful works. + +70:18. And unto old age and grey hairs: O God, forsake me not, Until I +shew forth thy arm to all the generation that is to come: Thy power, + +70:19. And thy justice, O God, even to the highest great things thou +hast done: O God, who is like to thee? + +70:20. How great troubles hast thou shewn me, many and grievous: and +turning thou hast brought me to life, and hast brought me back again +from the depths of the earth: + +70:21. Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence; and turning to me thou +hast comforted me. + +70:22. For I will also confess to thee thy truth with the instruments +of psaltery: O God, I will sing to thee with the harp, thou holy one of +Israel. + +70:23. My lips shall greatly rejoice, when I shall sing to thee; and my +soul which thou hast redeemed. + +70:24. Yea and my tongue shall meditate on thy justice all the day; +when they shall be confounded and put to shame that seek evils to me. + + + +Psalms Chapter 71 + + +Deus, judicium tuum. + +A prophecy of the coming of Christ, and of his kingdom: prefigured by +Solomon and his happy reign. + +71:1. A psalm on Solomon. + +71:2. Give to the king thy judgment, O God, and to the king's son thy +justice: To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment. + +71:3. Let the mountains receive peace for the people: and the hills +justice. + +71:4. He shall judge the poor of the people, and he shall save the +children of the poor: and he shall humble the oppressor. + +71:5. And he shall continue with the sun and before the moon, +throughout all generations. + +71:6. He shall come down like rain upon the fleece; and as showers +falling gently upon the earth. + +71:7. In his days shall justice spring up, and abundance of peace, till +the moon be taken away. + +71:8. And he shall rule from sea to sea, and from the river unto the +ends of the earth. + +71:9. Before him the Ethiopians shall fall down: and his enemies shall +lick the ground. + +71:10. The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the +kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts: + +71:11. And all kings of the earth shall adore him: all nations shall +serve him. + +71:12. For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy +that had no helper. + +71:13. He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls +of the poor. + +71:14. He shall redeem their souls from usuries and iniquity: and their +names shall be honourable in his sight. + +71:15. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of +Arabia, for him they shall always adore: they shall bless him all the +day. + +71:16. And there shall be a firmament on the earth on the tops of +mountains, above Libanus shall the fruit thereof be exalted: and they +of the city shall flourish like the grass of the earth. + +A firmament on the earth, etc. . .This may be understood of the church +of Christ, ever firm and visible: and of the flourishing condition of +its congregation. + +71:17. Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before +the sun. And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all +nations shall magnify him. + +71:18. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone doth wonderful +things. + +71:19. And blessed be the name of his majesty for ever: and the whole +earth shall be filled with his majesty. So be it. So be it. + +71:20. The praises of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. + +Are ended. . .By this it appears that this psalm, though placed here, +was in order of time the last of those which David composed. + + + +Psalms Chapter 72 + + +Quam bonus Israel Deus. + +The temptation of the weak, upon seeing the prosperity of the wicked, +is overcome by the consideration of the justice of God, who will +quickly render to every one according to his works. + +72:1. A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of +a right heart! + +72:2. But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped. + +72:3. Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the +prosperity of sinners. + +72:4. For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in +their stripes. + +72:5. They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged +like other men. + +72:6. Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their +iniquity and their wickedness. + +72:7. Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they +have passed into the affection of the heart. + +Fatness. . .Abundance and temporal prosperity, which hath encouraged +them in their iniquity: and made them give themselves up to their +irregular affections. + +72:8. They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken +iniquity on high. + +72:9. They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath +passed through the earth. + +72:10. Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be +found in them. + +Return here. . .or hither. The weak among the servants of God, will be +apt often to return to this thought, and will be shocked when they +consider the full days, that is, the long and prosperous life of the +wicked; and will be tempted to make the reflections against providence +which are set down in the following verses. + +72:11. And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the +most High? + +72:12. Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they +have obtained riches. + +72:13. And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed +my hands among the innocent. + +72:14. And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath +been in the mornings. + +72:15. If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the +generation of thy children. + +If I said, etc. . .That is, if I should indulge such thoughts as these. + +72:16. I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my +sight: + +72:17. Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning +their last ends. + +72:18. But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were +lifted up thou hast cast them down. + +Thou hast put it to them. . .In punishment of their deceits, or for +deceiving them, thou hast brought evils upon them in their last end, +which, in their prosperity they never apprehended. + +72:19. How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to +be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity. + +72:20. As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou +shalt bring their image to nothing. + +72:21. For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed: + +72:22. And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not. + +72:23. I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee. + +72:24. Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast +conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me. + +72:25. For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire +upon earth? + +72:26. For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the +God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever. + +72:27. For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast +destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee. + +72:28. But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the +Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the +daughter of Sion. + + + +Psalms Chapter 73 + + +Ut quid, Deus. + +A prayer of the church under grievous persecutions. + +73:1. Understanding for Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off unto +the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture? + +73:2. Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the +beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: +mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt. + +73:3. Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what +things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. + +73:4. And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of +thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs, + +Their ensigns, etc. . .They have fixed their colours for signs and +trophies, both on the gates, and on the highest top of the temple: and +they knew not, that is, they regarded not the sanctity of the place. +This psalm manifestly foretells the time of the Machabees, and the +profanation of the temple by Antiochus. + +73:5. And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. +As with axes in a wood of trees, + +73:6. They have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and +hatchet they have brought it down. + +73:7. They have set fire to thy sanctuary: they have defiled the +dwelling place of thy name on the earth. + +73:8. They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let +us abolish all the festival days of God from the land. + +73:9. Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and he will +know us no more. + +73:10. How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to +provoke thy name for ever? + +73:11. Why dost thou turn away thy hand: and thy right hand out of the +midst of thy bosom for ever? + +73:12. But God is our king before ages: he hath wrought salvation in +the midst of the earth. + +73:13. Thou by thy strength didst make the sea firm: thou didst crush +the heads of the dragons in the waters. + +The sea firm. . .By making the waters of the Red Sea stand like firm +walls, whilst Israel passed through: and destroying the Egyptians +called here dragons from their cruelty, in the same waters, with their +king: casting up their bodies on the shore to be stripped by the +Ethiopians inhabiting in those days the coast of Arabia. + +73:14. Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon: thou hast given him to +be meat for the people of the Ethiopians. + +73:15. Thou hast broken up the fountains and the torrents: thou hast +dried up the Ethan rivers. + +Ethan rivers. . .That is, rivers which run with strong streams. This was +verified in Jordan, Jos. 3, and in Arnon, Num. 21.14. + +73:16. Thine is the day, and thine is the night: thou hast made the +morning light and the sun. + +73:17. Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the +spring were formed by thee. + +73:18. Remember this, the enemy hath reproached the Lord: and a foolish +people hath provoked thy name. + +73:19. Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to thee: and +forget not to the end the souls of thy poor. + +73:20. Have regard to thy covenant: for they that are the obscure of +the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity. + +The obscure of the earth. . .Mean and ignoble wretches have been filled, +that is, enriched, with houses of iniquity, that is, with our estates +and possessions, which they have unjustly acquired. + +73:21. Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and +needy shall praise thy name. + +73:22. Arise, O God, judge thy own cause: remember thy reproaches with +which the foolish man hath reproached thee all the day. + +73:23. Forget not the voices of thy enemies: the pride of them that +hate thee ascendeth continually. + + + +Psalms Chapter 74 + + +Confitebimur tibi. + +There is a just judgment to come: therefore let the wicked take care. + +74:1. Unto the end, corrupt not, a psalm of a canticle for Asaph. + +Corrupt not. . .It is believed to have been the beginning of some ode or +hymn, to the tune of which this psalm was to be sung. St. Augustine and +other fathers take it to be an admonition of the spirit of God, not to +faint or fail in our hope: but to persevere with constancy in good: +because God will not fail in his due time to render to every man +according to his works. + +74:2. We will praise thee, O God: we will praise, and we will call upon +thy name. We will relate thy wondrous works: + +74:3. When I shall take a time, I will judge justices. + +When I shall take a time. . .In proper times: particularly at the last +day, when the earth shall melt away at the presence of the great Judge: +the same who originally laid the foundations of it, and as it were +established its pillars. + +74:4. The earth is melted, and all that dwell therein: I have +established the pillars thereof. + +74:5. I said to the wicked: Do not act wickedly: and to the sinners: +Lift not up the horn. + +74:6. Lift not up your horn on high: speak not iniquity against God. + +74:7. For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert +hills: + +74:8. For God is the judge. One he putteth down, and another he lifteth +up: + +74:9. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of strong wine full of +mixture. And he hath poured it out from this to that: but the dregs +thereof are not emptied: all the sinners of the earth shall drink. + +74:10. But I will declare for ever: I will sing to the God of Jacob. + +74:11. And I will break all the horns of sinners: but the horns of the +just shall be exalted. + + + +Psalms Chapter 75 + + +Notus in Judaea. + +God is known in his church: and exerts his power in protecting it. It +alludes to the slaughter of the Assyrians, in the days of king +Ezechias. + +75:1. Unto the end, in praises, a psalm for Asaph: a canticle to the +Assyrians. + +75:2. In Judea God is known: his name is great in Israel. + +75:3. And his place is in peace: and his abode in Sion: + +75:4. There hath he broken the powers of bows, the shield, the sword, +and the battle. + +75:5. Thou enlightenest wonderfully from the everlasting hills. + +75:6. All the foolish of heart were troubled. They have slept their +sleep; and all the men of riches have found nothing in their hands. + +75:7. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, they have all slumbered that +mounted on horseback. + +75:8. Thou art terrible, and who shall resist thee? from that time thy +wrath. + +From that time, etc. . .From the time that thy wrath shall break out. + +75:9. Thou hast caused judgment to be heard from heaven: the earth +trembled and was still, + +75:10. When God arose in judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. + +75:11. For the thought of man shall give praise to thee: and the +remainders of the thought shall keep holiday to thee. + +75:12. Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your God: all you that are round +about him bring presents. To him that is terrible, + +75:13. Even to him who taketh away the spirit of princes: to the +terrible with the kings of the earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 76 + + +Voce mea. + +The faithful have recourse to God in trouble of mind, with confidence +in his mercy and power. + +76:1. Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph. + +76:2. I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he +gave ear to me. + +76:3. In the days of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up +to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be +comforted: + +76:4. I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my +spirit swooned away. + +76:5. My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not. + +76:6. I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal +years. + +76:7. And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was +exercised and I swept my spirit. + +76:8. Will God then cast off for ever? or will he never be more +favourable again? + +76:9. Or will he cut off his mercy for ever, from generation to +generation? + +76:10. Or will God forget to shew mercy? or will he in his anger shut +up his mercies? + +76:11. And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right +hand of the most High. + +76:12. I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy +wonders from the beginning. + +76:13. And I will meditate on all thy works: and will be employed in +thy inventions. + +76:14. Thy way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like +our God? + +76:15. Thou art the God that dost wonders. Thou hast made thy power +known among the nations: + +76:16. With thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people the children of Jacob +and of Joseph. + +76:17. The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: and they were +afraid, and the depths were troubled. + +76:18. Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound. +For thy arrows pass: + +76:19. The voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened +the world: the earth shook and trembled. + +76:20. Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters: and thy +footsteps shall not be known. + +76:21. Thou hast conducted thy people like sheep, by the hand of Moses +and Aaron. + + + +Psalms Chapter 77 + + +Attendite. + +God's great benefits to the people of Israel, notwithstanding their +ingratitude. + +77:1. Understanding for Asaph. Attend, O my people, to my law: incline +your ears to the words of my mouth. + +77:2. I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from +the beginning. + +Propositions. . .Deep and mysterious sayings. By this it appears that +the historical facts of ancient times, commemorated in this psalm, were +deep and mysterious: as being figures of great truths appertaining to +the time of the New Testament. + +77:3. How great things have we heard and known, and our fathers have +told us. + +77:4. They have not been hidden from their children, in another +generation. Declaring the praises of the Lord, and his powers, and his +wonders which he hath done. + +77:5. And he set up a testimony in Jacob: and made a law in Israel. How +great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same +known to their children: + +77:6. That another generation might know them. The children that should +be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children. + +77:7. That they may put their hope in God and may not forget the works +of God: and may seek his commandments. + +77:8. That they may not become like their fathers, a perverse and +exasperating generation. A generation that set not their heart aright: +and whose spirit was not faithful to God. + +77:9. The sons of Ephraim who bend and shoot with the bow: they have +turned back in the day of battle. + +77:10. They kept not the covenant of God: and in his law they would not +walk. + +77:11. And they forgot his benefits, and his wonders that he had shewn +them. + +77:12. Wonderful things did he do in the sight of their fathers, in the +land of Egypt, in the field of Tanis. + +77:13. He divided the sea and brought them through: and he made the +waters to stand as in a vessel. + +77:14. And he conducted them with a cloud by day: and all the night +with a light of fire. + +77:15. He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as +out of the great deep. + +77:16. He brought forth water out of the rock: and made streams run +down as rivers. + +77:17. And they added yet more sin against him: they provoked the most +High to wrath in the place without water. + +77:18. And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their +desires. + +77:19. And they spoke ill of God: they said: Can God furnish a table in +the wilderness? + +77:20. Because he struck the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the +streams overflowed. Can he also give bread, or provide a table for his +people? + +77:21. Therefore the Lord heard, and was angry: and a fire was kindled +against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel. + +77:22. Because they believed not in God: and trusted not in his +salvation. + +77:23. And he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the +doors of heaven. + +77:24. And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them +the bread of heaven. + +77:25. Man ate the bread of angels: he sent them provisions in +abundance. + +77:26. He removed the south wind from heaven: and by his power brought +in the southwest wind. + +77:27. And he rained upon them flesh as dust: and feathered fowls like +as the sand of the sea. + +77:28. And they fell in the midst of their camp, round about their +pavilions. + +77:29. So they did eat, and were filled exceedingly, and he gave them +their desire: + +77:30. they were not defrauded of that which they craved. As yet their +meat was in their mouth: + +77:31. And the wrath of God came upon them. And he slew the fat ones +amongst them, and brought down the chosen men of Israel. + +77:32. In all these things they sinned still: and they behaved not for +his wondrous works. + +77:33. And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years in +haste. + +77:34. When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and +came to him early in the morning. + +77:35. And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high +God their redeemer. + +77:36. And they loved him with their mouth: and with their tongue they +lied unto him: + +77:37. But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted +faithful in his covenant. + +77:38. But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not +destroy them. And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not +kindle all his wrath. + +77:39. And he remembered that they are flesh: a wind that goeth and +returneth not. + +77:40. How often did they provoke him in the desert: and move him to +wrath in the place without water? + +77:41. And they turned back and tempted God: and grieved the holy one +of Israel. + +77:42. They remembered not his hand, in the day that he redeemed them +from the hand of him that afflicted them: + +77:43. How he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field +of Tanis. + +77:44. And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that +they might not drink. + +77:45. He sent amongst them divers sorts of flies, which devoured them: +and frogs which destroyed them. + +77:46. And he gave up their fruits to the blast, and their labours to +the locust. + +77:47. And he destroyed their vineyards with hail, and their mulberry +trees with hoarfrost. + +77:48. And he gave up their cattle to the hail, and their stock to the +fire. + +77:49. And he sent upon them the wrath of his indignation: indignation +and wrath and trouble, which he sent by evil angels. + +77:50. He made a way for a path to his anger: he spared not their souls +from death, and their cattle he shut up in death. + +77:51. And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the +firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham. + +77:52. And he took away his own people as sheep: and guided them in the +wilderness like a flock. + +77:53. And he brought them out in hope and they feared not: and the sea +overwhelmed their enemies. + +77:54. And he brought them into the mountain of his sanctuary: the +mountain which his right hand had purchased. And he cast out the +Gentiles before them: and by lot divided to them their land by a line +of distribution. + +77:55. And he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles. + +77:56. Yet they tempted, and provoked the most high God: and they kept +not his testimonies. + +77:57. And they turned away, and kept not the covenant: even like their +fathers they were turned aside as a crooked bow. + +77:58. They provoked him to anger on their hills: and moved him to +jealousy with their graven things. + +77:59. God heard, and despised them, and he reduced Israel exceedingly +as it were to nothing. + +77:60. And he put away the tabernacle of Silo, his tabernacle where he +dwelt among men. + +77:61. And he delivered their strength into captivity: and their beauty +into the hands of the enemy. + +77:62. And he shut up his people under the sword: and he despised his +inheritance. + +77:63. Fire consumed their young men: and their maidens were not +lamented. + +77:64. Their priests fell by the sword: and their widows did not mourn. + +77:65. And the Lord was awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty +man that hath been surfeited with wine. + +77:66. And he smote his enemies on the hinder parts: he put them to an +everlasting reproach. + +77:67. And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the +tribe of Ephraim: + +77:68. But he chose the tribe of Juda, mount Sion which he loved. + +77:69. And he built his sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which he +founded for ever. + +As of unicorns. . .That is, firm and strong like the horn of the +unicorn. This is one of the chiefest of the propositions of this psalm, +foreshewing the firm establishment of the one, true, and everlasting +sanctuary of God, in his church. + +77:70. And he chose his servant David, and took him from the flocks of +sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young, + +77:71. To feed Jacob his servant and Israel his inheritance. + +77:72. And he fed them in the innocence of his heart: and conducted +them by the skilfulness of his hands. + + + +Psalms Chapter 78 + + +Deus, venerunt gentes. + +The church in time of persecution prayeth for relief. It seems to +belong to the time of the Machabees. + +78:1. A psalm for Asaph. O God, the heathens are come into thy +inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made +Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit. + +78:2. They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for +the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the +earth. + +78:3. They have poured out their blood as water, round about Jerusalem +and there was none to bury them. + +78:4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorn and derision +to them that are round about us. + +78:5. How long, O Lord, wilt thou be angry for ever: shall thy zeal be +kindled like a fire? + +78:6. Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that have not known thee: and +upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. + +78:7. Because they have devoured Jacob; and have laid waste his place. + +78:8. Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily +prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor. + +78:9. Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O +Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name's sake: + +78:10. Lest they should say among the Gentiles: Where is their God? And +let him be made known among the nations before our eyes, By the +revenging the blood of thy servants, which hath been shed: + +78:11. Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According +to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them +that have been put to death. + +78:12. And render to our neighbours sevenfold in their bosom: the +reproach wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. + +78:13. But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give +thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation +and generation. + + + +Psalms Chapter 79 + + +Qui regis Israel. + +A prayer for the church in tribulation, commemorating God's former +favours. + +79:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, a testimony for +Asaph, a psalm. + +79:2. Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel: thou that leadest Joseph +like a sheep. Thou that sittest upon the cherubims, shine forth + +79:3. Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses. Stir up thy might, and +come to save us. + +79:4. Convert us, O God: and shew us thy face, and we shall be saved. + +79:5. O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the +prayer of thy servant? + +79:6. How long wilt thou feed us with the bread of tears: and give us +for our drink tears in measure? + +79:7. Thou hast made us to be a contradiction to our neighbours: and +our enemies have scoffed at us. + +79:8. O God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be +saved. + +79:9. Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the +Gentiles and planted it. + +79:10. Thou wast the guide of its journey in its sight: thou plantedst +the roots thereof, and it filled the land. + +79:11. The shadow of it covered the hills: and the branches thereof the +cedars of God. + +79:12. It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs +unto the river. + +79:13. Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they +who pass by the way do pluck it? + +79:14. The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild +beast hath devoured it. + +79:15. Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and +visit this vineyard: + +79:16. And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon +the son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself. + +79:17. Things set on fire and dug down shall perish at the rebuke of +thy countenance. + +Things set on fire, etc. . .So this vineyard of thine, almost consumed +already, must perish, if thou continue thy rebukes. + +79:18. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand: and upon the son +of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself. + +The man of thy right hand. . .Christ. + +79:19. And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will +call upon thy name. + +79:20. O Lord God of hosts, convert us and shew thy face, and we shall +be saved. + + + +Psalms Chapter 80 + + +Exultate Deo. + +An invitation to a solemn praising of God. + +80:1. Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for Asaph himself. + +For the winepresses, etc. . .Torcularibus. It either signifies a musical +instrument, or that this psalm was to be sung at the feast of the +tabernacles after the gathering in of the vintage. + +80:2. Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob. + +80:3. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel: the pleasant psaltery +with the harp. + +80:4. Blow up the trumpet on the new moon, on the noted day of your +solemnity. + +80:5. For it is a commandment in Israel, and a judgment to the God of +Jacob. + +80:6. He ordained it for a testimony in Joseph, when he came out of the +land of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not. + +80:7. He removed his back from the burdens: his hands had served in +baskets. + +80:8. Thou calledst upon me in affliction, and I delivered thee: I +heard thee in the secret place of tempest: I proved thee at the waters +of contradiction. + +In the secret place of tempest. . .Heb., Of thunder. When thou soughtest +to hide thyself from the tempest: or, when I came down to mount Sina, +hidden from thy eyes in a storm of thunder. + +80:9. Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee: O Israel, if thou +wilt hearken to me, + +80:10. there shall be no new god in thee: neither shalt +thou adore a strange god. + +80:11. For I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of +Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. + +80:12. But my people heard not my voice: and Israel hearkened not to +me. + +80:13. So I let them go according to the desires of their heart: they +shall walk in their own inventions. + +80:14. If my people had heard me: if Israel had walked in my ways: + +80:15. I should soon have humbled their enemies, and laid my hand on +them that troubled them. + +80:16. The enemies of the Lord have lied to him: and their time shall +be for ever. + +Their time shall be forever. . .Impenitent sinners shall suffer for +ever. + +80:17. And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and filled them with +honey out of the rock. + + + +Psalms Chapter 81 + + +Deus stetit. + +An exhortation to judges and men in power. + +81:1. A psalm for Asaph. God hath stood in the congregation of gods: +and being in the midst of them he judgeth gods. + +81:2. How long will you judge unjustly: and accept the persons of the +wicked? + +81:3. Judge for the needy and fatherless: do justice to the humble and +the poor. + +81:4. Rescue the poor; and deliver the needy out of the hand of the +sinner. + +81:5. They have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all +the foundations of the earth shall be moved. + +81:6. I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most +High. + +81:7. But you like men shall die: and shall fall like one of the +princes. + +81:8. Arise, O God, judge thou the earth: for thou shalt inherit among +all the nations. + + + +Psalms Chapter 82 + + +Deus, quis similis. + +A prayer against the enemies of God's church. + +82:1. A canticle of a psalm for Asaph. + +82:2. O God, who shall be like to thee? hold not thy peace, neither be +thou still, O God. + +82:3. For lo, thy enemies have made a noise: and they that hate thee +have lifted up the head. + +82:4. They have taken a malicious counsel against thy people, and have +consulted against thy saints. + +82:5. They have said: Come and let us destroy them, so that they be not +a nation: and let the name of Israel be remembered no more. + +82:6. For they have contrived with one consent: they have made a +covenant together against thee, + +82:7. The tabernacle of the Edomites, and the Ishmahelites: Moab, and +the Agarens, + +82:8. Gebal, and Ammon and Amalec: the Philistines, with the +inhabitants of Tyre. + +82:9. Yea, and the Assyrian also is joined with them: they are come to +the aid of the sons of Lot. + +82:10. Do to them as thou didst to Madian and to Sisara: as to Jabin at +the brook of Cisson. + +82:11. Who perished at Endor: and became as dung for the earth. + +82:12. Make their princes like Oreb, and Zeb, and Zebee, and Salmana. +All their princes, + +82:13. Who have said: Let us possess the sanctuary of God for an +inheritance. + +82:14. O my God, make them like a wheel; and as stubble before the +wind. + +82:15. As fire which burneth the wood: and as a flame burning +mountains: + +82:16. So shalt thou pursue them with thy tempest: and shalt trouble +them in thy wrath. + +82:17. Fill their faces with shame; and they shall seek thy name, O +Lord. + +82:18. Let them be ashamed and troubled for ever and ever: and let them +be confounded and perish. + +82:19. And let them know that the Lord is thy name: thou alone art the +most High over all the earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 83 + + +Quam dilecta. + +The soul aspireth after heaven; rejoicing in the mean time, in being in +the communion of God's church upon earth. + +83:1. Unto the end, for the winepresses, a psalm for the sons of Core. + +83:2. How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! + +83:3. my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart +and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God. + +83:4. For the sparrow hath found herself a house, and the turtle a nest +for herself where she may lay her young ones: Thy altars, O Lord of +hosts, my king and my God. + +83:5. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall +praise thee for ever and ever. + +83:6. Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath +disposed to ascend by steps, + +In his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps, etc. . .Ascensiones in +corde suo disposuit. As by steps men ascended to the temple of God +situated on a hill; so the good Christian ascends towards the eternal +temple by certain steps of virtue disposed or ordered within the heart: +and this whilst he lives as yet in the body, in this vale of tears, the +place which man hath set: that is, which he hath brought himself to: +being cast out of paradise for his sin. + +83:7. In the vale of tears, in the place which he hath set. + +83:8. For the lawgiver shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue +to virtue: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion. + +83:9. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. + +83:10. Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ. + +83:11. For better is one day in thy courts above thousands. I have +chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in +the tabernacles of sinners. + +83:12. For God loveth mercy and truth: the Lord will give grace and +glory. + +83:13. He will not deprive of good things them that walk in innocence: +O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. + + + +Psalms Chapter 84 + + +Benedixisti, Domine. + +The coming of Christ, to bring peace and salvation to man. + +84:1. Unto the end, for the sons of Core, a psalm. + +84:2. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast turned away the +captivity of Jacob. + +84:3. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: thou hast covered +all their sins. + +84:4. Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: thou hast turned away from the +wrath of thy indignation. + +84:5. Convert us, O God our saviour: and turn off thy anger from us. + +84:6. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever: or wilt thou extend thy +wrath from generation to generation? + +84:7. Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life: and thy people shall +rejoice in thee. + +84:8. Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation. + +84:9. I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: for he will speak +peace unto his people: And unto his saints: and unto them that are +converted to the heart. + +84:10. Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him : that glory +may dwell in our land. + +84:11. Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have +kissed. + +84:12. Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down +from heaven. + +84:13. For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her +fruit. + +84:14. Justice shall walk before him: and ,shall set his steps in the +way. + + + +Psalms Chapter 85 + + +Inclina, Domine. + +A prayer for God's grace to assist us to the end. + +85:1. A prayer for David himself. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: +for I am needy and poor. + +85:2. Preserve my soul, for I am holy: save thy servant, O my God, that +trusteth in thee. + +I am holy. . .I am by my office and profession dedicated to thy service. + +85:3. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to thee all the day. + +85:4. Give joy to the soul of thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, I have +lifted up my soul. + +85:5. For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to +all that call upon thee. + +85:6. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer: and attend to the voice of my +petition. + +85:7. I have called upon thee in the day of my trouble: because thou +hast heard me. + +85:8. There is none among the gods like unto thee, O Lord: and there is +none according to thy works. + +85:9. All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, +O Lord: and they shall glorify thy name. + +85:10. For thou art great and dost wonderful things: thou art God +alone. + +85:11. Conduct me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: +let my heart rejoice that it may fear thy name. + +85:12. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I +will glorify thy name for ever: + +85:13. For thy mercy is great towards me: and thou hast delivered my +soul out of the lower hell. + +85:14. O God, the wicked are risen up against me, and the assembly of +the mighty have sought my soul: and they have not set thee before their +eyes. + +85:15. And thou, O Lord, art a God of compassion, and merciful, +patient, and of much mercy, and true. + +85:16. O look upon me, and have mercy on me: give thy command to thy +servant, and save the son of thy handmaid. + +85:17. Shew me a token for good: that they who hate me may see, and be +confounded, because thou, O Lord, hast helped me and hast comforted me. + + + +Psalms Chapter 86 + + +Fundamenta ejus. + +The glory of the church of Christ. + +86:1. For the sons of Core, a psalm of a canticle. The foundations +thereof are the holy mountains: + +The holy mountains. . .The apostles and prophets. Eph. 2.20. + +86:2. The Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of +Jacob. + +86:3. Glorious things are said of thee, O city of God. + +86:4. I will be mindful of Rahab and of Babylon knowing me. Behold the +foreigners, and Tyre, and the people of the Ethiopians, these were +there. + +Rahab. . .Egypt, etc. To this Sion, which is the church of God, many +shall resort from all nations. + +86:5. Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? and the +Highest himself hath founded her. + +Shall not Sion say, etc. . .The meaning is, that Sion, viz., the church, +shall not only be able to commemorate this or that particular person of +renown born in her, but also to glory in great multitudes of people and +princes of her communion; who have been foretold in the writings of the +prophets, and registered in the writings of the apostles. + +86:6. The Lord shall tell in his writings of peoples and of princes, of +them that have been in her. + +86:7. The dwelling in thee is as it were of all rejoicing. + + + +Psalms Chapter 87 + + +Domine, Deus salutis. + +A prayer of one under grievous affliction: it agrees to Christ in his +passion, and alludes to his death and burial. + +87:1. A canticle of a psalm for the sons of Core: unto the end, for +Maheleth, to answer understanding of Eman the Ezrahite. + +Maheleth. . .A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one +another.--Ibid. Understanding. . .Or a psalm of instruction, composed by +Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name. + +87:2. O Lord, the God of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in +the night before thee. + +87:3. Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my +petition. + +87:4. For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to +hell. + +87:5. I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a +man without help, + +87:6. Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, +whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. + +87:7. They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in +the shadow of death. + +87:8. Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought +in upon me. + +87:9. Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me +an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth: + +87:10. My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, +O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee. + +87:11. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to +life, and give praise to thee? + +87:12. Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth +in destruction? + +87:13. Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the +land of forgetfulness? + +87:14. But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer +shall prevent thee. + +87:15. Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy +face from me? + +87:16. I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have +been humbled and troubled. + +87:17. Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me. + +87:18. They have come round about me like water all the day: they have +compassed me about together. + +87:19. Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my +acquaintance, because of misery. + + + +Psalms Chapter 88 + + +Misericordias Domini. + +The perpetuity of the church of Christ, in consequence of the promise +of God: which, notwithstanding, God permits her to suffer sometimes +most grievous afflictions. + +88:1. Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite. + +88:2. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth +thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation. + +88:3. For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the +heavens: thy truth shall be prepared in them. + +88:4. I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my +servant: + +88:5. Thy seed will I settle for ever. And I will build up thy throne +unto generation and generation. + +88:6. The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in +the church of the saints. + +88:7. For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among +the sons of God shall be like to God? + +88:8. God, who is glorified in the assembly of the saints: great and +terrible above all them that are about him. + +88:9. O Lord God of hosts, who is like to thee? thou art mighty, O +Lord, and thy truth is round about thee. + +88:10. Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of +the waves thereof. + +88:11. Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slain: with the +arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy enemies. + +88:12. Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth: the world and the +fulness thereof thou hast founded: + +88:13. The north and the sea thou hast created. Thabor and Hermon shall +rejoice in thy name: + +88:14. Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy +right hand exalted: + +88:15. Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy +and truth shall go before thy face: + +88:16. Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation. They shall walk, +O Lord, in the light of thy countenance: + +88:17. And in thy name they shall rejoice all the day, and in thy +justice they shall be exalted. + +88:18. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy good +pleasure shall our horn be exalted. + +88:19. For our protection is of the Lord, and of our king the holy one +of Israel. + +88:20. Then thou spokest in a vision to thy saints, and saidst: I have +laid help upon one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of +my people. + +88:21. I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed +him. + +88:22. For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him. + +88:23. The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of +iniquity have power to hurt him. + +88:24. And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that +hate him I will put to flight. + +88:25. And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name +shall his horn be exalted. + +88:26. And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the +rivers. + +88:27. He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the +support of my salvation. + +88:28. And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the +earth. + +88:29. I will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful +to him. + +88:30. And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his throne +as the days of heaven. + +88:31. And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my +judgments: + +88:32. If they profane my justices: and keep not my commandments: + +88:33. I will visit their iniquities with a rod and their sins with +stripes. + +88:34. But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will I suffer my +truth to fail. + +88:35. Neither will I profane my covenant: and the words that proceed +from my mouth I will not make void. + +88:36. Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David: + +88:37. His seed shall endure for ever. + +88:38. And his throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for +ever, and a faithful witness in heaven. + +88:39. But thou hast rejected and despised: thou hast been angry with +my anointed. + +88:40. Thou hast overthrown the covenant of thy servant: thou hast +profaned his sanctuary on the earth. + +Overthrown the covenant, etc. . .All this seems to relate to the time of +the captivity of Babylon, in which, for the sins of the people and +their princes, God seemed to have set aside for a while the covenant he +made with David. + +88:41. Thou hast broken down all his hedges: thou hast made his +strength fear. + +88:42. All that pass by the way have robbed him: he is become a +reproach to his neighbours. + +88:43. Thou hast set up the right hand of them that oppress him: thou +hast made all his enemies to rejoice. + +88:44. Thou hast turned away the help of his sword; and hast not +assisted him in battle. + +88:45. Thou hast made his purification to cease: and thou hast cast his +throne down to the ground. + +88:46. Thou hast shortened the days of his time: thou hast covered him +with confusion. + +88:47. How long, O Lord, turnest thou away unto the end? shall thy +anger burn like fire? + +88:48. Remember what my substance is: for hast thou made all the +children of men in vain? + +88:49. Who is the man that shall live, and not see death: that shall +deliver his soul from the hand of hell? + +88:50. Lord, where are thy ancient mercies, according to what thou +didst swear to David in thy truth? + +88:51. Be mindful, O Lord, of the reproach of thy servants (which I +have held in my bosom) of many nations: + +88:52. Wherewith thy enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they +have reproached the change of thy anointed. + +88:53. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it. So be it. + + + +Psalms Chapter 89 + + +Domine, refugium. + +A prayer for the mercy of God: recounting the shortness and miseries of +the days of man. + +89:1. A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our refuge +from generation to generation. + +89:2. Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was +formed; from eternity and to eternity thou art God. + +89:3. Turn not man away to be brought low: and thou hast said: Be +converted, O ye sons of men. + +Turn not man away, etc. . .Suffer him not quite to perish from thee, +since thou art pleased to call upon him to be converted to thee. + +89:4. For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday, which is +past. And as a watch in the night, + +89:5. Things that are counted nothing, shall their years be. + +89:6. In the morning man shall grow up like grass; in the morning he +shall flourish and pass away: in the evening he shall fall, grow dry, +and wither. + +89:7. For in thy wrath we have fainted away: and are troubled in thy +indignation. + +89:8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thy eyes: our life in the +light of thy countenance. + +89:9. For all our days are spent; and in thy wrath we have fainted +away. Our years shall be considered as a spider: + +As a spider. . .As frail and weak as a spider's web; and miserable +withal, whilst like a spider we spend our bowels in weaving webs to +catch flies. + +89:10. The days of our years in them are threescore and ten years. But +if in the strong they be fourscore years: and what is more of them is +labour and sorrow. For mildness is come upon us: and we shall be +corrected. + +Mildness is come upon us, etc. . .God's mildness corrects us; inasmuch +as he deals kindly with us, in shortening the days of this miserable +life; and so weaning our affections from all its transitory enjoyments, +and teaching us true wisdom. + +89:11. Who knoweth the power of thy anger, and for thy fear + +89:12. Can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known: and men +learned in heart, in wisdom. + +89:13. Return, O Lord, how long? and be entreated in favour of thy +servants. + +89:14. We are filled in the morning with thy mercy: and we have +rejoiced, and are delighted all our days. + +89:15. We have rejoiced for the days in which thou hast humbled us: for +the years in which we have seen evils. + +89:16. Look upon thy servants and upon their works: and direct their +children. + +89:17. And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us: and +direct thou the works of our hands over us; yea, the work of our hands +do thou direct. + + + +Psalms Chapter 90 + + +Qui habitat. + +The just is secure under the protection of God. + +90:1. The praise of a canticle for David. He that dwelleth in the aid +of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob. + +90:2. He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: +my God, in him will I trust. + +90:3. For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from +the sharp word. + +90:4. He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings +thou shalt trust. + +90:5. His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be +afraid of the terror of the night. + +90:6. Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh +about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil. + +90:7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right +hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. + +90:8. But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward +of the wicked. + +90:9. Because thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou hast made the most High +thy refuge. + +90:10. There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come +near thy dwelling. + +90:11. For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in +all thy ways. + +90:12. In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot +against a stone. + +90:13. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt +trample under foot the lion and the dragon. + +90:14. Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him +because he hath known my name. + +90:15. He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in +tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. + +90:16. I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my +salvation. + + + +Psalms Chapter 91 + + +Bonum est confiteri. + +God is to be praised for his wondrous works. + +91:1. A psalm of a canticle on the sabbath day. + +91:2. It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to thy name, O +most High. + +91:3. To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth in the +night: + +91:4. Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery: with a +canticle upon the harp. + +91:5. For thou hast given me, O Lord, a delight in thy doings: and in +the works of thy hands I shall rejoice. + +91:6. O Lord, how great are thy works! thy thoughts are exceeding deep. + +91:7. The senseless man shall not know: nor will the fool understand +these things. + +91:8. When the wicked shall spring up as grass: and all the workers of +iniquity shall appear: That they may perish for ever and ever: + +91:9. But thou, O Lord, art most high for evermore. + +91:10. For behold thy enemies, O lord, for behold thy enemies shall +perish: and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. + +91:11. But my horn shall be exalted like that of the unicorn: and my +old age in plentiful mercy. + +91:12. My eye also hath looked down upon my enemies: and my ear shall +hear of the downfall of the malignant that rise up against me. + +91:13. The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up +like the cedar of Libanus. + +91:14. They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in +the courts of the house of our God. + +91:15. They shall still increase in a fruitful old age: and shall be +well treated, + +91:16. That they may shew, That the Lord our God is righteous, and +there is no iniquity in him. + + + +Psalms Chapter 92 + + +Dominus regnavit. + +The glory and stability of the kingdom; that is, of the church of +Christ. + +Praise in the way of a canticle, for David himself, on the day before +the sabbath, when the earth was founded. + +92:1. The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is +clothed with strength, and hath girded himself. For he hath established +the world which shall not be moved. + +92:2. My throne is prepared from of old: thou art from everlasting. + +92:3. The floods have lifted up, O Lord: the floods have lifted up +their voice. The floods have lifted up their waves, + +92:4. With the noise of many waters. Wonderful are the surges of the +sea: wonderful is the Lord on high. + +92:5. Thy testimonies are become exceedingly credible: holiness +becometh thy house, O Lord, unto length of days. + + + +Psalms Chapter 93 + + +Deus ultionum. + +God shall judge and punish the oppressors of his people. + +A psalm for David himself on the fourth day of the week. + +93:1. The Lord is the God to whom revenge belongeth: the God of revenge +hath acted freely. + +93:2. Lift up thyself, thou that judgest the earth: render a reward to +the proud. + +93:3. How long shall sinners, O Lord: how long shall sinners glory? + +93:4. Shall they utter, and speak iniquity: shall all speak who work +injustice? + +93:5. Thy people, O Lord, they have brought low: and they have +afflicted thy inheritance. + +93:6. They have slain the widow and the stranger: and they have +murdered the fatherless. + +93:7. And they have said: The Lord shall not see: neither shall the God +of Jacob understand. + +93:8. Understand, ye senseless among the people: and, you fools, be +wise at last. + +93:9. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the +eye, doth he not consider? + +93:10. He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke: he that +teacheth man knowledge? + +93:11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vain. + +93:12. Blessed is the man whom thou shalt instruct, O Lord: and shalt +teach him out of thy law. + +93:13. That thou mayst give him rest from the evil days: till a pit be +dug for the wicked. + +Rest from the evil days. . .That thou mayst mitigate the sorrows, to +which he is exposed, during the short and evil days of his mortality. + +93:14. For the Lord will not cast off his people: neither will he +forsake his own inheritance. + +93:15. Until justice be turned into judgment: and they that are near it +are all the upright in heart. + +Until justice be turned into judgment, etc. . .By being put in +execution; which will be agreeable to all the upright in heart. + +93:16. Who shall rise up for me against the evildoers? or who shall +stand with me against the workers of iniquity? + +93:17. Unless the Lord had been my helper, my soul had almost dwelt in +hell. + +93:18. If I said: My foot is moved: thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me. + +93:19. According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, thy +comforts have given joy to my soul. + +93:20. Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, who framest labour in +commandment? + +Doth the seat of iniquity stick to thee, etc. . .That is, wilt thou, O +God, who art always just, admit of the seat of iniquity: that is, of +injustice, or unjust judges, to have any partnership with thee? Thou +who framest, or makest, labour in commandment, that is, thou who +obligest us to labour with all diligence to keep thy commandments. + +93:21. They will hunt after the soul of the just, and will condemn +innocent blood. + +93:22. But the Lord is my refuge: and my God the help of my hope. + +93:23. And he will render them their iniquity : and in their malice he +will destroy them: the Lord our God will destroy them. + + + +Psalms Chapter 94 + + +Venite exultemus. + +An invitation to adore and serve God, and to hear his voice. + +Praise of a canticle for David himself. + +94:1. Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God +our saviour. + +94:2. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a +joyful noise to him with psalms. + +94:3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. + +94:4. For in his hand are all the ends of the earth: and the heights of +the mountains are his. + +94:5. For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry +land. + +94:6. Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that +made us. + +94:7. For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture +and the sheep of his hand. + +94:8. To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts: + +94:9. As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the +wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my +works. + +94:10. Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I +said: These always err in heart. + +94:11. And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath +that they shall not enter into my rest. + + + +Psalms Chapter 95 + + +Cantate Domino. + +An exhortation to praise God for the coming of Christ and his kingdom. + +95:1. A canticle for David himself, when the house was built after the +captivity. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all +the earth. + +When the house was built, etc. . .Alluding to that time, and then +ordered to be sung: but principally relating to the building of the +church of Christ, after our redemption from the captivity of Satan. + +95:2. Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: shew forth his salvation +from day to day. + +95:3. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all +people. + +95:4. For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised: he is to be +feared above all gods. + +95:5. For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made +the heavens. + +95:6. Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his +sanctuary. + +95:7. Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to +the Lord glory and honour: + +95:8. Bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and +come into his courts: + +95:9. Adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved +at his presence. + +95:10. Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned. For he hath +corrected the world, which shall not be moved: he will judge the people +with justice. + +95:11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, let the sea +be moved, and the fulness thereof: + +95:12. The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then +shall all the trees of the woods rejoice + +95:13. before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he +cometh to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and +the people with his truth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 96 + + +Dominus regnavit. + +All are invited to rejoice at the glorious coming and reign of Christ. + +96:1. For the same David, when his land was restored again to him. The +Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad. + +96:2. Clouds and darkness are round about him: justice and judgment are +the establishment of his throne. + +Clouds and darkness. . .The coming of Christ in the clouds with great +terror and majesty to judge the world, is here prophesied. + +96:3. A fire shall go before him, and shall burn his enemies round +about. + +96:4. His lightnings have shone forth to the world: the earth saw and +trembled. + +96:5. The mountains melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord: at +the presence of the Lord of all the earth. + +96:6. The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory. + +96:7. Let them be all confounded that adore graven things, and that +glory in their idols. Adore him, all you his angels: + +96:8. Sion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Juda rejoiced, +because of thy judgments, O Lord. + +96:9. For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: thou art +exalted exceedingly above all gods. + +96:10. You that love the Lord, hate evil: the Lord preserveth the souls +of his saints, he will deliver them out of the hand of the sinner. + +96:11. Light is risen to the just, and joy to the right of heart. + +96:12. Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the +remembrance of his holiness. + + + +Psalms Chapter 97 + + +Cantate Domino. + +All are again invited to praise the Lord, for the victories of Christ. + +97:1. A psalm for David himself. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: +because he hath done wonderful things. His right hand hath wrought for +him salvation, and his arm is holy. + +97:2. The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his +justice in the sight of the Gentiles. + +97:3. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of +Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. + +97:4. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and +sing. + +97:5. Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the +voice of a psalm: + +97:6. With long trumpets, and sound of cornet. Make a joyful noise +before the Lord our king: + +97:7. Let the sea be moved and the fullness thereof: the world and they +that dwell therein. + +97:8. The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice +together + +97:9. At the presence of the Lord: because he cometh to judge the +earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with +equity. + + + +Psalms Chapter 98 + + +Dominus regnavit. + +The reign of the Lord in Sion: that is, of Christ in his church. + +98:1. A psalm for David himself. The Lord hath reigned, let the people +be angry: he that sitteth on the cherubims: let the earth be moved. + +Let the people be angry. . .Though many enemies rage, and the whole +earth be stirred up to oppose the reign of Christ, he shall still +prevail. + +98:2. The lord is great in Sion, and high above all people. + +98:3. Let them give praise to thy great name: for it is terrible and +holy: + +98:4. And the king's honour loveth judgment. Thou hast prepared +directions: thou hast done judgment and justice in Jacob. + +Loveth judgment. . .Requireth discretion.--Ibid. Directions. . .Most +right and just laws to direct men. + +98:5. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore his footstool, for it is +holy. + +Adore his footstool. . .The ark of the covenant was called, in the Old +Testament, God's footstool: over which he was understood to sit, on his +propitiatory, or mercy seat, as on a throne, between the wings of the +cherubims, in the sanctuary: to which the children of Israel paid a +great veneration. But as this psalm evidently relates to Christ, and +the New Testament, where the ark has no place, the holy fathers +understand this text, of the worship paid by the church to the body and +blood of Christ in the sacred mysteries: inasmuch as the humanity of +Christ is, as it were, the footstool of the divinity. So St. Ambrose, +L. 3. De Spiritu Sancto, c. 12. And St. Augustine upon this psalm. + +98:6. Moses and Aaron among his priests: and Samuel among them that +call upon his name. They called upon the Lord, and he heard them: + +Moses and Aaron among his priests. . .By this it is evident, that Moses +also was a priest, and indeed the chief priest, inasmuch as he +consecrated Aaron, and offered sacrifice for him. Lev. 8. So that his +pre-eminence over Aaron makes nothing for lay church headship. + +98:7. He spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud. They kept his +testimonies, and the commandment which he gave them. + +98:8. Thou didst hear them, O Lord our God: thou wast a merciful God to +them, and taking vengeance on all their inventions. + +All their inventions. . .that is, all the enterprises of their enemies +against them, as in the case of Core, Dathan, and Abiron. + +98:9. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and adore at his holy mountain: for +the Lord our God is holy. + + + +Psalms Chapter 99 + + +Jubilate Deo. + +All are invited to rejoice in God the creator of all. + +99:1. A psalm of praise. + +99:2. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with +gladness. Come in before his presence with exceeding great joy. + +99:3. Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we +ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. + +99:4. Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and +give glory to him. Praise ye his name: + +99:5. For the Lord is sweet, his mercy endureth for ever, and his truth +to generation and generation. + + + +Psalms Chapter 100 + + +Misericordiam et judicium. + +The prophet exhorteth all by his example, to follow mercy and justice. + +100:1. A psalm for David himself. Mercy and judgment I will sing to +thee, O Lord: I will sing, + +100:2. And I will understand in the unspotted way, when thou shalt come +to me. I walked in the innocence of my heart, in the midst of my house. + +I will understand, etc. . .That is, I will apply my mind, I will do my +endeavour, to know and to follow the perfect way of thy commandments: +not trusting to my own strength, but relying on thy coming to me by thy +grace. + +100:3. I will not set before my eyes any unjust thing: I hated the +workers of iniquities. + +100:4. The perverse heart did not cleave to me: and the malignant, that +turned aside from me, I would not know. + +100:5. The man that in private detracted his neighbour, him did I +persecute. With him that had a proud eye, and an unsatiable heart, I +would not eat. + +100:6. My eyes were upon the faithful of the earth, to sit with me: the +man that walked in the perfect way, he served me. + +100:7. He that worketh pride shall not dwell in the midst of my house: +he that speaketh unjust things did not prosper before my eyes. + +100:8. In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the land: that I +might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 101 + + +Domine, exaudi. + +A prayer for one in affliction: the fifth penitential psalm. + +101:1. The prayer of the poor man, when he was anxious, and poured out +his supplication before the Lord. + +101:2. Hear, O Lord, my prayer: and let my cry come to thee. + +101:3. Turn not away thy face from me: in the day when I am in trouble, +incline thy ear to me. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear +me speedily. + +101:4. For my days are vanished like smoke, and my bones are grown dry +like fuel for the fire. + +101:5. I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: because I +forgot to eat my bread. + +101:6. Through the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my +flesh. + +101:7. I am become like to a pelican of the wilderness: I am like a +night raven in the house. + +A pelican, etc. . .I am become through grief, like birds that affect +solitude and darkness. + +101:8. I have watched, and am become as a sparrow all alone on the +housetop. + +101:9. All the day long my enemies reproached me: and they that praised +me did swear against me. + +101:10. For I did eat ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with +weeping. + +101:11. Because of thy anger and indignation: for having lifted me up +thou hast thrown me down. + +101:12. My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like +grass. + +101:13. But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: and thy memorial to all +generations. + +101:14. Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have +mercy on it, for the time is come. + +101:15. For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they +shall have pity on the earth thereof. + +101:16. All the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and all the kings +of the earth thy glory. + +101:17. For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his +glory. + +101:18. He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not +despised their petition. + +101:19. Let these things be written unto another generation: and the +people that shall be created shall praise the Lord: + +101:20. Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary: from +heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth. + +101:21. That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters: that +he might release the children of the slain: + +101:22. That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his +praise in Jerusalem; + +101:23. When the people assemble together, and kings, to serve the +Lord. + +101:24. He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the +fewness of my days. + +He answered him in the way of his strength. . .That is, the people, +mentioned in the foregoing verse, or the penitent, in whose person this +psalm is delivered, answered the Lord in the way of his strength: that +is, according to the best of his power and strength: or when he was in +the flower of his age and strength: inquiring after the fewness of his +days: to know if he should live long enough to see the happy +restoration of Sion, etc. + +101:25. Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto +generation and generation. + +101:26. In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth: and the +heavens are the works of thy hands. + +101:27. They shall perish but thou remainest: and all of them shall +grow old like a garment: And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and +they shall be changed. + +101:28. But thou art always the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail. + +101:29. The children of thy servants shall continue and their seed +shall be directed for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 102 + + +Benedic, anima. + +Thanksgiving to God for his mercies. + +102:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that +is within me bless his holy name. + +102:2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he hath done for +thee. + +102:3. Who forgiveth all thy iniquities: who healeth all thy diseases. + +102:4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction: who crowneth thee with +mercy and compassion. + +102:5. Who satisfieth thy desire with good things: thy youth shall be +renewed like the eagle's. + +102:6. The Lord doth mercies, and judgment for all that suffer wrong. + +102:7. He hath made his ways known to Moses: his wills to the children +of Israel. + +102:8. The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and +plenteous in mercy. + +102:9. He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten for ever. + +102:10. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded +us according to our iniquities. + +102:11. For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he +hath strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him. + +102:12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our +iniquities from us. + +102:13. As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord +compassion on them that fear him: + +102:14. For he knoweth our frame. He remembereth that we are dust: + +102:15. Man's days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he +flourish. + +102:16. For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he +shall know his place no more. + +102:17. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity +upon them that fear him: And his justice unto children's children, + +102:18. To such as keep his covenant, And are mindful of his +commandments to do them. + +102:19. The lord hath prepared his throne in heaven: and his kingdom +shall rule over all. + +102:20. Bless the Lord, all ye his angels: you that are mighty in +strength, and execute his word, hearkening to the voice of his orders. + +102:21. Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts: you ministers of his that do +his will. + +102:22. Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion, +O my soul, bless thou the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 103 + + +Benedic, anima. + +God is to be praised for his mighty works, and wonderful providence. + +103:1. For David himself. Bless the Lord, O my soul: O Lord my God, +thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on praise and beauty: + +103:2. And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out +the heaven like a pavilion: + +103:3. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the +clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the winds. + +103:4. Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire. + +103:5. Who hast founded the earth upon its own bases: it shall not be +moved for ever and ever. + +103:6. The deep like a garment is its clothing: above the mountains +shall the waters stand. + +103:7. At thy rebuke they shall flee: at the voice of thy thunder they +shall fear. + +103:8. The mountains ascend, and the plains descend into the place +which thou hast founded for them. + +103:9. Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; neither +shall they return to cover the earth. + +103:10. Thou sendest forth springs in the vales: between the midst of +the hills the waters shall pass. + +103:11. All the beasts of the field shall drink: the wild asses shall +expect in their thirst. + +103:12. Over them the birds of the air shall dwell: from the midst of +the rocks they shall give forth their voices. + +103:13. Thou waterest the hills from thy upper rooms: the earth shall +be filled with the fruit of thy works: + +103:14. Bringing forth grass for cattle, and herb for the service of +men. That thou mayst bring bread out of the earth: + +103:15. And that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the +face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen man's heart. + +103:16. The trees of the field shall be filled, and the cedars of +Libanus which he hath planted: + +103:17. There the sparrows shall make their nests. The highest of them +is the house of the heron. + +103:18. The high hills are a refuge for the harts, the rock for the +irchins. + +103:19. He hath made the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going +down. + +103:20. Thou hast appointed darkness, and it is night: in it shall all +the beasts of the woods go about: + +103:21. The young lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their +meat from God. + +103:22. The sun ariseth, and they are gathered together: and they shall +lie down in their dens. + +103:23. Man shall go forth to his work, and to his labour until the +evening. + +103:24. How great are thy works, O Lord ? thou hast made all things in +wisdom: the earth is filled with thy riches. + +103:25. So is this great sea, which stretcheth wide its arms: there are +creeping things without number: Creatures little and great. + +103:26. There the ships shall go. This sea dragon which thou hast +formed to play therein. + +103:27. All expect of thee that thou give them food in season. + +103:28. What thou givest to them they shall gather up: when thou +openest thy hand, they shall all be filled with good. + +103:29. But if thou turnest away thy face, they shall be troubled: thou +shalt take away their breath, and they shall fail, and shall return to +their dust. + +103:30. Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: +and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. + +103:31. May the glory of the Lord endure for ever: the Lord shall +rejoice in his works. + +103:32. He looketh upon the earth, and maketh it tremble: he troubleth +the mountains, and they smoke. + +103:33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise +to my God while I have my being. + +103:34. Let my speech be acceptable to him: but I will take delight in +the Lord. + +103:35. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the unjust, so +that they be no more: O my soul, bless thou the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 104 + + +Confitemini Domino. + +A thanksgiving to God for his benefits to his people Israel. + +Alleluia. + +104:1. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his +deeds among the Gentiles. + +104:2. Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous +works. + +104:3. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that +seek the Lord. + +104:4. Seek ye the lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore. + +104:5. Remember his marvellous works which he hath done; his wonders, +and the judgments of his mouth. + +104:6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen. + +104:7. He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth. + +104:8. He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he +commanded to a thousand generations. + +104:9. Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac: + +104:10. And he appointed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for +an everlasting testament: + +104:11. Saying: To thee will I give the land of Chanaan, the lot of +your inheritance. + +104:12. When they were but a small number: yea very few, and sojourners +therein: + +104:13. And they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to +another people. + +104:14. He suffered no man to hurt them: and he reproved kings for +their sakes. + +104:15. Touch ye not my anointed: and do no evil to my prophets. + +104:16. And he called a famine upon the land: and he broke in pieces +all the support of bread. + +104:17. He sent a man before them: Joseph, who was sold for a slave. + +104:18. They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul, + +104:19. Until his word came. The word of the Lord inflamed him. + +104:20. The king sent, and he released him: the ruler of the people, +and he set him at liberty. + +104:21. He made him master of his house, and ruler of all his +possession. + +104:22. That he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his +ancients wisdom. + +104:23. And Israel went into Egypt: and Jacob was a sojourner in the +land of Cham. + +104:24. And he increased his people exceedingly: and strengthened them +over their enemies. + +104:25. He turned their heart to hate his people: and to deal +deceitfully with his servants. + +He turned their heart, etc. . .Not that God (who is never the author of +sin) moved the Egyptians to hate and persecute his people; but that the +Egyptians took occasion of hating and envying them, from the sight of +the benefits which God bestowed upon them. + +104:26. He sent Moses his servant: Aaron the man whom he had chosen. + +104:27. He gave them power to shew them signs, and his wonders in the +land of Cham. + +104:28. He sent darkness, and made it obscure: and grieved not his +words. + +Grieved not his words. . .That is, he was not wanting to fulfil his +words: or he did not grieve Moses and Aaron, the carriers of his words: +or he did not grieve his words, that is, his sons, the children of +Israel, who enjoyed light whilst the Egyptians were oppressed with +darkness. + +104:29. He turned their waters into blood, and destroyed their fish. + +104:30. Their land brought forth frogs, in the inner chambers of their +kings. + +104:31. He spoke, and there came divers sorts of flies and sciniphs in +all their coasts. + +Sciniphs. . .See the annotation, Ex.8.16. + +104:32. He gave them hail for rain, a burning fire in the land. + +104:33. And he destroyed their vineyards and their fig trees: and he +broke in pieces the trees of their coasts. + +104:34. He spoke, and the locust came, and the bruchus, of which there +was no number. + +Bruchus. . .An insect of the locust kind. + +104:35. And they devoured all the grass in their land, and consumed all +the fruit of their ground. + +104:36. And he slew all the firstborn in their land: the firstfruits of +all their labour. + +104:37. And he brought them out with silver and gold: and there was not +among their tribes one that was feeble. + +104:38. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them lay +upon them. + +104:39. He spread a cloud for their protection, and fire to give them +light in the night. + +104:40. They asked, and the quail came: and he filled them with the +bread of heaven. + +104:41. He opened the rock, and waters flowed: rivers ran down in the +dry land. + +104:42. Because he remembered his holy word, which he had spoken to his +servant Abraham. + +104:43. And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with +gladness. + +104:44. And he gave them the lands of the Gentiles: and they possessed +the labours of the people: + +104:45. That they might observe his justifications, and seek after his +law. + +His justifications. . .That is, his commandments; which here, and in +many other places of the scripture, are called justifications, because +the keeping of them makes man just. The Protestants render it by the +word statutes, in favour of their doctrine, which does not allow good +works to justify. + + + +Psalms Chapter 105 + + +Confitemini Domino. + +A confession of the manifold sins and ingratitudes of the Israelites. + +Alleluia. + +105:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +105:2. Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? who shall set forth +all his praises? + +105:3. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all +times. + +105:4. Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people: visit us with +thy salvation. + +105:5. That we may see the good of thy chosen, that we may rejoice in +the joy of thy nation: that thou mayst be praised with thy inheritance. + +105:6. We have sinned with our fathers: we have acted unjustly, we have +wrought iniquity. + +105:7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt: they remembered +not the multitude of thy mercies: And they provoked to wrath going up +to the sea, even the Red Sea. + +105:8. And he saved them for his own name's sake: that he might make +his power known. + +105:9. And he rebuked the Red Sea and it was dried up: and he led them +through the depths, as in a wilderness. + +105:10. And he saved them from the hand of them that hated them: and he +redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. + +105:11. And the water covered them that afflicted them: there was not +one of them left. + +105:12. And they believed his words: and they sang his praises. + +105:13. They had quickly done, they forgot his works: and they waited +not for his counsel. + +105:14. And they coveted their desire in the desert: and they tempted +God in the place without water. + +105:15. And he gave them their request: and sent fulness into their +souls. + +105:16. And they provoked Moses in the camp, Aaron the holy one of the +Lord. + +105:17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the +congregation of Abiron. + +105:18. And a fire was kindled in their congregation: the flame burned +the wicked. + +105:19. They made also a calf in Horeb: and they adored the graven +thing. + +105:20. And they changed their glory into the likeness of a calf that +eateth grass. + +105:21. They forgot God, who saved them, who had done great things in +Egypt, + +105:22. Wondrous works in the land of Cham: terrible things in the Red +Sea. + +105:23. And he said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his +chosen stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he +should destroy them. + +105:24. And they set at nought the desirable land. They believed not +his word, + +105:25. And they murmured in their tents: they hearkened not to the +voice of the Lord. + +105:26. And he lifted up his hand over them: to overthrow them in the +desert; + +105:27. And to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter +them in the countries. + +105:28. They also were initiated to Beelphegor: and ate the sacrifices +of the dead. + +Initiated. . .That is, they dedicated, or consecrated themselves to the +idol of the Moabites and Madianites, called Beelphegor, or Baal-Peor. +Num. 25.3.--Ibid. The dead. . .Viz., idols without life. + +105:29. And they provoked him with their inventions: and destruction +was multiplied among them. + +105:30. Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter +ceased. + +105:31. And it was reputed to him unto justice, to generation and +generation for evermore. + +105:32. They provoked him also at the waters of contradiction: and +Moses was afflicted for their sakes: + +105:33. Because they exasperated his spirit. And he distinguished with +his lips. + +He distinguished with his lips. . .Moses, by occasion of the people's +rebellion and incredulity, was guilty of distinguishing with his lips; +when, instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded, he said to +the people, with a certain hesitation in his faith, Hear ye, rebellious +and incredulous: Can we from this rock bring out water for you? Num. +20.10. + +105:34. They did not destroy the nations of which the Lord spoke unto +them. + +105:35. And they were mingled among the heathens, and learned their +works: + +105:36. And served their idols, and it became a stumblingblock to them. + +105:37. And they sacrificed their sons, and their daughters to devils. + +105:38. And they shed innocent blood: the blood of their sons and of +their daughters which they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan. And the +land was polluted with blood, + +105:39. And was defiled with their works: and they went aside after +their own inventions. + +105:40. And the Lord was exceedingly angry with his people: and he +abhorred his inheritance. + +105:41. And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they +that hated them had dominion over them. + +105:42. And their enemies afflicted them: and they were humbled under +their hands: + +105:43. Many times did he deliver them. But they provoked him with +their counsel: and they were brought low by their iniquities. + +105:44. And he saw when they were in tribulation: and he heard their +prayer. + +105:45. And he was mindful of his covenant: and repented according to +the multitude of his mercies. + +105:46. And he gave them unto mercies, in the sight of all those that +had made them captives. + +105:47. Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among the nations: +That we may give thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise. + +105:48. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, from everlasting to +everlasting: and let all the people say: So be it, so be it. + + + +Psalms Chapter 106 + + +Confitemini Domino. + +All are invited to give thanks to God for his perpetual providence over +men. + +Alleluia. + +106:1. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +106:2. Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he +hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the +countries. + +106:3. From the rising and from the setting of the sun, from the north +and from the sea. + +106:4. They wandered in a wilderness, in a place without water: they +found not the way of a city for their habitation. + +106:5. They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them. + +106:6. And they cried to the Lord in their tribulation: and he +delivered them out of their distresses. + +106:7. And he led them into the right way, that they might go to a city +of habitation. + +106:8. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful +works to the children of men. + +106:9. For he hath satisfied the empty soul, and hath filled the hungry +soul with good things. + +106:10. Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death: bound in +want and in iron. + +106:11. Because they had exasperated the words of God: and provoked the +counsel of the most High: + +106:12. And their heart was humbled with labours: they were weakened, +and there was none to help them. + +106:13. Then they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he +delivered them out of their distresses. + +106:14. And he brought them out of darkness, and the shadow of death; +and broke their bonds in sunder. + +106:15. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his +wonderful works to the children of men. + +106:16. Because he hath broken gates of brass, and burst iron bars. + +106:17. He took them out of the way of their iniquity: for they were +brought low for their injustices. + +106:18. Their soul abhorred all manner of meat: and they drew nigh even +to the gates of death. + +106:19. And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he +delivered them out of their distresses. + +106:20. He sent his word, and healed them: and delivered them from +their destructions. + +106:21. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his +wonderful works to the children of men. + +106:22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of praise: and declare his +works with joy. + +106:23. They that go down to the sea in ships, doing business in the +great waters: + +106:24. These have seen the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the +deep. + +106:25. He said the word, and there arose a storm of wind: and the +waves thereof were lifted up. + +106:26. They mount up to the heavens, and they go down to the depths: +their soul pined away with evils. + +106:27. They were troubled, and reeled like a drunken man; and all +their wisdom was swallowed up. + +106:28. And they cried to the Lord in their affliction: and he brought +them out of their distresses. + +106:29. And he turned the storm into a breeze: and its waves were +still. + +106:30. And they rejoiced because they were still: and he brought them +to the haven which they wished for. + +106:31. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him, and his +wonderful works to the children of men. + +106:32. And let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise +him in the chair of the ancients. + +106:33. He hath turned rivers into a wilderness: and the sources of +waters into dry ground: + +106:34. A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them +that dwell therein. + +106:35. He hath turned a wilderness into pools of waters, and a dry +land into water springs. + +106:36. And hath placed there the hungry; and they made a city for +their habitation. + +106:37. Anti they sowed fields, and planted vineyards: and they yielded +fruit of birth. + +106:38. And he blessed them, and they were multiplied exceedingly: and +their cattle he suffered not to decrease. + +106:39. Then they were brought to be few: and they were afflicted +through the trouble of evils and sorrow. + +106:40. Contempt was poured forth upon their princes: and he caused +them to wander where there was no passing, and out of the way. + +106:41. And he helped the poor out of poverty: and made him families +like a flock of sheep. + +106:42. The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and all iniquity shall +stop her mouth. + +106:43. Who is wise, and will keep these things; and will understand +the mercies of the Lord? + + + +Psalms Chapter 107 + + +Paratum cor meum. + +The prophet praiseth God for benefits received. + +107:1. A canticle of a psalm for David himself. + +107:2. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and +will give praise, with my glory. + +107:3. Arise, my glory; arise, psaltery and harp: I will arise in the +morning early. + +107:4. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing +unto thee among the nations. + +107:5. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth even +unto the clouds. + +107:6. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory over +all the earth: + +107:7. That thy beloved may be delivered. Save with thy right hand and +hear me. + +107:8. God hath spoken in his holiness. I will rejoice, and I will +divide Sichem and I will mete out the vale of tabernacles. + +107:9. Galaad is mine: and Manasses is mine and Ephraim the protection +of my head. Juda is my king: + +107:10. Moab the pot of my hope. Over Edom I will stretch out my shoe: +the aliens are become my friends. + +107:11. Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into +Edom? + +107:12. Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off ? and wilt not thou, +O God, go forth with our armies? + +107:13. O grant us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. + +107:14. Through God we shall do mightily: and he will bring our enemies +to nothing. + + + +Psalms Chapter 108 + + +Deus, laudem meam. + +David in the person of Christ, prayeth against his persecutors; more +especially the traitor Judas: foretelling and approving his just +punishment for his obstinacy in sin and final impenitence. + +108:1. Unto the end, a psalm for David. + +108:2. O God, be not thou silent in my praise: for the mouth of the +wicked and the mouth of the deceitful man is opened against me. + +108:3. They have spoken against me with deceitful tongues; and they +have compassed me about with words of hatred; and have fought against +me without cause. + +108:4. Instead of making me a return of love, they detracted me: but I +gave myself to prayer. + +108:5. And they repaid me evil for good: and hatred for my love. + +108:6. Set thou the sinner over him: and may the devil stand at his +right hand. + +Set thou the sinner over him, etc. . .Give to the devil, that +arch-sinner, power over him: let him enter into him, and possess him. +The imprecations, contained in the thirty verses of this psalm, are +opposed to the thirty pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed our +Lord; and are to be taken as prophetic denunciations of the evils that +should befall the traitor and his accomplices the Jews; and not +properly as curses. + +108:7. When he is judged, may he go out condemned; and may his prayer +be turned to sin. + +108:8. May his days be few: and his bishopric let another take. + +108:9. May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. + +108:10. Let his children be carried about vagabonds, and beg; and let +them be cast out of their dwellings. + +108:11. May the usurer search all his substance: and let strangers +plunder his labours. + +108:12. May there be none to help him: nor none to pity his fatherless +offspring. + +108:13. May his posterity be cut off; in one generation may his name be +blotted out. + +108:14. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered in the sight of +the Lord: and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. + +108:15. May they be before the Lord continually, and let the memory of +them perish from the earth: + +108:16. because he remembered not to shew mercy, + +108:17. But persecuted the poor man and the beggar; and the broken in +heart, to put him to death. + +108:18. And he loved cursing, and it shall come unto him: and he would +not have blessing, and it shall be far from him. And he put on cursing, +like a garment: and it went in like water into his entrails, and like +oil in his bones. + +108:19. May it be unto him like a garment which covereth him; and like +a girdle with which he is girded continually. + +108:20. This is the work of them who detract me before the Lord; and +who speak evils against my soul. + +108:21. But thou, O Lord, do with me for thy name's sake: because thy +mercy is sweet. Do thou deliver me, + +108:22. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is troubled within me. + +108:23. I am taken away like the shadow when it declineth: and I am +shaken off as locusts. + +108:24. My knees are weakened through fasting: and my flesh is changed +for oil. + +For oil. . .Propter oleum. The meaning is, my flesh is changed, being +perfectly emaciated and dried up, as having lost all its oil or +fatness. + +108:25. And I am become a reproach to them: they saw me and they shaked +their heads. + +108:26. Help me, O Lord my God; save me; according to thy mercy. + +108:27. And let them know that this is thy hand: and that thou, O Lord, +hast done it. + +108:28. They will curse and thou wilt bless: let them that rise up +against me be confounded: but thy servant shall rejoice. + +108:29. Let them that detract me be clothed with shame: and let them be +covered with their confusion as with a double cloak. + +108:30. I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth: and in the +midst of many I will praise him. + +108:31. Because he hath stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my +soul from persecutors. + + + +Psalms Chapter 109 + + +Dixit Dominus. + +Christ's exaltation and everlasting priesthood. + +109:1. A psalm for David. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my +right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. + +109:2. The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: +rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. + +109:3. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the +brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot +thee. + +109:4. The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest +for ever according to the order of Melchisedech. + +109:5. The Lord at thy right hand hath broken kings in the day of his +wrath. + +109:6. He shall judge among nations, he shall fill ruins: he shall +crush the heads in the land of many. + +109:7. He shall drink of the torrent in the way: therefore shall he +lift up the head. + + + +Psalms Chapter 110 + + +Confitebor tibi, Domine. + +God is to be praised for his graces, and benefits to his church. + +Alleluia. + +110:1. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; in the council +of the just, and in the congregation. + +110:2. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his +wills. + +110:3. His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth +for ever and ever. + +110:4. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a +merciful and gracious Lord: + +110:5. He hath given food to them that fear him. He will be mindful for +ever of his covenant: + +110:6. He will shew forth to his people the power of his works. + +110:7. That he may give them the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works +of his hands are truth and judgment. + +110:8. All his commandments are faithful: confirmed for ever and ever, +made in truth and equity. + +110:9. He hath sent redemption to his people: he hath commanded his +covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name: + +110:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good +understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and +ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 111 + + +Beatus vir. + +The good man is happy. + +Alleluia, of the returning of Aggeus and Zacharias. + +Of the returning, etc. . .This is in the Greek and Latin, but not in the +Hebrew. It signifies that this psalm was proper to be sung at the time +of the return of the people from their captivity; to inculcate to them, +how happy they might be, if they would be constant in the service of +God. + +111:1. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall delight +exceedingly in his commandments. + +111:2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the +righteous shall be blessed. + +111:3. Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice +remaineth for ever and ever. + +111:4. To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is +merciful, and compassionate and just. + +111:5. Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth: he shall +order his words with judgment: + +111:6. Because he shall not be moved for ever. + +111:7. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear +the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord: + +111:8. His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved until he look +over his enemies. + +111:9. He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his justice +remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory. + +111:10. The wicked shall see, and shall be angry, he shall gnash with +his teeth and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. + + + +Psalms Chapter 112 + + +Laudate, pueri. + +God is to be praised for his regard to the poor and humble. + +Alleluia. + +112:1. Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord. + +112:2. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for +ever. + +112:3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the +name of the Lord is worthy of praise. + +112:4. The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above the +heavens. + +112:5. Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: + +112:6. and looketh +down on the low things in heaven and in earth? + +112:7. Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out +of the dunghill: + +112:8. That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his +people. + +112:9. Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother +of children. + + + +Psalms Chapter 113 + + +In exitu Israel. + +God hath shewn his power in delivering his people: idols are vain. The +Hebrews divide this into two psalms. + +Alleluia. + +113:1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a +barbarous people: + +113:2. Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. + +113:3. The sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back. + +113:4. The mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like the lambs of +the flock. + +113:5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee: and thou, +O Jordan, that thou wast turned back? + +113:6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye hills, like +lambs of the flock? + +113:7. At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence +of the God of Jacob: + +113:8. Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hill into +fountains of waters. + +113:1. Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory. + +113:2. For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake: lest the Gentiles +should say: Where is their God? + +113:3. But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he +would. + +113:4. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of the +hands of men. + +113:5. They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not. + +113:6. They have ears and hear not: they have noses and smell not. + +113:7. They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: +neither shall they cry out through their throat. + +113:8. Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as +trust in them. + +113:9. The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper +and their protector. + +113:10. The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper +and their protector. + +113:11. They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their +helper and their protector. + +113:12. The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us. He hath +blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron. + +113:13. He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great. + +113:14. May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your +children. + +113:15. Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. + +113:16. The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given +to the children of men. + +113:17. The dead shall not praise thee, O Lord: nor any of them that go +down to hell. + +113:18. But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for +ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 114 + + +Dilexi. + +The prayer of a just man in affliction, with a lively confidence in +God. + +Alleluia. + +114:1. I have loved, because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer. + +114:2. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me: and in my days I will +call upon him. + +114:3. The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell +have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: + +114:4. And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. + +114:5. The Lord is merciful and just, and our God sheweth mercy. + +114:6. The Lord is the keeper of little ones: I was humbled, and he +delivered me. + +114:7. Turn, O my soul, into thy rest: for the Lord hath been bountiful +to thee. + +114:8. For he hath delivered my soul from death: my eyes from tears, my +feet from falling. + +114:9. I will please the Lord in the land of the living. + + + +Psalms Chapter 115 + + +Credidi. + +This in the Hebrew is joined with the foregoing psalm, and continues to +express the faith and gratitude of the psalmist. + +Alleluia. + +115:10. I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have +been humbled exceedingly. + +115:11. I said in my excess: Every man is a liar. + +115:12. What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things that he +hath rendered to me? + +115:13. I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the +name of the Lord. + +115:14. I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: + +115:15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. + +115:16. O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of +thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds: + +115:17. I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will +call upon the name of the Lord. + +115:18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people: + +115:19. In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O +Jerusalem. + + + +Psalms Chapter 116 + + +Laudate Dominum. + +All nations are called upon to praise God for his mercy and truth. + +Alleluia. + +116:1. O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. + +116:2. For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord +remaineth for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 117 + + +Confitemini Domino. + +The psalmist praiseth God for his delivery from evils: putteth his +whole trust in him; and foretelleth the coming of Christ. + +Alleluia. + +117:1. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +117:2. Let Israel now say, that he is good: that his mercy endureth for +ever. + +117:3. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for +ever. + +117:4. Let them that fear the Lord now say, that his mercy endureth for +ever. + +117:5. In my trouble I called upon the Lord: and the Lord heard me, and +enlarged me. + +117:6. The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man can do unto me. + +117:7. The Lord is my helper: and I will look over my enemies. + +117:8. It is good to confide in the Lord, rather than to have +confidence in man. + +117:9. It is good to trust in the Lord, rather than to trust in +princes. + +117:10. All nations compassed me about; and, in the name of the Lord I +have been revenged on them. + +117:11. Surrounding me they compassed me about: and in the name of the +Lord I have been revenged on them. + +117:12. They surrounded me like bees, and they burned like fire among +thorns: and in the name of the Lord I was revenged on them. + +117:13. Being pushed I was overturned that I might fall: but the Lord +supported me. + +117:14. The Lord is my strength and my praise: and he is become my +salvation. + +117:15. The voice of rejoicing and of salvation is in the tabernacles +of the just. + +117:16. The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right +hand of the Lord hath exalted me: the right hand of the Lord hath +wrought strength. + +117:17. I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the +Lord. + +117:18. The Lord chastising hath chastised me: but he hath not +delivered me over to death. + +117:19. Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go in to them, and +give praise to the Lord. + +117:20. This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter into it. + +117:21. I will give glory to thee because thou hast heard me: and art +become my salvation. + +117:22. The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the +head of the corner. + +117:23. This is the Lord's doing , and it is wonderful in our eyes. + +117:24. This is the day which the Lord hath made: let us be glad and +rejoice therein. + +117:25. O Lord, save me: O Lord, give good success. + +117:26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We have +blessed you out of the house of the Lord. + +117:27. The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us. Appoint a solemn +day, with shady boughs, even to the horn of the altar. + +117:28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, and I +will exalt thee. I will praise thee, because thou hast heard me, and +art become my salvation. + +117:29. O praise ye the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 118 + + +Beati immaculati. + +Of the excellence of virtue consisting in the love and observance of +the commandments of God. + +Alleluia. + +ALEPH. + +Aleph. . .The first eight verses of this psalm in the original begin +with Aleph, which is the name of the first letter of the Hebrew +alphabet. The second eight verses begin with Beth, the name of the +second letter of the Hebrew alphabet; and so to the end of the whole +alphabet, in all twenty-two letters, each letter having eight verses. +This order is variously expounded by the holy fathers; which shews the +difficulty of understanding the holy scriptures, and consequently with +what humility, and submission to the Church they are to be read. + +118:1. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the +Lord. + +118:2. Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with +their whole heart. + +His testimonies. . .The commandments of God are called his testimonies, +because they testify his holy will unto us. Note here, that in almost +every verse of this psalm (which in number are 176) the word and law of +God, and the love and observance of it, is perpetually inculcated, +under a variety of denominations, all signifying the same thing. + +118:3. For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways. + +118:4. Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently. + +118:5. O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications. + +118:6. Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy +commandments. + +118:7. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have +learned the judgments of thy justice. + +118:8. I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake +me. + +BETH. + +118:9. By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy +words. + +118:10. With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray +from thy commandments. + +118:11. Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against +thee. + +118:12. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications. + +118:13. With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth. + +118:14. I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all +riches. + +118:15. I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy +ways. + +118:16. I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy +words. + +GIMEL. + +118:17. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep +thy words. + +118:18. Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of +thy law. + +118:19. I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from +me. + +118:20. My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all +times. + +118:21. Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from +thy commandments. + +118:22. Remove from me reproach and contempt: because I have sought +after thy testimonies. + +118:23. For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was +employed in thy justifications. + +118:24. For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications +my counsel. + +DALETH. + +118:25. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according +to thy word. + +118:26. I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy +justifications. + +118:27. Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I +shall be exercised in thy wondrous works. + +118:28. My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in +thy words. + +118:29. Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have +mercy on me. + +118:30. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not +forgotten. + +118:31. I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame. + +118:32. I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge +my heart. + +HE. + +118:33. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: +and I will always seek after it. + +118:34. Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will +keep it with my whole heart. + +118:35. Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have +desired. + +118:36. Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness. + +118:37. Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me +in thy way. + +118:38. Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear. + +118:39. Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy +judgments are delightful. + +118:40. Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy +justice. + +VAU. + +118:41. Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation +according to thy word. + +118:42. So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I +have trusted in thy words. + +118:43. And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: +for in thy words, I have hoped exceedingly. + +118:44. So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever. + +118:45. And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy +commandments. + +118:46. And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not +ashamed. + +118:47. I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved. + +118:48. And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: +and I was exercised in thy justifications. + +ZAIN. + +118:49. Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast +given me hope. + +118:50. This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath +enlivened me. + +118:51. The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from +thy law. + +118:52. I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was +comforted. + +118:53. A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that +forsake thy law. + +118:54. Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of +my pilgrimage. + +118:55. In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept +thy law. + +118:56. This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications. + +HETH. + +118:57. O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep thy law. + +118:58. I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me +according to thy word. + +118:59. I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy +testimonies. + +118:60. I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy +commandments. + +118:61. The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not +forgotten thy law. + +118:62. I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of +thy justification. + +118:63. I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy +commandments. + +118:64. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy +justifications. + +TETH. + +118:65. Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy +word. + +118:66. Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have +believed thy commandments. + +118:67. Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy +word. + +118:68. Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications. + +118:69. The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I +will seek thy commandments with my whole heart. + +118:70. Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy +law. + +118:71. It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn +thy justifications. + +118:72. The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and +silver. + +JOD. + +118:73. Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, +and I will learn thy commandments. + +118:74. They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad : because I +have greatly hoped in thy words. + +118:75. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth +thou hast humbled me. + +118:76. O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto +thy servant. + +118:77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy +law is my meditation. + +118:78. Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly +towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments. + +118:79. Let them that fear thee turn to me: and they that know thy +testimonies. + +118:80. Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not +be confounded. + +CAPH. + +118:81. My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I +have very much hoped. + +118:82. My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou +comfort me? + +118:83. For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not +forgotten thy justifications. + +118:84. How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute +judgment on them that persecute me? + +118:85. The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law. + +118:86. All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, +do thou help me. + +118:87. They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not +forsaken thy commandments. + +118:88. Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the +testimonies of thy mouth. + +LAMED. + +118:89. For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven. + +118:90. Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, +and it continueth. + +118:91. By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee. + +118:92. Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps +perished in my abjection. + +118:93. Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast +given me life. + +118:94. I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications. + +118:95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have +understood thy testimonies. + +118:96. I have seen an end of all perfection: thy commandment is +exceeding broad. + +MEM. + +118:97. O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the +day. + +118:98. Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my +enemies: for it is ever with me. + +118:99. I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy +testimonies are my meditation. + +118:100. I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought +thy commandments. + +118:101. I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep +thy words. + +118:102. I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set +me a law. + +118:103. How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my +mouth. + +118:104. By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I +hated every way of iniquity. + +NUN. + +118:105. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths. + +118:106. I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy +justice. + +118:107. I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me +according to thy word. + +118:108. The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and +teach me thy judgments. + +118:109. My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten +thy law. + +118:110. Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from +thy precepts. + +118:111. I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: +because they are the joy of my heart. + +118:112. I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, +for the reward. + +SAMECH. + +118:113. I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law. + +118:114. Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have +greatly hoped. + +118:115. Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the +commandments of my God. + +118:116. Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me +not be confounded in my expectation. + +118:117. Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on +thy justifications. + +118:118. Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; +for their thought is unjust. + +118:119. I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: +therefore have I loved thy testimonies. + +118:120. Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy +judgments. + +AIN. + +118:121. I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that +slander me. + +118:122. Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me. + +118:123. My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of +thy justice. + +118:124. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy +justifications. + +118:125. I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy +testimonies. + +118:126. It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law. + +118:127. Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the +topaz. + +118:128. Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated +all wicked ways. + +PHE. + +118:129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought +them. + +118:130. The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth +understanding to little ones. + +118:131. I opened my mouth, and panted: because I longed for thy +commandments. + +118:132. Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me according to the +judgment of them that love thy name. + +118:133. Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity +have dominion over me. + +118:134. Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy +commandments. + +118:135. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy +justifications. + +118:136. My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have +not kept thy law. + +SADE. + +118:137. Thou art just, O Lord: and thy judgment is right. + +118:138. Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth +exceedingly. + +118:139. My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy +words. + +118:140. Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved +it. + +118:141. I am very young and despised; but I forget not thy +justifications. + +118:142. Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth. + +118:143. Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my +meditation. + +118:144. Thy testimonies are justice for ever: give me understanding, +and I shall live. + +COPH. + +118:145. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy +justifications. + +118:146. I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments. + +118:147. I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy +words I very much hoped. + +118:148. My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might +meditate on thy words. + +118:149. Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and +quicken me according to thy judgment. + +118:150. They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they +are gone far off from thy law. + +118:151. Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth. + +118:152. I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: +that thou hast founded them for ever. + +RES. + +118:153. See my humiliation and deliver me for I have not forgotten thy +law. + +118:154. Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy +word's sake. + +118:155. Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought +thy justifications. + +118:156. Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy +judgment. + +118:157. Many are they that persecute me and afflict me; but I have not +declined from thy testimonies. + +118:158. I beheld the transgressors, and pined away; because they kept +not thy word. + +118:159. Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou +in thy mercy. + +118:160. The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy +justice are for ever. + +SIN. + +118:161. Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath +been in awe of thy words. + +118:162. I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great +spoil. + +118:163. I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law. + +118:164. Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the +judgments of thy justice. + +118:165. Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is +no stumbling. block. + +118:166. I looked for thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy +commandments. + +118:167. My soul hath kept thy testimonies and hath loved them +exceedingly. + +118:168. I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all +my ways are in thy sight. + +TAU. + +118:169. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me +understanding according to thy word. + +118:170. Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according +to thy word. + +118:171. My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy +justifications. + +118:172. My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy +commandments are justice. + +118:173. Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy +precepts. + +118:174. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my +meditation. + +118:175. My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments +shall help me. + +118:176. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy +servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments. + + + +Psalms Chapter 119 + + +Ad Dominum. + +A prayer in tribulation. + +A gradual canticle. + +A gradual canticle. . .The following psalms, in number fifteen, are +called gradual psalms, or canticles, from the word gradus, signifying +steps, ascensions, or degrees: either because they were appointed to be +sung on the fifteen steps, by which the people ascended to the temple: +or, that in the singing of them the voice was to be raised by certain +steps or ascensions: or, that they were to be sung by the people +returning from their captivity and ascending to Jerusalem, which was +seated amongst mountains. The holy fathers, in a mystical sense, +understand these steps, or ascensions, of the degrees by which +Christians spiritually ascend to virtue and perfection; and to the true +temple of God in the heavenly Jerusalem. + +119:1. In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me. + +119:2. O Lord, deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a deceitful +tongue. + +119:3. What shall be given to thee, or what shall be added to thee, to +a deceitful tongue? + +119:4. The sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals that lay waste. + +119:5. Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with +the inhabitants of Cedar: + +119:6. My soul hath been long a sojourner. + +119:7. With them that hated peace I was peaceable: when I spoke to them +they fought against me without cause. + + + +Psalms Chapter 120 + + +Levavi oculos. + +God is the keeper of his servants. + +A gradual canticle. + +120:1. I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help +shall come to me. + +120:2. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. + +120:3. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber +that keepeth thee. + +120:4. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. + +120:5. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy +right hand. + +120:6. The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. + +120:7. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. + +120:8. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from +henceforth now and for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 121 + + +Laetatus sum in his. + +The desire and hope of the just for the coming of the kingdom of God, +and the peace of his church. + +121:1. A gradual canticle. + +I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the +house of the Lord. + +121:2. Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem. + +121:3. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. + +121:4. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the +testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. + +121:5. Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house +of David. + +121:6. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and +abundance for them that love thee. + +121:7. Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. + +121:8. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, I spoke peace +of thee. + +121:9. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good +things for thee. + + + +Psalms Chapter 122 + + +Ad te levavi. + +A prayer in affliction, with confidence in God. + +A gradual canticle. + +122:1. To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven. + +122:2. Behold as the eyes of servants are on the hands of their +masters, As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: +so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. + +122:3. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly +filled with contempt. + +122:4. For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, +and contempt to the proud. + + + +Psalms Chapter 123 + + +Nisi quia Domini. + +The church giveth glory to God for her deliverance, from the hands of +her enemies. + +123:1. A gradual canticle. If it had not been that the Lord was with +us, let Israel now say: + +123:2. If it had not been that the Lord was with us, When men rose up +against us, + +123:3. Perhaps they had swallowed us up alive. When their fury was +enkindled against us, + +123:4. Perhaps the waters had swallowed us up. + +123:5. Our soul hath passed through a torrent: perhaps our soul had +passed through a water insupportable. + +123:6. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us to be a prey to their +teeth. + +123:7. Our soul hath been delivered as a sparrow out of the snare of +the fowlers. The snare is broken, and we are delivered. + +123:8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 124 + + +Qui confidunt. + +The just are always under God's protection. + +124:1. A gradual canticle. They that trust in the Lord shall be as +mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth + +124:2. In Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round +about his people from henceforth now and for ever. + +124:3. For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of +the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity. + +124:4. Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of +heart. + +124:5. But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with +the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel. + + + +Psalms Chapter 125 + + +In convertendo. + +The people of God rejoice at their delivery from captivity. + +125:1. A gradual canticle. When the Lord brought back the captivity of +Sion, we became like men comforted. + +125:2. Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with +joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great +things for them. + +125:3. The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful. + +125:4. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south. + +125:5. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. + +125:6. Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. + +125:7. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their +sheaves. + + + +Psalms Chapter 126 + + +Nisi Dominus. + +Nothing can be done without God's grace and blessing. + +126:1. A gradual canticle of Solomon. Unless the Lord build the house, +they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he +watcheth in vain that keepeth it. + +126:2. It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have +sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to +his beloved, + +It is vain for you to rise before light. . .That is, your early rising, +your labour and worldly solicitude, will be vain, that is, will avail +you nothing, without the light, grace, and blessing of God. + +126:3. Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the +fruit of the womb. + +126:4. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them +that have been shaken. + +126:5. Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he +shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate. + + + +Psalms Chapter 127 + + +Beati omnes. + +The fear of God is the way to happiness. + +127:1. A gradual canticle. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: +that walk in his ways. + +127:2. For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, +and it shall be well with thee. + +127:3. Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy +children as olive plants, round about thy table. + +127:4. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. + +127:5. May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good +things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. + +127:6. And mayst thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel. + + + +Psalms Chapter 128 + + +Saepe expugnaverunt. + +The church of God is invincible : her persecutors come to nothing. + +128:1. A gradual canticle. Often have they fought against me from my +youth, let Israel now say. + +128:2. Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could +not prevail over me. + +128:3. The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their +iniquity. + +128:4. The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: + +128:5. Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion. + +128:6. Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth +before it be plucked up: + +128:7. Who with the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth +sheaves his bosom. + +128:8. And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord +be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 129 + + +De profundis. + +A prayer of a sinner, trusting in the mercies of God. The sixth +penitential psalm. + +129:1. A gradual canticle. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O +Lord: + +129:2. Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of +my supplication. + +129:3. If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. + +129:4. For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of +thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his +word: + +129:5. my soul hath hoped in the Lord. + +129:6. From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the +Lord. + +129:7. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful +redemption. + +129:8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. + + + +Psalms Chapter 130 + + +Domine, none est. + +The prophet's humility. + +130:1. A gradual canticle of David. Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor +are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in +wonderful things above me. + +130:2. If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that +is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul. + +130:3. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 131 + + +Memento, Domine. + +A prayer for the fulfilling of the promise made to David. + +131:1. A gradual canticle. O Lord, remember David, and all his +meekness. + +131:2. How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob: + +131:3. If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go +up into the bed wherein I lie: + +131:4. If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, + +131:5. Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a +tabernacle for the God of Jacob. + +131:6. Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the +fields of the wood. + +We have heard of it in Ephrata. . .When I was young, and lived in +Bethlehem, otherwise called Ephrata, I heard of God's tabernacle and +ark, and had a devout desire of seeking it; and accordingly I found it +at Cariathiarim, the city of the woods: where it was till it was +removed to Jerusalem. See 1 Par. 13. + +131:7. We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where +his feet stood. + +131:8. Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which +thou hast sanctified. + +131:9. Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints +rejoice. + +131:10. For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thy +anointed. + +131:11. The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it +void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne. + +131:12. If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies +which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit +upon thy throne. + +131:13. For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his +dwelling. + +131:14. This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I +have chosen it. + +131:15. Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with +bread. + +131:16. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall +rejoice with exceeding great joy. + +131:17. There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a +lamp for my anointed. + +131:18. His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my +sanctification flourish. + + + +Psalms Chapter 132 + + +Ecce quam bonum. + +The happiness of brotherly love and concord. + +132:1. A gradual canticle of David. Behold how good and how pleasant it +is for brethren to dwell together in unity: + +132:2. Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the +beard, the beard of Aaron, Which ran down to the skirt of his garment: + +132:3. As the dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon mount Sion. For +there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore. + + + +Psalms Chapter 133 + + +Ecce nunc benedicite. + +An exhortation to praise God continually. + +133:1. A gradual canticle. Behold now bless ye the Lord, all ye +servants of the Lord: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts +of the house of our God. + +133:2. In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless +ye the Lord. + +133:3. May the Lord out of Sion bless thee, he that made heaven and +earth. + + + +Psalms Chapter 134 + + +Laudate nomen. + +An exhortation to praise God: the vanity of idols. + +134:1. Alleluia. Praise ye the name of the Lord: O you his servants, +praise the Lord: + +134:2. You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the +house of our God. + +134:3. Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good: sing ye to his name, +for it is sweet. + +134:4. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself: Israel for his own +possession. + +134:5. For I have known that the Lord is great, and our God is above +all gods. + +134:6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased he hath done, in heaven, in earth, +in the sea, and in all the deeps. + +134:7. He bringeth up clouds from the end of the earth: he hath made +lightnings for the rain. He bringeth forth winds out of his stores: + +134:8. He slew the firstborn of Egypt from man even unto beast. + +134:9. He sent forth signs and wonders in the midst of thee, O Egypt: +upon Pharao, and upon all his servants. + +134:10. He smote many nations, and slew mighty kings: + +134:11. Sehon king of the Amorrhites, and Og king of Basan, and all the +kingdoms of Chanaan. + +134:12. And gave their land for an inheritance, for an inheritance to +his people Israel. + +134:13. Thy name, O Lord, is for ever: thy memorial, O Lord, unto all +generations. + +134:14. For the Lord will judge his people, and will be entreated in +favour of his servants. + +134:15. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of +men's hands. + +134:16. They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they +see not. + +134:17. They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there any breath +in their mouths. + +134:18. Let them that make them be like to them: and every one that +trusteth in them. + +134:19. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of +Aaron. + +134:20. Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: you that fear the Lord, bless +the Lord. + +134:21. Blessed be the Lord out of Sion, who dwelleth in Jerusalem. + + + +Psalms Chapter 135 + + +Confitemini Domino. + +God is to be praised for his wonderful works. + +135:1. Alleluia. Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +Praise the Lord. . .By this invitation to praise the Lord, thrice +repeated, we profess the Blessed Trinity, One God in three distinct +Persons, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. + +135:2. Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:3. Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:4. Who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:5. Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +135:6. Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:7. Who made the great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:8. The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:9. The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +135:10. Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +135:11. Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +135:12. With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:13. Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for +ever. + +135:14. And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:15. And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:16. Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth +for ever. + +135:17. Who smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:18. And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:19. Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:20. And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:21. And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:22. For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:23. For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy +endureth for ever. + +135:24. And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for +ever. + +135:25. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. + +135:26. Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for +ever. + +135:27. Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for +ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 136 + + +Super flumina. + +The lamentation of the people of God in their captivity in Babylon. + +A psalm of David, for Jeremias. + +For Jeremias. . .For the time of Jeremias, and the captivity of Babylon. + +136:1. Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we +remembered Sion: + +136:2. On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments. + +136:3. For there they that led us into captivity required of us the +words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a +hymn of the songs of Sion. + +136:4. How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? + +136:5. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. + +136:6. Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I +make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy. + +136:7. Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem: +Who say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. + +136:8. O daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall +repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us. + +136:9. Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against +the rock. + +Dash thy little ones, etc. . .In the spiritual sense, we dash the little +ones of Babylon against the rock, when we mortify our passions, and +stifle the first motions of them, by a speedy recourse to the rock +which is Christ. + + + +Psalms Chapter 137 + + +Confitebor tibi. + +Thanksgiving to God for his benefits. + +137:1. For David himself. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole +heart: for thou hast heard the words of my mouth. I will sing praise to +thee in the sight of the angels: + +137:2. I will worship towards thy holy temple, and I will give glory to +thy name. For thy mercy, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy +holy name above all. + +137:3. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me: thou shalt +multiply strength in my soul. + +137:4. May all the kings of the earth give glory to thee: for they have +heard all the words of thy mouth. + +137:5. And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the +glory of the Lord. + +137:6. For the Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he +knoweth afar off. + +137:7. If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken +me: and thou hast stretched forth thy hand against the wrath of my +enemies: and thy right hand hath saved me. + +137:8. The Lord will repay for me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for +ever: O despise not the works of thy hands. + + + +Psalms Chapter 138 + + +Domine, probasti. + +God's special providence over his servants. + +138:1. Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and +known me: + +138:2. Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. + +138:3. Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line +thou hast searched out. + +138:4. And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my +tongue. + +There is no speech, etc. . .Viz., unknown to thee: or when there is no +speech in my tongue; yet my whole interior and my most secret thoughts +are known to thee. + +138:5. Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those +of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me. + +138:6. Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I +cannot reach to it. + +138:7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from +thy face? + +138:8. If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, +thou art present. + +138:9. If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the +uttermost parts of the sea: + +138:10. Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand +shall hold me. + +138:11. And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be +my light in my pleasures. + +138:12. But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be +light all the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are +alike to thee. + +138:13. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from +my mother's womb. + +138:14. I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful +are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well. + +138:15. My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in +secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth. + +138:16. Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall +be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them. + +138:17. But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: +their principality is exceedingly strengthened. + +138:18. I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the +sand, I rose up and am still with thee. + +138:19. If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart +from me: + +138:20. Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in +vain. + +Because you say in thought, etc. . .Depart from me, you wicked, who plot +against the servants of God, and think to cast them out of the cities +of their habitation; as if they have received them in vain, and to no +purpose. + +138:21. Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pined away +because of thy enemies? + +138:22. I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become +enemies to me. + +I have hated them. . .Not with an hatred of malice, but a zeal for the +observance of God's commandments; which he saw were despised by the +wicked, who are to be considered enemies to God. + +138:23. Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my +paths. + +138:24. And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in +the eternal way. + + + +Psalms Chapter 139 + + +Eripe me, Domine. + +A prayer to be delivered from the wicked. + +139:1. Unto the end, a psalm of David. + +139:2. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust +man. + +139:3. Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long +they designed battles. + +139:4. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of +asps is under their lips. + +139:5. Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust +men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps: + +139:6. The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out +cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the +wayside. + +139:7. I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of +my supplication. + +139:8. O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast +overshadowed my head in the day of battle. + +139:9. Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have +plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph. + +139:10. The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips +shall overwhelm them. + +139:11. Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down +into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand. + +139:12. A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: +evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction. + +139:13. I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will +revenge the poor. + +139:14. But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the +upright shall dwell with thy countenance. + + + +Psalms Chapter 140 + + +Domine, clamavi. + +A prayer against sinful words, and deceitful flatterers. + +A psalm of David. + +140:1. I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when +I cry to thee. + +140:2. Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting +up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. + +140:3. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my +lips. + +140:4. Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. +With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the +choicest of them. + +140:5. The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: +but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer shall +still be against the things with which they are well pleased: + +Let not the oil of the sinner, etc. . .That is, the flattery, or +deceitful praise.--Ibid. For my prayer, etc. . .So far from coveting +their praises, who are never well pleased but with things that are +evil; I shall continually pray to be preserved from such things as they +are delighted with. + +140:6. Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They +shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: + +Their judges, etc. . .Their rulers, or chiefs, quickly vanish and +perish, like ships dashed against the rocks, and swallowed up by the +waves. Let them then hear my words, for they are powerful and will +prevail; or, as it is in the Hebrew, for they are sweet. + +140:7. As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: +Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. + +140:8. But to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my +trust, take not away my soul. + +140:9. Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from +the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity. + +140:10. The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass. + +I am alone, etc. . .Singularly protected by the Almighty, until I pass +all their nets and snares. + + + +Psalms Chapter 141 + + +Voce mea. + +A prayer of David in extremity of danger. + +141:1. Of understanding for David, A prayer when he was in the cave. [1 +Kings 24.] + +141:2. I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made +supplication to the Lord. + +141:3. In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my +trouble: + +141:4. When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths. In this +way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me. + +141:5. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that +would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath +regard to my soul. + +141:6. I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in +the land of the living. + +141:7. Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me +from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. + +141:8. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the +just wait for me, until thou reward me. + + + +Psalms Chapter 142 + + +Domine, exaudi. + +The psalmist in tribulation calleth upon God for his delivery. The +seventh penitential psalm. + +142:1. A psalm of David, when his son Absalom pursued him. [2 Kings 17.] +Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: +hear me in thy justice. + +142:2. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight +no man living shall be justified. + +142:3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my +life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that +have been dead of old: + +142:4. And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is +troubled. + +142:5. I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I +meditated upon the works of thy hands. + +142:6. I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without +water unto thee. + +142:7. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not +away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the +pit. + +142:8. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I +hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have +lifted up my soul to thee. + +142:9. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled: + +142:10. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit +shall lead me into the right land: + +142:11. for thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. +Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble: + +142:12. And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt +cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. + + + +Psalms Chapter 143 + + +Benedictus Dominus. + +The prophet praiseth God, and prayeth to be delivered from his enemies. +No worldly happiness is to be compared with that of serving God. + +A psalm of David against Goliath. + +143:1. Blessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands to fight, and +my fingers to war. + +143:2. My mercy, and my refuge: my support, and my deliverer: My +protector, and I have hoped in him: who subdueth my people under me. + +143:3. Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son +of man, that thou makest account of him? + +143:4. Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow. + +143:5. Lord, bow down thy heavens and descend: touch the mountains, and +they shall smoke. + +143:6. Send forth lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: shoot out thy +arrows, and thou shalt trouble them. + +143:7. Put forth thy hand from on high, take me out, and deliver me +from many waters: from the hand of strange children: + +143:8. Whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the +right hand of iniquity. + +143:9. To thee, O God, I will sing a new canticle: on the psaltery and +an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to thee. + +143:10. Who givest salvation to kings: who hast redeemed thy servant +David from the malicious sword: + +143:11. Deliver me, And rescue me out of the hand of strange children; +whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the right hand +of iniquity: + +143:12. Whose sons are as new plants in their youth: Their daughters +decked out, adorned round about after the similitude of a temple: + +143:13. Their storehouses full, flowing out of this into that. Their +sheep fruitful in young, abounding in their goings forth: + +143:14. Their oxen fat. There is no breach of wall, nor passage, nor +crying out in their streets. + +143:15. They have called the people happy, that hath these things: but +happy is that people whose God is the Lord. + + + +Psalms Chapter 144 + + +Exaltabo te, Deus. + +A psalm of praise, to the infinite majesty of God. + +144:1. Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and +I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever. + +144:2. Every day will I bless thee: and I will praise thy name for +ever; yea, for ever and ever. + +144:3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his +greatness there is no end. + +144:4. Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall +declare thy power. + +144:5. They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy +holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works. + +144:6. And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and +shall declare thy greatness. + +144:7. They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: +and shall rejoice in thy justice. + +144:8. The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in +mercy. + +144:9. The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all +his works. + +144:10. Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints +bless thee. + +144:11. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of +thy power: + +144:12. To make thy might known to the sons of men: and the glory of +the magnificence of thy kingdom. + +144:13. Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth +throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and +holy in all his works. + +144:14. The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are +cast down. + +144:15. The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord: and thou givest them meat +in due season. + +144:16. Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living +creature. + +144:17. The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works. + +144:18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that +call upon him in truth. + +144:19. He will do the will of them that fear him: and he will hear +their prayer, and save them. + +144:20. The Lord keepeth all them that love him; but all the wicked he +will destroy. + +144:21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh +bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever. + + + +Psalms Chapter 145 + + +Lauda, anima. + +We are not to trust in men, but in God alone. + +145:1. Alleluia, of Aggeus and Zacharias. + +145:2. Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I +will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in +princes: + +145:3. In the children of men, in whom there is no salvation. + +145:4. His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: +in that day all their thoughts shall perish. + +145:5. Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose +hope is in the Lord his God: + +145:6. Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in +them. + +145:7. Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that +suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that +are fettered: + +145:8. The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that +are cast down: the Lord loveth the just. + +145:9. The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless +and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy. + +145:10. The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation +and generation. + + + +Psalms Chapter 146 + + +Laudate Dominum. + +An exhortation to praise God for his benefits. + +146:1. Alleluia. Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God +be joyful and comely praise. + +146:2. The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the +dispersed of Israel. + +146:3. Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises. + +146:4. Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by +their names. + +146:5. Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom +there is no number. + +146:6. The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even +to the ground. + +146:7. Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp. + +146:8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the +earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the +service of men. + +146:9. Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that +call upon him. + +146:10. He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take +pleasure in the legs of a man. + +146:11. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him: and in them +that hope in his mercy. + + + +Psalms Chapter 147 + + +Lauda, Jerusalem. + +The church is called upon to praise God for his peculiar graces and +favours to his people. In the Hebrew, this psalm is joined to the +foregoing. + +Alleluia. + +147:12. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion. + +147:13. Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath +blessed thy children within thee. + +147:14. Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the +fat of corn. + +147:15. Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth +swiftly. + +147:16. Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes. + +147:17. He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the +face of his cold? + +He sendeth his crystal. . .That is, his ice. Some understand it of hail, +which is, as it were, ice, divided into particles or morsels. + +147:18. He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall +blow, and the waters shall run. + +147:19. Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments +to Israel. + +147:20. He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his +judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia. + + + +Psalms Chapter 148 + + +Laudate Dominum de caelis. + +All creatures are invited to praise their Creator. + +Alleluia. + +148:1. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high +places. + +148:2. Praise ye him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts. + +148:3. Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and +light. + +148:4. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that +are above the heavens + +148:5. Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: +he commanded, and they were created. + +148:6. He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: he hath +made a decree, and it shall not pass away. + +148:7. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all ye deeps: + +148:8. Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds, which fulfil his word: + +148:9. Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars: + +148:10. Beasts and all cattle: serpents and feathered fowls: + +148:11. Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of +the earth: + +148:12. Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the +name of the Lord: + +148:13. For his name alone is exalted. + +148:14. The praise of him is above heaven and earth: and he hath +exalted the horn of his people. A hymn to all his saints to the +children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia. + + + +Psalms Chapter 149 + + +Cantate Domino. + +The church is particularly bound to praise God. + +Alleluia. + +149:1. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the +church of the saints. + +149:2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of +Sion be joyful in their king. + +149:3. Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the +timbrel and the psaltery. + +149:4. For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt +the meek unto salvation. + +149:5. The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their +beds. + +149:6. The high praises of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged +swords in their hands: + +149:7. To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the +people: + +149:8. To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles +of iron. + +149:9. To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is +to all his saints. Alleluia. + + + +Psalms Chapter 150 + + +Laudate Dominum in sanctis. + +An exhortation to praise God with all sorts of instruments. + +Alleluia. + +150:1. Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the +firmament of his power. + +150:2. Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to +the multitude of his greatness. + +150:3. Praise him with the sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery +and harp. + +150:4. Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and +organs. + +150:5. Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of +joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia. + + + + +THE BOOK OF PROVERBS + + + +This Book is so called, because it consists of wise and weighty +sentences: regulating the morals of men: and directing them to wisdom +and virtue. And these sentences are also called PARABLES, because great +truths are often couched in them under certain figures and similitudes. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 1 + + +The use and end of the proverbs. An exhortation to flee the company of +the wicked: and to hearken to the voice of wisdom. + +1:1. The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, + +1:2. To know wisdom, and instruction: + +1:3. To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the +instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity: + +1:4. To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and +understanding. + +1:5. A wise man shall hear, and shall be wiser: and he that +understandeth shall possess governments. + +1:6. He shall understand a parable and the interpretation, the words of +the wise, and their mysterious sayings. + +1:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise +wisdom and instruction. + +1:8. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the +law of thy mother: + +1:9. That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy +neck. + +1:10. My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them. + +1:11. If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, +let us hide snares for the innocent without cause: + +1:12. Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that +goeth down into the pit. + +1:13. We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses +with spoils. + +1:14. Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse. + +1:15. My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their +paths. + +1:16. For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. + +1:17. But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have +wings. + +1:18. And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise +deceits against their own souls. + +1:19. So the ways of every covetous man destroy the souls of the +possessors. + +1:20. Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets: + +1:21. At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the +gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying: + +1:22. O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet +those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate +knowledge? + +1:23. Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and +will shew you my words. + +1:24. Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and +there was none that regarded. + +1:25. You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my +reprehensions. + +1:26. I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that +shall come to you which you feared. + +1:27. When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a +tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come +upon you: + +1:28. Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall +rise in the morning, and shall not find me: + +1:29. Because they have hated instruction, and received not the fear of +the Lord, + +1:30. Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof. + +1:31. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be +filled with their own devices. + +1:32. The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the +prosperity of fools shall destroy them. + +1:33. But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall +enjoy abundance, without fear of evils. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 2 + + +The advantages of wisdom: and the evils from which it delivers. + +2:1. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my +commandments with thee, + +2:2. That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: incline thy heart to know +prudence. + +2:3. For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to +prudence: + +2:4. If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a +treasure: + +2:5. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find +the knowledge of God: + +2:6. Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh +prudence and knowledge. + +2:7. He wilt keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that +walk in simplicity, + +2:8. Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints. + +2:9. Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and +every good path. + +2:10. If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy +soul: + +2:11. Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee, + +2:12. That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man +that speaketh perverse things: + +2:13. Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways: + +2:14. Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the most +wicked things: + +2:15. Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous. + +2:16. That thou mayst be delivered from the strange woman, and from the +stranger, who softeneth her words; + +2:17. And forsaketh the guide of her youth, + +2:18. And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house +inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell. + +2:19. None that go in unto her, shall return again, neither shall they +take hold of the paths of life. + +2:20. That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of +the just. + +2:21. For they that are upright, shall dwell in the earth; and the +simple shall continue in it. + +2:22. But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that +do unjustly, shall be taken away from it. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 3 + + +An exhortation to the practice of virtue. + +3:1. My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments. + +3:2. For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and +peace. + +3:3. Let not mercy aud truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and +write them in the tables of thy heart. + +3:4. And thou shalt find grace, and good understanding before God and +men. + +3:5. Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon +thy own prudence. + +3:6. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps. + +3:7. Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil: + +3:8. For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones. + +3:9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of +all thy fruits; + +3:10. And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses +shall run over with wine. + +3:11. My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint +when thou art chastised by him: + +3:12. For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the +son he pleaseth himself. + +3:13. Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and is rich in prudence: + +3:14. The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, +and her fruit than the chief and purest gold: + +3:15. She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are +desired, are not to be compared to her. + +3:16. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches +and glory. + +3:17. Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable. + +3:18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that +shall retain her is blessed. + +3:19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the +heavens by prudence. + +3:20. By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow +thick with dew. + +3:21. My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law +and counsel: + +3:22. And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth. + +3:23. Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall +not stumble: + +3:24. If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy +sleep shall be sweet. + +3:25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked +falling upon thee. + +3:26. For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that +thou be not taken. + +3:27. Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art +able, do good thyself also. + +3:28. Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will +give to thee: when thou canst give at present. + +3:29. Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in +thee. + +3:30. Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no +evil. + +3:31. Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways. + +3:32. For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his +communication is with the simple. + +3:33. Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the +habitations of the just shall be blessed. + +3:34. He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace. + +3:35. The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 4 + + +A further exhortation to seek after wisdom. + +4:1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend, that +you may know prudence. + +4:2. I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law. + +4:3. For I also was my father's son, tender, and as an only son in the +sight of my mother: + +4:4. And he taught me, and said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep +my commandments, and thou shalt live. + +4:5. Get wisdom, get prudence: forget not, neither decline from the +words of my mouth. + +4:6. Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee: love her, and she shall +preserve thee. + +4:7. The beginning of wisdom, get wisdom, and with all thy possession +purchase prudence. + +4:8. Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be +glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her. + +4:9. She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee +with a noble crown. + +4:10. Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be +multiplied to thee. + +4:11. I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths +of equity: + +4:12. Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be +straitened, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not meet a +stumblingblock. + +4:13. Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is +thy life. + +4:14. Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way +of evil men please thee. + +4:15. Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it. + +4:16. For they sleep not, except they have done evil: and their sleep +is taken away unless they have made some to fall. + +4:17. They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity. + +4:18. But the path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forwards, and +increaseth even to perfect day. + +4:19. The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall. + +4:20. My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings. + +4:21. Let them not depart from thy eyes, keep them in the midst of thy +heart: + +4:22. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all +flesh. + +4:23. With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out +from it. + +4:24. Remove from thee a froward mouth, and let detracting lips be far +from thee. + +4:25. Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy +steps. + +4:26. Make straight the path for thy feet, and all thy ways shall be +established. + +4:27. Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy +foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right +hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will +make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 5 + + +An exhortation to fly unlawful lust, and the occasions of it. + +5:1. My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence, + +5:2. That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve +instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman. + +5:3. For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her +throat is smoother than oil. + +5:4. But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword. + +5:5. Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell. + +5:6. They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and +unaccountable. + +5:7. Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of +my mouth. + +5:8. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her +house. + +5:9. Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel. + +5:10. Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in +another man's house, + +5:11. And thou mourn at the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh +and thy body, and say; + +5:12. Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to +reproof, + +5:13. And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not +inclined my ear to masters? + +5:14. I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of +the congregation. + +5:15. Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own +well: + +5:16. Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide +thy waters. + +5:17. Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers +with thee. + +5:18. Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth: + +5:19. Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her +breasts inebriate thee at all times: be thou delighted continually with +her love. + +5:20. Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art +cherished in the bosom of another? + +5:21. The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his +steps. + +5:22. His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with +the ropes of his own sins. + +5:23. He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in +the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 6 + + +Documents on several heads. + +6:1. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast +thy hand to a stranger, + +6:2. Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy +own words. + +6:3. Do, therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because +thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, +stir up thy friend: + +6:4. Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber. + +6:5. Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the +hand of the fowler. + +6:6. Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn +wisdom: + +6:7. Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain, + +6:8. Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her +food in the harvest. + +6:9. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of +thy sleep? + +6:10. Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt +fold thy hands a little to sleep: + +6:11. And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a +man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a +fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. + +6:12. A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a +perverse mouth, + +6:13. He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with +the finger. + +6:14. With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth +discord. + +6:15. To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall +suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy. + +6:16. Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his +soul detesteth: + +6:17. Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, + +6:18. A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run +into mischief, + +6:19. A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth +discord among brethren. + +6:20. My son, keep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the +law of thy mother. + +6:21. Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck. + +6:22. When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let +them keep thee, and when thou awakest, talk with them. + +6:23. Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and +reproofs of instruction are the way of life: + +6:24. That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the +flattering tongue of the stranger. + +6:25. Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks: + +6:26. For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman +catcheth the precious soul of a man. + +6:27. Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? + +6:28. Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? + +6:29. So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife, shall not be clean +when he shall touch her. + +6:30. The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth +to fill his hungry soul: + +The fault is not so great, etc. . .The sin of theft is not so great, as +to be compared with adultery: especially when a person pressed with +hunger (which is the case here spoken of) steals to satisfy nature. +Moreover the damage done by theft may much more easily be repaired, +than the wrong done by adultery. But this does not hinder, but that +theft also is a mortal sin, forbidden by one of the ten commandments. + +6:31. And if he be taken, he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up +all the substance of his house. + +6:32. But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall +destroy his own soul: + +6:33. He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach +shall not be blotted out: + +6:34. Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in +the day of revenge, + +6:35. Nor will he yield to any man's prayers, nor will he accept for +satisfaction ever so many gifts. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 7 + + +The love of wisdom is the best preservative from being led astray by +temptation. + +7:1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son, + +7:2. Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple +of thy eye: + +7:3. Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart. + +7:4. Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend, + +7:5. That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from +the stranger who sweeteneth her words. + +7:6. For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice, + +7:7. And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man, + +7:8. Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the +way of her house, + +7:9. In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of +the night. + +7:10. And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to +deceive souls: talkative and wandering, + +7:11. Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home, + +7:12. Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the +corners. + +7:13. And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent +face, flattereth, saying: + +7:14. I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows. + +7:15. Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I +have found thee. + +7:16. I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted +tapestry, brought from Egypt. + +7:17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. + +7:18. Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the +desired embraces, till the day appear. + +7:19. For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey. + +7:20. He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of +the full moon. + +7:21. She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the +flattery of her lips. + +7:22. Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as +a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool +to bonds, + +7:23. Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste +to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger. + +7:24. Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my +mouth. + +7:25. Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou +deceived with her paths. + +7:26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been +slain by her. + +7:27. Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers +of death. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 8 + + +The preaching of wisdom. Her excellence. + +8:1. Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice? + +8:2. Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst +of the paths, + +8:3. Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, +saying: + +8:4. O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. + +8:5. O little ones understand subtlety, and ye unwise, take notice. + +8:6. Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be +opened to preach right things. + +8:7. My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness. + +8:8. All my words are just, there is nothing wicked, nor perverse in +them. + +8:9. They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find +knowledge. + +8:10. Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather +than gold. + +8:11. For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and +whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it. + +8:12. I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts. + +8:13. The fear of the Lord hateth evil; I hate arrogance, and pride, +and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue. + +8:14. Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine. + +8:15. By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things. + +8:16. By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice. + +8:17. I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early +watch for me, shall find me. + +8:18. With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice. + +8:19. For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my +blossoms than choice silver. + +8:20. I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of +judgment, + +8:21. That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their +treasures. + +8:22. The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he +made any thing from the beginning. + +8:23. I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was +made. + +8:24. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived, neither +had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out. + +8:25. The mountains, with their huge bulk, had not as yet been +established: before the hills, I was brought forth: + +8:26. He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of +the world. + +8:27. When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain +law, and compass, he enclosed the depths: + +8:28. When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of +waters: + +8:29. When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the +waters that they should not pass their limits: when he balanced the +foundations of the earth; + +8:30. I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, +playing before him at all times; + +8:31. Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the +children of men. + +8:32. Now, therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep +my ways. + +8:33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. + +8:34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my +gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. + +8:35. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation +from the Lord. + +8:36. But he that shall sin against me shall hurt his own soul. All +that hate me love death. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 9 + + +Wisdom invites all to her feast. Folly calls another way. + +9:1. Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven +pillars. + +9:2. She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her +table. + +9:3. She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls +of the city: + +9:4. Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise +she said: + +9:5. Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for +you. + +9:6. Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence. + +9:7. He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself; and he that +rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot. + +9:8. Rebuke not a scorner, lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he +will love thee. + +9:9. Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. +Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it. + +9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the +knowledge of the holy is prudence. + +9:11. For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall +be added to thee. + +9:12. If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, +thou alone shalt bear the evil. + +9:13. A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and +knowing nothing at all, + +9:14. Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the +city, + +9:15. To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey: + +9:16. He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she +said: + +9:17. Stolen waters are sweeter, and hidden bread is more pleasant. + +9:18. And he did not know that giants are there, and that her guests +are in the depths of hell. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 10 + + +In the twenty following chapters are contained many wise sayings and +axioms, relating to wisdom and folly, virtue and vice. + +10:1. A wise son maketh the father glad: but a foolish son is the +sorrow of his mother. + +10:2. Treasures of wickedness shall profit nothing: but justice shall +deliver from death. + +10:3. The Lord will not afflict the soul of the just with famine, and +he will disappoint the deceitful practices of the wicked. + +10:4. The slothful hand hath wrought poverty: but the hand of the +industrious getteth riches. He that trusteth to lies feedeth the winds: +and the same runneth after birds, that fly away. + +10:5. He that gathereth in the harvest, is a wise son: but he that +snorteth in the summer, is the son of confusion. + +10:6. The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but +iniquity covereth the mouth of the wicked. + +10:7. The memory of the just is with praises: and the name of the +wicked shall rot. + +10:8. The wise of heart receiveth precepts: a fool is beaten with lips. + +10:9. He that walketh sincerely, walketh confidently: but he that +perverteth his ways, shall be manifest. + +10:10. He that winketh with the eye, shall cause sorrow: and the +foolish in lips shall be beaten. + +10:11. The mouth of the just is a vein of life: and the mouth of the +wicked covereth iniquity. + +10:12. Hatred stirreth up strifes: and charity covereth all sins. + +10:13. In the lips of the wise is wisdom found: and a rod on the back +of him that wanteth sense. + +10:14. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool is next to +confusion. + +10:15. The substance of a rich man is the city of his strength: the +fear of the poor is their poverty. + +10:16. The work of the just is unto life: but the fruit of the wicked +unto sin. + +10:17. The way of life, to him that observeth correction: but he that +forsaketh reproofs, goeth astray. + +10:18. Lying lips hide hatred: he that uttereth reproach, is foolish. + +10:19. In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that +refraineth his lips, is most wise. + +10:20. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: but the heart of the +wicked is nothing worth. + +10:21. The lips of the just teach many: but they that are ignorant, +shall die in the want of understanding. + +10:22. The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich: neither shall +affliction be joined to them. + +10:23. A fool worketh mischief as it were for sport: but wisdom is +prudence to a man. + +10:24. That which the wicked feareth, shall come upon him: to the just +their desire shall be given. + +10:25. As a tempest that passeth, so the wicked shall be no more: but +the just is as an everlasting foundation. + +10:26. As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the +sluggard to them that sent him. + +10:27. The fear of the Lord shall prolong days: and the years of the +wicked shall be shortened. + +10:28. The expectation of the just is joy: but the hope of the wicked +shall perish. + +10:29. The strength of the upright is the way of the Lord: and fear to +them that work evil. + +10:30. The just shall never be moved: but the wicked shall not dwell on +the earth. + +10:31. The mouth of the just shall bring forth wisdom: the tongue of +the perverse shall perish. + +10:32. The lips of the just consider what is acceptable: and the mouth +of the wicked uttereth perverse things. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 11 + + +11:1. A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just +weight is his will. + +11:2. Where pride is, there also shall be reproach: but where humility +is, there also is wisdom. + +11:3. The simplicity of the just shall guide them: and the +deceitfulness of the wicked shall destroy them. + +11:4. Riches shall not profit in the day of revenge: but justice shall +deliver from death. + +11:5. The justice of the upright shall make his way prosperous: and the +wicked man shall fall by his own wickedness. + +11:6. The justice of the righteous shall deliver them: and the unjust +shall be caught in their own snares. + +11:7. When the wicked man is dead, there shall be no hope any more: and +the expectation of the solicitous shall perish. + +11:8. The just is delivered out of distress: and the wicked shall be +given up for him. + +11:9. The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend: but the just +shall be delivered by knowledge. + +11:10. When it goeth well with the just, the city shall rejoice: and +when the wicked perish, there shall be praise. + +11:11. By the blessing of the just the city shall be exalted: and by +the mouth of the wicked it shall be overthrown. + +11:12. He that despiseth his friend, is mean of heart: but the wise man +will hold his peace. + +11:13. He that walketh deceitfully, revealeth secrets: but he that is +faithful, concealeth the thing committed to him by his friend. + +11:14. Where there is no governor, the people shall fall: but there is +safety where there is much counsel. + +11:15. He shall be afflicted with evil, that is surety for a stranger: +but he that is aware of snares, shall be secure. + +11:16. A gracious woman shall find glory: and the strong shall have +riches. + +11:17. A merciful man doth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel +casteth off even his own kindred. + +11:18. The wicked maketh an unsteady work: but to him that soweth +justice, there is a faithful reward. + +11:19. Clemency prepareth life: and the pursuing of evil things, death. + +11:20. A perverse heart is abominable to the Lord: and his will is in +them that walk sincerely. + +11:21. Hand in hand the evil man shall not be innocent: but the seed of +the just shall be saved. + +11:22. A golden ring in a swine's snout, a woman fair and foolish. + +11:23. The desire of the just is all good, the expectation of the +wicked is indignation. + +11:24. Some distribute their own goods, and grow richer: others take +away what is not their own, and are always in want. + +11:25. The soul that blesseth, shall be made fat: and he that +inebriateth, shall be inebriated also himself. + +11:26. He that hideth up corn, shall be cursed among the people: but a +blessing upon the head of them that sell. + +11:27. Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that +seeketh after evil things, shall be oppressed by them. + +11:28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the just shall +spring up as a green leaf. + +11:29. He that troubleth his own house, shall inherit the winds: and +the fool shall serve the wise. + +11:30. The fruit of the just man is a tree of life: and he that gaineth +souls is wise. + +11:31. If the just man receive in the earth, how much more the wicked +and the sinner. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 12 + + +12:1. He that loveth correction, loveth knowledge: but he that hateth +reproof, is foolish. + +12:2. He that is good, shall draw grace from the Lord: but he that +trusteth in his own devices, doth wickedly. + +12:3. Man shall not be strengthened by wickedness: and the root of the +just shall not be moved. + +12:4. A diligent woman is a crown to her husband: and she that doth +things worthy of confusion, is as rottenness in his bones. + +12:5. The thoughts of the just are judgments: and the counsels of the +wicked are deceitful. + +12:6. The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood: the mouth of the +just shall deliver them. + +12:7. Turn the wicked, and they shall not be: but the house of the just +shall stand firm. + +12:8. A man shall be known by his learning: but he that is vain and +foolish, shall be exposed to contempt. + +12:9. Better is the poor man that provideth for himself, than he that +is glorious and wanteth bread. + +12:10. The just regardeth the lives of his beasts: but the bowels of +the wicked are cruel. + +12:11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he +that pursueth idleness is very foolish. + +12:12. He that is delighted in passing his time over wine, leaveth a +reproach in his strong holds. + +12:12. The desire of the wicked is the fortification of evil men: but +the root of the just shall prosper. + +12:13. For the sins of the lips ruin draweth nigh to the evil man: but +the just shall escape out of distress. + +12:14. By the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good +things, and according to the works of his hands it shall be repaid him. + +12:15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that is wise +hearkeneth unto counsels. + +12:16. A fool immediately sheweth his anger: but he that dissembleth +injuries is wise. + +12:17. He that speaketh that which he knoweth, sheweth forth justice: +but he that lieth, is a deceitful witness. + +12:18. There is that promiseth, and is pricked as it were with a sword +of conscience: but the tongue of the wise is health. + +12:19. The lip of truth shall be steadfast for ever: but he that is a +hasty witness, frameth a lying tongue. + +12:20. Deceit is in the heart of them that think evil things: but joy +followeth them that take counsels of peace. + +12:21. Whatsoever shall befall the just man, shall not make him sad: +but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. + +12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal +faithfully, please him. + +12:23. A cautious man concealeth knowledge: and the heart of fools +publisheth folly. + +12:24. The hand of the valiant shall bear rule: but that which is +slothful shall be under tribute. + +12:25. Grief in the heart of a man shall bring him low, but with a good +word he shall be made glad. + +12:26. He that neglecteth a loss for the sake of a friend, is just: but +the way of the wicked shall deceive them. + +12:27. The deceitful man shall not find gain: but the substance of a +just man shall be precious gold. + +12:28. In the path of justice is life: but the bye-way leadeth to +death. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 13 + + +13:1. A wise son heareth the doctrine of his father: but he that is a +scorner, heareth not when he is reproved. + +13:2. Of the fruit of his own month shall a man be filled with good +things: but the soul of transgressors is wicked. + +13:3. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his soul: but he that hath no +guard on his speech shall meet with evils. + +13:4. The sluggard willeth, and willeth not: but the soul of them that +work, shall be made fat. + +13:5. The just shall hate a lying word: but the wicked confoundeth, and +shall be confounded. + +13:6. Justice keepeth the way of the innocent: but wickedness +overthroweth the sinner. + +13:7. One is as it were rich, when he hath nothing and another is as it +were poor, when he hath great riches. + +13:8. The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but he that is poor, +beareth not reprehension. + +13:9. The light of the just giveth joy: but the lamp of the wicked +shall be put out. + +13:10. Among the proud there are always contentions: but they that do +all things with counsel, are ruled by wisdom. + +13:11. Substance got in haste shall be diminished: but that which by +little and little is gathered with the hand, shall increase. + +13:12. Hope that is deferred afflicteth the soul: desire when it +cometh, is a tree of life. + +13:13. Whosoever speaketh ill of any thing, bindeth himself for the +time to come: but he that feareth the commandment, shall dwell in +peace. Deceitful souls go astray in sins: the just are merciful, and +shew mercy. + +13:14. The law of the wise is a fountain of life, that he may decline +from the ruin of death. + +13:15. Good instruction shall give grace: in the way of scorners is a +deep pit. + +13:16. The prudent man doth all things with counsel: but he that is a +fool, layeth open his folly. + +13:17. The messenger of the wicked shall fall into mischief: but a +faithful ambassador is health. + +13:18. Poverty and shame to him that refuseth instruction: but he that +yieldeth to reproof shall be glorified. + +13:19. The desire that is accomplished, delighteth the soul: fools hate +them that flee from evil things. + +13:20. He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise: a friend of fools +shall become like to them. + +13:21. Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid. + +13:22. The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the +substance of the sinner is kept for the just. + +13:23. Much food is in the tillage of fathers: but for others it is +gathered without judgment. + +13:24. He that spareth the rod, hateth his son: but he that loveth him, +correcteth him betimes. + +13:25. The just eateth and filleth his soul: but the belly of the +wicked is never to be filled. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 14 + + +14:1. A wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish will pull down +with her hands that also which is built. + +14:2. He that walketh in the right way, and feareth God, is despised by +him that goeth by an infamous way. + +14:3. In the mouth of a fool is the rod of pride: but the lips of the +wise preserve them. + +14:4. Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is +much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest. + +14:5. A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth +a lie. + +14:6. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: the learning of the +wise is easy. + +14:7. Go against a foolish man, and he knoweth not the lips of +prudence. + +14:8. The wisdom of a discreet man is to understand his way: and the +imprudence of fools erreth. + +14:9. A fool will laugh at sin, but among the just grace shall abide. + +14:10. The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his own soul, in his +joy the stranger shall not intermeddle. + +14:11. The house of the wicked shall be destroyed: but the tabernacles +of the just shall flourish. + +14:12. There is a way which seemeth just to a man: but the ends thereof +lead to death. + +14:13. Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning taketh hold +of the ends of joy. + +14:14. A fool shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man shall +be above him. + +14:15. The innocent believeth every word: the discreet man considereth +his steps. No good shall come to the deceitful son: but the wise +servant shall prosper in his dealings, and his way shall be made +straight. + +14:16. A wise man feareth, and declineth from evil: the fool leapeth +over, and is confident. + +14:17. The impatient man shall work folly: and the crafty man is +hateful. + +14:18. The childish shall possess folly, and the prudent shall look for +knowledge. + +14:19. The evil shall fall down before the good: and the wicked before +the gates of the just. + +14:20. The poor man shall be hateful even to his own neighbour: but the +friends of the rich are many. + +14:21. He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that sheweth +mercy to the poor, shall be blessed. He that believeth in the Lord, +loveth mercy. + +14:22. They err that work evil: but mercy and truth prepare good +things. + +14:23. In much work there shall be abundance: but where there are many +words, there is oftentimes want. + +14:24. The crown of the wise, is their riches: the folly of fools, +imprudence. + +14:25. A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer +uttereth lies. + +14:26. In the fear of the Lord is confidence of strength, and there +shall be hope for his children. + +14:27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to decline from the +ruin of death. + +14:28. In the multitude of people is the dignity of the king: and in +the small number of the people the dishonour of the prince. + +14:29. He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is +impatient, exalteth his folly. + +14:30. Soundness of heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the +rottenness of the bones. + +14:31. He that oppresseth the poor, upbraideth his maker: but he that +hath pity on the poor, honoureth him. + +14:32. The wicked man shall be driven out in his wickedness: but the +just hath hope in his death. + +14:33. In the heart of the prudent resteth wisdom, and it shall +instruct all the ignorant. + +14:34. Justice exalteth a nation: but sin maketh nations miserable. + +14:35. A wise servant is acceptable to the king: he that is good for +nothing shall feel his anger. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 15 + + +15:1. A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury. + +15:2. The tongue of the wise adorneth knowledge: but the mouth of fools +bubbleth out folly. + +15:3. The eyes of the Lord in every place behold the good and the evil. + +15:4. A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is +immoderate, shall crush the spirit. + +15:5. A fool laugheth at the instruction of his father: but he that +regardeth reproofs shall become prudent. In abundant justice there is +the greatest strength: but the devices of the wicked shall be rooted +out. + +15:6. The house of the just is very much strength: and in the fruits of +the wicked is trouble. + +15:7. The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools +shall be unlike. + +15:8. The victims of the wicked are abominable to the Lord: the vows of +the just are acceptable. + +15:9. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: he that +followeth justice is beloved by him. + +15:10. Instruction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way of life: +he that hateth reproof shall die. + +15:11. Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the +hearts of the children of men? + +15:12. A corrupt man loveth not one that reproveth him: nor will he go +to the wise. + +15:13. A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind +the spirit is cast down. + +15:14. The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of +fools feedeth on foolishness. + +15:15. All the days of the poor are evil: a secure mind is like a +continual feast. + +15:16. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great +treasures without content. + +15:17. It is better to be invited to herbs with love, than to a fatted +calf with hatred. + +15:18. A passionate man stirreth up strifes: he that is patient +appeaseth those that are stirred up. + +15:19. The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns: the way of the +just is without offence. + +15:20. A wise son maketh a father joyful: but the foolish man despiseth +his mother. + +15:21. Folly is joy to the fool: and the wise man maketh straight his +steps. + +15:22. Designs are brought to nothing where there is no counsel: but +where there are many counsellors, they are established. + +15:23. A man rejoiceth in the sentence of his mouth: and a word in due +time is best. + +15:24. The path of life is above for the wise, that he may decline from +the lowest hell. + +15:25. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: and will +strengthen the borders of the widow. + +15:26. Evil thoughts are an abomination to the Lord: and pure words +most beautiful shall be confirmed by him. + +15:27. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house: but he that +hateth bribes shall live. By mercy and faith sins are purged away: and +by the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil. + +15:28. The mind of the just studieth obedience: the mouth of the wicked +overfloweth with evils. + +15:29. The Lord is far from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of +the just. + +15:30. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the soul: a good name maketh the +bones fat. + +15:31. The ear that heareth the reproofs of life, shall abide in the +midst of the wise. + +15:32. He that rejecteth instruction, despiseth his own soul: but he +that yieldeth to reproof, possesseth understanding. + +15:33. The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth +before glory. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 16 + + +16:1. It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to +govern the tongue. + +It is the part of man, etc. . .That is, a man should prepare in his +heart and soul what he is to say: but after all, it must be the Lord +that must govern his tongue, to speak to the purpose. Not that we can +think any thing of good without God's grace; but that after we have +(with God's grace) thought and prepared within our souls what we would +speak, if God does not govern our tongue, we shall not succeed in what +we speak. + +16:2. All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the +weigher of spirits. + +16:3. Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be +directed. + +16:4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for +the evil day. + +16:5. Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should +be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is +to do justice: and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer +sacrifices. + +16:6. By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed; and by the fear of the +Lord men depart from evil. + +16:7. When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even +his enemies to peace. + +16:8. Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with +iniquity. + +16:9. The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his +steps. + +16:10. Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err +in judgment. + +16:11. Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all +the weights of the bag. + +16:12. They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the +throne is established by justice. + +16:13. Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right +things shall be loved. + +16:14. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man +will pacify it. + +16:15. In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life: and his +clemency is like the latter rain. + +16:16. Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase +prudence, for it is more precious than silver. + +16:17. The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his +soul keepeth his way. + +16:18. Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up +before a fall. + +16:19. It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils +with the proud. + +16:20. The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth +in the Lord is blessed. + +16:21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet +in words, shall attain to greater things. + +16:22. Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the +instruction of fools is foolishness. + +16:23. The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add +grace to his lips. + +16:24. Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and +health to the bones. + +16:25. There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof +lead to death. + +16:26. The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because +his mouth hath obliged him to it. + +16:27. The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. + +16:28. A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words +separateth princes. + +16:29. An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way +that is not good. + +16:30. He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, +bringeth evil to pass. + +16:31. Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of +justice. + +16:32. The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth +his spirit, than he that taketh cities. + +16:33. Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the +Lord. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 17 + + +17:1. Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims +with strife. + +17:2. A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the +inheritance among the brethren. + +17:3. As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord +trieth the hearts. + +17:4. The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful +hearkeneth to lying lips. + +17:5. He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that +rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished. + +17:6. Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of +children are their fathers. + +17:7. Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince. + +17:8. The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: +whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely. + +17:9. He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that +repeateth it again, separateth friends. + +17:10. A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes +with a fool. + +17:11. An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be +sent against him. + +17:12. It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool +trusting in his own folly. + +17:13. He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his +house. + +17:14. The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and +before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment. + +17:15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, +both are abominable before God. + +17:16. What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy +wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that +refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils. + +17:17. He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved +in distress. + +17:18. A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend. + +17:19. He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth +his door, seeketh ruin. + +17:20. He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that +perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil. + +17:21. A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall +not rejoice in a fool. + +17:22. A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth +up the bones. + +17:23. The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may +pervert the paths of judgment. + +17:24. Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in +the ends of the earth. + +17:25. A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the +mother that bore him. + +17:26. It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the +prince, who judgeth right. + +17:27. He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and +the man of understanding is of a precious spirit. + +17:28. Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: +and if he close his lips, a man of understanding. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 18 + + +18:1. He that hath a mind to depart from a friend, seeketh occasions: +he shall ever be subject to reproach. + +18:2. A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those +things which are in his heart. + +18:3. The wicked man, when he is come into the depths of sins, +contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him. + +18:4. Words from the mouth of a man are as deep water: and the fountain +of wisdom is an overflowing stream. + +18:5. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline +from the truth of judgment. + +18:6. The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth +provoketh quarrels. + +18:7. The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin +of his soul. + +18:8. The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and +they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the +slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry. + +18:9. He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him +that wasteth his own works. + +18:10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, +and shall be exalted. + +18:11. The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and +as a strong wall compassing him about. + +18:12. Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he +be glorified, it is humbled. + +18:13. He that answereth before he heareth, sheweth himself to be a +fool, and worthy of confusion. + +18:14. The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that +is easily angered, who can bear? + +18:15. A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise +seeketh instruction. + +18:16. A man's gift enlargeth his way, and maketh him room before +princes. + +18:17. The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and +shall search him. + +18:18. The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between +the mighty. + +18:19. A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: +and judgments are like the bars of cities. + +18:20. Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and +the offspring of his lips shall fill him. + +18:21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love +it, shall eat the fruits thereof. + +18:22. He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and +shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good +wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is +foolish and wicked. + +18:23. The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak +roughly. + +18:24. A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 19 + + +19:1. Better is the poor man, that walketh in his simplicity, than a +rich man that is perverse in his lips and unwise. + +19:2. Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good: and he +that is hasty with his feet shall stumble. + +19:3. The folly of a man supplanteth his steps: and he fretteth in his +mind against God. + +19:4. Riches make many friends: but from the poor man, even they whom +he had, depart. + +19:5. A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh +lies, shall not escape. + +19:6. Many honour the person of him that is mighty, and are friends of +him that giveth gifts. + +19:7. The brethren of the poor man hate him: moreover also his friends +have departed far from him. He that followeth after words only, shall +have nothing. + +19:8. But he that possesseth a mind, loveth his own soul, and he that +keepeth prudence, shall find good things. + +19:9. A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh +lies, shall perish. + +19:10. Delicacies are not seemly for a fool: nor for a servant to have +rule over princes. + +19:11. The learning of a man is known by patience: and his glory is to +pass over wrongs. + +19:12. As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and +his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass. + +19:13. A foolish son is the grief of his father: and a wrangling wife +is like a roof continually dropping through. + +19:14. House and riches are given by parents: but a prudent wife is +properly from the Lord. + +19:15. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall +suffer hunger. + +19:16. He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he +that neglecteth his own way, shall die. + +19:17. He that hath mercy on the poor, lendeth to the Lord: and he will +repay him. + +19:18. Chastise thy son, despair not: but to the killing of him set not +thy soul. + +19:19. He that is impatient, shall suffer damage: and when he shall +take away, he shall add another thing. + +19:20. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayst be wise +in thy latter end. + +19:21. There are many thoughts in the heart of a man: but the will of +the Lord shall stand firm. + +19:22. A needy man is merciful: and better is the poor than the lying +man. + +19:23. The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide in the +fulness without being visited with evil. + +19:24. The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and will not so +much as bring it to his mouth. + +19:25. The wicked man being scourged, the fool shall be wiser: but if +thou rebuke a wise man, he will understand discipline. + +19:26. He that afflicteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is +infamous and unhappy. + +19:27. Cease not, O my son, to hear instruction, and be not ignorant of +the words of knowledge. + +19:28. An unjust witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked +devoureth iniquity. + +19:29. Judgments are prepared for scorners: and striking hammers for +the bodies of fools. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 20 + + +20:1. Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is +delighted therewith, shall not be wise. + +20:2. As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that +provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul. + +20:3. It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but +all fools are meddling with reproaches. + +20:4. Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg +therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him. + +20:5. Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man +will draw it out. + +20:6. Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man? + +20:7. The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him +blessed children. + +20:8. The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away +all evil with his look. + +20:9. Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin? + +20:10. Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before +God. + +20:11. By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and +right. + +20:12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them +both. + +20:13. Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be +filled with bread. + +20:14. It is naught, it is naught, saith every buyer: and when he is +gone away, then he will boast. + +20:15. There is gold and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of +knowledge are a precious vessel. + +20:16. Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and +take a pledge from him for strangers. + +20:17. The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth +shall be filled with gravel. + +20:18. Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed +by governments. + +20:19. Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh +deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips. + +20:20. He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put +out in the midst of darkness. + +20:21. The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end +shall be without a blessing. + +20:22. Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord, and he will +deliver thee. + +20:23. Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful +balance is not good. + +20:24. The steps of men are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that +can understand his own way? + +20:25. It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to +retract. + +20:26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the +wheel. + +20:27. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all +the hidden things of the bowels. + +20:28. Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is +strengthened by clemency. + +20:29. The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old +men, their grey hairs. + +20:30. The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in +the more inward parts of the belly. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 21 + + +21:1. As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the +hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will, he shall turn it. + +21:2. Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord +weigheth the hearts. + +21:3. To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims. + +21:4. Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp +of the wicked is sin. + +21:5. The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but +every sluggard is always in want. + +21:6. He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and +foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death. + +21:7. The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they +would not do judgment. + +21:8. The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is +pure, his work is right. + +21:9. It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a +brawling woman, and in a common house. + +21:10. The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on +his neighbour. + +21:11. When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: +and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge. + +21:12. The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he +may withdraw the wicked from evil. + +21:13. He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also +cry himself, and shall not be heard. + +21:14. A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom, the +greatest wrath. + +21:15. It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that +work iniquity. + +21:16. A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide +in the company of the giants. + +21:17. He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth +wine, and fat things, shall not be rich. + +21:18. The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the +righteous. + +21:19. It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome +and passionate woman. + +21:20. There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of +the just: and the foolish man shall spend it. + +21:21. He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, +and glory. + +21:22. The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast +down the strength of the confidence thereof. + +21:23. He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from +distress. + +21:24. The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger +worketh pride. + +21:25. Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at +all. + +21:26. He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will +give, and will not cease. + +21:27. The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are +offered of wickedness. + +21:28. A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of +victory. + +21:29. The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is +righteous, correcteth his way. + +21:30. There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel +against the Lord. + +21:31. The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth +safety. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 22 + + +22:1. A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above +silver and gold. + +22:2. The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of +them both. + +22:3. The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed +on, and suffered loss. + +22:4. The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory +and life. + +22:5. Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that +keepeth his own soul, departeth far from them. + +22:6. It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he +is old, he will not depart from it. + +22:7. The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him +that lendeth. + +22:8. He that soweth iniquity, shall reap evils, and with the rod of +his anger he shall be consumed. + +22:9. He that is inclined to mercy, shall be blessed: for of his bread +he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents, shall purchase +victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers. + +22:10. Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and +quarrels and reproaches shall cease. + +22:11. He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips +shall have the king for his friend. + +22:12. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the +unjust are overthrown. + +22:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be +slain in the midst of the streets. + +22:14. The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is +angry with, shall fall into it. + +22:15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of +correction shall drive it away. + +22:16. He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall +himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need. + +22:17. Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy +heart to my doctrine: + +22:18. Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy +bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips: + +22:19. That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn +it to thee this day. + +22:20. Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in +thoughts and knowledge: + +22:21. That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to +answer out of these to them that sent thee. + +22:22. Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not +oppress the needy in the gate: + +22:23. Because the Lord will judge his cause: and will afflict them +that have afflicted his soul. + +22:24. Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious +man: + +22:25. Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul. + +22:26. Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer +themselves sureties for debts: + +22:27. For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there +that he should take the covering from thy bed? + +22:28. Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set. + +22:29. Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before +kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 23 + + +23:1. When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince, consider diligently +what is set before thy face: + +23:2. And put a knife to thy throat, if it be so that thou have thy +soul in thy own power. + +23:3. Be not desirous of his meats, in which is the bread of deceit. + +23:4. Labour not to be rich: but set bounds to thy prudence. + +23:5. Lift not up thy eyes to riches which thou canst not have: because +they shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly +towards heaven. + +23:6. Eat not with an envious man, and desire not his meats: + +23:7. Because, like a soothsayer, and diviner, he thinketh that which +he knoweth not. Eat and drink, will he say to thee: and his mind is not +with thee. + +23:8. The meats which thou hadst eaten, thou shalt vomit up: and shalt +loose thy beautiful words. + +23:9. Speak not in the ears of fools: because they will despise the +instruction of thy speech. + +23:10. Touch not the bounds of little ones: and enter not into the +field of the fatherless: + +23:11. For their near kinsman is strong: and he will judge their cause +against thee. + +23:12. Let thy heart apply itself to instruction and thy ears to words +of knowledge. + +23:13. Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him +with the rod, he shall not die. + +23:14. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from +hell. + +23:15. My son, if thy mind be wise, my heart shall rejoice with thee: + +23:16. And my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips shall speak what is +right. + +23:17. Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the +Lord all the day long: + +23:18. Because thou shalt have hope in the latter end, and thy +expectation shall not be taken away. + +23:19. Hear thou, my son, and be wise: and guide thy mind in the way. + +23:20. Be not in the feasts of great drinkers, nor in their revellings, +who contribute flesh to eat: + +23:21. Because they that give themselves to drinking, and that club +together, shall be consumed: and drowsiness shall be clothed with rags. + +23:22. Hearken to thy father, that begot thee: and despise not thy +mother when she is old. + +23:23. Buy truth, and do not sell wisdom, and instruction, and +understanding. + +23:24. The father of the just rejoiceth greatly: he that hath begotten +a wise son, shall have joy in him. + +23:25. Let thy father and thy mother be joyful, and let her rejoice +that bore thee. + +23:26. My son, give me thy heart: and let thy eyes keep my ways. + +23:27. For a harlot is a deep ditch: and a strange woman is a narrow +pit. + +23:28. She lieth in wait in the way as a robber, and him whom she shall +see unwary, she will kill. + +23:29. Who hath woe? whose father hath woe? who hath contentions? who +falls into pits? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of +eyes? + +23:30. Surely they that pass their time in wine, and study to drink off +their cups. + +23:31. Look not upon the wine when it is yellow, when the colour +thereof shineth in the glass: it goeth in pleasantly, + +23:32. But in the end, it will bite like a snake, and will spread +abroad poison like a basilisk. + +23:33. Thy eyes shall behold strange women, and thy heart shall utter +perverse things. + +23:34. And thou shalt be as one sleeping in the midst of the sea, and +as a pilot fast asleep when the stern is lost. + +23:35. And thou shalt say: They have beaten me, but I was not sensible +of pain: they drew me, and I felt not: when shall I awake and find wine +again? + + + +Proverbs Chapter 24 + + +24:1. Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them: + +24:2. Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak +deceits. + +24:3. By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be +strengthened. + +24:4. By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious +and most beautiful wealth. + +24:5. A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant. + +24:6. Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety +where there are many counsels. + +24:7. Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he shall not open his +mouth. + +24:8. He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool. + +24:9. The thought of a fool is sin: and the detractor is the +abomination of men. + +24:10. If thou lose hope, being weary in the day of distress, thy +strength shall be diminished. + +24:11. Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to +death, forbear not to deliver. + +24:12. If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the +heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, +and he shall render to a man according to his works. + +24:13. Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most +sweet to thy throat. + +24:14. So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou +hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not +perish. + +24:15. Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the +just, nor spoil his rest. + +24:16. For a just man shall fall seven times, and shall rise again: but +the wicked shall fall down into evil. + +24:17. When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not +thy heart rejoice: + +24:18. Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his +wrath from him. + +24:19. Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly. + +24:20. For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the +wicked shall be put out. + +24:21. My son, fear the Lord, and the king: and have nothing to do with +detractors. + +24:22. For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the +ruin of both? + +24:23. These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to +persons in judgment. + +24:24. They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed +by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them. + +24:25. They that rebuke him shall be praised: and a blessing shall come +upon them. + +24:26. He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words. + +24:27. Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that +afterward thou mayst build thy house. + +24:28. Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive +not any man with thy lips. + +24:29. Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render +to every one according to his work. + +24:30. I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard +of the foolish man: + +24:31. And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had +covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down. + +24:32. Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the +example I received instruction. + +24:33. Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, +thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest. + +24:34. And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an +armed man. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 25 + + +25:1. These are also parables of Solomon, which the men of Ezechias, +king of Juda, copied out. + +25:2. It is the glory of God to conceal the word, and the glory of +kings to search out the speech. + +25:3. The heaven above and the earth beneath, and the heart of kings is +unsearchable. + +25:4. Take away the rust from silver, and there shall come forth a most +pure vessel: + +25:5. Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne +shall be established with justice. + +25:6. Appear not glorious before the king, and stand not in the place +of great men. + +25:7. For it is better that it should be said to thee: Come up hither; +than that thou shouldst be humbled before the prince. + +25:8. The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a +quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when +thou hast dishonoured thy friend. + +25:9. Treat thy cause with thy friend, and discover not the secret to a +stranger: + +25:10. Lest he insult over thee, when he hath heard it, and cease not +to upbraid thee. Grace and friendship deliver a man: keep these for +thyself, lest thou fall under reproach. + +25:11. To speak a word in due time, is like apples of gold on beds of +silver. + +25:12. As an earring of gold and a bright pearl, so is he that +reproveth the wise, and the obedient ear. + +25:13. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful +messenger to him that sent him, for he refresheth his soul. + +25:14. As clouds, and wind, when no rain followeth, so is the man that +boasteth, and doth not fulfil his promises. + +25:15. By patience a prince shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall +break hardness. + +25:16. Thou hast found honey, eat what is sufficient for thee, lest +being glutted therewith thou vomit it up. + +25:17. Withdraw thy foot from the house of thy neighbour, lest having +his fill he hate thee. + +25:18. A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour, is like +a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow. + +25:19. To trust in an unfaithful man in the time of trouble, is like a +rotten tooth, and weary foot, + +25:20. And one that looseth his garment in cold weather. As vinegar +upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a very evil heart. As a moth +doth by a garment, and a worm by the wood: so the sadness of a man +consumeth the heart. + +25:21. If thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat: if he thirst, give him +water to drink: + +25:22. For thou shalt heap hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will +reward thee. + +25:23. The north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a +backbiting tongue. + +25:24. It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop: than with a +brawling woman, and in a common house. + +25:25. As cold water to a thirsty soul, so are good tidings from a far +country. + +25:26. A just man falling down before the wicked, is as a fountain +troubled with the foot and a corrupted spring. + +25:27. As it is not good for a man to eat much honey, so he that is a +searcher of majesty shall be overwhelmed by glory. + +Majesty. . .Viz., of God. For to search into that incomprehensible +Majesty, and to pretend to sound the depths of the wisdom of God, is +exposing our weak understanding to be blinded with an excess of light +and glory, which it cannot comprehend. + +25:28. As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is +a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 26 + + +26:1. As snow in summer, and rain in harvest, so glory is not seemly +for a fool. + +26:2. As a bird flying to other places, and a sparrow going here or +there: so a curse uttered without cause shall come upon a man. + +As a bird, etc. . .The meaning is, that a curse uttered without cause +shall do no harm to the person that is cursed, but will return upon him +that curseth, as whithersoever a bird flies, it returns to its own +nest. + +26:3. A whip for a horse, and a snaffle for an ass, and a rod for the +back of fools. + +26:4. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be made like +him. + +Answer not a fool, etc. . .Viz., so as to imitate him but only so as to +reprove his folly. + +26:5. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to +be wise. + +26:6. He that sendeth words by a foolish messenger, is lame of feet and +drinketh iniquity. + +26:7. As a lame man hath fair legs in vain: so a parable is unseemly in +the mouth of fools. + +26:8. As he that casteth a stone into the heap of Mercury: so is he +that giveth honour to a fool. + +26:9. As if a thorn should grow in the hand of a drunkard: so is a +parable in the mouth of fools. + +26:10. Judgment determineth causes: and he that putteth a fool to +silence, appeaseth anger. + +26:11. As a dog that returneth to his vomit, so is the fool that +repeateth his folly. + +26:12. Hast thou seen a man wise in his own conceit? there shall be +more hope of a fool than of him. + +26:13. The slothful man saith: There is a lion in the way, and a +lioness in the roads. + +26:14. As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon +his bed. + +26:15. The slothful hideth his hand under his armpit, and it grieveth +him to turn it to his mouth. + +26:16. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that +speak sentences. + +26:17. As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in +anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel. + +26:18. As he is guilty that shooteth arrows, and lances unto death. + +26:19. So is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he +is taken, saith: I did it in jest. + +26:20. When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the +talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease. + +26:21. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man +stirreth up strife. + +26:22. The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach +to the innermost parts of the belly. + +26:23. Swelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthern +vessel adorned with silver dross. + +26:24. An enemy is known by his lips, when in his heart he entertaineth +deceit. + +26:25. When he shall speak low, trust him not: because there are seven +mischiefs in his heart. + +26:26. He that covereth hatred deceitfully, his malice shall be laid +open in the public assembly. + +26:27. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a +stone, it shall return to him. + +26:28. A deceitful tongue loveth not truth: and a slippery mouth +worketh ruin. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 27 + + +27:1. Boast not for to morrow, for thou knowest not what the day to +come may bring forth. + +27:2. Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and +not thy own lips. + +27:3. A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is +heavier than them both. + +27:4. Anger hath no mercy: nor fury, when it breaketh forth: and who +can bear the violence of one provoked? + +27:5. Open rebuke is better than hidden love. + +27:6. Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of +an enemy. + +27:7. A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul +that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet. + +27:8. As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth +his place. + +27:9. Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of +a friend are sweet to the soul. + +27:10. Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not: and go not +into thy brother's house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a +neighbour that is near than a brother afar off. + +27:11. Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst +give an answer to him that reproacheth. + +27:12. The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing +on have suffered losses. + +27:13. Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and +take from him a pledge for strangers. + +27:14. He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the +night, shall be like to him that curseth. + +27:15. Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman +are alike. + +27:16. He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and +shall call the oil of his right hand. + +27:17. Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his +friend. + +27:18. He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and +he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified. + +27:19. As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so +the hearts of men are laid open to the wise. + +27:20. Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are +never satisfied. + +27:21. As silver is tried in the fining-pot, and gold in the furnace: +so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the +wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after +knowledge. + +27:22. Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle +striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him. + +27:23. Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider +thy own flocks: + +27:24. For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given +to generation and generation. + +27:25. The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the +hay is gathered out of the mountains. + +27:26. Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field. + +27:27. Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the +necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 28 + + +28:1. The wicked man fleeth, when no man pursueth: but the just, bold +as a lion, shall be without dread. + +28:2. For the sins of the land many are the princes thereof: and for +the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, +the life of the prince shall be prolonged. + +28:3. A poor man that oppresseth the poor, is like a violent shower, +which bringeth a famine. + +28:4. They that forsake the law, praise the wicked man: they that keep +it, are incensed against him. + +28:5. Evil men think not on judgment: but they that seek after the +Lord, take notice of all things. + +28:6. Better is the poor man walking in his simplicity, than the rich +in crooked ways. + +28:7. He that keepeth the law, is a wise son: but he that feedeth +gluttons, shameth his father. + +28:8. He that heapeth together riches by usury and loan, gathereth them +for him that will be bountiful to the poor. + +28:9. He that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer +shall be an abomination. + +28:10. He that deceiveth the just in a wicked way, shall fall in his +own destruction: and the upright shall possess his goods. + +28:11. The rich man seemeth to himself wise: but the poor man that is +prudent shall search him out. + +28:12. In the joy of the just there is great glory: when the wicked +reign, men are ruined. + +28:13. He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall +confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy. + +28:14. Blessed is the man that is always fearful: but he that is +hardened in mind shall fall into evil. + +28:15. As a roaring lion, and a hungry bear, so is a wicked prince over +the poor people. + +28:16. A prince void of prudence shall oppress many by calumny: but he +that hateth covetousness, shall prolong his days. + +28:17. A man that doth violence to the blood of a person, if he flee +even to the pit, no man will stay him. + +28:18. He that walketh uprightly, shall be saved: he that is perverse +in his ways, shall fall at once. + +28:19. He that tilleth his ground, shall be filled with bread: but he +that followeth idleness, shall be filled with poverty. + +28:20. A faithful man shall be much praised: but he that maketh haste +to be rich, shall not be innocent. + +28:21. He that hath respect to a person in judgment, doth not well: +such a man even for a morsel of bread forsaketh the truth. + +28:22. A man that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is +ignorant that poverty shall come upon him. + +28:23. He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, +more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him. + +28:24. He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: +and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer. + +28:26. He that boasteth and puffeth up himself, stirreth up quarrels: +but he that trusteth in the Lord, shall be healed. + +28:26. He that trusteth in his own heart, is a fool: but he that +walketh wisely, he shall be saved. + +28:27. He that giveth to the poor shall not want: he that despiseth his +entreaty, shall suffer indigence. + +28:28. When the wicked rise up, men shall hide themselves: when they +perish, the just shall be multiplied. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 29 + + +29:1. The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, +shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him. + +29:2. When just men increase, the people shall rejoice: when the wicked +shall bear rule, the people shall mourn. + +29:3. A man that loveth wisdom, rejoiceth his father: but he that +maintaineth harlots, shall squander away his substance. + +29:4. A just king setteth up the land: a covetous man shall destroy it. + +29:5. A man that speaketh to his friend with flattering and dissembling +words, spreadeth a net for his feet. + +29:6. A snare shall entangle the wicked man when he sinneth: and the +just shall praise and rejoice. + +29:7. The just taketh notice of the cause of the poor: the wicked is +void of knowledge. + +29:8. Corrupt men bring a city to ruin: but wise men turn away wrath. + +29:9. If a wise man contend with a fool, whether he be angry, or laugh, +he shall find no rest. + +29:10. Bloodthirsty men hate the upright: but just men seek his soul. + +29:11. A fool uttereth all his mind: a wise man deferreth, and keepeth +it till afterwards. + +29:12. A prince that gladly heareth lying words, hath all his servants +wicked. + +29:13. The poor man and the creditor have met one another: the Lord is +the enlightener of them both. + +29:14. The king that judgeth the poor in truth, his throne shall be +established for ever. + +29:15. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but the child that is left to +his own will, bringeth his mother to shame. + +29:16. When the wicked are multiplied, crimes shall be multiplied: but +the just shall see their downfall. + +29:17. Instruct thy son and he shall refresh thee, and shall give +delight to thy soul. + +29:18. When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: +but he that keepeth the law, is blessed. + +29:19. A slave will not be corrected by words: because he understandeth +what thou sayest, and will not answer. + +29:20. Hast thou seen a man hasty to speak? folly is rather to be +looked for, than his amendment. + +29:21. He that nourisheth his servant delicately from his childhood, +afterwards shall find him stubborn. + +29:22. A passionate man provoketh quarrels: and he that is easily +stirred up to wrath, shall be more prone to sin. + +29:23. Humiliation followeth the proud: and glory shall uphold the +humble of spirit. + +29:24. He that is partaker with a thief, hateth his own soul: he +heareth one putting him to his oath, and discovereth not. + +29:25. He that feareth man shall quickly fall: he that trusteth in the +Lord, shall be set on high. + +29:26. Many seek the face of the prince: but the judgment of every one +cometh forth from the Lord. + +29:27. The just abhor a wicked man: and the wicked loathe them that are +in the right way. The son that keepeth the word, shall be free from +destruction. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 30 + + +The wise man thinketh humbly of himself. His prayer and sentiments upon +certain virtues and vices. + +30:1. The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter. The vision which the +man spoke, with whom God is, and who being strengthened by God, abiding +with him, said: + +Gatherer, etc. . .Or, as it is in the Latin, Congregans the son of +Vomens. The Latin interpreter has given us in this place the +signification of the Hebrew names, instead of the names themselves, +which are in the Hebrew, Agur the son of Jakeh. But whether this Agur +be the same person as Solomon, as many think, or a different person, +whose doctrine was adopted by Solomon, and inserted among his parables +or proverbs, is uncertain. + +30:2. I am the most foolish of men, and the wisdom of men is not with +me. + +30:3. I have not learned wisdom, and have not known the science of +saints. + +30:4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? who hath held +the wind in his hands? who hath bound up the waters together as in a +garment? who hath raised up all the borders of the earth? what is his +name, and what is the name of his son, if thou knowest? + +30:5. Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that +hope in him. + +Is fire tried. . .That is, most pure, like gold purified by fire. + +30:6. Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved and found a +liar: + +30:7. Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I +die. + +30:8. Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither +beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life: + +30:9. Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: +Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and +forswear the name of my God. + +30:10. Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou +fall. + +30:11. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not +bless their mother. + +30:12. A generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not +washed from their filthiness. + +30:13. A generation, whose eyes are lofty, and their eyelids lifted up +on high. + +30:14. A generation that for teeth hath swords, and grindeth with their +jaw teeth, to devour the needy from off the earth, and the poor from +among men. + +30:15. The horseleech hath two daughters that say: Bring, bring. There +are three things that never are satisfied, and the fourth never saith: +It is enough. + +The horseleech. . .Concupiscence, which hath two daughters that are +never satisfied, viz., lust and avarice. + +30:16. Hell and the mouth of the womb, and the earth which is not +satisfied with water: and the fire never saith: It is enough. + +30:17. The eye that mocketh at his father, and that despiseth the +labour of his mother in bearing him, let the ravens of the brooks pick +it out, and the young eagles eat it. + +30:18. Three things are hard to me, and the fourth I am utterly +ignorant of. + +30:19. The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a +rock, the way of a ship in the midst of the sea, and the way of a man +in youth. + +30:20. Such also is the way of an adulterous woman, who eateth and +wipeth her mouth, and saith: I have done no evil. + +30:21. By three things the earth is disturbed, and the fourth it cannot +bear. + +30:22. By a slave when he reigneth: by a fool when be is filled with +meat: + +30:23. By an odious woman when she is married: and by a bondwoman when +she is heir to her mistress. + +30:24. There are four very little things of the earth, and they are +wiser than the wise. + +30:25. The ants, a feeble people, which provide themselves food in the +harvest: + +30:26. The rabbit, a weak people, which maketh its bed in the rock: + +30:27. The locust hath no king, yet they all go out by their bands: + +30:28. The stellio supporteth itself on hands, and dwelleth in kings' +houses. + +The stellio. . .A kind of house lizard marked with spots like stars, +from whence it has its name. + +30:19. There are three things, which go well, and the fourth that +walketh happily: + +30:30. A lion, the strongest of beasts, who hath no fear of any thing +he meeteth: + +30:31. A cock girded about the loins: and a ram: and a king, whom none +can resist. + +30:32. There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on +high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his +mouth. + +30:33. And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, +straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth +out blood: and he that provoketh wrath, bringeth forth strife. + + + +Proverbs Chapter 31 + + +An exhortation to chastity, temperance, and works of mercy; with the +praise of a wise woman. + +31:1. The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother +instructed him. + +Lamuel. . .This name signifies God with him, and is supposed to have +been one of the names of Solomon. + +31:2. What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the +beloved of my vows? + +31:3. Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings. + +31:4. Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because +there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth: + +31:5. And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause +of the children of the poor. + +31:6. Give strong drink to them that are sad; and wine to them that are +grieved in mind: + +31:7. Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow +no more. + +31:8. Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the +children that pass. + +31:9. Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the +needy and poor. + +31:10. Who shall find a valiant woman? far, and from the uttermost +coasts is the price of her. + +31:11. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no +need of spoils. + +31:12. She will render him good, and not evil all the days of her life. + +31:13. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel +of her hands. + +31:14. She is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her bread from +afar. + +31:15. And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her +household, and victuals to her maidens. + +31:16. She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of +her hands she hath planted a vineyard. + +31:17. She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened +her arm. + +31:18. She hath tasted, and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp +shall not be put out in the night. + +31:19. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have +taken hold of the spindle. + +31:20. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her +hands to the poor. + +31:21. She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all +her domestics are clothed with double garments. + +31:22. She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and +purple, is her covering. + +31:23. Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among +the senators of the land. + +31:24. She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the +Chanaanite. + +The Chanaanite. . .The merchant, for Chanaanite, in Hebrew, signifies a +merchant. + +31:25. Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the +latter day. + +31:26. She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is +on her tongue. + +31:27. She hath looked well on the paths of her house, and hath not +eaten her bread idle. + +31:28. Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and +he praised her. + +31:29. Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast +surpassed them all. + +31:30. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth +the Lord, she shall be praised. + +31:31. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her +in the gates. + + + + +ECCLESIASTES + + + +This Book is called Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher, (in Hebrew, +Coheleth,) because in it, Solomon, as an excellent preacher, setteth +forth the vanity of the things of this world: to withdraw the hearts +and affections of men from such empty toys. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 + + +The vanity of all temporal things. + +1:1. The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. + +1:2. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, and all +is vanity. + +1:3. What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the +sun? + +1:4. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but +the earth standeth for ever. + +1:5. The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and +there rising again, + +1:6. Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the +spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to +his circuits. + +1:7. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: +unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again. + +1:8. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is +not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. + +1:9. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is +it that hath been done? the same that shall be done. + +1:10. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: +Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that +were before us. + +1:11. There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those +things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with +them that shall be in the latter end. + +1:12. I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem, + +1:13. And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely +concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful +occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised +therein. + +1:14. I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold +all is vanity, and vexation of spirit. + +1:15. The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is +infinite. + +1:16. I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and +have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and +my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned. + +1:17. And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and +errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was +labour, and vexation of spirit, + +1:18. Because in much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that +addeth knowledge, addeth also labour. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 + + +The vanity of pleasures, riches, and worldly labours. + +2:1. I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy +good things. And I saw that this also was vanity. + +2:2. Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly +deceived? + +2:3. I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I +might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see +what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do +under the sun, all the days of their life. + +2:4. I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards, + +2:5. I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all +kinds, + +2:6. And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the +young trees, + +2:7. I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: +and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were +before me in Jerusalem: + +2:8. I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of +kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the +delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out +wine: + +2:9. And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my +wisdom also remained with me. + +2:10. And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I +withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting +itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my +portion, to make use of my own labour. + +2:11. And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had +wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in +all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting +under the sun. + +2:12. I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is +man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?) + +2:13. And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth +from darkness. + +2:14. The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in +darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike. + +2:15. And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall +be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the +study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this +also was vanity. + +2:16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the +fool forever, and the times to come shall cover all things together +with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned. + +2:17. And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things +under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit. + +2:18. Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly +laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me, + +2:19. Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he +shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been +solicitous: and is there anything so vain? + +2:20. Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring anymore +under the sun. + +2:21. For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and +carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this +also is vanity, and a great evil. + +2:22. For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation +of spirit, with which he hath been tormented under the sun? + +2:23. All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night +he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity? + +2:24. Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good +things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God. + +2:25. Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I? + +2:26. God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and +knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and +superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to +him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless +solicitude of the mind. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 + + +All human things are liable to perpetual changes. We are to rest on +God's providence, and cast away fruitless cares. + +3:1. All things have their season, and in their times all things pass +under heaven. + +3:2. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time +to pluck up that which is planted. + +3:3. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time +to build. + +3:4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time +to dance. + +3:5. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, +and a time to be far from embraces. + +3:6. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to +cast away. + +3:7. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a +time to speak. + +3:8. A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of +peace. + +3:9. What hath man more of his labour? + +3:10. I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of men to +be exercised in it. + +3:11. He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered +the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work +which God hath made from the beginning to the end. + +3:12. And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, +and to do well in this life. + +3:13. For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his +labour, this is the gift of God. + +3:14. I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue +for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things +which God hath made that he may be feared. + +3:15. That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that +shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past. + +3:16. I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in +the place of justice iniquity. + +3:17. And I said in my heart: God shall judge both the just and the +wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing. + +3:18. I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would +prove them, and shew them to be like beasts. + +3:19. Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the +condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all +things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things +are subject to vanity. + +Man hath nothing more, etc. . .Viz., as to the life of the body. + +3:20. And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into +earth they return together. + +3:21. Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, +and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward? + +Who knoweth, etc. . .Viz., experimentally: since no one in this life can +see a spirit. But as to the spirit of the beasts, which is merely +animal, and become extinct by the death of the beast, who can tell the +manner it acts so as to give life and motion, and by death to descend +downward, that is, to be no more? + +3:22. And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice +in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to +know the things that shall be after him? + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 + + +Other instances of human miseries. + +4:1. I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions that +are done under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and they had no +comforter; and they were not able to resist their violence, being +destitute of help from any. + +4:2. And I praised the dead rather than the living: + +4:3. And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet born, nor +hath seen the evils that are done under the sun. + +4:4. Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked that +their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour: so in this +also there is vanity, and fruitless care. + +4:5. The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, +saying: + +4:6. Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with labour, +and vexation of mind. + +4:7. Considering I found also another vanity under the sun: + +4:8. There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, +and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with +riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and +defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous +vexation. + +4:9. It is better therefore that two should be together, than one: for +they have the advantage of their society: + +4:10. If one fall he shall be supported by the other: woe to him that +is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to lift him up. + +4:11. And if two lie together, they shall warm one another: how shall +one alone be warmed? + +4:12. And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: a +threefold cord is not easily broken. + +4:13. Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that is old +and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter. + +4:14. Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to +a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty. + +4:15. I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second +young man, who shall rise up in his place. + +4:16. The number of the people, of all that were before him is +infinite: and they that shall come afterwards, shall not rejoice in +him: but this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit. + +4:17. Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and draw +nigh to hear. For much better is obedience, than the victims of fools, +who know not what evil they do. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 + + +Caution in words. Vows are to be paid. Riches are often pernicious: +the moderate use of them is the gift of God. + +5:1. Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to +utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: +therefore let thy words be few. + +5:2. Dreams follow many cares: and in many words shall be found folly. + +5:3. If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an +unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: but whatsoever thou +hast vowed, pay it. + +5:4. And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform +the things promised. + +5:5. Give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin: and say not before +the angel: There is no providence: lest God be angry at thy words, and +destroy all the works of thy hands. + +5:6. Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities, and words +without number: but do thou fear God. + +5:7. If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent +judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this +matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others +still higher than these: + +5:8. Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject +to him. + +5:9. A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that +loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity. + +5:10. Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat them. +And what doth it profit the owner, but that he seeth the riches with +his eyes? + +5:11. Sleep is sweet to a labouring man, whether he eat little or much: +but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. + +5:12. There is also another grievous evil, which I have seen under the +sun: riches kept to the hurt of the owner. + +5:13. For they are lost with very great affliction: he hath begotten a +son, who shall be in extremity of want. + +5:14. As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he +return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour. + +5:15. A most deplorable evil: as he came, so shall he return. What then +doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind? + +5:16. All the days of his life he eateth in darkness, and in many +cares, and in misery, and sorrow. + +5:17. This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and +drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured +under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and +this is his portion. + +5:18. And every man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and +hath given him power to eat thereof, and to enjoy his portion, and to +rejoice of his labour: this is the gift of God. + +5:19. For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God +entertaineth his heart with delight. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 + + +The misery of the covetous man. + +6:1. There is also another evil, which I have seen under the sun, and +that frequent among men: + +6:2. A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and honour, +and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth: yet God doth not +give him power to eat thereof, but a stranger shall eat it up. This is +vanity and a great misery. + +6:3. If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, and attain +to a great age, and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance, +and he be without burial: of this man I pronounce, that the untimely +born is better than he. + +6:4. For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name shall be +wholly forgotten. + +6:5. He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good and evil: + +6:6. Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed good +things: do not all make haste to one place? + +6:7. All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall not be +filled. + +6:8. What hath the wise man more than the fool? and what the poor man, +but to go thither, where there is life? + +6:9. Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire that +which thou canst not know. But this also is vanity, and presumption of +spirit. + +6:10. He that shall be, his name is already called: and it is known, +that he is a man, and cannot contend in judgment with him that is +stronger than himself. + +6:11. There are many words that have much vanity in disputing. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 7 + + +Prescriptions against worldly vanities: mortification, patience, and +seeking wisdom. + +7:1. What needeth a man to seek things that are above him, whereas he +knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of +his pilgrimage, and the time that passeth like a shadow? Or who can +tell him what shall be after him under the sun? + +7:2. A good name is better than precious ointments: and the day of +death than the day of one's birth. + +7:3. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of +feasting: for in that we are put in mind of the end of all, and the +living thinketh what is to come. + +7:4. Anger is better than laughter: because by the sadness of the +countenance the mind of the offender is corrected. + +Anger. . .That is, correction, or just wrath and zeal against evil. + +7:5. The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of +fools where there is mirth. + +7:6. It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be deceived by +the flattery of fools. + +7:7. For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the +laughter of a fool: now this also is vanity. + +7:8. Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the strength of +his heart. + +7:9. Better is the end of a speech than the beginning. Better is the +patient man than the presumptuous. + +7:10. Be not quickly angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool. + +7:11. Say not: What thinkest thou is the cause that former times were +better than they are now? for this manner of question is foolish. + +7:12. Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more +advantage to them that see the sun. + +7:13. For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence: but learning +and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to him that possesseth +them. + +7:14. Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he hath +despised. + +7:15. In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the +evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may +not find against him any just complaint. + +7:16. These things also I saw in the days of my vanity: A just man +perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a long time in his +wickedness. + +7:17. Be not over just: and be not more wise than is necessary, lest +thou become stupid. + +Over just. . .Viz., By an excessive rigour in censuring the ways of God +in bearing with the wicked. + +7:18. Be not overmuch wicked: and be not foolish, lest thou die before +thy time. + +Be not overmuch wicked. . .That is, lest by the greatness of your sin +you leave no room for mercy. + +7:19. It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and from him +withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God, neglecteth nothing. + +7:20. Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the +city. + +7:21. For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth +not. + +7:22. But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: lest +perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee. + +7:23. For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil +of others. + +7:24. I have tried all things in wisdom. I have said: I will be wise: +and it departed farther from me, + +7:25. Much more than it was: it is a great depth, who shall find it +out? + +7:26. I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and consider, +and seek out wisdom and reason: and to know the wickedness of the fool, +and the error of the imprudent: + +7:27. And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is the +hunter's snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands are bands. He +that pleaseth God shall escape from her: but he that is a sinner, shall +be caught by her. + +7:28. Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one thing after +another, that I might find out the account, + +7:29. Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it. One man among +a thousand I have found, a woman among them all I have not found. + +7:30. Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he hath +entangled himself with an infinity of questions. Who is as the wise +man? and who hath known the resolution of the word? + +Of the word. . .That is, of this obscure and difficult matter. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 + + +True wisdom is to observe God's commandments. The ways of God are +unsearchable. + +8:1. The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the most +mighty will change his face. + +8:2. I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of the oath +of God. + +8:3. Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue in an +evil work: for he will do all that pleaseth him: + +8:4. And his word is full of power: neither can any man say to him: Why +dost thou so? + +8:5. He that keepeth the commandment, shall find no evil. The heart of +a wiser man understandeth time and answer. + +8:6. There is a time and opportunity for every business, and great +affliction for man: + +8:7. Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come he +cannot know by any messenger. + +8:8. It is not in man's power to stop the spirit, neither hath he power +in the day of death, neither is he suffered to rest when war is at +hand, neither shall wickedness save the wicked. + +8:9. All these things I have considered, and applied my heart to all +the works that are done under the sun. Sometimes one man ruleth over +another to his own hurt. + +8:10. I saw the wicked buried: who also when they were yet living were +in the holy place, and were praised in the city as men of just works: +but this also is vanity. + +8:11. For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil, +the children of men commit evils without any fear. + +8:12. But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by patience be +borne withal, I know from thence that it shall be well with them that +fear God, who dread his face. + +8:13. But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his days be +prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of +the Lord. + +8:14. There is also another vanity, which is done upon the earth. There +are just men to whom evils happen, as though they had done the works of +the wicked: and there are wicked men, who are as secure as though they +had the deeds of the just: but this also I judge most vain. + +8:15. Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for a man +under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry, and that he should +take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life, which +God hath given him under the sun. + +No good for a man, etc. . .Some commentators think the wise man here +speaks in the person of the libertine: representing the objections of +these men against divine providence, and the inferences they draw from +thence, which he takes care afterwards to refute. But it may also be +said, that his meaning is to commend the moderate use of the goods of +this world, preferably to the cares and solicitudes of worldlings, +their attachment to vanity and curiosity, and presumptuously diving +into the unsearchable ways of divine providence. + +8:16. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand the +distraction that is upon earth: for there are some that day and night +take no sleep with their eyes. + +8:17. And I understood that man can find no reason of all those works +of God that are done under the sun: and the more he shall labour to +seek, so much the less shall he find: yea, though the wise man shall +say, that he knoweth it, he shall not be able to find it. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 + + +Man knows not certainty that he is in God's grace. After death no more +work or merit. + +9:1. All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might +carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their +works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be +worthy of love, or hatred: + +9:2. But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come, because +all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked, to the good +and to the evil, to the clean and to the unclean, to him that offereth +victims, and to him that despiseth sacrifices. As the good is, so also +is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth. + +9:3. This is a very great evil among all things that are done under the +sun, that the same things happen to all men: whereby also the hearts of +the children of men are filled with evil, and with contempt while they +live, and afterwards they shall be brought down to hell. + +9:4. There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for this: a +living dog is better than a dead lion. + +9:5. For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing +more, neither have they a reward any more: for the memory of them is +forgotten. + +Know nothing more. . .Viz., as to the transactions of this world, in +which they have now no part, unless it be revealed to them; neither +have they any knowledge or power now of doing any thing to secure their +eternal state, (if they have not taken care of it in their lifetime:) +nor can they now procure themselves any good, as the living always may +do, by the grace of God. + +9:6. Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy are all +perished, neither have they any part in this world, and in the work +that is done under the sun. + +9:7. Go then, and eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with +gladness: because thy works please God. + +9:8. At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil depart +from thy head. + +9:9. Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy +unsteady life, which are given to thee under the sun, all the time of +thy vanity: for this is thy portion in life, and in thy labour +wherewith thou labourest under the sun. + +9:10. Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither +work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither +thou art hastening. + +9:11. I turned me to another thing, and I saw that under the sun, the +race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to +the wise, nor riches to the learned, nor favour to the skilful: but +time and chance in all. + +9:12. Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the +hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the +evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them. + +9:13. This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed to me +to be very great: + +9:14. A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great +king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round about it, and the siege +was perfect. + +9:15. Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered +the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man. + +9:16. And I said that wisdom is better than strength: how then is the +wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not heard? + +9:17. The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of +a prince among fools. + +9:18. Better is wisdom, than weapons of war: and he that shall offend +in one, shall lose many good things. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 + + +Observations on wisdom and folly, ambition and detraction. + +10:1. Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory +is more precious than a small and shortlived folly. + +10:2. The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a +fool is in his left hand. + +10:3. Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas he himself +is a fool, esteemeth all men fools. + +10:4. If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not +thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease. + +10:5. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an +error proceeding from the face of the prince: + +10:6. A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath. + +10:7. I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the +ground as servants. + +10:8. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a +hedge, a serpent shall bite him. + +10:9. He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that +cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them. + +10:10. If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, +with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow +wisdom. + +10:11. If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that +backbiteth secretly. + +10:12. The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of +a fool shall throw him down headlong. + +10:13. The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is +a mischievous error. + +10:14. A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been +before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him? + +10:15. The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not how to go +to the city. + +10:16. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the +princes eat in the morning. + +10:17. Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat +in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness. + +10:18. By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through +the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through. + +10:19. For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may +feast: and all things obey money. + +10:20. Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil +of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the +air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou +hast said. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 11 + + +Exhortation to works of mercy, while we have time, to diligence in +good, and to the remembrance of death and judgment. + +11:1. Cast thy bread upon the running waters: for after a long time +thou shalt find it again. + +11:2. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not +what evil shall be upon the earth. + +11:3. If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the earth. If +the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in what place soever it +shall fall, there shall it be. + +If the tree fall, etc. . .The state of the soul is unchangeable when +once she comes to heaven or hell: and a soul that departs this life in +the state of grace, shall never fall from grace: as on the other side, +a soul that dies out of the state of grace, shall never come to it. But +this does not exclude a place of temporal punishments for such souls as +die in the state of grace: yet not so as to be entirely pure: and +therefore they shall be saved, indeed, yet so as by fire. 1 Cor. 3.13, +14, 15. + +11:4. He that observeth the wind, shall not sow: and he that +considereth the clouds, shall never reap. + +11:5. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the +bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child: so +thou knowest not the works of God, who is the maker of all. + +11:6. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thy hand +cease: for thou knowest not which may rather spring up, this or that: +and if both together, it shall be the better. + +11:7. The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the +sun. + +11:8. If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all, he must +remember the darksome time, and the many days: which when they shall +come, the things past shall be accused of vanity. + +11:9. Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart +be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways +of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these +God will bring thee into judgment. + +11:10. Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. +For youth and pleasure are vain. + + + +Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 + + +The Creator is to be remembered in the days of our youth: all worldly +things are vain: we should fear God and keep his commandments. + +12:1. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of +affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They +please me not: + +12:2. Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be +darkened, and the clouds return after the rain: + +Before the sun, etc. . .That is, before old age: the effects of which +upon all the senses and faculties are described in the following +verses, under a variety of figures. + +12:3. When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men +shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and +they that look through the holes shall be darkened: + +12:4. And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's +voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, +and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf. + +12:5. And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the +way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and +the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house +of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street. + +12:6. Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink +back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be +broken upon the cistern, + +12:7. And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the +spirit return to God, who gave it. + +12:8. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity. + +12:9. And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and +declared the things that he had done: and seeking out, he set forth +many parables. + +12:10. He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right, and full +of truth. + +12:11. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply fastened +in, which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd. + +12:12. More than these, my son, require not. Of making many books there +is no end: and much study is an affliction of the flesh. + +12:13. Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. Fear +God, and keep his commandments: for this is all man: + +All man. . .The whole business and duty of man. + +12:14. And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment for +every error, whether it be good or evil. + +Error. . .Or, hidden and secret thing. + + + + +SOLOMON'S CANTICLE OF CANTICLES + + + +This Book is called the Canticle of Canticles, that is to say, the most +excellent of all canticles: because it is full of high mysteries, +relating to the happy union of Christ and his spouse: which is here +begun by love; and is to be eternal in heaven. The spouse of Christ is +the church: more especially as to the happiest part of it, viz., +perfect souls, every one of which is his beloved, but, above all +others, the immaculate and ever blessed virgin mother. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 1 + + +The spouse aspires to an union with Christ, their mutual love for one +another. + +1:1. Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy breasts are +better than wine, + +Let him kiss me. . .The church, the spouse of Christ, prays that he may +love and have peace with her, which the spouse prefers to every thing +delicious: and therefore expresses (ver. 2) that young maidens, that is +the souls of the faithful, have loved thee. + +1:2. Smelling sweet of the best ointments. Thy name is as oil poured +out: therefore young maidens have loved thee. + +1:3. Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments. The +king hath brought me into his storerooms: we will be glad and rejoice +in thee, remembering thy breasts more than wine: the rightous love +thee. + +Draw me. . .That is, with thy grace: otherwise I should not be able to +come to thee. This metaphor shews that we cannot of ourselves come to +Christ our Lord, unless he draws us by his grace, which is laid up in +his storerooms: that is, in the mysteries of Faith, which God in his +goodness and love for mankind hath revealed, first by his servant Moses +in the Old Law in figure only, and afterwards in reality by his only +begotten Son Jesus Christ. + +1:4. I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the +tents of Cedar, as the curtains of Solomon. + +I am black but beautiful. . .That is, the church of Christ founded in +humility appearing outwardly afflicted, and as it were black and +contemptible; but inwardly, that is, in its doctrine and morality, fair +and beautiful. + +1:5. Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun hath altered +my colour: the sons of my mother have fought against me, they have made +me the keeper in the vineyards: my vineyard I have not kept. + +1:6. Shew me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where +thou liest in the midday, lest I begin to wander after the flocks of +thy companions. + +1:7. If thou know not thyself, O fairest among women, go forth, and +follow after the steps of the flocks, and feed thy kids beside the +tents of the shepherds. + +If thou know not thyself, etc. . .Christ encourages his spouse to follow +and watch her flock: and though she know not entirely the power at hand +to assist her, he tells her, ver. 8, my company of horsemen, that is, +his angels, are always watching and protecting her. And in the +following verses he reminds her of the virtues and gifts with which he +has endowed her. + +1:8. To my company of horsemen, in Pharao's chariots, have I likened +thee, O my love. + +1:9. Thy cheeks are beautiful as the turtledove's, thy neck as jewels. + +1:10. We will make thee chains of gold, inlaid with silver. + +1:11. While the king was at his repose, my spikenard sent forth the +odour thereof. + +1:12. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me, he shall abide between my +breasts. + +1:13. A cluster of cypress my love is to me, in the vineyards of +Engaddi. + +1:14. Behold thou are fair, O my love, behold thou are fair, thy eyes +are as those of doves. + +1:15. Behold thou art fair, my beloved, and comely. Our bed is +flourishing. + +1:16. The beams of our houses are of cedar, our rafters of cypress +trees. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 2 + + +Christ caresses his spouse: he invites her to him. + +2:1. I am the flower of the field, and the lily of the valleys. + +I am the flower of the field. . .Christ professes himself the flower of +mankind, yea, the Lord of all creatures: and, ver. 2, declares the +excellence of his spouse, the true church above all other societies, +which are to be considered as thorns. + +2:2. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. + +2:3. As the apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my beloved +among the sons. I sat down under his shadow, whom I desired: and his +fruit was sweet to my palate. + +2:4. He brought me into the cellar of wine, he set in order charity in +me. + +2:5. Stay me up with flowers, compass me about with apples: because I +languish with love. + +2:6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace +me. + +2:7. I adjure you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and the +harts of the field, that you stir not up, nor make the beloved to +awake, till she please. + +2:8. The voice of my beloved, behold he cometh leaping upon the +mountains, skipping over the hills. + +The voice of my beloved: that is, the preaching of the gospel +surmounting difficulties figuratively here expressed by mountains and +little hills. + +2:9. My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Behold he standeth +behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the +lattices. + +2:10. Behold my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, make haste, my love, my +dove, my beautiful one, and come. + +2:11. For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. + +2:12. The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is +come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land: + +2:13. The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower +yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come: + +2:14. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the +wall, shew me thy face, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy voice +is sweet, and thy face comely. + +2:15. Catch us the little foxes that destroy the vines: for our +vineyard hath flourished. + +Catch us the little foxes. . .Christ commands his pastors to catch false +teachers, by holding forth their fallacy and erroneous doctrine, which +like foxes would bite and destroy the vines. + +2:16. My beloved to me, and I to him who feedeth among the lilies, + +2:17. Till the day break, and the shadows retire. Return: be like, my +beloved, to a roe, or to a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 3 + + +The spouse seeks Christ. The glory of his humanity. + +3:1. In my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, +and found him not. + +In my bed by night, etc. . .The Gentiles as in the dark, and seeking in +heathen delusion what they could not find, the true God, until Christ +revealed his doctrine to them by his watchmen, (ver. 3,) that is, by +the apostles, and teachers by whom they were converted to the true +faith; and holding that faith firmly, the spouse (the Catholic Church) +declares, ver. 4, That she will not let him go, till she bring him into +her mother's house, etc., that is, till at last, the Jews also shall +find him. + +3:2. I will rise, and will go about the city: in the streets and the +broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, and I +found him not. + +3:3. The watchmen who keep the city, found me: Have you seen him, whom +my soul loveth? + +3:4. When I had a little passed by them, I found him whom my soul +loveth: I held him: and I will not let him go, till I bring him into my +mother's house, and into the chamber of her that bore me. + +3:5. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and the harts +of the fields, that you stir not up, nor awake my beloved, till she +please. + +3:6. Who is she that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of +aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, and of all the powders +of the perfumer? + +3:7. Behold threescore valiant ones of the most valiant of Israel, +surrounded the bed of Solomon? + +3:8. All holding swords, and most expert in war: every man's sword upon +his thigh, because of fears in the night. + +3:9. King Solomon hath made him a litter of the wood of Libanus: + +3:10. The pillars thereof he made of silver, the seat of gold, the +going up of purple: the midst he covered with charity for the daughters +of Jerusalem. + +3:11. Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see king Solomon in the +diadem, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of the joy of his +heart. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 4 + + +Christ sets forth the graces of his spouse: and declares his love for +her. + +4:1. How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! thy eyes +are doves' eyes, besides what is hid within. Thy hair is as flocks of +goats, which come up from mount Galaad. + +How beautiful art thou. . .Christ again praises the beauties of his +church, which through the whole of this chapter are exemplified by a +variety of metaphors, setting forth her purity, her simplicity, and her +stability. + +4:2. Thy teeth as flocks of sheep, that are shorn, which come up from +the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them. + +4:3. Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet. Thy cheeks +are as a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hid within. + +4:4. Thy neck, is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: +a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armour of valiant men. + +4:5. Thy two breasts like two young roes that are twins, which feed +among the lilies. + +Thy two breasts, etc. . .Mystically to be understood: the love of God +and the love of our neighbour, which are so united as twins which feed +among the lilies: that is, the love of God and our neighbour, feeds on +the divine mysteries and the holy sacraments, left by Christ to his +spouse to feed and nourish her children. + +4:6. Till the day break, and the shadows retire, I will go to the +mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. + +4:7. Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee. + +4:8. Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt +be crowned from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, +from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards. + +4:9. Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast +wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck. + +4:10. How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts +are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments +above all aromatical spices. + +4:11. Thy lips, my spouse, are as a dropping honeycomb, honey and milk +are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments, as the smell of +frankincense. + +4:12. My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a +fountain sealed up. + +My sister, etc., a garden enclosed. . .Figuratively the church is +enclosed, containing only the faithful. A fountain sealed up. . .That +none can drink of its waters, that is, the graces and spiritual +benefits of the holy sacraments, but those who are within its walls. + +4:13. Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the +orchard. Cypress with spikenard. + +4:14. Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the +trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes. + +4:15. The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run +with a strong stream from Libanus. + +4:16. Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my +garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 5 + + +Christ calls his spouse: she languishes with love: and describes him by +his graces. + +5:1. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat the fruit of his +apple trees. I am come into my garden, O my sister, my spouse, I have +gathered my myrrh, with my aromatical spices: I have eaten the +honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O +friends, and drink, and be inebriated, my dearly beloved. + +Let my beloved come into his garden, etc. . .Garden, mystically the +church of Christ, abounding with fruit, that is, the good works of the +elect. + +5:2. I sleep, and my heart watcheth: the voice of my beloved knocking: +Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is +full of dew, and my locks of the drops of the nights. + +5:3. I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on? I have washed my +feet, how shall I defile them? + +5:4. My beloved put his hand through the key hole, and my bowels were +moved at his touch. + +My beloved put his hand through the key hole, etc. . .The spouse of +Christ, his church, at times as it were penned up by its persecutors, +and in fears, expecting the divine assistance, here signified by his +hand: and ver. 6, but he had turned aside and was gone, that is, Christ +permitting a further trial of suffering: and again, ver. 7, the +keepers, etc., signifying the violent and cruel persecutors of the +church taking her veil, despoiling the church of its places of worship +and ornaments for the divine service. + +5:5. I arose up to open to my beloved: my hands dropped with myrrh, and +my fingers were full of the choicest myrrh. + +5:6. I opened the bolt of my door to my beloved: but he had turned +aside, and was gone. My soul melted when he spoke: I sought him, and +found him not: I called, and he did not answer me. + +5:7. The keepers that go about the city found me: they struck me: and +wounded me: the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. + +5:8. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, +that you tell him that I languish with love. + +5:9. What manner of one is thy beloved of the beloved, O thou most +beautiful among women? what manner of one is thy beloved of the +beloved, that thou hast so adjured us? + +5:10. My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands. + +My beloved, etc. . .In this and the following verses, the church +mystically describes Christ to those who know him not, that is, to +infidels in order to convert them to the true faith. + +5:11. His head is as the finest gold: his locks as branches of palm +trees, black as a raven. + +5:12. His eyes as doves upon brooks of waters, which are washed with +milk, and sit beside the plentiful streams. + +5:13. His cheeks are as beds of aromatical spices set by the perfumers. +His lips are as lilies dropping choice myrrh. + +5:14. His hands are turned and as of gold, full of hyacinths. His belly +as of ivory, set with sapphires. + +5:15. His legs as pillars of marble, that are set upon bases of gold. +His form as of Libanus, excellent as the cedars. + +5:16. His throat most sweet, and he is all lovely: such is my beloved, +and he is my friend, O ye daughters of Jerusalem. + +5:17. Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou most beautiful among women? +whither is thy beloved turned aside, and we will seek him with thee? + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 6 + + +The spouse of Christ is but one: she is fair and terrible. + +6:1. My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the bed of aromatical +spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. + +My beloved is gone down into his garden. . .Christ, pleased with the +good works of his holy and devout servants labouring in his garden, is +always present with them: but the words is gone down, are to be +understood, that after trying his Church by permitting persecution, he +comes to her assistance and she rejoices at his coming. + +6:2. I to my beloved, and my beloved to me, who feedeth among the +lilies. + +6:3. Thou art beautiful, O my love, sweet and comely as Jerusalem +terrible as an army set in array. + +6:4. Turn away thy eyes from me, for they have made me flee away. Thy +hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from Galaad. + +6:5. Thy teeth as a flock of sheep, which come up from the washing, all +with twins, and there is none barren among them. + +6:6. Thy cheeks are as the bark of a pomegranate, beside what is hidden +within thee. + +6:7. There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and young +maidens without number. + +6:8. One is my dove, my perfect one is but one, she is the only one of +her mother, the chosen of her that bore her. The daughters saw her, and +declared her most blessed: the queens and concubines, and they praised +her. + +One is my dove, etc. . .That is, my church is one, and she only is +perfect and blessed. + +6:9. Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the +moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array? + +Who is she, etc. . .Here is a beautiful metaphor describing the church +from the beginning. As, the morning rising, signifying the church +before the written law; fair as the moon, shewing her under the light +of the gospel: and terrible as an army, the power of Christ's church +against its enemies. + +6:10. I went down into the garden of nuts, to see the fruits of the +valleys, and to look if the vineyard had flourished, and the +pomegranates budded. + +6:11. I knew not: my soul troubled me for the chariots of Aminadab. + +6:12. Return, return, O Sulamitess: return, return that we may behold +thee. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 7 + + +A further description of the graces of the church the spouse of Christ. + +7:1. What shalt thou see in the Sulamitess but the companies of camps? +How beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince's daughter! The joints +of thy thighs are like jewels, that are made by the hand of a skilful +workman. + +How beautiful are thy steps, etc. . .By these metaphors are signified +the power and mission of the church in propagating the true faith. + +7:2. Thy navel is like a round bowl never wanting cups. Thy belly is +like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies. + +7:3. Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. + +7:4. Thy neck as a tower of ivory. Thy eyes like the fishpools in +Hesebon, which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude. Thy +nose is as the tower of Libanus, that looketh toward Damascus. + +7:5. Thy head is like Carmel: and the hairs of thy head as the purple +of the king bound in the channels. + +Thy head is like Carmel. . .Christ, the invisible head of his church, is +here signified. + +7:6. How beautiful art thou, and how comely, my dearest, in delights! + +7:7. Thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of +grapes. + +7:8. I said: I will go up into the palm tree, and will take hold of the +fruit thereof: and thy breasts shall be as the clusters of the vine: +and the odour of thy mouth like apples. + +7:9. Thy throat like the best wine, worthy for my beloved to drink, and +for his lips and his teeth to ruminate. + +7:10. I to my beloved, and his turning is towards me. + +7:11. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us abide in +the villages. + +7:12. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vineyard +flourish, if the flowers be ready to bring forth fruits, if the +pomegranates flourish: there will I give thee my breasts. + +7:13. The mandrakes give a smell. In our gates are all fruits: the new +and the old, my beloved, I have kept for thee. + + + +Canticle of Canticles Chapter 8 + + +The love of the church to Christ: his love to her. + +8:1. Who shall give thee to me for my brother, sucking the breasts of +my mother, that I may find thee without, and kiss thee, and now no man +may despise me? + +8:2. I will take hold of thee, and bring thee into my mother's house: +there thou shalt teach me, and I will give thee a cup of spiced wine +and new wine of my pomegranates. + +8:3. His left hand under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me. + +His left hand, etc. . .Words of the church to Christ. His left hand, +signifying the Old Testament, and his right hand, the New. + +8:4. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor +awake my love till she please. + +8:5. Who is this that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, +leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I raised thee up: there +thy mother was corrupted, there she was defloured that bore thee. + +Who is this, etc. . .The angels with admiration behold the Gentiles +converted to the faith: coming up from the desert, that is, coming from +heathenism and false worship: flowing with delights, that is, abounding +with good works which are pleasing to God: leaning on her beloved, on +the promise of Christ to his Church, that the gates of hell should not +prevail against it; and supported by his grace conferred by the +sacraments. Under the apple tree I raised thee up; that is, that Christ +redeemed the Gentiles at the foot of the cross, where the synagogue of +the Jews (the mother church) was corrupted by their denying him, and +crucifying him. + +8:6. Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love +is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are +fire and flames. + +8:7. Many waters cannot quench charity, neither can the floods drown +it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, he +shall despise it as nothing. + +8:8. Our sister is little, and hath no breasts. What shall we do to our +sister in the day when she is to be spoken to? + +Our sister is little, etc. . .Mystically signifies the Jews, who are to +be spoken to: that is, converted towards the end of the world: and then +shall become a wall, that is, a part of the building, the church of +Christ. + +8:9. If she be a wall: let us build upon it bulwarks of silver: if she +be a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar. + +8:10. I am a wall: and my breasts are as a tower since I am become in +his presence as one finding peace. + +8:11. The peaceable had a vineyard, in that which hath people: he let +out the same to keepers, every man bringeth for the fruit thereof a +thousand pieces of silver. + +8:12. My vineyard is before me. A thousand are for thee, the peaceable, +and two hundred for them that keep the fruit thereof. + +8:13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the friends hearken: make me +hear thy voice. + +8:14. Flee away, O my beloved, and be like to the roe, and to the young +hart upon the mountains of aromatical spices. + + + + +THE BOOK OF WISDOM + + + +This Book is so called, because it treats of the excellence of WISDOM, +the means to obtain it, and the happy fruits it produces. It is written +in the person of Solomon, and contains his sentiments. But it is +uncertain who was the writer. It abounds with instructions and +exhortations to kings and all magistrates to minister justice in the +commonwealth, teaching all kinds of virtues under the general names of +justice and wisdom. It contains also many prophecies of Christ's +coming, passion, resurrection, and other Christian mysteries. The whole +may be divided into three parts. In the first six chapters, the author +admonishes all superiors to love and exercise justice and wisdom. In +the next three, he teacheth that wisdom proceedeth only from God, and +is procured by prayer and a good life. In the other ten chapters, he +sheweth the excellent effects and utility of wisdom and justice. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 1 + + +An exhortation to seek God sincerely, who cannot be deceived, and +desireth not our death. + +1:1. Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the +Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart: + +1:2. For he is found by them that tempt him not: and he sheweth himself +to them that have faith in him. + +1:3. For perverse thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is +tried, reproveth the unwise: + +1:4. For wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul, nor dwell in a +body subject to sins. + +1:5. For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, +and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, +and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in. + +1:6. For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the +evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is +a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue. + +1:7. For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that +which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice. + +1:8. Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither +shall the chastising judgment pass him by. + +1:9. For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly, +and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of +his iniquities. + +1:10. For the ear of jealousy heareth all things, and the tumult of +murmuring shall not be hid. + +1:11. Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth +nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech +shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul. + +1:12. Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye +destruction by the works of your hands. + +1:13. For God made not death, neither hath he pleasure in the +destruction of the living. + +1:14. For he created all things that they might be: and he made the +nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction +in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth. + +1:15. For justice is perpetual and immortal. + +1:16. But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and +esteeming it a friend, have fallen away and have made a covenant with +it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 2 + + +The vain reasonings of the wicked: their persecuting the just, +especially the Son of God. + +2:1. For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The +time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is +no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell: + +2:2. For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we +had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a +spark to move our heart, + +2:3. Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall +be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace +of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by +the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof: + +2:4. And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any +remembrance of our works. + +2:5. For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going +back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth: + +2:6. Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are +present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth. + +2:7. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not +the flower of the time pass by us. + +2:8. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no +meadow escape our riot. + +2:9. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us every where +leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot. + +2:10. Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor +honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged. + +2:11. But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is +feeble is found to be nothing worth. + +2:12. Let us, therefore, lie in wait for the just, because he is not +for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with +transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way +of life. + +2:13. He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth +himself the son of God. + +2:14. He is become a censurer of our thoughts. + +2:15. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like +other men's, and his ways are very different. + +2:16. We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our +ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, +and glorieth that he hath God for his father. + +2:17. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall +happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be. + +2:18. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will +deliver him from the hands of his enemies. + +2:19. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his +meekness, and try his patience. + +2:20. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be +respect had unto him by his words. + +2:21. These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own +malice blinded them. + +2:22. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of +justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls. + +2:23. For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own +likeness he made him. + +2:24. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world: + +2:25. And they follow him that are of his side. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 3 + + +The happiness of the just: and the unhappiness of the wicked. + +3:1. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment +of death shall not touch them. + +3:2. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure +was taken for misery: + +3:3. And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are +in peace. + +3:4. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope +is full of immortality. + +3:5. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: +because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. + +3:6. As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a +holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect +had to them. + +3:7. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among +the reeds. + +3:8. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord +shall reign for ever. + +3:9. They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that +are faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his +elect. + +3:10. But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: +who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord. + +3:11. For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and +their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works +unprofitable. + +3:12. Their wives are foolish, and their children wicked. + +3:13. Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the +undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the +visitation of holy souls. + +3:14. And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, +nor thought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith +shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God. + +3:15. For the fruit of good labours is glorious, and the root of wisdom +never faileth. + +3:16. But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and +the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out. + +3:17. And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their +last old age shall be without honour. + +3:18. And if they die quickly, they shall have no hope, nor speech of +comfort in the day of trial. + +3:19. For dreadful are the ends of a wicked race. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 4 + + +The difference between the chaste and the adulterous generations: and +between the death of the just and the wicked. + +4:1. How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory +thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men. + +4:2. When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it +hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the +reward of undefiled conflicts. + +4:3. But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and +bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation. + +4:4. And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not +fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of +winds they shall be rooted out. + +4:5. For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their +fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing. + +4:6. For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of +wickedness against their parents in their trial. + +4:7. But the just man, if he be prevented with death, shall be in rest. + +4:8. For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the +number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs. + +4:9. And a spotless life is old age. + +4:10. He pleased God, and was beloved, and living among sinners, he was +translated. + +4:11. He was taken away, lest wickedness should alter his +understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. + +4:12. For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the +wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind. + +4:13. Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. + +4:14. For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out +of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand +not, nor lay up such things in their hearts: + +4:15. That the grace of God, and his mercy is with his saints, and that +he hath respect to his chosen. + +4:16. But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, +and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust. + +4:17. For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not +understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set +him in safety. + +4:18. They shall see him, and shall despise him: but the Lord shall +laugh them to scorn. + +4:19. And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach +among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and +speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall +be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall +perish. + +4:20. They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their +iniquities shall stand against them to convict them. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 5 + + +The fruitless repentance of the wicked in another world: the reward of +the just. + +5:1. Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that +have afflicted them, and taken away their labours. + +5:2. These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall +be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation, + +5:3. Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of +spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a +parable of reproach. + +5:4. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without +honour. + +5:5. Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their +lot is among the saints. + +5:6. Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of +justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not +risen upon us. + +5:7. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and +have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not +known. + +5:8. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting +of riches brought us? + +5:9. All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post +that runneth on, + +5:10. And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is +gone by, the trace cannot be found. nor the path of its keel in the +waters: + +5:11. Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which +no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light +air, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings, +and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her +way: + +5:12. Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly +cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known: + +5:13. So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able +to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness. + +5:14. Such things as these the sinners said in hell: + +5:15. For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with +the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a +smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a +guest of one day that passeth by. + +5:16. But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with +the Lord, and the care of them with the most High. + +5:17. Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of +beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover +them, and with his holy arm he will defend them. + +5:18. And his zeal will take armour, and he will arm the creature for +the revenge of his enemies. + +5:19. He will put on justice as a breastplate, and will take true +judgment instead of a helmet: + +5:20. He will take equity for an invincible shield: + +5:21. And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole +world shall fight with him against the unwise. + +5:22. Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as +from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the +mark. + +5:23. And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting +wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers +shall run together in a terrible manner. + +5:24. A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind +shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a +desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 6 + + +An address to princes to seek after wisdom: she is easily found by +those that seek her. + +6:1. Wisdom is better than strength: and a wise man is better than a +strong man. + +6:2. Hear, therefore, ye kings, and understand, learn ye that are +judges of the ends of the earth. + +6:3. Give ear, you that rule the people, and that please yourselves in +multitudes of nations: + +6:4. For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, +who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts: + +6:6. Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged +rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will +of God. + +6:6. Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe +judgment shall be for them that bear rule. + +6:7. For to him that is little, mercy is granted: but the mighty shall +be mightily tormented. + +6:8. For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in +awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and +he hath equally care of all. + +6:9. But a greater punishment is ready for the more mighty. + +6:10. To you, therefore, O kings, are these my words, that you may +learn wisdom, and not fall from it. + +6:11. For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: +and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer. + +6:12. Covet ye, therefore, my words, and love them, and you shall have +instruction. + +6:13. Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by +them that love her, and is found by them that seek her. + +6:14. She preventeth them that covet her, so that she first sheweth +herself unto them. + +6:15. He that awaketh early to seek her, shall not labour: for he shall +find her sitting at his door. + +6:16. To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he +that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure. + +6:17. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she +sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with +all providence. + +6:18. For the beginning of her is the most true desire of discipline. + +6:19. And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of +her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of +incorruption: + +6:20. And incorruption bringeth near to God. + +6:21. Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to the everlasting +kingdom. + +6:22. If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of +the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever. + +6:23. Love the light of wisdom, all ye that bear rule over peoples. + +6:24. Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and +I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out +from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to +light, and will not pass over the truth: + +6:25. Neither will I go with consuming envy: for such a man shall not +be partaker of wisdom. + +6:26. Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: +and a wise king is the upholding of the people. + +6:27. Receive, therefore, instruction by my words, and it shall be +profitable to you. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 7 + + +The excellence of wisdom: how she is to be found. + +7:1. I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, +that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was +fashioned to be flesh. + +7:2. In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of +man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring. + +7:3. And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, +that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as +all others do. + +7:4. I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and with great cares. + +7:5. For none of the kings had any other beginning of birth. + +7:6. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out. + +7:7. Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called +upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me: + +7:8. And I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed +riches nothing in comparison of her. + +7:9. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, +in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to +her, shall be counted as clay. + +7:10. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her +instead of light: for her light cannot be put out. + +7:11. Now all good things came to me together with her, and innumerable +riches through her hands, + +7:12. And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and +I knew not that she was the mother of them all. + +7:13. Which I have learned without guile, and communicate without envy, +and her riches I hide not. + +7:14. For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, +become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline. + +7:15. And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive +thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the +guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise: + +7:16. For in his hand are both we, and our words, and all wisdom, and +the knowledge and skill of works. + +7:17. For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: +to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the +elements, + +7:18. The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the +alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons, + +7:19. The revolutions of the year, and the dispositions of the stars, + +7:20. The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the +force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and +the virtues of roots, + +7:21. And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: +for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me. + +7:22. For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, +subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is +good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent, + +7:23. Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, +overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, +subtile: + +7:24. For wisdom is more active than all active things; and reacheth +everywhere, by reason of her purity. + +7:25. For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure +emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled +thing cometh into her. + +7:26. For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted +mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness. + +7:27. And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in +herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations +conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and +prophets. + +7:28. For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom. + +7:29. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order +of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. + +7:30. For after this cometh night, but no evil can overcome wisdom. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 8 + + +Further praises of wisdom: and her fruits. + +8:1. She reacheth, therefore, from end to end mightily, and ordereth +all things sweetly. + +8:2. Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have +desired to take for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty. + +8:3. She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and +the Lord of all things hath loved her. + +8:4. For it is she that teacheth the knowledge of God and is the +chooser of his works. + +8:5. And if riches be desired in life, what is richer than wisdom, +which maketh all things? + +8:6. And if sense do work: who is a more artful worker than she of +those things that are? + +8:7. And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she +teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which +are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life. + +8:8. And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and +judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and +the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they +be done, and the events of times and ages. + +8:9. I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing +that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a +comfort in my cares and grief. + +8:10. For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour +with the ancients, though I be young: + +8:11. And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be +admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall +wonder at me. + +8:12. They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look +upon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on +their mouth. + +8:13. Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall +leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me. + +8:14. I shall set the people in order: and nations shall be subject to +me. + +8:15. Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the +multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war. + +8:16. When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her +conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but +joy and gladness. + +8:17. Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my +heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality, + +8:18. And that there is great delight in her friendship, and +inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of +conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her +words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself. + +8:19. And I was a witty child, and had received a good soul. + +8:20. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled. + +8:21. And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God +gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it +was, I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole +heart: + + + +Wisdom Chapter 9 + + +Solomon's prayer for wisdom. + +9:1. God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things +with thy word, + +9:2. And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion +over the creature that was made by thee, + +9:3. That he should order the world according to equity and justice, +and execute justice with an upright heart: + +9:4. Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne, and cast me not off +from among thy children: + +9:5. For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and +of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and +laws. + +9:6. For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom +be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded. + +9:7. Thou hast chosen me to be king of thy people, and a judge of thy +sons and daughters: + +9:8. And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an +altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy +tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning: + +9:9. And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also +was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to +thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments. + +9:10. Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy +majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may +know what is acceptable with thee: + +9:11. For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me +soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power. + +9:12. So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people +justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father. + +9:13. For who among men is he that can know the counsel of God? or who +can think what the will of God is? + +9:14. For the thoughts of mortal men are fearful, and our counsels +uncertain. + +9:15. For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly +habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things. + +9:16. And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and +with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things +that are in heaven, who shall search out? + +9:17. And who shall know thy thought, except thou give wisdom, and send +thy holy Spirit from above: + +9:18. And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and +men may learn the things that please thee? + +9:19. For by wisdom they were healed, whosoever have pleased thee, O +Lord, from the beginning. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 10 + + +What wisdom did for Adam, Noe, Abraham, Lot, Jacob, Joseph, and the +people of Israel. + +10:1. She preserved him, that was first formed by God, the father of +the world, when he was created alone, + +10:2. And she brought him out of his sin, and gave him power to govern +all things. + +10:3. But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished +by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother. + +The unjust. . .Cain. + +10:4. For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it +again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood. + +For whose cause. . .Viz., for the wickedness of the race of Cain.--Ibid. +The just. . .Noe. + +10:5. Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to +wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, +and kept him strong against the compassion for his son. + +She knew the just. . .She found out and approved Abraham. Ibid. +And kept him strong, etc. . .Gave him strength to stand firm against +the efforts of his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice +his son. + +10:6. She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were +perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis: + +The just man. . .Lot.--Ibid. Pentapolis. . .The land of the five cities, +Sodom, Gomorrha, etc. + +10:7. Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and +smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a +standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul. + +10:8. For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that +they were ignorant of good things; but they left also unto men a +memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, +they could not so much as lie hid. + +10:9. But wisdom hath delivered from sorrow them that attend upon her. + +10:10. She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath, +through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him +the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, +and accomplished his labours. + +The just. . .Jacob. + +10:11. In the deceit of them that overreached him, she stood by him, +and made him honourable. + +10:12. She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from +seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and +know that wisdom is mightier than all. + +Conflict. . .Viz., with the angel. + +10:13. She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him +from sinners: she went down with him into the pit. + +The just when he was sold. . .Viz., Joseph. + +10:14. And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre +of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed +them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory. + +10:15. She delivered the just people, and blameless seed, from the +nations that oppressed them. + +10:16. She entered into the soul of the servant of God and stood +against dreadful kings in wonders and signs. + +The servant of God. . .Viz., Moses. + +10:17. And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and +conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by +day, and for the light of stars by night: + +10:18. And she brought them through the Red Sea, and carried them over +through a great water. + +10:19. But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of +hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the +wicked. + +10:20. And they sung to thy holy name, O Lord, and they praised with +one accord thy victorious hand. + +10:21. For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of +infants eloquent. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 11 + + +Other benefits of wisdom to the people of God. + +11:1. She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet. + +The holy prophet. . .Moses. + +11:2. They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in +desert places they pitched their tents. + +11:3. They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of +their adversaries. + +Their enemies. . .The Amalecites. + +11:4. They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given +them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the +hard stone. + +11:5. For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink +failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and +rejoiced: + +By what things, etc. . .The meaning is, that God, who wrought a miracle +to punish the Egyptians by thirst, when he turned all their waters into +blood, (at which time the Israelites, who were exempt from those +plagues, had plenty of water,) wrought another miracle in favour of his +own people in their thirst, by giving them water out of the rock. + +11:6. By the same things they in their need were benefited. + +11:7. For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest +human blood to the unjust. + +11:8. And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their +murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked +for: + +11:9. Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine, +and didst kill their adversaries. + +11:10. For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew +how the wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented. + +11:11. For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the +others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn. + +11:12. For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike. + +11:13. For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the +remembrance of things past. + +11:14. For when they heard that by their punishments the others were +benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was +come to pass. + +By their punishments, etc. . .That is, that the Israelites had been +benefited and miraculously favoured in the same kind, in which they had +been punished. + +11:15. For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time +of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, +when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the +just. + +11:16. But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some +being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou +didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance: + +Dumb beasts. . .Viz., frogs, sciniphs, flies, and locusts. + +11:17. That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the +same also he is tormented. + +11:18. For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without +form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce +lions, + +11:19. Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing +out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting +horrible sparks out of their eyes: + +11:20. Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but +also the very sight might kill them through fear. + +11:21. Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one +blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of +thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and +weight. + +11:22. For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall +resist the strength of thy arm? + +11:23. For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the +balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho +earth. + +11:24. But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, +and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance. + +11:25. For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the +things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any +thing hating it. + +11:26. And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be +preserved, if not called by thee? + +11:27. But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest +souls. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 12 + + +God's wisdom and mercy in his proceedings with the Chanaanites. + +12:1. O how good and sweet is thy Spirit, O Lord, in all things! + +12:2. And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and +little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the +things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may +believe in thee, O Lord. + +12:3. For those ancient inhabitants of thy holy land, whom thou didst +abhor, + +12:4. Because they did works hateful to thee by their sorceries, and +wicked sacrifices, + +12:5. And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters +of men's bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy +consecration, + +From the midst of thy consecration. . .Literally, sacrament. That is, +the land sacred to thee, in which thy temple was to be established, and +man's redemption to be wrought. + +12:6. And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless +souls, it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents, + +12:7. That the land which of all is most dear to thee, might receive a +worthy colony of the children of God. + +12:8. Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps +forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little. + +12:9. Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by +war, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at +once: + +12:10. But executing thy judgments by degrees, thou gavest them place +of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a wicked generation, +and their malice natural, and that their thought could never be +changed. + +12:11. For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou +for fear of any one give pardon to their sins. + +12:12. For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done? or who shall +withstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger +of wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which +thou hast made ? + +12:13. For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that +thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly. + +12:14. Neither shall king, nor tyrant, in thy sight inquire about them +whom thou hast destroyed. + +12:15. For so much then, as thou art just, thou orderest all things +justly: thinking it not agreeable to the power, to condemn him who +deserveth not to be punished. + +12:16. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art +Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all. + +12:17. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be +absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know +thee not. + +12:18. But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and +with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou +wilt. + +12:19. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be +just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: +because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins. + +12:20. For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that +deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place +whereby they might be changed from their wickedness: + +12:21. With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to +whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises? + +12:22. Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies +very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy +goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy. + +12:23. Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their +life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they +worshipped. + +12:24. For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, +holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among +beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding. + +12:25. Therefore thou hast sent a judgment upon them, as senseless +children, to mock them. + +12:26. But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions, +experienced the worthy judgment of God. + +12:27. For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very +things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same, +they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that +they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon +them. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 13 + + +Idolaters are inexcusable: and those most of all that worship for gods +the works of the hands of men. + +13:1. But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: +and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him +that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was +the workman: + +13:2. But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, +or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to +be the gods that rule the world. + +13:3. With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be +gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than +they: for the first author of beauty made all those things. + +13:4. Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them +understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they: + +13:5. For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the +creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby. + +13:6. But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps +err, seeking God, and desirous to find him. + +13:7. For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are +persuaded that the things are good which are seen. + +13:8. But then again they are not to be pardoned. + +13:9. For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of +the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof? + +13:10. But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have +called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the +inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable +stone the work of an ancient hand. + +13:11. Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for +his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and +with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common +uses of life, + +13:12. And useth the chips of his work to dress his meat: + +13:13. And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, +being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently +when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth +it, and maketh it like the image of a man: + +13:14. Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion, +and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it: + +13:15. And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in +a wall, and fastening it with iron, + +13:16. Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable +to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help. + +13:17. And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his +substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to +speak to that which hath no life: + +13:18. And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life +prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is +unprofitable: + +13:19. And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and +for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh +him that is unable to do any thing. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 14 + + +The beginning of worshipping idols: and the effects thereof. + +14:1. Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his +voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more +frail than the wood that carrieth him. + +14:2. For this the desire of gain devised, and the workman built it by +his skill. + +14:3. But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a +way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves, + +14:4. Shewing that thou art able to save out of all things, yea, though +a man went to sea without art. + +14:5. But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men +also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea +by ship, are saved. + +14:6. And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the +hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, +left to the world seed of generation. + +14:7. For blessed is the wood, by which justice cometh + +14:8. But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he +that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is +called a god. + +14:9. But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike. + +14:10. For that which is made, together with him that made it, shall +suffer torments. + +14:11. Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the +Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, +and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the +unwise. + +14:12. For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and +the invention of them is the corruption of life. + +14:13. For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be +for ever. + +14:14. For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore +they shall be found to come shortly to an end. + +14:15. For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself +the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had +died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him +rites and sacrifices among his servants. + +14:16. Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error +was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of +tyrants. + +14:17. And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they +dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an +express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this +their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent. + +14:18. And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of +the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant. + +14:19. For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured +with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner. + +14:20. And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the +work, took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a +man. + +14:21. And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men +serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable +name to stones and wood. + +14:22. And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of +God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so +many and so great evils peace. + +14:23. For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden +sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness, + +14:24. So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but +one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery: + +14:25. And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and +dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, +disquieting of the good, + +14:26. Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, +disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness. + +14:27. For the worship of abominable idols is the cause, and the +beginning and end of all evil. + +14:28. For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy +lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves. + +14:29. For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though +they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt. + +14:30. But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because +they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn +unjustly, in guile despising justice. + +14:31. For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the +just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the +unjust. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 15 + + +The servants of God praise him who hath delivered them from idolatry; +condemning both the makers and the worshippers of idols. + +15:1. But thou, our God, art gracious and true, patient, and ordering +all things in mercy. + +15:2. For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin +not, we know that we are counted with thee. + +15:3. For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and +thy power, is the root of immortality. + +15:4. For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor +the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with +divers colours, + +15:5. The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he +loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image. + +15:6. The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to +trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they +that worship them. + +15:7. The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth +every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both +vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the +contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the +judge. + +15:8. And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a +little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth +to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent +him, shall be called for again. + +15:9. But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is +short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he +endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory +to make vain things. + +15:10. For his heart is ashes, and his hope vain earth and his life +more base than clay: + +15:11. Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into +him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit. + +15:12. Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business +of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of +evil. + +15:13. For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of +earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods. + +15:14. But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection, +are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure: + +15:15. For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods, +which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, +nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their +feet, they are slow to walk. + +15:16. For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath, +fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself. + +15:17. For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his +wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because +he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never. + +15:18. Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things +without sense, compared to these, are worse than they. + +15:19. Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But +they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 16 + + +God's different dealings with the Egyptians and with his own people. + +16:1. For these things, and by the like things to these, they were +worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts. + +16:2. Instead of which punishment, dealing well with thy people, thou +gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing +for them quails for their meat: + +16:3. To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those +things that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which +was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want +for a short time, tasted a new meat. + +They indeed desiring food, etc. . .He means the Egyptians; who were +restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and +the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their +meats.--Ibid. But these. . .Viz., the Israelites. + +16:4. For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon +them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how +their enemies were destroyed. + +16:5. For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were +destroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents. + +16:6. But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a +short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put +them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law. + +Sign of salvation. . .The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our +Saviour. + +16:7. For he that turned to it, was not healed by that which he saw, +but by thee, the Saviour of all. + +16:8. And in this thou didst shew to our enemies, that thou art he who +deliverest from all evil. + +16:9. For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there +was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be +destroyed by such things. + +16:10. But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy +children: for thy mercy came and healed them. + +16:11. For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and +were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might +not be able to use thy help. + +16:12. For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed +them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things. + +16:13. For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and +leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again: + +16:14. A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone +forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is +received: + +16:15. But it is impossible to escape thy hand: + +16:16. For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the +strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and +rain, and consumed by fire. + +16:17. And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all +things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just. + +The fire had more force. . .Viz., when the fire and hail mingled +together laid waste the land of Egypt. Ex. 9. + +16:18. For at one time the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which +were sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might +see, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God. + +16:19. And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the +midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land. + +16:20. Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the +food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without +labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every +taste. + +16:21. For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and +serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked. + +16:22. But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that +they might know that the fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the +rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies. + +16:23. But this same again, that the just might be nourished, did even +forget its own strength. + +16:24. For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce +against the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for +the benefit of them that trust in thee. + +16:25. Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was +obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of +them that desired it of thee: + +16:26. That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it +is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word +preserveth them that believe in thee. + +16:27. For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with +a little sunbeam, presently melted away: + +16:28. That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun +to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light. + +16:29. For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's +ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 17 + + +The Egyptian darkness. + +17:1. For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be +expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred. + +17:2. For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the +holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, +and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the +eternal providence. + +17:3. And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they +were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly +afraid, and troubled with exceeding great astonishment. + +17:4. For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for +noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, +affrighted them. + +17:5. And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the +bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night. + +17:6. But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and +being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they +thought the things which they saw to be worse: + +17:7. And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their +boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked. + +17:8. For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a +sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at. + +17:9. For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared +with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for +fear and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be +avoided. + +17:10. For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its +condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous +things. + +17:11. For fear is nothing else but a yielding up of the succours from +thought. + +17:12. And while there is less expectation from within, the greater +doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment. + +17:13. But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, +and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the +same sleep, + +17:14. Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes +fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for +fear was come upon them. + +17:15. Moreover, if any of them had fallen down, he was kept shut up in +prison without irons. + +17:16. For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer +in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from +which he could not fly. + +17:17. For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. +Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, +among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down +with violence, + +17:18. Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that +could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of +wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these +things made them to swoon for fear. + +17:19. For the whole world was enlightened, with a clear light, and +none were hindered in their labours. + +17:20. But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that +darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more +grievous than the darkness. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 18 + + +The slaughter of the firstborn in Egypt: the efficacy of Aaron's +intercession, in the sedition on occasion of Core. + +18:1. But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice +indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not +suffer the same things, they glorified thee: + +18:2. And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they +were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a +difference. + +18:3. Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of +the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a +good entertainment. + +A harmless sun. . .A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that +should be an agreeable guest to them. + +18:4. The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and +imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure +light of the law was to be given to the world. + +18:5. And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child +being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a +multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a +mighty water. + +One child. . .Viz., Moses. + +18:6. For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly +knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better +courage. + +18:7. So thy people received the salvation of the just, and destruction +of the unjust. + +18:8. For as thou didst punish the adversaries so thou didst also +encourage and glorify us. + +18:9. For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice +secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just +should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the +fathers. + +Of good men. . .Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites, +offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were +regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and +most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies. + +18:10. But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the +enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were +bewailed. + +18:11. And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and +a common man suffered in like manner as the king. + +18:12. So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. +Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the +noblest offspring of them was destroyed. + +The noblest offspring. . .That is, the firstborn. + +18:13. For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of +the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, +they acknowledged the people to be of God. + +18:14. For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in +the midst of her course, + +18:15. Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne, +as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction, + +18:16. With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he +stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth, +reached even to heaven. + +18:17. Then suddenly visions of evil dreams troubled them, and fears +unlooked for came upon them. + +18:18. And one thrown here, another there, half dead, shewed the cause +of his death. + +18:19. For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest +they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils. + +18:20. But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of +death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: +but thy wrath did not long continue; + +18:21. For a blameless man made haste to pry for the people, bringing +forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making +supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, +shewing that he was thy servant. + +18:22. And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor +with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, +alleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers. + +18:23. For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon +another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way +to the living. + +18:24. For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and +in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, +and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head. + +18:26. And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: +for the proof only of wrath was enough. + + + +Wisdom Chapter 19 + + +Why God shewed no mercy to the Egyptians. His favour to the Israelites. +All creatures obey God's orders for the service of the good, and the +punishment of the wicked. + +19:1. But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath +without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do: + +19:2. For when they had given them leave to depart and had sent them +away with great care, they repented and pursued after them. + +19:3. For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of +the dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as +fugitives whom they had pressed to be gone: + +19:4. For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this +end: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened, +that their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments: + +19:5. And that thy people might wonderfully pass through, but they +might find a new death. + +19:6. For every creature, according to its kind was fashioned again as +from the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might +be kept without hurt. + +19:7. For a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before, +dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hindrance, and out +of the great deep a springing field: + +19:8. Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy +hand, seeing thy miracles and wonders. + +19:9. For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like +lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them. + +19:10. For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in +the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies +instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs +instead of fishes. + +19:11. And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led +by their appetite, they asked for delicate meats. + +19:12. For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the +sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs +by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their +own wickedness. + +19:13. For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any: +others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought +their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them. + +19:14. And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: +for the others against their will received the strangers. + +19:15. But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with +joy, and who lived under the same laws. + +19:16. But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the +doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and +every one sought the passage of his own door. + +19:17. For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an +instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their +sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight. + +Elements are changed, etc. . .The meaning is, that whatever changes God +wrought in the elements by miracles in favour of his people, they still +kept their harmony by obeying his will. + +19:18. For the things of the land were turned into things of the water: +and the things that before swam in the water passed upon the land. + +19:19. The fire had power in water above its own virtue, and the water +forgot its quenching nature. + +19:20. On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of +corruptible animals walking therein, neither did they melt that good +food, which was apt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst +magnify thy people, O Lord, and didst honour them, and didst not +despise them, but didst assist them at all times, and in every place. + +That good food. . .The manna. + + + + +ECCLESIASTICUS + + + +This Book is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher: +because, like an excellent preacher, it gives admirable lessons of all +virtues. The author was Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem, who +flourished about two hundred years before Christ. As it was written +after the time of Esdras, it is not in the Jewish canon; but is +received as canonical and divine by the Catholic Church, instructed by +apostolical tradition, and directed by the spirit of God. It was first +written in the Hebrew, but afterwards translated into Greek, by another +Jesus, the grandson of the author, whose prologue to this book is the +following: + + + +THE PROLOGUE. + + +The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law, +and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things +Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only +they that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both +speaking and writing, may by their means become most learned. My +grandfather Jesus, after he had much given himself to a diligent +reading of the law, and the prophets, and other books, that were +delivered to us from our fathers, had a mind also to write something +himself, pertaining to doctrine and wisdom; that such as are desirous +to learn, and are made knowing in these things, may be more and more +attentive in mind, and be strengthened to live according to the law. I +entreat you therefore to come with benevolence, and to read with +attention, and to pardon us for those things wherein we may seem, while +we follow the image of wisdom, to come short in the composition of +words; for the Hebrew words have not the same force in them when +translated into another tongue. And not only these, but the law also +itself, and the prophets, and the rest of the books, have no small +difference, when they are spoken in their own language. For in the +eight and thirtieth year coming into Egypt, when Ptolemy Evergetes was +king, and continuing there a long time, I found there books left, of no +small nor contemptible learning. Therefore I thought it good, and +necessary for me to bestow some diligence and labour to interpret this +book; and with much watching and study in some space of time, I brought +the book to an end, and set it forth for the service of them that are +willing to apply their mind, and to learn how they ought to conduct +themselves, who purpose to lead their life according to the law of the +Lord. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 1 + + +All wisdom is from God, and is given to them that fear and love God. + +1:1. All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, +and is before all time. + +1:2. Who hath numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and +the days of the world? Who hath measured the height of heaven, and the +breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss? + +1:3. Who hath searched out the wisdom of God that goeth before all +things? + +1:4. Wisdom hath been created before all things, and the understanding +of prudence from everlasting. + +1:5. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom, and her ways +are everlasting commandments. + +1:6. To whom hath the root of wisdom been revealed, and who hath known +her wise counsels? + +1:7. To whom hath the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made +manifest? and who hath understood the multiplicity of her steps? + +1:8. There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and +greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne, and is the God of +dominion. + +1:9. He created her in the Holy Ghost, and saw her, and numbered her, +and measured her. + +1:10. And he poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh +according to his gift, and hath given her to them that love him. + +1:11. The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a +crown of joy. + +1:12. The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give joy, +and gladness, and length of days. + +1:13. With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the latter +end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed. + +1:14. The love of God is honourable wisdom. + +1:15. And they to whom she shall shew herself love her by the sight, +and by the knowledge of her great works. + +1:16. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created +with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with chosen women, and is +known with the just and faithful. + +1:17. The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge. + +1:18. Religiousness shall keep and justify the heart, it shall give joy +and gladness. + +1:19. It shall go well with him that feareth the Lord, and in the days +of his end he shall be blessed. + +1:20. To fear God is the fulness of wisdom, and fulness is from the +fruits thereof. + +1:21. She shall fill all her house with her increase, and the +storehouses with her treasures. + +1:22. The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, filling up peace and +the fruit of salvation: + +1:23. And it hath seen, and numbered her: but both are the gifts of +God. + +1:24. Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence: +and exalteth the glory of them that hold her. + +1:25. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord: and the branches thereof +are long-lived. + +1:26. In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of +knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination. + +1:27. The fear of the Lord driveth out sin: + +1:28. For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the wrath +of his high spirits is his ruin. + +1:29. A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy shall be +restored to him. + +1:30. A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips +of many shall declare his wisdom. + +1:31. In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of discipline: + +1:32. But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner. + +1:33. Son, if thou desire wisdom, keep justice, and God will give her +to thee. + +1:34. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline: and that which +is agreeable to him, + +1:35. Is faith, and meekness: and he will fill up his treasures. + +1:36. Be not incredulous to the fear of the Lord: and come not to him +with a double heart. + +1:37. Be not a hypocrite in the sight of men, and let not thy lips be a +stumblingblock to thee. + +1:38. Watch over them, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy +soul, + +1:39. And God discover thy secrets, and cast thee down in the midst of +the congregation. + +1:40. Because thou camest to the Lord wickedly, and thy heart is full +of guile and deceit. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 2 + + +God's servants must look for temptations: and must arm themselves with +patience and confidence in God. + +2:1. Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and +in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation. + +2:2. Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive the +words of understanding: and make not haste in the time of clouds. + +2:3. Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that +thy life may be increased in the latter end. + +2:4. Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow +endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience. + +2:5. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in +the furnace of humiliation. + +2:6. Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and +trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein. + +2:7. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from +him lest ye fall. + +2:8. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be +made void. + +2:9. Ye that fear the Lord hope in him, and mercy shall come to you for +your delight. + +2:10. Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be +enlightened. + +2:11. My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no +one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded. + +2:12. For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been +forsaken? or who hath called upon him, and he despised him? + +2:13. For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in +the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in +truth. + +2:14. Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips, and to +the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two +ways. + +2:15. Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God: and +therefore they shall not be protected by him. + +2:16. Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have forsaken the +right ways, and have gone aside into crooked ways. + +2:17. And what will they do, when the Lord shall begin to examine? + +2:18. They that fear the Lord, will not be incredulous to his word: and +they that love him, will keep his way. + +2:19. They that fear the Lord, will seek after the things that are well +pleasing to him: and they that love him, shall be filled with his law. + +2:20. They that fear the Lord, will prepare their hearts, and in his +sight will sanctify their souls, + +2:21. They that fear the Lord, keep his commandments, and will have +patience even until his visitation, + +2:22. Saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the +Lord, and not into the hands of men. + +2:23. For according to his greatness, so also is his mercy with him. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 3 + + +Lessons concerning the honour of parents, and humility, and avoiding +curiosity. + +3:1. The sons of wisdom are the church of the just: and their +generation, obedience and love. + +3:2. Children, hear the judgment of your father, and so do that you may +be saved. + +3:3. For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and +seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the +children. + +3:4. He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, +and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer +of days. + +3:5. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up a +treasure. + +3:6. He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, +and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard. + +3:7. He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that +obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother. + +3:8. He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve +them as his masters that brought him into the world. + +3:9. Honour thy father, in work and word, and all patience, + +3:10. That a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may +remain in the latter end. + +3:11. The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: +but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation. + +3:12. Glory not in the dishonour of thy father: for his shame is no +glory to thee. + +3:13. For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a +father without honour is the disgrace of the son. + +3:14. Son, support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not in his +life; + +3:15. And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and +despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the +father shall not be forgotten. + +3:16. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother. + +3:17. And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of +affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as +the ice in the fair warm weather. + +3:18. Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is +cursed of God that angereth his mother. + +3:19. My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above +the glory of men. + +3:20. The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things, and +thou shalt find grace before God: + +3:21. For great is the power of God alone, and he is honoured by the +humble. + +3:22. Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not +into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded +thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious. + +3:23. For it is not necessary for thee to see with thy eyes those +things that are hid. + +3:24. In unnecessary matters be not over curious, and in many of his +works thou shalt not be inquisitive. + +3:25. For many things are shewn to thee above the understanding of men. + +3:26. And the suspicion of them hath deceived many, and hath detained +their minds in vanity. + +3:27. A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth +danger shall perish in it. + +3:28. A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the +perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein. + +3:29. A wicked heart shall be laden with sorrows, and the sinner will +add sin to sin. + +3:30. The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant +of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived. + +3:31. The heart of the wise is understood in wisdom, and a good ear +will hear wisdom with all desire. + +3:32. A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from +sins, and in the works of justice shall have success. + +3:33. Water quencheth a flaming fire, and alms resisteth sins: + +3:34. And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him +afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 4 + + +An exhortation to works of mercy, and to the love of wisdom. + +4:1. Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from +the poor. + +4:2. Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the poor in his want. + +4:3. Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to gibe to him +that is in distress. + +4:4. Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy +face from the needy. + +4:5. Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave +not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back. + +4:6. For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his +soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him. + +4:7. Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble +thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man. + +4:8. Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, +and answer him peaceable words with mildness. + +4:9. Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and +be not fainthearted in thy soul. + +4:10. In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a +husband to their mother. + +4:11. And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he +will have mercy on thee more than a mother. + +4:12. Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that +seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice. + +4:13. And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, +shall embrace her sweetness. + +4:14. They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever +she entereth, God will give a blessing. + +4:15. They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God +loveth them that love her. + +4:16. He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that +looketh upon her, shall remain secure. + +4:17. If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation +shall be in assurance. + +4:18. For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she +chooseth him. + +In temptation, etc. . .The meaning is, that before wisdom will choose +any for her favourite, she will try them by leading them through +contradictions, afflictions, and temptations, the usual noviceship of +the children of God. + +4:19. She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will +scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by +her laws, and trust his soul. + +4:20. Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and +give him joy, + +4:21. And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him +treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice. + +4:22. But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into +the hands of his enemy. + +4:23. Son, observe the time, and fly from evil. + +4:24. For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth. + +4:25. For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that +bringeth glory and grace. + +4:26. Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a +lie. + +4:27. Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall: + +4:28. And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy +wisdom in her beauty. + +4:29. For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and +knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in +the works of justice. + +4:30. In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of +thy ignorance. + +4:31. Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to +every man for sin. + +4:32. Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive +against the stream of the river. + +4:33. Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for +justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee. + +4:34. Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works. + +4:35. Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, +and oppressing them that are under thee. + +4:36. Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou +shouldst give. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 5 + + +We must not presume of our wealth or strength: nor of the mercy of God, +to go on in sin: we must be steadfast in virtue and truth. + +5:1. Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have +enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of +vengeance and darkness. + +5:2. Follow not in thy strength the desires of thy heart: + +5:3. And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my +deeds? for God will surely take revenge. + +5:4. Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the +most High is a patient rewarder. + +5:5. Be not without fear about sin forgiven, and add not sin upon sin: + +5:6. And say not: The mercy of the Lord is great, he will have mercy on +the multitude of my sins. + +5:7. For mercy and wrath quickly come from him, and his wrath looketh +upon sinners. + +5:8. Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day +to day. + +5:9. For his wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance +he will destroy thee. + +5:10. Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not +profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge. + +5:11. Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is +every sinner proved by a double tongue. + +5:12. Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy +judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep +with thee. + +5:13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return +a true answer with wisdom. + +5:14. If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let +thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful +word, and be confounded. + +5:15. Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of +the fool is his ruin. + +5:16. Be not called a whisperer, and be not taken in thy tongue, and +confounded. + +5:17. For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of +disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and +enmity, and reproach. + +5:18. Justify alike the small and the great. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 6 + + +Of true and false friends: and of the of the fruits of wisdom. + +6:1. Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an +evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that +is envious and double tongued. + +6:2. Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest +thy strength be quashed by folly, + +6:3. And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left +as a dry tree in the wilderness. + +6:4. For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him +to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the +wicked. + +6:5. A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a +gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth. + +6:6. Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy +counsellor. + +6:7. If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and +do not credit him easily. + +6:8. For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide +in the day of thy trouble. + +6:9. And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a +friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches. + +6:10. And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not +abide in the day of distress. + +6:11. A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, +and shall act with confidence among them of thy household. + +6:12. If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, +thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good. + +6:13. Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends. + +6:14. A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found +him, hath found a treasure. + +6:15. Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of +gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity. + +6:16. A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and +they that fear the Lord, shall find him. + +6:17. He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because +according to him shall his friend be. + +6:18. My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy +grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom. + +6:19. Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her +good fruits: + +6:20. For in working about her thou shalt labour a little, and shalt +quickly eat of her fruits. + +6:21. How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise +will not continue with her. + +6:22. She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will +cast her from them before it be long. + +6:23. For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is +not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she +continueth even to the sight of God. + +6:24. Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my +advice. + +6:25. Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains: + +6:26. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her +bands. + +6:27. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy +power. + +6:28. Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when +thou hast gotten her, let her not go: + +6:29. For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall +be turned to thy joy. + +6:30. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm +foundation, and her chain a robe of glory: + +6:31. For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful +binding. + +6:32. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her +upon thee as a crown of joy. + +6:33. My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou +wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise. + +6:34. If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and +if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise. + +6:35. Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join +thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every +discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee. + +6:36. And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the +morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors. + +6:37. Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate +continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the +desire of wisdom shall be given to thee. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 7 + + +Religious and moral duties. + +7:1. Do no evils, and no evils shall lay hold of thee. + +7:2. Depart from the unjust, and evils shall depart from thee. + +7:3. My son, sow not evils in the furrows of injustice, and thou shalt +not reap them sevenfold. + +7:4. Seek not of the Lord a preeminence, nor of the king the seat of +honour. + +7:5. Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth the heart: and +desire not to appear wise before the king. + +7:6. Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to +extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person of the powerful, and +lay a stumblingblock for thy integrity. + +7:7. Offend not against the multitude of a city, neither cast thyself +in upon the people, + +7:8. Nor bind sin to sin: for even in one thou shalt not be unpunished. + +7:9. Be not fainthearted in thy mind: + +7:10. Neglect not to pray, and to give alms. + +7:11. Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my gifts, and +when I offer to the most high God, he will accept my offerings. + +7:12. Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is +one that humbleth and exalteth, God who seeth all. + +7:13. Devise not a lie against thy brother: neither do the like against +thy friend. + +7:14. Be not willing to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof +is not good. + +7:15. Be not full of words in a multitude of ancients, and repeat not +the word in thy prayer. + +Repeat not, etc. . .Make not much babbling by repetition of words: but +aim more at fervour of heart. + +7:16. Hate not laborious works, nor husbandry ordained by the most +High. + +7:17. Number not thyself among the multitude of the disorderly. + +7:18. Remember wrath, for it will not tarry long. + +7:19. Humble thy spirit very much: for the vengeance on the flesh of +the ungodly is fire and worms. + +7:20. Do not transgress against thy friend deferring money, nor despise +thy dear brother for the sake of gold. + +7:21. Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom thou hast gotten in +the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her modesty is above gold. + +7:22. Hurt not the servant that worketh faithfully, nor the hired man +that giveth thee his life. + +7:23. Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul, defraud him +not of liberty, nor leave him needy. + +7:24. Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy +profit, keep them with thee. + +7:25. Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from +their childhood. + +7:26. Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thy +countenance gay towards them. + +7:27. Marry thy daughter well, and thou shalt do a great work, and give +her to a wise man. + +7:28. If thou hast a wife according to thy soul, cast her not off: and +to her that is hateful, trust not thyself. With thy whole heart, + +7:29. Honour thy father, and forget not the groanings of thy mother: + +7:30. Remember that thou hadst not been born but through them: and make +a return to them as they have done for thee. + +7:31. With all thy soul fear the Lord, and reverence his priests. + +7:32. With all thy strength love him that made thee: and forsake not +his ministers. + +7:33. Honour God with all thy soul and give honour to the priests, and +purify thyself with thy arms. + +Thy arms. . .That is, with all thy power: or else by arms (brachiis) are +here signified the right shoulders of the victims, which by the law +fell to the priests. See ver. 35. + +7:34. Give them their portion, as it is commanded thee, of the +firstfruits and of purifications: and for thy negligences purify +thyself with a few. + +7:35. Offer to the Lord the gift of thy shoulders, and the sacrifice of +sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things: + +7:36. And stretch out thy hand to the poor, that thy expiation and thy +blessing may be perfected. + +7:37. A gift hath grace in the sight of all the living, and restrain +not grace from the dead. + +And restrain not grace from the dead. . .That is, withhold not from them +the benefit of alms, prayers, and sacrifices. Such was the doctrine and +practice of the church of God even in the time of the Old Testament. +And the same has always been continued from the days of the apostles in +the church of the New Testament. + +7:38. Be not wanting in comforting them that weep, and walk with them +that mourn. + +7:39. Be not slow to visit the sick: for by these things thou shalt be +confirmed in love. + +7:40. In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 8 + + +Other lessons of wisdom and virtue. + +8:1. Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands. + +8:2. Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee. + +8:3. For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to +the heart of kings, and perverted them. + +8:4. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood +upon his fire. + +8:5. Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy +family. + +8:6. Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him +therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof. + +8:7. Despise not a man in his old age; for we also shall become old. + +8:8. Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, +and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death. + +8:9. Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but +acquaint thyself with their proverbs. + +8:10. For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of +understanding, and to serve great men without blame. + +8:11. Let not the discourse of the ancients escape thee, for they have +learned of their fathers: + +8:12. For of them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give an answer +in time of need. + +8:13. Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be +burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins. + +8:14. Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as +a spy to entrap thee in thy words. + +8:15. Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself: and if thou +lendest, count it as lost. + +8:16. Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, think as if +thou wert to pay it. + +8:17. Judge not against a judge: for he judgeth according to that which +is just. + +8:18. Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his +evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish +together with his folly. + +8:19. Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert +with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there +is no help he will overthrow thee. + +8:20. Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as +please them. + +8:21. Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not +what he will bring forth. + +8:22. Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil +turn, and speak reproachfully to thee. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 9 + + +Cautions with regard to women, and dangerous conversations. + +9:1. Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy +regard the malice of a wicked lesson. + +9:2. Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy +strength, and thou be confounded. + +9:3. Look not upon a woman that hath a mind for many: lest thou fall +into her snares. + +9:4. Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not +to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms. + +9:5. Gaze not upon a maiden, lest her beauty be a stumblingblock to +thee. + +9:6. Give not thy soul to harlots in any point: lest thou destroy +thyself and thy inheritance. + +9:7. Look not round about thee in the ways of the city, nor wander up +and down in the streets thereof. + +9:8. Turn away thy face from a woman dressed up, and gaze not about +upon another's beauty. + +9:9. For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby lust +is enkindled as a fire. + +9:10. Every woman that is a harlot, shall be trodden upon as dung in +the way. + +9:11. Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become +reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire. + +9:12. Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor repose upon the bed +with her: + +9:13. And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards +her and by thy blood thou fall into destruction. + +9:14. Forsake not an old friend, for the new will not be like to him. + +9:15. A new friend is as new wine: it shall grow old, and thou shalt +drink it with pleasure. + +9:16. Envy not the glory and riches of a sinner: for thou knowest not +what his ruin shall be. + +9:17. Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that +even to hell the wicked shall not please. + +9:18. Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, so thou shalt +not suspect the fear of death. + +9:19. And if thou come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away thy +life. + +9:20. Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in +the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are +grieved. + +9:21. According to thy power beware of thy neighbour, and treat with +the wise and prudent. + +9:22. Let just men be thy guests, and let thy glory be in the fear of +God. + +9:23. And let the thought of God be in thy mind, and all thy discourse +on the commandments of the Highest. + +9:24. Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the +prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but the word of the +ancients for the sense. + +9:25. A man full of tongue is terrible in his city, and he that is rash +in his word shall be hateful. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 10 + + +The virtues and vices of men in power: the great evil of pride. + +10:1. A wise judge shall judge his people, and the government of a +prudent man shall be steady. + +Judge his people. . .In the Greek it is, instruct his people. + +10:2. As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers: +and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that +dwell therein. + +10:3. An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall +be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers. + +10:4. The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his time he +will raise up a profitable ruler over it. + +10:5. The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the person +of the scribe he shall lay his honour. + +The scribe. . .That is, the man that is wise and learned in the law. + +10:6. Remember not any injury done thee by thy neighbour, and do thou +nothing by deeds of injury. + +10:7. Pride is hateful before God and men: and all iniquity of nations +is execrable. + +10:8. A kingdom is translated from one people to another, because of +injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and divers deceits. + +10:9. But nothing is more wicked than the covetous man. Why is earth, +and ashes proud? + +10:10. There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for such a +one setteth even his own soul to sale: because while he liveth he hath +cast away his bowels. + +10:11. All power is of short life. A long sickness is troublesome to +the physician. + +10:12. The physician cutteth off a short sickness: so also a king is to +day, and to morrow he shall die. + +10:13. For when a man shall die, he shall inherit serpents, and beasts, +and worms. + +10:14. The beginning of the pride of man, is to fall off from God: + +10:15. Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for pride +is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with +maledictions, and it shall ruin him in the end. + +10:16. Therefore hath the Lord disgraced the assemblies of the wicked, +and hath utterly destroyed them. + +10:17. God hath overturned the thrones of proud princes, and hath set +up the meek in their stead. + +10:18. God hath made the roots of proud nations to wither, and hath +planted the humble of these nations. + +10:19. The Lord hath overthrown the lands of the Gentiles, and hath +destroyed them even to the foundation. + +10:20. He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath destroyed +them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth. + +10:21. God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath preserved +the memory of them that are humble in mind. + +10:22. Pride was not made for men: nor wrath for the race of women. + +10:23. That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that +seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of the +Lord. + +10:24. In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so shall +they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes. + +10:25. The fear of God is the glory of the rich, and of the honourable, +and of the poor. + +10:26. Despise not a just man that is poor, and do not magnify a sinful +man that is rich. + +10:27. The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and +there is none greater than he that feareth God. + +10:28. They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man +that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is +reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured. + +10:29. Extol not thyself in doing thy work, and linger not in the time +of distress; + +10:30. Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than +he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread. + +10:31. My son, keep thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according +to its desert. + +10:32. Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who +will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul? + +10:33. The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear, and there +is a man that is honoured for his wealth. + +10:34. But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth? +and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 11 + + +Lessons of humility and moderation in all things. + +11:1. The wisdom of the humble shall exalt his head, and shall make him +sit in the midst of great men. + +11:2. Praise not a man for his beauty, neither despise a man for his +look. + +11:3. The bee is small among flying things but her fruit hath the +chiefest sweetness. + +11:4. Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day +of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his +works are glorious, and secret, and hidden. + +11:5. Many tyrants have sat on the throne, and he whom no man would +think on, hath worn the crown. + +11:6. Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious +have been delivered into the hand of others. + +11:7. Before thou inquire, blame no man: and when thou hast inquired, +reprove justly. + +11:8. Before thou hear, answer not a word: and interrupt not others in +the midst of their discourse. + +11:9. Strive not in a matter which doth not concern thee, and sit not +in judgment with sinners. + +11:10. My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou +shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not +overtake; and if thou run before thou shalt not escape. + +11:11. There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is +in sorrow, and is so much the more in want. + +11:12. Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak +in ability, and full of poverty: + +11:13. Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath +lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many +have wondered at him, and have glorified God. + +11:14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are +from God. + +11:15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with +God. Love and the ways of good things are with him. + +11:16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory +in evil things, grow old in evil. + +11:17. The gift of God abideth with the just, and his advancement shall +have success for ever. + +11:18. There is one that is enriched by living sparingly, and this is +the portion of his reward. + +11:19. In that he saith: I have found me rest, and now I will eat of my +goods alone: + +11:20. And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death +approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die. + +11:21. Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and +grow old in the work of thy commandments. + +11:22. Abide not in the works of sinners. But trust in God, and stay in +thy place, + +11:23. For it is easy in the eyes of God on a sudden to make the poor +man rich. + +11:24. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a +swift hour his blessing beareth fruit. + +11:25. Say not: What need I, and what good shall I have by this? + +11:26. Say not: I am sufficient for myself: and what shall I be made +worse by this? + +11:27. In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the +day of evils be not unmindful of good things: + +11:28. For it is easy before God in the day of death to reward every +one according to his ways. + +11:29. The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and +in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works. + +11:30. Praise not any man before death, for a man is known by his +children. + +11:31. Bring not every man into thy house: for many are the snares of +the deceitful. + +11:32. For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the +partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so +also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall +of his neighbour. + +11:33. For he lieth in wait and turneth good into evil, and on the +elect he will lay a blot. + +11:34. Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much +blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood. + +11:35. Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: +lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever. + +11:36. Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a +whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 12 + + +We are to be liberal to the just: and not to trust the wicked. + +12:1. If thou do good, know to whom thou dost it, and there shall be +much thanks for thy good deeds. + +12:2. Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if +not of him, assuredly of the Lord. + +12:3. For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and +that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on +the penitent. + +12:4. Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay +vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day +of vengeance. + +12:5. Give to the good, and receive not a sinner. + +12:6. Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy +bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee. + +12:7. For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou +shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will +repay vengeance to the ungodly. + +12:8. A friend shall not be known in prosperity, and an enemy shall not +be hidden in adversity. + +12:9. In the prosperity of a man, his enemies are grieved: and a friend +is known in his adversity. + +12:10. Never trust thy enemy for as a brass pot his wickedness rusteth: + +12:11. Though he humble himself and go crouching, yet take good heed +and beware of him. + +12:12. Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest +he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat and at the last thou +acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings. + +12:13. Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come +near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked +man, and is involved in his sins. + +12:14. For an hour he will abide with thee: but if thou begin to +decline, he will not endure it. + +12:15. An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he +lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit. + +12:16. An enemy weepeth with his eyes: but if he find an opportunity he +will not be satisfied with blood: + +12:17. And if evils come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first. + +12:18. An enemy hath tears in his eyes, and while he pretendeth to help +thee, will undermine thy feet. + +12:19. He will shake his head, and clap his hands, and whisper much, +and change his countenance. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 13 + + +Cautions in the choice of company. + +13:1. He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that +hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride. + +13:2. He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one +more honourable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is +richer than thyself. + +13:3. What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if +they knock one against the other, it shall be broken. + +13:4. The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor +is wronged and must hold his peace. + +13:5. If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing, +he will forsake thee. + +13:6. If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make +thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee. + +13:7. If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon +thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What +wantest thou? + +13:8. And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry +twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when +he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee. + +13:9. Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands. + +13:10. Beware that thou be not deceived into folly, and be humbled. + +13:11. Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived +into folly. + +13:12. If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw thyself: +for so he will invite thee the more. + +13:13. Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not +far from him, lest thou be forgotten. + +13:14. Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his +many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will +examine thee concerning thy secrets. + +13:15. His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to +do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison. + +13:16. Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou +hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin. + +13:17. When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep, and +thou shalt awake. + +13:18. Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation. + +13:19. Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is +nearest to himself. + +13:20. All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man +shall associate himself to his like. + +13:21. If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so +the sinner with the just. + +13:22. What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath +the rich with the poor? + +13:23. The wild ass is the lion's prey in the desert: so also the poor +are devoured by the rich. + +13:24. And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich +man abhorreth the poor. + +13:25. When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but +when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his +acquaintance. + +13:26. When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he +hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him. + +13:27. The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath +spoken wisely, and could have no place. + +13:28. The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said +they extol even to the clouds. + +13:29. The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? and if he +stumble, they will overthrow him. + +13:30. Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and +poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly. + +13:31. The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good, or +for evil. + +13:32. The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt +hardly find, and with labour. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 14 + + +The evil of avarice: works of mercy are recommended, and the love of +wisdom. + +14:1. Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his +mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin. + +14:2. Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not +fallen from his hope. + +14:3. Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what +should an envious man do with gold? + +14:4. He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth +for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting. + +14:5. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall +not take pleasure in his goods. + +14:6. There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the +reward of his wickedness: + +14:7. And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at +the last he discovereth his wickedness. + +14:8. The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, +and despiseth his own soul. + +14:9. The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of +iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying +it up. + +14:10. An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his +fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table. + +14:11. My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to +God worthy offerings. + +14:12. Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell +hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely +die. + +Covenant of hell. . .The decree by which all are to go down to the +regions of death. + +14:13. Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy +ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor. + +14:14. Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a +good gift overpass thee. + +14:15. Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and +labours? + +14:16. Give and take, and justify thy soul. + +14:17. Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding +food. + +14:18. All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth +out on a green tree. + +14:19. Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and +blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born. + +14:20. Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the +worker thereof shall go with it. + +14:21. And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker +thereof shall be honoured therein. + +14:22. Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall +meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing +eye of God. + +14:23. He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath +understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, +and stayeth in her ways. + +14:24. He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door. + +14:25. He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls +shall set up his tent high unto her, where good things shall rest in +his lodging for ever. + +14:26. He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge +under her branches: + +14:27. He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and +shall rest in her glory. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 15 + + +Wisdom embraceth them that fear God. God is not the author of sin. + +15:1. He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth +justice, shall lay hold on her, + +15:2. And she will meet him as an honourable mother, and will receive +him as a wife married of a virgin. + +15:3. With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and +give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made +strong in him, and he shall not be moved. + +15:4. And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and +she shall exalt him among his neighbours. + +15:5. And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and +shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall +clothe him with a robe of glory. + +15:6. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall +cause him to inherit an everlasting name. + +15:7. But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet +her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and +deceit. + +15:8. Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall +be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight +of God. + +15:9. Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner: + +15:10. For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the +wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign +Lord will give praise unto it. + +15:11. Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not +thou the things that he hateth. + +15:12. Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked +men. + +15:13. The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him +shall not love it. + +15:14. God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his +own counsel. + +15:15. He added his commandments and precepts. + +15:16. If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable +fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee. + +15:17. He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch forth thy hand +to which thou wilt. + +15:18. Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall +choose shall be given him: + +15:19. For the wisdom of God is great, and he is strong in power, +seeing all men without ceasing. + +15:20. The eyes of the Lord are towards them that fear him, and he +knoweth al the work of man. + +15:21. He hath commanded no man to do wickedly, and he hath given no +man license to sin; + +15:22. For he desireth not a multitude of faithless and unprofitable +children. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 16 + + +It is better to have none than many wicked children. Of the justice and +mercy of God. His ways are unsearchable. + +16:1. Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither +be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them. + +16:2. Trust not to their life, and respect not their labours. + +16:3. For better is one that feareth God, than a thousand ungodly +children. + +16:4. And it is better to die without children, than to leave ungodly +children. + +16:5. By one that is wise a country shall be inhabited, the tribe of +the ungodly shall become desolate. + +16:6. Many such things hath my eyes seen, and greater things than these +my ear hath heard. + +16:7. In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an +unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out. + +16:8. The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were +destroyed trusting to their own strength: + +16:9. And he spared not the place where Lot sojourned, but abhorred +them for the pride of their word. + +16:10. He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that +extolled themselves in their sins. + +16:11. So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were +gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been +stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished: + +Six hundred thousand footmen, etc. . .Viz., the children of Israel, whom +he sentenced to die in the wilderness. Num. 14. + +16:12. For mercy and wrath are with him. He is mighty to forgive, and +to pour out indignation: + +16:13. According as his mercy is, so his correction judgeth a man +according to his works. + +16:14. The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of +him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off. + +16:15. All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the +merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment. + +16:16. Say not: I shall be hidden from God, and who shall remember me +from on high? + +16:17. In such a multitude I shall not be known: for what is my soul in +such an immense creation? + +16:18. Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all +the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his +sight, + +16:19. The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the +earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with +trembling. + +16:20. And in all these things the heart is senseless: and every heart +is understood by him. + +16:21. And his ways who shall understand, and the storm, which no eye +of man shall see? + +16:22. For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice +who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from +some, and the examination of all is in the end. + +16:23. He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things, and the +foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things. + +16:24. Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of +understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart. + +16:25. And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to +declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity +of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from +the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge. + +16:26. The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and +from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their +beginnings in their generations. + +16:27. He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, +nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works. + +16:28. Nor shall any of them straiten his neighbour at any time. + +16:29. Be not thou incredulous to his word. + +16:30. After this God looked upon the earth, and filled it with his +goods. + +16:31. The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face +thereof, and into it they return again. + +Shewn forth. . .Viz., the glory and power of God upon the earth. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 17 + + +The creation and favour of God to man. An exhortation to turn to God. + +17:1. God created man of the earth, and made him after his own image. + +17:2. And he turned him into it again, and clothed him with strength +according to himself. + +17:3. He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power +over all things that are upon the earth. + +17:4. He put the fear of him upon all flesh, and he had dominion over +beasts and fowls. + +17:5. He created of him a helpmate like to himself, he gave them +counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and +he filled them with the knowledge of understanding. + +17:6. He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their +heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil. + +17:7. He set his eye upon their hearts to shew them the greatness of +his works: + +17:8. That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and +glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things +of his works. + +17:9. Moreover he gave them instructions, and the law of life for an +inheritance. + +17:10. He made an everlasting covenant with them, and he shewed them +his justice and judgments. + +17:11. And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard +his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity. + +Their eye saw, etc. . .Viz., when he gave the law on mount Sinai. + +17:12. And he gave to every one of them commandment concerning his +neighbour. + +17:13. Their ways are always before him, they are not hidden from his +eyes. + +17:14. Over every nation he set a ruler. + +17:15. And Israel was made the manifest portion of God. + +17:16. And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his +eyes are continually upon their ways. + +17:17. Their covenants were not hid by their iniquity, and all their +iniquities are in the sight of God. + +17:18. The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve +the grace of a man as the apple of the eye: + +17:19. And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their +reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into +the bowels of the earth. + +17:20. But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he +hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath +appointed to them the lot of truth. + +17:21. Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy sins: + +17:22. Make thy prayer before the face of the Lord, and offend less. + +Offend less. . .Minue offendicula. That is, remove sins and the +occasions of sins. + +17:23. Return to the Lord, and turn away from thy injustice, and +greatly hate abomination. + +17:24. And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in +the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God. + +17:25. Go to the side of the holy age, with them that live and give +praise to God. + +Go to the side, etc. . .Fly from the side of Satan and sin, and join +with the holy ones, that follow God and godliness. + +17:26. Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. +Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing. + +17:27. Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in +health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in +his mercies. + +17:28. How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to them +that turn to him ! + +17:29. For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not +immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil. + +17:30. What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what +is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this +shall be reproved. + +17:31. He beholdeth the power of the height of heaven: and all men are +earth and ashes. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 18 + + +God's works are wonderful: we must serve him, and not our lusts. + +18:1. He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only +shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever. + +18:2. Who is able to declare his works? + +18:3. For who shall search out his glorious acts? + +18:4. And who shall show forth the power of his majesty? or who shall +be able to declare his mercy? + +18:5. Nothing may be taken away, nor added, neither is it possible to +find out the glorious works of God. + +18:6. When a man hath done, then shall he begin: and when he leaveth +off, he shall be at a loss. + +Then shall he begin. . .God is so great and incomprehensible, that when +man has done all that he can to find out his greatness and boundless +perfections, he is still to begin: for what he has found out, is but a +mere nothing in comparison with his infinity. + +18:7. What is man, and what is his grace? and what is his good, or what +is his evil? + +18:8. The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as +a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the +sand, so are a few years compared to eternity. + +18:9. Therefore God is patient in them, and poureth forth his mercy +upon them. + +18:10. He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, +and hath known their end that it is evil. + +18:11. Therefore hath he filled up his mercy in their favour, and hath +shewn them the way of justice. + +18:12. The compassion of man is toward his neighbour: but the mercy of +God is upon all flesh. + +18:13. He hath mercy, and teacheth, and correcteth, as a shepherd doth +his flock. + +18:14. He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and +that maketh haste in his judgments. + +18:15. My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou +givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word. + +18:16. Shall not the dew assuage the heat? so also the good word is +better than the gift. + +18:17. Lo, is not a word better than a gift? but both are with a +justified man. + +18:18. A fool will upbraid bitterly: and a gift of one ill taught +consumeth the eyes. + +18:19. Before judgment prepare thee justice, and learn before thou +speak. + +18:20. Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine +thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God. + +18:21. Humble thyself before thou art sick, and in the time of sickness +shew thy conversation. + +18:22. Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid +to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for +ever. + +18:23. Before prayer prepare thy soul: and be not as a man that +tempteth God. + +18:24. Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time +of repaying when he shall turn away his face. + +18:25. Remember poverty in the time of abundance, and the necessities +of poverty in the day of riches. + +18:26. From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, +and all these are swift in the eyes of God. + +18:27. A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins +will beware of sloth. + +18:28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise +to him that findeth her. + +18:29. They that were of good understanding in words, have also done +wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have +poured forth proverbs and judgments. + +18:30. Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will. + +18:31. If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy +to thy enemies. + +18:32. Take no pleasure in riotous assemblies, be they ever so small: +for their concertation is continual. + +18:33. Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when +thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own +life. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 19 + + +Admonition against sundry vices. + +19:1. A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that +contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little. + +19:2. Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the +prudent: + +19:3. And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked. +Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a +greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number. + +19:4. He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be +lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised. + +19:5. He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that +hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling, +extinguisheth evil. + +19:6. He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that +is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned. + +19:7. Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not +fare the worse. + +19:8. Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with +thee, disclose it not. + +19:9. For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were +defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee +always. + +19:10. Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within +thee, trusting that it will not burst thee. + +19:11. At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman +groaning in the bringing forth a child. + +19:12. As an arrow that sticketh in a man's thigh: so is a word in the +heart of a fool. + +19:13. Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I +did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more. + +19:14. Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if +he hath said it, that he may not say it again. + +19:15. Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed. + +19:16. And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the +tongue, but not from his heart. + +19:17. For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? +Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him. + +19:18. And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God +is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the +law is in all wisdom. + +19:19. But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of +sinners is not prudence. + +19:20. There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and +there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom. + +19:21. Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth +understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in +understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High. + +19:22. There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust. + +19:23. And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. +There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full +of deceit: + +19:24. And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a +great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, +and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown: + +19:25. And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he +shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it. + +19:26. A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest +him, is known by his countenance. + +19:27. The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the +gait of the man, shew what he is. + +19:28. There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and +there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one +that holdeth his peace, he is wise. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 20 + + +Rules with regard to correction, discretion, and avoiding lies. + +20:1. How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to +hinder him that confesseth in prayer. + +20:2. The lust of an eunuch shall deflour a young maiden: + +20:3. So is he that by violence executeth of the unwise. + +20:4. How good is it, when thou art reproved, to shew repentance! for +so thou shalt escape wilful sin. + +20:5. There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and +there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech. + +20:6. There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what +to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper +time. + +20:7. A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a +babbler, and a fool, will regard no time. + +20:8. He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that +taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated. + +20:9. There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and +there is a finding that turneth to loss. + +20:10. There is a gift that is not profitable: and there is a gift, the +recompense of which is double. + +20:11. There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that +shall lift up his head from a low estate. + +20:12. There is that buyeth much for a small price, and restoreth the +same sevenfold. + +20:13. A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces +of fools shall be poured out. + +20:14. The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are +sevenfold. + +20:15. He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of +his mouth is the kindling of a fire. + +20:16. To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a +man as this is hateful. + +20:17. A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for +his good deeds. + +20:18. For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, +and how many will laugh him to scorn! + +20:19. For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which +was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had. + +20:20. The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the +pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily. + +20:21. A man without grace is as a vain fable, it shall be continually +in the mouth of the unwise. + +20:22. A parable coming out of a fool's mouth shall be rejected: for he +doth not speak it in due season. + +20:23. There is that is hindered from sinning through want, and in his +rest he shall be pricked. + +20:24. There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, +and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect +of person he will destroy himself. + +20:25. There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend, and +maketh him his enemy for nothing. + +20:26. A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in +the mouth of men without discipline. + +20:27. A thief is better than a man that is always lying: but both of +them shall inherit destruction. + +20:28. The manners of lying men are without honour: and their confusion +is with them without ceasing. + +20:29. A wise man shall advance himself with his words, and a prudent +man shall please the great ones. + +20:30. He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he +that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men +shall escape iniquity. + +20:31. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb +in the mouth, so that they cannot correct. + +20:32. O Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is not seen: what profit +is there in them both? + +20:33. Better is he that hideth his folly, than the man that hideth his +wisdom. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 21 + + +Cautions against sin in general, and some sins in particular. + +21:1. My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins +also pray that they may be forgiven thee. + +21:2. Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest +near them, they will take hold of thee. + +21:3. The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, killing the souls of +men. + +21:4. All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for +the wound thereof. + +21:5. Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very +rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the +proud shall be rooted out. + +21:6. The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of +God, and judgment shall come for him speedily. + +21:7. He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: +and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart. + +21:8. He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise +man knoweth to slip by him. + +21:9. He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that +gathereth himself stones to build in the winter. + +21:10. The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the +end of them is a flame of fire. + +21:11. The way of sinners is made plain with stones, and in their end +is hell, and darkness, and pains. + +21:12. He that keepeth justice shall get the understanding thereof. + +21:13. The perfection of the fear of God is wisdom and understanding. + +21:14. He that is not wise in good, will not be taught. + +21:15. But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no +understanding where there is bitterness. + +21:16. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his +counsel continueth like a fountain of life. + +21:17. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at +all shall it hold. + +21:18. A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and +will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall +displease him, and he will cast it behind his back. + +21:19. The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the +lips of the wise, grace shall be found. + +21:20. The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they +will think upon his words in their hearts. + +21:21. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the +knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense. + +21:22. Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles +on the right hand. + +21:23. A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will +scarce laugh low to himself. + +21:24. Learning to the prudent is as an ornament of gold, and like a +bracelet upon his right arm. + +21:25. The foot of a fool is soon in his neighbour's house: but a man +of experience will be abashed at the person of the mighty. + +21:26. A fool will peep through the window into the house: but he that +is well taught will stand without. + +21:27. It is the folly of a man to hearken at the door: and a wise man +will be grieved with the disgrace. + +21:28. The lips of the unwise will be telling foolish things: but the +words of the wise shall be weighed in a balance. + +21:29. The heart of fools is in their mouth: and the mouth of wise men +is in their heart. + +21:30. While the ungodly curseth the devil, he curseth his own soul. + +While the ungodly, etc. . .He condemneth and curseth himself: inasmuch +as by sin he takes part with the devil, and is, as it were, his member +and subject. + +21:31. The talebearer shall defile his own soul, and shall be hated by +all: and he that shall abide with him shall be hateful: the silent and +wise man shall be honoured. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 22 + + +Wise sayings on divers subjects. + +22:1. The sluggard is pelted with a dirty stone, and all men will speak +of his disgrace. + +22:2. The sluggard is pelted with the dung of oxen: and every one that +toucheth him will shake his hands. + +22:3. A son ill taught is the confusion of the father: and a foolish +daughter shall be to his loss. + +22:4. A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but +she that confoundeth, becometh a disgrace to her father. + +22:5. She that is bold shameth both her father and husband, and will +not be inferior to the ungodly: and shall be disgraced by them both. + +22:6. A tale out of time is like music in mourning: but the stripes and +instruction of wisdom are never out of time. + +22:7. He that teacheth a fool, is like one that glueth a potsherd +together. + +22:8. He that telleth a word to him that heareth not, is like one that +waketh a man out of a deep sleep. + +22:9. He speaketh with one that is asleep, who uttereth wisdom to a +fool: and in the end of the discourse he saith: Who is this? + +22:10. Weep for the dead, for his light hath failed: and weep for the +fool, for his understanding faileth. + +For the fool. . .In the language of the Holy Ghost, he is styled a fool, +that turns away from God to follow vanity and sin. And what is said by +the wise man against fools is meant of such fools as these. + +22:11. Weep but a little for the dead, for he is at rest. + +22:12. For the wicked life of a wicked fool is worse than death. + +22:13. The mourning for the dead is seven days: but for a fool and an +ungodly man all the days of their life. + +22:14. Talk not much with a fool and go not with him that hath no +sense. + +22:15. Keep thyself from him, that thou mayst not have trouble, and +thou shalt not be defiled with his sin. + +22:16. Turn away from him, and thou shalt find rest, and shalt not be +wearied out with his folly. + +22:17. What is heavier than lead? and what other name hath he but fool? + +22:18. Sand and salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear, than a man +without sense, that is both foolish and wicked. + +22:19. A frame of wood bound together in the foundation of a building, +shall not be loosed: so neither shall the heart that is established by +advised counsel. + +22:20. The thought of him that is wise at all times, shall not be +depraved by fear. + +22:21. As pales set in high places, and plasterings made without cost, +will not stand against the face of the wind: + +22:22. So also a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool shall not +resist against the violence of fear. + +22:23. As a fearful heart in the thought of a fool at all times will +not fear, so neither shall he that continueth always in the +commandments of God. + +22:24. He that pricketh the eye, bringeth out tears: and he that +pricketh the heart, bringeth forth resentment. + +22:25. He that flingeth a stone at birds, shall drive them away: so he +that upbraideth his friend, breaketh friendship. + +22:26. Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for +there may be a returning. To a friend, + +22:27. If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a +reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and +disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a +friend will flee away. + +22:28. Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his +prosperity also thou mayst rejoice. + +22:29. In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou +mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance. + +22:30. As the vapour of a chimney, and the smoke of the fire goeth up +before the fire: so also injurious words, and reproaches, and threats, +before blood. + +22:31. I will not be ashamed to salute a friend, neither will I hide +myself from his face: and if any evil happen to me by him, I will bear +it. + +22:32. But every one that shall hear it, will beware of him. + +22:33. Who will set a guard before my mouth, and a sure seal upon my +lips, that I fall not by them, and that my tongue destroy me not? + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 23 + + +A prayer for grace to flee sin: cautions against profane swearing and +other vices. + +23:1. O Lord, father, and sovereign ruler of my life, leave me not to +their counsel: nor suffer me to fall by them. + +By them. . .Viz., the tongue and the lips, mentioned in the last verse +of the foregoing chapter. + +23:2. Who will set scourges over my thoughts, and the discipline of +wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not in their ignorances, and +that their sins may not appear: + +That they spare me not in their ignorances, etc. . .That is, that the +scourges and discipline of wisdom may restrain the ignorances, that is, +the slips and offences which are usually committed by the tongue and +the lips. + +23:3. Lest my ignorances increase, and my offences be multiplied, and +my sins abound, and I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice +over me? + +23:4. O Lord, father, and God of my life, leave me not to their +devices. + +23:5. Give me not haughtiness of my eyes, and turn away from me all +coveting. + +23:6. Take from me the greediness of the belly, and let not the lusts +of the flesh take hold of me, and give me not over to a shameless and +foolish mind. + +23:7. Hear, O ye children, the discipline of the mouth, and he that +will keep it shall not perish by his lips, nor be brought to fall into +most wicked works. + +23:8. A sinner is caught in his own vanity, and the proud and the evil +speakers shall fall thereby. + +23:9. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing: for in it there are +many falls. + +23:10. And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and meddle +not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not escape free from them. + +23:11. For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without a +blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall not be wholly +pure from sin. + +23:12. A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity, and a +scourge shall not depart from his house. + +23:13. And if he make it void, his sin shall be upon him, and if he +dissemble it, he offendeth double: + +23:14. And if he swear in vain, he shall not be justified: for his +house shall be filled with his punishment. + +23:15. There is also another speech opposite to death, let it not be +found in the inheritance of Jacob. + +23:16. For from the merciful all these things shall be taken away, and +they shall not wallow in sins. + +23:17. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to indiscreet speech: for +therein is the word of sin. + +23:18. Remember thy father and thy mother, for thou sittest in the +midst of great men: + +23:19. Lest God forget thee in their sight, and thou, by thy daily +custom be infatuated and suffer reproach: and wish that thou hadst not +been born, and curse the day of thy nativity. + +23:20. The man that is accustomed to opprobrious words, will never be +corrected all the days of his life. + +23:21. Two sorts of men multiply sins, and the third bringeth wrath and +destruction. + +23:22. A hot soul is a burning fire, it will never be quenched, till it +devour some thing. + +23:23. And a man that is wicked in the mouth of his flesh, will not +leave off till he hath kindled a fire. + +23:24. To a man that is a fornicator all bread is sweet, he will not be +weary of sinning unto the end. + +23:25. Every man that passeth beyond his own bed, despising his own +soul, and saying: Who seeth me? + +23:26. Darkness compasseth me about, and the walls cover me, and no man +seeth me: whom do I fear? the most High will not remember my sins. + +23:27. And he understandeth not that his eye seeth all things, for such +a man's fear driveth him from the fear of God, and the eyes of men +fearing him: + +23:28. And he knoweth not that the eyes of the Lord are far brighter +than the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom +of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most hidden +parts. + +23:29. For all things were known to the Lord God, before they were +created: so also after they were perfected he beholdeth all things. + +23:30. This man shall be punished in the streets of the city, and he +shall be chased as a colt: and where he suspected not, he shall be +taken. + +23:31. And he shall be in disgrace with all men, because he understood +not the fear of the Lord. + +23:32. So every woman also that leaveth her husband, and bringeth in an +heir by another: + +23:33. For first she hath been unfaithful to the law of the most High: +and secondly, she hath offended against her husband: thirdly, she hath +fornicated in adultery, and hath gotten her children of another man. + +23:34. This woman shall be brought into the assembly, and inquisition +shall be made of her children. + +23:35. Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall bring +forth no fruit. + +23:36. She shall leave her memory to be cursed, and her infamy shall +not be blotted out. + +23:37. And they that remain shall know, that there is nothing better +than the fear of God: and that there is nothing sweeter than to have +regard to the commandments of the Lord. + +23:38. It is great glory to follow the Lord: for length of days shall +be received from him. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 24 + + +Wisdom praiseth herself: her origin, her dwelling, her dignity, and her +fruits. + +24:1. Wisdom shall praise her own self, and shall be honoured in God, +and shall glory in the midst of her people, + +24:2. And shall open her mouth in the churches of the most High, and +shall glorify herself in the sight of his power, + +24:3. And in the midst of her own people she shall be exalted, and +shall be admired in the holy assembly. + +24:4. And in the multitude of the elect she shall have praise, and +among the blessed she shall be blessed, saying: + +24:5. I came out of the mouth of the most High, the firstborn before +all creatures: + +24:6. I made that in the heavens there should rise light that never +faileth, and as a cloud I covered all the earth: + +24:7. I dwelt in the highest places, and my throne is in a pillar of a +cloud. + +24:8. I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and have penetrated +into the bottom of the deep, and have walked in the waves of the sea, + +24:9. And have stood in all the earth: and in every people, + +24:10. And in every nation I have had the chief rule: + +24:11. And by my power I have trodden under my feet the hearts of all +the high and low: and in all these I sought rest, and I shall abide in +the inheritance of the Lord. + +24:12. Then the creator of all things commanded, and said to me: and he +that made me, rested in my tabernacle, + +24:13. And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy +inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect. + +24:14. From the beginning, and before the world, was I created, and +unto the world to come I shall not cease to be, and in the holy +dwelling place I have ministered before him. + +24:15. And so was I established in Sion, and in the holy city likewise +I rested, and my power was in Jerusalem. + +24:16. And I took root in an honourable people, and in the portion of +my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full assembly of saints. + +24:17. I was exalted like a cedar in Libanus, and as a cypress tree on +mount Sion. + +24:18. I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades, and as a rose plant in +Jericho: + +24:19. As a fair olive tree in the plains, and as a plane tree by the +water in the streets, was I exalted. + +24:20. I gave a sweet smell like cinnamon, and aromatical balm: I +yielded a sweet odour like the best myrrh: + +24:21. And I perfumed my dwelling as storax, and galbanum, and onyx, +and aloes, and as the frankincense not cut, and my odour is as the +purest balm. + +24:22. I have stretched out my branches as the turpentine tree, and my +branches are of honour and grace. + +24:23. As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour: and my +flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. + +24:24. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and +of holy hope. + +24:25. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all +hope of life and of virtue. + +24:26. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my +fruits. + +24:27. For my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above +honey and the honeycomb. + +24:28. My memory is unto everlasting generations. + +24:29. They that eat me, shall yet hunger: and they that drink me, +shall yet thirst. + +24:30. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that +work by me, shall not sin. + +24:31. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. + +24:32. All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of the +most High, and the knowledge of truth. + +24:33. Moses commanded a law in the precepts of justices, and an +inheritance to the house of Jacob, and the promises to Israel. + +24:34. He appointed to David his servant to raise up of him a most +mighty king, and sitting on the throne of glory for ever. + +A most mighty king. . .Viz., Christ, who by his gospel, like an +overflowing river, has enriched the earth with heavenly wisdom. + +24:35. Who filleth up wisdom as the Phison, and as the Tigris in the +days of the new fruits. + +24:36. Who maketh understanding to abound as the Euphrates, who +multiplieth it as the Jordan in the time of harvest. + +24:37. Who sendeth knowledge as the light, and riseth up as Gehon in +the time of the vintage. + +24:38. Who first hath perfect knowledge of her, and a weaker shall not +search her out. + +Who first hath perfect knowledge of her. . .Christ was the first that +had perfect knowledge of heavenly wisdom. + +24:39. For her thoughts are more vast than the sea, and her counsels +more deep than the great ocean. + +24:40. I, wisdom, have poured out rivers. + +24:41. I, like a brook out of a river of a mighty water; I, like a +channel of a river, and like an aqueduct, came out of paradise. + +24:42. I said: I will water my garden of plants, and I will water +abundantly the fruits of my meadow. + +24:43. And behold my brook became a great river, and my river came near +to a sea: + +24:44. For I make doctrine to shine forth to all as the morning light, +and I will declare it afar off. + +24:45. I will penetrate to all the lower parts of the earth, and will +behold all that sleep, and will enlighten all that hope in the Lord. + +24:46. I will yet pour out doctrine as prophecy, and will leave it to +them that seek wisdom, and will not cease to instruct their offspring +even to the holy age. + +24:47. See ye that I have not laboured myself only, but for all that +seek out the truth. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 25 + + +Documents of wisdom on several subjects. + +25:1. With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before +God and men: + +25:2. The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and +wife that agree well together. + +25:3. Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their +life: + +25:4. A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man +that is a fool, and doting. + +25:5. The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt +thou find them in thy old age? + +25:6. O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to +know counsel! + +25:7. O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and +counsel to men of honour! + +25:8. Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is +their glory. + +25:9. Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I +magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue. + +25:10. A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and +seeth the fall of his enemies. + +25:11. Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, and that hath not +slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy +of him. + +25:12. Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth +justice to an ear that heareth. + +25:13. How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! but there is +none above him that feareth the Lord. + +25:14. The fear of God hath set itself above all things: + +25:15. Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: +he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened? + +25:16. The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning +of faith is to be fast joined unto it. + +25:17. The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of +a woman is all evil. + +25:18. And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart: + +25:19. And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman: + +25:20. And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him: + +25:21. And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies. + +25:22. There is no head worse than the head of a serpent: + +25:23. And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It will be +more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a +wicked woman. + +25:24. The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth +her countenance as a bear: and sheweth it like sackcloth. In the midst +of her neighbours, + +25:25. Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little. + +25:26. All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of +sinners fall upon her. + +25:27. As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is +a wife full of tongue to a quiet man. + +25:28. Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for +beauty. + +25:29. A woman's anger, and impudence, and confusion is great. + +25:30. A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband. + +25:31. A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy +countenance, and a wounded heart. + +25:32. Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make +her husband happy. + +25:33. From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die. + +25:34. Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked +woman liberty to gad abroad. + +25:35. If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight +of thy enemies. + +25:36. Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 26 + + +Of good and bad women. + +26:1. Happy is the husband of a good wife: for the number of his years +is double. + +26:2. A virtuous woman rejoiceth her husband, and shall fulfil the +years of his life in peace. + +26:3. A good wife is a good portion, she shall be given in the portion +of them that fear God, to a man for his good deeds. + +26:4. Rich or poor, if his heart is good, his countenance shall be +cheerful at all times. + +26:5. Of three things my heart hath been afraid, and at the fourth my +face hath trembled: + +26:6. The accusation of a city, and the gathering together of the +people: + +26:7. And a false calumny, all are more grievous than death. + +26:8. A jealous woman is the grief and mourning of the heart. + +26:9. With a jealous woman is a scourge of the tongue which +communicateth with all. + +26:10. As a yoke of oxen that is moved to and fro, so also is a wicked +woman: he that hath hold of her, is as he that taketh hold of a +scorpion. + +26:11. A drunken woman is a great wrath: and her reproach and shame +shall not be hid. + +26:12. The fornication of a woman shall be known by the haughtiness of +her eyes and by her eyelids. + +26:13. On a daughter that turneth not away herself, set a strict watch: +lest finding an opportunity she abuse herself. + +26:14. Take heed of the impudence of her eyes, and wonder not if she +slight thee. + +26:15. She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveller to the fountain, +and will drink of every water near her, and will sit down by every +hedge, and open her quiver against every arrow, until she fail. + +26:16. The grace of a diligent woman shall delight her husband, and +shall fat his bones. + +26:17. Her discipline is the gift of God. + +26:18. Such is a wise and silent woman, and there is nothing so much +worth as a well instructed soul. + +26:19. A holy and shamefaced woman is grace upon grace. + +26:20. And no price is worthy of a continent soul. + +26:21. As the sun when it riseth to the world in the high places of +God, so is the beauty of a good wife for the ornament of her house. + +26:22. As the lamp shining upon the holy candlestick, so is the beauty +of the face in a ripe age, + +26:23. As golden pillars upon bases of silver, so are the firm feet +upon the soles of a steady woman. + +26:24. As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the +commandments of God in the heart of a holy woman. + +26:25. At two things my heart is grieved, and the third bringeth anger +upon me. + +26:26. A man of war fainting through poverty, and a man of sense +despised: + +26:27. And he that passeth over from justice to sin, God hath prepared +such an one for the sword. + +26:28. Two sorts of callings have appeared to me hard and dangerous: a +merchant is hardly free from negligence: and a huckster shall not be +justified from the sins of the lips. + +From negligence. . .That is, from the neglect of the service of God: +because the eager pursuit of the mammon of this world, is apt to make +men of that calling forget the great duties of loving God above all +things, and their neighbours as themselves.--Ibid. A huckster. . .Or, a +retailer of wine. Men of that profession are both greatly exposed to +danger of sin themselves, and are too often accessary to the sins of +others. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 27 + + +Dangers of sin from several heads: the fear of God is the best +preservative. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it. + +27:1. Through poverty many have sinned: and he that seeketh to be +enriched, turneth away his eye. + +27:2. As a stake sticketh fast in the midst of the joining of stones, +so also in the midst of selling and buying, sin shall stick fast. + +27:3. Sin shall be destroyed with the sinner. + +27:4. Unless thou hold thyself diligently in the fear of the Lord, thy +house shall quickly be overthrown. + +27:5. As when one sifteth with a sieve, the dust will remain: so will +the perplexity of a man in his thoughts. + +27:6. The furnace trieth the potter's vessels, and the trial of +affliction just men. + +27:7. As the dressing of a tree sheweth the fruit thereof, so a word +out of the thought of the heart of man. + +27:8. Praise not a man before he speaketh, for this is the trial of +men. + +27:9. If thou followest justice, thou shalt obtain her: and shalt put +her on as a long robe of honour, and thou shalt dwell with her: and she +shall protect thee for ever, and in the day of acknowledgment thou +shalt find a strong foundation. + +27:10. Birds resort unto their like: so truth will return to them that +practise her. + +27:11. The lion always lieth in wait for prey: so do sins for them that +work iniquities. + +27:12. A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is +changed as the moon. + +27:13. In the midst of the unwise keep in the word till its time: but +be continually among men that think. + +27:14. The discourse of sinners is hateful, and their laughter is at +the pleasures of sin. + +27:15. The speech that sweareth much shall make the hair of the head +stand upright: and its irreverence shall make one stop his ears. + +27:16. In the quarrels of the road is the shedding of blood: and their +cursing is a grievous hearing. + +27:17. He that discloseth the secret of a friend loseth his credit, and +shall never find a friend to his mind. + +27:18. Love thy neighbour, and be joined to him with fidelity. + +27:19. But if thou discover his secrets, follow no more after him. + +27:20. For as a man that destroyeth his friend, so is he that +destroyeth the friendship of his neighbour. + +27:21. And as one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou +let thy neighbour go, and thou shalt not get him again. + +27:22. Follow after him no more, for he is gone afar off, he is fled, +as a roe escaped out of the snare because his soul is wounded. + +27:23. Thou canst no more bind him up. And of a curse there is +reconciliation: + +And of a curse there is reconciliation. . .That is, it is easier to +obtain a reconciliation after a curse, than after disclosing a secret. + +27:24. But to disclose the secrets of a friend, leaveth no hope to an +unhappy soul. + +27:25. He that winketh with the eye forgeth wicked things, and no man +will cast him off: + +27:26. In the sight of thy eyes he will sweeten his mouth, and will +admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and on thy +words he will lay a stumblingblock. + +27:27. I have hated many things but not like him, and the Lord will +hate him. + +27:28. If one cast a stone on high, it will fall upon his own head: and +the deceitful stroke will wound the deceitful. + +27:29. He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that setteth a +stone for his neighbour, shall stumble upon it: and he that layeth a +snare for another, shall perish in it. + +27:30. A mischievous counsel shall be rolled back upon the author, and +he shall not know from whence it cometh to him. + +27:31. Mockery and reproach are of the proud, and vengeance as a lion +shall lie in wait for him. + +27:32. They shall perish in a snare that are delighted with the fall of +the just: and sorrow shall consume them before they die. + +27:33. Anger and fury are both of them abominable, and the sinful man +shall be subject to them. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 28 + + +Lessons against revenge and quarrels. The evils of the tongue. + +28:1. He that seeketh to revenge himself, shall find vengeance from the +Lord, and he will surely keep his sins in remembrance. + +28:2. Forgive thy neighbour if he hath hurt thee: and then shall thy +sins be forgiven to thee when thou prayest. + +28:3. Man to man reserveth anger, and doth he seek remedy of God? + +28:4. He hath no mercy on a man like himself, and doth he entreat for +his own sins? + +28:5. He that is but flesh, nourisheth anger, and doth he ask +forgiveness of God? who shall obtain pardon for his sins? + +28:6. Remember thy last things, and let enmity cease: + +28:7. For corruption and death hang over in his commandments. + +In his commandments. . .Supply the sentence out of the Greek thus: +Remember corruption and death, and abide in the commandments. + +28:8. Remember the fear of God, and be not angry with thy neighbour. + +28:9. Remember the covenant of the most High, and overlook the +ignorance of thy neighbour. + +28:10. Refrain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins. + +28:11. For a passionate man kindleth strife, and a sinful man will +trouble his friends, and bring in debate in the midst of them that are +at peace. + +28:12. For as the wood of the forest is, so the fire burneth, and as a +man's strength is, so shall his anger be, and according to his riches +he shall increase his anger. + +28:13. A hasty contention kindleth a fire and a hasty quarrel sheddeth +blood and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death. + +28:14. If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou +spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth. + +28:15. The whisperer and the double tongue is accursed: for he hath +troubled many that were at peace. + +28:16. The tongue of a third person hath disquieted many, and scattered +them from nation to nation. + +28:17. It hath destroyed the strong cities of the rich, and hath +overthrown the houses of great men. + +28:18. It hath cut in pieces the forces of people, and undone strong +nations. + +28:19. The tongue of a third person hath cast out valiant women, and +deprived them of their labours. + +28:20. He that hearkeneth to it, shall never have rest, neither shall +he have a friend in whom he may repose. + +28:21. The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the +tongue will break the bones. + +28:22. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as +have perished by their own tongue. + +28:23. Blessed is he that is defended from a wicked tongue, that hath +not passed into the wrath thereof, and that hath not drawn the yoke +thereof, and hath not been bound in its bands. + +28:24. For its yoke is a yoke of iron: and its bands are bands of +brass. + +28:25. The death thereof is a most evil death: and hell is preferable +to it. + +28:26. Its continuance shall not be for a long time, but it shall +possess the ways of the unjust: and the just shall not be burnt with +its flame. + +28:27. They that forsake God shall fall into it, and it shall burn in +them, and shall not be quenched, and it shall be sent upon them as a +lion, and as a leopard it shall tear them. + +28:28. Hedge in thy ears with thorns, hear not a wicked tongue, and +make doors and bars to thy mouth. + +28:29. Melt down thy gold and silver, and make a balance for thy words, +and a just bridle for thy mouth: + +28:30. And take heed lest thou slip with thy tongue, and fall in the +sight of thy enemies who lie in wait for thee, and thy fall be +incurable unto death. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 29 + + +Of charity in lending money, and justice in repaying. Of alms, and of +being surety. + +29:1. He that sheweth mercy, lendeth to his neighbour: and he that is +stronger in hand, keepeth the commandments. + +And he that is stronger in hand. . .That is, he that is hearty and +bountiful in lending to his neighbour in his necessity. + +29:2. Lend to thy neighbour in the time of his need, and pay thou thy +neighbour again in due time. + +29:3. Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him: and thou shalt +always find that which is necessary for thee. + +29:4. Many have looked upon a thing lent as a thing found, and have +given trouble to them that helped them. + +29:5. Till they receive, they kiss the hands of the lender, and in +promises they humble their voice: + +29:6. But when they should repay, they will ask time, and will return +tedious and murmuring words, and will complain of the time: + +29:7. And if he be able to pay, he will stand off, he will scarce pay +one half, and will count it as if he had found it: + +29:8. But if not, he will defraud him of his money, and he shall get +him for an enemy without cause. + +29:9. And he will pay him with reproaches and curses, and instead of +honour and good turn will repay him injuries. + +29:10. Many have refused to lend, not out of wickedness, but they were +afraid to be defrauded without cause. + +29:11. But yet towards the poor be thou more hearty, and delay not to +shew him mercy. + +29:12. Help the poor because of the commandment: and send him not away +empty handed because of his poverty. + +29:13. Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend: and hide it not +under a stone to be lost. + +29:14. Place thy treasure in the commandments of the most High, and it +shall bring thee more profit than gold. + +29:15. Shut up alms in the heart of the poor, and it shall obtain help +for thee against all evil. + +29:16. Better than the shield of the mighty, and better than the spear: + +29:17. It shall fight for thee against thy enemy. + +29:18. A good man is surety for his neighbour: and he that hath lost +shame, will leave him to himself. + +29:19. Forget not the kindness of thy surety: for he hath given his +life for thee. + +29:20. The sinner and the unclean fleeth from his surety. + +29:21. A sinner attributeth to himself the goods of his surety: and he +that is of an unthankful mind will leave him that delivered him. + +29:22. A man is surety for his neighbour: and when he hath lost all +shame, he shall forsake him. + +29:23. Evil suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and hath tossed +them as a wave of the sea. + +29:24. It hath made powerful men to go from place to place round about, +and they have wandered in strange countries. + +29:25. A sinner that transgresseth the commandment of the Lord, shall +fall into an evil suretyship: and he that undertaketh many things, +shall fall into judgment. + +29:26. Recover thy neighbour according to thy power, and take heed to +thyself that thou fall not. + +29:27. The chief thing for man's life is water and bread, and clothing, +and a house to cover shame. + +29:28. Better is the poor man's fare under a roof of boards, than +sumptuous cheer abroad in another man's house. + +29:29. Be contented with little instead of much, and thou shalt not +hear the reproach of going abroad. + +29:30. It is a miserable life to go as a guest from house to house: for +where a man is a stranger, he shall not deal confidently, nor open his +mouth. + +29:31. He shall entertain and feed, and give drink to the unthankful, +and moreover he shall hear bitter words. + +29:32. Go, stranger, and furnish the table, and give others to eat what +thou hast in thy hand. + +29:33. Give place to the honourable presence of my friends: for I want +my house, my brother being to be lodged with me. + +29:34. These things are grievous to a man of understanding: the +upbraiding of houseroom, and the reproaching of the lender. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 30 + + +Of correction of children. Health is better than wealth. Excessive +grief is hurtful. + +30:1. He that loveth his son, frequently chastiseth him, that he may +rejoice in his latter end, and not grope after the doors of his +neighbours. + +30:2. He that instructeth his son shall be praised in him, and shall +glory in him in the midst of them of his household. + +30:3. He that teacheth his son, maketh his enemy jealous, and in the +midst of his friends he shall glory in him. + +30:4. His father is dead, and he is as if he were not dead: for he hath +left one behind him that is like himself. + +30:5. While he lived he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he +was not sorrowful, neither was he confounded before his enemies. + +30:6. For he left behind him a defender of his house against his +enemies, and one that will requite kindness to his friends. + +30:7. For the souls of his sons he shall bind up his wounds, and at +every cry his bowels shall be troubled. + +30:8. A horse not broken becometh stubborn, and a child left to himself +will become headstrong. + +30:9. Give thy son his way, and he shall make thee afraid: play with +him, and he shall make thee sorrowful. + +30:10. Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow, and at the last thy +teeth be set on edge. + +30:11. Give him not liberty in his youth, and wink not at his devices. + +30:12. Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat his sides while he +is a child, lest he grow stubborn, and regard thee not, and so be a +sorrow of heart to thee. + +30:13. Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour +be an offence to thee. + +30:14. Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, +than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils. + +30:15. Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all +gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues. + +30:16. There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: +and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart. + +30:17. Better is death than a bitter life, and everlasting rest, than +continual sickness. + +30:18. Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as +messes of meat set about a grave. + +30:19. What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither +eat, nor smell: + +30:20. So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of +his iniquity: + +30:21. He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a +virgin, and sighing. + +30:22. Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy +own counsel. + +30:23. The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never +failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life. + +30:24. Have pity on thy own soul, pleasing God, and contain thyself: +gather up thy heart in his holiness: and drive away sadness far from +thee. + +30:25. For sadness hath killed many, and there is no profit in it. + +30:26. Envy and anger shorten a man's days, and pensiveness will bring +old age before the time. + +30:27. A cheerful and good heart is always feasting: for his banquets +are prepared with diligence. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 31 + + +Of the desire of riches, and of moderation in eating and drinking. + +31:1. Watching for riches consumeth the flesh, and the thought thereof +driveth away sleep. + +31:2. The thinking beforehand turneth away the understanding, and a +grievous sickness maketh the soul sober. + +31:3. The rich man hath laboured in gathering riches together, and when +he resteth he shall be filled with his goods. + +31:4. The poor man hath laboured in his low way of life, and in the end +he is still poor. + +31:5. He that loveth gold, shall not be justified: and he that +followeth after corruption, shall be filled with it. + +31:6. Many have been brought to fall for gold, and the beauty thereof +hath been their ruin. + +31:7. Gold is a stumblingblock to them that sacrifice to it: woe to +them that eagerly follow after it, and every fool shall perish by it. + +31:8. Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish: and that +hath not gone after gold, nor put his trust in money nor in treasures. + +31:9. Who is he, and we will praise him? for he hath done wonderful +things in his life. + +31:10. Who hath been tried thereby, and made perfect, he shall have +glory everlasting. He that could have transgressed, and hath not +transgressed: and could do evil things, and hath not done them: + +31:11. Therefore are his goods established in the Lord, and all the +church of the saints shall declare his alms. + +31:12. Art thou set at a great table? be not the first to open thy +mouth upon it. + +31:13. Say not: There are many things which are upon it. + +31:14. Remember that a wicked eye is evil. + +31:15. What is created more wicked than an eye? therefore shall it weep +over all the face when it shall see. + +31:16. Stretch not out thy hand first, lest being disgraced with envy +thou be put to confusion. + +31:17. Be not hasty in a feast. + +31:18. Judge of the disposition of thy neighbour by thyself. + +31:19. Use as a frugal man the things that are set before thee: lest if +thou eatest much, thou be hated. + +31:20. Leave off first, for manners' sake: and exceed not, lest thou +offend. + +31:21. And if thou sittest among many, reach not thy hand out first of +all, and be not the first to ask for drink. + +31:22. How sufficient is a little wine for a man well taught, and in +sleeping thou shalt not be uneasy with it, and thou shalt feel no pain. + +31:23. Watching, and choler, and gripes, are with an intemperate man: + +31:24. Sound and wholesome sleep with a moderate man: he shall sleep +till morning, and his soul shall be delighted with him. + +31:25. And if thou hast been forced to eat much, arise, go out, and +vomit: and it shall refresh thee, and thou shalt not bring sickness +upon thy body. + +31:26. Hear me, my son, and despise me not: and in the end thou shalt +find my words. + +31:27. In all thy works be quick, and no infirmity shall come to thee. + +31:28. The lips of many shall bless him that is liberal of his bread, +and the testimony of his truth is faithful. + +31:29. Against him that is niggardly of his bread, the city will +murmur, and the testimony of his niggardliness is true. + +31:30. Challenge not them that love wine: for wine hath destroyed very +many. + +31:31. Fire trieth hard iron: so wine drunk to excess shall rebuke the +hearts of the proud. + +31:32. Wine taken with sobriety is equal life to men: if thou drink it +moderately, thou shalt be sober. + +31:33. What is his life, who is diminished with wine? + +31:34. What taketh away life? death. + +31:35. Wine was created from the beginning to make men joyful, and not +to make them drunk. + +31:36. Wine drunken with moderation is the joy of the soul and the +heart. + +31:37. Sober drinking is health to soul and body. + +31:38. Wine drunken with excess raiseth quarrels, and wrath, and many +ruins. + +31:39. Wine drunken with excess is bitterness of the soul. + +31:40. The heat of drunkenness is the stumblingblock of the fool, +lessening strength and causing wounds. + +31:41. Rebuke not thy neighbour in a banquet of wine: and despise him +not in his mirth. + +31:42. Speak not to him words of reproach: and press him not in +demanding again. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 32 + + +Lessons for superiors and inferiors. Advantages of fearing God, and +doing nothing without counsel. + +32:1. Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one +of them. + +32:2. Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted +thyself of all thy charge, take thy place: + +32:3. That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an +ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution. + +32:4. Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee, + +32:5. To speak the first word with careful knowledge, and hinder not +music. + +32:6. Where there is no hearing, pour not out words, and be not lifted +up out of season with thy wisdom. + +32:7. A concert of music in a banquet of wine is as a carbuncle set in +gold. + +32:8. As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of +music with pleasant and moderate wine. + +32:9. Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to +thee. + +32:10. Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause. + +32:11. If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short. + +32:12. In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence +and withal seeking. + +32:13. In the company of great men take not upon thee: and when the +ancients are present, speak not much. + +32:14. Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth +favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee. + +32:15. And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home +to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime. + +32:16. And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech. + +32:17. And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and +that replenisheth thee with all his good things. + +32:18. He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they +that will seek him early, shall find a blessing. + +32:19. He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that +dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein. + +32:20. They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall +kindle justice as a light. + +32:21. A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse +according to his will. + +32:22. A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and +proud man will not dread fear: + +32:23. Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be +controlled by the things of his own seeking. + +32:24. My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not +repent when thou hast done. + +32:25. Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against +the stones: trust not thyself to a rugged way, lest thou set a +stumblingblock to thy soul. + +32:26. And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy +household. + +32:27. In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the +keeping of the commandments. + +In faith. . .That is, follow sincerely thy soul in her faith and +conscience. + +32:28. He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he +that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 33 + + +The fear of God is the best security. Times and men are in the hands of +God. Take care of thyself as long as thou livest, and look to thy +servants. + +33:1. No evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in +temptation God will keep him and deliver him from evils. + +33:2. A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall +not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm. + +33:3. A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and the law +is faithful to him. + +33:4. He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say, and so +having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep discipline, and then he +shall answer. + +33:5. The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his thoughts are +like a rolling axletree. + +33:6. A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he neigheth +under every one that sitteth upon him. + +33:7. Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one +year another year, when all come of the sun? + +33:8. By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the sun +being made, and keeping his commandment. + +33:9. And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in them +they celebrated festivals at an hour. + +33:10. Some of them God made high and great days, and some of them he +put in the number of ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, +and out of the earth, from whence Adam was created. + +33:11. With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and diversified +their ways. + +33:12. Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of them hath +he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of them hath he cursed +and brought low, and turned them from their station. + +33:13. As the potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and order it: + +33:14. All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in the +hand of him that made him, and he will render to him according to his +judgment. + +33:15. Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the +sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the works of the most +High. Two and two, and one against another. + +33:16. And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after the +grapegatherers. + +33:17. In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that +gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress. + +33:18. See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that +seek discipline. + +33:19. Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with your +ears, ye rulers of the church. + +33:20. Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee +while thou livest; and give not thy estate to another, lest thou +repent, and thou entreat for the same. + +33:21. As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man +change thee. + +Change thee. . .That is, so as to have this power over thee. + +33:22. For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that +thou look toward the hands of thy children. + +33:23. In all thy works keep the pre-eminence. + +The pre-eminence. . .That is, be master in thy own house, and part not +with thy authority. + +33:24. Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt end +the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy +inheritance. + +33:25. Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread, and +correction, and work for a slave. + +33:26. He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands +be idle, and he seeketh liberty. + +33:27. The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual labours +bow a slave. + +33:28. Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to work, +that he be not idle: + +33:29. For idleness hath taught much evil. + +33:30. Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be not +obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not excessive towards any +one, and do no grievous thing without judgment. + +33:31. If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy own +soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of thy soul thou +hast gotten him. + +33:32. If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away: + +33:33. And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and +in what way to seek him. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 34 + + +The vanity of dreams. The advantage of experience, and of the fear of +God. + +34:1. The hopes of a man that is void of understanding are vain and +deceitful: and dreams lift up fools. + +34:2. The man that giveth heed to lying visions, is like to him that +catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. + +34:3. The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another: +as when a man's likeness is before the face of a man. + +34:4. What can be made clean by the unclean? and what truth can come +from that which is false? + +34:5. Deceitful divinations and lying omens and the dreams of +evildoers, are vanity: + +34:6. And the heart fancieth as that of a woman in travail: except it +be a vision sent forth from the most High, set not thy heart upon them. + +34:7. For dreams have deceived many, and they have failed that put +their trust in them. + +34:8. The word of the law shall be fulfilled without a lie, and wisdom +shall be made plain in the mouth of the faithful. + +34:9. What doth he know, that hath not been tried? A man that hath much +experience, shall think of many things: and he that hath learned many +things, shall shew forth understanding. + +34:10. He that hath no experience, knoweth little: and he that hath +been experienced in many things, multiplieth prudence. + +34:11. He that hath not been tried, what manner of things doth he know? +he that hath been surprised, shall abound with subtlety. + +34:12. I have seen many things by travelling, and many customs of +things. + +34:13. Sometimes I have been in danger of death for these things, and I +have been delivered by the grace of God. + +34:14. The spirit of those that fear God, is sought after, and by his +regard shall be blessed. + +34:15. For their hope is on him that saveth them, and the eyes of God +are upon them that love him. + +34:16. He that feareth the Lord shall tremble at nothing, and shall not +be afraid: for he is his hope. + +34:17. The soul of him that feareth the Lord is blessed. + +34:18. To whom doth he look, and who is his strength? + +34:19. The eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear him, he is their +powerful protector, and strong stay, a defence from the heat, and a +cover from the sun at noon, + +34:20. A preservation from stumbling, and a help from falling: he +raiseth up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes, and giveth health, and +life, and blessing. + +34:21. The offering of him that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully +gotten, is stained, and the mockeries of the unjust are not acceptable. + +34:22. The Lord is only for them that wait upon him in the way of truth +and justice. + +34:23. The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked: neither +hath he respect to the oblations of the unjust, nor will he be pacified +for sins by the multitude of their sacrifices. + +34:24. He that offereth sacrifice of the goods of the poor, is as one +that sacrificeth the son in the presence of his father. + +34:25. The bread of the needy, is the life of the poor: he that +defraudeth them thereof, is a man of blood. + +34:26. He that taketh away the bread gotten by sweat, is like him that +killeth his neighbour. + +34:27. He that sheddeth blood, and he that defraudeth the laborer of +his hire, are brothers. + +34:28. When one buildeth up, and another pulleth down: what profit have +they but the labour? + +34:29. When one prayeth, and another curseth: whose voice will God +hear? + +34:30. He that washeth himself after touching the dead, if he toucheth +him again, what doth his washing avail? + +34:31. So a man that fasteth for his sins, and doth the same again, +what doth his humbling himself profit him? who will hear his prayer? + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 35 + + +What sacrifices are pleasing to God. + +35:1. He that keepeth the law, multiplieth offerings. + +35:2. It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and +to depart from all iniquity. + +35:3. And to depart from injustice, is to offer a propitiatory +sacrifice for injustices, and a begging of pardon for sins. + +35:4. He shall return thanks, that offereth fine flour: and he that +doth mercy, offereth sacrifice. + +35:5. To depart from iniquity is that which pleaseth the Lord, and to +depart from injustice, is an entreaty for sins. + +35:6. Thou shalt not appear empty in the sight of the Lord. + +35:7. For all these things are to be done because of the commandment of +God. + +35:8. The oblation of the just maketh the altar fat, and is an odour of +sweetness in the sight of the most High. + +35:9. The sacrifice of the just is acceptable, and the Lord will not +forget the memorial thereof. + +35:10. Give glory to God with a good heart: and diminish not the +firstfruits of thy hands. + +35:11. In every gift shew a cheerful countenance, and sanctify thy +tithes with joy. + +35:12. Give to the most High according to what he hath given to thee, +and with a good eye do according to the ability of thy hands: + +35:13. For the Lord maketh recompense, and will give thee seven times +as much. + +35:14. Do not offer wicked gifts, for such he will not receive. + +35:15. And look not upon an unjust sacrifice, for the Lord is judge, +and there is not with him respect of person. + +35:16. The Lord will not accept any person against a poor man, and he +will hear the prayer of him that is wronged. + +35:17. He will not despise the prayers of the fatherless: nor the +widow, when she poureth out her complaint. + +35:18. Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against +him that causeth them to fall? + +35:19. For from the cheek they go up even to heaven, and the Lord that +heareth will not be delighted with them. + +35:20. He that adoreth God with joy, shall be accepted, and his prayer +shall approach even to the clouds. + +35:21. The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the +clouds: and till it come nigh he will not be comforted: and he will not +depart till the most High behold. + +35:22. And the Lord will not be slack, but will judge for the just, and +will do judgment: and the Almighty will not have patience with them, +that he may crush their back: + +35:23. And he will repay vengeance to the Gentiles, till he have taken +away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptres of the unjust, + +35:24. Till he have rendered to men according to their deeds: and +according to the works of Adam, and according to his presumption, + +35:25. Till he have judged the cause of his people, and he shall +delight the just with his mercy. + +35:26. The mercy of God is beautiful in the time of affliction, as a +cloud of rain in the time of drought. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 36 + + +A prayer for the church of God. Of a good heart, and a good wife. + +36:1. Have mercy upon us, O God of all, and behold us, and shew us the +light of thy mercies: + +36:2. And send thy fear upon the nations, that have not sought after +thee: that they may know that there is no God beside thee, and that +they may shew forth thy wonders. + +36:3. Lift up thy hand over the strange nations, that they may see thy +power. + +36:4. For as thou hast been sanctified in us in their sight, so thou +shalt be magnified among them in our presence, + +36:5. That they may know thee, as we also have known thee, that there +is no God beside thee, O Lord. + +36:6. Renew thy signs, and work new miracles. + +36:7. Glorify thy hand, and thy right arm. + +36:8. Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath. + +36:9. Take away the adversary, and crush the enemy. + +36:10. Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy +wonderful works. + +36:11. Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire: and +let them perish that oppress thy people. + +36:12. Crush the head of the princes of the enemies that say: There is +no other beside us. + +36:13. Gather together all the tribes of Jacob: that they may know that +there no God besides thee, and may declare thy great works: and thou +shalt inherit them as from the beginning. + +36:14. Have mercy on thy people, upon whom thy name is invoked: and +upon Israel, whom thou hast raised up to be thy firstborn. + +36:15. Have mercy on Jerusalem, the city which thou hast sanctified, +the city of thy rest. + +36:16. Fill Sion with thy unspeakable words, and thy people with thy +glory. + +36:17. Give testimony to them that are thy creatures from the +beginning, and raise up the prophecies which the former prophets spoke +in thy name. + +36:18. Reward them that patiently wait for thee, that thy prophets may +be found faithful: and hear the prayers of thy servants, + +36:19. According to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, and direct +us into the way of justice, and let all know that dwell upon the earth, +that thou art God the beholder of all ages. + +36:20. The belly will devour all meat, yet one is better than another. + +36:21. The palate tasteth venison and the wise heart false speeches. + +36:22. A perverse heart will cause grief, and a man of experience will +resist it. + +36:23. A woman will receive every man: yet one daughter is better than +another. + +A woman will receive every man. . .That is, any man that her parents +propose to her to marry, though she does not like him, but marries in +obedience to her parents, who make the choice for her. + +36:24. The beauty of a woman cheereth the countenance of her husband, +and a man desireth nothing more. + +36:25. If she have a tongue that can cure, and likewise mitigate and +shew mercy: her husband is not like other men. + +36:26. He that possesseth a good wife, beginneth a possession: she is a +help like to himself, and a pillar of rest. + +36:27. Where there is no hedge, the possession shall be spoiled: and +where there is no wife, he mourneth that is in want. + +36:28. Who will trust him that hath no rest, and that lodgeth +wheresoever the night taketh him, as a robber well appointed, that +skippeth from city to city. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 37 + + +Of the choice of friends and counsellors. + +37:1. Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a +friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to +death? + +37:2. But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy. + +37:3. O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with +thy malice, and deceitfulness? + +37:4. There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, +but in the time of trouble, he will be against him. + +37:5. There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his +belly's sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy. + +37:6. Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in +thy riches. + +37:7. Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy +counsel from them that envy thee. + +37:8. Every counsellor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a +counsellor for himself. + +37:9. Beware of a counsellor. And know before what need he hath: for he +will devise to his own mind: + +37:10. Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee: + +37:11. Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what +shall befall thee. + +37:12. Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor +with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of +whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a +merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an +envious man of giving thanks, + +37:13. Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of +honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work, + +37:14. Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the +year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these +in any matter of counsel. + +37:15. But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know +to observe the fear of God, + +37:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou +shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee. + +37:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there +is no other thing of more worth to thee than it. + +37:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more +than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch. + +37:19. But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may +direct thy way in truth. + +37:20. In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady +counsel before every action. + +37:21. A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner +of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is +continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a +teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. + +37:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul. + +37:23. He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be +destitute of every thing. + +37:24. Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all +wisdom. + +37:25. There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit +of his understanding is commendable. + +37:26. A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his +understanding are faithful. + +37:27. A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see +shall praise him. + +37:28. The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of +Israel are innumerable. + +37:29. A wise man shall inherit honour among his people, and his name +shall live for ever. + +37:30. My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it +no power: + +37:31. For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind +pleaseth not every soul. + +37:32. Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any +meat: + +37:33. For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will +turn to choler. + +37:34. By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate, +shall prolong life. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 38 + + +Of physicians and medicines: what is to be done in sickness, and how we +are to mourn for the dead. Of the employments of labourers and +artificers. + +38:1. Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most +High hath created him. + +38:2. For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the +king. + +38:3. The skill of the physician shall lift up his head, and in the +sight of great men he shall be praised. + +38:4. The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise +man will not abhor them. + +38:5. Was not bitter water made sweet with wood? + +38:6. The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and +the most High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in +his wonders. + +38:7. By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these +the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up +ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end. + +38:8. For the peace of God is over all the face of the earth. + +38:9. My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the +Lord, and he shall heal thee. + +38:10. Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy +heart from all offence. + +38:11. Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a +fat offering, and then give place to the physician. + +38:12. For the Lord created him: and let him not depart from thee, for +his works are necessary. + +38:13. For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands: + +38:14. And they shall beseech the Lord, that he would prosper what they +give for ease and remedy, for their conversation. + +38:15. He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the +hands of the physician. + +38:16. My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou +hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his +body, and neglect not his burial. + +38:17. And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and +then comfort thyself in thy sadness. + +38:18. And make mourning for him according to his merit for a day, or +two, for fear of detraction. + +38:19. For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, +and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck. + +38:20. In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the +poor is according to his heart. + +38:21. Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and +remember the latter end. + +38:22. Forget it not: for there is no returning, and thou shalt do him +no good, and shalt hurt thyself. + +38:23. Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for +me, and to day for thee. + +38:24. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort +him in the departing of his spirit. + +38:25. The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he +that is less in action, shall receive wisdom. + +A scribe. . .That is, a doctor of the law, or, a learned man. + +38:26. With what wisdom shall he be furnished that holdeth the plough, +and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth the oxen therewith, and is +occupied in their labours, and his whole talk is about the offspring of +bulls? + +38:27. He shall give his mind to turn up furrows, and his care is to +give the kine fodder. + +38:28. So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, +he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the +figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and +by his watching shall finish the work. + +38:29. So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron +work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with +the heat of the furnace. + +38:30. The noise of the hammer is always in his ears, and his eye is +upon the pattern of the vessel he maketh. + +38:31. He setteth his mind to finish his work, and his watching to +polish them to perfection. + +38:32. So doth the potter sitting at his work, turning the wheel about +with his feet, who is always carefully set to his work, and maketh all +his work by number: + +38:33. He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his +strength before his feet: + +38:34. He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching +to make clean the furnace. + +38:35. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his own +art. + +38:36. Without these a city is not built. + +38:37. And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall +not go up into the assembly. + +38:38. Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of +judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare +discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are +spoken: + +38:39. But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their +prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and +searching in the law of the most High. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 39 + + +The exercises of the wise man. The Lord is to be glorified for his +works. + +39:1. The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and +will be occupied in the prophets. + +39:2. He will keep the sayings of renowned men, and will enter withal +into the subtilties of parables. + +39:3. He will search out the hidden meanings of proverbs, and will be +conversant in the secrets of parables. + +39:4. He shall serve among great men, and appear before the governor. + +39:5. He shall pass into strange countries: for he shall try good and +evil among men. + +39:6. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, +and he will pray in the sight of the most High. + +39:7. He will open his mouth in prayer, and will make supplication for +his sins. + +39:8. For if it shall please the great Lord, he will fill him with the +spirit of understanding: + +39:9. And he will pour forth the words of his wisdom as showers, and in +his prayer he will confess to the Lord. + +39:10. And he shall direct his counsel, and his knowledge, and in his +secrets shall he meditate. + +39:11. He shall shew forth the discipline he hath learned, and shall +glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. + +39:12. Many shall praise his wisdom, and it shall never be forgotten. + +39:13. The memory of him shall not depart away, and his name shall be +in request from generation to generation. + +39:14. Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew +forth his praise. + +39:15. If he continue, he shall leave a name above a thousand: and if +he rest, it shall be to his advantage. + +39:16. I will yet meditate that I may declare: for I am filled as with +a holy transport. + +39:17. By a voice he saith: Hear me, ye divine offspring, and bud forth +as the rose planted by the brooks of waters. + +Ye divine offspring. . .He speaks to the children of Israel, the people +of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue. + +39:18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense. + +39:19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring +forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in +his works. + +39:20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your +lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in +praising him, you shall say in this manner: + +39:21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good. + +39:22. At his word the waters stood as a heap: and at the words of his +mouth the receptacles of waters: + +39:23. For at his commandment favour is shewn, and there is no +diminishing of his salvation. + +39:24. The works of all flesh are before him, and there is nothing hid +from his eyes. + +39:25. He seeth from eternity to eternity, and there is nothing +wonderful before him. + +39:26. There is no saying: What is this, or what is that? for all +things shall be sought in their time. + +39:27. His blessing hath overflowed like a river. + +39:28. And as a flood hath watered the earth; so shall his wrath +inherit the nations, that have not sought after him. + +39:29. Even as he turned the waters into a dry land, and the earth was +made dry: and his ways were made plain for their journey: so to sinners +they are stumblingblocks in his wrath. + +39:30. Good things were created for the good from the beginning, so for +the wicked, good and evil things. + +39:31. The principal things necessary for the life of men, are water, +fire, and iron, salt, milk, and bread of flour, and honey, and the +cluster of the grape, and oil, and clothing. + +39:32. All these things shall be for good to the holy, so to the +sinners and the ungodly they shall be turned into evil. + +39:33. There are spirits that are created for vengeance, and in their +fury they lay on grievous torments. + +39:34. In the time of destruction they shall pour out their force: and +they shall appease the wrath of him that made them. + +39:35. Fire, hail, famine, and death, all these were created for +vengeance. + +39:36. The teeth of beasts, and scorpions, and serpents, and the sword +taking vengeance upon the ungodly unto destruction. + +39:37. In his commandments they shall feast, and they shall be ready +upon earth when need is, and when their time is come they shall not +transgress his word. + +39:38. Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and I have +meditated, and thought on these things and left them in writing, + +39:39. All the works of the Lord are good, and he will furnish every +work in due time. + +39:40. It is not to be said: This is worse than that: for all shall be +well approved in their time. + +39:41. Now therefore with the whole heart and mouth praise ye him, and +bless the name of the Lord. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 40 + + +The miseries of the life of man are relieved by the grace of God and +his fear. + +40:1. Great labour is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the +children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother's +womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all. + +40:2. Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of +things to come, and the day of their end: + +40:3. From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is +humbled in earth and ashes: + +40:4. From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him +that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, +and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife, + +40:5. And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night +changeth his knowledge. + +40:6. A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as +in the day of keeping watch. + +40:7. He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped +in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and +wondereth that there is no fear. + +40:8. Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon +sinners are sevenfold more. + +40:9. Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, +famine, and affliction, and scourges: + +40:10. All these things are created for the wicked, and for their sakes +came the flood. + +40:11. All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth +again, and all waters shall return to the sea. + +40:12. All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity +shall stand for ever. + +40:13. The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and +shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain. + +40:14. While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors +shall pine away in the end. + +40:15. The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many +branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock. + +40:16. The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, +shall be pulled up before all grass. + +40:17. Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for +ever. + +40:18. The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall +be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure. + +40:19. Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but +a blameless wife shall be counted above them both. + +40:20. Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is +above them both. + +40:21. The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant +tongue is above them both. + +40:22. Thy eye desireth favour and beauty, but more than these green +sown fields. + +40:23. A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above +them both is a wife with her husband. + +40:24. Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall +deliver more than they. + +40:25. Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is +above them both. + +40:26. Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the +fear of the Lord. + +40:27. There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to +seek for help. + +40:28. The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they +have covered it above all glory. + +40:29. My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die +than to want. + +40:30. The life of him that looketh toward another man's table is not +to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man's meat. + +40:31. But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself. + +40:32. Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his +belly there shall burn a fire. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 41 + + +Of the remembrance of death: of an evil and of a good name: of what +things we ought to be ashamed. + +41:1. O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath +peace in his possessions! + +41:2. To a man that is at rest, and whose ways are prosperous in all +things, and that is yet able to take meat! + +41:3. O death thy sentence is welcome to the man that is in need, and +to him whose strength faileth: + +41:4. Who is in a decrepit age, and that is in care about all things, +and to the distrustful that loseth patience! + +41:5. Fear not the sentence of death. Remember what things have been +before thee, and what shall come after thee: this sentence is from the +Lord upon all flesh. + +41:6. And what shall come upon thee by the good pleasure of the most +High? whether ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years. + +41:7. For among the dead there is no accusing of life. + +41:8. The children of sinners become children of abominations, and they +that converse near the houses of the ungodly. + +41:9. The inheritance of the children of sinners shall perish, and with +their posterity shall be a perpetual reproach. + +41:10. The children will complain of an ungodly father, because for his +sake they are in reproach. + +41:11. Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the most +high Lord. + +41:12. And if you be born, you shall be born in malediction: and if you +die, in malediction shall be your portion. + +41:13. All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: +so the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction. + +41:14. The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the +ungodly shall be blotted out. + +41:15. Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, +more than a thousand treasures precious and great. + +41:16. A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall +continue for ever. + +41:17. My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, +and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both? + +41:18. Better is the man that hideth his folly, than the man that +hideth his wisdom. + +41:19. Wherefore have a shame of these things I am now going to speak +of. + +Have a shame, etc. . .That is to say, be ashamed of doing any of these +things, which I am now going to mention; for though sometimes +shamefacedness is not to be indulged: yet it is often good and +necessary: as in the following cases. + +41:20. For it is not good to keep all shamefacedness: and all things do +not please all men in opinion. + +41:21. Be ashamed of fornication before father and mother: and of a lie +before a governor and a man in power: + +41:22. Of an offence before a prince, and a judge: of iniquity before a +congregation and a people: + +41:23. Of injustice before a companion and friend: and in regard to the +place where thou dwellest, + +41:24. Of theft, and of the truth of God, and the covenant: of leaning +with thy elbow over meat, and of deceit in giving and taking: + +41:25. Of silence before them that salute thee: of looking upon a +harlot: and of turning away thy face from thy kinsman. + +41:26. Turn not away thy face from thy neighbour, and of taking away a +portion and not restoring. + +41:27. Gaze not upon another man's wife, and be not inquisitive after +his handmaid, and approach not her bed. + +41:28. Be ashamed of upbraiding speeches before friends: and after thou +hast given, upbraid not. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 42 + + +Of what things we ought not to be ashamed. Cautions with regard to +women. The works and greatness of God. + +42:1. Repeat not the word which thou hast heard, and disclose not the +thing that is secret; so shalt thou be truly without confusion, and +shalt find favour before all men: be not ashamed of any of these +things, and accept no person to sin thereby: + +42:2. Of the law of the most High, and of his covenant, and of judgment +to justify the ungodly: + +42:3. Of the affair of companions and travellers, and of the gift of +the inheritance of friends: + +42:4. Of exactness of balance and weights, of getting much or little: + +42:5. Of the corruption of buying, and of merchants, and of much +correction of children, and to make the side of a wicked slave to +bleed. + +42:6. Sure keeping is good over a wicked wife. + +42:7. Where there are many hands, shut up, and deliver all things in +number, and weight: and put all in writing that thou givest out or +receivest in. + +42:8. Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the aged, +that are judged by young men: and thou shalt be well instructed in all +things, and well approved in the sight of all men living. + +42:9. The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth, and the +care for her taketh away his sleep, when she is young, lest she pass +away the flower of her age, and when she is married, lest she should be +hateful: + +42:10. In her virginity, lest she should be corrupted, and be found +with child in her father's house: and having a husband, lest she should +misbehave herself, or at the least become barren. + +42:11. Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter: lest at anytime she +make thee become a laughingstock to thy enemies, and a byword in the +city, and a reproach among the people, and she make thee ashamed before +all the multitude. + +42:12. Behold not everybody's beauty: and tarry not among women. + +42:13. For from garments cometh a moth, and from a woman the iniquity +of a man. + +42:14. For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good +turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach. + +Better is the iniquity, etc. . .That is, there is, commonly speaking, +less danger to be apprehended to the soul from the churlishness, or +injuries we receive from men, than from the flattering favours and +familiarity of women. + +42:15. I will now remember the works of the Lord, and I will declare +the things I have seen. By the words of the Lord are his works. + +42:16. The sun giving light hath looked upon all things, and full of +the glory of the Lord is his work. + +42:17. Hath not the Lord made the saints to declare all his wonderful +works, which the Lord Almighty hath firmly settled to be established +for his glory? + +42:18. He hath searched out the deep, and the heart of men: and +considered their crafty devices. + +42:19. For the Lord knoweth all knowledge, and hath beheld the signs of +the world, he declareth the things that are past, and the things that +are to come, and revealeth the traces of hidden things. + +42:20. No thought escapeth him, and no word can hide itself from him. + +42:21. He hath beautified the glorious works of his wisdom: and he is +from eternity to eternity, and to him nothing may be added, + +42:22. Nor can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor. + +42:23. O how desirable are all his works, and what we can know is but +as a spark! + +42:24. All these things live, and remain for ever, and for every use +all things obey him. + +42:25. All things are double, one against another, and he hath made +nothing defective. + +42:26. He hath established the good things of every one. And who shall +be filled with beholding his glory? + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 43 + + +The works of God are exceedingly glorious and wonderful: no man is able +sufficiently to praise him. + +43:1. The firmament on high is his beauty, the beauty of heaven with +its glorious shew. + +43:2. The sun when he appeareth shewing forth at his rising, an +admirable instrument, the work of the most High. + +43:3. At noon he burneth the earth, and who can abide his burning heat? +As one keeping a furnace in the works of heat: + +43:4. The sun three times as much, burneth the mountains, breathing out +fiery vapours, and shining with his beams, he blindeth the eyes. + +43:5. Great is the Lord that made him, and at his words he hath +hastened his course. + +43:6. And the moon in all in her season, is for a declaration of times +and a sign of the world. + +43:7. From the moon is the sign of the festival day, a light that +decreaseth in her perfection. + +43:8. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her +perfection. + +43:9. Being an instrument of the armies on high, shining gloriously in +the firmament of heaven. + +43:10. The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven; the Lord +enlighteneth the world on high. + +43:11. By the words of the holy one they stand in judgment, and shall +never fall in their watches. + +43:12. Look upon the rainbow, and bless him that made it: it is very +beautiful in its brightness. + +43:13. It encompasseth the heaven about with the circle of its glory, +the hands of the most High have displayed it. + +43:14. By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall apace, and sendeth +forth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment. + +43:15. Through this are the treasures opened, and the clouds fly out +like birds. + +43:16. By his greatness he hath fixed the clouds, and the hailstones +are broken. + +43:17. At his sight shall the mountains be shaken, and at his will the +south wind shall blow. + +43:18. The noise of his thunder shall strike the earth, so doth the +northern storm, and the whirlwind: + +43:19. And as the birds lighting upon the earth, he scattereth snow, +and the falling thereof, is as the coming down of locusts. + +43:20. The eye admireth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the +heart is astonished at the shower thereof. + +43:21. He shall pour frost as salt upon the earth: and when it +freezeth, it shall become like the tops of thistles. + +43:22. The cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into +crystal; upon every gathering together of waters it shall rest, and +shall clothe the waters as a breastplate. + +43:23. And it shall devour the mountains, and burn the wilderness, and +consume all that is green as with fire. + +43:24. A present remedy of all is the speedy coming of a cloud, and a +dew that meeteth it, by the heat that cometh, shall overpower it. + +43:25. At his word the wind is still, and with his thought he appeaseth +the deep, and the Lord hath planted islands therein. + +43:26. Let them that sail on the sea, tell the dangers thereof: and +when we hear with our ears, we shall admire. + +43:27. There are great and wonderful works: a variety of beasts, and of +all living things, and the monstrous creatures of whales. + +43:28. Through him is established the end of their journey, and by his +word all things are regulated. + +43:29. We shall say much, and yet shall want words: but the sum of our +words is, He is all. + +43:30. What shall we be able to do to glorify him? for the Almighty +himself is above all his works. + +43:31. The Lord is terrible, and exceeding great, and his power is +admirable. + +43:32. Glorify the Lord as much as ever you can, for he will yet far +exceed, and his magnificence is wonderful. + +43:33. Blessing the Lord, exalt him as much as you can; for he is above +all praise. + +43:34. When you exalt him put forth all your strength, and be not +weary: for you can never go far enough. + +43:35. Who shall see him, and declare him? and who shall magnify him as +he is from the beginning? + +43:36. There are many things hidden from us that are greater than +these: for we have seen but a few of his works. + +43:37. But the Lord hath made all things, and to the godly he hath +given wisdom. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 44 + + +The praises of the holy fathers, in particular of Enoch, Noe, Abraham, +Isaac, and Jacob. + +44:1. Let us now praise men of renown and our fathers in their +generation. + +44:2. The Lord hath wrought great glory through his magnificence from +the beginning. + +44:3. Such as have borne rule in their dominions, men of great power, +and endued with their wisdom, shewing forth in the prophets the dignity +of prophets, + +44:4. And ruling over the present people, and by the strength of wisdom +instructing the people in most holy words. + +44:5. Such as by their skill sought out musical tunes, and published +canticles of the scriptures. + +44:6. Rich men in virtue, studying beautifulness: living at peace in +their houses. + +44:7. All these have gained glory in their generations, and were +praised in their days. + +44:8. They that were born of them have left a name behind them, that +their praises might be related: + +44:9. And there are some, of whom there is no memorial: who are +perished, as if they had never been: and are become as if they had +never been born, and their children with them. + +44:10. But these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed: + +44:11. Good things continue with their seed, + +44:12. Their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath +stood in the covenants. + +44:13. And their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed +and their glory shall not be forsaken. + +44:14. Their bodies are buried in peace, and their name liveth unto +generation and generation. + +44:15. Let the people shew forth their wisdom, and the church declare +their praise. + +44:16. Henoch pleased God, and was translated into paradise, that he +may give repentance to the nations. + +44:17. Noe was found perfect, just, and in the time of wrath he was +made a reconciliation. + +44:18. Therefore was there a remnant left to the earth, when the flood +came. + +44:19. The covenants of the world were made with him, that all flesh +should no more be destroyed with the flood. + +44:20. Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and +there was not found the like to him in glory, who kept the law of the +most High, and was in covenant with him. + +44:21. In his flesh he established the covenant, and in temptation he +was found faithful. + +44:22. Therefore by an oath he gave him glory in his posterity, that he +should increase as the dust of the earth, + +44:23. And that he would exalt his seed as the stars, and they should +inherit from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. + +44:24. And he did in like manner with Isaac for the sake of Abraham his +father. + +44:25. The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his +covenant upon the head of Jacob. + +44:26. He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an +inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes. + +44:27. And he preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the +eyes of all flesh. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 45 + + +The praises of Moses, of Aaron, and of Phinees. + +45:1. Moses was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in +benediction. + +45:2. He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the +fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease. + +45:3. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments +in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory. + +45:4. He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose him out +of all flesh. + +45:5. For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud. + +45:6. And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life +and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his +judgments. + +45:7. He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of the tribe of +Levi: + +45:8. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the +priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in glory, + +45:9. And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him +with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire. + +45:10. He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and an +ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of gold all round +about, + +45:11. That as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that +might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his +people. + +45:12. He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a woven +work of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth: + +45:13. Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious stones +cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a lapidary for a +memorial, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. + +45:14. And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved +Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and delightful to the +eyes for its beauty. + +45:15. Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the +beginning. + +45:16. No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his children +alone, and his grandchildren for ever. + +45:17. His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day. + +45:18. Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil. + +45:19. This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to his +seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, +and to have praise, and to glorify his people in his name. + +45:20. He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice to God, +incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to make reconciliation for +his people: + +45:21. And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants of +his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies, and give +light to Israel in his law. + +45:22. And strangers stood up against him, and through envy the men +that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed him about in the +wilderness, and the congregation of Core in their wrath. + +45:23. The Lord God saw and it pleased him not, and they were consumed +in his wrathful indignation. + +45:24. He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a flame of +fire. + +45:25. And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and +divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of the earth. + +45:26. He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness: for the +sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which he gave to him, and +to his seed. + +45:27. But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and he +hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his portion and +inheritance. + +45:28. Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by imitating +him in the fear of the Lord: + +45:29. And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the +goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for Israel. + +45:30. Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the prince +of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the dignity of priesthood +should be to him and to his seed for ever. + +45:31. And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of the tribe +of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that he might give +wisdom into our heart to judge his people in justice, that their good +things might not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation +everlasting. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 46 + + +The praise of Josue, of Caleb, and of Samuel. + +46:1. Valiant in war was Jesus the son of Nave, who was successor of +Moses among the prophets, who was great according to his name, + +Jesus the son of Nave. . .So Josue is named in the Greek Bibles. For +Josue and Jesus signify the same thing, viz., a saviour. + +46:2. Very great for the saving the elect of God, to overthrow the +enemies that rose up against them, that he might get the inheritance +for Israel. + +46:3. How great glory did he gain when he lifted up his hands, and +stretched out swords against the cities? + +46:4. Who before him hath so resisted? for the Lord himself brought the +enemies. + +46:5. Was not the sun stopped in his anger, and one day made as two? + +46:6. He called upon the most high Sovereign when the enemies assaulted +him on every side, and the great and holy God heard him by hailstones +of exceeding great force. + +46:7. He made a violent assault against the nation of his enemies, and +in the descent he destroyed the adversaries. + +And in the descent. . .Of Beth-horon (Jos. 10.). + +46:8. That the nations might know his power, that it is not easy to +fight against God. And he followed the mighty one: + +46:9. And in the days of Moses he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the +son of Jephone, in standing against the enemy, and withholding the +people from sins, and appeasing the wicked murmuring. + +46:10. And they two being appointed, were delivered out of the danger +from among the number of six hundred thousand men on foot, to bring +them into their inheritance, into the land that floweth with milk and +honey. + +46:11. And the Lord gave strength also to Caleb, and his strength +continued even to his old age, so that he went up to the high places of +the land, and his seed obtained it for an inheritance: + +46:12. That all the children of Israel might see, that it is good to +obey the holy God. + +46:13. Then all the judges, every one by name, whose heart was not +corrupted: who turned not away from the Lord, + +46:14. That their memory might be blessed, and their bones spring up +out of their place, + +46:15. And their name continue for ever, the glory of the holy men +remaining unto their children. + +46:16. Samuel the prophet of the Lord, the beloved of the Lord his God, +established a new government, and anointed princes over his people. + +46:17. By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the God +of Jacob beheld, and by his fidelity he was proved a prophet. + +46:18. And he was known to be faithful in his words, because he saw the +God of light: + +46:19. And called upon the name of the Lord Almighty, in fighting +against the enemies who beset him on every side, when he offered a lamb +without blemish. + +46:20. And the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made +his voice to be heard. + +46:21. And he crushed the princes of the Tyrians, and all the lords of +the Philistines: + +46:22. And before the time of the end of his life in the world, he +protested before the Lord, and his anointed: money, or any thing else, +even to a shoe, he had not taken of any man, and no man did accuse him. + +46:23. And after this he slept, and he made known to the king, and +shewed him the end of his life, and he lifted up his voice from the +earth in prophecy to blot out the wickedness of the nation. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 47 + + +The praise of Nathan, of David, and of Solomon: Of his fall and +punishment. + +47:1. Then Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David. + +47:2. And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David chosen +from among the children of Israel. + +47:3. He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did in like +manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his youth. + +47:4. Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his +people? + +47:5. In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he beat down +the boasting of Goliath: + +47:6. For he called upon the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in +his right hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the horn +of his nation. + +47:7. So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in the +blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of glory: + +47:8. For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated the +Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke their horn for +ever. + +47:9. In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to the most +High, with words of glory. + +47:10. With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God that +made him: and he gave him power against his enemies: + +47:11. And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices he made +sweet melody. + +47:12. And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the +solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should praise the +holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness of God in the morning. + +47:13. The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: and +he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel. + +47:14. After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast down all +the power of the enemies. + +47:15. Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his +enemies under him, that he might build a house in his name, and prepare +a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast thou in thy youth! + +47:16. And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul +covered the earth. + +47:17. And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went +abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace. + +47:18. The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and proverbs, +and parables, and interpretations, + +47:19. And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of +Israel. + +47:20. Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply silver as +lead, + +47:21. And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast +brought under subjection. + +47:22. Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring +wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled, + +47:23. That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of +Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule. + +47:24. But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not destroy, +nor abolish his own works, neither will he cut up by the roots the +offspring of his elect: and he will not utterly take away the seed of +him that loveth the Lord. + +47:25. Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the same +stock. + +47:26. And Solomon had an end with his fathers. + +47:27. And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the nation, + +47:28. Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the people +through his counsel: + +47:29. And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin, and +shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were multiplied +exceedingly. + +47:30. They removed them far away from their land. + +47:31. And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came upon +them, and put an end to all their sins. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 48 + + +The praise of Elias, of Eliseus, of Ezechias, and of Isaias. + +48:1. And Elias the prophet stood up, as a fire, and his word burnt +like a torch. + +48:2. He brought a famine upon them, and they that provoked him in +their envy, were reduced to a small number, for they could not endure +the commandments of the Lord. + +48:3. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heaven, and he brought +down fire from heaven thrice. + +48:4. Thus was Elias magnified in his wondrous works. And who can glory +like to thee? + +48:5. Who raisedst up a dead man from below, from the lot of death, by +the word of the Lord God. + +48:6. Who broughtest down kings to destruction, and brokest easily +their power in pieces, and the glorious from their bed. + +48:7. Who heardest judgment in Sina, and in Horeb the judgments of +vengeance. + +48:8. Who anointedst kings to penance, and madest prophets successors +after thee. + +48:9. Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery +horses. + +48:10. Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the +wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and +to restore the tribes of Jacob. + +48:11. Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy +friendship. + +48:12. For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not +be such. + +48:13. Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was +filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man +was more powerful than he. + +48:14. No word could overcome him, and after death his body prophesied. + +48:15. In his life he did great wonders, and in death he wrought +miracles. + +48:16. For all this the people repented not, neither did they depart +from their sins till they were cast out of their land, and were +scattered through all the earth. + +48:17. And there was left but a small people, and a prince in the house +of David. + +48:18. Some of these did that which pleased God: but others committed +many sins. + +48:19. Ezechias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst +thereof, and he digged a rock with iron, and made a well for water. + +48:20. In his days Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted +up his hand against them, and he stretched out his hand against Sion, +and became proud through his power. + +48:21. Then their hearts and hands trembled, and they were in pain as +women in travail. + +48:22. And they called upon the Lord who is merciful, and spreading +their hands, they lifted them up to heaven: and the holy Lord God +quickly heard their voice. + +48:23. He was not mindful of their sins, neither did he deliver them up +to their enemies, but he purified them by the hand of Isaias, the holy +prophet. + +48:24. He overthrew the army of the Assyrians, and the angel of the +Lord destroyed them. + +48:25. For Ezechias did that which pleased God, and walked valiantly in +the way of David his father, which Isaias, the great prophet, and +faithful in the sight of God, had commanded him. + +48:26. In his days the sun wen backward, and he lengthened the king's +life. + +48:27. With a great spirit he saw the things that are to come to pass +at last, and comforted the mourners in Sion. + +48:28. He showed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things +before they came. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 49 + + +The praise of Josias, of Jeremias, Ezechiel, and the twelve prophets. +Also of Zorobabel, Jesus the son of Josedech, Nehemias, Enoch, Joseph, +Seth, Sem, and Adam. + +49:1. The memory of Josias is like the composition of a sweet smell +made by the art of a perfumer: + +49:2. His remembrance shall be sweet as honey in every mouth, and as +music at a banquet of wine. + +49:3. He was directed by God unto the repentance of the nation, and he +took away the abominations of wickedness. + +49:4. And he directed his heart towards the Lord, and in the days of +sinners he strengthened godliness. + +49:5. Except David, and Ezechias and Josias, all committed sin. + +49:6. For the kings of Juda forsook the law of the most High, and +despised the fear of God. + +49:7. So they gave their kingdom to others, and their glory to a +strange nation, + +49:8. They burnt the chosen city of holiness, and made the streets +thereof desolate according to the prediction of Jeremias. + +49:9. For they treated him evil, who was consecrated a prophet from his +mother's womb, to overthrow, and pluck up, and destroy, and to build +again, and renew. + +49:10. It was Ezechiel that saw the glorious vision, which was shewn +him upon the chariot of cherubims. + +49:11. For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of rain, and +of doing good to them that shewed right ways. + +49:12. And may the bones of the twelve prophets spring up out of their +place: for they strengthened Jacob, and redeemed themselves by strong +faith. + +49:13. How shall we magnify Zorobabel? for he was as a signet on the +right hand; + +49:14. In like manner Jesus the son of Josedec who in their days built +the house, and set up a holy temple to the Lord, prepared for +everlasting glory. + +49:15. And let Nehemias be a long time remembered, who raised up for us +our walls that were cast down, and set up the gates and the bars, who +rebuilt our houses. + +49:16. No man was born upon earth like Henoch: for he also was taken up +from the earth. + +49:17. Nor as Joseph, who was a man born prince of his brethren, the +support of his family, the ruler of his brethren, the stay of the +people: + +49:18. And his bones were visited, and after death they prophesied. + +They prophesied. . .That is, by their being carried out of Egypt they +verified the prophetic prediction of Joseph. Gen. 50. + +49:19. Seth and Sem obtained glory among men: and above every soul Adam +in the beginning, + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 50 + + +The praises of Simon the high priest. The conclusion. + +50:1. Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped +up the house, and in his days fortified the temple. + +50:2. By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double +building and the high walls of the temple. + +50:3. In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled +as the sea above measure. + +50:4. He took care of his nation, and delivered it from destruction. + +50:5. He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in his +conversation with the people: and enlarged the entrance of the house +and the court. + +50:6. He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, +and as the moon at the full. + +50:7. And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of +God. + +50:8. And as the rainbow giving light in bright clouds, and as the +flower of roses in the days of the spring, and as the lilies that are +on the brink of the water, and as the sweet smelling frankincense in +the time of summer. + +50:9. As a bright fire, and frankincense burning in the fire. + +50:10. As a massy vessel of gold, adorned with every precious stone. + +50:11. As an olive tree budding forth, and a cypress tree rearing +itself on high, when he put on the robe of glory, and was clothed with +the perfection of power. + +Clothed with the perfection of power. . .That is, with all the vestments +denoting his dignity and authority. + +50:12. When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture of +holiness. + +50:13. And when he took the portions out of the hands of the priests, +he himself stood by the altar. And about him was the ring of his +brethren: and as the cedar planted in mount Libanus, + +50:14. And as branches of palm trees, they stood round about him, and +all the sons of Aaron in their glory. + +50:15. And the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, before all the +congregation of Israel: and finishing his service, on the altar, to +honour the offering of the most high King, + +50:16. He stretched forth his hand to make a libation, and offered of +the blood of the grape. + +50:17. He poured out at the foot of the altar a divine odour to the +most high Prince. + +50:18. Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded with beaten +trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard for a remembrance before +God. + +50:19. Then all the people together made haste, and fell down to the +earth upon their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to pray to the +Almighty God the most High. + +50:20. And the singers lifted up their voices, and in the great house +the sound of sweet melody was increased. + +50:21. And the people in prayer besought the Lord the most High, until +the worship of the Lord was perfected, and they had finished their +office. + +50:22. Then coming down, he lifted up his hands over all the +congregation of the children of Israel, to give glory to God with his +lips, and to glory in his name: + +50:23. And he repeated his prayer, willing to shew the power of God. + +50:24. And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great things in +all the earth, who hath increased our days from our mother's womb, and +hath done with us according to his mercy. + +50:25. May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be peace in +our days in Israel for ever: + +50:26. That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us, to +deliver us in his days. + +50:27. There are two nations which my soul abhorreth: and the third is +no nation: which I hate: + +Abhorreth. . .Viz., with a holy indignation, as enemies of God and +persecutors of his people. Such were then the Edomites who abode in +mount Seir, the Philistines, and the Samaritans who dwelt in Sichem, +and had their schismatical temple in that neighbourhood. + +50:28. They that sit on mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the +foolish people that dwell in Sichem. + +50:29. Jesus the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, hath written in this book +the doctrine of wisdom and instruction, who renewed wisdom from his +heart. + +50:30. Blessed is he that is conversant in these good things and he +that layeth them up in his heart, shall be wise always. + +50:31. For if he do them, he shall be strong to do all things: because +the light of God guideth his steps. + + + +Ecclesiasticus Chapter 51 + + +A prayer of praise and thanksgiving. + +51:1. A prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach. I will give glory to thee, O +Lord, O King, and I will praise thee, O God my Saviour. + +51:2. I will give glory to thy name: for thou hast been a helper and +protector to me. + +51:3. And hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an +unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the +sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper. + +51:4. And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the +mercy of thy name, from them that did roar, prepared to devour. + +51:5. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates +of afflictions, which compassed me about: + +51:6. From the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the +midst of the fire I was not burnt. + +51:7. From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, +and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous +tongue: + +51:8. My soul shall praise the Lord even to death. + +51:9. And my life was drawing near to hell beneath. + +51:10. They compassed me on every side, and there was no one that would +help me. I looked for the succour of men, and there was none. + +51:11. I remembered thy mercy, O Lord, and thy works, which are from +the beginning of the world. + +51:12. How thou deliverest them that wait for thee, O Lord, and savest +them out of the hands of the nations. + +51:13. Thou hast exalted my dwelling place upon the earth and I have +prayed for death to pass away. + +51:14. I called upon the Lord, the father of my Lord, that he would not +leave me in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud without +help. + +51:15. I will praise thy name continually, and will praise it with +thanksgiving, and my prayer was heard. + +51:16. And thou hast saved me from destruction, and hast delivered me +from the evil time. + +51:17. Therefore I will give thanks, and praise thee, and bless the +name of the Lord. + +51:18. When I was yet young, before I wandered about, I sought for +wisdom openly in my prayer. + +51:19. I prayed for her before the temple, and unto the very end I will +seek after her, and she flourished as a grape soon ripe. + +51:20. My heart delighted in her, my foot walked in the right way, from +my youth up I sought after her. + +51:21. I bowed down my ear a little, and received her. + +51:22. I found much wisdom in myself, and profited much therein. + +51:23. To him that giveth me wisdom, will I give glory. + +51:24. For I have determined to follow her: I have had a zeal for good, +and shall not be confounded. + +51:25. My soul hath wrestled for her, and in doing it I have been +confirmed. + +51:26. I stretched forth my hands on high, and I bewailed my ignorance +of her. + +51:27. I directed my soul to her, and in knowledge I found her. + +51:28. I possessed my heart with her from the beginning: therefore I +shall not be forsaken. + +51:29. My entrails were troubled in seeking her: therefore shall I +possess a good possession. + +51:30. The Lord hath given me a tongue for my reward: and with it I +will praise him. + +51:31. Draw near to me, ye unlearned, and gather yourselves together +into the hours of discipline. + +51:32. Why are ye slow and what do you say of these things? your souls +are exceeding thirsty. + +51:33. I have opened my mouth, and have spoken: buy her for yourselves +without silver, + +51:34. And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive +discipline: for she is near at hand to be found. + +51:35. Behold with your eyes how I have laboured a little, and have +found much rest to myself. + +51:36. Receive ye discipline as a great sum of money, and possess +abundance of gold by her. + +51:37. Let your soul rejoice in his mercy and you shall not be +confounded in his praise. + +51:38. Work your work before the time, and he will give you your reward +in his time. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAS + + + +This inspired writer is called by the Holy Ghost, the great prophet, +(Ecclesiasticus 48.25,) from the greatness of his prophetic spirit, by +which he hath foretold so long before, and in so clear a manner, the +coming of Christ, the mysteries of our redemption, the calling of the +Gentiles, and the glorious establishment, and perpetual flourishing of +the church of Christ: insomuch that he may seem to have been rather an +evangelist than a prophet. His very name is not without mystery; for +Isaias in Hebrew signifies the salvation of the Lord, or Jesus is the +Lord. He was, according to the tradition of the Hebrews, of the blood +royal of the kings of Juda: and after a most holy life, ended his days +by a glorious martyrdom; being sawed in two, at the command of his +wicked son in law, King Manasses, for reproving his evil ways. + + + +Isaias Chapter 1 + + +The prophet complains of the sins of Juda and Jerusalem, and exhorts +them to a sincere conversion. + +1:1. The vision of Isaias the Son of Amos, which he saw concerning Juda +and Jerusalem in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings +of Juda. + +1:2. Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath +spoken. I have brought up children, and exalted them: but they have +despised me. + +1:3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but +Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood. + +1:4. Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked +seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have +blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards. + +1:5. For what shall I strike you any more, you that increase +transgression? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is sad. + +1:6. From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no +soundness therein: wounds and bruises and swelling sores: they are not +bound up, nor dressed, nor fomented with oil. + +1:7. Your land is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your +country strangers devour before your face, and it shall be desolate as +when wasted by enemies. + +1:8. And the daughter of Sion shall be left as a covert in a vineyard, +and as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, and as a city that is laid +waste. + +1:9. Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been as Sodom, +and we should have been like to Gomorrha. + +1:10. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the +law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha. + +1:11. To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims, +saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of +fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats. + +1:12. When you came to appear before me, who required these things at +your hands, that you should walk in my courts? + +1:13. Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me. +The new moons, and the sabbaths and other festivals I will not abide, +your assemblies are wicked. + +1:14. My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are +become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them. + +1:15. And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes +from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands +are full of blood. + +1:16. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices +from my eyes, cease to do perversely, + +1:17. Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for +the fatherless, defend the widow. + +1:18. And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as +scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as +crimson, they shall be white as wool. + +1:19. If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good +things of the land. + +1:20. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath: the sword +shall devour you because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. + +1:21. How is the faithful city, that was full of judgment, become a +harlot? justice dwelt in it, but now murderers. + +1:22. Thy silver is turned into dross: thy wine is mingled with water. + +1:23. Thy princes are faithless, companions of thieves: they all love +bribes, they run after rewards. They judge not for the fatherless: and +the widow's cause cometh not in to them. + +1:24. Therefore saith the Lord the God of hosts, the mighty one of +Israel: Ah! I will comfort myself over my adversaries: and I will be +revenged of my enemies. + +1:25. And I will turn my hand to thee, and I will clean purge away thy +dross, and I will take away all thy tin. + +1:26. And I will restore thy judges as they were before, and thy +counsellors as of old. After this thou shalt be called the city of the +just, a faithful city. + +1:27. Sion shall be redeemed in judgment, and they shall bring her back +in justice. + +1:28. And he shall destroy the wicked, and the sinners together: and +they that have forsaken the Lord, shall be consumed. + +1:29. For they shall be confounded for the idols, to which they have +sacrificed: and you shall be ashamed of the gardens which you have +chosen. + +1:30. When you shall be as an oak with the leaves falling off, and as a +garden without water. + +1:31. And your strength shall be as the ashes of tow, and your work as +a spark: and both shall burn together, and there shall be none to +quench it. + + + +Isaias Chapter 2 + + +All nations shall flow to the church of Christ. The Jews shall be +rejected for their sins. Idolatry shall be destroyed. + +2:1. The word that Isaias the son of Amos saw, concerning Juda and +Jerusalem. + +2:2. And in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall +be prepared on the top of mountains, and it shall be exalted above the +hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. + +The last days. . .The whole time of the new law, from the coming of +Christ till the end of the world, is called in the scripture the last +days; because no other age or time shall come after it, but only +eternity.--Ibid. On the top of mountains, etc. . .This shews the +perpetual visibility of the church of Christ: for a mountain upon the +top of mountains cannot be hid. + +2:3. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the +mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will +teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall +come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. + +2:4. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people: and they +shall turn their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into +sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall +they be exercised any more to war. + +2:5. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the +Lord. + +2:6. For thou hast cast off thy people, the house of Jacob: because +they are filled as in times past, and have had soothsayers as the +Philistines, and have adhered to strange children. + +2:7. Their land is filled with silver and gold: and there is no end of +their treasures. + +2:8. And their land is filled with horses: and their chariots are +innumerable. Their land also is full of idols: they have adored the +work of their own hands, which their own fingers have made. + +2:9. And man hath bowed himself down, and man hath been debased: +therefore forgive them not. + +2:10. Enter thou into the rock, and hide thee in the pit from the face +of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his majesty. + +2:11. The lofty eyes of man are humbled, and the haughtiness of men +shall be made to stoop: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that +day. + +2:12. Because the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that +is proud and highminded, and upon every one that is arrogant, and he +shall be humbled. + +2:13. And upon all the tall and lofty cedars of Libanus, and upon all +the oaks of Basan. + +2:14. And upon all the high mountains and upon all the elevated hills. + +2:15. And upon every high tower, and every fenced wall. + +2:16. And upon all the ships of Tharsis, and upon all that is fair to +behold. + +2:17. And the loftiness of men shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness +of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that +day. + +2:18. And idols shall be utterly destroyed. + +Idols shall be utterly destroyed. . .or utterly pass away. This was +verified by the establishment of Christianity. And by this and other +texts of the like nature, the wild system of some modern sectaries is +abundantly confuted, who charge the whole Christian church with +worshipping idols, for many ages. + +2:19. And they shall go into the holes of rocks, and into the caves of +the earth from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of +his majesty, when he shall rise up to strike the earth. + +2:20. In that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his +idols of gold, which he had made for himself to adore, moles and bats. + +2:21. And he shall go into the clefts of rocks, and into the holes of +stones from the face of the fear of the Lord, and from the glory of his +majesty, when he shall rise up to strike the earth. + +2:22. Cease ye therefore from the man, whose breath is in his nostrils, +for he is reputed high. + + + +Isaias Chapter 3 + + +The confusion and other evils that shall come upon the Jews for their +sins. The pride of their women shall be punished. + +3:1. For behold the sovereign Lord of hosts shall take away from +Jerusalem, and from Juda the valiant and the strong, the whole strength +of bread, and the whole strength of water. + +3:2. The strong man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet and +the cunning man, and the ancient. + +3:3. The captain over fifty, and the honourable in countenance, and the +counsellor, and the architect, and the skilful in eloquent speech. + +3:4. And I will give children to be their princes, and the effeminate +shall rule over them. + +3:5. And the people shall rush one upon another, and every man against +his neighbour: the child shall make a tumult against the ancient, and +the base against the honourable. + +3:6. For a man shall take hold of his brother, one of the house of his +father, saying: Thou hast a garment, be thou our ruler, and let this +ruin be under thy hand. + +3:7. In that day he shall answer, saying: I am no healer, and in my +house there is no bread, nor clothing: make me not ruler of the people. + +3:8. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Juda is fallen: because their tongue, +and their devices are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his +majesty. + +3:9. The shew of their countenance hath answered them: and they have +proclaimed abroad their sin as Sodom, and they have not hid it: woe to +their souls, for evils are rendered to them. + +3:10. Say to the just man that it is well, for he shall eat the fruit +of his doings. + +3:11. Woe to the wicked unto evil: for the reward of his hands shall be +given him. + +3:12. As for my people, their oppressors have stripped them, and women +have ruled over them. O my people, they that call thee blessed, the +same deceive thee, and destroy the way of thy steps. + +3:13. The Lord standeth up to judge, and he standeth to judge the +people. + +3:14. The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his +people, and its princes: for you have devoured the vineyard, and the +spoil of the poor is in your house. + +3:15. Why do you consume my people, and grind the faces of the poor? +saith the Lord the God of hosts. + +3:16. And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and +have walked with stretched out necks, and wanton glances of their eyes, +and made a noise as they walked with their feet and moved in a set +pace: + +3:17. The Lord will make bald the crown of the head of the daughters of +Sion, and the Lord will discover their hair. + +3:18. In that day the Lord will take away the ornaments of shoes, and +little moons, + +3:19. And chains and necklaces, and bracelets, and bonnets, + +3:20. And bodkins, and ornaments of the legs, and tablets, and sweet +balls, and earrings, + +3:21. And rings, and jewels hanging on the forehead, + +3:22. And changes of apparel, and short cloaks, and fine linen, and +crisping pins, + +3:23. And lookingglasses, and lawns, and headbands, and fine veils. + +3:24. And instead of a sweet smell there shall be stench, and instead +of a girdle, a cord, and instead of curled hair, baldness, and instead +of a stomacher, haircloth. + +3:25. Thy fairest men also shall fall by the sword, and thy valiant +ones in battle. + +3:26. And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she shall sit desolate +on the ground. + + + +Isaias Chapter 4 + + +After an extremity of evils that shall fall upon the Jews, a remnant +shall be comforted by Christ. + +4:1. And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We +will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called +by thy name, take away our reproach. + +4:2. In that day the bud of the Lord shall be in magnificence and +glory, and the fruit of the earth shall be high, and a great joy to +them that shall have escaped of Israel. + +The bud of the Lord. . .That is, Christ. + +4:3. And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall be left in +Sion, and that shall remain in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every +one that is written in life in Jerusalem. + +4:4. If the Lord shall wash away the filth of the daughters of Sion, +and shall wash away the blood of Jerusalem out of the midst thereof, by +the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. + +4:5. And the Lord will create upon every place of mount Sion, and where +he is called upon, a cloud by day, and a smoke and the brightness of a +flaming fire in the night: for over all the glory shall be a +protection. + +4:6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade in the daytime from +the heat, and for a security and covert from the whirlwind, and from +rain. + + + +Isaias Chapter 5 + + +The reprobation of the Jews is foreshewn under the parable of a +vineyard. A woe is pronounced against sinners: the army of God shall +send against them. + +5:1. I will sing to my beloved the canticle of my cousin concerning his +vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place. + +My cousin. . .So the prophet calls Christ, as being of his family and +kindred, by descending from the house of David. Ibid. On a hill, +etc. . .Literally, in the horn, the son of oil. + +5:2. And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted +it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof, and +set up a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth +grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. + +5:3. And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye men of Juda, judge +between me and my vineyard. + +5:4. What is there that I ought to do more to my vineyard, that I have +not done to it? was it that I looked that it should bring forth grapes, +and it hath brought forth wild grapes? + +5:5. And now I will shew you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take +away the hedge thereof, and it shall be wasted: I will break down the +wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down. + +5:6. And I will make it desolate: it shall not be pruned, and it shall +not be digged: but briers and thorns shall come up: and I will command +the clouds to rain no rain upon it. + +5:7. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel: and +the man of Juda, his pleasant plant: and I looked that he should do +judgment, and behold iniquity: and do justice, and behold a cry. + +5:8. Woe to you that join house to house and lay field to field, even +to the end of the place: shall you alone dwell in the midst of the +earth? + +5:9. These things are in my ears, saith the Lord of hosts: Unless many +great and fair houses shall become desolate, without an inhabitant. + +5:10. For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one little measure, and +thirty bushels of seed shall yield three bushels. + +5:11. Woe to you that rise up early in the morning to follow +drunkenness, and to drink in the evening, to be inflamed with wine. + +5:12. The harp, and the lyre, and, the timbrel and the pipe, and wine +are in your feasts: and the work of the Lord you regard not, nor do you +consider the works of his hands. + +5:13. Therefore is my people led away captive, because they had not +knowledge, and their nobles have perished with famine, and their +multitude were dried up with thirst. + +5:14. Therefore hath hell enlarged her soul, and opened her mouth +without any bounds, and their strong ones, and their people, and their +high and glorious ones shall go down into it. + +5:15. And man shall be brought down, and man shall be humbled, and the +eyes of the lofty shall be brought low. + +5:16. And the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and the holy +God shall be sanctified in justice. + +5:17. And the lambs shall feed according to their order, and strangers +shall eat the deserts turned into fruitfulness. + +5:18. Woe to you that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as +the rope of a cart. + +5:19. That say: Let him make haste, and let his work come quickly, that +we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that +we may know it. + +5:20. Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness +for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet +for bitter. + +5:21. Woe to you that are wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your +own conceits. + +5:22. Woe to you that are mighty to drink wine, and stout men at +drunkenness. + +5:23. That justify the wicked for gifts, and take away the justice of +the just from him. + +5:24. Therefore as the tongue of the fire devoureth the stubble, and +the heat of the flame consumeth it: so shall their root be as ashes, +and their bud shall go up as dust: for they have cast away the law of +the Lord of hosts, and have blasphemed the word of the Holy One of +Israel. + +5:25. Therefore is the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people, +and he hath stretched out his hand upon them, and struck them: and the +mountains were troubles, and their carcasses became as dung in the +midst of the streets. For after this his anger is not turned away, but +his hand is stretched out still. + +5:26. And he will lift up a sign to the nations afar off, and will +whistle to them from the ends of the earth: and behold they shall come +with speed swiftly. + +5:27. There is none that shall faint, nor labour among them: they shall +not slumber nor sleep, neither shall the girdle of their loins be +loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken. + +5:28. Their arrows are sharp, and all their bows are bent. The hoofs of +their horses shall be like the flint, and their wheels like the +violence of a tempest. + +5:29. Their roaring like that of a lion, they shall roar like young +lions: yea they shall roar, and take hold of the prey, and they shall +keep fast hold of it, and there shall be none to deliver it. + +5:30. And they shall make a noise against them that day, like the +roaring of the sea; we shall look towards the land, and behold darkness +of tribulation, and the light is darkened with the mist thereof. + + + +Isaias Chapter 6 + + +A glorious vision, in which the prophet's lips are cleansed: he +foretelleth the obstinacy of the Jews. + +6:1. In the year that king Ozias died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a +throne high and elevated: and his train filled the temple. + +6:2. Upon it stood the seraphims: the one had six wings, and the other +had six wings: with two they covered his face, and with two they +covered his feet, and with two they flew. + +6:3. And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the +Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory, + +6:4. And the lintels of the doors were moved at the voice of him that +cried, and the house was filled with smoke. + +6:5. And I said: Woe is me, because I have held my peace; because I am +a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people that hath +unclean lips, and I have seen with my eyes the King the Lord of hosts. + +6:6. And one of the seraphims flew to me, and in his hand was a live +coal, which he had taken with the tongs off the altar. + +6:7. And he touched my mouth, and said: Behold this hath touched thy +lips, and thy iniquities shall be taken away, and thy sin shall be +cleansed. + +6:8. And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send? and +who shall go for us? And I said: Lo, here am I, send me. + +6:9. And he said: Go, and thou shalt say to this people: Hearing, hear, +and understand not: and see the vision, and know it not. + +6:10. Blind the heart of this people, and make their ears heavy, and +shut their eyes: lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their +ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and I heal +them. + +6:11. And I said: How long, O Lord? And he said: Until the cities be +wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land +shall be left desolate. + +6:12. And the Lord shall remove men far away, and she shall be +multiplied that was left in the midst of the earth. + +6:13. And there shall be still a tithing therein, and she shall turn, +and shall be made a show as a turpentine tree, and as an oak that +spreadeth its branches: that which shall stand therein, shall be a holy +seed. + + + +Isaias Chapter 7 + + +The prophet assures king Achaz that the two kings his enemies shall not +take Jerusalem. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son. + +7:1. And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the +son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria and Phacee the son +of Romelia king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem, to fight against it: +but they could not prevail over it. + +7:2. And they told the house of David, saying: Syria hath rested upon +Ephraim, and his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the +trees of the woods are moved with the wind. + +7:3. And the Lord said to Isaias: Go forth to meet Achaz, thou and +Jasub thy son that is left, to the conduit of the upper pool in the way +of the fuller's field. + +7:4. And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let +not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking +with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of +Romelia. + +7:5. Because Syria hath taken counsel against thee, unto the evil of +Ephraim and the son of Romelia, saying: + +7:6. Let us go up to Juda, and rouse it up, and draw it away to us, and +make the son of Tabeel king in the midst thereof. + +7:7. Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, and this shall not +be. + +7:8. But the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is +Rasin: and within threescore and five years, Ephraim shall cease to be +a people: + +7:9. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the +son of Romelia. If you will not believe, you shall not continue. + +7:10. And the Lord spoke again to Achaz, saying: + +7:11. Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of +hell, or unto the height above. + +7:12. And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. + +7:13. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small +thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God +also? + +7:14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin +shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel. + +7:15. He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the +evil, and to choose the good. + +7:16. For before the child know to refuse the evil and to choose the +good, the land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of the face of +her two kings. + +7:17. The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon the +house of thy father, days that have not come since the time of the +separation of Ephraim from Juda with the king of the Assyrians. + +7:18. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss +for the fly, that is in the uttermost parts of the rivers of Egypt, and +for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. + +7:19. And they shall come, and shall all of them rest in the torrents +of the valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all places set +with shrubs, and in all hollow places. + +7:20. In that day the Lord shall shave with a razor that is hired by +them that are beyond the river, by the king of the Assyrians, the head +and the hairs of the feet, and the whole beard. + +7:21. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a +young cow, and two sheep. + +7:22. And for the abundance of milk he shall eat butter: for butter and +honey shall every one eat that shall be left in the midst of the land. + +7:23. And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place where +there were a thousand vines, at a thousand pieces of silver, shall +become thorns and briers. + +7:24. With arrows and with bows they shall go in thither: for briers +and thorns shall be in all the land. + +7:25. And as for the hills that shall be raked with a rake, the fear of +thorns and briers shall not come thither, but they shall be for the ox +to feed on, and the lesser cattle to tread upon. + + + +Isaias Chapter 8 + + +The name of a child that is to be born: many evils shall come upon the +Jews for their sins. + +8:1. And the Lord said to me: Take thee a great book, and write in it +with a man's pen. Take away the spoils with speed, quickly take the +prey. + +8:2. And I took unto me faithful witnesses, Urias the priest, and +Zacharias the son of Barachias. + +8:3. And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. +And the Lord said to me: Call his name, Hasten to take away the spoils: +Make hast to take away the prey. + +8:4. For before the child know to call his father and his mother, the +strength of Damascus, and the spoils of Samaria shall be taken away +before the king of the Assyrians. + +8:5. And the Lord spoke to me again, saying: + +8:6. Forasmuch as this people hath cast away the waters of Siloe, that +go with silence, and hath rather taken Rasin, and the son of Romelia: + +8:7. Therefore behold the Lord will bring upon them the waters of the +river strong and many, the king of the Assyrians, and all his glory: +and he shall come up over all his channels, and shall overflow all his +banks. + +8:8. And shall pass through Juda, overflowing, and going over shall +reach even to the neck. And the stretching out of his wings shall fill +the breadth of thy, land, O Emmanuel. + +8:9. Gather yourselves together, O ye people, and be overcome, and give +ear, all ye lands afar off: strengthen yourselves, and be overcome, +gird yourselves, and be overcome. + +8:10. Take counsel together, and it shall be defeated: speak a word, +and it shall not be done: because God is with us. + +8:11. For thus saith the Lord to me: As he hath taught me, with a +strong arm, that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: + +8:12. Say ye not: A conspiracy: for all that this people speaketh, is a +conspiracy: neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. + +8:13. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself: and let him be your fear, and +let him be your dread. + +8:14. And he shall be a sanctification to you. But for a stone of +stumbling, and for a rock of offence to the two houses of Israel, for a +snare and a ruin to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. + +8:15. And very many of them shall stumble and fall, and shall be broken +in pieces, and shall be snared, and taken. + +8:16. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. + +8:17. And I will wait for the Lord, who hath hid his face from the +house of Jacob, and I will look for him. + +8:18. Behold I and my children, whom the Lord hath given me for a sign, +and for a wonder in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwelleth in +mount Sion. + +8:19. And when they shall say to you: Seek of pythons, and of diviners, +who mutter in their enchantments: should not the people seek of their +God, for the living of the dead? + +Seek of pythons. . .That is, people pretending to tell future things by +a prophesying spirit.--Ibid. Should not the people seek of their God, +for the living of the dead?. . .Here is signified, that it is to God we +should pray to be directed, and not to seek of the dead, (that is, of +fortune-tellers dead in sin,) for the health of the living. + +8:20. To the law rather, and to the testimony. And if they speak not +according to this word, they shall not have the morning light. + +8:21. And they shall pass by it, they shall fall, and be hungry: and +when they shall be hungry, they will be angry, and curse their king, +and their God, and look upwards. + +8:22. And they shall look to the earth, and behold trouble and +darkness, weakness and distress, and a mist following them, and they +cannot fly away from their distress. + + + +Isaias Chapter 9 + + +What joy shall come after afflictions by the birth and kingdom of +Christ; which shall flourish for ever. Judgments upon Israel for their +sins. + +9:1. At the first time the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali +was lightly touched: and at the last the way of the sea beyond the +Jordan of the Galilee of the Gentiles was heavily loaded. + +9:2. The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to +them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. + +9:3. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast not increased the joy. +They shall rejoice before thee, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as +conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils. + +9:4. For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and +the sceptre of their oppressor thou hast overcome, as in the day of +Madian. + +9:5. For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment +mingled with blood, shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire. + +9:6. For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the +government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called +Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, +the Prince of Peace. + +9:7. His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of +peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to +establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from +henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform +this. + +9:8. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. + +9:9. And all the people of Ephraim shall know, and the inhabitants of +Samaria that say in the pride and haughtiness of their heart: + +9:10. The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with square stones: +they have cut down the sycamores, but we will change them for cedars. + +9:11. And the Lord shall set up the enemies of Rasin over him, and +shall bring on his enemies in a crowd: + +9:12. The Syrians from the east, and, the Philistines from the west: +and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his +indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. + +9:13. And the people are not returned to him who hath struck them, and +have not sought after the Lord of hosts. + +9:14. And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, +him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day. + +9:15. The aged and honourable, he is the head: and the prophet that +teacheth lies, he is the tail. + +9:16. And they that call this people blessed, shall cause them to err: +and they that are called blessed, shall be thrown down, headlong. + +9:17. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men: neither +shall he have mercy on their fatherless, and widows: for every one is a +hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth hath spoken folly. For all this +his indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out +still. + +9:18. For wickedness is kindled as a fire, it shall devour the brier +and the thorn: and shall kindle in the thicket of the forest, and it +shall be wrapped up in smoke ascending on high. + +9:19. By the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is troubled, and the +people shall be as fuel for the fire: no man shall spare his brother. + +9:20. And he shall turn to the right hand, and shall be hungry: and +shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be filled: every one shall +eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, +and they together shall be against Juda. + +9:21. After all these things his indignation is not turned away, but +his hand is stretched out still. + + + +Isaias Chapter 10 + + +Woe to the makers of wicked laws. The Assyrian shall be a rod for +punishing Israel: but for their pride they shall be destroyed: and a +remnant of Israel saved. + +10:1. Woe to them that make wicked laws: and when they write, write +injustice: + +10:2. To oppress the poor in judgment, and do violence to the cause of +the humble of my people: that widows might be their prey, and that they +might rob the fatherless. + +10:3. What will you do in the day of visitation, and of the calamity +which cometh from afar? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will +ye leave your glory? + +10:4. That you be not bowed down under the bond, and fall with the +slain? In all these things his anger is not turned away, but his hand +is stretched out still. + +10:5. Woe to the Assyrian, he is the rod and the staff of my anger, and +my indignation is in their hands. + +10:6. I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will give him a +charge against the people of my wrath, to take away the spoils, and to +lay hold on the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the +streets. + +10:7. But he shall not take it so, and his heart shall not think so: +but his heart shall be set to destroy, and to cut off nations not a +few. + +10:8. For he shall say: + +10:9. Are not my princes as so many kings? is not Calano as Charcamis: +and Emath as Arphad? is not Samaria as Damascus? + +10:10. As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idol, so also their +idols of Jerusalem, and of Samaria. + +10:11. Shall I not, as I have done to Samaria and her idols, so do to +Jerusalem and her idols? + +10:12. And it shall come to pass, that when the Lord shall have +performed all his works in mount Sion, and in Jerusalem, I will visit +the fruit of the proud heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of +the haughtiness of his eyes. + +10:13. For he hath said: By the strength of my own hand I have done it, +and by my own wisdom I have understood: and I have removed the bounds +of the people, and have taken the spoils of the princes, and as a +mighty man hath pulled down them that sat on high. + +10:14. And my hand hath found the strength of the people as a nest; and +as eggs are gathered, that are left, so have I gathered all the earth: +and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or made +the least noise. + +10:15. Shall the axe boast itself against him that cutteth with it? or +shall the saw exalt itself against him by whom it is drawn? as if a rod +should lift itself up against him that lifteth it up, and a staff exalt +itself, which is but wood. + +10:16. Therefore the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall send +leanness among his fat ones: and under his glory shall be kindled a +burning, as it were the burning of a fire. + +10:17. And the light of Israel shall be as a fire, and the Holy One +thereof as a flame: and his thorns and his briers shall be set on fire, +and shall be devoured in one day. + +10:18. And the glory of his forest, and of his beautiful hill, shall be +consumed from the soul even to the flesh, and he shall run away through +fear. + +10:19. And they that remain of the trees of his forest shall be so few, +that they shall easily be numbered, and a child shall write them down. + +10:20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of +Israel, and they that shall escape of the house of Jacob, shall lean no +more upon him that striketh them: but they shall lean upon the Lord the +Holy One of Israel, in truth. + +10:21. The remnant shall be converted, the remnant, I say, of Jacob, to +the mighty God. + +10:22. For if thy people, O Israel, shall be as the sand of the sea, a +remnant of them shall be converted, the consumption abridged shall +overflow with justice. + +A remnant of them shall be converted. . .This was partly verified in the +children of Israel who remained after the devastations of the +Assyrians, in the time of king Ezechias: and partly in the conversion +of a remnant of the Jews to the faithful of Christ.--Ibid. The +consumption abridged, etc. . .That is, the number of them cut short, and +reduced to few, shall flourish in abundance of justice. + +10:23. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, and an +abridgment in the midst of all the land. + +10:24. Therefore, thus saith the Lord the God of hosts: O my people +that dwellest in Sion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall strike +thee with his rod, and he shall lift up his staff over thee in the way +of Egypt. + +10:25. For yet a little and a very little while, and my indignation +shall cease, and my wrath shall be upon their wickedness. + +10:26. And the Lord of hosts shall raise up a scourge against him, +according to the slaughter of Madian in the rock of Oreb, and his rod +over the sea, and he shall lift it up in the way of Egypt. + +10:27. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be +taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and +the yoke shall putrefy at the presence of the oil. + +At the presence of the oil. . .That is, by the sweet unction of divine +mercy. + +10:28. He shall come into Aiath, he shall pass into Magron: at Machmas +he shall lay up his carriages. + +Into Aiath, etc. . .Here the prophet describes the march of the +Assyrians under Sennacherib; and the terror they should carry with +them; and how they should suddenly be destroyed. + +10:29. They have passed in haste, Gaba is our lodging: Rama was +astonished, Gabaath of Saul fled away. + +10:30. Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim, attend, O Laisa, poor +Anathoth. + +10:31. Medemena is removed: ye inhabitants of Gabim, take courage. + +10:32. It is yet day enough, to remain in Nobe: he shall shake his hand +against the mountain of the daughter of Sion, the hill of Jerusalem. + +10:33. Behold the sovereign Lord of hosts shall break the earthen +vessel with terror, and the tall of stature shall be cut down, and the +lofty shall be humbled. + +10:34. And the thickets of the forest shall be cut down with iron, and +Libanus with its high ones shall fall. + + + +Isaias Chapter 11 + + +Of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, to which all nations shall repair. + +11:1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a +flower shall rise up out of his root. + +11:2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of +wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, +the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. + +11:3. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord, +He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove +according to the hearing of the ears. + +11:4. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with +equity the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the +rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the +wicked. + +11:5. And justice shall be the girdle of his loins: and faith the +girdle of his reins. + +11:6. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie +down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide +together, and a little child shall lead them. + +11:7. The calf and the bear shall feed: their young ones shall rest +together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. + +11:8. And the sucking child shall play on other hole of the asp: and +the weaned child shall thrust his hand into the den of the basilisk. + +11:9. They shall not hurt, nor shall they kill in all my holy mountain, +for the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the covering +waters of the sea. + +11:10. In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the +people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be +glorious. + +11:11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set +his hand the second time to possess the remnant of his people, which +shall be left from the Assyrians, and from Egypt, and from Phetros, and +from Ethiopia, and from Elam, and from Sennaar, and from Emath, and +from the islands of the sea. + +11:12. And he shall set up a standard unto the nations, and shall +assemble the fugitives of Israel, and shall gather together the +dispersed of Juda from the four quarters of the earth. + +11:13. And the envy of Ephraim shall be taken away, and the enemies of +Juda shall perish: Ephraim shall not envy Juda, and Juda shall not +fight against Ephraim. + +11:14. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines by the +sea, they together shall spoil the children of the east: Edom, till +Moab shall be under the rule of their hand, and the children of Ammon +shall be obedient. + +11:15. And the Lord shall lay waste the tongue of the sea of Egypt, and +shall lift up his hand over the river in the strength of his spirit: +and he shall strike it in the seven streams, so that men may pass +through it in their shoes. + +11:16. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of my people, which +shall be left from the Assyrians: as there was for Israel in the day +that he came up out of the land of Egypt. + + + +Isaias Chapter 12 + + +A canticle of thanksgiving for the benefits of Christ. + +12:1. And thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to thee, O +Lord, for thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is turned away, and thou +hast comforted me. + +12:2. Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not +fear: because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become +my salvation. + +12:3. Thou shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains: + +12:4. And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon +his name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name +is high. + +12:5. Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this +forth in all the earth. + +12:6. Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he +that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel. + + + +Isaias Chapter 13 + + +The desolation of Babylon. + +13:1. The burden of Babylon which Isaias the son of Amos saw. + +The burden of Babylon. . .That is, a prophecy against Babylon. + +13:2. Upon the dark mountain lift ye up a banner, exalt the voice, lift +up the hand, and let the rulers go into the gates. + +13:3. I have commanded my sanctified ones, and have called my strong +ones in my wrath, them that rejoice in my glory. + +13:4. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as it were of many +people, the noise of the sound of kings, of nations gathered together: +the Lord of hosts hath given charge to the troops of war. + +13:5. To them that come from a country afar off, from the end of +heaven: the Lord and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy the whole +land. + +13:6. Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is near: it shall come as a +destruction from the Lord. + +13:7. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every heart of man shall +melt, + +13:8. And shall be broken. Gripings and pains, shall take hold of them, +they shall be in pain as a woman in labour. Every one shall be amazed +at his neighbour, their countenances shall be as faces burnt. + +13:9. Behold, the day of the Lord shall come, a cruel day, and full of +indignation, and of wrath, and fury, to lay the land desolate, and to +destroy the sinners thereof out of it. + +13:10. For the stars of heaven, and their brightness shall not display +their light: the sun shall be darkened in his rising, and the moon +shall not shine with her light. + +13:11. And I will visit the evils of the world, and against the wicked +for their iniquity: and I will make the pride of infidels to cease, and +will bring down the arrogancy of the mighty. + +13:12. A man shall be more precious than gold, yea a man than the +finest of gold. + +13:13. For this I will trouble the heaven: and the earth shall be moved +out of her place, for the indignation of the Lord of hosts, and for the +day of his fierce wrath. + +13:14. And they shall be as a doe fleeing away, and as a sheep: and +there shall be none to gather them together: every man shall turn to +his own people, and every one shall flee to his own land. + +13:15. Every one that shall be found, shall be slain: and every one +that shall come to their aid, shall fall by the sword. + +13:16. Their inhabitants shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes: +their houses shall be pillaged, and their wives shall be ravished. + +13:17. Behold I will stir up the Medes against them, who shall not seek +silver, nor desire gold: + +13:18. But with their arrows they shall kill the children, and shall +have no pity upon the sucklings of the womb, and their eye shall not +spare their sons. + +13:19. And that Babylon, glorious among kingdoms, the famous pride of +the Chaldeans, shall be even as the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha. + +13:20. It shall no more be inhabited for ever, and it shall not be +founded unto generation and generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch +his tents there, nor shall shepherds rest there. + +13:21. But wild beasts shall rest there, and their houses shall be +filled with serpents, and ostriches shall dwell there, and the hairy +ones shall dance there: + +13:22. And owls shall answer one another there, in the houses thereof, +and sirens in the temples of pleasure. + + + +Isaias Chapter 14 + + +The restoration of Israel after their captivity. The parable or song +insulting over the king of Babylon. A prophecy against the Philistines. + +14:1. Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. +For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of +Israel, and will make them rest upon their own ground: and the stranger +shall be joined with them, and shall adhere to the house of Jacob. + +14:2. And the people shall take them, and bring them into their place: +and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for +servants and handmaids: and they shall make them captives that had +taken them, and shall subdue their oppressors. + +14:3. And it shall come to pass in that day, that when God shall give +thee rest from thy labour, and from thy vexation, and from the hard +bondage, wherewith thou didst serve before, + +14:4. Thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and +shalt say: How is the oppressor come to nothing, the tribute hath +ceased? + +14:5. The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of the +rulers, + +14:6. That struck the people in wrath with an incurable wound, that +brought nations under in fury, that persecuted in a cruel manner. + +14:7. The whole earth is quiet and still, it is glad and hath rejoiced. + +14:8. The fir trees also have rejoiced over thee, and the cedars of +Libanus, saying: Since thou hast slept, there hath none come up to cut +us down. + +14:9. Hell below was in an uproar to meet thee at thy coming, it +stirred up the giants for thee. All the princes of the earth are risen +up from their thrones, all the princes of nations. + +14:10. All shall answer, and say to thee: Thou also art wounded as well +as we, thou art become like unto us. + +14:11. Thy pride is brought down to hell, thy carcass is fallen down: +under thee shall the moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering. + +14:12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, who didst rise in +the morning? how art thou fallen to the earth, that didst wound the +nations? + +O Lucifer. . .O day star. All this, according to the letter, is spoken +of the king of Babylon. It may also be applied, in a spiritual sense, +to Lucifer the prince of devils, who was created a bright angel, but +fell by pride and rebellion against God. + +14:13. And thou saidst in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will +exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit in the mountain of +the covenant, in the sides of the north. + +14:14. I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the +most High. + +14:15. But yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, into the depth of +the pit. + +14:16. They that shall see thee, shall turn toward thee, and behold +thee. Is this the man that troubled the earth, that shook kingdoms, + +14:17. That made the world a wilderness, and destroyed the cities +thereof, that opened not the prison to his prisoners? + +14:18. All the kings of the nations have all of them slept in glory, +every one in his own house. + +14:19. But thou art cast out of thy grave, as an unprofitable branch +defiled, and wrapped up among them that were slain by the sword, and +art gone down to the bottom of the pit, as a rotten carcass. + +14:20. Thou shalt not keep company with them, even in burial: for thou +hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people: the seed of the +wicked shall not be named for ever. + +14:21. Prepare his children for slaughter for the iniquity of their +fathers: they shall not rise up, nor inherit the land, nor fill the +face of the world with cities. + +14:22. And I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts: and I +will destroy the name of Babylon, and the remains, and the bud, and the +offspring, saith the Lord. + +14:23. And I will make it a possession for the ericius and pools of +waters, and I will sweep it and wear it out with a besom, saith the +Lord of hosts. + +14:24. The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, +so shall it be: and as I have purposed, + +14:25. So shall it fall out: That I will destroy the Assyrian in my +land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: and his yoke shall be +taken away from them, and his burden shall be taken off their shoulder. + +14:26. This is the counsel, that I have purposed upon all the earth, +and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations. + +14:27. For the Lord of hosts hath decreed, and who can disannul it? and +his hand is stretched out: and who shall turn it away? + +14:28. In the year that king Achaz died, was this burden: + +14:29. Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia, that the rod of him that +struck thee is broken in pieces: for out of the root of the serpent +shall come forth a basilisk, and his seed shall swallow the bird. + +14:30. And the firstborn of the poor shall be fed, and the poor shall +rest with confidence: and I will make thy root perish with famine, and +I will kill thy remnant. + +14:31. Howl, O gate; cry, O city: all Philistia is thrown down: for a +smoke shall come from the north, and there is none that shall escape +his troop. + +14:32. And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? +That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his people shall hope +in him. + + + +Isaias Chapter 15 + + +A prophecy of the desolation of the Moabites. + +15:1. The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid +waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the +night, it is silent. + +15:2. The house is gone up, and Dibon to the high places to mourn over +Nabo, and over Medaba, Moab hath howled: on all their heads shall be +baldness, and every beard shall be shaven. + +15:3. In their streets they are girded with sackcloth: on the tops of +their houses, and in their streets all shall howl and come down +weeping. + +15:4. Hesebon shall cry, and Eleale, their voice is heard even to Jasa. +For this shall the well appointed men of Moab howl, his soul shall howl +to itself. + +15:5. My heart shall cry to Moab, the bars thereof shall flee unto +Segor a heifer of three years old: for by the ascent of Luith they +shall go up weeping: and in the way of Oronaim they shall lift up a cry +of destruction. + +15:6. For the waters of Nemrim shall be desolate, for the grass is +withered away, the spring is faded, all the greenness is perished. + +15:7. According to the greatness of their work, is their visitation +also: they shall lead them to the torrent of the willows. + +Torrent of the willows. . .That is, as some say, the waters of Babylon: +others render it, a valley of the Arabians. + +15:8. For the cry is gone round about the border of Moab: the howling +thereof unto Gallim, and unto the well of Elim the cry thereof. + +15:9. For the waters of Dibon are filled with blood: for I will bring +more upon Dibon: the lion upon them that shall flee of Moab, and upon +the remnant of the land. + + + +Isaias Chapter 16 + + +The prophet prayeth for Christ's coming. The affliction of the Moabites +for their pride. + +16:1. Send forth, O Lord, the lamb, the ruler of the earth, from Petra +of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Sion. + +16:2. And it shall come to pass, that as a bird fleeing away, and as +young ones flying out of the nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be in +the passage of Arnon. + +16:3. Take counsel, gather a council: make thy shadow as the night in +the midday: hide them that flee, and betray not them that wander about. + +16:4. My fugitives shall dwell with thee: O Moab, be thou a covert to +them from the face of the destroyer: for the dust is at an end, the +wretch is consumed: he hath failed, that trod the earth under foot. + +16:5. And a throne shall be prepared in mercy, and one shall sit upon +it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment +and quickly rendering that which is just. + +16:6. We have heard of the pride of Moab, he is exceeding proud: his +pride and his arrogancy, and his indignation is more than his strength. + +16:7. Therefore shall Moab howl to Moab, every one shall howl: to them +that rejoice upon the brick walls, tell ye their stripes. + +16:8. For the suburbs of Hesebon are desolate, and the lords of the +nations have destroyed the vineyard of Sabama: the branches thereof +have reached even to Jazer: they have wandered in the wilderness, the +branches thereof are left, they are gone over the sea. + +16:9. Therefore I will lament with the weeping of Jazer the vineyard of +Sabama: I will water thee with my tears, O Hesebon, and Eleale: for the +voice of the treaders hath rushed in upon thy vintage, and upon thy +harvest. + +16:10. And gladness and joy shall be taken away from Carmel, and there +shall be no rejoicing nor shouting in the vineyards. He shall not tread +out wine in the press that was wont to tread it out: the voice of the +treaders I have taken away. + +Carmel. . .This name is often taken to signify a fair and fruitful hill +or field, such as mount Carmel is. + +16:11. Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my +inward parts for the brick wall. + +16:12. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is wearied +on his high places, that he shall go in to his sanctuaries to pray, and +shall not prevail. + +16:13. This is the word, that the Lord spoke to Moab from that time: + +16:14. And now the Lord hath spoken, saying: In three years, as the +years of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be taken away for all the +multitude of the people, and it shall be left small and feeble, not +many. + + + +Isaias Chapter 17 + + +Judgments upon Damascus and Samaria. The overthrow of the Assyrians. + +17:1. The burden of Damascus. Behold Damascus shall cease to be a city, +and shall be as a ruinous heap of stones. + +17:2. The cities of Aroer shall be left for flocks, and they shall rest +there, and there shall be none to make them afraid. + +17:3. And aid shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus: +and the remnant of Syria shall be as the glory of the children of +Israel: saith the Lord of hosts. + +17:4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob +shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall grow lean. + +17:5. And it shall be as when one gathereth in the harvest that which +remaineth, and his arm shall gather the ears of corn: and it shall be +as he that seeketh ears in the vale of Raphaim. + +17:6. And the fruit thereof that shall be left upon it, shall be as one +cluster of grapes, and as the shaking of the olive tree, two or three +berries in the top of a bough, or four or five upon the top of the +tree, saith the Lord the God of Israel. + +17:7. In that day man shall bow down himself to his Maker, and his eyes +shall look to the Holy One of Israel. + +17:8. And he shall not look to the altars which his hands made; and he +shall not have respect to the things that his fingers wrought, such as +groves and temples. + +17:9. In that day his strong cities shall be forsaken, as the ploughs, +and the corn that were left before the face of the children of Israel, +and thou shalt be desolate. + +That were left. . .Viz., by the Chanaanites, when the children of Israel +came into their land. + +17:10. Because thou hast forgotten God thy saviour, and hast not +remembered thy strong helper: therefore shalt thou plant good plants, +and shalt sow strange seed. + +17:11. In the day of thy planting shall be the wild grape, and in the +morning thy seed shall flourish: the harvest is taken away in the day +of inheritance, and shall grieve thee much. + +17:12. Woe to the multitude of many people, like the multitude of the +roaring sea: and the tumult of crowds, like the noise of many waters. + +The multitude, etc. . .This and all that follows to the end of the +chapter, relates to the Assyrian army under Sennacherib. + +17:13. Nations shall make a noise like the noise of waters overflowing, +but he shall rebuke him, and he shall flee far off: and he shall be +carried away as the dust of the mountains before the wind, and as a +whirlwind before a tempest. + +17:14. In the time of the evening, behold there shall be trouble: the +morning shall come, and he shall not be: this is the portion of them +that have wasted us, and the lot of them that spoiled us. + + + +Isaias Chapter 18 + + +A woe to the Ethiopians, who fed Israel with vain hopes, their future +conversion. + +18:1. Woe to the land, the winged cymbal, which is beyond the rivers of +Ethiopia, + +18:2. That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, and in vessels of bulrushes +upon the waters. Go, ye swift angels, to a nation rent and torn in +pieces: to a terrible people, after which there is no other: to a +nation expecting and trodden underfoot, whose land the rivers have +spoiled. + +Angels. . .Or messengers. + +18:3. All ye inhabitants of the world, who dwell on the earth, when the +sign shall be lifted up on the mountains, you shall see, and you shall +hear the sound of the trumpet. + +18:4. For thus saith the Lord to me: I will take my rest, and consider +in my place, as the noon light is clear, and as a cloud of dew in the +day of harvest. + +18:5. For before the harvest it was all flourishing, and it shall bud +without perfect ripeness, and the sprigs thereof shall be cut off with +pruning hooks: and what is left shall be cut away and shaken out. + +18:6. And they shall be left together to the birds of the mountains, +and the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall be upon them all the +summer, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. + +18:7. At that time shall a present be brought to the Lord of hosts, +from a people rent and torn in pieces: from a terrible people, after +which there hath been no other: from a nation expecting, expecting and +trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of +the name of the Lord of hosts, to mount Sion. + + + +Isaias Chapter 19 + + +The punishment of Egypt: their call to the church. + +19:1. The burden of Egypt. Behold the Lord will ascend upon a swift +cloud, and will enter into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved +at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst +thereof. + +19:2. And I will set the Egyptians to fight against the Egyptians: and +they shall fight brother against brother, and friend against friend, +city against city, kingdom against kingdom. + +19:3. And the spirit of Egypt shall be broken in the bowels thereof, +and I will cast down their counsel: and they shall consult their idols, +and their diviners, and their wizards, and soothsayers. + +19:4. And I will deliver Egypt into the hand of cruel masters, and a +strong king shall rule over them, saith the Lord the God of hosts. + +19:5. And the water of the sea shall be dried up, and the river shall +be wasted and dry. + +19:6. And the rivers shall fail: the streams of the banks shall be +diminished, and be dried up. The reed and the bulrush shall wither +away. + +19:7. The channel of the river shall be laid bare from its fountain, +and every thing sown by the water shall be dried up, it shall wither +away, and shall be no more. + +19:8. The fishers also shall mourn, and all that cast a hook into the +river shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall +languish away. + +19:9. They shall be confounded that wrought in flax, combing and +weaving fine linen. + +19:10. And its watery places shall be dry, all they shall mourn that +made pools to take fishes. + +19:11. The princes of Tanis are become fools, the wise counsellors of +Pharao have given foolish counsel: how will you say to Pharao: I am the +son of the wise, the son of ancient kings? + +19:12. Where are now thy wise men? let them tell thee, and shew what +the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt. + +19:13. The princes of Tanis are become fools, the princes of Memphis +are gone astray, they have deceived Egypt, the stay of the people +thereof. + +19:14. The Lord hath mingled in the midst thereof the spirit of +giddiness: and they have caused Egypt to err in all its works, as a +drunken man staggereth and vomiteth. + +19:15. And there shall be no work for Egypt, to make head or tail, him +that bendeth down, or that holdeth back. + +19:16. In that day Egypt shall be like unto women, and they shall be +amazed, and afraid, because of the moving of the hand of the Lord of +hosts, which he shall move over it. + +19:17. And the land of Juda shall be a terror to Egypt: everyone that +shall remember it shall tremble because of the counsel of the Lord of +hosts, which he hath determined concerning it. + +19:18. In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt, +speaking the language of Chanaan, and swearing by the Lord of hosts: +one shall be called the city of the sun. + +19:19. In that day there shall be an altar of the Lord in the midst of +the land of Egypt, and a monument of the Lord at the borders thereof: + +19:20. It shall be for a sign, and for a testimony to the Lord of hosts +in the land of Egypt. For they shall cry to the Lord because of the +oppressor, and he shall send them a Saviour and a defender to deliver +them. + +19:21. And the Lord shall be known by Egypt, and the Egyptians shall +know the Lord in that day, and shall worship him with sacrifices and +offerings: and they shall make vows to the Lord, and perform them. + +19:22. And the Lord shall strike Egypt with a scourge, and shall heal +it, and they shall return to the Lord, and he shall be pacified towards +them, and heal them. + +19:23. In that day there shall be a way from Egypt to the Assyrians, +and the Assyrian shall enter into Egypt, and the Egyptian to the +Assyrians, and the Egyptians shall serve the Assyrian. + +19:24. In that day shall Israel be the third to the Egyptian and the +Assyrian: a blessing in the midst of the land, + +19:25. Which the Lord of hosts hath blessed, saying: Blessed be my +people of Egypt, and the work of my hands to the Assyrian: but Israel +is my inheritance. + + + +Isaias Chapter 20 + + +The ignominious captivity of the Egyptians, and the Ethiopians. + +20:1. In the year that Tharthan entered into Azotus, when Sargon the +king of the Assyrians had sent him, and he had fought against Azotus, +and had taken it: + +20:2. At that same time the Lord spoke by the hand of Isaias the son of +Amos, saying Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and take +off thy shoes from thy feet. And he did so, and went naked, and +barefoot. + +20:3. And the Lord said: As my servant Isaias hath walked, naked and +barefoot, it shall be a sign and a wonder of three years upon Egypt, +and upon Ethiopia, + +20:4. So shall the king of the Assyrians lead away the prisoners of +Egypt, and the captivity of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and +barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt. + +20:5. And they shall be afraid, and ashamed of Ethiopia their hope, and +of Egypt their glory. + +20:6. And the inhabitants of this isle shall say in that day: Lo this +was our hope, to whom we fled for help, to deliver us from the face of +the king of the Assyrians: and how shall we be able to escape? + + + +Isaias Chapter 21 + + +The destruction of Babylon by the Medes and Persians: a prophecy +against the Edomites and the Arabians. + +21:1. The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds come from the +south, it cometh from the desert from a terrible land. + +The desert of the sea. . .So Babylon is here called, because from a city +as full of people as the sea is with water, it was become a desert. + +21:2. A grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth +unfaithfully: and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, +besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease. + +O Elam. . .That is, O Persia. + +21:3. Therefore are my loins filled with pain, anguish hath taken hold +of me, as the anguish of a woman in labour: I fell down at the hearing +of it, I was troubled at the seeing of it. + +21:4. My heart failed, darkness amazed me: Babylon my beloved is become +a wonder to me. + +21:5. Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and +drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield. + +21:6. For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and +whatsoever he shall see, let him tell. + +21:7. And he saw a chariot with two horsemen, a rider upon an ass, and +a rider upon a camel: and he beheld them diligently with much heed. + +A rider upon an ass, etc. . .These two riders are the kings of the +Persians and Medes. + +21:8. And a lion cried out: I am upon the watchtower of the Lord, +standing continually by day: and I am upon my ward, standing whole +nights. + +And a lion cried out. . .That is, I Isaias seeing the approaching ruin +of Babylon, have cried out as a lion roaring. + +21:9. Behold this man cometh, the rider upon the chariot with two +horsemen, and he answered, and said: Babylon is fallen, she is fallen, +and all the graven gods thereof are broken unto the ground. + +21:10. O my thrashing, and the children of my floor, that which I have +heard of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto +you. + +21:11. The burden of Duma calleth to me out of Seir: Watchman, what of +the night? watchman, what of the night? + +Duma. . .That is, Idumea, or Edom. + +21:12. The watchman said: The morning cometh, also the night: if you +seek, seek: return, come. + +21:13. The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, +in the paths of Dedanim. + +21:14. Meeting the thirsty bring him water, you that inhabit the land +of the south, meet with bread him that fleeth. + +21:15. For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that +hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle. + +21:16. For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the +years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away. + +Cedar. . .Arabia. + +21:17. And the residue of the number of strong archers of the children +of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord the God of Israel hath +spoken it. + + + +Isaias Chapter 22 + + +The prophet laments the devastation of Juda. He foretells the +deprivation of Sobna, and the substitution of Eliacim, a figure of +Christ. + +22:1. The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee also, that +thou too art wholly gone up to the housetops? + +The valley of vision. . .Jerusalem. The temple of Jerusalem was built +upon mount Moria, or the mountain of vision. But the city is here +called the valley of vision; either because it was lower than the +temple, or because of the low condition to which it was to be reduced. + +22:2. Full of clamour, a populous city, a joyous city: thy slain are +not slain by the sword, nor dead in battle. + +22:3. All the princes are fled together, and are bound hard: all that +were found, are bound together, they are fled far off. + +22:4. Therefore have I said: Depart from me, I will weep bitterly: +labour not to comfort me, for the devastation of the daughter of my +people. + +22:5. For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping +to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the +wall, and magnificent upon the mountain. + +22:6. And Elam took the quiver, the chariot of the horseman, and the +shield was taken down from the wall. + +22:7. And thy choice valleys shall be full of chariots, and the +horsemen shall place themselves in the gate. + +22:8. And the covering of Juda shall be discovered, and thou shalt see +in that day the armoury of the house of the forest. + +22:9. And you shall see the breaches of the city of David, that they +are many: and you have gathered together the waters of the lower pool, + +22:10. And have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and broken down +houses to fortify the wall. + +22:11. And you made a ditch between the two walls for the water of the +old pool: and you have not looked up to the maker thereof, nor regarded +him even at a distance, that wrought it long ago. + +22:12. And the Lord, the God of hosts, in that day shall call to +weeping, and to mourning, to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: + +22:13. And behold joy and gladness, killing calves, and slaying rams, +eating flesh, and drinking wine: Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we +shall die. + +22:14. And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed in my ears: +Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till you die, saith the +Lord God of hosts. + +22:15. Thus saith the Lord God of hosts: Go, get thee in to him that +dwelleth in the tabernacle, to Sobna who is over the temple: and thou +shalt say to him: + +22:16. What dost thou here, or as if thou wert somebody here? for thou +hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, thou hast hewed out a monument +carefully in a high place, a dwelling for thyself in a rock. + +22:17. Behold the Lord will cause thee to be carried away, as a cock is +carried away, and he will lift thee up as a garment. + +22:18. He will crown thee with a crown of tribulation, he will toss +thee like a ball into a large and spacious country: there shalt thou +die, and there shall the chariot of thy glory be, the shame of the +house of thy Lord. + +22:19. And I will drive thee out from thy station, and depose thee from +thy ministry. + +22:20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my +servant Eliacim the son of Helcias, + +22:21. And I will clothe him with thy robe, and will strengthen him +with thy girdle, and will give thy power into his hand: and he shall be +as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Juda. + +22:22. And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: +and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none +shall open. + +22:23. And I will fasten him as a peg in a sure place, and he shall be +for a throne of glory to the house of his father. + +22:24. And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's +house, divers kinds of vessels, every little vessel, from the vessels +of cups even to every instrument of music. + +22:25. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, +that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be broken and shall +fall: and that which hung thereon, shall perish, because the Lord hath +spoken it. + + + +Isaias Chapter 23 + + +The destruction of Tyre. It shall be repaired again after seventy +years. + +23:1. The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of the sea, for the house is +destroyed, from whence they were wont to come: from the land of Cethim +it is revealed to them. + +23:2. Be silent, you that dwell in the island: the merchants of Sidon +passing over the sea, have filled thee. + +23:3. The seed of the Nile in many waters, the harvest of the river is +her revenue: and she is become the mart of the nations. + +23:4. Be thou ashamed, O Sidon: for the sea speaketh, even the strength +of the sea, saying: I have not been in labour, nor have I brought +forth, nor have I nourished up young men, nor brought up virgins. + +23:5. When it shall be heard in Egypt, they will be sorry when they +shall hear of Tyre: + +23:6. Pass over the seas, howl, ye inhabitants of the island. + +23:7. Is not this your city, which gloried from of old in her +antiquity? her feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn. + +23:8. Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, that was formerly +crowned, whose merchants were princes, and her traders the nobles of +the earth? + +23:9. The Lord of hosts hath designed it, to pull down the pride of all +glory, and bring to disgrace all the glorious ones of the earth. + +23:10. Pass thy land as a river, O daughter of the sea, thou hast a +girdle no more. + +23:11. He stretched out his hand over the sea, he troubled kingdoms: +the Lord hath given a charge against Chanaan, to destroy the strong +ones thereof. + +23:12. And he said: Thou shalt glory no more, O virgin daughter of +Sidon, who art oppressed: arise and sail over to Cethim, there also +thou shalt have no rest. + +23:13. Behold the land of the Chaldeans, there was not such a people, +the Assyrians founded it: they have led away the strong ones thereof +into captivity, they have destroyed the houses thereof, they have, +brought it to ruin. + +23:14. Howl, O ye ships of the sea, for your strength is laid waste. + +23:15. And it shall come to pass in that day that thou, O Tyre, shalt +be forgotten, seventy years, according to the days of one king: but +after seventy years, there shall be unto Tyre as the song of a harlot. + +23:16. Take a harp, go about the city, harlot that hast been forgotten: +sing well, sing many a song, that thou mayst be remembered. + +23:17. And it shall come to pass after seventy years, that the Lord +will visit Tyre, and will bring her back again to her traffic: and she +shall commit fornication again with all the kingdoms of the world upon +the face of the earth. + +23:18. And her merchandise and her hire shall be sanctified to the +Lord: they shall not be kept in store, nor laid up: for her merchandise +shall be for them that shall dwell before the Lord, that they may eat +unto fulness, and be clothed for a continuance. + +Sanctified to the Lord. . .This alludes to the conversion of the +Gentiles. + + + +Isaias Chapter 24 + + +The judgments of God upon all the sinners of the world. A remnant shall +joyfully praise him. + +24:1. Behold the Lord shall lay waste the earth, and shall strip it, +and shall afflict the face thereof, and scatter abroad the inhabitants +thereof. + +24:2. And it shall be as with the people, so with the priest: and as +with the servant so with his master: as with the handmaid, so with her +mistress: as with the buyer, so with the seller: as with the lender, so +with the borrower: as with him that calleth for his money, so with him +that oweth. + +24:3. With desolation shall the earth be laid waste, and it shall be +utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. + +24:4. The earth mourned, and faded away, and is weakened: the world +faded away, the height of the people of the earth is weakened. + +24:5. And the earth is infected by the inhabitants thereof: because +they have transgressed the laws, they have changed the ordinance, they +have broken the everlasting covenant. + +24:6. Therefore shall a curse devour the earth, and the inhabitants +thereof shall sin: and therefore they that dwell therein shall be mad, +and few men shall be left. + +24:7. The vintage hath mourned, the vine hath languished away, all the +merry have sighed. + +24:8. The mirth of timbrels hath ceased, the noise of them that rejoice +is ended, the melody of the harp is silent. + +24:9. They shall not drink wine with a song: the drink shall be bitter +to them that drink it. + +24:10. The city of vanity is broken down, every house is shut up, no +man cometh in. + +24:11. There shall be a crying for wine in the streets: all mirth is +forsaken: the joy of the earth is gone away. + +24:12. Desolation is left in the city, and calamity shall oppress the +gates. + +24:13. For it shall be thus in the midst of the earth, in the midst of +the people, as if a few olives, that remain, should be shaken out of +the olive tree: or grapes, when the vintage is ended. + +24:14. These shall lift up their voice, and shall give praise: when the +Lord shall be glorified, they shall make a joyful noise from the sea. + +24:15. Therefore glorify ye the Lord in instruction: the name of the +Lord God of Israel in the islands of the sea. + +24:16. From the ends of the earth we have heard praises, the glory of +the just one. And I said: My secret to myself, my secret to myself, woe +is me: the prevaricators have prevaricated, and with the prevarication +of transgressors they have prevaricated. + +24:17. Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O thou +inhabitant of the earth. + +24:18. And it shall come to pass, that he that shall flee from the +noise of the fear, shall fall into the pit: and he that shall rid +himself out of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for the +flood-gates from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth +shall be shaken. + +24:19. With breaking shall the earth be broken, with crushing shall the +earth be crushed, with trembling shall the earth be moved. + +24:20. With shaking shall the earth be shaken as a drunken man, and +shall be removed as the tent of one night: and the iniquity thereof +shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again. + +24:21. And it shall come to pass, that in that day the Lord shall visit +upon the host of heaven on high, and upon the kings of the earth, on +the earth. + +The host of heaven on high. . .The stars, which in many places of the +Scripture are so called. Some commentators explain that these words +here signify the demons of the air. + +24:22. And they shall be gathered together as in the gathering of one +bundle into the pit, and they shall be shut up there in prison: and +after many days they shall be visited. + +24:23. And the moon shall blush, and the sun shall be ashamed, when the +Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Sion, and in Jerusalem, and shall be +glorified in the sight of his ancients. + + + +Isaias Chapter 25 + + +A canticle of thanksgiving for God's judgments and benefits. + +25:1. O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to +thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old +faithful, amen. + +25:2. For thou hast reduced the city to a heap, the strong city to +ruin, the house of strangers, to be no city, and to be no more built up +for ever. + +25:3. Therefore shall a strong people praise thee, the city of mighty +nations shall fear thee. + +25:4. Because thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the +needy in his distress: a refuge from the whirlwind, a shadow from the +heat. For the blast of the mighty is like a whirlwind beating against a +wall. + +25:5. Thou shalt bring down the tumult of strangers, as heat in thirst: +and as with heat under a burning cloud, thou shalt make the branch of +the mighty to wither away. + +25:6. And the Lord of hosts shall make unto all people in this +mountain, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine, of fat things full of +marrow, of wine purified from the lees. + +25:7. And he shall destroy in this mountain the face of the bond with +which all people were tied, and the web that he began over all nations. + +25:8. He shall cast death down headlong for ever: and the Lord God +shall wipe away tears from every face, and the reproach of his people +he shall take away from off the whole earth: for the Lord hath spoken +it. + +25:9. And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have +waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have +patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyful in his +salvation. + +25:10. For the hand of the Lord shall rest in this mountain: and Moab +shall be trodden down under him, as straw is broken in pieces with the +wain. + +Moab. . .That is, the reprobate, whose eternal punishment, from which +they can no way escape, is described under these figures. + +25:11. And he shall stretch forth his hands under him, as he that +swimmeth stretcheth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down +his glory with the dashing of his hands. + +25:12. And the bulwarks of thy high walls shall fall, and be brought +low, and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the dust. + + + +Isaias Chapter 26 + + +A canticle of thanks for the deliverance of God's people. + +26:1. In that day shall this canticle be sung in the land of Juda. Sion +the city of our strength a saviour, a wall and a bulwark shall be set +therein. + +26:2. Open ye the gates, and let the just nation, that keepeth the +truth, enter in. + +26:3. The old error is passed away: thou wilt keep peace: peace, +because we have hoped in thee. + +26:4. You have hoped in the Lord for evermore, in the Lord God mighty +for ever. + +26:5. For he shall bring down them that dwell on high, the high city he +shall lay low. He shall bring it down even to the ground, he shall pull +it down even to the dust. + +26:6. The foot shall tread it down, the feet of the poor, the steps of +the needy. + +26:7. The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to +walk in. + +26:8. And in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, we have patiently waited +for thee: thy name, and thy remembrance are the desire of the soul. + +26:9. My soul hath desired thee in the night: yea, and with my spirit +within me in the morning early I will watch to thee. When thou shalt do +thy judgments on the earth, the inhabitants of the world shall learn +justice. + +26:10. Let us have pity on the wicked, but he will not learn justice: +in the land of the saints he hath done wicked things, and he shall not +see the glory of the Lord. + +26:11. Lord, let thy hand be exalted, and let them not see: let the +envious people see, and be confounded: and let fire devour thy enemies. + +26:12. Lord, thou wilt give us peace: for thou hast wrought all our +works for us. + +26:13. O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over +us, only in thee let us remember thy name. + +26:14. Let not the dead live, let not the giants rise again: therefore +hast visited and destroyed them, and hast destroyed all their memory. + +26:15. Thou hast been favourable to the nation, O Lord, thou hast been +favourable to the nation: art thou glorified? thou hast removed all the +ends of the earth far off. + +26:16. Lord, they have sought after thee in distress, in the +tribulation of murmuring thy instruction was with them. + +26:17. As a woman with child, when she draweth near the time of her +delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs: so are we become in +thy presence, O Lord. + +26:18. We have conceived, and been as it were in labour, and have +brought forth wind: we have not wrought salvation on the earth, +therefore the inhabitants of the earth have not fallen. + +26:19. Thy dead men shall live, my slain shall rise again: awake, and +give praise, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is the dew of the +light: and the land of the giants thou shalt pull down into ruin. + +26:20. Go, my people, enter into thy chambers, shut thy doors upon +thee, hide thyself a little for a moment, until the indignation pass +away. + +26:21. For behold the Lord will come out of his place, to visit the +iniquity of the inhabitant of the earth against him: and the earth +shall disclose her blood, and shall cover her slain no more. + +Shall cover her slain no more. . .This is said with relation to the +martyrs, and their happy resurrection. + + + +Isaias Chapter 27 + + +The punishment of the oppressors of God's people. The Lord's favour to +his church. + +27:1. In that day the Lord with his hard, and great, and strong sword +shall visit leviathan the bar serpent, and leviathan the crooked +serpent, and shall slay the whale that is in the sea. + +Leviathan. . .That is, the devil, the great enemy of the people of God. +He is called the bar serpent from his strength, and the crooked serpent +from his wiles; and the whale of the sea, from the tyranny he exercises +in the sea of this world. He was spiritually slain by the death of +Christ, when his power was destroyed. + +27:2. In that day there shall be singing to the vineyard of pure wine. + +The vineyard, etc. . .The church of Christ. + +27:3. I am the Lord that keep it, I will suddenly give it drink: lest +any hurt come to it, I keep it night and day. + +I will suddenly give it drink. . .Or, as the Hebrew may also be +rendered, I will continually water it. + +27:4. There is no indignation in me: who shall make me a thorn and a +brier in battle: shall I march against it, shall, I set it on fire +together? + +No indignation in me, etc. . .Viz., against the church: nor shall I +become as a thorn or brier in its regard; or march against it, or set +it on fire: but it shall always take fast hold of me, and keep an +everlasting peace with me. + +27:5. Or rather shall it take hold of my strength, shall it make peace +with me, shall it make peace with me? + +27:6. When they shall rush in unto Jacob, Israel shall blossom and bud, +and they shall fill the face of the world with seed. + +When they shall rush in, etc. . .Some understand this of the enemies of +the true Israel, that shall invade it in vain. Others of the spiritual +invasion made by the apostles of Christ. + +27:7. Hath he struck him according to the stroke of him that struck +him? or is he slain, as he killed them that were slain by him? + +Hath he struck him, etc. . .Hath God punished the carnal persecuting +Jews, in proportion to their doings against Christ and his saints? + +27:8. In measure against measure, when it shall be cast off, thou shalt +judge it. He hath meditated with his severe spirit in the day of heat. + +When it shall be cast off, etc. . .When the synagogue shall be cast off, +thou shalt judge it in measure, and in proportion to its crimes.--Ibid. +He hath meditated, etc. . .God hath designed severe punishments in the +day of his wrath. + +27:9. Therefore upon this shall the iniquity of the house of Jacob be +forgiven: and this is all the fruit, that the sin thereof should be +taken away, when he shall have made all the stones of the altar, as +burnt stones broken in pieces, the groves and temples shall not stand. + +Of the house of Jacob. . .Viz., of such of them as shall be converted. + +27:10. For the strong city shall be desolate, the beautiful city shall +be forsaken, and shall be left as a wilderness: there the calf shall +feed, and there shall he lie down, and shall consume its branches. + +The strong city. . .Jerusalem. + +27:11. Its harvest shall be destroyed with drought, women shall come +and teach it: for it is not a wise people, therefore he that made it, +shall not have mercy on it: and he that formed it, shall not spare it. + +27:12. And it shall come to pass, that in that day the Lord will strike +from the channel of the river even to the torrent of Egypt, and you +shall be gathered together one by one, O ye children of Israel. + +27:13. And it shall come to pass, that in that day a noise shall be +made with a great trumpet, and they that were lost, shall come from the +land of the Assyrians, and they that were outcasts in the land of +Egypt, and they shall adore the Lord in the holy mount in Jerusalem. + +A great trumpet. . .The preaching of the gospel for the conversion of +the Jews. + + + +Isaias Chapter 28 + + +The punishment of the Israelites, for their pride, intemperance, and +contempt of religion. Christ the cornerstone. + +28:1. Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to +the fading flower the glory his joy, who were on the head of the fat +valley, staggering with wine. + +Ephraim. . .That is, the kingdom of the ten tribes.--Ibid. The head of +the fat valley. . .Samaria, situate on a hill, having under it a most +fertile valley. + +28:2. Behold the Lord is mighty and strong, as a storm of hail: a +destroying whirlwind, as the violence of many waters overflowing, and +sent forth upon a spacious land. + +28:3. The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden +under feet. + +28:4. And the fading tower the glory of his joy, who is on the head of +the fat valley, shall be as a hasty fruit before the ripeness of +autumn: which when he that seeth it shall behold, as soon he taketh it +in his hand, he will eat it up. + +28:5. In that day the Lord of hosts shall be a crown of glory, and a +garland of joy to the residue of his people: + +28:6. And a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and +strength to them that return out of the battle to the gate. + +28:7. But these also have been ignorant through wine, and through +drunkenness have erred: the priest and the prophet have been ignorant +through drunkenness, they are swallowed up with wine, they have gone +astray in drunkenness, they have not known him that seeth, they have +been ignorant of judgment. + +These also. . .The kingdom of Juda. + +28:8. For all the tables were full of vomit and filth, so that there +was no more place. + +28:9. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to +understand the hearing? them that are weaned from the milk, that are +drawn away from the breasts. + +28:10. For command, command again; command, command again; expect, +expect again; a little there, a little there. + +Command, command again, etc. . .This is said in the person of the Jews, +resisting the repeated commands of God, and still putting him off. + +28:11. For with the speech of lips, and with another tongue he will +speak to this people. + +28:12. To whom he said: This is my rest, refresh the weary, and this is +my refreshing: and they would not hear. + +28:13. And the word of the Lord shall be to them: Command, command +again; command, command again; expect, expect again; a little there, a +little there: that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and +snared, and taken. + +28:14. Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, who rule +over my people that is in Jerusalem. + +28:15. For you have said: We have entered into a league with death, and +we have made a covenant with hell. When the overflowing scourge shall +pass through, it shall not come upon us: for we have placed our hope in +lies, and by falsehood we are protected. + +28:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will lay a stone in +the foundations of Sion, a tried stone, a corner stone, a precious +stone, founded in the foundation. He that believeth, let him not +hasten. + +A stone in the foundations. . .Viz., Christ.--Ibid. Let him not hasten, +etc. . .Let him expect his coming with patience. + +28:17. And I will set judgment in weight, and justice in measure: and +hail shall overturn the hope of falsehood: and waters shall overflow +its protection. + +28:18. And your league with death shall be abolished, and your covenant +with hell shall not stand: when the overflowing scourge shall pass, you +shall be trodden down by it. + +28:19. Whensoever it shall pass through, it shall take you away: +because in the morning early it shall pass through, in the day and in +the night, and vexation alone shall make you understand what you hear. + +28:20. For the bed is straitened, so that one must fall out, and a +short covering cannot cover both. + +The bed is straitened, etc. . .It is too narrow to hold two: God will +have the bed of our heart all to himself. + +28:21. For the Lord shall stand up as in the mountain of divisions: he +shall be angry as in the valley which is in Gabaon: that he may do his +work, his strange work: that he may perform his work, his work is +strange to him. + +As in the mountain, etc. . .As the Lord fought against the Philistines +in Baal Pharasim, 2 Kings 5., and against the Chanaanites, in the +valley of Gabaon, Jos. 10. + +28:22. And now do not mock, lest your bonds be tied strait. For I have +heard of the Lord the God of hosts a consumption and a cutting short +upon all the earth. + +28:23. Give ear, and hear my voice, hearken, and hear my speech. + +28:24. Shall the ploughman plough all the day to sow, shall he open and +harrow his ground? + +28:25. Will he not, when he hath made plain the surface thereof, sow +gith, and scatter cummin, and put wheat in order, and barley, and +millet, and vetches in their bounds? + +28:26. For he will instruct him in judgment: his God will teach him. + +28:27. For gith shall not be thrashed with saws, neither shall the cart +wheel turn about upon cummin: but gith shall be beaten out with a rod, +and cumin with a staff. + +28:28. But breadcorn shall be broken small: but the thrasher shall not +thrash it for ever, neither shall the cart wheel hurt it, nor break it +with its teeth. + +28:29. This also is come forth from the Lord God of hosts, to make his +counsel wonderful, and magnify justice. + +This also, etc. . .Such also is the proceeding of the Lord with his +land, and the divers seeds he throws therein. + + + +Isaias Chapter 29 + + +God's heavy judgments upon Jerusalem, for their obstinacy: with a +prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles. + +29:1. Woe to Ariel, to Ariel the city which David took: year is added +to year. the solemnities are at an end. + +Ariel. . .This word signifies, the lion of God, and here is taken for +the strong city of Jerusalem. + +29:2. And I will make a trench about Ariel, and it shall be in sorrow +and mourning, and it shall be to me as Ariel. + +29:3. And I will make a circle round about thee, and I will cast up a +rampart against thee, and raise up bulwarks to besiege thee. + +29:4. Thou shalt be brought down, thou shall speak out of the earth, +and thy speech shall be heard out of the ground: and thy voice shall be +from the earth like that of the python, and out of the earth thy speech +shall mutter. + +29:5. And the multitude of them that fan thee, shall be like small +dust: and as ashes passing away, the multitude of them that have +prevailed against thee. + +29:6. And it shall be at an instant suddenly. A visitation shall come +from the Lord of hosts in thunder, and with earthquake, and with a +great noise of whirlwind and tempest; and with the flame of devouring +fire. + +29:7. And the multitude of all nations that have fought against Ariel, +shall be as the dream of a vision by night, and all that have fought, +and besieged and prevailed against it. + +29:8. And as he that is hungry dreameth, and eateth, but when he is +awake, his soul is empty: and as he that is thirsty dreameth, and +drinketh and after he is awake, is yet faint with thirst, and his soul +is empty: so shall be the multitude of all the Gentiles, that have +fought against mount Sion. + +29:9. Be astonished, and wonder, waver, and stagger: be drunk, and not +with wine: stagger, and not with drunkenness. + +29:10. For the Lord hath mingled for you the spirit of a deep sleep, he +will shut up your eyes, he will cover your prophets and princes, that +see visions. + +29:11. And the vision of all shall be unto you as the words of a book +that is sealed which when they shall deliver to one that is learned, +they shall say: Read this: and he shall answer: I cannot, for it is +sealed. + +29:12. And the book shall be given to one that knoweth no letters, and +it shall be said to him: Read: and he shall answer: I know no letters. + +29:13. And the Lord said: Forasmuch as this people draw near me with +their mouth, and with their lips glorify me, but their heart is far +from me, and they have feared me with the commandment and doctrines of +men: + +29:14. Therefore behold I will proceed to cause an admiration in this +people, by a great and wonderful miracle: for wisdom shall perish from +their wise men, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be +hid. + +29:15. Woe to you that are deep of heart, to hide your counsel from the +Lord: and their works are in the dark, and they say: Who seeth us, and +who knoweth us? + +29:16. This thought of yours is perverse: as if the clay should think +against the potter, and the work should say to the maker thereof: Thou +madest me not: or the thing framed should say to him that fashioned it: +Thou understandest not. + +29:17. Is it not yet a very little while, and Libanus shall be turned +into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed as a forest? + +Charmel. . .This word signifies a fruitful field. + +29:18. And in that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and +out of darkness and obscurity the eyes of the blind shall see. + +29:19. And the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor +men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. + +29:20. For he that did prevail hath failed, the scorner is consumed, +and they are all cut off that watched for iniquity: + +29:21. That made men sin by word, and supplanted him that reproved them +in the gate, and declined in vain from the just. + +29:22. Therefore thus saith the Lord to the house of Jacob, he that +redeemed Abraham: Jacob shall not now be confounded, neither shall his +countenance now be ashamed: + +29:23. But when he shall see his children, the work of my hands in the +midst of him sanctifying my name, and they shall sanctify the Holy One +of Jacob, and shall glorify the God of Israel: + +29:24. And they that erred in spirit, shall know understanding, and +they that murmured, shall learn the law. + + + +Isaias Chapter 30 + + +The people are blamed for their confidence in Egypt. God's mercies +towards his church. The punishment of sinners. + +30:1. Woe to you, apostate children, saith the Lord, that you would +take counsel, and not of me: and would begin a web, and not by my +spirit, that you might add sin upon sin: + +30:2. Who walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth, +hoping for help in the strength of Pharao, and trusting in the shadow +of Egypt. + +30:3. And the strength of Pharao shall be to your confusion, and the +confidence of the shadow of Egypt to your shame. + +30:4. For thy princes were in Tanis, and thy messengers came even to +Hanes. + +30:5. They were all confounded at a people that could not profit them: +they were no help, nor to any profit, but to confusion and to reproach. + +30:6. The burden of the beasts of the south. In a land of trouble and +distress, from whence come the lioness, and the lion, the viper and the +flying basilisk, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of beasts, +and their treasures upon the bunches of camels to a people that shall +not be able to profit them. + +30:7. For Egypt shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I +cried concerning this: It is pride only, sit still. + +30:8. Now therefore go in and write for them upon box, and note it +diligently in a book, and it shall be in the latter days for a +testimony for ever. + +30:9. For it is a people that provoketh to wrath, and lying children +that will not hear the law of God. + +30:10. Who say to the seers: See not: and to them that behold: Behold +not for us those things that are right: speak unto us pleasant things, +see errors for us. + +30:11. Take away from me the way, turn away the path from me, let the +Holy One of Israel cease from before us. + +30:12. Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: Because you have +rejected this word, and have trusted in oppression and tumult, and have +leaned upon it: + +30:13. Therefore shall this iniquity be to you as a breach that +falleth, and is found wanting in a high wall, for the destruction +thereof shall come on a sudden, when it is not looked for. + +30:14. And it shall be broken small, as the potter's vessel is broken +all to pieces with mighty breaking, and there shall not a sherd be +found of the pieces thereof, wherein a little fire may be carried from +the hearth, or a little water be drawn out of the pit. + +30:15. For thus saith the Lord God the Holy One of Israel: If you +return and be quiet, you shall be saved: in silence and in hope shall +your strength be. And you would not: + +30:16. But have said: No, but we will flee to horses: therefore shall +you flee. And we will mount upon swift ones: therefore shall they be +swifter that shall pursue after you. + +30:17. A thousand men shall flee for fear of one: and for fear of five +shall you flee, till you be left as the mast of ship on the top of a +mountain, and as an ensign upon a hill. + +30:18. Therefore the Lord waiteth that he may have mercy on you: and +therefore shall he be exalted sparing you: because the Lord is the God +of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. + +30:19. For the people of Sion shall dwell in Jerusalem: weeping thou +shalt not weep, he will surely have pity on thee: at the voice of thy +cry, as soon as he shall hear, he will answer thee. + +30:20. And the Lord will give you spare bread, and short water: and +will not cause thy teacher to flee away from thee any more, and thy +eyes shall see thy teacher. + +30:21. And thy ears shall hear the word of one admonishing thee behind +thy back: This is the way, walk ye in it: and go not aside neither to +the right hand, nor to the left. + +30:22. And thou shalt defile the plates of thy graven things of silver, +and the garment of thy molten things of gold, and shalt cast them away +as the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. Thou shalt say to it: Get +thee hence. + +30:23. And rain shall be given to thy seed, wheresoever thou shalt sow +in the land: and the bread of the corn of the land shall be most +plentiful, and fat. The lamb in that day shall feed at large in thy +possession: + +30:24. And thy oxen, and the ass colts that till the ground, shall eat +mingled provender as it was winnowed in the floor. + +30:25. And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every +elevated hill rivers of running waters in the day of the slaughter of +many, when the tower shall fall. + +30:26. And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and +the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days: in +the day when the Lord shall bind up the wound of his people, and shall +heal the stroke of their wound. + +30:27. Behold the name of the Lord cometh from afar, his wrath burneth, +and is heavy to bear: his lips are filled with indignation, and his +tongue as a devouring fire. + +30:28. His breath as a torrent overflowing even to the midst of the +neck, to destroy the nations unto nothing, and the bridle of error that +was in the jaws of the people. + +30:29. You shall have a song as in the night of the sanctified +solemnity, and joy of heart, as where one goeth with a pipe, to come +into the mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel. + +30:30. And the Lord shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, and +shall shew the terror of his arm, in the threatening of wrath, and the +flame of devouring fire: he shall crush to pieces with whirlwind, and +hailstones. + +30:31. For at the voice of the Lord the Assyrian shall fear being +struck with the rod. + +30:32. And the passage of the rod shall be strongly grounded, which the +Lord shall make to rest upon him with timbrels and harps, and in great +battles he shall overthrow them. + +30:33. For Topheth is prepared from yesterday, prepared by the king, +deep, and wide. The nourishment thereof is fire and much wood: the +breath of the Lord as a torrent of brimstone kindling it. + +Topheth. . .It is the same as Gehenna, and is taken for hell. + + + +Isaias Chapter 31 + + +The folly of trusting to Egypt, and forgetting God. He will fight for +his people against the Assyrians. + +31:1. Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, trusting in horses, +and putting their confidence in chariots, because they are many: and in +horsemen, because they are very strong: and have not trusted in the +Holy One of Israel, and have not sought after the Lord. + +31:2. But he that is the wise one hath brought evil, and hath not +removed his words: and he will rise up against the house of the wicked, +and against the aid of them that work iniquity. + +31:3. Egypt is man, and not God: and their horses, flesh, and not +spirit: and the Lord shall put down his hand, and the helper shall +fall, and he that is helped shall fall, and they shall all be +confounded together. + +31:4. For thus saith the Lord to me: Like as the lion roareth, and the +lions whelp upon his prey, and when a multitude of shepherds shall come +against him, he will not fear at their voice, nor be afraid of their +multitude: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight upon mount +Sion, and upon the hill thereof. + +31:5. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts protect Jerusalem, +protecting and delivering, passing over and saving. + +31:6. Return as you had deeply revolted, O children of Israel. + +31:7. For in that day a man shall cast away his idols of silver, and +his idols of gold, which your hands have made for you to sin. + +31:8. And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword not of a man, and the +sword not of a man shall devour him, and he shall flee not at the face +of the sword, and his young men shall be tributaries. + +31:9. And his strength shall pass away with dread, and his princes +fleeing shall be afraid: the Lord hath said it, whose fire is in Sion, +and his furnace in Jerusalem. + + + +Isaias Chapter 32 + + +The blessings of the reign of Christ. The desolation of the Jews, and +prosperity of the church of Christ. + +32:1. Behold a king shall reign in justice, and princes shall rule in +judgment. + +32:2. And a man shall be as when one is hid from the wind, and hideth +himself from a storm, as rivers of waters in drought, and the shadow of +a rock that standeth out in a desert land. + +32:3. The eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them +that hear shall hearken diligently. + +32:4. And the heart of fools shall understand knowledge, and the tongue +of stammerers shall speak readily and plain. + +32:5. The fool shall no more be called prince: neither shall the +deceitful be called great: + +32:6. For the fool will speak foolish things, and his heart will work +iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and speak to the Lord deceitfully, and +to make empty the soul of the hungry, and take away drink from the +thirsty. + +32:7. The vessels of the deceitful are most wicked: for he hath framed +devices to destroy the meek, with lying words, when the poor man +speaketh judgment. + +32:8. But the prince will devise such things as are worthy of a prince, +and he shall stand above the rulers. + +32:9. Rise up, ye rich women, and hear my voice: ye confident +daughters, give ear to my speech. + +32:10. For after days and a year, you that are confident shall be +troubled: for the vintage is at an end, the gathering shall come no +more. + +32:11. Be astonished, ye rich women, be troubled, ye confident ones: +strip you, and be confounded, gird your loins. + +32:12. Mourn for your breasts, for the delightful country, for the +fruitful vineyard. + +32:13. Upon the land of my people shall thorns and briers come up: how +much more upon all the houses of joy, of the city that rejoiced? + +32:14. For the house is forsaken, the multitude of the city is left, +darkness and obscurity are come upon its dens for ever. A joy of wild +asses, the pastures of flocks. + +32:15. Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high: and the desert +shall be as a charmel, and charmel shall be counted for a forest. + +32:16. An judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and justice shall sit +in charmel. + +32:17. And the work of justice shall be peace, and the service of +justice quietness, and security for ever. + +32:18. And my people shall sit in the beauty of peace, and in the +tabernacles of confidence, and in wealthy rest. + +32:19. But hail shall be in the descent of the forest, and the city +shall be made very low. + +32:20. Blessed are ye that sow upon all waters, sending thither the +foot of the ox and the ass. + + + +Isaias Chapter 33 + + +God's revenge against the enemies of his church. The happiness of the +heavenly Jerusalem. + +33:1. Woe to thee that spoilest, shalt not thou thyself also be +spoiled? and thou that despisest, shalt not thyself also be despised? +when thou shalt have made an end of spoiling, thou shalt be spoiled: +when being wearied thou shalt cease to despise, thou shalt be despised. + +That spoilest, etc. . .This is particularly directed to Sennacherib. + +33:2. O Lord, have mercy on us: for we have waited for thee: be thou +our arm in the morning, and our salvation in the time of trouble. + +33:3. At the voice of the angel the people fled, and at the lifting up +thyself the nations are scattered. + +33:4. And your spoils shall be gathered together as the locusts are +gathered, as when the ditches are full of them. + +33:5. The Lord is magnified, for he hath dwelt on high: he hath filled +Sion with judgment and justice. + +33:6. And there shall be faith in thy times: riches of salvation, +wisdom and knowledge: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. + +33:7. Behold they that see shall cry without, the angels of peace shall +weep bitterly. + +The angels of peace. . .The messengers or deputies sent to negotiate a +peace. + +33:8. The ways are made desolate, no one passeth by the road, the +covenant is made void, he hath rejected the cities, he hath not +regarded the men. + +33:9. The land hath mourned, and languished: Libanus is confounded, and +become foul, and Saron is become as a desert: and Basan and Carmel are +shaken. + +33:10. Now will I rise up, saith the Lord: now will I be exalted, now +will I lift up myself. + +33:11. You shall conceive heat, you shall bring forth stubble: your +breath as fire shall devour you. + +33:12. And the people shall be as ashes after a fire, as a bundle of +thorns they shall be burnt with fire. + +33:13. Hear, you that are far off, what I have done, and you that are +near know my strength. + +33:14. The sinners in Sion are afraid, trembling hath seized upon the +hypocrites. Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you +shall dwell with everlasting burnings? + +33:15. He that walketh in justices, and speaketh truth, that casteth +away avarice by oppression, and shaketh his hands from all bribes, that +stoppeth his ears lest he hear blood, and shutteth his eyes that he may +see no evil. + +33:16. He shall dwell on high, the fortifications of rocks shall be his +highness: bread is given him, his waters are sure. + +33:17. His eyes shall see the king in his beauty, they shall see the +land far off. + +33:18. Thy heart shall meditate fear: where is the learned? where is he +that pondered the words of the law? where is the teacher of little +ones? + +33:19. The shameless people thou shalt not see, the people of profound +speech: so that thou canst not understand the eloquence of his tongue, +in whom there is no wisdom. + +33:20. Look upon Sion the city of our solemnity: thy eyes shall see +Jerusalem, a rich habitation, a tabernacle that cannot be removed: +neither shall the nails thereof be taken away for ever, neither shall +any of the cords thereof be broken. + +33:21. Because only there our Lord is magnificent: a place of rivers, +very broad and spacious streams: no ship with oars shall pass by it, +neither shall the great galley pass through it. + +Of rivers. . .He speaks of the rivers of endless joys that flow from the +throne of God to water the heavenly Jerusalem, where no enemy's ship +can come, etc. + +33:22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is +our king: he will save us. + +33:23. Thy tacklings are loosed, and they shall be of no strength: thy +mast shall be in such condition, that thou shalt not be able to spread +the flag. Then shall the spoils of much prey be divided: the lame shall +take the spoil. + +Thy tacklings. . .He speaks of the enemies of the church, under the +allegory of a ship that is disabled. + +33:24. Neither shall he that is near, say: I am feeble. The people that +dwell therein, shall have their iniquity taken away from them. + + + +Isaias Chapter 34 + + +The general judgment of the wicked. + +34:1. Come near, ye Gentiles, and hear, and hearken, ye people: let the +earth hear, and all that is therein, the world, and every thing that +cometh forth of it. + +34:2. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury +upon all their armies: he hath killed them, and delivered them to +slaughter. + +34:3. Their slain shall be cast forth, and out of their carcasses shall +rise a stink: the mountains shall be melted with their blood. + +34:4. And all the host of the heavens shall pine away, and the heavens +shall be folded together as a book: and all their host shall fall down +as the leaf falleth from the vine, and from the fig tree. + +And all the host of the heavens. . .That is, the sun, moon, and stars. + +34:5. For my sword is inebriated in heaven: behold it shall come down +upon Idumea, and upon the people of my slaughter unto judgment. + +Idumea. . .Under the name of Idumea, or Edom a people that were enemies +of the Jews, are here understood the wicked in general, the enemies of +God and his church. + +34:6. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made thick with +the blood of lambs and buck goats, with the blood of rams full of +marrow: for there is a victim of the Lord in Bosra and a great +slaughter in the land of Edom. + +34:7. And the unicorns shall go down with them, and the bulls with the +mighty: their land shall be soaked with blood, and their ground with +the fat of fat ones. + +The unicorns. . .That is, the great and mighty. + +34:8. For it is the day of the vengeance of the Lord, the year of +recompenses of the judgment of Sion. + +The year of recompenses, etc. . .When the persecutors of Sion, that is, +of the church, shall receive their reward. + +34:9. And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the +ground thereof into brimstone: and the land thereof shall become +burning pitch. + +34:10. Night and day it shall not be quenched, the smoke thereof shall +go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste, none +shall pass through it for ever and ever. + +34:11. The bittern and ericius shall possess it: and the ibis and the +raven shall dwell in it: and a line shall be stretched out upon it, to +bring it to nothing, and a plummet, unto desolation. + +34:12. The nobles thereof shall not be there: they shall call rather +upon the king, and all the princes thereof shall be nothing. + +34:13. And thorns and nettles shall grow up in its houses, and the +thistle in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be the habitation of +dragons, and the pasture of ostriches. + +34:14. And demons and monsters shall meet, and the hairy ones shall cry +out one to another, there hath the lamia lain down, and found rest for +herself. + +34:15. There hath the ericius had its hole, and brought up its young +ones, and hath dug round about, and cherished them in the shadow +thereof: thither are the kites gathered together one to another. + +34:16. Search ye diligently in the book of the Lord, and read: not one +of them was wanting, one hath not sought for the other: for that which +proceedeth out of my mouth, he hath commanded, and his spirit it hath +gathered them. + +34:17. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it +to them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to +generation they shall dwell therein. + + + +Isaias Chapter 35 + + +The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom: in his church shall be a +holy and secure way. + +35:1. The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the +wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily. + +35:2. It shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy and +praise: the glory of Libanus is given to it: the beauty of Carmel, and +Saron, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the beauty of our God. + +35:3. Strengthen ye the feeble hands, and confirm the weak knees. + +35:4. Say to the fainthearted: Take courage, and fear not: behold your +God will bring the revenge of recompense: God himself will come and +will save you. + +35:5. Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the +deaf shall be unstopped. + +35:6. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the +dumb shall be free: for waters are broken out in the desert, and +streams in the wilderness. + +35:7. And that which was dry land, shall become a pool, and the thirsty +land springs of water. In the dens where dragons dwelt before, shall +rise up the verdure of the reed and the bulrush. + +35:8. And a path and a way shall be there, and it shall be called the +holy way: the unclean shall not pass over it, and this shall be unto +you a straight way, so that fools shall not err therein. + +35:9. No lion shall be there, nor shall any mischievous beast go up by +it, nor be found there: but they shall walk there that shall be +delivered. + +35:10. And the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and shall come into +Sion with praise, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they +shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. + + + +Isaias Chapter 36 + + +Sennacherib invades Juda: his blasphemies. + +36:1. And it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, that +Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against all the fenced cities +of Juda, and took them. + +36:2. And the king of the Assyrians sent Rabsaces from Lachis to +Jerusalem, to king Ezechias with a great army, and he stood by the +conduit of the upper pool in the way of the fuller's field. + +36:3. And there went out to him Eliacim the son of Helcias, who was +over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the +recorder. + +36:4. And Rabsaces said to them: Tell Ezechias: Thus saith the great +king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence wherein thou +trustest? + +36:5. Or with what counsel or strength dost thou prepare for war? on +whom dost thou trust, that thou art revolted from me? + +36:6. Lo thou trustest upon this broken staff of a reed, upon Egypt: +upon which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so +is Pharao king of Egypt to all that trust in him. + +36:7. But if thou wilt answer me: We trust in the Lord our God: is it +not he whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away, and hath +said to Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar? + +36:8. And now deliver thyself up to my lord the king of the Assyrians, +and I will give thee two thousand horses, and thou wilt not be able on +thy part to find riders for them. + +36:9. And how wilt thou stand against the face of the judge of one +place, of the least of my master's servants? But if thou trust in +Egypt, in chariots and in horsemen: + +36:10. And am I now come up without the Lord against this land to +destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up against this land, and destroy +it. + +36:11. And Eliacim, and Sobna, and Joahe said to Rabsaces: Speak to thy +servants in the Syrian tongue: for we understand it: speak not to us in +the Jews' language in the hearing of the people, that are upon the +wall. + +36:12. And Rabsaces said to them: Hath my master sent me to thy master +and to thee, to speak all these words; and not rather to the men that +sit on the wall; that they may eat their own dung, and drink their +urine with you? + +36:13. Then Rabsaces stood, and cried out with a loud voice in the +Jews' language, and said: Hear the words of the great king, the king of +the Assyrians. + +36:14. Thus saith the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you, for he shall +not be able to deliver you. + +36:15. And let not Ezechias make you trust in the Lord, saying: The +Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the +hands of the king of the Assyrians. + +36:16. Do not hearken to Ezechias: for thus said the king of the +Assyrians: Do with me that which is for your advantage, and come out to +me, and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, +and drink ye every one the water of his cistern, + +36:17. Till I come and take you away to a land, like to your own, a +land of corn and of wine, a land of bread and vineyards. + +36:18. Neither let Ezechias trouble you, saying: The Lord will deliver +us. Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their land out of the +hand of the king of the Assyrians? + +36:19. Where is the god of Emath and of Arphad? where is the god of +Sepharvaim? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? + +36:20. Who is there among all the gods of these lands, that hath +delivered his country out of my hand, that the Lord may deliver +Jerusalem out of my hand? + +36:21. And they held their peace, and answered him not a word. For the +king had commanded, saying: Answer him not. + +36:22. And Eliacim the son of Helcias, that was over the house, and +Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder, went in to +Ezechias with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces. + + + +Isaias Chapter 37 + + +Ezechias, his mourning and prayer. God's promise of protection. The +Assyrian army is destroyed. Sennacherib is slain. + +37:1. And it came to pass, when king Ezechias had heard it, that he +rent his garments and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the +house of the Lord. + +37:2. And he sent Eliacim who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, +and the ancients of the priests covered with sackcloth, to Isaias the +son of Amos the prophet. + +37:3. And they said to him: Thus saith Ezechias: This day is a day of +tribulation, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come +to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. + +37:4. It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabsaces, whom +the king of the Assyrians his master hath sent to blaspheme the living +God, and to reproach with words which the Lord thy God hath heard: +wherefore lift up by prayer for the remnant that is left. + +37:5. And the servants of Ezechias came to Isaias. + +37:6. And Isaias said to them: Thus shall you say to your master: Thus +saith the Lord: Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, with +which the servants of the king of the Assyrians have blasphemed me. + +37:7. Behold, I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a +message, and shall return to his own country, and I will cause him to +fall by the sword in his own country. + +37:8. And Rabsaces returned, and found the king of the Assyrians +besieging Lobna. For he had heard that he was departed from Lachis. + +37:9. And he heard say about Tharaca the king of Ethiopia: He is come +forth to fight against thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers +to Ezechias, saying: + +37:10. Thus shall you speak to Ezechias the king of Juda, saying: Let +not thy God deceive thee, in whom thou trustest, saying: Jerusalem +shall not be given into the hands of the king of the Assyrians. + +37:11. Behold thou hast heard all that the kings of the Assyrians have +done to all countries which they have destroyed, and canst thou be +delivered? + +37:12. Have the gods of the nations delivered them whom my fathers have +destroyed, Gozam, and Haram, and Reseph, and the children of Eden, that +were in Thalassar? + +37:13. Where is the king of Emath, and the king of Arphad, and the king +of the city of Sepharvaim, of Ana, and of Ava? + +37:14. And Ezechias took the letter from the hand of the messengers, +and read it, and went up to the house of the Lord, and Ezechias spread +it before the Lord. + +37:15. And Ezechias prayed to the Lord, saying: + +37:16. Lord of hosts, God of Israel who sitteth upon the cherubims, +thou alone art the God of all the kingdoms of the earth, thou hast made +heaven and earth. + +37:17. Incline, O Lord, thy ear, and hear: open, O Lord, thy eyes, and +see, and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he hath sent to +blaspheme the living God. + +37:18. For of a truth, O Lord, the kings of the Assyrians have laid +waste lands, and their countries. + +37:19. And they have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not +gods, but the works of men's hands, of wood and stone: and they broke +them in pieces. + +37:20. And now, O Lord our God, save us out of his hand: and let all +the kingdoms of the earth know, that thou only art the Lord. + +37:21. And Isaias the son of Amos sent to Ezechias, saying: Thus saith +the Lord the God of Israel: For the prayer thou hast made to me +concerning Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians: + +37:22. This is the word which the Lord hath spoken of him: The virgin +the daughter of Sion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn: the +daughter of Jerusalem hath wagged the head after thee. + +37:23. Whom hast thou reproached, and whom hast thou blasphemed, and +against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thy eyes on +high? Against the Holy One of Israel. + +37:24. By the hand of thy servants thou hast reproached the Lord: and +hast said: With the multitude of my chariots I have gone up to the +height of the mountains, to the top of Libanus: and I will cut down its +tall cedars, and its choice fir trees, and will enter to the top of its +height, to the forest of its Carmel. + +Carmel. . .See these figurative expressions explained in the annotations +on the nineteenth chapter of the fourth book of Kings. + +37:25. I have digged, and drunk water, and have dried up with the sole +of my foot, all the rivers shut up in banks. + +37:26. Hast thou not heard what I have done to him of old? from the +days of old I have formed it: and now I have brought it to effect: and +it hath come to pass that hills fighting together, and fenced cities +should be destroyed. + +37:27. The inhabitants of them were weak of hand, they trembled, and +were confounded: they became like the grass of the field, and the herb +of the pasture, and like the grass of the housetops, which withered +before it was ripe. + +37:28. I know thy dwelling, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and +thy rage against me. + +37:29. When thou wast mad against me, thy pride came up to my ears: +therefore I will put a ring in thy nose, and a bit between thy lips, +and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest. + +37:30. But to thee this shall be a sign: Eat this year the things that +spring of themselves, and in the second year eat fruits: but in the +third year sow and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of +them. + +37:31. And that which shall be saved of the house of Juda, and which is +left, shall take root downward, and shall bear fruit upward: + +37:32. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and salvation +from mount Sion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. + +37:33. Wherefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the +Assyrians: He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow into +it, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a trench about it. + +37:34. By the way that he came, he shall return, and into this city he +shall not come, saith the Lord. + +37:35. And I will protect this city, and will save it for my own sake, +and for the sake of David my servant. + +37:36. And the angel of the Lord went out and slew in the camp of the +Assyrians a hundred and eighty-five thousand. And they arose in the +morning, and behold they were all dead corpses. + +37:37. And Sennacherib the king of the Assyrians went out and departed, +and returned, and dwelt in Ninive. + +37:38. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the temple of +Nesroch his god, that Adramelech and Sarasar his sons slew him with the +sword: and they fled into the land of Ararat, and Asarhaddon his son +reigned in his stead. + + + +Isaias Chapter 38 + + +Ezechias being advertised that he shall die, obtains by prayer a +prolongation of his life: in confirmation of which the sun goes back. +The canticle of Ezechias. + +38:1. In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and Isaias the son +of Amos the prophet cane unto him, and said to him: Thus saith the +Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live. + +38:2. And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the +Lord, + +38:3. And said: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked +before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that +which is good in thy sight. And Ezechias wept with great weeping. + +38:4. And the word of the Lord came to Isaias, saying: + +38:5. Go and say to Ezechias: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy +father: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold I +will add to thy days fifteen years: + +38:6. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king +of the Assyrians, and I will protect it. + +38:7. And this shall be a sign to thee from the Lord, that the Lord +will do this word which he hath spoken: + +38:8. Behold I will bring again the shadow of the lines, by which it is +now gone down in the sun dial of Achaz with the sun, ten lines +backward. And the sun returned ten lines by the degrees by which it was +gone down. + +38:9. The writing of Ezechias king of Juda, when he had been sick, and +was recovered of his sickness. + +38:10. I said: In the midst of my days I shall go to the gates of hell: +I sought for the residue of my years. + +Hell. . .Sheol, or Hades, the region of the dead. + +38:11. I said: I shall not see the Lord God in the land of the living. +I shall behold man no more, nor the inhabitant of rest. + +38:12. My generation is at an end, and it is rolled away from me, as a +shepherd's tent. My life is cut off, as by a weaver: whilst I was yet +but beginning, he cut me off: from morning even to night thou wilt make +an end of me. + +38:13. I hoped till morning, as a lion so hath he broken all my bones: +from morning even to night thou wilt make an end of me. + +38:14. I will cry like a young swallow, I will meditate like a dove: my +eyes are weakened looking upward: Lord, I suffer violence, answer thou +for me. + +38:15. What shall I say, or what shall he answer for me, whereas he +himself hath done it? I will recount to thee all my years in the +bitterness of my soul. + +38:16. O Lord, if man's life be such, and the life of my spirit be in +such things as these, thou shalt correct me, and make me to live. + +38:17. Behold in peace is my bitterness most bitter: but thou hast +delivered my soul that it should not perish, thou hast cast all my sins +behind thy back. + +38:18. For hell shall not confess to thee, neither shall death praise +thee: nor shall they that go down into the pit, look for thy truth. + +38:19. The living, the living, he shall give praise to thee, as I do +this day: the father shall make the truth known to the children. + +38:20. O Lord, save me, and we will sing our psalms all the days of our +life in the house of the Lord. + +38:21. Now Isaias had ordered that they should take a lump of figs, and +lay it as a plaster upon the wound, and that he should be healed. + +38:22. And Ezechias had said: What shall be the sign that I shall go up +to the house of the Lord? + + + +Isaias Chapter 39 + + +Ezechias shews all his treasures to the ambassadors of Babylon: upon +which Isaias foretells the Babylonish captivity. + +39:1. At that time Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan king of +Babylon, sent letters and presents to Ezechias: for he had heard that +he had been sick and was recovered. + +39:2. And Ezechias rejoiced at their coming, and he shewed them the +storehouses of his aromatical spices, and of the silver, and of the +gold, and of the sweet odours, and of the precious ointment, and all +the storehouses of his furniture, and all things that were found in his +treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion that +Ezechias shewed them not. + +39:3. Then Isaias the prophet came to king Ezechias, and said to him: +What said these men, and from whence came they to thee? And Ezechias +said: From a far country they came to me, from Babylon. + +39:4. And he said: What saw they in thy house? And Ezechias said: All +things that are in my house have they seen, there was not any thing +which I have not shewn them in my treasures. + +39:5. And Isaias said to Ezechias: Hear the word of the Lord of hosts. + +39:6. Behold the days shall come that all that is in thy house, and +that thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried +away into Babylon: there shall not any thing be left, saith the Lord. + +39:7. And of thy children, that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt +beget, they shall take away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of +the king of Babylon. + +39:8. And Ezechias said to Isaias: The word of the Lord, which he hath +spoken, is good. And he said: Only let peace and truth be in my days. + + + +Isaias Chapter 40 + + +The prophet comforts the people with the promise of the coming of +Christ to forgive their sins. God's almighty power and majesty. + +40:1. Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. + +40:2. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil +is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the +hand of the Lord double for all her sins. + +40:3. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the +Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. + +40:4. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall +be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways +plain. + +40:5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh +together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. + +40:6. The voice of one, saying: Cry. And I said: What shall I cry? +All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. + +40:7. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen, because the +spirit of the Lord hath blown upon it. Indeed the people is grass: + +40:8. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen: but the word of +our Lord endureth for ever. + +40:9. Get thee up upon a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings +to Sion: lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest good +tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: +Behold your God: + +40:10. Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall +rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. + +40:11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather +together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, +and he himself shall carry them that are with young. + +40:12. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and +weighed the heavens with his palm? who hath poised with three fingers +the bulk of the earth, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the +hills in a balance? + +40:13. Who hath forwarded the spirit of the Lord? or who hath been his +counsellor, and hath taught him? + +40:14. With whom hath he consulted, and who hath instructed him, and +taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and shewed +him the way of understanding? + +40:15. Behold the Gentiles are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted +as the smallest grain of a balance: behold the islands are as a little +dust. + +40:16. And Libanus shall not be enough to burn, nor the beasts thereof +sufficient for a burnt offering. + +40:17. All nations are before him as if they had no being at all, and +are counted to him as nothing, and vanity. + +40:18. To whom then have you likened God? or what image will you make +for him? + +40:19. Hath the workman cast a graven statue? or hath the goldsmith +formed it with gold, or the silversmith with plates of silver? + +40:20. He hath chosen strong wood, and that will not rot: the skilful +workman seeketh how he may set up an idol that may not be moved. + +40:21. Do you not know? hath it not been heard? hath it not been told +you from the beginning? have you not understood the foundations of the +earth? + +40:22. It is he that sitteth upon the globe of the earth, and the +inhabitants thereof are as locusts: he that stretcheth out the heavens +as nothing, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. + +40:23. He that bringeth the searchers of secrets to nothing, that hath +made the judges of the earth as vanity. + +40:24. And surely their stock was neither planted, nor sown, nor rooted +in the earth: suddenly he hath blown upon them, and they are withered, +and a whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. + +40:25. And to whom have ye likened me, or made me equal, saith the Holy +One? + +40:26. Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these +things: who bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by +their names: by the greatness of his might, and strength, and power, +not one of them was missing. + +40:27. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel: My way is hid +from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? + +40:28. Knowest thou not, or hast thou not heard? the Lord is the +everlasting God, who hath created the ends of the earth: he shall not +faint, nor labour, neither is there any searching out of his wisdom. + +40:29. It is he that giveth strength to the weary, and increaseth force +and might to them that are not. + +40:30. You shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by +infirmity. + +40:31. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they +shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall +walk and not faint. + + + +Isaias Chapter 41 + + +The reign of the just one: the vanity of idols. + +41:1. Let the islands keep silence before me, and the nations take new +strength: let them come near, and then speak, let us come near to +judgment together. + +41:2. Who hath raised up the just one from the east, hath called him to +follow him? he shall give the nations in his sight, and he shall rule +over kings: he shall give them as the dust to his sword, as stubble +driven by the wind, to his bow. + +41:3. He shall pursue them, he shall pass in peace, no path shall +appear after his feet. + +41:4. Who hath wrought and done these things, calling the generations +from the beginning? I the Lord, I am the first and the last. + +41:5. The islands saw it, and feared, the ends of the earth were +astonished, they drew near, and came. + +41:6. Every one shall help his neighbour, and shall say to his brother: +Be of good courage. + +41:7. The coppersmith striking with the hammer encouraged him that +forged at that time, saying: It is ready for soldering: and he +strengthened it with nails, that it should not be moved. + +41:8. But thou Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the +seed of Abraham my friend: + +41:9. In whom I have taken thee from the ends of the earth, and from +the remote parts thereof have called thee, and said to thee: Thou art +my servant, I have chosen thee, and have not cast thee away. + +41:10. Fear not, for I am with thee: turn not aside, for I am thy God: +I have strengthened thee, and have helped thee, and the right hand of +my just one hath upheld thee. + +41:11. Behold all that fight against thee shall be confounded and +ashamed, they shall be as nothing, and the men shall perish that strive +against thee. + +41:12. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find the men that resist +thee: they shall be as nothing: and as a thing consumed the men that +war against thee. + +41:13. For I am the Lord thy God, who take thee by the hand, and say to +thee: Fear not, I have helped thee. + +41:14. Fear not, thou worm of Jacob, you that are dead of Israel: I +have helped thee, saith the Lord: and thy Redeemer the Holy One of +Israel. + +41:15. I have made thee as a new thrashing wain, with teeth like a saw: +thou shalt thrash the mountains, and break them in pieces: and shalt +make the hills as chaff. + +41:16. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the +whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, in +the Holy One of Israel thou shalt be joyful. + +41:17. The needy and the poor seek for waters, and there are none: +their tongue hath been dry with thirst. I the Lord will hear them, I +the God of Israel will not forsake them. + +41:18. I will open rivers in the high hills, and fountains in the midst +of the plains: I will turn the desert into pools of waters, and the +impassable land into streams of waters. + +41:19. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, and the thorn, and the +myrtle, and the olive tree: I will set in the desert the fir tree, the +elm, and the box tree together: + +The thorn. . .In Hebrew, the shitta, or setim, a tree resembling the +white thorn. + +41:20. That they may see and know, and consider, and understand +together that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of +Israel hath created it. + +41:21. Bring your cause near, saith the Lord: bring hither, if you have +any thing to allege, saith the King of Jacob. + +41:22. Let them come, and tell us all things that are to come: tell us +the former things what they were: and we will set our heart upon them +and shall know the latter end of them, and tell us the things that are +to come. + +41:23. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, and we shall know +that ye are gods. Do ye also good or evil, if you can: and let us +speak, and see together. + +41:24. Behold, you are of nothing, and your work of that which hath no +being: he that hath chosen you is an abomination. + +41:25. I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come from the +rising of the sun: he shall call upon my name, and he shall make +princes to be as dirt, and as the potter treading clay. + +41:26. Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know: and from +time of old, that we may say: Thou art just. There is none that +sheweth, nor that foretelleth, nor that heareth your words. + +41:27. The first shall say to Sion: Behold they are here, and to +Jerusalem I will give an evangelist. + +41:28. And I saw, and there was no one even among them to consult, or +who, when I asked, could answer a word. + +41:29. Behold they are all in the wrong, and their works are vain: +their idols are wind and vanity. + + + +Isaias Chapter 42 + + +The office of Christ. The preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. The +blindness and reprobation of the Jews. + +42:1. Behold my servant, I will uphold him: my elect, my soul +delighteth in him: I have given my spirit upon him, he shall bring +forth judgment to the Gentiles. + +My servant. . .Christ, who according to his humanity, is the servant of +God. + +42:2. He shall not cry, nor have respect to person, neither shall his +voice be heard abroad. + +42:3. The bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall +not quench, he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. + +42:4. He shall not be sad, nor troublesome, till he set judgment in the +earth, and the islands shall wait for his law. + +42:5. Thus saith the Lord God that created the heavens, and stretched +them out: that established the earth, and the things that spring out of +it: that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that +tread thereon. + +42:6. I the Lord have called thee in justice, and taken thee by the +hand, and preserved thee. And I have given thee for a covenant of the +people, for a light of the Gentiles: + +42:7. That thou mightest open the eyes of the blind, and bring forth +the prisoner out of prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the +prison house. + +42:8. I the Lord, this is my name: I will not give my glory to another, +nor my praise to graven things. + +42:9. The things that were first, behold they are come: and new things +do I declare: before they spring forth, I will make you hear them. + +42:10. Sing ye to the Lord a new song, his praise is from the ends of +the earth: you that go down to the sea, and all that are therein: ye +islands, and ye inhabitants of them. + +42:11. Let the desert and the cities thereof be exalted: Cedar shall +dwell in houses: ye inhabitants of Petra, give praise, they shall cry +from the top of the mountains. + +Petra. . .A city that gives name to Arabia Petraea. + +42:12. They shall give glory to the Lord, and shall declare his praise +in the islands. + +42:13. The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, as a man of war shall +he stir up zeal: he shall shout and cry: he shall prevail against his +enemies. + +42:14. I have always held my peace, I have kept silence, I have been +patient, I will speak now as a woman in labour: I will destroy, and +swallow up at once. + +42:15. I will lay waste the mountains and hills, and will make all +their grass to wither: and I will turn rivers into islands, and will +dry up the standing pools. + +42:16. And I will lead the blind into the way which they know not: and +in the paths which they were ignorant of I will make them walk: I will +make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight: these +things have I done to them, and have not forsaken them. + +42:17. They are turned back: let them be greatly confounded, that trust +in a graven thing, that say to a molten thing: You are our god. + +42:18. Hear, ye deaf, and, ye blind, behold that you may see. + +42:19. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, but he to whom I have +sent my messengers? Who is blind, but he that is sold? or who is blind, +but the servant of the Lord? + +42:20. Thou that seest many things, wilt thou not observe them? thou +that hast ears open, wilt thou not hear? + +42:21. And the Lord was willing to sanctify him, and to magnify the +law, and exalt it. + +42:22. But this is a people that is robbed and wasted: they are all the +snare of young men, and they are hid in the houses of prisons: they are +made a prey, and there is none to deliver them: a spoil, and there is +none that saith: Restore. + +42:23. Who is there among you that will give ear to this, that will +attend and hearken for times to come? + +42:24. Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to robbers? hath +not the Lord himself, against whom we have sinned? And they would not +walk in his ways, and they have not hearkened to his law. + +42:25. And he hath poured out upon him the indignation of his fury, and +a strong battle, and hath burnt him round about, and he knew not: and +set him on fire, and he understood not. + + + +Isaias Chapter 43 + + +God comforts his church, promising to protect her for ever: he +expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude. + +43:1. And now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and +formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called +thee by thy name: thou art mine. + +43:2. When thou shalt pass through the waters, I will be with thee, and +the rivers shall not cover thee: when thou shalt walk in the fire, thou +shalt not be burnt, and the flames shall not burn in thee: + +43:3. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I +have given Egypt for thy atonement, Ethiopia and Saba for thee. + +43:4. Since thou becamest honourable in my eyes, thou art glorious: I +have loved thee, and I will give men for thee, and people for thy life. + +43:5. Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the +east, and gather thee from the west. + +43:6. I will say to the north: Give up: and to the south: Keep not +back: bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the +earth. + +43:7. And every one that calleth upon my name, I have created him for +my glory. I have formed him, and made him. + +43:8. Bring forth the people that are blind, and have eyes: that are +deaf, and have ears. + +43:9. All the nations are assembled together, and the tribes are +gathered: who among you can declare this, and shall make us hear the +former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, let them be +justified, and hear, and say: It is truth. + +43:10. You are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have +chosen: that you may know, and believe me, and understand that I myself +am. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there shall be +none. + +43:11. I am, I am the Lord: and there is no saviour besides me. + +43:12. I have declared, and have saved. I have made it heard, and there +was no strange one among you. You are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and +I am God. + +43:13. And from the beginning I am the same, and there is none that can +deliver out of my hind: I will work, and who shall turn it away? + +43:14. Thus saith the Lord your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For +your sake I sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their bars, and +the Chaldeans glorying in their ships. + +43:15. I am the Lord your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. + +43:16. Thus saith the Lord, who made a way in the sea, and a path in +the mighty waters. + +43:17. Who brought forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the +strong: they lay down to sleep together, and they shall not rise again: +they are broken as flax, and are extinct. + +43:18. Remember not former things, and look not on things of old. + +43:19. Behold I do new things, and now they shall spring forth, verily +you shall know them: I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in +the desert. + +43:20. The beast of the field shall glorify me, the dragons and the +ostriches: because I have given waters in the wilderness, rivers in the +desert, to give drink to my people, to my chosen. + +43:21. This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my +praise. + +43:22. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, neither hast thou +laboured about me, O Israel. + +43:23. Thou hast not offered me the ram of thy holocaust, nor hast thou +glorified me with thy victims: I have not caused thee to serve with +oblations, nor wearied thee with incense. + +43:24. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou +filled me with the fat of thy victims. But thou hast made me to serve +with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thy iniquities. + +43:25. I am, I am he that blot out thy iniquities for my own sake, and +I will not remember thy sins. + +43:26. Put me in remembrance, and let us plead together: tell if thou +hast any thing to justify thyself. + +43:27. Thy first father sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed +against me. + +43:28. And I have profaned the holy princes, I have given Jacob to +slaughter, and Israel to reproach. + + + +Isaias Chapter 44 + + +God's favour to his church. The folly of idolatry. The people shall be +delivered from captivity. + +44:1. And now hear, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. + +44:2. Thus saith the Lord that made and formed thee, thy helper from +the womb: Fear not, O my servant Jacob, and thou most righteous whom I +have chosen. + +44:3. For I will pour out waters upon the thirsty ground, and streams +upon the dry land: I will pour out my spirit upon thy seed, and my +blessing upon thy stock. + +44:4. And they shall spring up among the herbs, as willows beside the +running waters. + +44:5. One shall say: I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by +the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand, To the +Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. + +44:6. Thus saith the Lord the king of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord +of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no +God. + +44:7. Who is like to me? let him call and declare: and let him set +before me the order, since I appointed the ancient people: and the +things to come, and that shall be hereafter, let them shew unto them. + +44:8. Fear ye not, neither be ye troubled from that time I have made +thee to hear, and have declared: you are my witnesses. Is there a God +besides me, a maker, whom I have not known? + +44:9. The makers of idols are all of them nothing, and their best +beloved things shall not profit them. They are their witnesses, that +they do not see, nor understand, that they may be ashamed. + +44:10. Who hath formed a god, and made a graven thing that is +profitable for nothing? + +44:11. Behold, all the partakers thereof shall be confounded: for the +makers are men: they shall all assemble together, they shall stand and +fear, and shall be confounded together. + +44:12. The smith hath wrought with his file, with coals, and with +hammers he hath formed it, and hath wrought with the strength of his +arm: he shall hunger and faint, he shall drink no water, and shall be +weary. + +44:13. The carpenter hath stretched out his rule, he hath formed it +with a plane: he hath made it with corners, and hath fashioned it round +with the compass: and he hath made the image of a man as it were a +beautiful man dwelling in a house. + +44:14. He hath cut down cedars, taken the holm, and the oak that stood +among the trees of the forest: he hath planted the pine tree, which the +rain hath nourished. + +44:15. And it hath served men for fuel: he took thereof, and warmed +himself: and he kindled it, and baked bread: but of the rest he made a +god, and adored it: he made a graven thing, and bowed down before it. + +44:16. Part of it he burnt with fire, and with part of it he dressed +his meat: he boiled pottage, and was filled, and was warmed, and said: +Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire. + +44:17. But the residue thereof he made a god, and a graven thing for +himself: he boweth down before it, and adoreth it, and prayeth unto it, +saying: Deliver me, for thou art my God. + +44:18. They have not known, nor understood: for their eyes are covered +that they may not see, and that they may not understand with their +heart. + +44:19. They do not consider in their mind, nor know, nor have the +thought to say: I have burnt part of it in the fire, and I have baked +bread upon the coals thereof: I have broiled flesh and have eaten, and +of the residue thereof shall I make an idol? shall I fall down before +the stock of a tree? + +44:20. Part thereof is ashes: his foolish heart adoreth it, and he will +not save his soul, nor say: Perhaps there is a lie in my right hand. + +44:21. Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for thou art my +servant. I have formed thee, thou art my servant, O Israel, forget me +not. + +44:22. I have blotted out thy iniquities as a cloud, and thy sins as a +mist: return to me, for I have redeemed thee. + +44:23. Give praise, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath shewn mercy: shout +with joy, ye ends of the earth: ye mountains, resound with praise, +thou, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed +Jacob, and Israel shall be glorified. + +44:24. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, and thy maker, from the womb: +I am the Lord, that make all things, that alone stretch out the +heavens, that established the earth, and there is none with me. + +44:25. That make void the tokens of diviners, and make the soothsayers +mad. That turn the wise backward, and that make their knowledge +foolish. + +44:26. That raise up the word of my servant and perform the counsel of +my messengers, who say to Jerusalem: Thou shalt be inhabited: and to +the cities of Juda: You shall be built, and I will raise up the wastes +thereof. + +44:27. Who say to the deep: Be thou desolate, and I will dry up thy +rivers. + +44:28. Who say to Cyrus: Thou art my shepherd, and thou shalt perform +all my pleasure. Who say to Jerusalem: Thou shalt be built: and to the +temple: Thy foundations shall be laid. + + + +Isaias Chapter 45 + + +A prophecy of Cyrus, as a figure of Christ, the great deliverer of +God's people. + +45:1. Thus saith the Lord to my anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have +taken hold of, to subdue nations before his face, and to turn the backs +of kings, and to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be +shut. + +45:2. I will go before thee, and will humble the great ones of the +earth: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and will burst the +bars of iron. + +45:3. And I will give thee hidden treasures, and the concealed riches +of secret places: that thou mayest know that I am the Lord who call +thee by thy name, the God of Israel. + +45:4. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my elect, I have +even called thee by thy name: I have made a likeness of thee, and thou +hast not known me. + +45:5. I am the Lord, and there is none else: there is no God besides +me: I girded thee, and thou hast not known me: + +45:6. That they may know who are from the rising of the sun, and they +who are from the west, that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, +and there is none else: + +45:7. I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create +evil: I the Lord that do all these things. + +Create evil, etc. . .The evils of afflictions and punishments, but not +the evil of sin. + +45:8. Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain +the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a saviour: and let +justice spring up together: I the Lord have created him. + +45:9. Woe to him that gainsayeth his maker, a sherd of the earthen +pots: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it: What art thou +making, and thy work is without hands? + +45:10. Woe to him that saith to his father: Why begettest thou? and to +the woman: Why dost thou bring forth? + +45:11. Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of +things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my +hands give ye charge to me. + +45:12. I made the earth: and I created man upon it: my hand stretched +forth the heavens, and I have commanded all their host. + +45:13. I have raised him up to justice, and I will direct all his ways: +he shall build my city, and let go my captives, not for ransom, nor for +presents, saith the Lord the God of hosts. + +45:14. Thus saith the Lord: The labour of Egypt, and the merchandise of +Ethiopia, and of Sabaim, men of stature shall come over to thee, and +shall be thine: they shall walk after thee, they shall go bound with +manacles: and they shall worship thee, and shall make supplication to +thee: only in thee is God, and there is no God besides thee. + +45:15. Verily thou art a hidden God, the God of Israel the saviour. + +45:16. They are all confounded and ashamed: the forgers of errors are +gone together into confusion. + +45:17. Israel is saved in the Lord with an eternal salvation: you shall +not be confounded, and you shall not be ashamed for ever and ever. + +45:18. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens, God himself +that formed the earth, and made it, the very maker thereof: he did not +create it in vain: he formed it to be inhabited. I am the Lord, and +there is no other. + +45:19. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I +have not said to the seed of Jacob: Seek me in vain. I am the Lord that +speak justice, that declare right things. + +45:20. Assemble yourselves, and come, and draw near together, ye that +are saved of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge that set up the wood +of their graven work, and pray to a god that cannot save. + +45:21. Tell ye, and come, and consult together: who hath declared this +from the beginning, who hath foretold this from that time? Have not I +the Lord, and there is no God else besides me? A just God and a +saviour, there is none besides me. + +45:22. Be converted to me, and you shall be saved, all ye ends of the +earth: for I am God, and there is no other. + +45:23. I have sworn by myself, the word of justice shall go out of my +mouth, and shall not return: + +45:24. For every knee shall be bowed to me, and every tongue shall +swear. + +45:25. Therefore shall he say: In the Lord are my justices and empire: +they shall come to him, and all that resist him shall be confounded. + +45:26. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and +praised. + + + +Isaias Chapter 46 + + +The idols of Babylon shall be destroyed. Salvation is promised through +Christ. + +46:1. Bel is broken, Nebo is destroyed: their idols are put upon beasts +and cattle, your burdens of heavy weight even unto weariness. + +46:2. They are consumed, and are broken together: they could not save +him that carried them, and they themselves shall go into captivity. + +46:3. Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house +of Israel who are carried by my bowels, are borne up by my womb. + +46:4. Even to your old age I am the same, and to your grey hairs I will +carry you: I have made you, and I will bear: I will carry and will +save. + +46:5. To whom have you likened me, and made me equal, and compared me, +and made me like? + +46:6. You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in +the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and +worship. + +46:7. They bear him on their shoulders and carry him, and set him in +his place, and he shall stand, and shall not stir out of his place. +Yea, when they shall cry also unto him, he shall not hear: he shall not +save them from tribulation. + +46:8. Remember this, and be ashamed: return, ye transgressors, to the +heart. + +46:9. Remember the former age, for I am God, and there is no God +beside, neither is there the like to me: + +46:10. Who shew from the beginning the things that shall be at last, +and from ancient times the things that as yet are not done, saying: My +counsel shall stand, and all my will shall be done: + +46:11. Who call a bird from the east, and from a far country the man of +my own will, and I have spoken, and will bring it to pass: I have +created, and I will do it. Hear me, O ye hardhearted, who are far from +justice. + +46:12. I have brought my justice near, it shall not be afar off: and my +salvation shall not tarry. I will give salvation in Sion, and my glory +in Israel. + + + +Isaias Chapter 47 + + +God's judgment upon Babylon. + +47:1. Come down, sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on +the ground: there is no throne for the daughter of the Chaldeans, for +thou shalt no more be called delicate and tender. + +47:2. Take a millstone and grind meal: uncover thy shame, strip thy +shoulder, make bare thy legs, pass over the rivers. + +47:3. Thy nakedness shall be discovered, and thy shame shall be seen: I +will take vengeance, and no man shall resist me. + +47:4. Our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of +Israel. + +47:5. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the +Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called the lady of kingdoms. + +47:6. I was angry with my people, I have polluted my inheritance, and +have given them into thy hand: thou hast shewn no mercy to them: upon +the ancient thou hast laid thy yoke exceeding heavy. + +47:7. And thou hast said: I shall be a lady for ever: thou hast not +laid these things to thy heart, neither hast thou remembered thy latter +end. + +47:8. And now hear these things, thou that art delicate, and dwellest +confidently, that sayest in thy heart: I am, and there is none else +besides me: I shall not sit as a widow, and I shall not know +barrenness. + +47:9. These two things shall come upon thee suddenly in one day, +barrenness and widowhood. All things are come upon thee, because of the +multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great hardness of thy +enchanters. + +47:10. And thou hast trusted in thy wickedness, and hast said: There is +none that seeth me. Thy wisdom, and, thy knowledge, this hath deceived +thee. And thou hast said in thy heart: I am, and besides me there is no +other. + +47:11. Evil shall come upon thee, and thou shalt not know the rising +thereof: and calamity shall fall violently upon thee, which thou canst +not keep off: misery shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt +not know. + +47:12. Stand now with thy enchanters, and with the multitude of thy +sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be it may +profit thee any thing, or if thou mayst become stronger. + +47:13. Thou hast failed in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the +astrologers stand and save thee, they that gazed at the stars, and +counted the months, that from them they might tell the things that +shall come to thee. + +47:14. Behold they are as stubble, fire hath burnt them, they shall not +deliver themselves from the power of the flames: there are no coals +wherewith they may be warmed, nor fire, that they may sit thereat. + +47:15. Such are all the things become to thee, in which thou hast +laboured: thy merchants from thy youth, every one hath erred in his own +way, there is none that can save thee. + + + +Isaias Chapter 48 + + +He reproaches the Jews for their obstinacy: he will deliver them out of +their captivity, for his own name's sake. + +48:1. Hear ye these things, O house of Jacob, you that are called by +the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Juda, you +who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of +Israel, but not in truth, nor in justice. + +48:2. For they are called of the holy city, and are established upon +the God of Israel: the Lord of hosts is his name. + +48:3. The former things of old, I have declared, and they went forth +out of my mouth, and I have made them to be heard: I did them suddenly +and they came to pass. + +48:4. For I knew that thou art stubborn, and thy neck is as an iron +sinew, and thy forehead as brass. + +48:5. I foretold thee of old, before they came to pass I told thee, +lest thou shouldst say: My idols have done these things, and my graven +and molten things have commanded them. + +48:6. See now all the things which thou hast heard: but have you +declared them? I have shewn thee new things from that time, and things +are kept which thou knowest not: + +48:7. They are created now, and not of old: and before the day, when +thou heardest them not, lest thou shouldst say: Behold I knew them. + +48:8. Thou hast neither heard, nor known, neither was thy ear opened of +old. For I know that transgressing thou wilt transgress, and I have +called thee a transgressor from the womb. + +48:9. For my name's sake I will remove my wrath far off: and for my +praise I will bridle thee, lest thou shouldst perish. + +48:10. Behold I have refined thee, but not as silver, I have chosen +thee in the furnace of poverty. + +48:11. For my own sake, for my own sake will I do it, that I may not be +blasphemed: and I will not give my glory to another. + +48:12. Hearken to me, O Jacob, and thou Israel whom I call: I am he, I +am the first, and I am the last. + +48:13. My hand also hath founded the earth, and my right hand hath +measured the heavens: I shall call them, and they shall stand together. + +48:14. Assemble yourselves together, all you, and hear: who among them +hath declared these things? the Lord hath loved him, he will do his +pleasure in Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans. + +48:15. I, even I have spoken and called him: I have brought him, and +his way is made prosperous. + +48:16. Come ye near unto me, and hear this: I have not spoken in secret +from the beginning: from the time before it was done, I was there, and +now the Lord God hath sent me, and his spirit. + +48:17. Thus saith the Lord thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am +the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable things, that govern thee in +the way that thou walkest. + +48:18. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments: thy peace had +been as a river, and thy justice as the waves of the sea, + +48:19. And thy seed had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy +bowels like the gravel thereof: his name should not have perished, nor +have been destroyed from before my face. + +48:20. Come forth out of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, declare +it with the voice of joy: make this to be heard, and speak it out even +to the ends of the earth. Say: The Lord hath redeemed his servant +Jacob. + +48:21. They thirsted not in the desert, when he led them out: he +brought forth water out of the rock for them, and he clove the rock, +and the waters gushed out. + +48:22. There is no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord. + + + +Isaias Chapter 49 + + +Christ shall bring the Gentiles to salvation. God's love to his church +is perpetual. + +49:1. Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye people from afar. The Lord +hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he hath been +mindful of my name. + +49:2. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of +his hand he hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow: in +his quiver he hath hidden me. + +49:3. And he said to me: Thou art my servant Israel, for in thee will I +glory. + +49:4. And I said: I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength +without cause and in vain: therefore my judgment is with the Lord, and +my work with my God. + +49:5. And now saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb to be his +servant, that I may bring back Jacob unto him, and Israel will not be +gathered together: and I am glorified in the eyes of the Lord, and my +God is made my strength. + +49:6. And he said: It is a small thing that thou shouldst be my servant +to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to convert the dregs of Israel. +Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou +mayst be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. + +49:7. Thus saith the Lord the redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to the +soul that is despised, to the nation that is abhorred, to the servant +of rulers: Kings shall see, and princes shall rise up, and adore for +the Lord's sake, because he is faithful, and for the Holy One of +Israel, who hath chosen thee. + +49:8. Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time I have heard thee, and +in the day of salvation I have helped thee: and I have preserved thee, +and given thee to be a covenant of the people, that thou mightest raise +up the earth, and possess the inheritances that were destroyed: + +49:9. That thou mightest say to them that are bound: Come forth: and to +them that are in darkness: Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the +ways, and their pastures shall be in every plain. + +49:10. They shall not hunger, nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor +the sun strike them: for he that is merciful to them, shall be their +shepherd, and at the fountains of waters he shall give them drink. + +49:11. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my paths shall be +exalted. + +49:12. Behold these shall come from afar, and behold these from the +north and from the sea, and these from the south country. + +49:13. Give praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth, ye mountains, +give praise with jubilation: because the Lord hath comforted his +people, and will have mercy on his poor ones. + +49:14. And Sion said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath +forgotten me. + +49:15. Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son +of her womb? and if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee. + +49:16. Behold, I have graven thee in my hands: thy walls are always +before my eyes. + +49:17. Thy builders are come: they that destroy thee and make thee +waste shall go out of thee. + +49:18. Lift up thy eyes round about, and see all these are gathered +together, they are come to thee: I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt be +clothed with all these as with an ornament, and as a bride thou shalt +put them about thee. + +49:19. For thy deserts, and thy desolate places, and the land of thy +destruction shall now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and +they that swallowed thee up shall be chased far away. + +49:20. The children of thy barrenness shall still say in thy ears: The +place is too strait for me, make me room to dwell in. + +49:21. And thou shalt say in thy heart: Who hath begotten these? I was +barren and brought not forth, led away, and captive: and who hath +brought up these? I was destitute and alone: and these, where were +they? + +49:22. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will lift up my hand to the +Gentiles, and will set up my standard to the people. And they shall +bring thy sons in their arms, and carry thy daughters upon their +shoulders. + +49:23. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nurses: +they shall worship thee with their face toward the earth, and they +shall lick up the dust of thy feet. And thou shalt know that I am the +Lord, for they shall not be confounded that wait for him. + +49:24. Shall the prey be taken from the strong? or can that which was +taken by the mighty, be delivered? + +49:25. For thus saith the Lord: Yea verily, even the captivity shall be +taken away from the strong: and that which was taken by the mighty, +shall be delivered. But I will judge those that have judged thee, and +thy children I will save. + +49:26. And I will feed thy enemies with their own flesh: and they shall +be made drunk with their own blood, as with new wine: and all flesh +shall know, that I am the Lord that save thee, and thy Redeemer the +Mighty One of Jacob. + + + +Isaias Chapter 50 + + +The synagogue shall be divorced for her iniquities. Christ for her sake +will endure ignominious afflictions. + +50:1. Thus saith the Lord: What is this bill of the divorce of your +mother, with which I have put her away? or who is my creditor, to whom +I sold you: behold you are sold for your iniquities, and for your +wicked deeds have I put your mother away. + +50:2. Because I came, and there was not a man: I called, and there was +none that would hear. Is my hand shortened and become little, that I +cannot redeem? or is there no strength in me to deliver? Behold at my +rebuke I will make the sea a desert, I will turn the rivers into dry +land: the fishes shall rot for want of water, and shall die for thirst. + +50:3. I will clothe the heavens with darkness, and will make sackcloth +their covering. + +50:4. The Lord hath given me a learned tongue, that I should know how +to uphold by word him that is weary: he wakeneth in the morning, in the +morning he wakeneth my ear, that I may hear him as a master. + +50:5. The Lord God hath opened my ear, and I do not resist: I have not +gone back. + +50:6. I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that +plucked them: I have not turned away my face from them that rebuked me, +and spit upon me. + +50:7. The Lord God is my helper, therefore am I not confounded: +therefore have I set my face as a most hard rock, and I know that I +shall not be confounded. + +50:8. He is near that justifieth me, who will contend with me? let us +stand together, who is my adversary? let him come near to me. + +50:9. Behold the Lord God is my helper: who is he that shall condemn +me? Lo, they shall all be destroyed as a garment, the moth shall eat +them up. + +50:10. Who is there among you that feareth the Lord, that heareth the +voice of his servant, that hath walked in darkness, and hath no light? +let him hope in the name of the Lord, and lean upon his God. + +50:11. Behold all you that kindle a fire, encompassed with flames, walk +in the light of your fire, and in the flames which you have kindled: +this is done to you by my hand, you shall sleep in sorrows. + + + +Isaias Chapter 51 + + +An exhortation to trust in Christ. He shall protect the children of his +church. + +51:1. Give ear to me, you that follow that which is just, and you that +seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence you are hewn, and to the hole +of the pit from which you are dug out. + +51:2. Look unto Abraham your father, and to Sara that bore you: for I +called him alone, and blessed him, and multiplied him. + +51:3. The Lord therefore will comfort Sion, and will comfort all the +ruins thereof: and he will make her desert as a place of pleasure, and +her wilderness as the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be +found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of praise. + +51:4. Hearken unto me, O my people, and give ear to me, O my tribes: +for a law shall go forth from me, and my judgment shall rest to be a +light of the nations. + +51:5. My just one is near at hand, my saviour is gone forth, and my +arms shall judge the people: the islands shall look for me, and shall +patiently wait for my arm. + +51:6. Lift up your eyes to heaven, and look down to the earth beneath: +for the heavens shall vanish like smoke, and the earth shall be worn +away like a garment, and the inhabitants thereof shall perish in like +manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my justice shall not +fail. + +51:7. Hearken to me, you that know what is just, my people who have my +law in your heart: fear ye not the reproach of men, and be not afraid +of their blasphemies. + +51:8. For the worm shall eat them up as a garment: and the moth shall +consume them as wool: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my +justice from generation to generation. + +51:9. Arise, arise, put on strength, O thou arm of the Lord, arise as +in the days of old, in the ancient generations. Hast not thou struck +the proud one, and wounded the dragon? + +51:10. Hast not thou dried up the sea, the water of the mighty deep, +who madest the depth of the sea a way, that the delivered might pass +over? + +51:11. And now they that are redeemed by the Lord, shall return, and +shall come into Sion singing praises, and joy everlasting shall be upon +their heads, they shall obtain joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning +shall flee away. + +51:12. I myself will comfort you: who art thou, that thou shouldst be +afraid of a mortal man, and of the son of man, who shall wither away +like grass? + +51:13. And thou hast forgotten the Lord thy maker, who stretched out +the heavens, and founded the earth: and thou hast been afraid +continually all the day at the presence of his fury who afflicted thee, +and had prepared himself to destroy thee: where is now the fury of the +oppressor? + +51:14. He shall quickly come that is going to open unto you, and he +shall not kill unto utter destruction, neither shall his bread fail. + +51:15. But I am the Lord thy God, who trouble the sea, and the waves +thereof swell: the Lord of hosts is my name. + +51:16. I have put my words in thy mouth, and have protected thee in the +shadow of my hand, that thou mightest plant the heavens, and found the +earth: and mightest say to Sion: Thou art my people. + +51:17. Arise, arise, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the +hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath; thou hast drunk even to the +bottom of the cup of dead sleep, and thou hast drunk even to the dregs. + +51:18. There is none that can uphold her among all the children that +she hath brought forth: and there is none that taketh her by the hand +among all the children that she hath brought up. + +51:19. There are two things that have happened to thee: who shall be +sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the +sword, who shall comfort thee? + +51:20. Thy children are cast forth, they have slept at the head of all +the ways, and the wild ox that is snared: full of the indignation of +the Lord, of the rebuke of thy God. + +51:21. Therefore hear this, thou poor little one, and thou that art +drunk but not with wine. + +51:22. Thus saith thy Sovereign the Lord, and thy God, who will fight +for his people: Behold I have taken out of thy hand the cup of dead +sleep, the dregs of the cup of my indignation, thou shalt not drink it +again any more. + +51:23. And I will put it in the hand of them that have oppressed thee, +and have said to thy soul: Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast +laid thy body as the ground, and as a way to them that went over. + + + +Isaias Chapter 52 + + +Under the figure of the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity, the +church is invited to rejoice for her redemption from sin. Christ's +kingdom shall be exalted. + +52:1. Arise, arise, put on thy strength, O Sion, put on the garments of +thy glory, O Jerusalem, the city of the Holy One: for henceforth the +uncircumcised, and unclean shall no more pass through thee. + +52:2. Shake thyself from the dust, arise, sit up, O Jerusalem: loose +the bonds from off thy neck, O captive daughter of Sion. + +52:3. For thus saith the Lord: You were sold gratis, and you shall be +redeemed, without money. + +52:4. For thus saith the Lord God: My people went down into Egypt at +the beginning to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them +without any cause at all. + +52:5. And now what have I here, saith the Lord: for my people is taken +away gratis. They that rule over them treat them unjustly, saith the +Lord, and my name is continually blasphemed all the day long. + +52:6. Therefore my people shall know my name in that day: for I myself +that spoke, behold I am here. + +52:7. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that +bringeth good tidings, and that preacheth peace: of him that sheweth +forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Sion: Thy God shall +reign! + +52:8. The voice of thy watchmen: they have lifted up their voice, they +shall praise together: for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord +shall convert Sion. + +52:9. Rejoice, and give praise together, O ye deserts of Jerusalem: for +the Lord hath comforted his people: he hath redeemed Jerusalem. + +52:10. The Lord hath prepared his holy arm in the sight of all the +Gentiles: and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our +God. + +52:11. Depart, depart, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing: +go out of the midst of her, be ye clean, you that carry the vessels of +the Lord. + +52:12. For you shall not go out in a tumult, neither shall you make +haste by flight: for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel +will gather you together. + +52:13. Behold my servant shall understand, he shall be exalted, and +extolled, and shall be exceeding high. + +52:14. As many have been astonished at thee, so shall his visage be +inglorious among men, and his form among the sons of men. + +52:15. He shall sprinkle many nations, kings shall shut their mouth at +him: for they to whom it was not told of him, have seen: and they that +heard not, have beheld. + + + +Isaias Chapter 53 + + +A prophecy of the passion of Christ. + +53:1. Who a hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the +Lord revealed? + +53:2. And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root +out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and +we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be +desirous of him: + +53:3. Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and +acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and +despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. + +53:4. Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and +we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and +afflicted. + +53:5. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our +sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we +are healed. + +53:6. All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside +into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. + +53:7. He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his +mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb +as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth. + +53:8. He was taken away from distress, and from judgment: who shall +declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the +living: for the wickedness of my people have I struck him. + +53:9. And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for +his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit +in his mouth. + +53:10. And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall +lay down his life for sin, he shall see a longlived seed, and the will +of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand. + +53:11. Because his soul hath laboured, he shall see and be filled: by +his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall +bear their iniquities. + +53:12. Therefore will I distribute to him very many, and he shall +divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul +unto death, and was reputed with the wicked: and he hath borne the sins +of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors. + + + +Isaias Chapter 54 + + +The Gentiles, who were barren before, shall multiply in the church of +Christ: from which God's mercy shall never depart. + +54:1. Give praise, O thou barren, that bearest not: sing forth praise, +and make a joyful noise, thou that didst not travail with child: for +many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a +husband, saith the Lord. + +54:2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and stretch out the skins of thy +tabernacles, spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. + +54:3. For thou shalt pass on to the right hand, and to the left: and +thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and shall inhabit the desolate +cities. + +54:4. Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded, nor blush: for thou +shalt not be put to shame, because thou shalt forget the shame of thy +youth, and shalt remember no more the reproach of thy widowhood. + +54:5. For he that made thee shall rule over thee, the Lord of hosts is +his name: and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, shall be called the +God of all the earth. + +54:6. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and mourning in +spirit, and as a wife cast off from her youth, said thy God. + +54:7. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies +will I gather thee. + +54:8. In a moment of indignation have I hid my face a little while from +thee, but with everlasting kindness have I had mercy on thee, said the +Lord thy Redeemer. + +54:9. This thing is to me as in the days of Noe, to whom I swore, that +I would no more bring in the waters of Noe upon the earth: so have I +sworn not to be angry with thee, and not to rebuke thee. + +54:10. For the mountains shall be moved, and the hills shall tremble; +but my mercy shall not depart from thee, and the covenant of my peace +shall not be moved: said the Lord that hath mercy on thee. + +54:11. O poor little one, tossed with tempest, without all comfort, +behold I will lay thy stones in order, and will lay thy foundations +with sapphires, + +54:12. And I will make thy bulwarks of jasper: and thy gates of graven +stones, and all thy borders of desirable stones. + +54:13. All thy children shall be taught of the Lord: and great shall be +the peace of thy children. + +54:14. And thou shalt be founded in justice: depart far from +oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not +come near thee. + +54:15. Behold, an inhabitant shall come, who was not with me, he that +was a stranger to thee before, shall be joined to thee. + +54:16. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the +fire, and bringeth forth an instrument for his work, and I have created +the killer to destroy. + +54:17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper: and every +tongue that resisteth thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn. This is the +inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their justice with me, +saith the Lord. + + + +Isaias Chapter 55 + + +God promises abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful, that shall +believe in Christ out of all nations, and sincerely serve him. + +55:1. All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no +money make haste, buy, and eat: come ye, buy wine and milk without +money, and without any price. + +55:2. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your +labour for that which doth not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, +and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in +fatness. + +55:3. Incline your ear and come to me: hear and your soul shall live, +and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the faithful mercies +of David. + +55:4. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, for a leader +and a master to the Gentiles. + +55:5. Behold thou shalt call a nation, which thou knewest not: and the +nations that knew not thee shall run to thee, because of the Lord thy +God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. + +55:6. Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he +is near. + +55:7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, +and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to +our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. + +55:8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, +saith the Lord. + +55:9. For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways +exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. + +55:10. And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return +no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to +spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: + +55:11. So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it +shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and +shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. + +55:12. For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the +mountains and the hills shall sing praise before you, and all the trees +of the country shall clap their hands. + +55:13. Instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of +the nettle, shall come up the myrtle tree: and the Lord shall be named +for an everlasting sign, that shall not be taken away. + + + +Isaias Chapter 56 + + +God invites all to keep his commandments: the Gentiles that keep them +shall be the people of God: the Jewish pastors are reproved. + +56:1. Thus saith the Lord: Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my +salvation is near to come, and my justice to be revealed. + +56:2. Blessed is the man that doth this, and the son of man that shall +lay hold on this: that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, that +keepeth his hands from doing any evil. + +56:3. And let not the son of the stranger, that adhereth to the Lord, +speak, saying: The Lord will divide and separate me from his people. +And let not the eunuch say: Behold I am a dry tree. + +56:4. For thus saith the Lord to the eunuchs, They that shall keep my +sabbaths, and shall choose the things that please me, and shall hold +fast my covenant: + +56:5. I will give to them in my house, and within my walls, a place, +and a name better than sons and daughters: I will give them an +everlasting name which shall never perish. + +56:6. And the children of the stranger that adhere to the Lord, to +worship him, and to love his name, to be his servants: every one that +keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and that holdeth fast my +covenant: + +56:7. I will bring them into my holy mount, and will make them joyful +in my house of prayer: their holocausts, and their victims shall please +me upon my altar: for my house shall be called the house of prayer, for +all nations. + +56:8. The Lord God, who gathereth the scattered of Israel, saith: I +will still gather unto him his congregation. + +56:9. All ye beasts of the field come to devour, all ye beasts of the +forest. + +56:10. His watchmen are all blind, they are all ignorant: dumb dogs not +able to bark, seeing vain things, sleeping and loving dreams. + +56:11. And most impudent dogs, they never had enough: the shepherds +themselves knew no understanding: all have turned aside into their own +way, every one after his own gain, from the first even to the last. + +56:12. Come, let us take wine, and be filled with drunkenness: and it +shall be as to day, so also to morrow, and much more. + + + +Isaias Chapter 57 + + +The infidelity of the Jews: their idolatry. Promises to humble +penitents. + +57:1. The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and men of +mercy are taken away, because there is none that understandeth; for the +just man is taken away from before the face of evil. + +57:2. Let peace come, let him rest in his bed that hath walked in his +uprightness. + +57:3. But draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the +adulterer, and of the harlot. + +57:4. Upon whom have you jested? upon whom have you opened your mouth +wide, and put out your tongue? are not you wicked children, a false +seed, + +57:5. Who seek your comfort in idols under every green tree, +sacrificing children in the torrents, under the high rocks? + +57:6. In the parts of the torrent is thy portion, this is thy lot: and +thou hast poured out libations to them, thou hast offered sacrifice. +Shall I not be angry at these things? + +57:7. Upon a high and lofty mountain thou hast laid thy bed, and hast +gone up thither to offer victims. + +57:8. And behind the door, and behind the post thou hast set up thy +remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself near me, and hast +received an adulterer: thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made a covenant +with them: thou hast loved their bed with open hand. + +57:9. And thou hast adorned thyself for the king with ointment, and +hast multiplied thy perfumes. Thou hast sent thy messengers far off, +and wast debased even to hell. + +57:10. Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy ways: yet thou +saidst not: I will rest: thou has found life of thy hand, therefore +thou hast not asked. + +57:11. For whom hast thou been solicitous and afraid, that thou hast +lied, and hast not been mindful of me, nor thought on me in thy heart? +for I am silent, and as one that seeth not, and thou hast forgotten me. + +57:12. I will declare thy justice, and thy works shall not profit thee. + +57:13. When thou shalt cry, let thy companies deliver thee, but the +wind shall carry them all off, a breeze shall take them away, but he +that putteth his trust in me, shall inherit the land, and shall possess +my holy mount. + +57:14. And I will say: Make a way: give free passage, turn out of the +path, take away the stumblingblocks out of the way of my people. + +57:15. For thus saith the High and the Eminent that inhabiteth +eternity: and his name is Holy, who dwelleth in the high and holy +place, and with a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of +the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. + +57:16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be angry unto +the end: because the spirit shall go forth from my face, and breathings +I will make. + +57:17. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry, and I struck +him: I hid my face from thee, and was angry: and he went away wandering +in his own heart. + +57:18. I saw his ways, and I healed him, and brought him back, and +restored comforts to him, and to them that mourn for him. + +57:19. I created the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far +off, and to him that is near, said the Lord, and I healed him. + +57:20. But the wicked are like the raging sea, which cannot rest, and +the waves thereof cast up dirt and mire. + +57:21. There is no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord God. + + + +Isaias Chapter 58 + + +God rejects the hypocritical fasts of the Jews: recommends works of +mercy, and sincere godliness. + +58:1. Cry, cease not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my +people their wicked doings, and the house of Jacob their sins. + +58:2. For they seek me from day to day, and desire to know my ways, as +a nation that hath done justice, and hath not forsaken the judgment of +their God: they ask of me the judgments of justice: they are willing to +approach to God. + +58:3. Why have we fasted, and thou hast not regarded: have we humbled +our souls, and thou hast not taken notice? Behold in the day of your +fast your own will is found, and you exact of all your debtors. + +58:4. Behold you fast for debates and strife, and strike with the fist +wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry +to be heard on high. + +58:5. Is this such a fast as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his +soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and +to spread sackcloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast, and a day +acceptable to the Lord? + +58:6. Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? loose the bands +of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken +go free, and break asunder every burden. + +58:7. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the +harbourless into thy house: when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, +and despise not thy own flesh. + +58:8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health +shall speedily arise, and thy justice shall go before thy face, and the +glory of the Lord shall gather thee up. + +58:9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear: thou shalt cry, +and he shall say, Here I am. If thou wilt take away the chain out of +the midst of thee, and cease to stretch out the finger, and to speak +that which profiteth not. + +58:10. When thou shalt pour out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt +satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise up in darkness, +and thy darkness shall be as the noonday. + +58:11. And the Lord will give thee rest continually, and will fill thy +soul with brightness, and deliver thy bones, and thou shalt be like a +watered garden, and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not +fail. + +58:12. And the places that have been desolate for ages shall be built +in thee: thou shalt raise up the foundation of generation and +generation: and thou shalt be called the repairer of the fences, +turning the paths into rest. + +58:13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy own +will in my holy day, and call the sabbath delightful, and the holy of +the Lord glorious, and glorify him, while thou dost not thy own ways, +and thy own will is not found, to speak a word: + +58:14. Then shalt thou be delighted in the Lord, and I will lift thee +up above the high places of the earth, and will feed thee with the +inheritance of Jacob thy father. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken +it. + + + +Isaias Chapter 59 + + +The dreadful evil of sin is displayed, as the great obstacle to all +good from God: yet he will send a Redeemer, and make an everlasting +covenant with his church. + +59:1. Behold the hand of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save, +neither is his ear heavy that it cannot hear. + +59:2. But your iniquities have divided between you and your God, and +your sins have hid his face from you that he should not hear. + +59:3. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with +iniquity: your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue uttereth +iniquity. + +59:4. There is none that calleth upon justice, neither is there any one +that judgeth truly: but they trust in a mere nothing, and speak +vanities: they have conceived labour, and brought forth iniquity. + +59:5. They have broken the eggs of asps, and have woven the webs of +spiders: he that shall eat of their eggs, shall die: and that which is +brought out, shall be hatched into a basilisk. + +59:6. Their webs shall not be for clothing, neither shall they cover +themselves with their works: their works are unprofitable works, and +the work of iniquity is in their hands. + +59:7. Their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed innocent blood: +their thoughts are unprofitable thoughts: wasting and destruction are +in their ways. + +59:8. They have not known the way of peace, and there is no judgment in +their steps: their paths are become crooked to them, every one that +treadeth in them knoweth no peace. + +59:9. Therefore is judgment far from us, and justice shall not overtake +us. We looked for light, and behold darkness: brightness, and we have +walked in the dark. + +59:10. We have groped for the wall, and like the blind we have groped +as if we had no eyes: we have stumbled at noonday as in darkness, we +are in dark places, as dead men. + +59:11. We shall roar all of us like bears, and shall lament as mournful +doves. We have looked for judgment, and there is none: for salvation, +and it is far from us. + +59:12. For our iniquities are multiplied before thee, and our sins have +testified against us: for our wicked doings are with us, and have known +our iniquities: + +59:13. In sinning and lying against the Lord: and we have turned away +so that we went not after our God, but spoke calumny and transgression: +we have conceived, and uttered from the heart, words of falsehood. + +59:14. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice hath stood far +off: because truth hath fallen down in the street, and equity could not +come in. + +59:15. And truth hath been forgotten: and he that departed from evil, +lay open to be a prey: and the Lord saw, and it appeared evil in his +eyes, because there is no judgment. + +59:16. And he saw that there is not a man: and he stood astonished, +because there is none to oppose himself: and his own arm brought +salvation to him, and his own justice supported him. + +59:17. He put on justice as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation +upon his head: he put on the garments of vengeance, and was clad with +zeal as with a cloak. + +59:18. As unto revenge, as it were to repay wrath to his adversaries, +and a reward to his enemies: he will repay the like to the islands. + +59:19. And they from the west, shall fear the name of the Lord: and +they from the rising of the sun, his glory when he shall come as a +violent stream, which the spirit of the Lord driveth on: + +59:20. And there shall come a redeemer to Sion, and to them that return +from iniquity in Jacob, saith the Lord. + +59:21. This is my covenant with them, saith the Lord: My spirit that is +in thee, and my words that I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart +out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the +mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever. + +This is my covenant, etc. . .Note here a clear promise of perpetual +orthodoxy to the church of Christ. + + + +Isaias Chapter 60 + + +The light of true faith shall shine forth in the church of Christ, and +shall be spread through all nations, and continue for all ages. + +60:1. Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and +the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. + +60:2. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: +but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon +thee. + +60:3. And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the +brightness of thy rising. + +60:4. Lift up thy eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered +together, they are come to thee: thy sons shall come from afar, and thy +daughters shall rise up at thy side. + +60:5. Then shalt thou see, and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and +be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee, +the strength of the Gentiles shall come to thee. + +60:6. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of +Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and +frankincense: and shewing forth praise to the Lord. + +60:7. All the flocks of Cedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the +rams of Nabaioth shall minister to thee: they shall be offered upon my +acceptable altar, and I will glorify the house of my majesty. + +60:8. Who are these, that fly as clouds, and as doves to their windows? + +60:9. For, the islands wait for me, and the ships of the sea in the +beginning: that I may bring thy sons from afar: their silver, and their +gold with them, to the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of +Israel, because he hath glorified thee. + +60:10. And the children of strangers shall build up thy walls, and +their kings shall minister to thee: for in my wrath have I struck thee, +and in my reconciliation have I had mercy upon thee. + +60:11. And thy gates shall be open continually: they shall not be shut +day nor night, that the strength of the Gentiles may be brought to +thee, and their kings may be brought. + +60:12. For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve thee, shall +perish: and the Gentiles shall be wasted with desolation. + +60:13. The glory of Libanus shall come to thee, the fir tree, and the +box tree, and the pine tree together, to beautify the place of my +sanctuary: and I will glorify the place of my feet. + +60:14. And the children of them that afflict thee, shall come bowing +down to thee, and all that slandered thee shall worship the steps of +thy feet, and shall call thee the city of the Lord, the Sion of the +Holy One of Israel. + +60:15. Because thou wast forsaken, and hated, and there was none that +passed through thee, I will make thee to be an everlasting glory, a joy +unto generation and generation: + +60:16. And thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles, and thou shalt be +nursed with the breasts of kings: and thou shalt know that I am the +Lord thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. + +60:17. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver: +and for wood brass, and for stones iron: and I will make thy visitation +peace, and thy overseers justice. + +60:18. Iniquity shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor +destruction in thy borders, and salvation shall possess thy walls, and +praise thy gates. + +60:19. Thou shalt no more have the sun for thy light by day, neither +shall the brightness of the moon enlighten thee: but the Lord shall be +unto thee for an everlasting light, and thy God for thy glory. + +Thou shalt no more, etc. . .In this latter part of the chapter, the +prophet passes from the illustrious promises made to the church +militant on earth, to the glory of the church triumphant in heaven. + +60:20. Thy sun shall go down no more, and thy moon shall not decrease: +for the Lord shall be unto thee for an everlasting light, and the days +of thy mourning shall be ended. + +60:21. And thy people shall be all just, they shall inherit the land +for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hand to glorify me. + +60:22. The least shall become a thousand, and a little one a most +strong nation: I the Lord will suddenly do this thing in its time. + + + +Isaias Chapter 61 + + +The office of Christ: the mission of the Apostles; the happiness of +their converts. + +61:1. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed +me: he hath sent me to preach to the meek, to heal the contrite of +heart, and to preach a release to the captives, and deliverance to them +that are shut up. + +61:2. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of +vengeance of our God: to comfort all that mourn: + +61:3. To appoint to the mourners of Sion, and to give them a crown for +ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit +of grief: and they shall be called in it the mighty ones of justice, +the planting of the Lord to glorify him. + +61:4. And they shall build the places that have been waste from of old, +and shall raise up ancient ruins, and shall repair the desolate cities, +that were destroyed for generation and generation. + +61:5. And strangers shall stand and shall feed your flocks: and the +sons of strangers shall be your husbandman, and the dressers of your +vines. + +61:6. But you shall be called the priests of the Lord: to you it shall +be said: Ye ministers of our God: you shall eat the riches of the +Gentiles, and you shall pride yourselves in their glory. + +61:7. For your double confusion and shame, they shall praise their +part: therefore shall they receive double in their land, everlasting +joy shall be unto them. + +61:8. For I am the Lord that love judgment, and hate robbery in a +holocaust: and I will make their work in truth, and I will make a +perpetual covenant with them. + +61:9. And they shall know their seed among the Gentiles, and their +offspring in the midst of peoples: all that shall see them, shall know +them, that these are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. + +61:10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful +in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation: and +with the robe of justice he hath covered me, as a bridegroom decked +with a crown, and as a bride adorned with her jewels. + +61:11. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden +causeth her seed to shoot forth: so shall the Lord God make justice to +spring forth, and praise before all the nations. + + + +Isaias Chapter 62 + + +The prophet will not cease from preaching Christ: to whom all nations +shall be converted: and whose church shall continue for ever. + +62:1. For Sion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for the sake of +Jerusalem, I will not rest till her just one come forth as brightness, +and her saviour be lighted as a lamp. + +62:2. And the Gentiles shall see thy just one, and all kings thy +glorious one: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth +of the Lord shall name. + +62:3. And thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a +royal diadem in the hand of thy God. + +62:4. Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken: and thy land shall no more +be called Desolate: but thou shalt be called My pleasure in her, and +thy land inhabited. Because the Lord hath been well pleased with thee: +and thy land shall be inhabited. + +62:5. For the young man shall dwell with the virgin, and thy children +shall dwell in thee. And the bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride, +and thy God shall rejoice over thee. + +62:6. Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen all the +day, and all the night, they shall never hold their peace. You that are +mindful of the Lord, hold not your peace, + +62:7. And give him no silence till he establish, and till he make +Jerusalem a praise in the earth. + +62:8. The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his +strength: Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thy +enemies: and the sons of the strangers shall not drink thy wine, for +which thou hast laboured. + +62:9. For they that gather it, shall eat it, and shall praise the Lord: +and they that bring it together, shall drink it in my holy courts. + +62:10. Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the +people, make the road plain, pick out the stones, and lift up the +standard to the people. + +62:11. Behold the Lord hath made it to be heard in the ends of the +earth, tell the daughter of Sion: Behold thy Saviour cometh: behold his +reward is with him, and his work before him. + +62:12. And they shall call them, The holy people, the redeemed of the +Lord. But thou shalt be called: A city sought after, and not forsaken. + + + +Isaias Chapter 63 + + +Christ's victory over his enemies: his mercies to his people: their +complaint. + +63:1. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, +this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his +strength. I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save. + +Edom. . .Edom and Bosra (a strong city of Edom) are here taken in a +mystical sense for the enemies of Christ and his church. + +63:2. Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that +tread in the winepress? + +63:3. I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the Gentiles there is +not a man with me: I have trampled on them in my indignation, and have +trodden them down in my wrath, and their blood is sprinkled upon my +garments, and I have stained all my apparel. + +63:4. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my +redemption is come. + +63:5. I looked about, and there was none to help: I sought, and there +was none to give aid: and my own arm hath saved for me, and my +indignation itself hath helped me. + +63:6. And I have trodden down the people in my wrath, and have made +them drunk in my indignation, and have brought down their strength to +the earth. + +63:7. I will remember the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the +Lord for all the things that the Lord hath bestowed upon us, and for +the multitude of his good things to the house of Israel, which he hath +given them according to his kindness, and according to the multitude of +his mercies. + +63:8. And he said: Surely they are my people, children that will not +deny: so he became their saviour. + +63:9. In all their affliction he was not troubled, and the angel of his +presence saved them: in his love, and in his mercy he redeemed them, +and he carried them and lifted them up all the days of old. + +63:10. But they provoked to wrath, and afflicted the spirit of his Holy +One: and he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. + +63:11. And he remembered the days of old of Moses, and of his people: +Where is he that brought them up out of the sea, with the shepherds of +his flock? where is he that put in the midst of them the spirit of his +Holy One? + +63:12. He that brought out Moses by the right hand, by the arm of his +majesty: that divided the waters before them, to make himself an +everlasting name. + +63:13. He that led them out through the deep, as a horse in the +wilderness that stumbleth not. + +63:14. As a beast that goeth down in the field, the spirit of the Lord +was their leader: so didst thou lead thy people to make thyself a +glorious name. + +63:15. Look down from heaven, and behold from thy holy habitation and +the place of thy glory: where is thy zeal, and thy strength, the +multitude of thy bowels, and of thy mercies? they have held back +themselves from me. + +They have held back, etc. . .This is spoken by the prophet in the person +of the Jews at the time when, for their sins, they were given up to +their enemies. + +63:16. For thou art our father, and Abraham hath not known us, and +Israel hath been ignorant of us: thou, O Lord, art our father, our +redeemer, from everlasting is thy name. + +Abraham hath not know us, etc. . .That is, Abraham will not now +acknowledge us for his children, by reason of our degeneracy; but thou, +O Lord, art our true father and our redeemer, and no other can be +called our parent in comparison with thee. + +63:17. Why hast thou made us to err, O Lord, from thy ways: why hast +thou hardened our heart, that we should not fear thee? return for the +sake of thy servants, the tribes of thy inheritance. + +Made us to err, etc. Hardened our heart, etc. . .The meaning is, that +God in punishment of their great and manifold crimes, and their long +abuse of his mercy and grace, had withdrawn his graces from them, and +so given them up to error and hardness of heart. + +63:18. They have possessed thy holy people as nothing: our enemies have +trodden down thy sanctuary. + +63:19. We are become as in the beginning, when thou didst not rule over +us, and when we were not called by thy name. + + + +Isaias Chapter 64 + + +The prophet prays for the release of his people; and for the remission +of their sins. + +64:1. O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and wouldst come down: the +mountains would melt away at thy presence. + +64:2. They would melt as at the burning of fire, the waters would burn +with fire, that thy name might be made known to thy enemies: that the +nations might tremble at thy presence. + +64:3. When thou shalt do wonderful things, we shall not bear them: thou +didst come down, and at thy presence the mountains melted away. + +64:4. From the beginning of the world they have not heard, nor +perceived with the ears: the eye hath not seen, O God, besides thee, +what things thou hast prepared for them that wait for thee. + +64:5. Thou hast met him that rejoiceth, and doth justice: in thy ways +they shall remember thee: behold thou art angry, and we have sinned: in +them we have been always, and we shall be saved. + +64:6. And we are all become as one unclean, and all our justices as the +rag of a menstruous woman: and we have all fallen as a leaf, and our +iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. + +Our justices, etc. . .That is, the works by which we pretended to make +ourselves just. This is spoken particularly of the sacrifices, +sacraments, and ceremonies of the Jews, after the death of Christ, and +the promulgation of the new law. + +64:7. There is none that calleth upon thy name: that riseth up, and +taketh hold of thee: thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast crushed +us in the hand of our iniquity. + +64:8. And now, O Lord, thou art our father, and we are clay: and thou +art our maker, and we all are the works of thy hands. + +64:9. Be not very angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity: +behold, see we are all thy people. + +64:10. The city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made a +desert, Jerusalem is desolate. + +64:11. The house of our holiness, and of our glory, where our fathers +praised thee, is burnt with fire, and all our lovely things are turned +into ruins. + +64:12. Wilt thou refrain thyself, O Lord, upon these things, wilt thou +hold thy peace, and afflict us vehemently? + + + +Isaias Chapter 65 + + +The Gentiles shall seek and find Christ, but the Jews will persecute +him, and be rejected, only a remnant shall be reserved. The church +shall multiply, and abound with graces. + +65:1. They have sought me that before asked not for me, they have found +me that sought me not. I said: Behold me, behold me, to a nation that +did not call upon my name. + +65:2. I have spread forth my hands all the day to an unbelieving +people, who walk in a way that is not good after their own thoughts. + +65:3. A people that continually provoke me to anger before my face, +that immolate in gardens, and sacrifice upon bricks. + +65:4. That dwell in sepulchres, and sleep in the temple of idols: that +eat swine's flesh, and profane broth is in their vessels. + +65:5. That say: Depart from me, come not near me, because thou art +unclean: these shall be smoke in my anger, a fire burning all the day. + +65:6. Behold it is written before me: I will not be silent, but I will +render and repay into their bosom. + +65:7. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, +saith the Lord, who have sacrificed upon the mountains, and have +reproached me upon the hills; and I will measure back their first work +in their bosom. + +65:8. Thus saith the Lord: As if a grain be found in a cluster, and it +be said: Destroy it not, because it is a blessing: so will I do for the +sake of my servants, that I may not destroy the whole. + +65:9. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Juda a +possessor of my mountains: and my elect shall inherit it, and my +servants shall dwell there. + +65:10. And the plains shall be turned to folds of flocks, and the +valley of Achor into a place for the herds to lie down in, for my +people that have sought me. + +65:11. And you, that have forsaken the Lord, that have forgotten my +holy mount, that set a table for fortune, and offer libations upon it, + +65:12. I will number you in the sword, and you shall all fall by +slaughter: because I called and you did not answer: I spoke, and you +did not hear: and you did evil in my eyes, and you have chosen the +things that displease me. + +65:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold my servants shall eat, +and you shall be hungry: behold my servants shall drink, and you shall +be thirsty. + +65:14. Behold my servants shall rejoice, and you shall be confounded: +behold my servants shall praise for joyfulness of heart, and you shall +cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for grief of spirit. + +65:15. And you shall leave your name for an execration to my elect: and +the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name. + +65:16. In which he that is blessed upon the earth, shall be blessed in +God, amen: and he that sweareth in the earth, shall swear by God, amen: +because the former distresses are forgotten, and because they are hid +from my eyes. + +65:17. For behold I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former +things shall not be in remembrance, and they shall not come upon the +heart. + +65:18. But you shall be glad and rejoice for ever in these things, +which I create: for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and the +people thereof joy. + +65:19. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people, and the +voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, nor the voice of +crying. + +65:20. There shall no more be an infant of days there, nor an old man +that shall not fill up his days: for the child shall die a hundred +years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. + +65:21. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall +plant vineyards, and eat the fruits of them. + +65:22. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, +and another eat: for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of my +people, and the works of their hands shall be of long continuance. + +65:23. My elect shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth in trouble; +for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their posterity +with them. + +65:24. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will hear; +as they are yet speaking, I will hear. + +65:25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; the lion and the ox +shall eat straw; and dust shall be the serpent's food: they shall not +hurt nor kill in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. + + + +Isaias Chapter 66 + + +More of the reprobation of the Jews, and of the call of the Gentiles. + +66:1. Thus saith the Lord: Heaven is my throne, and the earth my +footstool: what is this house that you will build to me? and what is +this place of my rest? + +What is this house, etc. . .This is a prophecy that the temple should be +cast off. + +66:2. My hand made all these things, and all these things were made, +saith the Lord. But to whom shall I have respect, but to him that is +poor and little, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my +words? + +66:3. He that sacrificeth an ox, is as if he slew a man: he that +killeth a sheep in sacrifice, as if he should brain a dog: he that +offereth an oblation, as if he should offer swine's blood; he that +remembereth incense, as if he should bless an idol. All these things +have they chosen in their ways, and their soul is delighted in their +abominations. + +He that sacrificeth an ox, etc. . .This is a prophecy that the +sacrifices which were offered in the old law should be abolished in the +new; and that the offering of them should be a crime.--Ibid. +Remembereth incense. . .Viz., to offer it in the way of a sacrifice. + +66:4. Wherefore I also will choose their mockeries, and will bring upon +them the things they feared: because I called, and there was none that +would answer; I have spoken, and they heard not; and they have done +evil in my eyes, and have chosen the things that displease me. + +I will choose their mockeries. . .I will turn their mockeries upon +themselves; and will cause them to be mocked by their enemies. + +66:5. Hear the word of the Lord, you that tremble at his word: Your +brethren that hate you, and cast you out for my name's sake, have said: +Let the Lord be glorified, and we shall see in your joy: but they shall +be confounded. + +66:6. A voice of the people from the city, a voice from the temple, the +voice of the Lord that rendereth recompense to his enemies. + +66:7. Before she was in labour, she brought forth; before her time came +to be delivered, she brought forth a man child. + +Before she was in labour, etc. . .This relates to the conversion of the +Gentiles, who were born, as it were, all on a sudden to the church of +God. + +66:8. Who hath ever heard such a thing? and who hath seen the like to +this? shall the earth bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be +brought forth at once, because Sion hath been in labour, and hath +brought forth her children? + +66:9. Shall not I that make others to bring forth children, myself +bring forth, saith the Lord? shall I, that give generation to others, +be barren, saith the Lord thy God? + +66:10. Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love +her: rejoice for joy with her, all you that mourn for her. + +66:11. That you may suck, and be filled with the breasts of her +consolations: that you may milk out, and flow with delights, from the +abundance of her glory. + +66:12. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were +a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the +Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, +and upon the knees they shall caress you. + +66:13. As one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you, and you +shall be comforted in Jerusalem. + +66:14. You shall see and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall +flourish like an herb, and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his +servants, and he shall be angry with his enemies. + +66:15. For behold the Lord will come with fire, and his chariots are +like a whirlwind, to render his wrath in indignation, and his rebuke +with flames of fire. + +66:16. For the Lord shall judge by fire, and by his sword unto all +flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many. + +66:17. They that were sanctified, thought themselves clean in the +gardens behind the gate within, they that did eat swine's flesh, and +the abomination, and the mouse: they shall be consumed together, saith +the Lord. + +66:18. But I know their works, and their thoughts: I come that I may +gather them together with all nations and tongues: and they shall come +and shall see my glory. + +66:19. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send of them that +shall be saved, to the Gentiles into the sea, into Africa, and Lydia +them that draw the bow: into Italy, and Greece, to the islands afar +off, to them that have not heard of me, and have not seen my glory. And +they shall declare my glory to the Gentiles: + +66:20. And they shall bring all your brethren out of all nations for a +gift to the Lord, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on +mules, and in coaches, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, +as if the children of Israel should bring an offering in a clean vessel +into the house of the Lord. + +66:21. And I will take of them to be priests, and Levites, saith the +Lord. + +66:22. For as the new heavens, and the new earth, which I will make to +stand before me, saith the Lord: so shall your seed stand, and your +name. + +66:23. And there shall be month after month, and sabbath after sabbath: +and all flesh shall come to adore before my face, saith the Lord. + +66:24. And they shall go out, and see the carcasses of the men that +have transgressed against me: their worm shall not die, and their fire +shall not be quenched: and they shall be a loathsome sight to all +flesh. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF JEREMIAS + + + +Jeremias was a priest, a native of Anathoth, a priestly city in the +tribe of Benjamin: and was sanctified from his mother's womb, to be a +prophet of God; which office he began to execute when he was yet a +child in age. He was in his whole life, according to the signification +of his name, Great before the Lord; and a special figure of Jesus +Christ, in the persecutions he underwent for discharging his duty; in +his charity for his persecutors; and in the violent death he suffered +at their hands: it being an ancient tradition of the Hebrews, that he +was stoned to death by the remnant of the Jews who had retired into +Egypt. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 1 + + +The time, and the calling, of Jeremias: his prophetical visions. God +encourages him. + +1:1. The words of Jeremias the son of Helcias, of the priests that were +in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. + +1:2. The word of the Lord which came to him in the days of Josias the +son of Amon king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign. + +1:3. And which came to him in the days of Joakim the son of Josias king +of Juda, unto the end of the eleventh year of Sedecias the son of +Josias king of Juda, even unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive, +in the fifth month. + +1:4. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +1:5. Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee: and +before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and made +thee a prophet unto the nations. + +1:6. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, Lord God: behold, I cannot speak, for I am +a child. + +1:7. And the Lord said to me: Say not: I am a child: for thou shalt go +to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, +thou shalt speak. + +1:8. Be not afraid at their presence: for I am with thee to deliver +thee, saith the Lord. + +1:9. And the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth: and the +Lord said to me: Behold I have given my words in thy mouth: + +1:10. Lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over kingdoms, +to root up, and to pull down, and to waste, and to destroy, and to +build, and to plant. + +1:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What seest thou, +Jeremias? And I said: I see a rod watching. + +1:12. And the Lord said to me: Thou hast seen well: for I will watch +over my word to perform it. + +1:13. And the word of the Lord came to me a second time saying: What +seest thou? And I said: I see a boiling caldron, and the face thereof +from the face of the north. + +1:14. And the Lord said to me: From the north shall an evil break forth +upon all the inhabitants of the land. + +1:15. For behold I will call together all the families of the kingdoms +of the north, saith the Lord: and they shall come, and shall set every +one his throne in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and upon all +the walls thereof round about, and upon all the cities of Juda. + +1:16. And I will pronounce my judgments against them, touching all +their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have sacrificed to strange +gods, and have adored the work of their own hands. + +1:17. Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak to them +all that I command thee. Be not afraid at their presence: for I will +make thee not to fear their countenance. + +1:18. For behold I have made thee this day a fortified city, and a +pillar of iron, and a wall of brass, over all the land, to the kings of +Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests, and to the people of +the land. + +1:19. And they shall fight against them, and shall not prevail: for I +am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 2 + + +God expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and infidelity. + +2:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +2:2. Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: +I have remembered thee, pitying thy youth, and the love of thy +espousals, when thou followedst me in the desert, in a land that is not +sown. + +2:3. Israel is holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his increase: all +they that devour him offend: evils shall come upon them, saith the +Lord. + +2:4. Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all ye +families of the house of Israel: + +2:5. Thus saith the Lord: What iniquity have your fathers found in me, +that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are +become vain? + +2:6. And they have not said: Where is the Lord, that made us come up +out of the land of Egypt? that led us through the desert, through a +land uninhabited and unpassable, through a land of drought, and the +image of death, through a land wherein no man walked, nor any man +dwelt? + +2:7. And I brought you into the land of Carmel, to eat the fruit +thereof, and the best things thereof: and when ye entered in, you +defiled my land and made my inheritance an abomination. + +Carmel. . .That is, a fruitful, plentiful land. + +2:8. The priests did not say: Where is the Lord? and they that held the +law knew me not, and the pastors transgressed against me: and the +prophets prophesied in Baal, and followed idols. + +2:9. Therefore will I yet contend in judgment with you, saith the Lord, +and I will plead with your children. + +2:10. Pass over to the isles of Cethim, and see: and send into Cedar, +and consider diligently: and see if there hath been done any thing like +this. + +2:11. If a nation hath changed their gods, and indeed they are not +gods: but my people have changed their glory into an idol. + +2:12. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and ye gates thereof, be +very desolate, saith the Lord. + +2:13. For my people have done two evils. They have forsaken me, the +fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, +broken cisterns, that can hold no water. + +2:14. Is Israel a bondman, or a homeborn slave? why then is he become a +prey? + +2:15. The lions have roared upon him, and have made a noise, they have +made his land a wilderness: his cities are burnt down, and there is +none to dwell in them. + +2:16. The children also of Memphis, and of Taphnes have defloured thee, +even to the crown of the head. + +2:17. Hath not this been done to thee, because thou hast forsaken the +Lord thy God at that time, when he led thee by the way? + +2:18. And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the +troubled water? And what hast thou to do with the way of the Assyrians, +to drink the water of the river? + +2:19. Thy own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy apostasy shall +rebuke thee. Know thou, and see that it is an evil and a bitter thing +for thee, to have left the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not with +thee, saith the Lord the God of hosts. + +2:20. Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, +and thou saidst: I will not serve. For on every high hill, and under +every green tree thou didst prostitute thyself. + +2:21. Yet, I planted thee a chosen vineyard, all true seed: how then +art thou turned unto me into that which is good for nothing, O strange +vineyard? + +2:22. Though thou wash thyself with nitre, and multiply to thyself the +herb borith, thou art stained in thy iniquity before me, saith the Lord +God. + +Borith. . .An herb used to clean clothes, and take out spots and dirt. + +2:23. How canst thou say: I am not polluted, I have not walked after +Baalim? see thy ways in the valley, know what thou hast done: as a +swift runner pursuing his course. + +2:24. A wild ass accustomed to the wilderness in the desire of his +heart, snuffed up the wind of his love: none shall turn her away: all +that seek her shall not fail: in her monthly filth they shall find her. + +2:25. Keep thy foot from being bare, and thy throat from thirst. But +thou saidst: I have lost all hope, I will not do it: for I have loved +strangers, and I will walk after them. + +2:26. As the thief is confounded when he is taken, so is the house of +Israel confounded, they and their kings, their princes and their +priests, and their prophets. + +2:27. Saying to a stock: Thou art my father: and to a stone: Thou hast +begotten me: they have turned their back to me, and not their face: and +in the time of their affliction they will say: Arise, and deliver us. + +2:28. Where are the gods, whom thou hast made thee? let them arise and +deliver thee in the time of thy affliction: for according to the number +of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda. + +2:29. Why will you contend with me in judgment? you have all forsaken +me, saith the Lord. + +2:30. In vain have I struck your children, they have not received +correction: your sword hath devoured your prophets, your generation is +like a ravaging lion. + +2:31. See ye the word of the Lord: Am I become a wilderness to Israel, +or a lateward springing land? why then have my people said: We are +revolted, we will come to thee no more? + +2:32. Will a virgin forget her ornament, or a bride her stomacher? but +my people hath forgotten me days without number. + +2:33. Why dost thou endeavour to shew thy way good to seek my love, +thou who hast also taught thy malices to be thy ways, + +2:34. And in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor and +innocent? not in ditches have I found them, but in all places, which I +mentioned before. + +2:35. And thou hast said: I am without sin and am innocent: and +therefore let thy anger be turned away from me. Behold, I will contend +with thee in judgment, because thou hast said: I have not sinned. + +2:36. How exceeding base art thou become, going the same ways over +again! and thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of +Assyria. + +2:37. For from thence thou shalt go, and thy hand shall be upon thy +head: for the Lord hath destroyed thy trust, and thou shalt have +nothing prosperous therein. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 3 + + +God invites the rebel Jews to return to him, with a promise to receive +them: he foretells the conversion of the Gentiles. + +3:1. It is commonly said: If a man put away his wife, and she go from +him, and marry another man, shall he return to her any more? shall not +that woman be polluted, and defiled? but thou hast prostituted thyself +to many lovers: nevertheless return to me, saith the Lord, and I will +receive thee. + +3:2. Lift up thy eyes on high: and see where thou hast not prostituted +thyself: thou didst sit in the ways, waiting for them as a robber in +the wilderness: and thou hast polluted the land with thy fornications, +and with thy wickedness. + +3:3. Therefore the showers were withholden, and there was no lateward +rain: thou hadst a harlot's forehead, thou wouldst not blush. + +3:4. Therefore at the least from this time call to me: Thou art my +father, the guide of my virginity: + +3:5. Wilt thou be angry for ever, or wilt thou continue unto the end? +Behold, thou hast spoken, and hast done evil things, and hast been +able. + +3:6. And the Lord said to me in the days of king Josias: Hast thou seen +what rebellious Israel hath done? she hath gone of herself upon every +high mountain, and under every green tree, and hath played the harlot +there. + +3:7. And when she had done all these things, I said: Return to me, and +she did not return. And her treacherous sister Juda saw, + +3:8. That because the rebellious Israel had played the harlot, I had +put her away, and given her a bill of divorce: yet her treacherous +sister Juda was not afraid, but went and played the harlot also +herself. + +3:9. And by the facility of her fornication she defiled the land, and +played the harlot with stones and with stocks. + +3:10. And after all this, her treacherous sister Juda hath not returned +to me with her whole heart, but with falsehood, saith the Lord. + +3:11. And the Lord said to me: The rebellious Israel hath justified her +soul, in comparison of the treacherous Juda. + +3:12. Go, and proclaim these words towards the north, and thou shalt +say: Return, O rebellious Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not turn +away my face from you: for I am holy, saith the Lord, and I will not be +angry for ever. + +3:13. But yet acknowledge thy iniquity, that thou hast transgressed +against the Lord thy God: and thou hast scattered thy ways to strangers +under every green tree, and hast not heard my voice, saith the Lord. + +3:14. Return, O ye revolting children, saith the Lord: for I am your I +husband: and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a kindred, and +will bring you into Sion. + +3:15. And I will give you pastors according to my own heart, and they +shall feed you with knowledge and doctrine. + +3:16. And when you shall be multiplied, and increase in the land in +those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more: The ark of the +covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come upon the heart, neither +shall they remember it, neither shall it be visited, neither shall that +be done any more. + +3:17. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord: +and all the nations shall be gathered together to it, in the name of +the Lord to Jerusalem, and they shall not walk after the perversity of +their most wicked heart. + +3:18. In those days the house of Juda shall go to the house of Israel, +and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land +which I gave to your fathers. + +3:19. But I said: How shall I put thee among the children, and give +thee a lovely land, the goodly inheritance of the armies of the +Gentiles? And I said: Thou shalt call me father and shalt not cease to +walk after me. + +3:20. But as a woman that despiseth her lover, so hath the house of +Israel despised me, saith the Lord. + +3:21. A voice was heard in the highways, weeping and howling of the +children of Israel: because they have made their way wicked, they have +forgotten the Lord their God. + +3:22. Return, you rebellious children, and I will heal your rebellions. +Behold we come to thee: for thou art the Lord our God. + +3:23. In very deed the hills were liars, and the multitude of the +mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. + +3:24. Confusion hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth, +their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. + +3:25. We shall sleep in our confusion, and our shame shall cover us, +because we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers +from our youth even to this day, and we have not hearkened to the voice +of the Lord our God. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 4 + + +And admonition to sincere repentance, and circumcision of the heart, +with threats of grievous punishment to those that persist in sin. + +4:1. If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return to me: if +thou wilt take away thy stumblingblocks out of my sight, thou shalt not +be moved. + +4:2. And thou shalt swear: As the Lord liveth, in truth, and in +judgment, and in justice: and the Gentiles shall bless him, and shall +praise him. + +4:3. For thus saith the Lord to the men of Juda and Jerusalem: Break up +anew your fallow ground, and sow not upon thorns: + +4:4. Be circumcised to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your +hearts, ye men of Juda, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my +indignation come forth like fire, and burn, and there be none that can +quench it because of the wickedness of your thoughts. + +4:5. Declare ye in Juda, and make it heard in Jerusalem: speak, and +sound with the trumpet in the land: cry aloud, and say: Assemble +yourselves, and let us go into strong cities. + +4:6. Set up the standard in Sion. Strengthen yourselves, stay not: for +I bring evil from the north, and great destruction. + +4:7. The lion is come up out of his den, and the robber of nations hath +roused himself: he is come forth out of his place, to make thy land +desolate: thy cities shall be laid waste, remaining without an +inhabitant. + +4:8. For this gird yourselves with haircloth, lament and howl: for the +fierce anger of the Lord is not turned away from us. + +4:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord: That the +heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes: and the +priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall be amazed. + +4:10. And I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, hast thou then deceived +this people and Jerusalem, saying: You shall have peace: and behold the +sword reacheth even to the soul? + +4:11. At that time it shall be said to this people, and to Jerusalem: A +burning wind is in the ways that are in the desert of the way of the +daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse. + +4:12. A full wind from these places shall come to me: and now I will +speak my judgments with them. + +4:13. Behold he shall come up as a cloud, and his chariots as a +tempest: his horses are swifter than eagles: woe unto us, for we are +laid waste. + +4:14. Wash thy heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that thou mayst be +saved: how long shall hurtful thoughts abide in thee? + +4:15. For a voice of one declaring from Dan, and giving notice of the +idol from mount Ephraim. + +4:16. Say ye to the nations: Behold it is heard in Jerusalem, that +guards are coming from a far country, and give out their voice against +the cities of Juda. + +4:17. They are set round about her, as keepers of fields: because she +hath provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord. + +4:18. Thy ways, and thy devices have brought these things upon thee: +this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it hath touched +thy heart. + +4:19. My bowels, my bowels are in part, the senses of my heart are +troubled within me, I will not hold my peace, for my soul hath heard +the sound of the trumpet, the cry of battle. + +4:20. Destruction upon destruction is called for, and all the earth is +laid waste: my tents are destroyed on a sudden, and my pavilions in a +moment. + +4:21. How long shall I see men fleeing away, how long shall I hear the +sound of the trumpet? + +4:22. For my foolish people have not known me: they are foolish and +senseless children: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have +no knowledge. + +4:23. I beheld the earth, and lo it was void, and nothing: and the +heavens, and there was no light in them. + +4:24. I looked upon the mountains, and behold they trembled: and all +the hills were troubled. + +4:25. I beheld, and lo there was no man: and all the birds of the air +were gone. + +4:26. I looked, and behold Carmel was a wilderness: and all its cities +were destroyed at the presence of the Lord, and at the presence of the +wrath of his indignation. + +4:27. For thus saith the Lord: All the land shall be desolate, but yet +I will not utterly destroy. + +4:28. The Earth shall mourn, and the heavens shall lament from above: +because I have spoken, I have purposed, and I have not repented, +neither am I turned away from it. + +4:29. At the voice of the horsemen, and the archers, all the city is +fled away: they have entered into thickets and climbed up the rocks: +all the cities are forsaken, and there dwelleth not a man in them. + +4:30. But when thou art spoiled what wilt thou do? though thou clothest +thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, +and paintest thy eyes with stibic stone, thou shalt dress thyself out +in vain: thy lovers have despised thee, they will seek thy life. + +4:31. For I have heard the voice as of a woman in travail, anguishes as +of a woman in labour of a child. The voice of the daughter of Sion, +dying away, spreading her hands: Woe is me, for my soul hath fainted +because of them that are slain. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 5 + + +The judgments of God shall fall upon the Jews for their manifold sins. + +5:1. Go about through the streets of Jerusalem, and see, and consider, +and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man that +executeth judgment, and seeketh faith: and I will be merciful unto it. + +5:2. And though they say: The Lord liveth; this also they will swear +falsely. + +5:3. O Lord, thy eyes are upon truth: thou hast struck them, and they +have not grieved: thou hast bruised them, and they have refused to +receive correction: they have made their faces harder than the rock, +and they have refused to return. + +5:4. But I said: Perhaps these are poor and foolish, that know not the +way of the Lord, the judgment of their God. + +5:5. I will go therefore to the great men, and will speak to them: for +they have known the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God: and +behold these have altogether broken the yoke more, and have burst the +bonds. + +5:6. Wherefore a lion out of the wood hath slain them, a wolf in the +evening hath spoiled them, a leopard watcheth for their cities: every +one that shall go out thence shall be taken, because their +transgressions are multiplied, their rebellions are strengthened. + +5:7. How can I be merciful to thee? thy children have forsaken me, and +swear by them that are not gods: I fed them to the full, and they +committed adultery, and rioted in the harlot's house. + +5:8. They are become as amorous horses and stallions: every one neighed +after his neighbour's wife. + +5:9. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? and shall not +my soul take revenge on such a nation? + +5:10. Scale the walls thereof, and throw them down, but do not utterly +destroy: take away the branches thereof, because they are not the +Lord's. + +5:11. For the house of Israel, and the house of Juda have greatly +transgressed against me, saith the Lord. + +5:12. They have denied the Lord, and said, It is not he: and the evil +shall not come upon us: we shall not see the sword and famine. + +5:13. The prophets have spoken in the wind, and there was no word of +God in them: these things therefore shall befall them. + +5:14. Thus saith the Lord the God of hosts: because you have spoken +this word, behold I will make my words in thy mouth as fire, and this +people as wood, and it shall devour them. + +5:15. Behold I will bring upon you a nation from afar, O house of +Israel, saith the Lord: a strong nation, an ancient nation, a nation +whose language thou shalt not know, nor understand what they say. + +5:16. Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all valiant. + +5:17. And they shall eat up thy corn, and thy bread: they shall devour +thy sons, and thy daughters: they shall eat up thy flocks, and thy +herds: they shall eat thy vineyards, and thy figs: and with the sword +they shall destroy thy strong cities, wherein thou trustest. + +5:18. Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not bring you +to utter destruction. + +5:19. And if you shall say: Why hath the Lord our God done all these +things to us? thou shalt say to them: As you have forsaken me, and +served a strange god in your own land, so shall you serve strangers in +a land that is not your own. + +5:20. Declare ye this to the house of Jacob, and publish it in Juda, +saying: + +5:21. Hear, O foolish people, and without understanding: who have eyes, +and see not: and ears, and hear not. + +5:22. Will not you then fear me, saith the Lord: and will you not +repent at my presence? I have set the sand a bound for the sea, an +everlasting ordinance, which it shall not pass over: and the waves +thereof shall toss themselves, and shall not prevail: they shall swell, +and shall not pass over it. + +5:23. But the heart of this people is become hard of belief and +provoking, they are revolted and gone away. + +5:24. And they have not said in their heart: Let us fear the Lord our +God, who giveth us the early and the latter rain in due season: who +preserveth for us the fulness of the yearly harvest. + +5:25. Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have +withholden good things from you. + +5:26. For among my people are found wicked men, that lie in wait as +fowlers, setting snares and traps to catch men. + +5:27. As a net is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit: +therefore are they become great and enriched. + +5:28. They are grown gross and fat: and have most wickedly transgressed +my words. They have not judged the cause of the widow, they have not +managed the cause of the fatherless, and they have not judged the +judgment of the poor. + +5:29. Shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? or shall not +my soul take revenge on such a nation? + +5:30. Astonishing and wonderful things have been done in the land. + +5:31. The prophets prophesied falsehood, and the priests clapped their +hands: and my people loved such things: what then shall be done in the +end thereof? + + + +Jeremias Chapter 6 + + +The evils that threaten Jerusalem. She is invited to return, and walk +in the good way, and not to rely on sacrifices without obedience. + +6:1. Strengthen yourselves, ye sons of Benjamin, in the midst of +Jerusalem, and sound the trumpet in Thecua, and set up the standard +over Bethacarem: for evil is seen out of the north, and a great +destruction. + +6:2. I have likened the daughter of Sion to a beautiful and delicate +woman. + +6:3. The shepherds shall come to her with their flocks: they have +pitched their tents against her round about: every one shall feed them +that are under his hand. + +6:4. Prepare ye war against her: arise, and let us go up at midday: woe +unto us, for the day is declined, for the shadows of the evening are +grown longer. + +6:5. Arise, and let us go up in the night, and destroy her houses. + +6:6. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hew down her trees, cast up a +trench about Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited, all oppression +is in the midst of her. + +6:7. As a cistern maketh its water cold, so hath she made her +wickedness cold: violence and spoil shall be heard in her, infirmity +and stripes are continually before me. + +6:8. Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee, +lest I make thee desolate, a land uninhabited. + +6:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: They shall gather the remains of +Israel, as in a vine, even to one cluster: turn back thy hand, as a +grapegatherer into the basket. + +6:10. To whom shall I speak? and to whom shall I testify, that he may +hear? behold, their ears are uncircumcised, and they cannot hear: +behold the word of the Lord is become unto them a reproach: and they +will not receive it. + +6:11. Therefore am I full of the fury of the Lord, I am weary with +holding in: pour it out upon the child abroad, and upon the council of +the young men together: for man and woman shall be taken, the ancient +and he that is full of days. + +6:12. And their houses shall be turned over to others, with their lands +and their wives together: for I will stretch forth my hand upon the +inhabitants of the land, saith the Lord. + +6:13. For from the least of them even to the greatest, all are given to +covetousness: and from the prophet even to the priest, all are guilty +of deceit. + +6:14. And they healed the breach of the daughter of my people +disgracefully, saying: Peace, peace: and there was no peace. + +6:15. They were confounded, because they committed abomination: yea, +rather they were not confounded with confusion, and they knew not how +to blush: wherefore they shall fall among them that fall: in the time +of their visitation they shall fall down, saith the Lord. + +6:16. Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see, and ask for +the old paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall +find refreshment for your souls. And they said: We will not walk. + +6:17. And I appointed watchmen over you, saying: Hearken ye to the +sound of the trumpet. And they said: We will not hearken. + +6:18. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what great +things I will do to them. + +6:19. Hear, O earth: Behold I will bring evils upon this people, the +fruits of their own thoughts: because they have not heard my words, and +they have cast away my law. + +6:20. To what purpose do you bring me frankincense from Saba, and the +sweet smelling cane from a far country? your holocausts are not +acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me. + +6:21. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring destruction +upon this people, by which fathers and sons together shall fall, +neighbour and kinsman shall perish. + +6:22. Thus saith the Lord: Behold a people cometh from the land of the +north, and a great nation shall rise up from the ends of the earth. + +6:23. They shall lay hold on arrow and shield: they are cruel, and will +have no mercy. Their voice shall roar like the sea: and they shall +mount upon horses, prepared as men for war, against thee, O daughter of +Sion. + +6:24. We have heard the fame thereof, our hands grow feeble: anguish +hath taken hold of us, as a woman in labour. + +6:25. Go not out into the fields, nor walk in the highway: for the +sword of the enemy, and fear is on every side. + +6:26. Gird thee with sackcloth, O daughter of my people, and sprinkle +thee with ashes: make thee mourning as for an only son, a bitter +lamentation, because the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us. + +6:27. I have set thee for a strong trier among my people: and thou +shalt know, and prove their way. + +6:28. All these princes go out of the way, they walk deceitfully, they +are brass and iron: they are all corrupted. + +6:29. The bellows have failed, the lead is consumed in the fire, the +founder hath melted in vain: for their wicked deeds are not consumed. + +6:30. Call them reprobate silver, for the Lord hath rejected them. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 7 + + +The temple of God shall not protect a sinful people, without a sincere +conversion. The Lord will not receive the prayers of the prophet for +them: because they are obstinate in their sins. + +7:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: + +7:2. Stand in the gate of the house of the Lord, and proclaim there +this word, and say: Hear ye the word of the Lord, all ye men of Juda, +that enter in at these gates, to adore the Lord. + +7:3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Make your ways and +your doings good: and I will dwell with you in this place. + +7:4. Trust not in lying words, saying: The temple of the Lord, the +temple of the Lord, it is the temple of the Lord. + +7:5. For if you will order well your ways, and your doings: if you will +execute judgment between a man and his neighbour, + +7:6. If you oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, +and shed not innocent blood in this place, and walk not after strange +gods to your own hurt, + +7:7. I will dwell with you in this place: in the land, which I gave to +your fathers from the beginning and for evermore. + +7:8. Behold you put your trust in lying words, which shall not profit +you: + +7:9. To steal, to murder, to commit adultery, to swear falsely, to +offer to Baalim, and to go after strange gods, which you know not. + +7:10. And you have come, and stood before me in this house, in which my +name is called upon, and have said: We are delivered, because we have +done all these abominations. + +7:11. Is this house then, in which my name hath been called upon, in +your eyes become a den of robbers? I, I am he: I have seen it, saith +the Lord. + +7:12. Go ye to my place in Silo, where my name dwelt from the +beginning: and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people +Israel: + +7:13. And now, because you have done all these works, saith the Lord: +and I have spoken to you rising up early, and speaking, and you have +not heard: and I have called you, and you have not answered: + +7:14. I will do to this house, in which my name is called upon, and in +which you trust, and to the place which I have given you and your +fathers, as I did to Silo. + +7:15. And I will cast you away from before my face, as I have cast away +all your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim. + +7:16. Therefore do not thou pray for this people, nor take to thee +praise and supplication for them: and do not withstand me: for I will +not hear thee. + +7:17. Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Juda, and in the +streets of Jerusalem? + +7:18. The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and +the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to +offer libations to strange gods, and to provoke me to anger. + +Queen of heaven. . .That is, the moon, which they worshipped under that +name. + +7:19. Do they provoke me to anger, saith the Lord? is it not +themselves, to the confusion of their own countenance? + +7:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold my wrath and my +indignation is enkindled against this place, upon men and upon beasts, +and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruits of the land, and +it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. + +7:21. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Add your burnt +offerings to your sacrifices, and eat ye the flesh. + +7:22. For I spoke not to your fathers, and I commanded them not, in the +day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning the matter +of burnt offerings and sacrifices. + +I commanded them not. . .Viz., such sacrifices as the Jews at this time +offered, without obedience; which was the thing principally commanded: +so that in comparison with it, the offering of the holocausts and +sacrifices was of small account. + +7:23. But this thing I commanded them, saying: Hearken to my voice, and +I will be your God, and you shall be my people: and walk ye in all the +way that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. + +7:24. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear: but walked in +their own will, and in the perversity of their wicked heart: and went +backward and not forward, + +7:25. From the day that their fathers came out of the land of Egypt, +even to this day. And I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, +from day to day, rising up early and sending. + +7:26. And they have not hearkened to me: nor inclined their ear: but +have hardened their neck, and have done worse than their fathers. + +7:27. And thou shalt speak to them all these words, but they will not +hearken to thee: and thou shalt call them, but they will not answer +thee. + +7:28. And thou shalt say to them: This is a nation which hath not +hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, nor received instruction: +faith is lost, and is taken away out of their mouth. + +7:29. Cut off thy hair, and cast it away: and take up a lamentation on +high: for the Lord hath rejected, and forsaken the generation of his +wrath, + +7:30. Because the children of Juda have done evil in my eyes, saith the +Lord. They have set their abominations in the house in which my name is +called upon, to pollute it; + +7:31. And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the +valley of the son of Ennom, to burn their sons, and their daughters in +the fire: which I commanded not, nor thought on in my heart. + +7:32. Therefore behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and it +shall no more be called Topheth, nor the valley of the son of Ennom: +but the valley of slaughter: and they shall bury in Topheth, because +there is no place. + +7:33. And the carcasses of this people shall be meat for the fowls of +the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and there shall be none to +drive them away. + +7:34. And I will cause to cease out of the cities of Juda, and out of +the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, +the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride: for the land +shall be desolate. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 8 + + +Other evils that shall fall upon the Jews for their impenitence. + +8:1. At that time, saith the Lord, they shall cast out the bones of the +kings of Juda, and the bones of the princes thereof, and the bones of +the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the +inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. + +8:2. And they shall spread them abroad to the sun, and the moon, and +all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have +served, and after whom have walked, and whom they have sought, and +adored: they shall not be gathered, and they shall not be buried: they +shall be as dung upon the face of the earth. + +8:3. And death shall be chosen rather than life by all that shall +remain of this wicked kindred in all places, which are left, to which I +have cast them out, saith the Lord of hosts. + +8:4. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Shall not he that +falleth, rise again? and he that is turned away, shall he not turn +again? + +8:5. Why then is this people in Jerusalem turned away with a stubborn +revolting? they have laid hold on lying, and have refused to return. + +8:6. I attended, and hearkened; no man speaketh what is good, there is +none that doth penance for his sin, saying: What have I done? They are +all turned to their own course, as a horse rushing to the battle. + +8:7. The kite in the air hath known her time: the turtle, and the +swallow, and the stork have observed the time of their coming: but my +people have not known the judgment of the Lord. + +8:8. How do you say: We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? +Indeed the lying pens of the scribes hath wrought falsehood. + +8:9. The wise men are confounded, they are dismayed, and taken: for +they have cast away the word of the Lord, and there is no wisdom in +them. + +8:10. Therefore will I give their women to strangers, their fields to +others for an inheritance: because from the least even to the greatest +all follow covetousness: from the prophet even to the priest all deal +deceitfully. + +8:11. And they healed the breach of the daughter of my people +disgracefully, saying: Peace, peace: when there was no peace. + +8:12. They are confounded, because they have committed abomination: yea +rather they are not confounded with confusion, and they have not known +how to blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall; in the +time of their visitation they shall fall, saith the Lord. + +8:13. Gathering I will gather them together, saith the Lord, there is +no grape on the vines, and there are no figs on the fig tree, the leaf +is fallen: and I have given them the things that are passed away. + +8:14. Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into +the fenced city, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath +put us to silence, and hath given us water of gall to drink: for we +have sinned against the Lord. + +8:15. We looked for peace and no good came: for a time of healing, and +behold fear. + +8:16. The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan, all the land was +moved at the sound of the neighing of his warriors: and they came and +devoured the land, and all that was in it: the city and its +inhabitants. + +8:17. For behold I will send among you serpents, basilisks, against +which there is no charm: and they shall bite you, saith the Lord. + +8:18. My sorrow is above sorrow, my heart mourneth within me. + +8:19. Behold the voice of the daughter of my people from a far country: +Is not the Lord in Sion, or is not her king in her? why then have they +provoked me to wrath with their idols, and strange vanities? + +8:20. The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. + +8:21. For the affliction of the daughter of my people I am afflicted, +and made sorrowful, astonishment hath taken hold on me. + +8:22. Is there no balm in Galaad? or is there no physician there? Why +then is not the wound of the daughter of my people closed? + + + +Jeremias Chapter 9 + + +The prophet laments the miseries of his people: and their sins, which +are the cause of them. He exhorts them to repentance. + +9:1. Who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my +eyes? and I will weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my +people. + +9:2. Who will give me in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring +men, and I will leave my people, and depart from them? because they are +all adulterers, an assembly of transgressors. + +9:3. And they have bent their tongue, as a bow, for lies, and not for +truth: they have strengthened themselves upon the earth, for they have +proceeded from evil to evil, and me they have not known, saith the +Lord. + +9:4. Let every man take heed of his neighbour, and let him not trust in +any brother of his: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every +friend will walk deceitfully. + +9:5. And a man shall mock his brother, and they will not speak the +truth: for they have taught their tongue to speak lies: they have +laboured to commit iniquity. + +9:6. Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit: through deceit they have +refused to know me, saith the Lord. + +9:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will melt, and +try them: for what else shall I do before the daughter of my people? + +9:8. Their tongue is a piercing arrow, it hath spoken deceit: with his +mouth one speaketh peace with his friend, and secretly he lieth in wait +for him. + +9:9. Shall I not visit them for these things, saith the Lord? or shall +not my soul be revenged on such a nation? + +9:10. For the mountains I will take up weeping and lamentation, and for +the beautiful places of the desert, mourning: because they are burnt +up, for that there is not a man that passeth through them: and they +have not heard the voice of the owner: from the fowl of the air to the +beasts they are gone away and departed. + +9:11. And I will make Jerusalem to be heaps of sand, and dens of +dragons: and I will make the cities of Juda desolate, for want of an +inhabitant. + +9:12. Who is the wise man, that may understand this, and to whom the +word of the mouth of the Lord may come that he may declare this, why +the land hath perished, and is burnt up like a wilderness, which none +passeth through? + +9:13. And the Lord said: Because they have forsaken my law, which I +gave them, and have not heard my voice, and have not walked in it. + +9:14. But they have gone after the perverseness of their own heart, and +after Baalim, which their fathers taught them. + +9:15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold +I will feed this people with wormwood, and give them water of gall to +drink. + +9:16. And I will scatter them among the nations, which they and their +fathers have not known: and I will send the sword after them till they +be consumed. + +9:17. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Consider ye, and +call for the mourning women, and let them come: and send to them that +are wise women, and let them make haste: + +9:18. Let them hasten and take up a lamentation for us: let our eyes +shed tears, and our eyelids run down with waters. + +9:19. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Sion: How are we wasted +and greatly confounded? because we have left the land, because our +dwellings are cast down. + +9:20. Hear therefore, ye women, the word of the Lord: and let your ears +receive the word of his mouth: and teach your daughters wailing: and +every one her neighbour mourning. + +9:21. For death is come up through our windows, it is entered into our +houses to destroy the children from without, the young men from the +streets. + +9:22. Speak: Thus saith the Lord: Even the carcass of man shall fall as +dung upon the face of the country, and as grass behind the back of the +mower, and there is none to gather it. + +9:23. Thus saith the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, +and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich +man glory in his riches: + +9:24. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth +and knoweth me, for I am the Lord that exercise mercy, and judgment, +and justice in the earth: for these things please me, saith the Lord. + +9:25. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, and I will visit upon +every one that hath the foreskin circumcised. + +9:26. Upon Egypt, and upon Juda, and upon Edom, and upon the children +of Ammon, and upon Moab, and upon all that have their hair polled +round, that dwell in the desert: for all the nations are uncircumcised +in the flesh, but all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the +heart. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 10 + + +Neither stars nor idols are to be feared, but the great Creator of all +things. The chastisement of Jerusalem for her sins. + +10:1. Hear ye the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O +house of Israel. + +10:2. Thus saith the Lord: Learn not according to the ways of the +Gentiles: and be not afraid of the signs of heaven, which the heathens +fear: + +10:3. For the laws of the people are vain: for the works of the hand of +the workman hath cut a tree out of the forest with an axe. + +10:4. He hath decked it with silver and gold: he hath put it together +with nails and hammers, that it may not fall asunder. + +10:5. They are framed after the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not +speak: they must be carried to be removed, because they cannot go. +Therefore fear them not, for they can neither do evil nor good. + +10:6. There is none like to thee, O Lord: thou art great, and great is +thy name in might. + +10:7. Who shall not fear thee, O king of nations? for thine is the +glory: among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms +there is none like unto thee. + +10:8. They shall be all proved together to be senseless and foolish: +the doctrine of their vanity is wood. + +10:9. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tharsis, and gold from +Ophaz: the work of the artificer, and of the hand of the coppersmith: +violet and purple is their clothing: all these things are the work of +artificers. + +10:10. But the Lord is the true God: he is the living God, and the +everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations +shall not be able to abide his threatening. + +10:11. Thus then shall you say to them: The gods that have not made +heaven and earth, let them perish from the earth, and from among those +places that are under heaven. + +10:12. He that maketh the earth by his power, that prepareth the world +by his wisdom, and stretcheth out the heavens by his knowledge. + +10:13. At his voice he giveth a multitude of waters in the heaven, and +lifteth up the clouds from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings +for rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. + +10:14. Every man is become a fool for knowledge, every artist is +confounded in his graven idol: for what he hath cast is false, and +there is no spirit in them. + +10:15. They are vain things, and a ridiculous work: in the time of +their visitation they shall perish. + +10:16. The portion of Jacob is not like these: for it is he who formed +all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hosts +is his name. + +10:17. Gather up thy shame out of the land, thou that dwellest in a +siege. + +10:18. For thus saith he Lord: Behold I will cast away far off the +inhabitants of the land at this time: and I will afflict them, so that +they may be found. + +10:19. Woe is me for my destruction, my wound is very grievous. But I +said: Truly this is my own evil, and I will bear it. + +10:20. My tabernacle is laid waste, all my cords are broken: my +children are gone out from me, and they are not: there is none to +stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. + +10:21. Because the pastors have done foolishly, and have not sought the +Lord: therefore have they not understood, and all their flock is +scattered. + +10:22. Behold the sound of a noise cometh, a great commotion out of the +land of the north: to make the cities of Juda a desert, and a dwelling +for dragons. + +10:23. I know, O Lord, that the way of a man is not his: neither is it +in a man to walk, and to direct his steps. + +The way of a man is not his. . .The meaning is, that notwithstanding +man's free will, yet he can do no good without God's help, nor evil +without his permission. So that, in the present case, all the evils +which Nabuchodonosor was about to bring upon Jerusalem, could not have +come but by the will of God. + +10:24. Correct me, O Lord, but yet with judgment: and not in thy fury, +lest thou bring me to nothing. + +10:25. Pour out thy indignation upon the nations that have not known +thee, and upon the provinces that have not called upon thy name: +because they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, +and have destroyed his glory. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 11 + + +The prophet proclaims the covenant of God: and denounces evils to the +obstinate transgressors of it. The conspiracy of the Jews against him, +a figure of their conspiracy against Christ. + +11:1. The word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, saying: + +11:2. Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Juda, +and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, + +11:3. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord the God of +Israel: Cursed is the man that shall not hearken to the words of this +covenant, + +11:4. Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out +of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying: Hear ye my voice, +and do all things that I command you: and you shall be my people, and I +will be your God: + +11:5. That I may accomplish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to +give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. And I +answered and said: Amen, O Lord. + +11:6. And the Lord said to me: Proclaim aloud all these words in the +cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear ye the +words of the covenant, and do them: + +11:7. For protesting I conjured your fathers in the day that I brought +them out of the land of Egypt even to this day: rising early I conjured +them, and said: Hearken ye to my voice: + +11:8. And they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear: but walked every one +in the perverseness of his own wicked heart: and I brought upon them +all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they +did them not. + +11:9. And the Lord said to me: A conspiracy is found among the men of +Juda, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. + +11:10. They are returned to the former iniquities of their fathers, who +refused to hear my words: so these likewise have gone after strange +gods, to serve them: the house of Israel, and the house of Juda have +made void my covenant, which I made with their fathers. + +11:11. Wherefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring in evils upon +them, which they shall not be able to escape: and they shall cry to me, +and I will not hearken to them. + +11:12. And the cities of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall +go, and cry to the gods to whom they offer sacrifice, and they shall +not save them in the time of their affliction. + +11:13. For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda: +and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem thou hast set +up altars of confusion, altars to offer sacrifice to Baalim. + +11:14. Therefore do not thou pray for this people, and do not take up +praise and prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time of +their cry to me, in the time of their affliction. + +11:15. What is the meaning that my beloved hath wrought much wickedness +in my house? shall the holy flesh take away from thee thy crimes, in +which thou hast boasted? + +11:16. The Lord called thy name, a plentiful olive tree, fair, +fruitful, and beautiful: at the noise of a word, a great fire was +kindled in it, and the branches thereof are burnt. + +11:17. And the Lord of hosts that planted thee, hath pronounced evil +against thee: for the evils of the house of Israel, and of the house of +Juda, which they have done to themselves, to provoke me, offering +sacrifice to Baalim. + +11:18. But thou, O Lord, hast shewn me, and I have known: then thou +shewedst me their doings. + +11:19. And I was as a meek lamb, that is carried to be a victim: and I +knew not that they had devised counsels against me, saying: Let us put +wood on his bread, and cut him off from the land of the living, and let +his name be remembered no more. + +11:20. But thou, O Lord of Sabaoth, who judgest justly, and triest the +reins and the hearts, let me see thy revenge on them: for to thee have +I revealed my cause. + +Sabaoth. . .That is, of hosts or armies, a name frequently given to God +in the scriptures.--Ibid. Thy revenge. . .This was rather a prediction +of what was to happen, with an approbation of the divine justice, than an +imprecation. + +11:21. Therefore thus saith the Lord to the men of Anathoth, who seek +thy life, and say: Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of the Lord, and +thou shalt not die in our hands. + +11:22. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will visit upon +them: their young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their +daughters shall die by famine. + +11:23. And there shall be no remains of them: for I will bring in evil +upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their visitation. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 12 + + +The prosperity of the wicked shall be but for a short time. The +desolation of the Jews for their sins. Their return from their +captivity. + +12:1. Thou indeed, O Lord, art just, if I plead with thee, but yet I +will speak what is just to thee: Why doth the way of the wicked +prosper: why is it well with all them that transgress, and do wickedly? + +12:2. Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root: they prosper +and bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their +reins. + +12:3. And thou, O Lord, hast known me, thou hast seen me, and proved my +heart with thee: gather them together as for the day of slaughter. + +12:4. How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither +for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The beasts and the birds +are consumed: because they have said: He shall not see our last end. + +12:5. If thou hast been wearied with running with footmen, how canst +thou contend with horses? and if thou hast been secure in a land of +peace, what wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan? + +12:6. For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they +have fought against thee, and have cried after thee with full voice: +believe them not when they speak good things to thee. + +12:7. I have forsaken my house, I have left my inheritance: I have +given my dear soul into the hand of her enemies. + +12:8. My inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: it hath +cried out against me, therefore have I hated it. + +12:9. Is my inheritance to me as a speckled bird? is it as a bird dyed +throughout? come ye, assemble yourselves, all ye beasts of the earth, +make haste to devour. + +12:10. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my +portion under foot: they have changed my delightful portion into a +desolate wilderness. + +12:11. They have laid it waste, and it hath mourned for me. With +desolation is all the land made desolate; because there is none that +considereth in the heart. + +12:12. The spoilers are come upon all the ways of the wilderness, for +the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land to the +other end thereof: there is no peace for all flesh. + +12:13. They have sown wheat, and reaped thorns: they have received an +inheritance, and it shall not profit them: you shall be ashamed of your +fruits, because of the fierce wrath of the Lord. + +12:14. Thus saith the Lord against all wicked neighbours, that touch +the inheritance that I have shared out to my people Israel: Behold I +will pluck them out of their land, and I will pluck the house of Juda +out of the midst of them. + +12:15. And when I shall have plucked them out, I will return, and have +mercy on them: and will bring them back, every man to his inheritance, +and every man into his land. + +12:16. And it shall come to pass, if they will be taught, and will +learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name: The Lord liveth, as +they have taught my people to swear by Baal: that they shall be built +up in the midst of my people. + +12:17. But if they will not hear, I will utterly pluck out and destroy +that nation, saith the Lord. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 13 + + +Under the figure of a linen girdle is foretold the destruction of the +Jews. Their obstinacy in sin brings all miseries upon them. + +13:1. Thus saith the Lord to me: Go, and get thee a linen girdle, and +thou shalt put it about thy loins, and shalt not put it into water. + +13:2. And I got a girdle according to the word of the Lord, and put it +about my loins. + +13:3. And the word of the Lord came to me the second time, saying: + +13:4. Take the girdle which thou hast got, which is about thy loins, +and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the +rock. + +13:5. And I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord had +commanded me. + +13:6. And it came to pass after many days, that the Lord said to me: +Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from thence the girdle, which I +commanded thee to hide there. + +13:7. And I went to the Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle out +of the place where I had hid it and behold the girdle was rotten, so +that it was fit for no use. + +13:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +13:9. Thus saith the Lord: After this manner will I make the pride of +Juda, and the great pride of Jerusalem to rot. + +13:10. This wicked people, that will not hear my words, and that walk +in the perverseness of their heart, and have gone after strange gods to +serve them, and to adore them: and they shall be as this girdle ,which +is fit for no use. + +13:11. For as the girdle sticketh close to the loins of a man, so have +I brought close to me all the house of Israel, and all the house of +Juda, saith the Lord: that they might be my people, and for a name, and +for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear. + +13:12. Thou shalt speak therefore to them this word: Thus saith the +Lord the God of Israel: Every bottle shall be filled with wine. And +they shall say to thee: Do we not know that every bottle shall be +filled with wine? + +13:13. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will +fill all the inhabitants of this land, and the kings of the race of +David that sit upon his throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and +all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness. + +13:14. And I will scatter them every man from his brother, and fathers +and sons in like manner, saith the Lord: I will not spare, and I will +not pardon: nor will I have mercy, but to destroy them. + +13:15. Hear ye, and give ear: Be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken. + +13:16. Give ye glory to the Lord your God, before it be dark, and +before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains: you shall look for +light, and he will turn it into the shadow of death, and into darkness. + +13:17. But if you will not hear this, my soul shall weep in secret for +your pride: weeping it shall weep, and my eyes shall run down with +tears, because the flock of the Lord is carried away captive. + +13:18. Say to the king, and to the queen: Humble yourselves, sit down: +for the crown of your glory is come down from your head. + +13:19. The cities of the south are shut up, and there is none to open +them: all Juda is carried away captive with an entire captivity. + +13:20. Lift up your eyes, and see, you that come from the north: where +is the flock that is given thee, thy beautiful cattle? + +13:21. What wilt thou say when he shall visit thee? for thou hast +taught them against thee, and instructed them against thy own head: +shall not sorrows lay hold on thee, as a woman in labour? + +13:22. And if thou shalt say in thy heart: Why are these things come +upon me? For the greatness of thy iniquity, thy nakedness is +discovered, the soles of thy feet are defiled. + +13:23. If the Ethiopian can change his skin, or the leopard his spots: +you also may do well, when you have learned evil. + +13:24. And I will scatter them as stubble, which is carried away by the +wind in the desert. + +13:25. This is thy lot, and the portion of thy measure from me, saith +the Lord, because thou hast forgotten me, and hast trusted in +falsehood. + +13:26. Wherefore I have also bared thy thighs against thy face, and thy +shame hath appeared. + +13:27. I have seen thy adulteries, and thy neighing, the wickedness of +thy fornication: and thy abominations, upon the hills in the field. Woe +to thee, Jerusalem, wilt thou not be made clean after me: how long yet? + + + +Jeremias Chapter 14 + + +A grievous famine: and the prophet's prayer on that occasion. Evils +denounced to false prophets. The prophet mourns for his people. + +14:1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias concerning the words +of the drought. + +14:2. Judea hath mourned, and the gates thereof are fallen, and are +become obscure on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. + +14:3. The great ones sent their inferiors to the water: they came to +draw, they found no water, they carried back their vessels empty: they +were confounded and afflicted, and covered their heads. + +14:4. For the destruction of the land, because there came no rain upon +the earth, the husbandman were confounded, they covered their heads. + +14:5. Yea, the hind also brought forth in the field, and left it, +because there was no grass. + +14:6. And the wild asses stood upon the rocks, they snuffed up the wind +like dragons, their eyes failed, because there was no grass. + +14:7. If our iniquities have testified against us, O Lord, do thou it +for thy name's sake, for our rebellions are many, we have sinned +against thee. + +14:8. O expectation of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble: +why wilt thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man +turning in to lodge? + +14:9. Why wilt thou be as a wandering man, as a mighty man that cannot +save? but thou, O Lord, art among us, and thy name is called upon by +us, forsake us not. + +14:10. Thus saith the Lord to this people, that have loved to move +their feet, and have not rested, and have not pleased the Lord: He will +now remember their iniquities, and visit their sins. + +14:11. And the Lord said to me: Pray not for this people for their +good. + +14:12. When they fast I will not hear their prayers: and if they offer +holocausts and victims, I will not receive them: for I will consume +them by the sword, and by famine, and by the pestilence. + +14:13. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God, the prophets say to them: +You shall not see the sword, and there shall be no famine among you, +but he will give you true peace in this place. + +14:14. And the Lord said to me: The prophets prophesy falsely in my +name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, nor have I spoken +to them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination and +deceit, and the seduction of their own heart. + +14:15. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that +prophesy in my name, whom I did not send, that say: Sword and famine +shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be +consumed. + +14:16. And the people to whom they prophesy, shall be cast out in the +streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and there +shall be none to bury them: they and their wives, their sons and their +daughters, and I will pour out their own wickedness upon them. + +14:17. And thou shalt speak this word to them: Let my eyes shed down +tears night and day, and let them not cease, because the virgin +daughter of my people is afflicted with a great affliction, with an +exceeding grievous evil. + +14:18. If I go forth into the fields, behold the slain with the sword: +and if I enter into the city, behold them that are consumed with +famine. The prophet also and the priest are gone into a land which they +knew not. + +14:19. Hast thou utterly cast away Juda, or hath thy soul abhorred +Sion? why then hast thou struck us, so that there is no healing for us? +we have looked for peace, and there is no good: and for the time of +healing, and behold trouble. + +14:20. We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, the iniquities of our +fathers, because we have sinned against thee. + +14:21. Give us not to be a reproach, for thy name's sake, and do not +disgrace in us the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy +covenant with us. + +14:22. Are there any among the graven things of the Gentiles that can +send rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou the Lord our +God, whom we have looked for? for thou hast made all these things. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 15 + + +God is determined to punish the Jews for their sins. The prophet's +complaint, and God's promise to him. + +15:1. And the Lord said to me: If Moses and Samuel shall stand before +me, my soul is not towards this people: cast them out from my sight, +and let them go forth. + +15:2. And if they shall say unto thee: Whither shall we go forth? thou +shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Such as are for death, to +death: and such as are for the sword, to the sword: and such as are for +famine, to famine: and such as are for captivity, to captivity. + +15:3. And I will visit them with four kinds, saith the Lord: The sword +to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the air, and the beasts +of the earth, to devour and to destroy. + +15:4. And I will give them up to the rage of all the kingdoms of the +earth: because of Manasses the son of Ezechias the king of Juda, for +all that he did in Jerusalem. + +15:5. For who shall have pity on thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan +thee? or who shall go to pray for thy peace? + +15:6. Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou art gone backward: +and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will destroy thee: I +am weary of entreating thee. + +15:7. And I will scatter them with a fan in the gates of the land: I +have killed and destroyed my people, and yet they are not returned from +their ways. + +15:8. Their widows are multiplied unto me above the sand of the sea: I +have brought upon them against the mother of the young man a spoiler at +noonday: I have cast a terror on a sudden upon the cities. + +15:9. She that hath borne seven is become weak, her soul hath fainted +away: her sun is gone down, while it was yet day: she is confounded, +and ashamed: and the residue of them I will give up to the sword in the +sight of their enemies, saith the Lord. + +15:10. Woe is me, my mother: why hast thou borne me a man of strife, a +man of contention to all the earth? I have not lent on usury, neither +hath any man lent to me on usury: yet all curse me. + +15:11. The Lord saith to me: Assuredly it shall be well with thy +remnant, assuredly I shall help thee in the time of affliction, and in +the time of tribulation against the enemy. + +15:12. Shall iron be allied with the iron from the north, and the +brass? + +Shall iron be allied, etc. . .Shall the iron, that is, the strength of +Juda, stand against the stronger iron of the north, that is, of +Babylon: or enter into an alliance upon equal footing with it? No +certainly: but it must be broken by it. + +15:13. Thy riches and thy treasures I will give unto spoil for nothing, +because of all thy sins, even in all thy borders. + +15:14. And I will bring thy enemies out of a land, which thou knowest +not: for a fire is kindled in my rage, it shall burn upon you. + +15:15. O Lord, thou knowest, remember me, and visit me, and defend me +from them that persecute me, do not defend me in thy patience: know +that for thy sake I have suffered reproach. + +Do not defend me in thy patience. . .That is, let not thy patience and +longsuffering, which thou usest towards sinners, keep thee from making +haste to my assistance. + +15:16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was to me +a joy and gladness of my heart: for thy name is called upon me, O Lord +God of hosts. + +15:17. I sat not in the assembly of jesters, nor did I make a boast of +the presence of thy hand: I sat alone, because thou hast filled me with +threats. + +15:18. Why is my sorrow become perpetual, and my wound desperate so as +to refuse to be healed? it is become to me as the falsehood of +deceitful waters that cannot be trusted. + +15:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord: If thou wilt be converted, I will +convert thee, and thou shalt stand before my face; and thou wilt +separate the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they +shall be turned to thee, and thou shalt not be turned to them. + +15:20. And I will make thee to this people as a strong wall of brass: +and they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with +thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. + +15:21. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I +will redeem thee out of the hand of the mighty. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 16 + + +The prophet is forbid to marry. The Jews shall be utterly ruined for +their idolatry: but shall at length be released from their captivity, +and the Gentiles shall be converted. + +16:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +16:2. Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons and +daughters in this place. + +16:3. For thus saith the Lord concerning the sons and daughters, that +are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bore them: +and concerning their fathers, of whom they were born in this land: + +16:4. They shall die by the death of grievous illnesses: they shall not +be lamented, and they shall not be buried, they shall be as dung upon +the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed with the sword, and +with famine: and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of the +air, and for the beasts of the earth. + +16:5. For thus saith the Lord: Enter not into the house of feasting, +neither go thou to mourn, nor to comfort them: because I have taken +away my peace from this people, saith the Lord, my mercy and +commiserations. + +16:6. Both the great and the little shall die in this land: they shall +not be buried nor lamented, and men shall not cut themselves, nor make +themselves bald for them. + +16:7. And they shall not break bread among them to him that mourneth, +to comfort him for the dead: neither shall they give them for their +father and mother. + +16:8. And do not thou go into the house of feasting, to sit with them, +and to eat and drink: + +16:9. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold I +will take away out of this place in your sight, and in your days the +voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, +and the voice of the bride. + +16:10. And when thou shalt tell this people all these words, and they +shall say to thee: Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced against us all +this great evil? what is our iniquity? and what is our sin, that we +have sinned against the Lord our God? + +16:11. Thou shalt say to them: Because your fathers forsook me, saith +the Lord: and went after strange gods, and served them, and adored +them: and they forsook me, and kept not my law. + +16:12. And you also have done worse than your fathers: for behold every +one of you walketh after the perverseness of his evil heart, so as not +to hearken to me. + +16:13. So I will cast you forth out of this land, into a land which you +know not, nor your fathers: and there you shall serve strange gods day +and night, which shall not give you any rest. + +16:14. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, when it shall be +said no more: The Lord liveth, that brought forth the children of +Israel out of the land of Egypt. + +16:15. But, The Lord liveth, that brought the children of Israel out of +the land of the north, and out of all the lands to which I cast them +out: and I will bring them again into their land, which I gave to their +fathers. + +16:16. Behold I will send many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall +fish them: and after this I will send them many hunters, and they shall +hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill and out of the holes +of the rocks. + +16:17. For my eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my +face, and their iniquity hath not been hid from my eyes. + +16:18. And I will repay first their double iniquities, and their sins: +because they have defiled my land with the carcasses of their idols, +and they have filled my inheritance with their abominations. + +16:19. O Lord, my might, and my strength, and my refuge in the day of +tribulation: to thee the Gentiles shall come from the ends of the +earth, and shall say: Surely our fathers have possessed lies, a vanity +which hath not profited them. + +16:20. Shall a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods? + +16:21. Therefore behold I will this once cause them to know, I will +shew them my hand and my power: and they shall know that my name is the +Lord. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 17 + + +For their obstinacy in sin the Jews shall be led captive. He is cursed +that trusteth in flesh. God alone searcheth the heart, giving to every +one as he deserves. The prophet prayeth to be delivered from his +enemies, and preacheth up the observance of the sabbath. + +17:1. The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of +a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns +of their altars. + +17:2. When their children shall remember their altars, and their +groves, and their green trees upon the high mountains, + +17:3. Sacrificing in the field: I will give thy strength, and all thy +treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin in all thy borders. + +17:4. And thou shalt be left stripped of thy inheritance, which I gave +thee: and I will make thee serve thy enemies in a land which thou +knowest not: because thou hast kindled a fire in my wrath, it shall +burn for ever. + +17:5. Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and +maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. + +17:6. For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see +when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a +salt land, and not inhabited. + +Tamaric. . .A barren shrub that grows in the driest parts of the +wilderness. + +17:7. Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall +be his confidence. + +17:8. And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that +spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when +the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time +of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any +time to bring forth fruit. + +17:9. The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can +know it? + +17:10. I am the Lord who search the heart, and prove the reins: who +give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of +his devices. + +17:11. As the partridge hath hatched eggs which she did not lay: so is +he that hath gathered riches, and not by right: in the midst of his +days he shall leave them, and in his latter end he shall be a fool. + +17:12. A high and glorious throne from the beginning is the place of +our sanctification. + +17:13. O Lord, the hope of Israel: all that forsake thee shall be +confounded: they that depart from thee, shall be written in the earth: +because they have forsaken the Lord, the vein of living waters. + +17:14. Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be +saved: for thou art my praise. + +17:15. Behold they say to me: Where is the word of the Lord? let it +come. + +17:16. And I am not troubled, following thee for my pastor, and I have +not desired the day of man, thou knowest. That which went out of my +lips, hath been right in thy sight. + +17:17. Be not thou a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of +affliction. + +17:18. Let them be confounded that persecute me, and let not me be +confounded: let them be afraid, and let not me be afraid: bring upon +them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction, destroy +them. + +Let them be confounded, etc. . .Such expressions as these in the +writings of the prophets, are not to be understood as imprecations +proceeding from malice or desire of revenge: but as prophetic +predictions of evils that were about to fall upon impenitent sinners, +and approbations of the ways of divine justice. + +17:19. Thus saith the Lord to me: Go, and stand in the gate of the +children of the people, by which the kings of Juda come in, and go out, +and in all the gates of Jerusalem: + +17:20. And thou shalt say to them: Hear the word of the Lord, ye kings +of Juda, and al Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter +in by these gates. + +17:21. Thus saith the Lord: Take heed to your souls, and carry no +burdens on the sabbath day: and bring them not in by the gates of +Jerusalem. + +17:22. And do not bring burdens out of your houses on the sabbath day, +neither do ye any work: sanctify the sabbath day, as I commanded your +fathers. + +17:23. But they did not hear, nor incline their ear: but hardened their +neck, that they might not hear me, and might not receive instruction. + +17:24. And it shall come to pass: if you will hearken to me, saith the +Lord, to bring in no burdens by the gates of this city on the sabbath +day: and if you will sanctify the sabbath day, to do no work therein: + +17:25. Then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and +princes, sitting upon the throne of David, and riding in chariots and +on horses, they and their princes, the men of Juda, and the inhabitants +of Jerusalem: and this city shall be inhabited for ever. + +17:26. And they shall come from the cities of Juda, and from the places +round about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the +plains, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing +holocausts, and victims, and sacrifices, and frankincense, and they +shall bring in an offering into the house of the Lord. + +17:27. But if you will not hearken to me, to sanctify the sabbath day, +and not to carry burdens, and not to bring them in by the gates of +Jerusalem on the sabbath day: I will kindle a fire in the gates +thereof, and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not +be quenched. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 18 + + +As the clay in the hand of the potter, so is Israel in God's hand. He +pardoneth penitents, and punisheth the obstinate. They conspire against +Jeremias, for which he denounceth to them the miseries that hang over +them. + +18:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: + +18:2. Arise, and go down into the potter's house, and there thou shalt +hear my words. + +18:3. And I went down into the potter's house, and behold he was doing +a work on the wheel. + +18:4. And the vessel was broken which he was making of clay with his +hands: and turning he made another vessel, as it seemed good in his +eyes to make it. + +18:5. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +18:6. Cannot I do with you, as this potter, O house of Israel, saith +the Lord? behold as clay is in the hand of the potter, so are you in my +hand, O house of Israel. + +18:7. I will suddenly speak against a nation, and against a kingdom, to +root out, and to pull down, and to destroy it. + +18:8. If that nation against which I have spoken, shall repent of their +evil, I also will repent of the evil that I have thought to do to them. + +18:9. And I will suddenly speak of a nation and of a kingdom, to build +up and plant it. + +18:10. If it shall do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice: I +will repent of the good that I have spoken to do unto it. + +18:11. Now therefore tell the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I frame evil against +you, and devise a device against you: let every man of you return from +his evil way, and make ye your ways and your doings good. + +18:12. And they said; We have no hopes: for we will go after our own +thoughts, and we will do every one according to the perverseness of his +evil heart. + +18:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Ask among the nations: Who hath +heard such horrible things, as the virgin of Israel hath done to +excess? + +18:14. Shall the snow of Libanus fail from the rock of the field? or +can the cold waters that gush out and run down, be taken away? + +18:15. Because my people have forgotten me, sacrificing in vain, and +stumbling in their ways, in ancient paths, to walk by them in a way not +trodden: + +18:16. That their land might be given up to desolation, and to a +perpetual hissing: every one that shall pass by it, shall be +astonished, and wag his head. + +18:17. As a burning wind will I scatter them before the enemy: I will +shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their destruction. + +18:18. And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: +for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the +wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with +the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words. + +18:19. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. + +18:20. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit +for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for +them, and to turn away thy indignation from them. + +Remember, etc. . .This is spoken in the person of Christ, persecuted by +the Jews, and prophetically denouncing the evils that should fall upon +them in punishment of their crimes. + +18:21. Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them +into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children +and widows: and let their husbands be slain by death: let their young +men be stabbed with the sword in battle. + +18:22. Let a cry be heard out of their houses: for thou shalt bring the +robber upon them suddenly: because they have digged a pit to take me, +and have hid snares for my feet. + +18:23. But thou, O Lord, knowest all their counsel against me unto +death: not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from +thy sight: let them be overthrown before thy eyes, in the time of thy +wrath do thou destroy them. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 19 + + +Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, the prophet foresheweth +the desolation of the Jews for their sins. + +19:1. Thus saith the Lord: Go, and take a potter's earthen bottle, and +take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests: + +19:2. And go forth into the valley of the son of Ennom, which is by the +entry of the earthen gate: and there thou shalt proclaim the words that +I shall tell thee. + +19:3. And thou shalt say: Hear the word of the Lord, O ye kings of +Juda, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus saith the Lord of hosts, +the God of Israel: Behold I will bring an affliction upon this place: +so that whosoever shall hear it, his ears shall tingle: + +19:4. Because they have forsaken me, and have profaned this place : and +have sacrificed therein to strange gods, whom neither they nor their +fathers knew, nor the kings of Juda: and they have filled this place +with the blood of innocents. + +19:5. And they have built the high places of Baalim, to burn their +children with fire for a holocaust to Baalim: which I did not command, +nor speak of, neither did it once come into my mind. + +19:6. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, that this place +shall no more be called Topheth, nor the valley of the son of Ennom, +but the valley of slaughter. + +19:7. And I will defeat the counsel of Juda and of Jerusalem in this +place: and I will destroy them with the sword in the sight of their +enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and I will +give their carcasses to be meat for the fowls of the air, and for the +beasts of the earth. + +19:8. And I will make this city an astonishment, and a hissing: every +one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss because +of all the plagues thereof. + +19:9. And I will feed them with the flesh of their sons, and with the +flesh of their daughters: and they shall eat every one the flesh of his +friend in the siege, and in the distress wherewith their enemies, and +they that seek their lives, shall straiten them. + +19:10. And thou shalt break the bottle in the sight of the men that +shall go with thee. + +19:11. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Even +so will I break this people, and this city, as the potter's vessel is +broken, which cannot be made whole again: and they shall be buried in +Topheth, because there is no other place to bury in. + +19:12. Thus will I do to this place, saith the Lord, and to the +inhabitants thereof: and I will make this city as Topheth. + +19:13. And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Juda +shall be unclean as the place of Topheth: all the houses upon whose +roofs they have sacrificed to all the host of heaven, and have poured +out drink offerings to strange gods. + +19:14. Then Jeremias came from Topheth, whither the Lord had sent him +to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the house of the Lord, and +said to all the people: + +19:15. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold I will +bring in upon this city, and upon all the cities thereof all the evils +that I have spoken against it: because they have hardened their necks, +that they might not hear my words. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 20 + + +The prophet is persecuted: he denounces captivity to his persecutors, +and bemoans himself. + +20:1. Now Phassur the son of Emmer, the priest, who was appointed chief +in the house of the Lord, heard Jeremias prophesying these words. + +20:2. And Phassur struck Jeremias the prophet, and put him in the +stocks, that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, in the house of the +Lord. + +20:3. And when it was light the next day, Phassur brought Jeremias out +of the stocks. And Jeremias said to him: The Lord hath not called thy +name Phassur, but fear on every side. + +Phassur. . .This name signifies increase and principality: and therefore +is here changed to Magor-Missabib, or fear on every side: to denote the +evils that should come upon him in punishment of his opposing the word +of God. + +20:4. For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will deliver thee up to fear, +thee and all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their +enemies, and thy eyes shall see it, and I will give all Juda into the +hand of the king of Babylon: and he shall carry them away to Babylon, +and shall strike them with the sword. + +20:5. And I will give all the substance of this city, and all its +labour, and every precious thing thereof, and all the treasures of the +kings of Juda will I give into the hands of their enemies: and they +shall pillage them, and take them away, and carry them to Babylon. + +20:6. But thou Phassur, and all that dwell in thy house, shall go into +captivity, and thou shalt go to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and +there thou shalt be buried, thou and all thy friends, to whom thou hast +prophesied a lie. + +20:7. Thou hast deceived me, O Lord, and I am deceived: thou hast been +stronger than I, and thou hast prevailed. I am become a laughingstock +all the day, all scoff at me. + +Thou hast deceived, etc. . .The meaning of the prophet, is not to charge +God with any untruth; but what he calls deceiving, was only the +concealing from him, when he accepted of the prophetical commission, +the greatness of the evils which the execution of that commission was +to bring upon him. + +20:8. For I am speaking now this long time, crying out against +iniquity, and I often proclaim devastation: and the word of the Lord is +made a reproach to me, and a derision all the day. + +20:9. Then I said: I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more +in his name: and there came in my heart as a burning fire, shut up in +my bones, and I was wearied, not being able to bear it. + +20:10. For I heard the reproaches of many, and terror on every side: +Persecute him, and let us persecute him: from all the men that were my +familiars, and continued at my side: if by any means he may be +deceived, and we may prevail against him, and be revenged on him. + +20:11. But the Lord is with me as a strong warrior: therefore they that +persecute me shall fall, and shall be weak: they shall be greatly +confounded, because they have not understood the everlasting reproach, +which never shall be effaced. + +20:12. And thou, O Lord of hosts, prover of the just, who seest the +reins and the heart: let me see, I beseech thee, thy vengeance on them: +for to thee I have laid open my cause. + +Let me see, etc. . .This prayer proceeded not from hatred or ill will, +but zeal of justice. + +20:13. Sing ye to the Lord, praise the Lord: because he hath delivered +the soul of the poor out of the hand of the wicked. + +20:14. Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day in which +my mother bore me, be blessed. + +Cursed be the day, etc. . .In these, and the following words of the +prophet, there is a certain figure of speech to express with more +energy the greatness of the evils to which his birth had exposed him. + +20:15. Cursed be the man that brought the tidings to my father, saying: +A man child is born to thee: and made him greatly rejoice. + +20:16. Let that man be as the cities which the Lord hath overthrown, +and hath not repented: let him hear a cry in the morning, and howling +at noontide: + +20:17. Who slew me not from the womb, that my mother might have been my +grave, and her womb an everlasting conception. + +20:18. Why came I out of the womb, to see labour and sorrow, and that +my days should be spent in confusion? + + + +Jeremias Chapter 21 + + +The prophet's answer to the messengers of Sedecias, when Jerusalem was +besieged. + +21:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, when king Sedecias +sent unto him Phassur, the son of Melchias, and Sophonias, the son of +Maasias the priest, saying: + +21:2. Inquire of the Lord for us, for Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon +maketh war against us: if so be the Lord will deal with us according to +all his wonderful works, that he may depart from us. + +21:3. And Jeremias said to them: Thus shall you say to Sedecias: + +21:4. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold I will turn back +the weapons of war that are in your hands, and with which you fight +against the king of Babylon, and the Chaldeans, that besiege you round +about the walls: and I will gather them together in the midst of this +city. + +21:5. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand, +and with a strong arm, and in fury, and in indignation, and in great +wrath. + +21:6. And I will strike the inhabitants of this city, men and beasts +shall die of a great pestilence. + +21:7. And after this, saith the Lord, I will give Sedecias the king of +Juda, and his servants, and his people, and such as are left in this +city from the pestilence, and the sword, and the famine, into the hand +of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and into the hand of their +enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and he shall +strike them with the edge of the sword, and he shall not be moved to +pity, nor spare them, nor shew mercy to them. + +21:8. And to this people thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I +set before you the way of life, and the way of death. + +21:9. He that shall abide in this city, shall die by the sword, and by +the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that shall go out and flee +over to the Chaldeans, that besiege you, shall live, and his life shall +be to him as a spoil. + +21:10. For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for +good, saith the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of +Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. + +21:11. And to the house of the king of Juda: Hear ye the word of the +Lord, + +21:12. O house of David, thus saith the Lord: Judge ye judgment in the +morning, and deliver him that is oppressed by violence out of the hand +of the oppressor: lest my indignation go forth like a fire, and be +kindled, and there be none to quench it, because of the evil of your +ways. + +21:13. Behold I come to thee that dwellest in a valley upon a rock +above a plain, saith the Lord: and you say: Who shall strike us and who +shall enter into our houses? + +To thee that dwellest, etc. . .He speaks to Jerusalem, confiding in the +strength of her situation upon rocks, surrounded with a deep valley. + +21:14. But I will visit upon you according to the fruit of your doings, +saith the Lord: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof: and it +shall devour all things round about it. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 22 + + +An exhortation both to king and people to return of God. The sentence +of God upon Joachaz, Joakim, and Jechonias. + +22:1. Thus saith the Lord: Go down to the house of the king of Juda, +and there thou shalt speak this word, + +Go down, etc. . .The contents of this chapter are of a more ancient date +than those of the foregoing chapter: for the order of time is not +always observed in the writings of the prophets. + +22:2. And thou shalt say: Hear the word of the Lord, king of Juda, that +sittest upon the throne of David: thou and thy servants, and thy +people, who enter in by these gates. + +22:3. Thus saith the Lord: Execute judgment and justice, and deliver +him that is oppressed out of the hand of the oppressor: and afflict not +the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, nor oppress them unjustly: +and shed not innocent blood in this place. + +22:4. For if you will do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in +by the gates of this house, kings of the race of David sitting upon his +throne, and riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants, +and their people. + +22:5. But if you will not hearken to these words: I swear by myself, +saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation. + +22:6. For thus saith the Lord to the house of the king of Juda: Thou +art to me Galaad the head of Libanus: yet surely I will make thee a +wilderness, and cities not habitable. + +Galaad the head of Libanus. . .By Galaad, a rich and fruitful country, +is here signified the royal palace of the kings of the house of David: +by Libanus, a high mountain abounding in cedar trees, the populous city +of Jerusalem. + +22:7. And I will prepare against thee the destroyer and his weapons: +and they shall cut down thy chosen cedars, and shall cast them headlong +into the fire. + +Prepare. . .Literally, sanctify. + +22:8. And many nations shall pass by this city: and they shall say +every man to his neighbour: Why hath the Lord done so to this great +city? + +22:9. And they shall answer: Because they have forsaken the covenant of +the Lord their God, and have adored strange gods, and served them. + +22:10. Weep not for him that is dead, nor bemoan him with your tears: +lament him that goeth away, for he shall return no more, nor see his +native country. + +Weep not for him that is dead, etc. . .He means the good king Josias, +who by death was taken away, so as not to see the miseries of his +country.--Ibid. Him that goeth away. . .Viz., sellum, alias Joachaz, who +was carried captive into Egypt. + +22:11. For thus saith the Lord to Sellum the son of Josias the king of +Juda, who reigned instead of his father, who went forth out of this +place: He shall return hither no more: + +22:12. But in the place, to which I have removed him, there shall he +die, and he shall not see this land any more. + +22:13. Woe to him that buildeth up his house by injustice, and his +chambers not in judgment: that will oppress his friend without cause, +and will not pay him his wages. + +22:14. Who saith: I will build me a wide house, and large chambers: who +openeth to himself windows, and maketh roofs of cedar, and painteth +them with vermilion. + +22:15. Shalt thou reign, because thou comparest thyself to the cedar? +did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and it +was then well with him? + +22:16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy for his own good: was +it not therefore because he knew me, saith the Lord? + +22:17. But thy eyes and thy heart are set upon covetousness, and upon +shedding innocent blood, and upon oppression, and running after evil +works. + +22:18. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning Joakim the son of +Josias king of Juda: They shall not mourn for him, Alas, my brother, +and, Alas, sister: they shall not lament for him, Alas, my lord, or, +Alas, the noble one. + +22:19. He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, rotten and cast +forth without the gates of Jerusalem. + +22:20. Go up to Libanus, and cry: and lift up thy voice in Basan, and +cry to them that pass by, for all thy lovers are destroyed. + +22:21. I spoke to thee in thy prosperity: and thou saidst: I will not +hear: this hath been thy way from thy youth, because thou hast not +heard my voice. + +22:22. The wind shall feed all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go +into captivity and then shalt thou be confounded, and ashamed of all +thy wickedness. + +22:23. Thou that sittest in Libanus, and makest thy nest in the cedars, +how hast thou mourned when sorrows came upon thee, as the pains of a +woman in labour? + +22:24. As I live, saith the Lord, if Jechonias the son of Joakim the +king of Juda were a ring on my right hand, I would pluck him thence. + +22:25. And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, +and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, and into the hand of +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. + +22:26. And I will send thee, and thy mother that bore thee, into a +strange country, in which you were not born, and there you shall die: + +22:27. And they shall not return into the land, whereunto they lift up +their mind to return thither. + +22:28. Is this man Jechonias an earthen and a broken vessel? is he a +vessel wherein is no pleasure? why are they cast out, he and his seed, +and are cast into a land which they know not? + +22:29. O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord. + +22:30. Thus saith the Lord: Write this man barren, a man that shall not +prosper in his days: for there shall not be a man of his seed that +shall sit upon the throne of David, and have power any more in Juda. + +Write this man barren. . .That is, childless: not that he had no +children, but that his children should never sit on the throne of Juda. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 23 + + +God reproves evil governors; and promises to send good pastors; and +Christ himself the prince of the pastors. He inveighs against false +prophets preaching without being sent. + +23:1. Woe to the pastors, that destroy and tear the sheep of my +pasture, saith the Lord. + +23:2. Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the pastors +that feed my people: You have scattered my flock, and driven them away, +and have not visited them: behold I will visit upon you for the evil of +your doings, saith the Lord. + +23:3. And I will gather together the remnant of my flock, out of all +the lands into which I have cast them out: and I will make them return +to their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied. + +23:4. And I will set up pastors over them, and they shall feed them: +they shall fear no more, and they shall not be dismayed: and none shall +be wanting of their number, saith the Lord. + +23:5. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will raise up to +David a just branch: and a king shall reign, and shall be wise: and +shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. + +23:6. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Israel shall dwell +confidently: and this is the name that they shall call him: The Lord +our just one. + +23:7. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and they shall +say no more: The Lord liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out +of the land of Egypt: + +23:8. But, The Lord liveth, who hath brought out, and brought hither +the seed of the house of Israel from the land of the north, and out of +all the lands, to which I had cast them forth: and they shall dwell in +their own land. + +23:9. To the prophets: My heart is broken within me, all my bones +tremble: I am become as a drunken man, and as a man full of wine, at +the presence of the Lord, and at the presence of his holy words. + +23:10. Because the land is full of adulterers, because the land hath +mourned by reason of cursing, the fields of the desert are dried up: +and their course is become evil, and their strength unlike. + +23:11. For the prophet and the priest are defiled: and in my house I +have found their wickedness, saith the Lord. + +23:12. Therefore their way shall be as a slippery way in the dark: for +they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evils upon +them, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord. + +23:13. And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: they +prophesied in Baal and deceived my people Israel. + +23:14. And I have seen the likeness of adulterers, and the way of lying +in the prophets of Jerusalem: and they strengthened the hands of the +wicked, that no man should return from his evil doings, they are all +become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrha. + +23:15. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts to the prophets: Behold I +will feed them with wormwood, and will give them gall to drink: for +from the prophets of Jerusalem corruption is gone forth into all the +land. + +23:16. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Hearken not to the words of the +prophets that prophesy to you, and deceive you: they speak a vision of +their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. + +23:17. They say to them that blaspheme me: The Lord hath said: You +shall have peace: and to every one that walketh in the perverseness of +his own heart, they have said: No evil shall come upon you. + +23:18. For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath seen and +heard his word? Who hath considered his word and heard it? + +23:19. Behold the whirlwind of the Lord's indignation shall come forth, +and a tempest shall break out and come upon the head of the wicked. + +23:20. The wrath of the Lord shall not return till he execute it, and +till he accomplish the thought of his heart: in the latter days you +shall understand his counsel. + +23:21. I did not send prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to +them, yet they prophesied. + +23:22. If they had stood in my counsel, and had made my words known to +my people, I should have turned them from their evil way, and from +their wicked doings. + +23:23. Am I, think ye, a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God +afar off? + +23:24. Shall a man be hid in secret places, and I not see him, saith +the Lord? do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord? + +23:25. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my +name, and say: I have dreamed, I have dreamed. + +23:26. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that +prophesy lies, and that prophesy the delusions of their own heart? + +23:27. Who seek to make my people forget my name through their dreams, +which they tell every man to his neighbour: as their fathers forgot my +name for Baal. + +23:28. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream: and he that +hath my word, let him speak my word with truth: what hath the chaff to +do with the wheat, saith the Lord? + +23:29. Are not my words as a fire, saith the Lord: and as a hammer that +breaketh the rock in pieces? + +23:30. Therefore behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord: who +steal my words every one from his neighbour. + +23:31. Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord: who use their +tongues, and say: The Lord saith it. + +23:32. Behold I am against the prophets that have lying dreams, saith +the Lord: and tell them, and cause my people to err by their lying, and +by their wonders: when I sent them not, nor commanded them, who have +not profited this people at all, saith the Lord. + +23:33. If therefore this people, or the prophet, or the priest shall +ask thee, saying: What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt say to +them: You are the burden: for I will cast you away, saith the Lord. + +23:34. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people that +shall say: The burden of the Lord: I will visit upon that man, and upon +his house. + +Burden of the Lord. . .This expression is here rejected and disallowed, +at least for those times: because it was then used in mockery and +contempt by the false prophets, and unbelieving people, who ridiculed +the repeated threats of Jeremias under the name of his burdens. + +23:35. Thus shall you say every one to his neighbour, and to his +brother, What hath the Lord answered? and what hath the Lord spoken? + +23:36. And the burden of the Lord shall be mentioned no more, for every +man's word shall be his burden: for you have perverted the words of the +living God, of the Lord of hosts our God. + +23:37. Thus shalt thou say to the prophet: What hath the Lord answered +thee? and what hath the Lord spoken? + +23:38. But if you shall say: The burden of the Lord: therefore thus +saith the Lord: Because you have said this word: The burden of the +Lord: and I have sent to you, saying: Say not, The burden of the Lord: + +23:39. Therefore behold I will take you away carrying you, and will +forsake you, and the city which I gave to you, and to your fathers, out +of my presence. + +Out of my presence. . .That is, the Lord declares that out of his +presence he will cast them, and bring them to captivity for their +transgressions. + +23:40. And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a +perpetual shame which shall never be forgotten. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 24 + + +Under the type of good and bad figs, he foretells the restoration of +the Jews that had been carried away captive with Jechonias, and the +desolation of those that were left behind. + +24:1. The Lord shewed me: and behold two baskets full of figs, set +before the temple of the Lord: after that Nabuchodonosor king of +Babylon had carried away Jechonias the son of Joakim the king of Juda, +and his chief men, and the craftsmen, and engravers of Jerusalem, and +had brought them to Babylon. + +24:2. One basket had very good figs, like the figs of the first season: +and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, +because they were bad. + +24:3. And the Lord said to me: What seest thou, Jeremias? And I said: +Figs, the good figs, very good: and the bad figs, very bad, which +cannot be eaten because they are bad. + +24:4. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +24:5. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so +will I regard the captives of Juda, whom I have sent forth out of this +place into the land of the Chaldeans, for their good. + +24:6. And I will set my eyes upon them to be pacified, and I will bring +them again into this land: and I will build them up, and not pull them +down: and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. + +24:7. And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and +they shall be my people, and I will be their God: because they shall +return to me with their whole heart. + +24:8. And as the very bad figs, that cannot be eaten, because they are +bad: thus saith the Lord: So will I give Sedecias the king of Juda, and +his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that have remained in this +city, and that dwell in the land of Egypt. + +24:9. And I will deliver them up to vexation, and affliction, to all +the kingdoms of the earth: to be a reproach, and a byword, and a +proverb, and to be a curse in all places, to which I have cast them +out. + +24:10. And I will send among them the sword, and the famine, and the +pestilence: till they be consumed out of the land which I gave to them, +and their fathers. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 25 + + +The prophet foretells the seventy years captivity; after that the +destruction of Babylon, and other nations. + +25:1. The word that came to Jeremias concerning all the people of Juda, +in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, (the same +is the first year of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon,) + +25:2. Which Jeremias the prophet spoke to all the people of Juda, and +to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying: + +25:3. From the thirteenth year of Josias the son of Ammon king of Juda +until this day: this is the three and twentieth year, the word of the +Lord hath come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising before day, and +speaking, and you have not hearkened. + +25:4. And the Lord hath sent to you all his servants the prophets, +rising early, and sending, and you have not hearkened, nor inclined +your ears to hear. + +25:5. When he said: Return ye, every one from his evil way, and from +your wicked devices, and you shall dwell in the land which the Lord +hath given to you, and your fathers for ever and ever. + +25:6. And go not after strange gods to serve them, and adore them: nor +provoke me to wrath by the works of your hands, and I will not afflict +you. + +25:7. And you have not heard me, saith the Lord, that you might provoke +me to anger with the works of your hands, to your own hurt. + +25:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts: Because you have not +heard my words: + +25:9. Behold I will send, and take all the kindreds of the north, saith +the Lord, and Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant: and I will +bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and +against all the nations that are round about it: and I will destroy +them, and make them an astonishment and a hissing, and perpetual +desolations. + +My servant. . .So this wicked king is here called; because God made him +his instrument in punishing the sins of his people. + +25:10. And I will take away from them the voice of mirth, and the voice +of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, +the sound of the mill and the light of the lamp. + +25:11. And all this land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment: +and all these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. + +25:12. And when the seventy years shall be expired, I will punish the +king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, +and the land of the Chaldeans: and I will make it perpetual +desolations. + +Punish. . .Literally, visit upon. + +25:13. And I will bring upon that land all my words, that I have spoken +against it, all that is written in this book, all that Jeremias hath +prophesied against all nations: + +25:14. For they have served them, whereas they were many nations, and +great kings: and I will repay them according to their deeds, and +according to the works of their hands. + +25:15. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Take the cup +of wine of this fury at my hand: and thou shalt make all the nations to +drink thereof, into which I shall send thee. + +25:16. And they shall drink, and be troubled, and be mad because of the +sword, which I shall send among them. + +25:17. And I took the cup at the hand of the Lord, and I presented it +to all the nations to drink of it, to which the Lord sent me: + +25:18. To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Juda, and the kings +thereof, and the princes thereof: to make them a desolation, and an +astonishment, and a hissing, and a curse, as it is at this day. + +25:19. Pharao the king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and +all his people, + +25:20. And all in general: all the kings of the land of Ausitis, and +all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ascalon, and Gaza, +and Accaron, and the remnant of Azotus. + +25:21. And Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon. + +25:22. And all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon: and the +kings of the land of the islands that are beyond the sea. + +25:23. And Dedan, and Thema, and Buz, and all that have their hair cut +round. + +25:24. And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the west, that +dwell in the desert. + +25:25. And all the kings of Zambri, and all the kings of Elam, and all +the kings of the Medes: + +25:26. And all the kings of the north far and near, every one against +his brother: and all the kingdoms of the earth, which are upon the face +thereof: and the king of Sesac shall drink after them. + +Sesac. . .That is, Babel, or Babylon; which after bringing all these +people under her yoke, should quickly fall and be destroyed herself. + +25:27. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God +of Israel: Drink ye, and be drunken, and vomit: and fall, and rise no +more, because of the sword, which I shall send among you. + +25:28. And if they refuse to take the cup at thy hand to drink, thou +shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Drinking you shall +drink: + +25:29. For behold I begin to bring evil on the city wherein my name is +called upon: and shall you be as innocent and escape free? you shall +not escape free: for I will call for the sword upon all the inhabitants +of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts. + +25:30. And thou shalt prophesy unto them all these words, and thou +shalt say to them: I The Lord shall roar from on high, and shall utter +his voice from his holy habitation: roaring he shall roar upon the +place of his beauty: the shout as it were of them that tread grapes +shall be given out against all the inhabitants of the earth. + +25:31. The noise is come even to the ends of the earth: for the Lord +entereth into judgment with the nations: he entereth into judgment with +all flesh; the wicked I have delivered up to the sword, saith the Lord. + +25:32. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold evil shall go forth from +nation to nation: and a great whirlwind shall go forth from the ends of +the earth. + +25:33. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of +the earth even to the other end thereof: they shall not be lamented, +and they shall not be gathered up, nor buried: they shall lie as dung +upon the face of the earth. + +25:34. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry: and sprinkle yourselves with ashes, +ye leaders of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and your +dispersion are accomplished, and you shall fall like precious vessels. + +25:35. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the leaders of +the flock to save themselves. + +25:36. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a howling of the +principal of the flock: because the Lord hath wasted their pastures. + +25:37. And the fields of peace have been silent because of the fierce +anger of the Lord. + +25:38. He hath forsaken his covert as the lion, for the land is laid +waste because of the wrath of the dove, and because of the fierce anger +of the Lord. + +The dove. . .This is commonly understood of Nabuchodonosor, whose +military standard, it is said, was a dove. But the Hebrew word Jonah, +which is here rendered a dove, may also signify a waster or oppressor, +which name better agrees to that unmerciful prince; or by comparison, +as a dove's flight is the swiftest, so would their destruction come +upon them. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 26 + + +The prophet is apprehended and accused by the priests: but discharged +by the princes. + +26:1. In the beginning of the reign of Joakim the son of Josias king of +Juda, came this word from the Lord, saying: + +26:2. Thus saith the Lord: stand in the court of the house of the Lord, +and speak to all the cities of Juda, out of which they come, to adore +in the house of the Lord, all the words which I have commanded thee to +speak unto them: leave not out one word. + +26:3. If so be they will hearken and be converted every one from his +evil way; that I may repent me of the evil that I think to do unto them +for the wickedness of their doings. + +26:4. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: If you will not +hearken to me to walk in my law, which I have given you: + +26:5. To give ear to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent +to you rising up early: and sending, and you have not hearkened: + +26:6. I will make this house like Silo: and I will make this city a +curse to all the nations of the earth. + +26:7. And the priests, and the prophets, and all the people heard +Jeremias speaking these words in the house of the Lord. + +26:8. And when Jeremias had made an end of speaking all that the Lord +had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests, and the +prophets, and all the people laid hold on him, saying: Let him be put +to death. + +26:9. Why hath he prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying: This +house shall be like Silo; and this city shall be made desolate, without +an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered together against +Jeremias in the house of the Lord. + +26:10. And the princes of Juda heard these words: and they went up from +the king's house into the house of the Lord, and sat in the entry of +the new gate of the house of the Lord. + +26:11. And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes, and to +all the people, saying: The judgment of death is for this man: because +he hath prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears. + +26:12. Then Jeremias spoke to all the princes, and to all the people, +saying: The Lord sent me to prophesy concerning this house, and +concerning this city all the words that you have heard. + +26:13. Now therefore amend your ways, and your doings, and hearken to +the voice of the Lord your God: and the Lord will repent him of the +evil that he hath spoken against you. + +26:14. But as for me, behold I am in your hands: do with me what is +good and right in your eyes: + +26:15. But know ye, and understand, that if you put me to death, you +will shed innocent blood against your own selves, and against this +city, and the inhabitants thereof. For in truth the Lord sent me to +you, to speak all these words in your hearing. + +26:16. Then the princes, and all the people said to the priests, and to +the prophets: There is no judgment of death for this man: for he hath +spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God. + +26:17. And some of the ancients of the land rose up: and they spoke to +all the assembly of the people, saying: + +26:18. Micheas of Morasthi was a prophet in the days of Ezechias king +of Juda, and he spoke to all the people of Juda, saying: Thus saith the +Lord of hosts: Sion shall be ploughed like a field, and Jerusalem shall +be a heap of stones: and the mountain of the house the high places of +woods. + +26:19. Did Ezechias king of Juda, and all Juda, condemn him to death? +did they not fear the Lord, and beseech the face of the Lord: and the +Lord repented of the evil that he had spoken against them? therefore we +are doing a great evil against our souls. + +26:20. There was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, +Urias the son of Semei of Cariathiarim: and he prophesied against this +city, and against this land, according to all the words of Jeremias. + +26:21. And Joakim, and all his men in power, and his princes heard +these words: and the king sought to put him to death. And Urias heard +it, and was afraid, and fled and went into Egypt. + +26:22. And king Joakim sent men into Egypt, Elnathan the son of +Achobor, and men with him into Egypt. + +26:23. And they brought Urias out of Egypt: and brought him to king +Joakim, and he slew him with the sword: and he cast his dead body into +the graves of the common people. + +26:24. So the hand of Ahicam the son of Saphan was with Jeremias, that +he should not be delivered into the hands of the people, to put him to +death. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 27 + + +The prophet sends chains to divers kings, signifying that they must +bend their necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon. The vessels of +the temple shall not be brought back till all the rest are carried +away. + +27:1. In the beginning of the reign of Joakim the son of Josias king of +Juda, this word came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: + +Joakim. . .This revelation was made to the prophet in the beginning of +the reign of Joakim: but the bands were not sent to the princes here +named before the reign of Sedecias, ver. 3. + +27:2. Thus saith the Lord to me: Make thee bands, and chains: and thou +shalt put them on thy neck. + +27:3. And thou shalt send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of +Moab, and to the king of the children of Ammon, and to the king of +Tyre, and to the king of Sidon: by the hand of the messengers that are +come to Jerusalem to Sedecias the king of Juda. + +27:4. And thou shalt command them to speak to their masters: Thus saith +the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to your +masters: + +27:5. I made the earth, and the men and the beasts that are upon the +face of the earth, by my great power, and by my stretched out arm: and +I have given it to whom it seemed good in my eyes. + +27:6. And now I have given all these lands into the hand of +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon my servant: moreover also the beasts of +the field I have given him to serve him. + +27:7. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son: +till the time come for his land and himself: and many nations and great +kings shall serve him. + +His son. . .Viz., Evilmerodach; and his son's son, Nabonydus, or +Nabonadius, the Baltassar of Daniel, chap. 5., and the last of the +Chaldean kings. + +27:8. But the nation and kingdom that will not serve Nabuchodonosor +king of Babylon, and whosoever will not bend his neck under the yoke of +the king of Babylon: I will visit upon that nation with the sword, and +with famine, and with pestilence, saith the Lord: till I consume them +by his hand. + +27:9. Therefore hearken not to your prophets, and diviners, and +dreamers, and soothsayers, and sorcerers, that say to you: You shall +not serve the king of Babylon. + +27:10. For they prophesy lies to you: to remove you far from your +country, and cast you out, and to make you perish. + +27:11. But the nation that shall bend down their neck under the yoke of +the king of Babylon, and shall serve him: I will let them remain in +their own land, saith the Lord: and they shall till it, and dwell in +it. + +27:12. And I spoke to Sedecias the king of Juda according to all these +words, saying: Bend down your necks under the yoke of the king of +Babylon, and serve him, and his people, and you shall live. + +27:13. Why will you die, thou and thy people by the sword, and by +famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the +nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? + +27:14. Hearken not to the words of the prophets that say to you: You +shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they tell you a lie. + +27:15. For I have not sent them, saith the Lord: and they prophesy in +my name falsely: to drive you out, and that you may perish, both you, +and the prophets that prophesy to you. + +27:16. I spoke also to the priests, and to this people, saying: Thus +saith the Lord: Hearken not to the words of your prophets, that +prophesy to you, saying: Behold the vessels of the Lord shall now in a +short time be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto +you. + +27:17. Therefore hearken not to them, but serve the king of Babylon, +that you may live. Why should this city be given up to desolation? + +27:18. But if they be prophets, and the word of the Lord be in them: +let them interpose themselves before the Lord of hosts, that the +vessels which were left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of +the king of Juda, and in Jerusalem, may not go to Babylon. + +27:19. For thus saith the Lord of hosts to the pillars, and to the sea, +and to the bases, and to the rest of the vessels that remain in this +city: + +27:20. Which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon did not take, when he +carried away Jechonias the son of Joakim the king of Juda, from +Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the great men of Juda and Jerusalem. + +27:21. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, to the +vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the +king of Juda and Jerusalem: + +27:22. They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall be until +the day of their visitation, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to +be brought, and to be restored in this place. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 28 + + +The false prophecy of Hananias: he dies that same year, as Jeremias +foretold. + +28:1. And it came to pass in that year, in the beginning of the reign +of Sedecias king of Juda, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that +Hananias the son of Azur, a prophet of Gabaon spoke to me, in the house +of the Lord before the priests, and all the people, saying: + +28:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: I have broken the +yoke of the king of Babylon. + +28:3. As yet two years of days, and I will cause all the vessels of the +house of the Lord to be brought back into this place, which +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried +them to Babylon. + +28:4. And I will bring back to this place Jechonias the son of Joakim +king of Juda, and all the captives of Juda, that are gone to Babylon, +saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. + +28:5. And Jeremias the prophet said to Hananias the prophet in the +presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that +stood in the house of the Lord: + +28:6. And Jeremias the prophet said: Amen, the Lord do so: the Lord +perform thy words, which thou hast prophesied: that the vessels may be +brought again into the house of the Lord, and all the captives may +return out of Babylon to this place. + +28:7. Nevertheless hear this word that I speak in thy ears, and in the +ears of all the people: + +28:8. The prophets that have been before me, and before thee from the +beginning, and have prophesied concerning many countries, and +concerning great kingdoms, of war, and of affliction, and of famine. + +28:9. The prophet that prophesied peace: when his word shall come to +pass, the prophet shall be known, whom the hath sent in truth. + +28:10. And Hananias the prophet took the chain from the neck of +Jeremias the prophet, and broke it. + +28:11. And Hananias spoke in the presence of all the people, saying: +Thus saith the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nabuchodonosor +the king of Babylon after two full years from off the neck of all the +nations. + +28:12. And Jeremias the prophet went his way. And the word of the Lord +came to Jeremias, after that Hananias the prophet had broken the chain +from off the neck of Jeremias the prophet, saying: + +28:13. Go, and tell Hananias: Thus saith the Lord: Thou hast broken +chains of wood, and thou shalt make for them chains of iron. + +28:14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: I have put a +yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, to serve +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and they shall serve him: moreover also +I have given him the beasts of the earth. + +28:15. And Jeremias the prophet said to Hananias the prophet: Hear now, +Hananias: the Lord hath not sent thee, and thou hast made this people +to trust in a lie. + +28:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will send thee away from +off the face of the earth: this year shalt thou die: for thou hast +spoken against the Lord. + +28:17. And Hananias the prophet died in that year, in the seventh +month. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 29 + + +Jeremias writeth to the captives in Babylon, exhorting them to be easy +there, and not to hearken to false prophets. That they shall be +delivered after seventy years. But those that remain in Jerusalem shall +perish by the sword, famine, and pestilence. And that Achab, Sedecias, +and Semeias, false prophets, shall die miserably. + +29:1. Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremias the prophet +sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the ancients that were carried +into captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the +people, whom Nabuchodonosor had carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: + +29:2. After that Jechonias the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, +and the princes of Juda, and of Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the +engravers were departed out of Jerusalem: + +29:3. By the hand of Elasa the son of Saphan, and Gamarias the son of +Helcias, whom Sedecias king of Juda sent to Babylon to Nabuchodonosor +king of Babylon, saying: + +29:4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, to all that are +carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from +Jerusalem to Babylon: + +29:5. Build ye houses, and dwell in them: and plant orchards, and eat +the fruit of them. + +29:6. Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters: and take wives for +your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, and let them bear sons +and daughters: and be ye multiplied there, and be not few in number. + +29:7. And seek the peace of the city, to which I have caused you to be +carried away captives; and pray to the Lord for it: for in the peace +thereof shall be your peace. + +29:8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Let not your +prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners deceive you: +and give no heed to your dreams which you dream: + +29:9. For they prophesy falsely to you in my name: and I have not sent +them, saith the Lord. + +29:10. For thus saith the Lord: When the seventy years shall begin to +be accomplished in Babylon, I will visit you: and I will perform my +good word in your favour, to bring you again to this place. + +29:11. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the +Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and +patience. + +29:12. And you shall call upon me, and you shall go. and you shall pray +to me, and I will hear you. + +29:13. You shall seek me, and shall find me: when you shall seek me +with all your heart. + +29:14. And I will be found by you, saith the Lord: and I will bring +back your captivity, and I will gather you out of all nations, and from +all the places to which I have driven you out, saith the Lord: and I +will bring you back from the place to which I caused you to be carried +away captive. + +29:15. Because you have said: The Lord hath raised us up prophets in +Babylon: + +29:16. For thus saith the Lord to the king that sitteth upon the throne +of David, and to all the people that dwell in this city, to your +brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity. + +29:17. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will send upon them the +sword, and the famine, and the pestilence: and I will make them like +bad figs that cannot be eaten, because they are very bad. + +29:18. And I will persecute them with the sword, and with famine, and +with the pestilence: and I will give them up unto affliction to all the +kingdoms of the earth: to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a +hissing, and a reproach to all the nations to which I have driven them +out: + +29:19. Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord: +which I sent to them by my servants the prophets, rising by night, and +sending: and you have not heard, saith the Lord. + +29:20. Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord, all ye of the captivity, +whom I have sent out from Jerusalem to Babylon. + +29:21. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, to Achab the son +of Colias, and to Sedecias the son of Maasias, who prophesy unto you in +my name falsely: Behold I will deliver them up into the hands of +Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon: and he shall kill them before your +eyes. + +29:22. And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of +Juda, that are in Babylon, saying: The Lord make thee like Sedecias, +and like Achab, whom the king of Babylon fried in the fire: + +29:23. Because they have acted folly in Israel, and have committed +adultery with the wives of their friends, and have spoken lying words +in my name, which I commanded them not: I am the judge and the witness, +saith the Lord. + +29:24. And to Semeias the Nehelamite thou shalt say: + +29:25. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Because thou +hast sent letters in thy name to all the people that are in Jerusalem, +and to Sophonias the son of Maasias the priest, and to all the priests, +saying: + +29:26. The Lord hath made thee priest instead of Joiada the priest, +that thou shouldst be ruler in the house of the Lord, over every man +that raveth and prophesieth, to put him in the stocks, and into prison. + +29:27. And now why hast thou not rebuked Jeremias the Anathothite, who +prophesieth to you? + +29:28. For he hath also sent to us in Babylon, saying: It is a long +time: build ye houses, and dwell in them: and plant gardens, and eat +the fruits of them. + +29:29. So Sophonias the priest read this letter, in the hearing of +Jeremias the prophet. + +29:30. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: + +29:31. Send to all them of the captivity, saying: Thus saith the Lord +to Semeias the Nehelamite: Because Semeias hath prophesied to you, and +I sent him not: and hath caused you to trust in a lie: + +29:32. Therefore thus saith the Lord: behold I will visit upon Semeias +the Nehelamite, and upon his seed: he shall not have a man to sit in +the midst of this people, and he shall not see the good that I will do +to my people, saith the Lord: because he hath spoken treason against +the Lord. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 30 + + +God will deliver his people from their captivity: Christ shall be their +king: and his church shall be glorious for ever. + +30:1. This is the word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: + +30:2. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: Write thee all +the words that I have spoken to thee, in a book. + +30:3. For behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will bring again +the captivity of my people Israel and Juda, saith the Lord: and I will +cause them to return to the land which I gave to their fathers, and +they shall possess it. + +30:4. And these are the words that the Lord hath spoken to Israel and +to Juda: + +30:5. For thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of terror: there +is fear and no peace. + +30:6. Ask ye, and see if a man bear children? why then have I seen +every man with his hands on his loins, like a woman in labour, and all +faces are turned yellow? + +30:7. Alas, for that day is great, neither is there the like to it; and +it is the time of tribulation to Jacob, but he shall be saved out of +it. + +30:8. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, +that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst his bands: +and strangers shall no more rule over him: + +30:9. But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, +whom I will raise up to them. + +David. . .That is, Christ of the house of David. + +30:10. Therefore fear thou not, my servant Jacob, saith the Lord, +neither be dismayed, O Israel: for behold, I will save thee from a +country afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and +Jacob shall return, and be at rest, and abound with all good things, +and there shall be none whom he may fear: + +30:11. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: for I will +utterly consume all the nations, among which I have scattered thee: but +I will not utterly consume thee: but I will chastise thee in judgment, +that thou mayst not seem to thyself innocent. + +30:12. For thus saith the Lord: Thy bruise is incurable, thy wound is +very grievous. + +30:13. There is none to judge thy judgment to bind it up: thou hast no +healing medicines. + +30:14. All thy lovers have forgotten thee, and will not seek after +thee: for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with cruel +chastisement: by reason of the multitude of thy iniquities, thy sins +are hardened. + +30:15. Why criest thou for thy affliction? thy sorrow is incurable: for +the multitude of thy iniquity, and for thy hardened sins I have done +these things to thee. + +30:16. Therefore all they that devour thee, shall be devoured: and all +thy enemies shall be carried into captivity: and they that waste thee +shall be wasted, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. + +30:17. For I will close up thy scar, and will heal thee of thy wounds, +saith the Lord. Because they have called thee, O Sion, an outcast: This +is she that hath none to seek after her. + +30:18. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring back the captivity of +the pavilions of Jacob, and will have pity on his houses, and the city +shall be built in her high place, and the temple shall be founded +according to the order thereof. + +30:19. And out of them shall come forth praise, and the voice of them +that play: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be made few: +and I will glorify them, and they shall not be lessened. + +30:20. And their children shall be as from the beginning, and their +assembly shall be permanent before me: and I will visit against all +that afflict them. + +30:21. And their leader shall be of themselves: and their prince shall +come forth from the midst of them: and I will bring him near, and he +shall come to me: for who is this that setteth his heart to approach to +me, saith the Lord? + +30:22. And you shall be my people: and I will be your God. + +30:23. Behold the whirlwind of the Lord, his fury going forth, a +violent storm, it shall rest upon the head of the wicked. + +30:24. The Lord will not turn away the wrath of his indignation, till +he have executed and performed the thought of his heart: in the latter +days you shall understand these things. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 31 + + +The restoration of Israel. Rachel shall cease from morning. The new +covenant. The church shall never fail. + +31:1. At that time, saith the Lord, I will be the God of all the +families of Israel, and they shall be my people. + +31:2. Thus saith the Lord: The people that were left and escaped from +the sword, found grace in the desert: Israel shall go to his rest. + +31:3. The Lord hath appeared from afar to me. Yea I have loved thee +with an everlasting love, therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on +thee. + +31:4. And I will build thee again, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of +Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy timbrels, and shalt go +forth in the dances of them that make merry. + +31:5. Thou shalt yet plant vineyards in the mountains of Samaria: the +planters shall plant, and they shall not gather the vintage before the +time. + +31:6. For there shall be a day, in which the watchmen on mount Ephraim, +shall cry: Arise, and let us go up to Sion to the Lord our God. + +31:7. For thus saith the Lord: Rejoice ye in the joy of Jacob, and +neigh before the head of the Gentiles: shout ye, and sing, and say: +Save, O Lord, thy people, the remnant of Israel. + +31:8. Behold I will bring them from the north country, and will gather +them from the ends of the earth and among them shall be the blind, and +the lame, the woman with child, and she that is bringing forth, +together, a great company of them returning hither. + +31:9. They shall come with weeping: and I will bring them back in +mercy: and I will bring them through the torrents of waters in a right +way, and they shall not stumble in it: for I am a father to Israel, and +Ephraim is my firstborn. + +31:10. Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the +islands that are afar off, and say: He that scattered Israel will +gather him: and he will keep him as the shepherd doth his flock. + +31:11. For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and delivered him out of the +hand of one that was mightier than he. + +31:12. And they shall come, and shall give praise in mount Sion: and +they shall flow together to the good things of the Lord, for the corn, +and wine, and oil, and the increase of cattle and herds, and their soul +shall be as a watered garden, and they shall be hungry no more. + +31:13. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, the young men and +old men together: and I will turn their mourning into joy, and will +comfort them, and make them joyful after their sorrow. + +31:14. And I will fill the soul of the priests with fatness: and my +people shall be filled with my good things, saith the Lord. + +31:15. Thus saith the Lord: A voice was heard on high of lamentation, +of mourning, and weeping, of Rachel weeping for her children and +refusing to be comforted for them, because they are not. + +31:16. Thus saith the Lord: Let thy voice cease from weeping, and thy +eyes tears: for there is a reward for thy work, saith the Lord: and +they shall return out of the land of the enemy. + +31:17. And there is hope for thy last end, saith the Lord: and the +children shall return to their own borders. + +31:18. Hearing I heard Ephraim when he went into captivity: thou hast +chastised me, and I was instructed, as a young bullock unaccustomed to +the yoke. Convert me, and I shall be converted, for thou art the Lord +my God. + +31:19. For after thou didst convert me, I did penance: and after thou +didst shew unto me, I struck my thigh: I am confounded and ashamed, +because I have borne the reproach of my youth. + +31:20. Surely Ephraim is an honourable son to me, surely he is a tender +child: for since I spoke of him, I will still remember him. Therefore +are my bowels troubled for him: pitying I will pity him, saith the +Lord. + +31:21. Set thee up a watchtower, make to thee bitterness: direct thy +heart into the right way, wherein thou hast walked: return, O virgin of +Israel, return to these thy cities. + +31:22. How long wilt thou be dissolute in deliciousness, O wandering +daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing upon the earth: A WOMAN +SHALL COMPASS A MAN. + +31:23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: As yet shall +they say this word in the land of Juda, and in the cities thereof, when +I shall bring back their captivity: The Lord bless thee, the beauty of +justice, the holy mountain. + +31:24. And Juda and all his cities shall dwell therein together: the +husbandman and they that drive the flocks. + +31:25. For I have inebriated the weary soul: and I have filled every +hungry soul. + +31:26. Upon this I was as it were awaked out of a sleep, and I saw, and +my sleep was sweet to me. + +31:27. Behold the days come, saith the Lord: and I will sow the house +of Israel and the house of Juda with the seed of men, and with the seed +of beasts. + +31:28. And as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to throw down, +and to scatter, and destroy, and afflict: so will I watch over them, to +build up, and to plant them, saith the Lord. + +31:29. In those days they shall say no more: The fathers have eaten a +sour grape, and the teeth of the children are set on edge. + +31:30. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that +shall eat the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. + +31:31. Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and I will make a +new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: + +31:32. Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, +in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land +of Egypt, the covenant which they made void, and I had dominion over +them, saith the Lord. + +31:33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house +of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my law in +their bowels, and I will write it in their heart: and I will be their +God, and they shall be my people. + +31:34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every +man his brother, saying: Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the +least of them even to the greatest, saith the Lord: for I will forgive +their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. + +31:35. Thus saith the Lord, who giveth the sun for the light of the +day, the order of the moon and of the stars, for the light of the +night: who stirreth up the sea, and the waves thereof roar, the Lord of +hosts is his name. + +31:36. If these ordinances shall fail before me, saith the Lord: then +also the seed of Israel shall fail, so as not to be a nation before me +for ever. + +31:37. Thus saith the Lord: If the heavens above can be measured, and +the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I also will cast +away all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the +Lord. + +31:38. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be +built to the Lord from the tower of Hanameel even to the gate of the +corner. + +31:39. And the measuring line shall go out farther in his sight upon +the hill Gareb: and it shall compass Goatha, + +31:40. And the whole valley of dead bodies, and of ashes, and all the +country of death, even to the torrent Cedron, and to the corner of the +horse gate towards the east, the Holy of the Lord: it shall not be +plucked up, and it shall not be destroyed any more for ever. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 32 + + +Jeremias by God's commandment purchases a field of his kinsman: and +prophesies the return of the people out of captivity: and the +everlasting covenant God will make with his church. + +32:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord in the tenth year of +Sedecias king of Juda: the same is the eighteenth year of +Nabuchodonosor. + +32:2. At that time the army of the king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem: +and Jeremias the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which +was in the house of the king of Juda. + +32:3. For Sedecias king of Juda had shut him up, saying: Why dost thou +prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will give this city +into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it? + +32:4. And Sedecias king of Juda shall not escape out of the hand of the +Chaldeans: but he shall be delivered into the hands of the king of +Babylon: and he shall speak to him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall +see his eyes. + +32:5. And he shall lead Sedecias to Babylon: and he shall be there till +I visit him, saith the Lord. But if you will fight against the +Chaldeans, you shall have no success. + +32:6. And Jeremias said: The word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +32:7. Behold, Hanameel the son of Sellum thy cousin shall come to thee, +saying: Buy thee my field, which is in Anathoth, for it is thy right to +buy it, being next akin. + +32:8. And Hanameel my uncle's son came to me, according to the word of +the Lord, to the entry of the prison, and said to me: Buy my field, +which is in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: for the right of +inheritance is thine, and thou art next of kin to possess it. And I +understood that this was the word of the Lord. + +32:9. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that is in +Anathoth: and I weighed him the money, seven staters, and ten pieces of +silver. + +32:10. And I wrote it in a book and sealed it, and took witnesses: and +I weighed him the money in the balances. + +32:11. And I took the deed of the purchase that was sealed, and the +stipulations, and the ratifications with the seals that were on the +outside. + +32:12. And I gave the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neri +the son of Maasias in the sight of Hanameel my uncle's son, in the +presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, and +before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. + +32:13. And I charged Baruch before them, saying: + +32:14. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Take these +writings, this deed of the purchase that is sealed up, and this deed +that is open: and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue +many days. + +32:15. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Houses, and +fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. + +32:16. And after I had delivered the deed of purchase to Baruch the son +of Neri, I prayed to the Lord, saying: + +32:17. Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, behold thou hast made heaven and +earth by thy great power, and thy stretched out arm: no word shall be +hard to thee: + +32:18. Thou shewest mercy unto thousands, and returnest the iniquity of +the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: O most mighty, +great, and powerful, the Lord of hosts is thy name. + +32:19. Great in counsel, and incomprehensible in thought: whose eyes +are open upon all the ways of the children of Adam, to render unto +every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his +devices. + +32:20. Who hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt even until +this day, and in Israel, and amongst men, and hast made thee a name as +at this day. + +32:21. And hast brought forth thy people Israel, out of the land of +Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and a +stretched out arm, and with great terror. + +32:22. And hast given them this land which thou didst swear to their +fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. + +32:23. And they came in, and possessed it: but they obeyed not thy +voice, and they walked not in thy law: and they did not any of those +things that thou didst command them to do, and all these evils are come +upon them. + +32:24. Behold works are built up against the city to take it: and the +city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans, who fight against it, by +the sword, and the famine, and the pestilence: and what thou hast +spoken, is all come to pass, as thou thyself seest. + +32:25. And sayest thou to me, O Lord God: Buy a field for money, and +take witnesses, whereas the city is given into the hands of the +Chaldeans? + +32:26. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: + +32:27. Behold I am the Lord the God of all flesh: shall any thing be +hard for me? + +32:28. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will deliver this city +into the hands of the Chaldeans, and into the hands of the king of +Babylon, and they shall take it. + +32:29. And the Chaldeans that fight against this city, shall come and +set it on fire, and burn it, with the houses upon whose roofs they +offered sacrifice to Baal, and poured out drink offerings to strange +gods, to provoke me to wrath. + +32:30. For the children of Israel, and the children of Juda, have +continually done evil in my eyes from their youth: the children of +Israel who even till now provoke me with the work of their hands, saith +the Lord. + +32:31. For this city hath been to me a provocation and indignation from +the day that they built it, until this day, in which it shall be taken +out of my sight. + +32:32. Because of all the evil of the children of Israel, and of the +children of Juda, which they have done, provoking me to wrath, they and +their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, the +men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. + +32:33. And they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces: +when I taught them early in the morning, and instructed them, and they +would not hearken to receive instruction. + +32:34. And they have set their idols in the house, in which my name is +called upon, to defile it. + +32:35. And they have built the high places of Baal, which are in the +valley of the son of Ennom, to consecrate their sons and their +daughters to Moloch: which I commanded them not, neither entered it +into my heart, that they should do this abomination, and cause Juda to +sin. + +32:36. And now, therefore, thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to +this city, whereof you say that it shall be delivered into the hands of +the king of Babylon by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: + +32:37. Behold I will gather them together out of all the lands to which +I have cast them out in my anger, and in my wrath, and in my great +indignation: and I will bring them again into this place, and will +cause them to dwell securely. + +32:38. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. + +32:39. And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear +me all days: and that it may be well with them, and with their children +after them. + +32:40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, and will not +cease to do them good: and I will give my fear in their heart, that +they may not revolt from me. + +32:41. And I will rejoice over them, when I shall do them good: and I +will plant them in this land in truth, with my whole heart, and with +all my soul. + +32:42. For thus saith the Lord: As I have brought upon this people all +this great evil: so will I bring upon them all the good that I now +speak to them. + +32:43. And fields shall be purchased in this land: whereof you say that +it is desolate, because there remaineth neither man nor beast, and it +is given into the hands of the Chaldeans. + +32:44. Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be written, +and sealed, and witnesses shall be taken, in the land of Benjamin, and +round about Jerusalem, in the cities of Juda, and in the cities on the +mountains, and in the cities of the plains, and in the cities that are +towards the south: for I will bring back their captivity, saith the +Lord. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 33 + + +God promises reduction from captivity, and other blessings: especially +the coming of Christ, whose reign in his church shall be glorious and +perpetual. + +33:1. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the second time, while +he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying: + +33:2. Thus saith the Lord, who will do, and will form it, and prepare +it, the Lord is his name. + +33:3. Cry to me and I will hear thee: and I will shew thee great +things, and sure things which thou knowest not. + +33:4. For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the houses of this +city, and to the houses of the king of Juda, which are destroyed, and +to the bulwarks, and to the sword. + +33:5. Of them that come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them +with the dead bodies of the men whom I have slain in my wrath, and in +my indignation, hiding my face from this city because of all their +wickedness. + +33:6. Behold I will close their wounds and give them health, and I will +cure them: and I will reveal to them the prayer of peace and truth. + +The prayer of peace. . .That is, the peace and welfare which they pray +for. + +33:7. And I will bring back the captivity of Juda, and the captivity of +Jerusalem: and I will build them as from the beginning. + +33:8. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they +have sinned against me: and I will forgive all their iniquities, +whereby they have sinned against me, and despised me. + +33:9. And it shall be to me a name, and a joy, and a praise, and a +gladness before all the nations of the earth, that shall hear of all +the good things which I will do to them: and they shall fear and be +troubled for all the good things, and for all the peace that I will +make for them. + +33:10. Thus saith the Lord: There shall be heard again in this place +(which you say is desolate, because there is neither man nor beast: in +the cities of Juda, and without Jerusalem, which are desolate without +man, and without inhabitant, and without beast) + +33:11. The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the +bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall +say: Give ye glory to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his +mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring their vows into +the house of the Lord: for I will bring back the captivity of the land +as at the first, saith the Lord. + +33:12. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: There shall be again in this place +that is desolate without man, and without beast, and in all the cities +thereof, an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. + +33:13. And in the cities on the mountains, and in the cities of the +plains, and in the cities that are towards the south: and in the land +of Benjamin, and round about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda shall +the flocks pass again under the hand of him that numbereth them, saith +the Lord. + +33:14. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the +good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house +of Juda. + +33:15. In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice +to spring forth unto David, and he shall do judgment and justice in the +earth. + +33:16. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell +securely: and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord our +just one. + +33:17. For thus saith the Lord: There shall not be cut off from David a +man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel. + +There shall not be cut off from David, etc. . .This was verified in +Christ, who is of the house of David; and whose kingdom in his church +shall have no end. + +33:18. Neither shall there be cut off from the priests and Levites a +man before my face to offer holocausts, and to burn sacrifices, and to +kill victims continually. + +Neither shall there be cut off from the priests, etc. . .This promise +relates to the Christian priesthood; which shall also continue for +ever: the functions of which (more especially the great sacrifice of +the altar) are here expressed by the name of holocausts, and other +offerings of the law, which were so many figures of the Christian +sacrifice. + +33:19. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: + +33:20. Thus saith the Lord: if my covenant, with the day can be made +void, and my covenant with the night, that there should not be day and +night in their season: + +33:21. Also my covenant with David my servant may be made void, that he +should not have a son to reign upon his throne, and with the Levites +and priests my ministers. + +33:22. As the stars of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the +sea be measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and +the Levites my ministers. + +33:23. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: + +33:24. Hast thou not seen what this people hath spoken, saying: The two +families which the Lord had chosen, are cast off: and they have +despised my people, so that it is no more a nation before them? + +Two families, etc. . .Viz., the families of the kings and priests. + +33:25. Thus saith the Lord. If I have not set my covenant between day +and night, and laws to heaven and earth: + +33:26. Surely I will also cast off the seed of Jacob, and of David my +servant, so as not to take any of his seed to be rulers of the seed of +Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will bring back their captivity, and +will have mercy on them. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 34 + + +The prophet foretells that Sedecias shall fall into the hands of +Nabuchodonosor: God's sentence upon the princes and people that had +broken his covenant. + +34:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, when Nabuchodonosor +king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth, +that were under the power of his hand, and all the people fought +against Jerusalem and against all the cities thereof, saying: + +34:2. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Go, and speak to Sedecias +king of Juda, and say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will +deliver this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall +burn it with fire. + +34:3. And thou shalt not escape out of his hand: but thou shalt surely +be taken, and thou shalt be delivered into his hand: and thy eyes shall +see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak with thy +mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. + +34:4. Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Sedecias king of Juda: Thus +saith the Lord to thee: Thou shalt not die by the sword. + +34:5. But thou shalt die in peace, and according to the burnings of thy +fathers, the former kings that were before thee, so shall they burn +thee: and they shall mourn for thee, saying: Alas, Lord: for I have +spoken the word, saith the Lord. + +Die in peace. . .That is, by a natural death. + +34:6. And Jeremias the prophet spoke all these words to Sedecias the +king of Juda in Jerusalem. + +34:7. And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem, and +against all the cities of Juda that were left, against Lachis, and +against Azecha: for these remained of the cities of Juda, fenced +cities. + +34:8. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, after that king +Sedecias had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem making a +proclamation: + +34:9. That every man should let his manservant, and every man his +maidservant, being Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, go free: and that they +should not lord it over them, to wit, over the Jews their brethren. + +34:10. And all the princes, and all the people who entered into the +covenant, heard that every man should let his manservant, and every man +his maidservant go free, and should no more have dominion over them: +and they obeyed, and let them go free. + +34:11. But afterwards they turned: and brought back again their +servants and their handmaids, whom they had let go free, and brought +them into subjection as menservants and maidservants. + +34:12. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying: + +34:13. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: I made a covenant with +your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, +out of the house of bondage, saying: + +34:14. At the end of seven years, let ye go every man his brother being +a Hebrew, who hath been sold to thee, so he shall serve thee six years: +and thou shalt let him go free from thee: and your fathers did not +hearken to me, nor did they incline their ear. + +34:15. And you turned to day, and did that which was right in my eyes, +in proclaiming liberty every one to his brother: and you made a +covenant in my sight, in the house upon which my name is invocated. + +34:16. And you are fallen back, and have defiled my name: and you have +brought back again every man his manservant, and every man his +maidservant, whom you had let go free, and set at liberty: and you have +brought them into subjection to be your servants and handmaids. + +34:17. Therefore thus saith the Lord: You have not hearkened to me, in +proclaiming liberty every man to his brother and every man to his +friend: behold I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the +sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine: and I will cause you to be +removed to all the kingdoms of the earth. + +34:18. And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, and +have not performed the words of the covenant which they agreed to in my +presence, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts +thereof: + +34:19. The princes of Juda, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, +and the priests, and all the people of the land that passed between the +parts of the calf: + +34:20. And I will give them into the hands of their enemies, and into +the hands of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be +for meat to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the earth. + +34:21. And Sedecias the king of Juda, and his princes, I will give into +the hands of their enemies, and into the hands of them that seek their +lives, and into the hands of the armies of the king of Babylon, which +are gone from you. + +34:22. Behold I will command, saith the Lord, and I will bring them +again to this city, and they shall fight against it, and take it, and +burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Juda a desolation, +without an inhabitant. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 35 + + +The obedience of the Rechabites condemns the disobedience of the Jews. +The reward of the Rechabites. + +35:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord in the days of +Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, saying: + +35:2. Go to the house of the Rechabites: and speak to them, and bring +them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers of the +treasures, and thou shalt give them wine to drink. + +Rechabites. . .These were of the race of Jethro, father in law to Moses. + +35:3. And I took Jezonias the son of Jeremias the son of Habsanias, and +his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites. + +35:4. And I brought them into the house of the Lord, to the treasure +house of the sons of Hanan, the son of Jegedelias the man of God, which +was by the treasure house of the princes, above the treasure of Maasias +the son of Sellum, who was keeper of the entry. + +35:5. And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots +full of wine, and cups: and I said to them: Drink ye wine. + +35:6. And they answered : We will not drink wine: because Jonadab the +son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying: You shall drink no +wine, neither you, nor your children, for ever: + +35:7. Neither shall ye build houses, nor sow reed, nor plant vineyards, +nor have any: but you shall dwell in tents all your days, that you may +live many days upon the face of the earth, in which you are strangers. + +35:8. Therefore we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, +our father, in all things that he commanded us: so as to drink no wine +all our days: neither we, nor our wives, nor our sons, nor our +daughters: + +35:9. Nor to build houses to dwell in, nor to have vineyard, or field, +or seed: + +35:10. But we have dwelt in tents, and have been obedient according to +all that Jonadab our father commanded us. + +35:11. But when Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon came up to our land, we +said: Come, let us go into Jerusalem from the face of the army of the +Chaldeans, and from the face of the army of Syria: and we have remained +in Jerusalem. + +35:12. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying: + +35:13. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Go, and say to +the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Will you not +receive instruction, to obey my words, saith the Lord? + +35:14. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, by which he commanded +his sons not to drink wine, have prevailed: and they have drunk none to +this day, because they have obeyed the commandment of their father: but +I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, and you have not +obeyed me. + +35:15. And I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising +early, and sending and saying: Return ye every man from his wicked way, +and make your ways good: and follow not strange gods, nor worship them, +and you shall dwell in the land, which I gave you and your fathers: and +you have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened to me. + +35:16. So the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have constantly kept +the commandment of their father, which he commanded them: but this +people hath not obeyed me. + +35:17. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold +I will bring upon Juda, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all +the evil that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to +them, and they have not heard: I have called to them, and they have not +answered me. + +35:18. And Jeremias said to the house of the Rechabites: Thus saith the +Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the +commandment of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his precepts, and +have done all that he commanded you: + +35:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: There +shall not be wanting a man of the race of Jonadab the son of Rechab, +standing before me for ever. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 36 + + +Jeremias sends Baruch to read his prophecies in the temple; the book is +brought to king Joakim, who burns it. The prophet denounces his +judgment, and causes Baruch to write a new copy. + +36:1. And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of +Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremias by the Lord, +saying: + +36:2. Take thee a roll of a book, and thou shalt write in it all the +words that I have spoken to thee against Israel and Juda, and against +all the nations from the day that I spoke to thee, from the days of +Josias even to this day. + +36:3. If so be, when the house of Juda shall hear all the evils that I +purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his wicked +way: and I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin. + +36:4. So Jeremias called Baruch the son of Nerias: and Baruch wrote +from the mouth of Jeremias all the words of the Lord, which he spoke to +him, upon the roll of a book. + +36:5. And Jeremias commanded Baruch, saying: I am shut up, and cannot +go into the house of the Lord. + +Shut up. . .Not that the prophet was now in prison; for the contrary +appears from ver. 19, but that he kept himself shut up, by reason of +the persecutions he had lately met with. See chap. 26. + +36:6. Go thou in therefore, and read out of the volume, which thou hast +written from my mouth, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of all the +people in the house of the Lord on the fasting day: and also thou shalt +read them in the hearing of all Juda that come out of their cities: + +36:7. If so be they may present their supplication before the Lord, and +may return every one from his wicked way: for great is the wrath and +indignation which the Lord hath pronounced against this people. + +36:8. And Baruch the son of Nerias did according to all that Jeremias +the prophet ,had commanded him, reading out of the volume the words of +the Lord in the house of the Lord. + +36:9. And it came to pass in the fifth year of Joakim the son of Josias +king of Juda, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before +the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that +were come together out of the cities of Juda to Jerusalem. + +36:10. And Baruch read out of the volume the words of Jeremias in the +house of the Lord, in the treasury of Gamarias the son of Saphan the +scribe, in the upper court, in the entry of the new gate of the house +of the Lord, in the hearing of all the people. + +36:11. And when Micheas the son of Gamarias the son of Saphan had heard +out of the book all the words of the Lord, + +36:12. He went down into the king's house to the secretary's chamber: +and behold all the princes sat there, Elisama the scribe, and Dalaias +the son of Semeias, and Elnathan the son of Achobor, and Gamarias the +son of Saphan, and Sedecias the son of Hananias, and all the princes. + +36:13. And Micheas told them all the words that he had heard when +Baruch read out of the volume in the hearing of the people. + +36:14. Therefore all the princes sent Judi the son of Nathanias, the +son of Selemias, the son of Chusi, to Baruch, saying: Take in thy hand +the volume in which thou hast read in the hearing of the people, and +come. So Baruch the son of Nerias took the volume in his hand, and came +to them. + +36:15. And they said to him: Sit down and read these things in our +hearing. And Baruch read in their hearing. + +36:16. And when they had heard all the words, they looked upon one +another with astonishment, and they said to Baruch: We must tell the +king all these words. + +36:17. And they asked him, saying: Tell us how didst thou write all +these words from his mouth. + +36:18. And Baruch said to them: With his mouth he pronounced all these +words as if he were reading to me: and I wrote in a volume with ink. + +36:19. And the princes said to Baruch: Go, and hide thee, both thou and +Jeremias, and let no man know where you are. + +36:20. And they went in to the king into the court: but they laid up +the volume in the chamber of Elisama the scribe: and they told all the +words in the hearing of the king. + +36:21. And the king sent Judi that he should take the volume: who +bringing it out of the chamber of Elisama the scribe, read it in the +hearing of the king, and of all the princes that stood about the king. + +36:22. Now the king sat in the winter house, in the ninth month: and +there was a hearth before him full of burning coals. + +36:23. And when Judi had read three or four pages, he cut it with the +penknife, and he cast it into the fire, that was upon the hearth, till +all the volume was consumed with the fire that was on the hearth. + +36:24. And the king and all his servants that heard all these words +were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments. + +36:25. But yet Elnathan, and Dalaias, and Gamarias spoke to the king, +not to burn the book: and he heard them not. + +36:26. And the king commanded Jeremiel the son of Amelech, and Saraias +the son of Ezriel, and Selemias the son of Abdeel, to take up Baruch +the scribe, and Jeremias the prophet: but the Lord hid them. + +36:27. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the prophet, after +that the king had burnt the volume, and the words that Baruch had +written from the mouth of Jeremias, saying: + +36:28. Take thee again another volume: and write in it all the former +words that were in the first volume which Joakim the king of Juda both +burnt. + +36:29. And thou shalt say to Joakim the king of Juda: Thus saith the +Lord: Thou hast burnt that volume, saying: Why hast thou written +therein, and said: The king of Babylon shall come speedily, and shall +lay waste this land: and shall cause to cease from thence man and +beast? + +36:30. Therefore thus saith the Lord against Joakim the king of Juda: +He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body +shall be cast out to the heat by day, and to the frost by night. + +He shall have none, etc. . .Because his son Joachin or Jechonias, within +three months after the death of his father, was carried away to +Babylon, so that his reign is not worthy of notice. + +36:31. And I will punish him, and his seed and his servants, for their +iniquities, and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, and upon the men of Juda all the evil that I have pronounced +against them, but they have not heard. + +36:32. And Jeremias took another volume, and gave it to Baruch the son +of Nerias the scribe: who wrote in it from the mouth of Jeremias all +the words of the book which Joakim the king of Juda had burnt with +fire: and there were added besides many more words than had been +before. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 37 + + +Jeremias prophesies that the Chaldeans, who had departed from +Jerusalem, would return and burn the city. He is cast into prison. His +conference with Sedecias. + +37:1. Now king Sedecias the son of Josias reigned instead of Jechonias +the son of Joakim: whom Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon made king in the +land of Juda. + +37:2. But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land did +obey the words of the Lord, that he spoke in the hand of Jeremias the +prophet. + +37:3. And king Sedecias sent Juchal the son of Selemias, and Sophonias +the son of Maasias the priest to Jeremias the prophet, saying: Pray to +the Lord our God for us. + +37:4. Now Jeremias walked freely in the midst of the people: for they +had not as yet cast him into prison. And the army of Pharao was come +out of Egypt: and the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem, hearing these +tidings, departed from Jerusalem. + +37:5. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the prophet, saying: + +37:6. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the +king of Juda, who sent you to inquire of me: Behold the army of Pharao, +which is come forth to help you, shall return into their own land, into +Egypt. + +37:7. And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, +and take it, and burn it with fire. + +37:8. Thus saith the Lord: Deceive not your souls, saying: The +Chaldeans shall surely depart and go away from us: for they shall not +go away. + +37:9. But if you should even beat all the army of the Chaldeans that +fight against you, and there should be left of them some wounded men: +they shall rise up, every man from his heart, and burn this city with +fire. + +37:10. Now when the army of the Chaldeans was gone away from Jerusalem, +because of Pharao's army, + +37:11. Jeremias went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of +Benjamin: and to divide a possession there in the presence of the +citizens, + +37:12. And when he was come to the gate of Benjamin, the captain of the +gate, who was there in his turn, was one named Jerias, the son of +Selemias, the son of Hananias: and he took hold of Jeremias the +prophet, saying: Thou art fleeing to the Chaldeans. + +37:13. And Jeremias answered: It is not so, I am not fleeing to the +Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Jerias took Jeremias and +brought him to the princes. + +37:14. Wherefore the princes were angry with Jeremias, and they beat +him, and cast him into the prison that was in the house of Jonathan the +scribe: for he was chief over the prison. + +37:15. So Jeremias went into the house of the prison, and into the +dungeon: and Jeremias remained there many days. + +37:16. Then Sedecias the king, sending, took him: and asked him +secretly in his house, and said: Is there, thinkest thou, any word from +the Lord? And Jeremias said. There is. And he said: Thou shalt be +delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon. + +37:17. And Jeremias said to king Sedecias: In what have I offended +against thee, or thy servants, or thy people, that thou hast cast me +into prison? + +37:18. Where are your prophets that prophesied to you, and said: The +king of Babylon shall not come against you, and against this land? + +37:19. Now therefore hear, I beseech thee, my lord the king: let my +petition be accepted in thy sight: and send me not back into the house +of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. + +37:20. Then king Sedecias commanded that Jeremias should be committed +into the entry of the prison: and that they should give him daily a +piece of bread, beside broth, till all the bread in the city were +spent: and Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 38 + + +The prophet at the instance of the great men is cast into a filthy +dungeon: he is drawn out by Abdemelech, and has another conference with +the king. + +38:1. Now Saphatias the son of Mathan, and Gedelias the son of Phassur, +and Juchal the son of Selemias, and Phassur the son of Melchias heard +the words that Jeremias spoke to all the people, saying: + +38:2. Thus saith the Lord: Whosoever shall remain in this city, shall +die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: but he that shall +go forth to the Chaldeans, shall live, and his life shall be safe, and +he shall live. + +38:3. Thus saith the Lord: This city shall surely be delivered into the +hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it. + +38:4. And the princes said to the king. We beseech thee that this man +may be put to death: for on purpose he weakeneth the hands of the men +of war, that remain in this city, and the hands of the people, speaking +to them according to these words: for this man seeketh not peace to +this people, but evil. + +38:5. And king Sedecias said: Behold he is in your hands: for it is not +lawful for the king to deny you any thing. + +38:6. Then they took Jeremias and cast him into the dungeon of Melchias +the son of Amelech, which was in the entry of the prison: and they let +down Jeremias by ropes into the dungeon, wherein there was no water, +but mire. And Jeremias sunk into the mire. + +38:7. Now Abdemelech the Ethiopian, an eunuch that was in the king's +house, heard that they had put Jeremias in the dungeon: but the king +was sitting in the gate of Benjamin. + +38:8. And Abdemelech went out of the king's house, and spoke to the +king, saying: + +38:9. My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have +done against Jeremias the prophet, casting him into the dungeon to die +there with hunger, for there is no more bread in the city. + +38:10. Then the king commanded Abdemelech the Ethiopian, saying: Take +from hence thirty men with thee, and draw up Jeremias the prophet out +of the dungeon, before he die. + +38:11. So Abdemelech taking the men with him, went into the king's +house that was under the storehouse: and he took from thence old rags, +and old rotten things, and he let them down by cords to Jeremias into +the dungeon. + +38:12. And Abdemelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremias: Put these old +rags and these rent and rotten things under thy arms, and upon the +cords: and Jeremias did so. + +38:13. And they drew up Jeremias with the cords, and brought him forth +out of the dungeon. And Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison. + +38:14. And king Sedecias sent, and took Jeremias the prophet to him to +the third gate, that was in the house of the Lord: and the king said to +Jeremias: I will ask thee a thing, hide nothing from me. + +38:15. Then Jeremias said to Sedecias: If I shall declare it to thee, +wilt thou not put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt +not hearken to me. + +38:16. Then king Sedecias swore to Jeremias, in private, saying: As the +Lord liveth, that, made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, nor +will I deliver thee into the hands of these men that seek thy life. + +38:17. And Jeremias said to Sedecias: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the +God of Israel: If thou wilt take a resolution and go out to the princes +of the king of Babylon, thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be +burnt with fire: and thou shalt be safe, and thy house. + +38:18. But if thou wilt not go out to the princes of the king of +Babylon, this city shall be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans, +and they shall burn it with fire: and thou shalt not escape out of +their hand. + +38:19. And king Sedecias said to Jeremias: I am afraid because of the +Jews that are fled over to the Chaldeans: lest I should be delivered +into their hands, and they should abuse me. + +38:20. But Jeremias answered: They shall not deliver thee: hearken, I +beseech thee, to the word of the Lord, which I speak to the, and it +shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live. + +38:21. But if thou wilt not go forth, this is the word which the Lord +hath shewn me: + +38:22. Behold all the women that are left in the house of the king of +Juda, shall be brought out to the princes of the king of Babylon: and +they shall say: Thy men of peace have deceived thee, and have prevailed +against thee, they have plunged thy feet in the mire, and in a slippery +place and they have departed from thee. + +Thy men of peace. . .Viri pacifici tui. That is thy false friends +promising thee peace and happiness, and by their evil counsels +involving thee in misery. + +38:23. And all thy wives, and thy children shall be brought out to the +Chaldeans, and thou shalt not escape their hands, but thou shalt be +taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and he shall burn this city +with fire. + +38:24. Then Sedecias said to Jeremias: Let no man know these words, and +thou shalt not die. + +38:25. But if the princes shall hear that I have spoken with thee, and +shall come to thee, and say to thee: Tell us what thou hast said to the +king, hide it not from us, and we will not kill thee: and also what the +king said to thee: + +38:26. Thou shalt say to them: I presented my supplication before the +king, that he would not command me to be carried back into the house of +Jonathan, to die there. + +38:27. So all the princes came to Jeremias, and asked him: and he spoke +to them according to all the words that the king had commanded him: and +they left him: for nothing had been heard. + +38:28. But Jeremias remained in the entry of the prison, until the day +that Jerusalem was taken: and it came to pass that Jerusalem was taken. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 39 + + +After two years' siege Jerusalem is taken. Sedecias is carried before +Nabuchodonosor, who kills his sons in his sight, and then puts out his +eyes. Jeremias is set at liberty. + +39:1. In the ninth year of Sedecias king of Juda, in the tenth month, +came Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and all his army to Jerusalem, and +they besieged it. + +39:2. And in the eleventh year of Sedecias, in the fourth month, the +fifth day of the month, the city was opened. + +39:3. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in +the middle gate: Neregel, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsares, +Neregel, Serezer, Rebmag, and all the rest of the princes of the king +of Babylon. + +39:4. And when Sedecias the king of Juda and all the men of war saw +them, they fled: and they went forth in the night out of the city by +the way of the king's garden, and by the gate that was between the two +walls, and they went out to the way of the desert. + +39:5. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them: and they took +Sedecias in the plain of the desert of Jericho, and when they had taken +him, they brought him to Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon to Reblatha, +which is in the land of Emath: and he gave judgment upon him. + +39:6. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Sedecias, in Reblatha, +before his eyes: and the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Juda. + +39:7. He also put out the eyes of Sedecias: and bound him with fetters, +to be carried to Babylon. + +39:8. And the Chaldeans burnt the king's house, and the houses of the +people with fire, and they threw down the wall of Jerusalem. + +39:9. And Nabuzardan the general of the army carried away captive to +Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and the +fugitives that had gone over to him, and the rest of the people that +remained. + +39:10. But Nabuzardan the general left some of the poor people that had +nothing at all, in the land of Juda, and he gave them vineyards, and +cisterns at that time. + +39:11. Now Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had given charge to +Nabuzardan the general concerning Jeremias, saying: + +39:12. Take him, and set thy eyes upon him, and do him no harm: but as +he hath a mind, so do with him. + +39:13. Therefore Nabuzardan the general sent, and Nabuzardan, and +Rabsares, and Neregel, and Sereser, and Rebmag, and all the nobles of +the king of Babylon, + +39:14. Sent and took Jeremias out of the court of the prison, and +committed him to Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, that he +might go home, and dwell among the people. + +39:15. But the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, when he was yet shut +up in the court of the prison, saying: Go, and tell Abdemelech the +Ethiopian, saying: + +39:16. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will +bring my words upon this city unto evil, and not unto good: and they +shall be accomplished in thy sight in that day. + +39:17. And I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord: and thou +shalt not be given into the hands of the men whom thou fearest: + +39:18. But delivering, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by +the sword: but thy life shall be saved for thee, because thou hast put +thy trust in me, saith the Lord. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 40 + + +Jeremias remains with Godolias the governor; who receives all the Jews +that resort to him. + +40:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, after that +Nabuzardan the general had let him go from Rama, when he had taken him, +being bound with chains, among all them that were carried away from +Jerusalem and Juda, and were carried to Babylon. + +40:2. And the general of the army taking Jeremias, said to him: The +Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place, + +40:3. And he hath brought it: and the Lord hath done as he hath said: +because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not hearkened to his +voice, and this word is come upon you. + +40:4. Now then behold I have loosed thee this day from the chains which +were upon thy hands: if it please thee to come with me to Babylon, +come: and I will set my eyes upon thee: but if it do not please thee to +come with me to Babylon, stay here: behold all the land is before thee, +as thou shalt choose, and whither it shall please thee to go, thither +go. + +40:5. And come not with me: but dwell with Godolias the son of Ahicam +the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the +cities of Juda: dwell therefore with him in the midst of the people: or +whithersoever it shall please thee to go, go. And the general of the +army gave him victuals and presents, and let him go. + +40:6. And Jeremias went to Godolias the son of Ahicam to Masphath: and +dwelt with him in the midst of the people that were left in the land. + +40:7. And when all the captains of the army that were scattered through +the countries, they and their companions, had heard that the king of +Babylon had made Godolias the son of Ahicam governor of the country, +and that he had committed unto him men and women, and children, and of +the poor of the land, them that had not been carried away captive to +Babylon: + +40:8. They came to Godolias to Masphath: and Ismahel the son of +Nathanias, and Johanan, and Jonathan, the sons of Caree, and Sareas the +son of Thanehumeth, and the children of Ophi, that were of Netophathi, +and Jezonias the son of Maachati, they and their men. + +40:9. And Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan swore to them +and to their companions, saying: Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell +in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with +you. + +40:10. Behold I dwell in Masphath, that I may answer the commandment of +the Chaldeans that are sent to us: but as for you, gather ye the +vintage, and the harvest, and the oil, and lay it up in your vessels, +and abide in your cities which you hold. + +40:11. Moreover all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children +of Ammon, and in Edom, and in all the countries, when they heard that +the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judea, and that he had made +Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan ruler over them: + +40:12. All the Jews, I say, returned out of all the places to which +they had fled, and they came into the land of Juda to Godolias to +Masphath: and they gathered wine, and a very great harvest. + +40:13. Then Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the army, +that had been scattered about in the countries, came to Godolias to +Masphath. + +40:14. And they said to him: Know that Baalis the king of the children +of Ammon hath sent Ismahel the son of Nathanias to kill thee. And +Godolias the son of Ahicam believed them not. + +40:15. But Johanan the son of Caree, spoke to Godolias privately in +Masphath, saying: I will go, and I will kill Ismahel the son of +Nathanias, and no man shall know it, lest he kill thee, and all the +Jews be scattered, that are gathered unto thee, and the remnant of Juda +perish. + +40:16. And Godolias the son of Ahicam said to Johanan the son of Caree: +Do not this thing: for what thou sayst of Ismahel is false. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 41 + + +Godolias is slain: the Jews that were with him are apprehensive of the +Chaldeans. + +41:1. And it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ismahel the son of +Nathanias, the son of Elisama of the royal blood, and the nobles of the +king, and ten men with him, came to Godolias the son of Ahicam into +Masphath: and they ate bread there together in Masphath. + +41:2. And Ismahel the son of Nathanias arose, and the ten men that were +with him, and they struck Godolias the son of Ahicam, the son of Saphan +with the sword, and slew him whom the king of Babylon had made governor +over the land. + +41:3. Ismahel slew also all the Jews that were with Godolias in +Masphath, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the soldiers. + +41:4. And on the second day after he had killed Godolias, no man yet +knowing it, + +41:5. There came some from Sichem, and from Silo, and from Samaria, +fourscore men, with their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and +mourning: and they had offerings and incense in their hand, to offer in +the house of the Lord. + +41:6. And Ismahel the son of Nathanias went forth from Masphath to meet +them, weeping all along as he went: and when he had met them, he said +to them: Come to Godolias, the son of Ahicam. + +41:7. And when they were come to the midst of the city, Ismahel the son +of Nathanias, slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he +and the men that were with him. + +41:8. But ten men were found among them, that said to Ismahel: Kill us +not: for we have stores in the field, of wheat, and barley, and oil, +and honey. And he forbore, and slew them not with their brethren. + +41:9. And the pit into which Ismahel cast all the dead bodies of the +men whom he slew because of Godolias, is the same that king Asa made, +for fear of Baasa the king of Israel: the same did Ismahel the son of +Nathanias fill with them that were slain. + +41:10. Then Ismahel carried away captive all the remnant of the people +that were in Masphath: the king's daughters, and all the people that +remained in Masphath: whom Nabuzardan the general of the army had +committed to Godolias the son of Ahicam. And Ismahel the son of +Nathanias took them, and he departed, to go over to the children of +Ammon. + +41:11. But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the +fighting men that were with him, heard of the evil that Ismahel the son +of Nathanias had done. + +41:12. And taking all the men, they went out to fight against Ismahel +the son of Nathanias, and they found him by the great waters that are +in Gabaon. + +41:13. And when all the people that were with Ismahel, had seen Johanan +the son of Caree, and all the captains of the fighting men that were +with him, they rejoiced. + +41:14. And all the people whom Ismahel had taken, went back to +Masphath: and they returned and went to Johanan the son of Caree. + +41:15. But Ismahel the son of Nathanias fled with eight men, from the +face of Johanan, and went to the children of Ammon. + +41:16. Then Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the +soldiers that were with him, took all the remnant of the people whom +they had recovered from Ismahel the son of Nathanias, from Masphath, +after that he had slain Godolias the son of Ahicam: valiant men for +war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs whom he had +brought back from Gabaon. + +41:17. And they departed, and sat as sojourners in Chamaam, which is +near Bethlehem: in order to go forward, and enter into Egypt, + +41:18. From the face of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, +because Ismahel the son of Nathanias had slain Godolias the son of +Ahicam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor in the land of Juda. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 42 + + +Jeremias assures the remnant of the people, that if they will stay in +Juda, they shall be safe; but if they go down into Egypt, they shall +perish. + +42:1. Then all the captains of the warriors, and Johanan the son of +Caree, and Jezonias, the son of Osaias, and the rest of the people from +the least to the greatest came near: + +42:2. And they said to Jeremias the prophet: Let our supplication fall +before thee: and pray thou for us to the Lord thy God for all this +remnant, for we are left but a few of many, as thy eyes do behold us. + +42:3. And let the Lord thy God shew us the way by which we may walk, +and the thing that we must do. + +42:4. And Jeremias the prophet said to them: I have heard you: behold I +will pray to the Lord your God according to your words: and whatsoever +thing he shall answer me, I will declare it to you: and I will hide +nothing from you. + +42:5. And they said to Jeremias: The Lord be witness between us of +truth and faithfulness, if we do not according to every thing for which +the Lord thy God shall send thee to us. + +42:6. Whether it be good or evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord +our God, to whom we send thee: that it may be well with us when we +shall hearken to the voice of the Lord our God. + +Good or evil. . .That is, agreeable or disagreeable. + +42:7. Now after ten days, the word of the Lord came to Jeremias. + +42:8. And he called Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of +the fighting men that were with him, and all the people from the least +to the greatest. + +42:9. And he said to them: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel, to +whom you sent me, to present your supplications before him: + +42:10. If you will be quiet and remain in this land, I will build you +up, and not pull you down: I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for +now I am appeased for the evil that I have done to you. + +I am appeased for the evil that I have done to you. . .That is, I am +appeased, as I have sufficiently punished you, and now I am reconciled +with you. + +42:11. Fear not because of the king of Babylon, of whom you are greatly +afraid: fear him not, saith the Lord: for I am with you, to save you, +and to deliver you from his hand. + +42:12. And I will shew mercies to you, and will take pity on you, and +will cause you to dwell in your own land. + +42:13. But if you say: We will not dwell in this land, neither will we +hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, + +42:14. Saying: No, but we will go into the land of Egypt: where we +shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor suffer hunger: +and there we will dwell. + +42:15. For this now hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Juda: Thus +saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to go +into Egypt, and enter in to dwell there: + +42:16. The sword which you fear, shall overtake you there in the land +of Egypt: and the famine, whereof you are afraid, shall cleave to you +in Egypt, and there you shall die. + +42:17. And all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt, to dwell +there, shall die by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence: none +of them shall remain, nor escape from the face of the evil that I will +bring upon them. + +42:18. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: As my anger +and my indignation hath been kindled against the inhabitants of +Jerusalem: so shall my indignation be kindled against you, when you +shall enter into Egypt, and you shall be an execration, and an +astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach: and you shall see this place +no more. + +42:19. This is the word of the Lord concerning you, O ye remnant of +Juda: Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have adjured you this +day. + +42:20. For you have deceived your own souls: for you sent me to the +Lord our God, saying: Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to +all that the Lord our God shall say to thee, so declare unto us, and we +will do it. + +42:21. And now I have declared it to you this day, and you have not +obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, with regard to all the things +for which he hath sent me to you. + +42:22. Now therefore know certainly that you shall die by the sword, +and by famine, and by pestilence in the place to which you desire to go +to dwell there. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 43 + + +The Jews, contrary to the orders of God by the prophet, go into Egypt, +carrying Jeremias with them. He foretells the devastation of that land +by the king of Babylon. + +43:1. And it came to pass, that when Jeremias had made an end of +speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which +the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words: + +43:2. Azarias the son of Osaias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and all +the proud men, made answer, saying to Jeremias: Thou tellest a lie: the +Lord our God hath not sent thee, saying: Go not into Egypt, to dwell +there. + +43:3. But Baruch the son of Nerias setteth thee on against us, to +deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, and to cause us +to be carried away captives to Babylon. + +43:4. So Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the +soldiers, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to +remain in the land of Juda. + +43:5. But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the +soldiers took all the remnant of Juda, that were returned out of all +nations, to which they had before been scattered, to dwell in the land +of Juda: + +43:6. Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every +soul, which Nabuzardan the general had left with Godolias the son of +Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Jeremias the prophet, and Baruch the son +of Nerias. + +43:7. And they went into the land of Egypt, for they obeyed not the +voice of the Lord: and they came as far as Taphnis. + +43:8. And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias in Taphnis, saying: + +43:9. Take great stones in thy hand, and thou shalt hide them in the +vault that is under the brick wall at the gate of Pharao's house in +Taphnis: in the sight of the men of Juda. + +43:10. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God +of Israel: Behold I will send, and take Nabuchodonosor the king of +Babylon my servant: and I will set his throne over these stones which I +have hid, and he shall set his throne over them. + +43:11. And he shall come and strike the land of Egypt: such as are for +death, to death: and such as are for captivity, to captivity: and such +as are for the sword, to the sword. + +43:12. And he shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, +and he shall burn them, and he shall carry them away captives: and he +shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on +his garment: and he shall go forth from thence in peace. + +43:13. And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are +in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall +burn with fire. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 44 + + +The prophet's admonition to the Jews in Egypt against idolatry is not +regarded: he denounces to them their destruction. + +44:1. The word that came to Jeremias, concerning all the Jews that +dwelt in the land of Egypt, dwelling in Magdal, and in Taphnis, and in +Memphis, and in the land of Phatures, saying: + +44:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: You have seen all +this evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities +of Juda: and behold they are desolate this day, and there is not an +inhabitant in them: + +44:3. Because of the wickedness which they have committed, to provoke +me to wrath, and to go and offer sacrifice, and worship other gods, +which neither they, nor you, nor your fathers knew. + +44:4. And I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early, and +sending, and saying: Do not commit this abominable thing, which I hate. + +44:5. But they heard not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their +evil ways, and not to sacrifice to strange gods. + +44:6. Wherefore my indignation and my fury was poured forth, and was +kindled in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and +they are turned to desolation and waste, as at this day. + +44:7. And now thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Why do +you commit this great evil against your own souls, that there should +die of you man and woman, child and suckling out of the midst of Juda, +and no remnant should be left you: + +44:8. In that you provoke me to wrath with the works of your hands, by +sacrificing to other gods in the land of Egypt, into which you are come +to dwell there: and that you should perish, and be a curse, and a +reproach to all the nations of the earth? + +44:9. Have you forgotten the evils of your fathers, and the evils of +the kings of Juda, and the evils of their wives, and your evils, and +the evils of your wives, that they have done in the land of Juda, and +in the streets of Jerusalem? + +44:10. They are not cleansed even to this day: neither have they +feared, nor walked in the law of the Lord, nor in my commandments, +which I set before you and your fathers. + +44:11. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold +I will set my face upon you for evil: and I will destroy all Juda. + +44:12. And I will take the remnant of Juda that have set their faces to +go into the land of Egypt, and to dwell there; and they shall be all +consumed in the land of Egypt: they shall fall by the sword, and by the +famine: and they shall be consumed from the least even to the greatest, +by the sword, and by the famine shall they die: and they shall be for +an execration, and for a wonder, and for a curse, and for a reproach. + +44:13. And I will visit them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have +visited Jerusalem by the sword, and by famine and by pestilence. + +44:14. And there shall be none that shall escape, and remain of the +remnant of the Jews that are gone to sojourn in the land of Egypt: and +that shall return into the land of Juda, to which they have a desire to +return to dwell there: there shall none return but they that shall +flee. + +44:15. Then all the men that knew that their wives sacrificed to other +gods: and all the women of whom there stood by a great multitude, and +all the people of them that dwelt in the land of Egypt in Phatures, +answered Jeremias, saying: + +44:16. As for the word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the +Lord, we will not hearken to thee: + +44:17. But we will certainly do every word that shall proceed out of +our own mouth, to sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and to pour out +drink offerings to her, as we and our fathers have done, our kings, and +our princes in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem: and +we were filled with bread, and it was well with us, and we saw no evil. + +The queen of heaven. . .The moon, which they worshipped under this name. + +44:18. But since we left off to offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, +and to pour out frank offerings to her, we have wanted all things, and +have been consumed by the sword, and by famine. + +44:19. And if we offer sacrifice to the queen of heaven, and pour out +drink offerings to her: did we make cakes to worship her, to pour out +drink offerings to her, without our husbands? + +44:20. And Jeremias spoke to all the people, to the men, and to the +women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying: + +44:21. Was it not the sacrifice that you offered in the cities of Juda, +and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings, and +your princes, and the people of the land, which the Lord hath +remembered, and hath it not entered into his heart? + +44:22. So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of +your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed: +therefore your land is become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a +curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. + +44:23. Because you have sacrificed to idols, and have sinned against +the Lord: and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have not +walked in his law, and in his commandments, and in his testimonies: +therefore are these evils come upon you, as at this day. + +44:24. And Jeremias said to all the people and to all the women: Hear +ye the word of the Lord, all Juda, you that dwell in the land of Egypt: + +44:25. Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, saying: You and +your wives have spoken with your mouth, and fulfilled with your hands, +saying: Let us perform our vows which we have made, to offer sacrifice +to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her: you +have fulfilled your vows, and have performed them indeed. + +44:26. Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Juda, you that dwell +in the land of Egypt: Behold I have sworn by my great name, saith the +Lord: that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of +Juda, in the land of Egypt, saying: The Lord God liveth. + +44:27. Behold I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and +all the men of Juda that are in the land of Egypt, shall be consumed, +by the sword, and by famine, till there be an end of them. + +44:28. And a few men that shall flee from the sword, shall return out +of the land of Egypt into the land of Juda: and all the remnant of Juda +that are gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose +word shall stand, mine, or theirs. + +44:29. And this shall be a sign to you, saith the Lord, that I will +punish you in this place: that you may know that my words shall be +accomplished indeed against you for evil. + +44:30. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will deliver Pharao Nechao king of +Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek +his life: as I delivered Sedecias king of Juda into the land of +Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon his enemy, and that sought his life. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 45 + + +The prophet comforts Baruch in his affliction. + +45:1. The word that Jeremias the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of +Nerias, when he had written these words in a book, out of the mouth of +Jeremias, in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, +saying: + +45:2. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to thee, Baruch: + +45:3. Thou hast said: Woe is me, wretch that I am, for the Lord hath +added sorrow to my sorrow: I am wearied with my groans, and I find no +rest. + +45:4. Thus saith the Lord: Thus shalt thou say to him: Behold, them +whom I have built, I do destroy: and them whom I have planted, I do +pluck up, and all this land. + +45:5. And dost thou seek great things for thyself? Seek not: for behold +I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord! but I will give thee +thy life, and save thee in all places whithersoever thou shalt go. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 46 + + +A prophecy against Egypt. The Jews shall return from captivity. + +46:1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against +the Gentiles, + +46:2. Against Egypt, against the army of Pharao Nechao king of Egypt, +which was by the river Euphrates in Charcamis, whom Nabuchodonosor the +king of Babylon defeated, in the fourth year of Joakim the son of +Josias king of Juda. + +46:3. Prepare ye the shield and buckler, and go forth to battle. + +46:4. Harness the horses, and get up, ye horsemen: stand forth with +helmets, furbish the spears, put on coats of mail. + +46:5. What then? I have seen them dismayed, and turning their backs, +their valiant ones slain: they fled apace, and they looked not back: +terror was round about, saith the Lord. + +46:6. Let not the swift flee away, nor the strong think to escape: they +are overthrown, and fallen down, towards the north by the river +Euphrates. + +46:7. Who is this that cometh up as a flood: and his streams swell like +those of rivers? + +46:8. Egypt riseth up like a flood, and the waves thereof shall be +moved as rivers, and he shall say: I will go up and will cover the +earth: I will destroy the city, and its inhabitants. + +46:9. Get ye up on horses, and glory in chariots, and let the valiant +men come forth, the Ethiopians, and the Libyans that hold the shield, +and the Lydians that take, and shoot arrows. + +46:10. For this is the day of the Lord the God of hosts, a day of +vengeance, that he may revenge himself of his enemies: the sword shall +devour, and shall be filled, and shall be drunk with their blood: for +there is a sacrifice of the Lord God of hosts in the north country, by +the river Euphrates. + +46:11. Go up into Galaad, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt: in +vain dost thou multiply medicines, there shall be no cure for thee. + +46:12. The nations have heard of thy disgrace, and thy howling hath +filled the land: for the strong hath stumbled against the strong, and +both are fallen together. + +46:13. The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremias the prophet, how +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon should come and strike the land of +Egypt: + +46:14. Declare ye to Egypt, and publish it in Magdal, and let it be +known in Memphis, and in Taphnis: say ye: Stand up, and prepare +thyself: for the sword shall devour all round about thee. + +46:15. Why are thy valiant men come to nothing? they stood not: because +the Lord hath overthrown them. + +46:16. He hath multiplied them that fall, and one hath fallen upon +another, and they shall say: Arise, and let us return to our own +people, and to the land of our nativity, from the sword of the dove. + +The dove. . .See the annotation on chap. 25., ver. 38. + +46:17. Call ye the name of Pharao king of Egypt, a tumult time hath +brought. + +46:18. As I live, saith the King, (whose name is the Lord of hosts,) as +Thabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he +come. + +46:19. Furnish thyself to go into captivity, thou daughter inhabitant +of Egypt: for Memphis shall be made desolate, and shall be forsaken and +uninhabited. + +46:20. Egypt is like a fair and beautiful heifer: there shall come from +the north one that shall goad her. + +46:21. Her hirelings also that lived in the midst of her, like fatted +calves are turned back, and are fled away together, and they could not +stand, for the day of their slaughter is come upon them, the time of +their visitation. + +46:22. Her voice shall sound like brass, for they shall hasten with an +army, and with axes they shall come against her, as hewers of wood. + +46:23. They have cut down her forest, saith the Lord, which cannot be +counted: they are multiplied above locusts, and are without number. + +46:24. The daughter of Egypt is confounded, and delivered into the hand +of the people of the north. + +46:25. The Lord of hosts the God of Israel hath said: Behold I will +visit upon the tumult of Alexandria, and upon Pharao, and upon Egypt, +and upon her gods, and upon her kings, and upon Pharao, and upon them +that trust in him. + +Visit upon. . .That is, punish.--Ibid. Alexandria. . .In the Hebrew, No, +which was the ancient name of the city, to which Alexander gave +afterwards the name of Alexandria. + +46:26. And I will deliver them into the hand of them that seek their +lives, and into the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and into +the hand of his servants: and afterwards it shall be inhabited, as in +the days of old, saith the Lord. + +46:27. And thou my servant Jacob, fear not and be not thou dismayed, O +Israel: for behold I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed out of +the land of thy captivity: and Jacob shall return and be at rest, and +prosper: and there shall be none to terrify him. + +46:28. And thou, my servant Jacob, fear not, saith the Lord: because I +am with thee, for I will consume all the nations to which I have cast +thee out: but thee I will not consume, but I will correct thee in +judgment, neither will I spare thee as if thou wert innocent. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 47 + + +A prophecy of the desolation of the Philistines, of Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, +and Ascalon. + +47:1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against +the people of Palestine, before Pharao took Gaza. + +47:2. Thus saith the Lord: Behold there come up waters out of the +north, and they shall be as an overflowing torrent, and they shall +cover the land, and all that is therein, the city and the inhabitants +thereof: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land +shall howl, + +47:3. At the noise of the marching of arms, and of his soldiers, at the +rushing of his chariots, and the multitude of his wheels. The fathers +have not looked back to the children, for feebleness of hands, + +47:4. Because of the coming of the day, in which all the Philistines +shall be laid waste, and Tyre and Sidon shall be destroyed, with all +the rest of their helpers. For the Lord hath wasted the Philistines, +the remnant of the isle of Cappadocia. + +47:5. Baldness is come upon Gaza: Ascalon hath held her peace with the +remnant of their valley: how long shalt thou cut thyself? + +47:6. O thou sword of the Lord, how long wilt thou not be quiet? Go +into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. + +47:7. How shall it be quiet, when the Lord hath given it a charge +against Ascalon, and against the countries thereof by the sea side, and +there hath made an appointment for it? + + + +Jeremias Chapter 48 + + +A prophecy of the desolation of Moab for their pride: but their +captivity shall at last be released. + +48:1. Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Woe +to Nabo, for it is laid waste, and confounded: Cariathaim is taken: the +strong city is confounded and hath trembled. + +48:2. There is no more rejoicing in Moab over Hesebon: they have +devised evil. Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. +Therefore shalt thou in silence hold thy peace, and the sword shall +follow thee. + +48:3. A voice of crying from Oronaim: waste, and great destruction. + +48:4. Moab is destroyed: proclaim a cry for her little ones. + +48:5. For by the ascent of Luith shall the mourner go up with weeping: +for in the descent of Oronaim the enemies have heard a howling of +destruction. + +48:6. Flee, save your lives: and be as heath in the wilderness. + +48:7. For because thou hast trusted in thy bulwarks, and in thy +treasures, thou also shalt be taken: and Chamos shall go into +captivity, his priests, and his princes together. + +Chamos. . .The idol of the Moabites. + +48:8. And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall +escape: and the valleys shall perish, and the plains shall be +destroyed, for the Lord hath spoken: + +48:9. Give a flower to Moab, for in its flower it shall go out: and the +cities thereof shall be desolate, and uninhabited. + +48:10. Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully: and +cursed be he that withholdeth his sword from blood. + +Deceitfully. . .In the Greek, negligently. The work of God here spoken +of, is the punishment of the Moabites. + +48:11. Moab hath been fruitful from his youth, and hath rested upon his +lees: and hath not been poured out from vessel to vessel, nor hath gone +into captivity: therefore his taste hath remained in him, and his scent +is not changed. + +Moab hath been fruitful. . .That is, rich and flourishing. And hath +rested upon his lees. . .That is, remained in its bad morals; as wine +not decanted has its lees mixed and remains muddy. + +48:12. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send +him men that shall order and overturn his bottles, and they shall cast +him down, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles one +against another. + +48:13. And Moab shall be ashamed of Chamos, as the house of Israel was +ashamed of Bethel, in which they trusted. + +Of Bethel. . .That is, of their golden calf which they worshipped in +Bethel. + +48:14. How do you say: We are valiant and stout men in battle? + +48:15. Moab is laid waste, and they have cast down her cities: and her +choice young men are gone down to the slaughter: saith the king, whose +name is the Lord of hosts. + +48:16. The destruction of Moab is near to come: the calamity thereof +shall come on exceeding swiftly. + +48:17. Comfort him, all you that are round about him, and all you that +know his name, say: How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod? + +48:18. Come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst, O dwelling of the +daughter of Dibon: because the spoiler of Moab is come up to thee, he +hath destroyed thy bulwarks. + +48:19. Stand in the way, and look out, O habitation of Aroer: inquire +of him that fleeth: and say to him that hath escaped: What is done? + +48:20. Moab is confounded, because he is overthrown: howl ye, and cry, +tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is wasted. + +48:21. And judgment is come upon the plain country: upon Helon, and +upon Jasa, and upon Mephaath. + +48:22. And upon Dibon, and upon Nabo, and upon the house of Deblathaim, + +48:23. And upon Cariathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmaon, + +48:24. And upon Carioth, and upon Bosra: and upon all the cities of the +land of Moab, far or near. + +48:25. The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the +Lord. + +The horn of Moab is cut off. . .That is, the strength of Moab is cut +off. A metaphor drawn from animals whose strength is in their horns. + +48:26. Make him drunk, because he lifted up himself against the Lord: +and Moab shall dash his hand in his own vomit, and he also shall be in +derision. + +48:27. For Israel hath been a derision unto them: as though thou hadst +found him amongst thieves: for thy words therefore, which thou hast +spoken against him, thou shalt be led away captive. + +48:28. Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, you that dwell in Moab: +and be ye like the dove that maketh her nest in the mouth of the hole +in the highest place. + +48:29. We have heard the pride of Moab, he is exceeding proud: his +haughtiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the loftiness of his +heart. + +48:30. I know, saith the Lord, his boasting, and that the strength +thereof is not according to it, neither hath it endeavoured to do +according as it was able. + +48:31. Therefore will I lament for Moab, and I will cry out to all +Moab, for the men of the brick wall that mourn. + +48:32. O vineyard of Sabama, I will weep for thee, with the mourning of +Jazer: thy branches are gone over the sea, they are come even to the +sea of Jazer: the robber hath rushed in upon thy harvest and thy +vintage. + +48:33. Joy and gladness is taken away from Carmel, and from the land of +Moab, and I have taken away the wine out of the presses: the treader of +the grapes shall not sing the accustomed cheerful tune. + +48:34. From the cry of Hesebon even to Eleale, and to Jasa, they have +uttered their voice: from Segor to Oronaim, as a heifer of three years +old: the waters also of Nemrim shall be very bad. + +48:35. And I will take away from Moab, saith the Lord, him that +offereth in the high places, and that sacrificeth to his gods. + +48:36. Therefore my heart shall sound for Moab like pipes and my heart +shall sound like pipes for the men of the brick wall: because he hath +done more than he could, therefore they have perished. + +48:37. For every head shall be bald, and every beard shall be shaven: +all hands shall be tied together, and upon every back there shall be +haircloth. + +48:38. Upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof +general mourning: because I have broken Moab as an useless vessel, +saith the Lord. + +48:39. How is it overthrown, and they have howled! How hath Moab bowed +down the neck, and is confounded! And Moab shall be a derision, and an +example to all round about him. + +48:40. Thus saith the Lord: Behold he shall fly as an eagle, and shall +stretch forth his wings to Moab. + +48:41. Carioth is taken, and the strongholds are won: and the heart of +the valiant men of Moab in that day shall be as the heart of a woman in +labour. + +48:42. And Moab shall cease to be a people: because he hath gloried +against the Lord. + +48:43. Fear, and the pit, and the snare come upon thee, O inhabitant of +Moab, saith the Lord. + +Fear. . .That is, the sword of the enemy. The pit. . .That is, +unforeseen calamities. The snare. . .That is, the ambushes laid by the +enemy. + +48:44. He that shall flee from the fear, shall fall into the pit: and +he that shall get up out of the pit, shall be taken in the snare: for I +will bring upon Moab the year of their visitation, saith the Lord. + +48:45. They that fled from the snare stood in the shadow of Hesebon: +but there came a fire out of Hesebon, and a flame out of the midst of +Seon, and it shall devour part of Moab, and the crown of the head of +the children of tumult. + +48:46. Woe to thee, Moab, thou hast persisted, O people of Chamos: for +thy sons, and thy daughters are taken captives. + +48:47. And I will bring back the captivity of Moab in the last days, +saith the Lord. Hitherto the judgments of Moab. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 49 + + +The like desolation of Ammon, of Idumea, of the Syrians, of the +Agarenes, and of the Elamites. + +49:1. Against the children of Ammon. Thus saith the Lord: Hath Israel +no sons? or hath he no heir? Why then hath Melchom inherited Gad: and +his people dwelt in his cities? + +Melchom. . .The idol of the Ammonites. + +49:2. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will cause +the noise of war to be heard in Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and +it shall be destroyed into a heap, and her daughters shall be burnt +with fire, and Israel shall possess them that have possessed him, saith +the Lord. + +49:3. Howl, O Hesebon, for Hai is wasted. Cry, ye daughters of Rabbath, +gird yourselves with haircloth: mourn and go about by the hedges: for +Melchom shall be carried into captivity, his priests, and his princes +together. + +49:4. Why gloriest thou in the valleys? thy valley hath flowed away, O +delicate daughter, that hast trusted in thy treasures, and hast said: +Who shall come to me? + +49:5. Behold I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of +hosts, from all that are round about thee: and you shall be scattered +every one out of one another's sight, neither shall there be any to +gather together them that flee. + +49:6. And afterwards I will cause the captives of the children of Ammon +to return, saith the Lord. + +49:7. Against Edom. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Is wisdom no more in +Theman? counsel is perished from her children: their wisdom is become +unprofitable. + +49:8. Flee and turn your backs, go down into the deep hole, ye +inhabitants of Dedan: for I have brought the destruction of Esau upon +him, the time of his visitation. + +49:9. If grapegatherers had come to thee, would they not have left a +bunch? if thieves in the night, they would have taken what was enough +for them. + +49:10. But I have made Esau bare, I have revealed his secrets, and he +cannot be hid: his seed is laid waste, and his brethren, and his +neighbours, and he shall not be. + +49:11. Leave thy fatherless children: I will make them live: and thy +widows shall hope in me. + +49:12. For thus saith the Lord: Behold they whose judgment was not to +drink of the cup, shall certainly drink: and shalt thou come off as +innocent? thou shalt not come off as innocent, but drinking thou shalt +drink. + +49:13. For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that Bosra shall +become a desolation, and a reproach, and a desert, and a curse: and all +her cities shall be everlasting wastes. + +49:14. I have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent +to the nations: Gather yourselves together, and come against her, and +let us rise up to battle. + +49:15. For behold I have made thee a little one among the nations, +despicable among men. + +49:16. Thy arrogancy hath deceived thee, and the pride of thy heart: O +thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, and endeavourest to lay +hold on the height of the hill: but though thou shouldst make thy nest +as high as an eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the +Lord. + +49:17. And Edom shall be desolate: every one that shall pass by it, +shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all its plagues. + +49:18. As Sodom was overthrown and Gomorrha, and the neighbours +thereof, saith the Lord: there shall not a man dwell there, and there +shall no son of man inhabit it. + +49:19. Behold one shall come up as a lion from the swelling of the +Jordan, against the strong and beautiful: for I will make him run +suddenly upon her: and who shall be the chosen one whom I may appoint +over her? for who is like to me? and who shall abide me? and who is +that shepherd that can withstand my countenance? + +49:20. Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, which he hath taken +concerning Edom: and his thoughts which he hath thought concerning the +inhabitants of Theman: surely the little ones of the flock shall cast +them down, of a truth they shall destroy them with their habitation. + +49:21. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall: the cry of their +voice is heard in the Red Sea. + +49:22. Behold he shall come up as an eagle, and fly: and he shall +spread his wings over Bosra: and in that day the heart of the valiant +ones of Edom shall be as the heart of a woman in labour. + +49:23. Against Damascus. Emath is confounded and Arphad: for they have +heard very bad tidings, they are troubled as in the sea: through care +they could not rest. + +49:24. Damascus is undone, she is put to flight, trembling hath seized +on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her as a woman in labour. + +49:25. How have they forsaken the city of renown, the city of joy! + +49:26. Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets: and all the +men of war shall be silent in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. + +49:27. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall +devour the strong holds of Benadad. + +49:28. Against Cedar and against the kingdoms of Asor, which +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon destroyed. Thus saith the Lord: Arise, +and go ye up to Cedar, and waste the children of the east. + +Cedar and Asor. . .Were parts of Arabia; which with Moab, Ammon, Edom, +etc., were all brought under the yoke of Nabuchodonosor. + +49:29. They shall take their tents, and their flocks: and shall carry +off for themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their +camels: and they shall call fear upon them round about. + +49:30. Flee ye, get away speedily, sit in deep holes, you that inhabit +Asor, saith the Lord: for Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath taken +counsel against you, and hath conceived designs against you. + +49:31. Arise, and go up to a nation that is at ease, and that dwelleth +securely, saith the Lord: they have neither gates, nor bars: they dwell +alone. + +49:32. And their camels shall be for a spoil and the multitude of their +cattle for a booty, and I will scatter into every wind them that have +their hair cut round, and I will bring destruction upon them from all +their confines, saith the Lord. + +49:33. And Asor shall be a habitation for dragons, desolate for ever: +no man shall abide there, nor son of man inhabit it. + +49:34. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremias the prophet against +Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Sedecias king of Juda, saying: + +Elam. . .A part of Persia. + +49:35. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will break the bow of +Elam, and their chief strength. + +49:36. And I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters +of heaven: and I will scatter them into all these winds: and there +shall be no nation, to which the fugitives of Elam shall not come. + +49:37. And I will cause Elam to be afraid before their enemies, and in +the sight of them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon +them, my fierce wrath, saith the Lord: and I will send the sword after +them, till I consume them. + +49:38. And I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy kings and princes +from thence, saith the Lord. + +49:39. But in the latter days I will cause the captives of Elam, to +return, saith the Lord. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 50 + + +Babylon, which hath afflicted the Israelites, after their restoration, +shall be utterly destroyed. + +50:1. The word that the Lord hath spoken against Babylon, and against +the land of the Chaldeans in the hand of Jeremias the prophet. + +50:2. Declare ye among the nations, and publish it, lift up a standard: +proclaim, and conceal it not: say: Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, +Merodach is overthrown, their graven things are confounded, their idols +are overthrown. + +Bel, etc. . .Bel and Merodach were worshipped for gods by the men of +Babylon. + +50:3. For a nation is come up against her out of the north, which shall +make her land desolate: and there shall be none to dwell therein, from +man even to beast: yea they are removed, and gone away. + +A nation, etc. . .Viz., the Medes. + +50:4. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the children of +Israel shall come, they and the children of Juda together: going and +weeping they shall make haste, and shall seek the Lord their God. + +50:5. They shall ask the way to Sion, their faces are hitherward. They +shall come, and shall be joined to the Lord by an everlasting covenant, +which shall never be forgotten. + +50:6. My people have been a lost flock, their shepherds have caused +them to go astray, and have made them wander in the mountains: they +have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting +place. + +50:7. All that found them, have devoured them: and their enemies said: +We have not sinned in so doing: because they have sinned against the +Lord the beauty of justice, and against the Lord the hope of their +fathers. + +50:8. Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land +of the Chaldeans: and be ye as kids at the head of the flock. + +50:9. For behold I raise up, and will bring against Babylon an assembly +of great nations from the land of the north: and they shall be prepared +against her, and from thence she shall be taken: their arrows, like +those of a mighty man, a destroyer, shall not return in vain. + +50:10. And Chaldea shall be made a prey: all that waste her shall be +filled, saith the Lord. + +50:11. Because you rejoice, and speak great things, pillaging my +inheritance: because you are spread abroad as calves upon the grass, +and have bellowed as bulls. + +50:12. Your mother is confounded exceedingly, and she that bore you is +made even with the dust: behold she shall be the last among the +nations, a wilderness unpassable, and dry. + +50:13. Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but +shall be wholly desolate: every one that shall pass by Babylon, shall +be astonished, and shall hiss at all her plagues. + +50:14. Prepare yourselves against Babylon round about, all you that +bend the bow: fight against her, spare not arrows: because she hath +sinned against the Lord. + +50:15. Shout against her, she hath every where given her hand, her +foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down, for it is the +vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance upon her: as she hath done, so do +to her. + +50:16. Destroy the sower out of Babylon, and him that holdeth the +sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the sword of the dove every +man shall return to his people, and every one shall flee to his own +land. + +The dove. . .Or the destroyer; for the Hebrew word signifies either the +one or the other. + +50:17. Israel is a scattered flock, the lions have driven him away: +first the king of Assyria devoured him: and last this Nabuchodonosor +king of Babylon hath broken his bones. + +50:18. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold +I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, as I have visited the +king of Assyria. + +50:19. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation: and he shall +feed on Carmel, and Bason, and his soul shall be satisfied in mount +Ephraim, and Galaad. + +50:20. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of +Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none: and the sin of +Juda, and there shall none be found: for I will be merciful to them, +whom I shall leave. + +50:21. Go up against the land of the rulers, and punish the inhabitants +thereof, waste, and destroy all behind them, saith the Lord: and do +according to all that I have commanded thee. + +50:22. A noise of war in the land, and a great destruction. + +50:23. How is the hammer of the whole earth broken, and destroyed! how +is Babylon turned into a desert among the nations! + +50:24. I have caused thee to fall into a snare, and thou art taken, O +Babylon, and thou wast not aware of it: thou art found and caught, +because thou hast provoked the Lord. + +50:25. The Lord hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the +weapons of his wrath: for the Lord the God of hosts hath a work to be +done in the land of the Chaldeans. + +50:26. Come ye against her from the uttermost borders: open that they +may go forth that shall tread her down: take the stones out of the way, +and make heaps, and destroy her: and let nothing of her be left. + +50:27. Destroy all her valiant men, let them go down to the slaughter: +woe to them, for their day is come, the time of their visitation. + +50:28. The voice of them that flee, and of them that have escaped out +of the land of Babylon: to declare in Sion the revenge of the Lord our +God, the revenge of his temple. + +50:29. Declare to many against Babylon, to all that bend the bow: stand +together against her round about, and let none escape; pay her +according to her work: according to all that she hath done, do ye to +her: for she hath lifted up herself against the Lord, against the Holy +One of Israel. + +50:30. Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets: and all her +men of war shall hold their peace in that day, saith the Lord. + +50:31. Behold I come against thee, O proud one, saith the Lord the God +of hosts: for thy day is come, the time of thy visitation. + +50:32. And the proud one shall fall, he shall fall down, and there +shall be none to lift him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, +and it shall devour all round about him. + +50:33. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: The children of Israel, and the +children of Juda are oppressed together: all that have taken them +captives, hold them fast, they will not let them go. + +50:34. Their redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is his name: he will +defend their cause in judgment, to terrify the land, and to disquiet +the inhabitants of Babylon. + +50:35. A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon the +inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. + +50:36. A sword upon her diviners, and they shall be foolish: a sword +upon her valiant ones, and they shall be dismayed. + +50:37. A sword upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all +the people that are in the midst of her: and they shall become as +women: a sword upon her treasures, and they shall be made a spoil. + +50:38. A drought upon her waters, and they shall be dried up: because +it is a land of idols, and they glory in monstrous things. + +50:39. Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig fauns: and +ostriches shall dwell therein, and it shall be no more inhabited for +ever, neither shall it be built up from generation to generation. + +Fig fauns. . .Monsters of the desert, or demons in monstrous shapes: +such as the ancients called fauns and satyrs; and as they imagined them +to live upon wild figs, they called them fauni ficarii or fig fauns. + +50:40. As the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha, and their neighbour +cities, saith the Lord: no man shall dwell there, neither shall the son +of man inhabit it. + +50:41. Behold a people cometh from the north, and a great nation, and +many kings shall rise from the ends of the earth. + +50:42. They shall take the bow and the shield: they are cruel and +unmerciful: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride +upon horses: like a man prepared for battle against thee, O daughter of +Babylon. + +50:43. The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands +are grown feeble: anguish hath taken hold of him, pangs as a woman in +labour. + +50:44. Behold he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the +Jordan to the strong and beautiful: for I will make him run suddenly +upon her: and who shall be the chosen one whom I may appoint over her? +for who is like to me? and who shall bear up against me? and who is +that shepherd that can withstand my countenance? + +50:45. Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, which he hath taken +against Babylon: and his thoughts which he hath thought against the +land of the Chaldeans: surely the little ones of the flocks shall pull +them down, of a truth their habitation shall be destroyed with them. + +50:46. At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and +the cry is heard amongst the nations. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 51 + + +The miseries that shall fall upon Babylon from the Medes: the +destruction of her idols. + +51:1. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will raise up as it were a +pestilential wind against Babylon and against the inhabitants thereof, +who have lifted up their heart against me. + +51:2. And I will send to Babylon fanners, and they shall fan her, and +shall destroy her land: for they are come upon her on every side in the +day of her affliction. + +51:3. Let not him that bendeth, bend his bow, and let not him go up +that is armed with a coat of mail: spare not her young men, destroy all +her army. + +51:4. And the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and the +wounded in the regions thereof. + +51:5. For Israel and Juda have not been forsaken by their God the Lord +of hosts: but their land hath been filled with sin against the Holy One +of Israel. + +51:6. Flee ye from the midst of Babylon, and let every one save his own +life: be not silent upon her iniquity: for it is the time of revenge +from the Lord, he will render unto her what she hath deserved. + +51:7. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord, that made +all the earth drunk: the nations have drunk of her wine, and therefore +they have staggered. + +51:8. Babylon is suddenly fallen, and destroyed: howl for her, take +balm for her pain, if so she may be healed. + +51:9. We would have cured Babylon, but she is not healed: let us +forsake her, and let us go every man to his own land: because her +judgment hath reached even to the heavens, and is lifted up to the +clouds. + +51:10. The Lord hath brought forth our justices: Come, and let us +declare in Sion the work of the Lord our God. + +51:11. Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers, the Lord hath raised up +the spirit of the kings of the Medes: and his mind is against Babylon +to destroy it, because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance +of his temple. + +51:12. Upon the walls of Babylon set up the standard, strengthen the +watch: set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the Lord hath +both purposed, and done all that he spoke against the inhabitants of +Babylon. + +51:13. O thou that dwellest upon many waters, rich in treasures, thy +end is come for thy entire destruction. + +51:14. The Lord of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying: I will fill +thee with men as with locusts, and they shall lift up a joyful shout +against thee. + +51:15. He that made the earth by his power, that hath prepared the +world by his wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by his +understanding. + +51:16. When he uttereth his voice the waters are multiplied in heaven: +he lifteth up the clouds from the ends of the earth, he hath turned +lightning into rain: and hath brought forth the wind out of his +treasures. + +51:17. Every man is become foolish by his knowledge: every founder is +confounded by his idol, for what he hath cast is a lie, and there is no +breath in them. + +51:18. They are vain works, and worthy to be laughed at, in the time of +their visitation they shall perish. + +51:19. The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he that made all +things he it is, and Israel is the sceptre of his inheritance: the Lord +of hosts is his name. + +51:20. Thou dashest together for me the weapons of war, and with thee I +will dash nations together, and with thee I will destroy kingdoms: + +51:21. And with thee I will break in pieces the horse, and his rider, +and with thee I will break in pieces the chariot, and him that getteth +up into it: + +51:22. And with thee I will break in pieces man and woman, and with +thee I will break in pieces the old man and the child, and with thee I +will break in pieces the young man and the virgin: + +51:23. And with thee I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock, +and with thee I will break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of +oxen, and with thee I will break in pieces captains and rulers. + +51:24. And I will render to Babylon, and to all the inhabitants of +Chaldea all their evil, that they have done in Sion, before your eyes, +saith the Lord. + +51:25. Behold I come against thee, thou destroying mountain, saith the +Lord, which corruptest the whole earth: and I will stretch out my hand +upon thee, and will roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a +burnt mountain. + +51:26. And they shall not take of thee a stone for the corner, nor a +stone for foundations, but thou shalt be destroyed for ever, saith the +Lord. + +51:27. Set ye up a standard in the land: sound with the trumpet among +the nations: prepare the nations against her: call together against her +the kings of Ararat, Menni, and Ascenez: number Taphsar against her, +bring the horse as the stinging locust. + +51:28. Prepare the nations against her, the kings of Media, their +captains, and all their rulers, and all the land of their dominion. + +51:29. And the land shall be in a commotion, and shall be troubled: for +the design of the Lord against Babylon shall awake, to make the land of +Babylon desert and uninhabitable. + +51:30. The valiant men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they have +dwelt in holds: their strength hath failed, and they are become as +women: her dwelling places are burnt, her bars are broken. + +51:31. One running post shall meet another, and messenger shall meet +messenger: to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken from one +end to the other: + +51:32. And that the fords are taken, and the marshes are burnt with +fire, and the men of war are affrighted. + +51:33. For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: The daughter +of Babylon is like a thrashingfloor, this is the time of her thrashing: +yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come. + +51:34. Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath eaten me up, he hath +devoured me: he hath made me as an empty vessel: he hath swallowed me +up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicate meats, and +he hath cast me out. + +51:35. The wrong done to me, and my flesh be upon Babylon, saith the +habitation of Sion: and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, saith +Jerusalem. + +51:36. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I will judge thy cause, +and will take vengeance for thee, and I will make her sea desolate, I +and will dry up her spring. + +51:37. And Babylon shall be reduced to heaps, a dwelling place for +dragons, an astonishment and a hissing, because there is no inhabitant. + +51:38. They shall roar together like lions, they shall shake their +manes like young lions. + +51:39. In their heat I will set them drink: and I will make them drunk, +that they may slumber, and sleep an everlasting sleep, and awake no +more, saith the Lord. + +51:40. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, and like +rams with kids. + +51:41. How is Sesach taken, and the renowned one of all the earth +surprised? How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations? + +51:42. The sea is come up over Babylon : she is covered with the +multitude of the waves thereof. + +51:43. Her cities are become an astonishment, a land uninhabited and +desolate, a land wherein none can dwell, nor son of man pass through +it. + +51:44. And I will visit against Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth +out of his mouth that which he had swallowed down: and the nations +shall no more flow together to him, for the wall also of Babylon shall +fall. + +51:45. Go out of the midst of her, my people: that every man may save +his life from the fierce wrath of the Lord. + +51:46. And lest your hearts faint, and ye fear for the rumour that +shall be heard in the land: and a rumour shall come in one year, and +after this year another rumour: and iniquity in the land, and ruler +upon ruler. + +51:47. Therefore behold the days come, and I will visit the idols of +Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain +shall fall in the midst of her. + +51:48. And the heavens and the earth, and all things that are in them +shall give praise for Babylon: for spoilers shall come to her from the +north, saith the Lord. + +51:49. And as Babylon caused that there should fall slain in Israel: so +of Babylon there shall fall slain in all the earth. + +51:50. You that have escaped the sword, come away, stand not still: +remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. + +51:51. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath +covered our faces: because strangers are come upon the sanctuaries of +the house of the Lord. + +51:52. Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will visit +her graven things, and in all her land the wounded shall groan: + +51:53. If Babylon should mount up to heaven, and establish her strength +on high: from me there should come spoilers upon her, saith the Lord. + +51:54. The noise of a cry from Babylon, and great destruction from the +land of the Chaldeans: + +51:55. Because the Lord hath laid Babylon waste, and destroyed out of +her the great voice: and their wave shall roar like many waters: their +voice hath made a noise: + +51:56. Because the spoiler is come upon her, that is, upon Babylon, and +her valiant men are taken, and their bow is weakened, because the Lord, +who is a strong revenger, will surely repay. + +51:57. And I will make her princes drunk, and her wise men, and her +captains, and her rulers, and her valiant men: and they shall sleep an +everlasting sleep, and shall awake no more, saith the king whose name +is Lord of hosts. + +51:58. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: That broad wall of Babylon shall +be utterly broken down, and her high gates shall be burnt with fire, +and the labours of the people shall come to nothing, and of the nations +shall go to the fire, and shall perish. + +51:59. The word that Jeremias the prophet commanded Saraias the son of +Nerias, the son of Maasias, when he went with king Sedecias to Babylon, +in the fourth year of his reign: now Saraias was chief over the +prophecy. + +51:60. And Jeremias wrote in one book all the evil that was to come +upon Babylon: all these words that are written against Babylon. + +51:61. And Jeremias said to Saraias: When thou shalt come into Babylon, +and shalt see, and shalt read all these words, + +51:62. Thou shalt say: O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place to +destroy it: so that there should be neither man nor beast to dwell +therein, and that it should be desolate for ever. + +51:63. And when thou shalt have made an end of reading this book, thou +shalt tie a stone to it, and shalt throw it into the midst of the +Euphrates: + +51:64. And thou shalt say: Thus shall Babylon sink, and she shall not +rise up from the affliction that I will bring upon her, and she shall +be utterly destroyed. Thus far are the words of Jeremias. + + + +Jeremias Chapter 52 + + +A recapitulation of the reign of Sedecias, and the destruction of +Jerusalem. The number of the captives. + +52:1. Sedecias was one and twenty years old when he began to reign: and +he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and the name of his mother was +Amital, the daughter of Jeremias of Lobna. + +52:2. And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord, according +to all that Joakim had done. + +52:3. For the wrath of the Lord was against Jerusalem, and against +Juda, till he cast them out from his presence: and Sedecias revolted +from the king of Babylon. + +52:4. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth +month, the tenth day of the month, that Nabuchodonosor the king of +Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and they besieged +it, and built forts against it round about. + +52:5. And the city was besieged until the eleventh year of king +Sedecias. + +52:6. And in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a famine +overpowered the city: and there was no food for the people of the land. + +52:7. And the city was broken up, and the men of war fled, and went out +of the city in the night by the way of the gate that is between the two +walls, and leadeth to the king's garden, (the Chaldeans besieging the +city round about,) and they went by the way that leadeth to the +wilderness. + +52:8. But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king: and they +overtook Sedecias in the desert which is near Jericho: and all his +companions were scattered from him. + +52:9. And when they had taken the king, they carried him to the king of +Babylon to Reblatha, which is in the land of Emath: and he gave +judgment upon him. + +52:10. And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Sedecias before his +eyes: and he slew all the princes of Juda in Reblatha. + +52:11. And he put out the eyes of Sedecias, and bound him with fetters, +and the king of Babylon brought him into Babylon, and he put him in +prison till the day of his death. + +52:12. And in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, the same is +the nineteenth year of Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came Nabuzardan +the general of the army, who stood before the king of Babylon in +Jerusalem. + +52:13. And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and +all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great house he burnt with fire. + +52:14. And all the army of the Chaldeans that were with the general +broke down all the wall of Jerusalem round about. + +52:15. But Nabuzardan the general carried away captives some of the +poor people, and of the rest of the common sort who remained in the +city, and of the fugitives that were fled over to the king of Babylon, +and the rest of the multitude. + +52:16. But of the poor of the land, Nabuzardan the general left some +for vinedressers, and for husbandmen. + +52:17. The Chaldeans also broke in pieces the brazen pillars that were +in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the sea of brass that was +in the house of the Lord: and they carried all the brass of them to +Babylon. + +52:18. And they took the caldrons, and the fleshhooks, and the +psalteries, and the bowls, and the little mortars, and all the brazen +vessels that had been used in the ministry: and + +52:19. The general took away the pitchers, and the censers, and the +pots, and the basins, and the candlesticks, and the mortars, and the +cups: as many as were of gold, in gold: and as many as were of silver, +in silver: + +52:20. And the two pillars, and one sea, and twelve oxen of brass that +were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the +Lord: there was no weight of the brass of all these vessels. + +52:21. And concerning the pillars, one pillar was eighteen cubits high: +and a cord of twelve cubits compassed it about: but the thickness +thereof was four fingers, and it was hollow within. + +52:22. And chapiters of brass were upon both: and the height of one +chapiter was five cubits: and network, and pomegranates were upon the +chapiters round about, all of brass. The same of the second pillar, and +the pomegranates. + +52:23. And there were ninety-six pomegranates hanging down: and the +pomegranates being a hundred in all, were compassed with network. + +52:24. And the general took Saraias the chief priest, and Sophonias the +second priest, and the three keepers of the entry. + +52:25. He also took out of the city one eunuch that was chief over the +men of war: and seven men of them that were near the king's person, +that were found in the city: and a scribe, an officer of the army who +exercised the young soldiers: and threescore men of the people of the +land, that were found in the midst of the city. + +52:26. And Nabuzardan the general took them, and brought them to the +king of Babylon, to Reblatha. + +52:27. And the king of Babylon struck them, and put them to death in +Reblatha, in the land of Emath: and Juda was carried away captive out +of his land. + +52:28. This is the people whom Nabuchodonosor carried away captive: in +the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews. + +52:29. In the eighteenth year of Nabuchodonosor, eight hundred and +thirty-two souls from Jerusalem. + +52:30. In the three and twentieth year of Nabuchodonosor, Nabuzardan +the general carried away of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five +souls. So all the souls were four thousand six hundred. + +52:31. And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the +captivity of Joachin king of Juda, in the twelfth month, the five and +twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon, in the +first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Joachin king of Juda, +and brought him forth out of prison. + +52:32. And he spoke kindly to him, and he set his throne above the +thrones of the kings that were with him in Babylon. + +52:33. And he changed his prison garments, and he ate bread before him +always all the days of his life. + +52:34. And for his diet a continual provision was allowed him by the +king of Babylon, every day a portion, until the day of his death, all +the days of his life. + + + + +THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAS + + + +In these JEREMIAS laments in a most pathetical manner the miseries of +his people, and the destruction of JERUSALEM and the temple, in Hebrew +verses, beginning with different letters according to the order of the +Hebrew alphabet. + + + +Lamentations Chapter 1 + + +PREFACE: And it came to pass, after Israel was carried into captivity, +and Jerusalem was desolate, that Jeremias the prophet sat weeping, and +mourned with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and with a sorrowful +mind, sighing and moaning, he said: + +And it came to pass, etc. . .This preface was not written by Jeremias, +but was added by the seventy interpreters, to give the reader to +understand upon what occasion the Lamentations were published. + +1:1. Aleph. How doth the city sit solitary that was full of people! how +is the mistress of the Gentiles become as a widow: the princes of +provinces made tributary! + +1:2. Beth. Weeping, she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on +her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear +to her: all her friends have despised her, and are become her enemies. + +1:3. Ghimel. Juda hath removed her dwelling place, because of her +affliction, and the greatness of her bondage; she hath dwelt among the +nations, and she hath found no rest; all her persecutors have taken her +in the midst of straits. + +1:4. Daleth. The ways of Sion mourn, because there are none that come +to the solemn feast: all her gates are broken down; her priests sigh; +her virgins are in affliction; and she is oppressed with bitterness. + +1:5. He. Her adversaries are become her lords; her enemies are +enriched; because the Lord hath spoken against her for the multitude of +her iniquities; her children are led into captivity, before the face of +the oppressor. + +1:6. Vau. And from the daughter of Sion, all her beauty is departed; +her princes are become like rams that find no pastures; and they are +gone away without strength before the face of the pursuer. + +1:7. Zain. Jerusalem hath remembered the days of her affliction, and +prevarication of all her desirable things which she had from the days +of old, when her people fell in the enemy's hand, and there was no +helper; the enemies have seen her, and have mocked at her sabbaths. + +1:8. Heth. Jerusalem hath grievously sinned, therefore is she become +unstable; all that honoured her, have despised her, because they have +seen her shame; but she sighed, and turned backward. + +1:9. Teth. Her filthiness is on her feet, and she hath not remembered +her end; she is wonderfully cast down, not having a comforter: behold, +O Lord, my affliction, because the enemy is lifted up. + +1:10. Jod. The enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things: +for she hath seen the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, of whom thou +gavest commandment that they should not enter into thy church. + +1:11. Caph. All her people sigh, they seek bread: they have given all +their precious things for food to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and +consider, for I am become vile. + +1:12. Lamed. O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be +any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the +Lord spoke in the day of his fierce anger. + +1:13. Mem. From above he hath sent fire into my bones, and hath +chastised me: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: +he hath made me desolate, wasted with sorrow all the day long. + +1:14. Nun. The yoke of my iniquities hath watched: they are folded +together in his hand, and put upon my neck: my strength is weakened: +the Lord hath delivered me into a hand, out of which I am not able to +rise. + +1:15. Samech. The Lord hath taken away all my mighty men out of the +midst of me: he hath called against me the time, to destroy my chosen +men: the Lord hath trodden the winepress for the virgin daughter of +Juda. + +1:16. Ain. Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water: +because the comforter, the relief of my soul, is far from me: my +children are desolate because the enemy hath prevailed. + +1:17. Phe. Sion hath spread forth her hands, there is none to comfort +her: the Lord hath commanded against Jacob, his enemies are round about +him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. + +1:18. Sade. The Lord is just, for I have provoked his mouth to wrath: +hear, I pray you, all ye people, and see my sorrow: my virgins, and my +young men are gone into captivity. + +1:19. Coph. I called for my friends, but they deceived me: my priests +and my ancients pined away in the city: while they sought their food, +to relieve their souls. + +1:20. Res. Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress, my bowels are +troubled: my heart is turned within me, for I am full of bitterness: +abroad the sword destroyeth and at home there is death alike. + +1:21. Sin. They have heard that I sigh, and there is none to comfort +me: all my enemies have heard of my evil, they have rejoiced that thou +hast done it: thou hast brought a day of consolation, and they shall be +like unto me. + +1:22. Thau. Let all their evil be present before thee: and make vintage +of them, as thou hast made vintage of me for all my iniquities: for my +sighs are many, and my heart is sorrowful. + + + +Lamentations Chapter 2 + + +2:1. Aleph. How hath the Lord covered with obscurity the daughter of +Sion in his wrath! how hath he cast down from heaven to the earth the +glorious one of Israel, and hath not remembered his footstool in the +day of his anger. + +2:2. Beth. The Lord hath cast down headlong, and hath not spared, all +that was beautiful in Jacob: he hath destroyed in his wrath the strong +holds of the virgin of Juda, and brought them down to the ground: he +hath made the kingdom unclean, and the princes thereof. + +2:3. Ghimel. He hath broken in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: +he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy: and he hath +kindled in Jacob as it were a flaming fire devouring round about. + +2:4. Daleth. He hath bent his bow as an enemy, he hath fixed his right +hand as an adversary: and he hath killed all that was fair to behold in +the tabernacle of the daughter of Sion, he hath poured out his +indignation like fire. + +2:5. He. The Lord is become as an enemy: he hath cast down Israel +headlong, he hath overthrown all the walls thereof: he hath destroyed +his strong holds, and hath multiplied in the daughter of Juda the +afflicted, both men and women. + +2:6. Vau. And he hath destroyed his tent as a garden, he hath thrown +down his tabernacle: the Lord hath caused feasts and sabbaths to be +forgotten in Sion: and hath delivered up king and priest to reproach, +and to the indignation of his wrath. + +2:7. Zain. The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath cursed his +sanctuary: he hath delivered the walls of the towers thereof into the +hand of the enemy: they have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as +in the day of a solemn feast. + +He hath cursed his sanctuary. . .That is, he permitted his sanctuary to +be destroyed, as if it had not been consecrated, but execrable. + +2:8. Heth. The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter +of Sion: he hath stretched out his line, and hath not withdrawn his +hand from destroying: and the bulwark hath mourned, and the wall hath +been destroyed together. + +2:9. Teth. Her gates are sunk into the ground: he hath destroyed, and +broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the +law is no more, and her prophets have found no vision from the Lord. + +2:10. Jod. The ancients of the daughter of Sion sit upon the ground, +they have held their peace: they have sprinkled their heads with dust, +they are girded with haircloth, the virgins of Jerusalem hang down +their heads to the ground. + +2:11. Caph. My eyes have failed with weeping, my bowels are troubled: +my liver is poured out upon the earth, for the destruction of the +daughter of my people, when the children, and the sucklings, fainted +away in the streets of the city. + +2:12. Lamed. They said to their mothers: Where is corn and wine? when +they fainted away as the wounded in the streets of the city: when they +breathed out their souls in the bosoms of their mothers. + +2:13. Mem. To what shall I compare thee? or to what shall I liken thee, +O daughter of Jerusalem? to what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort +thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for great as the sea is thy +destruction: who shall heal thee? + +2:14. Nun. Thy prophets have seen false and foolish things for thee: +and they have not laid open thy iniquity, to excite thee to penance: +but they have seen for thee false revelations and banishments. + +2:15. Samech. All they that passed by the way have clapped their hands +at thee: they have hissed, and wagged their heads at the daughter of +Jerusalem, saying: Is this the city of perfect beauty, the joy of all +the earth? + +2:16. Phe. All thy enemies have opened their month against thee: they +have hissed, and gnashed with the teeth, and have said: We will swallow +her up: lo, this is the day which we looked for: we have found it, we +have seen it. + +2:17. Ain. The Lord hath done that which he purposed, he hath fulfilled +his word, which he commanded in the days of old: he hath destroyed, and +hath not spared, and he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee, and +hath set up the horn of thy adversaries. + +2:18. Sade. Their heart cried to the Lord upon the walls of the +daughter of Sion: Let tears run down like a torrent day and night: give +thyself no rest, and let not the apple of thy eye cease. + +2:19. Coph. Arise, give praise in the night, in the beginning of the +watches: pour out thy heart like water, before the face of the Lord: +lift up thy hands to him for the life of thy little children, that have +fainted for hunger at the top of all the streets. + +2:20. Res. Behold, O Lord, and consider whom thou hast thus dealt with: +shall women then eat their own fruit, their children of a span long? +shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? + +2:21. Sin. The child and the old man lie without on the ground: my +virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: thou hast slain them +in the day of thy wrath: thou hast killed, and shewn them no pity. + +2:22. Thau. Thou hast called as to a festival, those that should +terrify me round about, and there was none in the day of the wrath of +the Lord that escaped and was left: those that I brought up, and +nourished, my enemy hath consumed them. + + + +Lamentations Chapter 3 + + +3:1. Aleph. I am the man that see my poverty by the rod of his +indignation. + +3:2. Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, and not into +light. + +3:3. Aleph. Only against me he hath turned, and turned again his hand +all the day. + +3:4. Beth. My skin and my flesh he hath made old, he hath broken my +bones. + +3:5. Beth. He hath built round about me, and he hath compassed me with +gall, and labour. + +3:6. Beth. He hath set me in dark places as those that are dead for +ever. + +3:7. Ghimel. He hath built against me round about, that I may not get +out: he hath made my fetters heavy. + +3:8. Ghimel. Yea, and when I cry, and entreat, he hath shut out my +prayer. + +3:9. Ghimel. He hath shut up my ways with square stones, he hath turned +my paths upside down. + +3:10. Daleth. He is become to me as a bear lying in wait: as a lion in +secret places. + +3:11. Daleth. He hath turned aside my paths, and hath broken me in +pieces, he hath made me desolate. + +3:12. Daleth. He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for his +arrows. + +3:13. He. He hath shot into my reins the daughters of his quiver. + +3:14. He. I am made a derision to all my people, their song all the day +long. + +3:15. He. He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with +wormwood. + +3:16. Vau. And he hath broken my teeth one by one, he hath fed me with +ashes. + +3:17. Vau. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I have forgotten +good things. + +3:18. Vau. And I said: My end and my hope is perished from the Lord. + +3:19. Zain. Remember my poverty, and transgression, the wormwood and +the gall. + +3:20. Zain. I will be mindful and remember, and my soul shall languish +within me. + +3:21. Zain. These things I shall think over in my heart, therefore will +I hope. + +3:22. Heth. The mercies of the Lord that we are not consumed: because +his commiserations have not failed. + +3:23. Heth. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. + +3:24. Heth. The Lord is my portion, said my soul: therefore will I wait +for him. + +3:25. Teth. The Lord is good to them that hope in him, to the soul that +seeketh him. + +3:26. Teth. It is good to wait with silence for the salvation of God. + +3:27. Teth. It is good for a man, when he hath borne the yoke from his +youth. + +3:28. Jod. He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace: because he hath +taken it up upon himself. + +3:29. Jod. He shall put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be +hope. + +3:30. Jod. He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall +be filled with reproaches. + +3:31. Caph. For the Lord will not cast off for ever. + +3:32. Caph. For if he hath cast off, he will also have mercy, according +to the multitude of his mercies. + +3:33. Caph. For he hath not willingly afflicted, nor cast off the +children of men. + +3:34. Lamed. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the land, + +3:35. Lamed. To turn aside the judgment of a man before the face of the +most High, + +3:36. Lamed. To destroy a man wrongfully in his judgment, the Lord hath +not approved. + +3:37. Mem. Who is he that hath commanded a thing to be done, when the +Lord commandeth it not? + +3:38. Mem. Shall not both evil and good proceed out of the mouth of the +Highest? + +3:39. Mem. Why hath a living man murmured, man suffering for his sins? + +3:40. Nun. Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord. + +3:41. Nun. Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to the Lord in the +heavens. + +3:42. Nun. We have done wickedly, and provoked thee to wrath: therefore +thou art inexorable. + +3:43. Samech. Thou hast covered in thy wrath, and hast struck us: thou +hast killed and hast not spared. + +3:44. Samech. Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may +not pass through. + +3:45. Samech. Thou hast made me as an outcast, and refuse in the midst +of the people. + +3:46. Phe. All our enemies have opened their mouths against us. + +3:47. Phe. Prophecy is become to us a fear, and a snare, and +destruction. + +3:48. Phe. My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the +destruction of the daughter of my people. + +3:49. Ain. My eye is afflicted, and hath not been quiet, because there +was no rest: + +3:50. Ain. Till the Lord regarded and looked down from the heavens. + +3:51. Ain. My eye hath wasted my soul because of all the daughters of +my city. + +3:52. Sade. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, +without cause. + +3:53. Sade. My life is fallen into the pit, and they have laid a stone +over me. + +3:54. Sade. Waters have flowed over my head: I said: I am cut off. + +3:55. Coph. I have called upon thy name, O Lord, from the lowest pit. + +3:56. Coph. Thou hast heard my voice: turn not away thy ear from my +sighs, and cries. + +3:57. Coph. Thou drewest near in the day, when I called upon thee, thou +saidst: Fear not. + +3:58. Res. Thou hast judged, O Lord, the cause of my soul, thou the +Redeemer of my life. + +3:59. Res. Thou hast seen, O Lord, their iniquity against me: judge +thou my judgment. + +3:60. Res. Thou hast seen all their fury, and all their thoughts +against me. + +3:61. Sin. Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, all their +imaginations against me. + +3:62. Sin. The lips of them that rise up against me: and their devices +against me all the day. + +3:63. Sin. Behold their sitting down, and their rising up, I am their +song. + +3:64. Thau. Thou shalt render them a recompense, O Lord, according to +the works of their hands. + +3:65. Thau. Thou shalt give them a buckler of heart, thy labour. + +3:66. Thau. Thou shalt persecute them in anger, and shalt destroy them +from under the heavens, O Lord. + + + +Lamentations Chapter 4 + + +4:1. Aleph. How is the gold become dim, the finest colour is changed, +the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street? + +4:2. Beth. The noble sons of Sion, and they that were clothed with the +best gold: how are they esteemed as earthen vessels, the work of the +potter's hands? + +4:3. Ghimel. Even the sea monsters have drawn out the breast, they have +given suck to their young: the daughter of my people is cruel, like the +ostrich in the desert. + +4:4. Daleth. The tongue of the sucking child hath stuck to the roof of +his mouth for thirst: the little ones have asked for bread, and there +was none to break it unto them. + +4:5. He. They that were fed delicately have died in the streets: they +that were brought up in scarlet have embraced the dung. + +4:6. Vau. And the iniquity of the daughter of my people is made greater +than the sin of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, and hands took +nothing in her. + +4:7. Zain. Her Nazarites were whiter than snow, purer than milk, more +ruddy than the old ivory, fairer than the sapphire. + +4:8. Heth. Their face is now made blacker than coals, and they are not +known in the streets: their skin hath stuck to their bones, it is +withered, and is become like wood. + +4:9. Teth. It was better with them that were slain by the sword, than +with them that died with hunger: for these pined away being consumed +for want of the fruits of the earth. + +4:10. Jod. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own +children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my +people. + +4:11. Caph. The Lord hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out +his fierce anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Sion, and it hath +devoured the foundations thereof. + +4:12. Lamed. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the +world would not have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should +enter in by the gates of Jerusalem. + +4:13. Mem. For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her +priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her. + +4:14. Nun. They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they were +defiled with blood: and when they could not help walking in it, they +held up their skirts. + +4:15. Samech. Depart you that are defiled, they cried out to them: +Depart, get ye hence, touch not: for they quarrelled, and being +removed, they said among the Gentiles: He will no more dwell among +them. + +4:16. Phe. The face of the Lord hath divided them, he will no more +regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, neither had +they pity on the ancient. + +4:17. Ain. While we were yet standing, our eyes failed, expecting help +for us in vain, when we looked attentively towards a nation that was +not able to save. + +4:18. Sade. Our steps have slipped in the way of our streets, our end +draweth near: our days are fulfilled, for our end is come. + +4:19. Coph. Our persecutors were swifter than the eagles of the air: +they pursued us upon the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the +wilderness. + +4:20. Res. The breath of our mouth, Christ the Lord, is taken in our +sins: to whom we said: Under thy shadow we shall live among the +Gentiles. + +Christ, etc. . .This, according to the letter, is spoken of their king, +who is called the Christ, that is, the Anointed of the Lord. But it +also relates, in the spiritual sense, to Christ our Lord, suffering for +our sins. + +4:21. Sin. Rejoice, and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in +the land of Hus: to thee also shall the cup come, thou shalt be made +drunk, and naked. + +4:22. Thau. Thy iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Sion, he will +no more carry thee away into captivity: he hath visited thy iniquity, O +daughter of Edom, he hath discovered thy sins. + +THE PRAYER OF JEREMIAS THE PROPHET + + + +Lamentations Chapter 5 + + +5:1. Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider and behold our +reproach. + +5:2. Our inheritance is turned to aliens: our houses to strangers. + +5:3. We are become orphans without a father: our mothers are as widows. + +5:4. We have drunk our water for money: we have bought our wood. + +5:6. We were dragged by the necks, we were weary and no rest was given +us. + +5:6. We have given our hand to Egypt, and to the Assyrians, that we +might be satisfied with bread. + +5:7. Our fathers have sinned, and are not: and we have borne their +iniquities. + +5:8. Servants have ruled over us: there was none to redeem us out of +their hand. + +5:9. We fetched our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the +sword in the desert. + +5:10. Our skin was burnt as an oven, by reason of the violence of the +famine. + +5:11. They oppressed the women in Sion, and the virgins in the cities +of Juda. + +5:12. The princes were hanged up by their hand: they did not respect +the persons of the ancients. + +5:13. They abused the young men indecently: and the children fell under +the wood. + +5:14. The ancients have ceased from the gates: the young men from the +choir of the singers. + +5:15. The joy of our heart is ceased, our dancing is turned into +mourning. + +5:16. The crown is fallen from our head: woe to us, because we have +sinned. + +5:17. Therefore is our heart sorrowful, therefore are our eyes become +dim. + +5:18. For mount Sion, because it is destroyed, foxes have walked upon +it. + +5:19. But thou, O Lord, shalt remain for ever, thy throne from +generation to generation. + +5:20. Why wilt thou forget us for ever? why wilt thou forsake us for a +long time? + +5:21. Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our +days, as from the beginning. + +5:22. But thou hast utterly rejected us, thou art exceedingly angry +with us. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF BARUCH + + + +BARUCH was a man of noble extraction, and learned in the law, secretary +and disciple to the prophet JEREMIAS, and a sharer in his labours and +persecutions: which is the reason why the ancient fathers have +considered this book as a part of the prophecy of JEREMIAS, and have +usually quoted it under his name. + + + +Baruch Chapter 1 + + +The Jews of Babylon send the book of Baruch with money to Jerusalem, +requesting their brethren there to offer sacrifice, and to pray for the +king and for them, acknowledging their manifold sins. + +1:1. And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of +Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Sedei, the +son Helcias, wrote in Babylonia. + +1:2. In the fifth year, in the seventh day of the month, at the time +that the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire. + +1:3. And Baruch read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias +the son of Joakim king of Juda, and in the hearing of all the people +that came to hear the book. + +1:4. And in the hearing of the nobles, the sons of the kings, and in +the hearing of the ancients, and in the hearing of the people, from the +least even to the greatest of them that dwelt in Babylonia, by the +river Sedi. + +1:5. And when they heard it they wept, and fasted, and prayed before +the Lord. + +1:6. And they made a collection of money according to every man's +power. + +1:7. And they sent it to Jerusalem to Joakim the priest, the son of +Helcias, the son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people, +that were found with him in Jerusalem: + +1:8. At the time when he received the vessels of the temple of the +Lord, which had been taken away out of the temple, to return them into +the land of Juda the tenth day of the month Sivan, the silver vessels, +which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Juda had made, + +1:9. After that Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had carried away +Jechonias, and the princes, and all the powerful men, and the people of +the land from Jerusalem, and brought them bound to Babylon. + +1:10. And they said: Behold we have sent you money, buy with it +holocausts, and frankincense, and make meat offerings, and offerings +for sin at the altar of the Lord our God: + +1:11. And pray ye for the life of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, +and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon +earth as the days of heaven: + +1:12. And that the Lord may give us strength, and enlighten our eyes, +that we may live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor the king of +Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and may serve them +many days, and may find favour in their sight. + +1:13. And pray ye for us to the Lord our God: for we have sinned +against the Lord our God, and his wrath is not turned away from us even +to this day. + +1:14. And read ye this book, which we have sent to you to be read in +the temple of the Lord, on feasts, and proper days. + +1:15. And you shall say: To the Lord our God belongeth justice, but to +us confusion of our face: as it is come to pass at this day to all +Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, + +1:16. To our kings, and to our princes, and to our priests, and to our +prophets, and to our fathers. + +1:17. We have sinned before the Lord our God, and have not believed +him, nor put our trust in him: + +1:18. And we were not obedient to him, and we have not hearkened to the +voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his commandments which he hath +given us. + +1:19. From the day that he brought our fathers out of the land of +Egypt, even to this day, we were disobedient to the Lord our God: and +going astray we turned away from hearing his voice. + +1:20. And many evils have cleaved to us, and the curses which the Lord +foretold by Moses his servant: who brought our fathers out of the land +of Egypt, to give us a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this +day. + +1:21. And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God +according to all the words of the prophets whom he sent to us: + +1:22. And we have gone away every man after the inclinations of his own +wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the +Lord our God. + + + +Baruch Chapter 2 + + +A further confession of the sins of the people, and of the justice of +God. + +2:1. Wherefore the Lord our God hath made good his word, that he spoke +to us, and to our judges that have judged Israel, and to our kings, and +to our princes, and to all Israel and Juda: + +2:2. That the Lord would bring upon us great evils, such as never +happened under heaven, as they have come to pass in Jerusalem, +according to the things that are written in the law of Moses: + +2:3. That a man should eat the flesh of his own son, and the flesh of +his own daughter. + +2:4. And he hath delivered them up to be under the hand of all the +kings that are round about us, to be a reproach, and desolation among +all the people, among whom the Lord hath scattered us. + +2:5. And we are brought under, and are not uppermost: because we have +sinned against the Lord our God, by not obeying his voice. + +2:6. To the Lord our God belongeth justice: but to us, and to our +fathers confusion of face, as at this day. + +2:7. For the Lord hath pronounced against us all these evils that are +come upon us: + +2:8. And we have not entreated the face of the Lord our God, that we +might return every one of us from our most wicked ways. + +2:9. And the Lord hath watched over us for evil, and hath brought it +upon us: for the Lord is just in all his works which he hath commanded +us: + +2:10. And we have not hearkened to his voice to walk in the +commandments of the Lord which he hath set before us. + +2:11. And now, O Lord God of Israel, who hast brought thy people out of +the land of Egypt with a strong hand, and with signs, and with wonders, +and with thy great power, and with a mighty arm, and hast made thee a +name as at this day, + +2:12. We have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have acted unjustly, O +Lord our God, against all thy justices. + +2:13. Let thy wrath be turned away from us: for we are left a few among +the nations where thou hast scattered us. + +2:14. Hear, O Lord, our prayers, and our petitions, and deliver us for +thy own sake: and grant that we may find favour in the sight of them +that have led us away: + +2:15. That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, and +that thy name is called upon Israel, and upon his posterity. + +2:16. Look down upon us, O Lord, from thy holy house, and incline thy +ear, and hear us. + +2:17. Open thy eyes, and behold: for the dead that are in hell, whose +spirit is taken away from their bowels, shall not give glory and +justice to the Lord: + +Justice, etc. . .They that are in hell shall not give justice to God; +that is, they shall not acknowledge and glorify his justice as penitent +sinners do upon earth. + +2:18. But the soul that is sorrowful for the greatness of evil she hath +done, and goeth bowed down, and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the +hungry soul giveth glory and justice to thee the Lord. + +2:19. For it is not for the justices of our fathers that we pour out +our prayers, and beg mercy in thy sight, O Lord our God: + +2:20. But because thou hast sent out thy wrath, and thy indignation +upon us, as thou hast spoken by the hand of thy servants the prophets, +saying: + +2:21. Thus saith the Lord: Bow down your shoulder, and your neck, and +serve the king of Babylon: and you shall remain in the land which I +have given to your fathers. + +2:22. But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, to +serve the king of Babylon: I will cause you to depart out of the cities +of Juda, and from without Jerusalem. + +2:23. And I will take away from you the voice of mirth, and the voice +of joy, and the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, +and all the land shall be without any footstep of inhabitants. + +2:24. And they hearkened not to thy voice, to serve the king of +Babylon: and thou hast made good thy words, which thou spokest by the +hands of thy servants the prophets, that the bones of our kings, and +the bones of our fathers should be removed out of their place: + +2:25. And behold they are cast out to the heat of the sun, and to the +frost of the night: and they have died in grievous pains, by famine, +and by the sword, and in banishment. + +2:26. And thou hast made the temple, in which thy name was called upon, +as it is at this day, for the iniquity of the house of Israel, and the +house of Juda. + +2:27. And thou hast dealt with us, O Lord our God, according to all thy +goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine: + +2:28. As thou spokest by the hand of thy servant Moses, in the day when +thou didst command him to write thy law before the children of Israel, + +2:29. Saying: If you will not hear my voice, this great multitude shall +be turned into a very small number among the nations, where I will +scatter them: + +2:30. For I know that the people will not hear me, for they are a +people of a stiff neck: but they shall turn to their heart in the land +of their captivity: + +2:31. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God: and I will give +them a heart, and they shall understand: and ears, and they shall hear. + +2:32. And they shall praise me in the land of their captivity, and +shall be mindful of my name. + +2:33. And they shall turn away themselves from their stiff neck, and +from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their +fathers, that sinned against me. + +2:34. And I will bring them back again into the land which I promised +with an oath to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they +shall be masters thereof: and I will multiply them, and they shall not +be diminished. + +2:35. And I will make with them another covenant that shall be +everlasting, to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will +no more remove my people, the children of Israel, out of the land that +I have given them. + + + +Baruch Chapter 3 + + +They pray for mercy, acknowledging that they are justly punished for +forsaking true wisdom. A prophecy of Christ. + +3:1. And now, O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, the soul in anguish, +and the troubled spirit crieth to thee: + +3:2. Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for thou art a merciful God, and +have pity on us: for we have sinned before thee. + +3:3. For thou remainest for ever, and shall we perish everlastingly? + +3:4. O Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, hear now the prayer of the +dead of Israel, and of their children, that have sinned before thee, +and have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord their God, wherefore +evils have cleaved fast to us. + +3:5. Remember not the iniquities of our fathers, but think upon thy +hand, and upon thy name at this time: + +3:6. For thou art the Lord our God, and we will praise thee, O Lord: + +3:7. Because for this end thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the +intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our +captivity, for we are converted from the iniquity of our fathers, who +sinned before thee. + +3:8. And behold we are at this day in our captivity, whereby thou hast +scattered us to be a reproach, and a curse, and an offence, according +to all the iniquities of our fathers, who departed from thee, O Lord +our God. + +3:9. Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life: give ear, that thou +mayst learn wisdom. + +3:10. How happeneth it, O Israel, that thou art in thy enemies' land? + +3:11. Thou art grown old in a strange country, thou art defiled with +the dead: thou art counted with them that go down into hell. + +3:12. Thou hast forsaken the fountain of wisdom: + +3:13. For if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou hadst surely +dwelt in peace for ever. + +3:14. Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding: +that thou mayst know also where is length of days and life, where is +the light of the eyes, and peace. + +3:15. Who hath found out her place? and who hath gone in to her +treasures? + +3:16. Where are the princes of the nations, and they that rule over the +beasts that are upon the earth? + +3:17. That take their diversion with the birds of the air. + +3:18. That hoard up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and there is no +end of their getting? who work in silver and are solicitous, and their +works are unsearchable. + +3:19. They are cut off, and are gone down to hell, and others are risen +up in their place. + +3:20. Young men have seen the light, and dwelt upon the earth: but the +way of knowledge they have not known, + +3:21. Nor have they understood the paths thereof, neither have their +children received it, it is far from their face. + +3:22. It hath not been heard of in the land of Chanaan, neither hath it +been seen in Theman. + +Theman. . .The capital city of Edom. + +3:23. The children of Agar also, that search after the wisdom that is +of the earth, the merchants of Merrha, and of Theman, and the tellers +of fables, and searchers of prudence and understanding: but the way of +wisdom they have not known, neither have they remembered her paths. + +Agar. . .The mother of the Ismaelites. + +3:24. O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how vast is the +place of his possession! + +3:25. It is great, and hath no end: it is high and immense. + +3:26. There were the giants, those renowned men that were from the +beginning, of great stature, expert in war. + +3:27. The Lord chose not them, neither did they find the way of +knowledge: therefore did they perish. + +3:28. And because they had not wisdom, they perished through their +folly. + +3:29. Who hath gone up into heaven, and taken her, and brought her down +from the clouds? + +3:30. Who hath passed over the sea, and found her, and brought her +preferably to chosen gold? + +3:31. There is none that is able to know her ways, nor that can search +out her paths: + +3:32. But he that knoweth all things, knoweth her, and hath found her +out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore, +and filled it with cattle and fourfooted beasts: + +3:33. He that sendeth forth the light, and it goeth: and hath called +it, and it obeyeth him with trembling. + +3:34. And the stars have given light in their watches, and rejoiced: + +3:35. They were called, and they said: Here we are: and with +cheerfulness they have shined forth to him that made them. + +3:36. This is our God, and there shall no other be accounted of in +comparison of him. + +3:37. He found out all the way of knowledge, and gave it to Jacob his +servant, and to Israel his beloved. + +3:38. Afterwards he was seen upon earth, and conversed with men. + +Was seen upon earth, etc. . .viz., by the mystery of the incarnation, by +means of which the son of God came visibly amongst us, and conversed +with men. The prophets often speak of things to come as if they were +past, to express the certainty of the event of the things foretold. + + + +Baruch Chapter 4 + + +The prophet exhorts to the keeping of the law of wisdom, and encourages +the people to be patient, and to hope for their deliverance. + +4:1. This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law, that is +for ever: all they that keep it, shall come to life: but they that have +forsaken it, to death. + +4:2. Return, O Jacob, and take hold of it, walk in the way by its +brightness, in the presence of the light thereof. + +4:3. Give not thy honour to another, nor thy dignity to a strange +nation. + +4:4. We are happy, O Israel: because the things that are pleasing to +God, are made known to us. + +4:5. Be of good comfort, O people of God, the memorial of Israel: + +4:6. You have been sold to the Gentiles, not for your destruction: but +because you provoked God to wrath, you are delivered to your +adversaries. + +4:7. For you have provoked him who made you, the eternal God, offering +sacrifice to devils, and not to God. + +4:8. For you have forgotten God, who brought you up, and you have +grieved Jerusalem that nursed you. + +4:9. For she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, and she said: Give +ear, all you that dwell near Sion, for God hath brought upon me great +mourning: + +4:10. For I have seen the captivity of my people, of my sons, and my +daughters, which the Eternal hath brought upon them. + +4:11. For I nourished them with joy: but I sent them away with weeping +and mourning. + +4:12. Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and desolate: I am forsaken +of many for the sins of my children, because they departed from the law +of God. + +4:13. And they have not known his justices, nor walked by the ways of +God's commandments, neither have they entered by the paths of his truth +and justice. + +4:14. Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember the captivity +of my sons and daughters, which the Eternal hath brought upon them. + +4:15. For he hath brought a nation upon them from afar, a wicked +nation, and of a strange tongue: + +4:16. Who have neither reverenced the ancient, nor pitied children, and +have carried away the beloved of the widow, and have left me all alone +without children. + +4:17. But as for me, what help can I give you? + +4:18. But he that hath brought the evils upon you, he will deliver you +out of the hands of your enemies. + +4:19. Go your way, my children, go your way: for I am left alone. + +4:20. I have put off the robe of peace, and have put upon me the +sackcloth of supplication, and I will cry to the most High in my days. + +4:21. Be of good comfort, my children, cry to the Lord, and he will +deliver you out of the hand of the princes your enemies. + +4:22. For my hope is in the Eternal that he will save you: and joy is +come upon me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall come +to you from our everlasting Saviour. + +4:23. For I sent you forth with mourning and weeping: but the Lord will +bring you back to me with joy and gladness for ever. + +4:24. For as the neighbours of Sion have now seen your captivity from +God: so shall they also shortly see your salvation from God, which +shall come upon you with great honour, and everlasting glory. + +4:25. My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you: +for thy enemy hath persecuted thee, but thou shalt quickly see his +destruction: and thou shalt get up upon his neck. + +4:26. My delicate ones have walked rough ways, for they were taken away +as a flock made a prey by the enemies. + +4:27. Be of good comfort, my children, and cry to the Lord: for you +shall be remembered by him that hath led you away. + +4:28. For as it was your mind to go astray from God; so when you return +again you shall seek him ten times as much. + +4:29. For he that hath brought evils upon you, shall bring you +everlasting joy again with your salvation. + +4:30. Be of good heart, O Jerusalem: for he exhorteth thee, that named +thee. + +4:31. The wicked that have afflicted thee, shall perish: and they that +have rejoiced at thy ruin, shall be punished. + +4:32. The cities which thy children have served, shall be punished: and +she that received thy sons. + +She that received, etc. . .viz., Babylon. + +4:33. For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so +shall she be grieved for her own desolation. + +4:34. And the joy of her multitude shall be cut off: and her gladness +shall be turned to mourning. + +4:35. For fire shall come upon her from the Eternal, long to endure, +and she shall be inhabited by devils for a great time. + +4:36. Look about thee, O Jerusalem, towards the east, and behold the +joy that cometh to thee from God. + +4:37. For behold thy children come, whom thou sentest away scattered, +they come gathered together from the east even to the west, at the word +of the Holy One rejoicing for the honour of God. + + + +Baruch Chapter 5 + + +Jerusalem is invited to rejoice and behold the return of her children +out of their captivity. + +5:1. Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: +and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou +hast from God. + +5:2. God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will +set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour. + +5:3. For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under +heaven. + +5:4. For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of +justice, and honour of piety. + +5:5. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the +east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the +setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance +of God. + +5:6. For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the +Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the +kingdom. + +5:7. For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the +everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with +the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God. + +5:8. Moreover the woods, and every sweetsmelling tree have overshadowed +Israel by the commandment of God. + +5:9. For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, +with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him. + + + +Baruch Chapter 6 + + +The epistle of Jeremias to the captives, as a preservative against +idolatry. + +A copy of the epistle that Jeremias sent to them that were to be led +away captives into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to declare to them +according to what was commanded him by God. + +6:1. For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be +carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of +Babylon. + +6:2. And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, +and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will +bring you away from thence with peace. + +Seven generations. . .That is, seventy years. + +6:3. But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and +of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the +Gentiles. + +6:4. Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be +afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you. + +6:5. But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, +say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord. + +6:6. For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of +your souls. + +6:7. For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves +laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot +speak. + +6:8. And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they +take gold and make them up. + +6:9. Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the +priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it +on themselves. + +6:10. Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out +harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn +their gods. + +6:11. And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the +moth. + +6:12. But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe +their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among +them. + +6:13. This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but +cannot put to death one that offendeth him. + +6:14. And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save +himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that +they are not gods. + +6:15. Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it +is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods: + +6:16. When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by +the feet of them that go in. + +6:17. And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath +offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the +priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by +thieves. + +6:18. They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they +cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house. + +6:19. And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, +gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they +feel it not. + +6:20. Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house. + +6:21. Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and +upon their heads, and cats in like manner. + +6:22. Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them +not. + +6:23. The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe +off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, +did they feel it. + +6:24. Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them. + +6:25. And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, +declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that +worship them. + +6:26. Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of +themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by +themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead. + +6:27. The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and +abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give +nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor. + +6:28. The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: +knowing, therefore, by these things that they are not gods, fear them +not. + +6:29. For how can they be called gods? because women set offerings +before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood: + +6:30. And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and +their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads. + +6:31. And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast +when one is dead. + +6:32. The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and +their children. + +6:33. And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are +not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king, nor put him +down: + +6:34. In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If +a man make a vow to them, and perform it not: they cannot require it. + +6:35. They cannot deliver a man from death, nor save the weak from the +mighty. + +6:36. They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man +from distress. + +36:7. They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless. + +6:38. Their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, +are like the stones that are hewn out of the mountains: and they that +worship them shall be confounded. + +6:39. How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods? + +6:40. Even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them: who when they here +of one dumb that cannot speak, they present him to Bel, entreating him, +that he may speak. + +6:41. As though they could be sensible that have no motion themselves: +and they, when they shall perceive this, will leave them: for their +gods themselves have no sense. + +6:42. The women also, with cords about them, sit in the ways, burning +olive-stones. + +6:43. And when any one of them, drawn away by some passenger, lieth +with him, she upbraideth her neighbor, that she was not thought as +worthy as herself, nor her cord broken. + +6:44. But all things that are done about them, are false: how is it +then to be thought, or to be said, that they are gods? + +6:45. And they are made by workmen, and by goldsmiths. They shall be +nothing else but what the priests will have them to be. + +6:46. For the artificers themselves that make them, are of no long +continuance. Can those things then that are made by them, be gods? + +6:47. But they have left false things and reproach to them that come +after. + +6:48. For when war cometh upon them , or evils: the priests consult +with themselves, where they may hide themselves with them. + +6:49. How then can they be thought to be gods, that can neither deliver +themselves from war, nor save themselves from evils? + +6:50. For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and +with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by +all nations, and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, +but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them. + +6:51. Whence, therefore, is it known that they are not gods, but the +work of men's hands, and no work of God is in them? + +6:52. They cannot set up a king over the land, nor give rain to men. + +6:53. They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression: +because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth. + +6:54. For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, +and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be +saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams. + +6:55. And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be +supposed, or admitted, that they are gods? + +6:56. Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with +gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or +robbers: they that are stronger than them, + +They that are stronger than them. . .That is, robbers and thieves are +stronger than these idols, being things without life or motion. + +6:57. Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment +wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they +help themselves. + +6:58. Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or +else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof +will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe +that are therein, than such false gods. + +6:59. The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth +for profitable uses, are obedient. + +6:60. In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to +be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country. + +6:61. And the clouds, when God commandeth them to go over the whole +world, do that which is commanded them. + +6:62. The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and +woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in +power, are alike to any one of them. + +6:63. Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they +are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any +good to men. + +6:64. Knowing, therefore, that they are not gods, fear them not. + +6:65. For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them. + +6:66. Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor +shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon. + +6:67. Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and +help themselves. + +6:68. Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so +fear them not. + +6:69. For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so +are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold. + +6:70. They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which +every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid +over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in +the dark. + +6:71. By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, +you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are +consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country. + +6:72. Better, therefore, is the just man that hath no idols: for he +shall be far from reproach. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF EZECHIEL + + + +EZECHIEL, whose name signifies the STRENGTH OF GOD, was of the priestly +race; and of the number of captives that were carried away to Babylon +with king JOACHIN. He was contemporary with JEREMIAS, and prophesied to +the same effect in Babylon, as JEREMIAS did in Jerusalem; and is said +to have ended his days in like manner, by martyrdom. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 1 + + +The time of Ezechiel's prophecy: he sees a glorious vision. + +1:1. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on +the fifth day of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives by +the river Chobar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of +God. + +The thirtieth year. . .Either of the age of Ezechiel; or, as others will +have it, from the solemn covenant made in the eighteenth year of the +reign of Josias. 4 Kings 23. + +1:2. On the fifth day of the month, the same was the fifth year of the +captivity of king Joachin, + +1:3. The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Buzi +in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the +Lord was there upon him. + +1:4. And I saw, and behold a whirlwind came out of the north: and a +great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and +out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it +were the resemblance of amber: + +1:5. And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: +and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them. + +Living creatures. . .Cherubims (as appears from Ecclesiasticus 49.10) +represented to the prophet under these mysterious shapes, as supporting +the throne of God, and as it were drawing his chariot. All this chapter +appeared so obscure, and so full of mysteries to the ancient Hebrews, +that, as we learn from St. Jerome, (Ep. ad Paulin.,) they suffered none +to read it before they were thirty years old. + +1:6. Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. + +1:7. Their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their foot was like +the sole of a calf's foot, and they sparkled like the appearance of +glowing brass. + +1:8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four +sides: and they had faces, and wings on the four sides, + +1:9. And the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They +turned not when they went: but every one went straight forward. + +1:10. And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a +man, and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the +face of an ox, on the left side of all the four: and the face of an +eagle over all the four. + +1:11. And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings +of every one were joined, and two covered their bodies: + +1:12. And every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse +of the spirit was to go, thither they went: and they turned not when +they went. + +1:13. And as for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance +was like that of burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of +lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the +living creatures, a bright fire, and lightning going forth from the +fire. + +1:14. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of +lightning. + +1:15. Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared upon the +earth by the living creatures one wheel with four faces. + +1:16. And the appearance of the wheels, and the work of them was like +the appearance of the sea: and the four had all one likeness: and their +appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the midst of a +wheel. + +1:17. When they went, they went by their four parts: and they turned +not when they went. + +When they went, they went by their four parts. . .That is, indifferently +to any of their sides either forward or backward: to the right or to +the left. + +1:18. The wheels had also a size, and a height, and a dreadful +appearance: and the whole body was full of eyes round about all the +four. + +1:19. And, when the living creatures went, the wheels also went +together by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the +earth, the wheels also were lifted up with them. + +1:20. Withersoever the spirit went, thither as the spirit went the +wheels also were lifted up withal, and followed it: for the spirit of +life was in the wheels. + +1:21. When those went these went, and when those stood these stood, and +when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up +together, and followed them: for the spirit of life was in the wheels. + +1:22. And over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of +the firmament, the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, and +stretched out over their heads above. + +1:23. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward +the other, every one with two wings covered his body, and the other was +covered in like manner. + +1:24. And I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many +waters, as it were the voice of the most high God: when they walked, it +was like the voice of a multitude, like the noise of an army, and when +they stood, their wings were let down. + +1:25. For when a voice came from above the firmament, that was over +their heads, they stood, and let down their wings. + +1:26. And above the firmament that was over their heads, was the +likeness of a throne, as the appearance of the sapphire stone, and upon +the likeness of the throne, was the likeness of the appearance of a man +above upon it. + +1:27. And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber as the appearance +of fire within it round about: from his loins and upward, and from his +loins downward, I saw as it were the resemblance of fire shining round +about. + +1:28. As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy +day: this was the appearance of the brightness round about. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 2 + + +The prophet receives his commission. + +2:1. This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, and +I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that +spoke, and he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will +speak to thee. + +2:2. And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he +set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me, + +2:3. And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to +a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their +fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day. + +2:4. And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of +an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord +God: + +2:5. If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, +for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath +been a prophet in the midst of them. + +2:6. And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their +words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest +with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their +looks: for they are a provoking house. + +2:7. And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, +and forbear: for they provoke me to anger. + +2:8. But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not +thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat +what I give thee. + +2:9. And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a +book rolled up: and he spread it before me, and it was written within +and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, +and woe. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 3 + + +The prophet eats the book, and receives further instructions: the +office of a watchman. + +3:1. And he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat +this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. + +Eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. . .By this eating +of the book was signified the diligent attention and affection with +which we are to receive, and embrace the word of God; and to let it, as +it were, sink into our interior by devout meditation. + +3:2. And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book: + +3:3. And he said to me: Son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels +shall be filled with this book, which I give thee, and I did eat it: +and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. + +3:4. And he said to me: Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and thou +shalt speak my words to them. + +3:5. For thou art not sent to a people of a profound speech, and of an +unknown tongue, but to the house of Israel: + +3:6. Nor to many nations of a strange speech, and of an unknown tongue, +whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them, +they would hearken to thee. + +3:7. But the house of Israel will not hearken to thee: because they +will not hearken to me: for all the house of Israel are of a hard +forehead and an obstinate heart. + +3:8. Behold I have made thy face stronger than their faces: and thy +forehead harder than their foreheads. + +3:9. I have made thy face like an adamant and like flint: fear them +not, neither be thou dismayed at their presence: for they are a +provoking house. + +3:10. And he said to me: Son of man, receive in thy heart, and hear +with thy ears, all the words that I speak to thee: + +3:11. And go get thee in to them of the captivity, to the children of +thy people, and thou shalt speak to them, and shalt say to them: Thus +saith the Lord: If so be they will hear, and will forbear. + +3:12. And the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a +great commotion, saying: Blessed be the glory of the Lord, from his +place. + +3:13. The noise of the wings of the living creatures striking one +against another, and the noise of the wheels following the living +creatures, and the noise of a great commotion. + +3:14. The spirit also lifted me, and took me up: and I went away in +bitterness in the indignation of my spirit: for the hand of the Lord +was with me, strengthening me. + +3:15. And I came to them of the captivity, to the heap of new corn, to +them that dwelt by the river Chobar, and I sat where they sat: and I +remained there seven days mourning in the midst of them. + +The heap of new corn. . .It was the name of a place: in Hebrew, tel +abib. + +3:16. And at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me, +saying: + +3:17. Son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel: +and thou shalt hear the word out of my mouth, and shalt tell it them +from me. + +3:18. If, when I say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die: thou declare +it not to him, nor speak to him, that he may be converted from his +wicked way, and live: the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, +but I will require his blood at thy hand. + +3:19. But if thou give warning to the wicked, and he be not converted +from his wickedness, and from his evil way: he indeed shall die in his +iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul. + +3:20. Moreover if the just man shall turn away from his justice, and +shall commit iniquity: I will lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall +die, because thou hast not given him warning: he shall die in his sin, +and his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: but I +will require his blood at thy hand. + +3:21. But if thou warn the just man, that the just may not sin, and he +doth not sin: living he shall live, because thou hast warned him, and +thou hast delivered thy soul. + +3:22. And the hand of the Lord was upon me, and he said to me: Rise and +go forth into the plain, and there I will speak to thee. + +3:23. And I rose up, and went forth into the plain: and behold the +glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the river +Chobar: and I fell upon my face. + +3:24. And the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet: and he +spoke to me, and said to me: Go in; and shut thyself up in the midst of +thy house. + +3:25. And thou, O son of man, behold they shall put bands upon thee, +and they shall bind thee with them: and thou shalt not go forth from +the midst of them. + +3:26. And I will make thy tongue stick fast to the roof of thy mouth, +and thou shalt be dumb, and not as a man that reproveth: because they +are a provoking house. + +3:27. But when I shall speak to thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou +shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: He that heareth, let him +hear: and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a provoking +house. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 4 + + +A prophetic description of the siege of Jerusalem, and the famine that +shall reign there. + +4:1. And thou, O son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee: +and draw upon it the plan of the city of Jerusalem. + +4:2. And lay siege against it, and build forts, and cast up a mount, +and set a camp against it, and place battering rams round about it. + +4:3. And take unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron +between thee and the city: and set thy face resolutely against it, and +it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it: it is a sign +to the house of Israel. + +4:4. And thou shalt sleep upon thy left side, and shalt lay the +iniquities of the house of Israel upon it, according to the number of +the days that thou shalt sleep upon it, and thou shalt take upon thee +their iniquity. + +4:5. And I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according +to the number of the days three hundred and ninety days: and thou shalt +bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. + +4:6. And when thou hast accomplished this, thou shalt sleep again upon +thy right side, and thou shalt take upon thee the iniquity of the house +of Juda forty days: a day for a year, yea, a day for a year I have +appointed to thee. + +4:7. And thou shalt turn thy face to the siege of Jerusalem and thy arm +shall be stretched out: and thou shalt prophesy against it. + +4:8. Behold I have encompassed thee with bands: and thou shalt not turn +thyself from one side to the other, till thou hast ended the days of +thy siege. + +4:9. And take to thee wheat and barley, and beans, and lentils, and +millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread +thereof according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon +thy side: three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof. + +4:10. And thy meat that thou shalt eat, shall be in weight twenty +staters a day: from time to time thou shalt eat it. + +4:11. And thou shalt drink water by measure, the sixth part of a hin: +from time to time thou shalt drink it, + +Hin. . .That is, a measure of liquids containing about ten pints. + +4:12. And thou shalt eat it as barley bread baked under the ashes: and +thou shalt cover it, in their sight, with the dung that cometh out of a +man. + +4:13. And the Lord said: So shall the children of Israel eat their +bread all filthy among the nations whither I will cast them out. + +4:14. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God, behold my soul hath not been +defiled, and from my infancy even till now, I have not eaten any thing +that died of itself, or was torn by beasts, and no unclean flesh hath +entered into my mouth. + +4:15. And he said to me: Behold I have given thee neat's dung for man's +dung, and thou shalt make thy bread therewith. + +4:16. And he said to me: Son of man: Behold, I will break in pieces the +staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and +with care: and they shall drink water by measure, and in distress. + +4:17. So that when bread and water fail, every man may fall against his +brother, and they may pine away in their iniquities. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 5 + + +The judgments of God upon the Jews are foreshewn under the type of the +prophet's hair. + +5:1. And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the +hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take +thee a balance to weigh in, and divide the hair. + +5:2. A third part thou shalt burn with fire in the midst of the city, +according to the fulfilling of the days of the siege: and thou shalt +take a third part, and cut it in pieces with the knife all round about: +and the other third part thou shalt scatter in the wind, and I will +draw out the sword after them. + +5:3. And thou shalt take thereof a small number: and shalt bind them in +the skirt of thy cloak. + +5:4. And thou shalt take of them again, and shalt cast them in the +midst of the fire, and shalt burn them with fire: and out of it shall +come forth a fire into all the house of Israel. + +5:5. Thus saith the Lord God: This is Jerusalem, I have set her in the +midst of the nations, and the countries round about her. + +5:6. And she hath despised my judgments, so as to be more wicked than +the Gentiles; and my commandments, more than the countries that are +round about her: for they have cast off my judgments, and have not +walked in my commandments. + +5:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have surpassed the +Gentiles that are round about you, and have not walked in my +commandments, and have not kept my judgments, and have not done +according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you: + +5:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, and +I myself will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of +the Gentiles. + +5:9. And I will do in thee that which I have not done: and the like to +which I will do no more, because of all thy abominations. + +5:10. Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, +and the sons shall eat their fathers: and I will execute judgments in +thee, and I will scatter thy whole remnant into every wind. + +5:11. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God: Because thou hast +violated my sanctuary with all thy offences, and with all thy +abominations: I will also break thee in pieces, and my eye shall not +spare, and I will not have any pity. + +5:12. A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and shall be +consumed with famine in the midst of thee: and a third part of thee +shall fall by the sword round about thee: and a third part of thee will +I scatter into every wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. + +5:13. And I will accomplish my fury, and will cause my indignation to +rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the +Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I shall have accomplished my +indignation in them. + +5:14. And I will make thee desolate, and a reproach among the nations +that are round about thee, in the sight of every one that passeth by. + +5:15. And thou shalt be a reproach, and a scoff, an example, and an +astonishment amongst the nations that are round about thee, when I +shall have executed judgments in thee in anger, and in indignation, and +in wrathful rebukes. + +5:16. I the Lord have spoken it: When I shall send upon them the +grievous arrows of famine, which shall bring death, and which I will +send to destroy you: and I will gather together famine against you: and +I will break among you the staff of bread. + +5:17. And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter +destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass through thee, and I +will bring in the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 6 + + +The punishment of Israel for their idolatry: a remnant shall be saved. + +6:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +6:2. Son of man set thy face towards the mountains of Israel, and +prophesy against them. + +6:3. And say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: +Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, and to the +rocks, and the valleys: Behold, I will bring upon you the sword, and I +will destroy your high places. + +6:4. And I will throw down your altars, and your idols shall be broken +in pieces: and I will cast down your slain before your idols. + +6:5. And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before +your idols: and I will scatter your bones round about your altars, + +6:6. In all your dwelling places. The cities shall be laid waste, and +the high places shall be thrown down, and destroyed, and your altars +shall be abolished, and shall be broken in pieces: and your idols shall +be no more, and your temples shall be destroyed, and your works shall +be defaced. + +6:7. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you: and you shall know +that I am the Lord. + +6:8. And I will leave in you some that shall escape the sword among the +nations, when I shall have scattered you through the countries. + +6:9. And they that are saved of you shall remember me amongst the +nations, to which they are carried captives: because I have broken +their heart that was faithless, and revolted from me: and their eyes +that went a fornicating after their idols: and they shall be displeased +with themselves because of the evils which they have committed in all +their abominations. + +6:10. And they shall know that I the Lord have not spoken in vain that +I would do this evil to them. + +6:11. Thus saith the Lord God: Strike with thy hand and stamp with thy +foot, and say: Alas, for all the abominations of the evils of the house +of Israel: for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the +pestilence. + +6:12. He that is far off shall die of the pestilence: and he that is +near, shall fall by the sword: and he that remaineth, and is besieged, +shall die by the famine: and I will accomplish my indignation upon +them. + +6:13. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when your slain shall be +amongst your idols, round about your altars, in every high hill, and on +all the tops of mountains, and under every woody tree, and under every +thick oak, the place where they burnt sweet smelling frankincense to +all their idols. + +6:14. And I will stretch forth my hand upon them: and I will make the +land desolate, and abandoned from the desert of Deblatha in all their +dwelling places: and they shall know that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 7 + + +The final desolation of Israel: from which few shall escape. + +7:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +7:2. And thou son of man, thus saith the Lord God to the land of +Israel: The end is come, the end is come upon the four quarters of the +land. + +7:3. Now is an end come upon thee, and I will send my wrath upon thee, +and I will judge thee according to thy ways: and I will set all thy +abominations against thee. + +7:4. And my eye shall not spare thee, and I will shew thee no pity: but +I will lay thy ways upon thee, and thy abominations shall be in the +midst of thee: and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +7:5. Thus saith the Lord God: One affliction, behold an affliction is +come. + +7:6. An end is come, the end is come, it hath awaked against thee: +behold it is come. + +7:7. Destruction is come upon thee that dwellest in the land: the time +is come, the day of slaughter is near, and not of the joy of mountains. + +7:8. Now very shortly I will pour out my wrath upon thee, and I will +accomplish my anger in thee: and I will judge thee according to thy +ways, and I will lay upon thee all thy crimes. + +7:9. And my eye shall not spare, neither will I shew mercy: but I will +lay thy ways upon thee, and thy abominations shall be in the midst of +thee: and you shall know that I am the Lord that strike. + +7:10. Behold the day, behold it is come: destruction is gone forth, the +rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. + +7:11. Iniquity is risen up into a rod of impiety: nothing of them shall +remain, nor of their people, nor of the noise of them: and there shall +be no rest among them. + +7:12. The time is come, the day is at hand: let not the buyer rejoice: +nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the people thereof. + +7:13. For the seller shall not return to that which he hath sold, +although their life be yet among the living. For the vision which +regardeth all the multitude thereof, shall not go back: neither shall +man be strengthened in the iniquity of his life. + +7:14. Blow the trumpet, let all be made ready, yet there is none to go +to the battle: for my wrath shall be upon all the people thereof. + +7:15. The sword without: and the pestilence, and the famine within: he +that is in the field shall die by the sword: and they that are in the +city, shall be devoured by the pestilence, and the famine. + +7:16. And such of them as shall flee shall escape: and they shall be in +the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them trembling, every +one for his iniquity. + +7:17. All hands shall be made feeble, and all knees shall run with +water. + +7:18. And they shall gird themselves with haircloth, and fear shall +cover them and shame shall be upon every face, and baldness upon all +their heads. + +7:19. Their silver shall be cast forth, and their gold shall become a +dunghill. Their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them +in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They shall not satisfy their soul, +and their bellies shall not be filled: because it hath been the +stumblingblock of their iniquity. + +7:20. And they have turned the ornament of their jewels into pride, and +have made of it the images of their abominations, and idols: therefore +I have made it an uncleanness to them. + +7:21. And I will give it into the hands of strangers for spoil, and to +the wicked of the earth for a prey, and they shall defile it. + +7:22. And I will turn away my face from them, and they shall violate my +secret place: and robbers shall enter into it, and defile it. + +Secret place, etc. . .Viz., the inward sanctuary, the holy of holies. + +7:23. Make a shutting up: for the land is full of the judgment of +blood, and the city is full of iniquity. + +Make a shutting up. . .In Hebrew, a chain, viz., for imprisonment and +captivity. + +7:24. And I will bring the worst of the nations, and they shall possess +their houses: and I will make the pride of the mighty to cease, and +they shall possess their sanctuary. + +7:25. When distress cometh upon them, they will seek for peace and +there shall be none. + +7:26. Trouble shall come upon trouble, and rumour upon rumour, and they +shall seek a vision of the prophet, and the law shall perish from the +priest, and counsel from the ancients. + +7:27. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with +sorrow, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled. I +will do to them according to their way, and will judge them according +to their judgments: and they shall know that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 8 + + +The prophet sees in a vision the abominations committed in Jerusalem; +which determine the Lord to spare them no longer. + +8:1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the +fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda +sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me. + +8:2. And I saw, and behold a likeness as the appearance of fire: from +the appearance of his loins, and downward, fire: and from his loins, +and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the appearance of +amber. + +8:3. And the likeness of a hand was put forth and took me by a lock of +my head: and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, +and brought me in the vision of God into Jerusalem, near the inner +gate, that looked toward the north, where was set the idol of jealousy +to provoke to jealousy. + +8:4. And behold the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to +the vision which I had seen in the plain. + +8:5. And he said to me: Son of man, lift up thy eyes towards the way of +the north, and I lifted up my eyes towards the way of the north: and +behold on the north side of the gate of the altar the idol of jealousy +in the very entry. + +8:6. And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou see, thinkest thou, what +these are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel +committeth here, that I should depart far off from my sanctuary? and +turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations. + +8:7. And he brought me in to the door of the court: and I saw, and +behold a hole in the wall. + +8:8. And he said to me: Son of man, dig in the wall, and when I had +digged in the wall, behold a door. + +8:9. And he said to me: Go in, and see the wicked abominations which +they commit here. + +8:10. And I went in and saw, and behold every form of creeping things, +and of living creatures, the abominations, and all the idols of the +house of Israel, were painted on the wall all round about. + +8:11. And seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and +Jezonias the son of Saaphan stood in the midst of them, that stood +before the pictures: and every one had a censer in his hand: and a +cloud of smoke went up from the incense. + +8:12. And he said to me: Surely thou seest, O son of man, what the +ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every one in private in +his chamber: for they say: The Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath +forsaken the earth. + +8:13. And he said to me: If thou turn thee again, thou shalt see +greater abominations which these commit. + +8:14. And he brought me in by the door of the gate of the Lord's house, +which looked to the north: and behold women sat there mourning for +Adonis. + +Adonis. . .The favourite of Venus, slain by a wild boar, as feigned by +the heathen poets, and which being here represented by an idol, is +lamented by the female worshippers of that goddess. In the Hebrew, the +name is Tammuz. + +8:15. And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man: but turn +thee again, thou shalt see greater abominations than these. + +8:16. And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord: +and behold at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and +the altar, were about five and twenty men having their backs towards +the temple of the Lord, in their faces to the east: and they adored +towards the rising of the sun. + +8:17. And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man: is this a +light thing to the house of Juda, that they should commit these +abominations which they have committed here: because they have filled +the land with iniquity, and have turned to provoke me to anger? and +behold they put a branch to their nose. + +8:18. Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall +not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they shall cry to +my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 9 + + +All are ordered to be destroyed that are not marked in their foreheads. +God will not be entreated for them. + +9:1. And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations +of the city are at hand, and every one hath a destroying weapon in his +hand. + +9:2. And behold six men came from the way of the upper gate, which +looketh to the north: and each one had his weapon of destruction in his +hand: and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with linen, +with a writer's inkhorn at his reins: and they went in, and stood by +the brazen altar. + +9:3. And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon +which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man +that was clothed with linen, and had a writer's inkhorn at his loins. + +9:4. And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, +through the midst of Jerusalem: and mark Thau upon the foreheads of the +men that sigh, and mourn for all the abominations that are committed in +the midst thereof. + +Mark Thau. . .Thau, or Tau, is the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, +and signifies a sign, or a mark; which is the reason why some +translators render this place set a mark, or mark a mark without +specifying what this mark was. But St. Jerome, and other interpreters, +conclude it was the form of the letter Thau, which in the ancient +Hebrew character, was the form of a cross. + +9:5. And to the others he said in my hearing: Go ye after him through +the city, and strike: let not your eyes spare, nor be ye moved with +pity. + +9:6. Utterly destroy old and young, maidens, children and women: but +upon whomsoever you shall see Thau, kill him not, and begin ye at my +sanctuary. So they began at the ancient men who were before the house. + +9:7. And he said to them: Defile the house, and fill the courts with +the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew them that were in +the city. + +9:8. And the slaughter being ended I was left; and I fell upon my face, +and crying, I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, wilt thou then +destroy all the remnant of Israel, by pouring out thy fury upon +Jerusalem? + +9:9. And he said to me: The iniquity of the house of Israel, and of +Juda, is exceeding great, and the land is filled with blood, and the +city is filled with perverseness: for they have said: The Lord hath +forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not. + +9:10. Therefore neither shall my eye spare, nor will I have pity: I +will requite their way upon their head. + +9:11. And behold the man that was clothed with linen, that had the +inkhorn at his back, returned the word, saying: I have done as thou +hast commanded me. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 10 + + +Fire is taken from the midst of the wheels under the cherubims, and +scattered over the city. A description of the cherubims. + +10:1. And I saw and behold in the firmament that was over the heads of +the cherubims, there appeared over them as it were the sapphire stone, +as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. + +10:2. And he spoke to the man, that was clothed with linen, and said: +Go in between the wheels that are under the cherubims and fill thy hand +with the coals of fire that are between the cherubims, and pour them +out upon the city. And he went in, in my sight: + +10:3. And the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the +man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. + +10:4. And the glory of the Lord was lifted up from above the cherub to +the threshold of the house: and the house was filled with the cloud, +and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord. + +10:5. And the sound of the wings of the cherubims was heard even to the +outward court as the voice of God Almighty speaking. + +10:6. And when he had commanded the man that was clothed with linen, +saying: Take fire from the midst of the wheels that are between the +cherubims: he went in and stood beside the wheel. + +10:7. And one cherub stretched out his arm from the midst of the +cherubims to the fire that was between the cherubims: and he took, and +put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it +and went forth. + +10:8. And there appeared in the cherubims the likeness of a man's hand +under their wings. + +10:9. And I saw, and behold there were four wheels by the cherubims: +one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the +appearance of the wheels was to the sight like the chrysolite stone: + +10:10. And as to their appearance, all four were alike: as if a wheel +were in the midst of a wheel. + +10:11. And when they went, they went by four ways: and they turned not +when they went: but to the place whither they first turned, the rest +also followed, and did not turn back. + +By four ways. . .That is, by any of the four ways, forward, backward, to +the right or to the left. + +10:12. And their whole body, and their necks, and their hands, and +their wings, and the circles were full of eyes, round about the four +wheels. + +10:13. And these wheels he called voluble, in my hearing. + +Voluble. . .That is, rolling wheels, galgal. + +10:14. And every one had four faces: one face was the face of a cherub, +and the second face, the face of a man: and in the third was the face +of a lion: and in the fourth the face of an eagle. + +10:15. And the cherubims were lifted up: this is the living creature +that I had seen by the river Chobar. + +10:16. And when the cherubims went, the wheels also went by them: and +when the cherubims lifted up their wings, to mount up from the earth, +the wheels stayed not behind, but were by them. + +10:17. When they stood, these stood: and when they were lifted up, +these were lifted up: for the spirit of life was in them. + +10:18. And the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the +temple: and stood over the cherubims. + +10:19. And the cherubims lifting up their wings, were raised from the +earth before me: and as they went out, the wheels also followed: and it +stood in the entry of the east gate of the house of the Lord: and the +glory of the God of Israel was over them. + +10:20. This is the living creature, which I saw under the God of Israel +by the river Chobar: and I understood that they were cherubims. + +10:21. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings: and the +likeness of a man's hand was under their wings. + +10:22. And as to the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces +which I had seen by the river Chobar, and their looks, and the impulse +of every one to go straight forward. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 11 + + +A prophecy against the presumptuous assurance of the great ones. A +remnant shall be saved, and receive a new spirit, and a new heart. + +11:1. And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the east gate of +the house of the Lord, which looketh towards the rising of the sun: and +behold in the entry of the gate five and twenty men: and I saw in the +midst of them Jezonias the son of Azur, and Pheltias the son of +Banaias, princes of the people. + +11:2. And he said to me: Son of man, these are the men that study +iniquity, and frame a wicked counsel in this city, + +11:3. Saying: Were not houses lately built? This city is the caldron, +and we the flesh. + +Were not houses lately built, etc. . .These men despised the predictions +and threats of the prophets; who declared to them from God, that the +city should be destroyed, and the inhabitants carried into captivity: +and they made use of this kind of argument against the prophets, that +the city, so far from being like to be destroyed, had lately been +augmented by the building of new houses; from whence they further +inferred, by way of a proverb, using the similitude of a cauldron, out +of which the flesh is not taken, till it is thoroughly boiled, and fit +to be eaten, that they should not be carried away out of their city, +but there end their days in peace. + +11:4. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, thou son of man. + +11:5. And the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me: Speak: +Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I +know the thoughts of your heart. + +11:6. You have killed a great many in this city, and you have filled +the streets thereof with the slain. + +11:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Your slain, whom you have laid +in the midst thereof, they are the flesh, all this is the caldron: and +I will bring you forth out of the midst thereof. + +11:8. You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, +saith the Lord God. + +11:9. And I will cast you out of the midst thereof, and I will deliver +you into the hand of the enemies, and I will execute judgments upon +you. + +11:10. You shall fall by the sword: I will judge you in the borders of +Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +In the borders of Israel. . .They pretended that they should die in +peace in Jerusalem; God tells them it should not be so; but that they +should be judged and condemned, and fall by the sword in the borders of +Israel: viz., in Reblatha in the land of Emath, where all their chief +men were put to death by Nabuchodonosor. 4 Kings 25., and Jer. 52.10, +27. + +11:11. This shall not be as a caldron to you, and you shall not be as +flesh in the midst thereof: I will judge you in the borders of Israel. + +11:12. And you shall know that I am the Lord: because you have not +walked in my commandments, and have not done my judgments, but you have +done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about +you. + +11:13. And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pheltias the son of +Banaias died: and I fell down upon my face, and I cried with a loud +voice: and said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God: wilt thou make an end +of all the remnant of Israel? + +11:14. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +11:15. Son of man, thy brethren, thy brethren, thy kinsmen, and all the +house of Israel, all they to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have +said: Get ye far from the Lord, the land is given in possession to us. + +Thy brethren, etc. . .He speaks of them that had been carried away +captives before; who were despised by them that remained in Jerusalem: +but as the prophet here declares to them from God, should be in a more +happy condition than they, and after some time return from their +captivity. + +11:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because I have removed them +far off among the Gentiles, and because I have scattered them among the +countries: I will be to them a little sanctuary in the countries +whither they are come. + +11:17. Therefore speak to them: Thus saith the Lord God: I will gather +you from among the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries +wherein you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. + +11:18. And they shall go in thither, and shall take away all the +scandals, and all the abominations thereof from thence. + +11:19. And I will give them one heart, and will put a new spirit in +their bowels: and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, +and will give them a heart of flesh: + +11:20. That they may walk in my commandments, and keep my judgments, +and do them: and that they may be my people, and I may be their God. + +11:21. But as for them whose heart walketh after their scandals and +abominations, I will lay their way upon their head, saith the Lord God. + +11:22. And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and the wheels with +them: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. + +11:23. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, +and stood over the mount that is on the east side of the city. + +11:24. And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into Chaldea, to +them of the captivity, in vision, by the spirit of God: and the vision +which I had seen was taken up from me. + +11:25. And I spoke to them of the captivity all the words of the Lord, +which he had shewn me. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 12 + + +The prophet forsheweth, by signs, the captivity of Sedecias, and the +desolation of the people: all which shall quickly come to pass. + +12:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +12:2. Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a provoking house: who +have eyes to see, and see not: and ears to hear, and hear not: for they +are a provoking house. + +12:3. Thou, therefore, O son of man, prepare thee all necessaries for +removing, and remove by day into their sight: and thou shalt remove out +of thy place to another place in their sight, if so be they will regard +it: for they are a provoking house. + +12:4. And thou shalt bring forth thy furniture as the furniture of one +that is removing by day in their sight: and thou shalt go forth in the +evening in their presence, as one goeth forth that removeth his +dwelling. + +12:5. Dig thee a way through the wall before their eyes: and thou shalt +go forth through it. + +12:6. In their sight thou shalt be carried out upon men's shoulders, +thou shalt be carried out in the dark: thou shalt cover thy face, and +shalt not see the ground: for I have set thee for a sign of things to +come to the house of Israel. + +12:7. I did therefore as he had commanded me: I brought forth my goods +by day, as the goods of one that removeth: and in the evening I digged +through the wall with my hand, and I went forth in the dark, and was +carried on men's shoulders in their sight. + +12:8. And the word of the Lord came to me in the morning, saying: + +12:9. Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the provoking house, +said to thee: What art thou doing? + +12:10. Say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: This burden concerneth my +prince that is in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel, that are +among them. + +12:11. Say: I am a sign of things to come to you: as I have done, so +shall it be done to them: they shall be removed from their dwellings, +and go into captivity. + +12:12. And the prince that is in the midst of them, shall be carried on +shoulders, he shall go forth in the dark: they shall dig through the +wall to bring him out: his face shall be covered, that he may not see +the ground with his eyes. + +12:13. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my +net: and I will bring him into Babylon, into the land of the Chaldeans, +and he shall not see it, and there he shall die. + +He shall not see it. . .Because his eyes shall be put out by +Nabuchodonosor. + +12:14. And all that are about him, his guards, and his troops I will +scatter into every wind: and I will draw out the sword after them. + +12:15. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have +dispersed them among the nations, and scattered them in the countries. + +12:16. And I will leave a few men of them from the sword, and from the +famine, and from the pestilence: that they may declare all their wicked +deeds among the nations whither they shall go: and they shall know that +I am the Lord. + +12:17. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +12:18. Son of man, eat thy bread in trouble and drink thy water in +hurry and sorrow. + +12:19. And say to the people of the land: Thus saith the Lord God to +them that dwell in Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat +their bread in care, and drink their water in desolation: that the land +may become desolate from the multitude that is therein, for the +iniquity of all that dwell therein. + +12:20. And the cities that are now inhabited shall be laid waste, and +the land shall be desolate: and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +12:21. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +12:22. Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of +Israel? saying: The days shall be prolonged, and every vision shall +fail. + +12:23. Say to them therefore: Thus saith the Lord God: I will make this +proverb to cease, neither shall it be any more a common saying in +Israel: and tell them that the days are at hand, and the effect of +every vision. + +12:24. For there shall be no more any vain visions, nor doubtful +divination in the midst of the children of Israel. + +12:25. For I the Lord will speak: and what word soever I shall speak, +it shall come to pass, and shall not be prolonged any more: but in your +days, ye provoking house, I will speak the word, and will do it, saith +the Lord God. + +12:26. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +12:27. Son of man, behold the house of Israel, they that say: The +visions that this man seeth, is for many days to come: and this man +prophesieth of times afar off. + +12:28. Therefore say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: not one word of +mine shall be prolonged any more: the word that I shall speak shall be +accomplished, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 13 + + +God declares against false prophets and prophetesses, that deceive the +people with lies. + +13:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +13:2. Son of man, prophesy thou against the prophets of Israel that +prophesy: and thou shalt say to them that prophesy out of their own +heart: Hear ye the word of the Lord: + +13:3. Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets that follow +their own spirit, and see nothing. + +13:4. Thy prophets, O Israel, were like foxes in the deserts. + +13:5. You have not gone up to face the enemy, nor have you set up a +wall for the house of Israel, to stand in battle in the day of the +Lord. + +13:6. They see vain things, and they foretell lies, saying: The Lord +saith: whereas the Lord hath not sent them: and they have persisted to +confirm what they have said. + +13:7. Have you not seen a vain vision and spoken a lying divination: +and you say: The Lord saith: whereas I have not spoken. + +13:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have spoken vain +things, and have seen lies: therefore behold I come against you, saith +the Lord God. + +13:9. And my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vain things, and +that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor +shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither +shall they enter into the land of Israel, and you shall know that I am +the Lord God. + +13:10. Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there +is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with +dirt without straw. + +13:11. Say to them that daub without tempering, that it shall fall: for +there shall be an overflowing shower, and I will cause great hailstones +to fall violently from above, and a stormy wind to throw it down. + +13:12. Behold, when the wall is fallen: shall it not be said to you: +Where is the daubing wherewith you have daubed it? + +13:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Lo, I will cause a stormy +wind to break forth in my indignation, and there shall be an +overflowing shower in my anger: and great hailstones in my wrath to +consume. + +13:14. And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with +untempered mortar: and I will make it even with the ground, and the +foundation thereof shall be laid bare: and it shall fall, and shall be +consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +13:15. And I will accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that +daub it without tempering the mortar, and I will say to you: The wall +is no more, and they that daub it are no more. + +13:16. Even the prophets of Israel that prophesy to Jerusalem, and that +see visions of peace for her: and there is no peace, saith the Lord +God. + +13:17. And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy +people that prophesy out of their own heart: and do thou prophesy +against them, + +13:18. And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions +under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every +age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they +gave life to their souls. + +Sew cushions, etc. . .Viz., by making people easy in their sins, and +promising them impunity.--Ibid. They gave life to their souls. . .That +is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. + +13:19. And they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley, +and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save +souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that +believe lies. + +Violated me. . .That is, dishonoured and discredited me. Ibid. To kill +souls, etc. . .That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to +die; and to promise life to them who are not to live. + +13:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I declare against your +cushions, wherewith you catch flying souls: and I will tear them off +from your arms: and I will let go the soul that you catch, the souls +that should fly. + +13:21. And I will tear your pillows, and will deliver my people out of +your hand, neither shall they be any more in your hands to be a prey: +and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +13:22. Because with lies you have made the heart of the just to mourn, +whom I have not made sorrowful: and have strengthened the hands of the +wicked, that he should not return from his evil way, and live. + +13:23. Therefore you shall not see vain things, nor divine divinations +any more, and I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall +know that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 14 + + +God suffers the wicked to be deceived in punishment of their +wickedness. The evils that shall come upon them for their sins: for +which they shall not be delivered by the prayers of Noe, Daniel, and +Job. But a remnant shall be preserved. + +14:1. And some of the ancients of Israel came to me, and sat before me. + +14:2. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +14:3. Son of man, these men have placed their uncleannesses in their +hearts, and have set up before their face the stumblingblock of their +iniquity: and shall I answer when they inquire of me? + +Uncleanness. . .That is, their filthy idols, upon which they have set +their hearts: and which are a stumblingblock to their souls. + +14:4. Therefore speak to them, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord +God: Man, man of the house of Israel that shall place his uncleannesses +in his heart, and set up the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his +face, and shall come to the prophet inquiring of me by him: I the Lord +will answer him according to the multitude of his uncleannesses: + +Man, man. . .That is, every man, an Hebrew expression. + +14:5. That the house of Israel may be caught in their own heart, with +which they have departed from me through all their idols. + +14:6. Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Be +converted, and depart from your idols, and turn away your faces from +all your abominations. + +14:7. For every man of the house of Israel, and every stranger among +the proselytes in Israel, if he separate himself from me, and place his +idols in his heart, and set the stumblingblock of his iniquity before +his face, and come to the prophet to inquire of me by him: I the Lord +will answer him by myself. + +14:8. And I will set my face against that man, and will make him an +example, and a proverb, and will cut him off from the midst of my +people: and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +14:9. And when the prophet shall err, and speak a word: I the Lord have +deceived that prophet: and I will stretch forth my hand upon him, and +will cut him off from the midst of my people Israel. + +The prophet shall err, etc. . .He speaks of false prophets, answering +out of their own heads and according to their own corrupt +inclinations.--Ibid. I have deceived that prophet. . .God Almighty +deceives false prophets, partly by withdrawing his light from them; and +abandoning them to their own corrupt inclinations, which push them on +to prophesy such things as are agreeable to those who consult them: and +partly by disappointing them, and causing all thing to happen contrary +to what they have said. + +14:10. And they shall bear their iniquity: according to the iniquity of +him that inquireth, so shall the iniquity of the prophet be. + +14:11. That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, nor be +polluted with all their transgressions: but may be my people, and I may +be their God, saith the Lord of hosts. + +14:12. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +14:13. Son of man, when a land shall sin against me, so as to +transgress grievously, I will stretch forth my hand upon it, and will +break the staff of the bread thereof: and I will send famine upon it, +and will destroy man and beast out of it. + +14:14. And if these three men, Noe, Daniel, and Job, shall be in it: +they shall deliver their own souls by their justice, saith the Lord of +hosts. + +14:15. And if I shall bring mischievous beasts also upon the land to +waste it, and it be desolate, so that there is none that can pass +because of the beasts: + +14:16. If these three men shall be in it, as I live, saith the Lord, +they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters: but they only shall be +delivered, and the land shall be made desolate. + +14:17. Or if I bring the sword upon that land, and say to the sword: +Pass through the land: and I destroy man and beast out of it: + +14:18. And these three men be in the midst thereof: as I live, saith +the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they +themselves alone shall be delivered. + +14:19. Or if I also send the pestilence upon that land, and pour out my +indignation upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: + +14:20. And Noe, and Daniel, and Job be in the midst thereof: as I live, +saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter: but +they shall only deliver their own souls by their justice. + +14:21. For thus saith the Lord: Although I shall send in upon Jerusalem +my four grievous judgments, the sword, and the famine, and the +mischievous beasts, and the pestilence, to destroy out of it man and +beast, + +14:22. Yet there shall be left in it some that shall be saved, who +shall bring away their sons and daughters: behold they shall come among +you, and you shall see their way, and their doings: and you shall be +comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, in +all things that I have brought upon it. + +14:23. And they shall comfort you, when you shall see their ways, and +their doings: and you shall know that I have not done without cause all +that I have done in it, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 15 + + +As a vine cut down is fit for nothing but the fire; so it shall be with +Jerusalem, for her sins. + +15:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +15:2. Son of man, what shall be made of the wood of the vine, out of +all the trees of the woods that are among the trees of the forests? + +15:3. Shall wood be taken of it, to do any work, or shall a pin be made +of it for any vessel to hang thereon? + +15:4. Behold it is cast into the fire for fuel: the fire hath consumed +both ends thereof, and the midst thereof is reduced to ashes: shall it +be useful for any work? + +15:5. Even when it was whole it was not fit for work: how much less, +when the fire hath devoured and consumed it, shall any work be made of +it? + +15:6. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As the vine tree among the +trees of the forests which I have given to the fire to be consumed, so +will I deliver up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. + +15:7. And I will set my face against them: they shall go out from fire, +and fire shall consume them: and you shall know that I am the Lord, +when I shall have set my face against them. + +15:8. And I shall have made their land a wilderness, and desolate, +because they have been transgressors, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 16 + + +Under the figure of an unfaithful wife, God upbraids Jerusalem with her +ingratitude and manifold disloyalties: but promiseth mercy by a new +covenant. + +16:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +16:2. Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations. + +Make known to Jerusalem. . .That is, by letters, for the prophet was +then in Babylon. + +16:3. And thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord God to Jerusalem: Thy +root, and thy nativity is of the land of Chanaan, thy father was an +Amorrhite, and thy mother a Cethite. + +16:4. And when thou wast born, in the day of thy nativity thy navel was +not cut, neither wast thou washed with water for thy health, nor salted +with salt, nor swaddled with clouts. + +16:5. No eye had pity on thee to do any of these things for thee, out +of compassion to thee: but thou wast cast out upon the face of the +earth in the abjection of thy soul, in the day that thou wast born. + +16:6. And passing by thee, I saw that thou wast trodden under foot in +thy own blood: and I said to thee when thou wast in thy blood: Live: I +have said to thee: Live in thy blood. + +16:7. I caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field: and thou didst +increase and grow great, and advancedst, and camest to woman's +ornament: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair grew: and thou was +naked, and full of confusion. + +16:8. And I passed by thee, and saw thee: and behold thy time was the +time of lovers: and I spread my garment over thee, and covered thy +ignominy. and I swore to thee, and I entered into a covenant with thee, +saith the Lord God: and thou becamest mine. + +16:9. And I washed thee with water, and cleansed away thy blood from +thee: and I anointed thee with oil. + +16:10. And I clothed thee with embroidery, and shod thee with violet +coloured shoes: and I girded thee about with fine linen, and clothed +thee with fine garments. + +16:11. I decked thee also with ornaments, and put bracelets on thy +hands, and a chain about thy neck. + +I decked thee also with ornaments, etc. . .That is, with spiritual +benefits, giving you a law with sacrifices, sacraments, and other holy +rites. + +16:12. And I put a jewel upon thy forehead and earrings in thy ears, +and a beautiful crown upon thy head. + +16:13. And thou wast adorned with gold, and silver, and wast clothed +with fine linen, and embroidered work, and many colours: thou didst eat +fine flour, and honey, and oil, and wast made exceeding beautiful: and +wast advanced to be a queen. + +16:14. And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty: for +thou wast perfect through my beauty, which I had put upon thee, saith +the Lord God. + +16:15. But trusting in thy beauty, thou playedst the harlot because of +thy renown, and thou hast prostituted thyself to every passenger, to be +his. + +16:16. And taking of thy garments thou hast made thee high places sewed +together on each side: and hast played the harlot upon them, as hath +not been done before, nor shall be hereafter. + +16:17. And thou tookest thy beautiful vessels, of my gold, and my +silver, which I gave thee, and thou madest thee images of men, and hast +committed fornication with them. + +16:18. And thou tookest thy garments of divers colours, and coveredst +them: and settest my oil and my sweet incense before them. + +16:19. And my bread which I gave thee, the fine flour, and oil, and +honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast set before them for a sweet +odour; and it was done, saith the Lord God. + +16:20. And thou hast taken thy sons, and thy daughters, whom thou hast +borne to me: and hast sacrificed the same to them to be devoured. Is +thy fornication small? + +16:21. Thou hast sacrificed and given my children to them, consecrating +them by fire. + +Thou hast sacrificed, etc. . .As there is nothing more base and +abominable than the crimes mentioned throughout this chapter; so the +infidelities of the Israelites in forsaking God, and sacrificing even +their children to idols, are strongly figured by these allegories. + +16:22. And after all thy abominations, and fornications, thou hast not +remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked, and full of +confusion, trodden under foot in thy own blood. + +16:23. And it came to pass after all thy wickedness (woe, woe to thee, +saith the Lord God) + +16:24. That thou didst also build thee a common stew, and madest thee a +brothel house in every street. + +16:25. At every head of the way thou hast set up a sign of thy +prostitution: and hast made thy beauty to be abominable: and hast +prostituted thyself to every one that passed by, and hast multiplied +thy fornications. + +16:26. And thou hast committed fornication with the Egyptians thy +neighbours, men of large bodies, and hast multiplied thy fornications +to provoke me. + +16:27. Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and will take away +thy justification: and I will deliver thee up to the will of the +daughters of the Philistines that hate thee, that are ashamed of thy +wicked way. + +16:28. Thou hast also committed fornication with the Assyrians, because +thou wast not yet satisfied: and after thou hadst played the harlot +with them, even so thou wast not contented. + +16:29. Thou hast also multiplied thy fornications in the land of +Chanaan with the Chaldeans: and neither so wast thou satisfied. + +16:30. Wherein shall I cleanse thy heart, saith Lord God: seeing thou +dost all these the works of a shameless prostitute? + +16:31. Because thou hast built thy brothel house at the head of every +way, and thou hast made thy high place in every street: and wast not as +a harlot that by disdain enhanceth her price, + +16:32. But is an adulteress, that bringeth in strangers over her +husband. + +16:33. Gifts are given to all harlots: but thou hast given hire to all +thy lovers, and thou hast given them gifts to come to thee from every +side, to commit fornication with thee. + +16:34. And it hath happened in thee contrary to the custom of women in +thy fornications, and after thee there shall be no such fornication, +for in that thou gavest rewards, and didst not take rewards, the +contrary hath been done in thee. + +16:35. Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord. + +16:36. Thus saith the Lord God: Because thy money hath been poured out, +and thy shame discovered through thy fornications with thy lovers, and +with the idols of thy abominations, by the blood of thy children whom +thou gavest them: + +16:37. Behold, I will gather together all thy lovers with whom thou +hast taken pleasure, and all whom thou hast loved, with all whom thou +hast hated: and I will gather them together against thee on every side, +and will discover thy shame in their sight, and they shall see all thy +nakedness. + +16:38. And I will judge thee as adulteresses, and they that shed blood +are judged: and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy. + +16:39. And I will deliver thee into their hands, and they shall destroy +thy brothel house, and throw down thy stews: and they shall strip thee +of thy garments, and shall take away the vessels of thy beauty: and +leave thee naked, and full of disgrace. + +16:40. And they shall bring upon thee a multitude, and they shall stone +thee with stones, and shall slay thee with their swords. + +16:41. And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and shall execute +judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and thou shalt cease +from fornication, and shalt give no hire any more. + +16:42. And my indignation shall rest in thee: and my jealousy shall +depart from thee, and I will cease and be angry no more. + +16:43. Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast +provoked me in all these things: wherefore I also have turned all thy +ways upon thy head, saith the Lord God, and I have not done according +to thy wicked deeds in all thy abominations. + +16:44. Behold every one that useth a common proverb, shall use this +against thee, saying: As the mother was, so also is her daughter. + +16:45. Thou art thy mother's daughter, that cast off her husband, and +her children: and thou art the sister of thy sisters, who cast off +their husbands, and their children: your mother was a Cethite, and your +father an Amorrhite. + +16:46. And thy elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that +dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister that dwelleth at thy +right hand is Sodom, and her daughters. + +16:47. But neither hast thou walked in their ways, nor hast thou done a +little less than they according to their wickednesses: thou hast done +almost more wicked things than they in all thy ways. + +16:48. As I live, saith the Lord God, thy sister Sodom herself, and her +daughters, have not done as thou hast done, and thy daughters. + +16:49. Behold this was the iniquity of Sodom thy sister, pride, fulness +of bread, and abundance, and the idleness of her, and of her daughters: +and they did not put forth their hand to the needy, and the poor. + +This was the iniquity of Sodom, etc. . .That is, these were the steps by +which the Sodomites came to fall into those abominations for which they +were destroyed. For pride, gluttony, and idleness are the highroad to +all kinds of lust; especially when they are accompanied with a neglect +of the works of mercy. + +16:50. And they were lifted up, and committed abominations before me: +and I took them away as thou hast seen. + +16:51. And Samaria committed not half thy sins: but thou hast surpassed +them with thy crimes, and hast justified thy sisters by all thy +abominations which thou hast done. + +16:52. Therefore do thou also bear thy confusion, thou that hast +surpassed thy sisters with thy sins, doing more wickedly than they: for +they are justified above thee, therefore be thou also confounded, and +bear thy shame, thou that hast justified thy sisters. + +16:53. And I will bring back and restore them by bringing back Sodom, +with her daughters, and by bringing back Samaria, and her daughters: +and I will bring those that return of thee in the midst of them. + +I will bring back, etc. . .This relates to the conversion of the +Gentiles out of all nations, and of many of the Jews, to the church of +Christ. + +16:54. That thou mayest bear thy shame, and mayest be confounded in all +that thou hast done, comforting them. + +16:55. And thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall return to their +ancient state: and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their +ancient state: and thou and thy daughters shall return to your ancient +state. + +Ancient state. . .That is, to their former state of liberty, and their +ancient possessions. In the spiritual sense, to the true liberty, and +the happy inheritance of the children of God, through faith in Christ. + +16:56. And Sodom thy sister was not heard of in thy mouth, in the day +of thy pride, + +16:57. Before thy malice was laid open: as it is at this time, making +thee a reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all the daughters of +Palestine round about thee, that encompass thee on all sides. + +16:58. Thou hast borne thy wickedness, and thy disgrace, saith the Lord +God. + +16:59. For thus saith the Lord God: I will deal with thee, as thou hast +despised the oath, in breaking the covenant: + +16:60. And I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy +youth: and I will establish with thee an everlasting covenant. + +16:61. And thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed: when thou +shalt receive thy sisters, thy elder and thy younger: and I will give +them to thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. + +16:62. And I will establish my covenant with thee: and thou shalt know +that I am the Lord, + +16:63. That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and mayest no more +open thy mouth because of thy confusion, when I shall be pacified +toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 17 + + +The parable of the two eagles and the vine. A promise of the cedar of +Christ and his church. + +17:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +17:2. Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house +of Israel, + +17:3. And say: Thus saith the Lord God; A large eagle with great wings, +long-limbed, full of feathers, and of variety, came to Libanus, and +took away the marrow of the cedar. + +A large eagle. . .Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon.--Ibid. Came to +Libanus. . .That is, to Jerusalem.--Ibid. Took away the marrow of the +cedar. . .King Jechonias. + +17:4. He cropped off the top of the twigs thereof: and carried it away +into the land of Chanaan, and he set it in a city of merchants. + +Chanaan. . .This name, which signifies traffic, is not taken here for +Palestine, but for Chaldea: and the city of merchants here mentioned is +Babylon. + +17:5. And he took of the seed of the land, and put it in the ground for +seed, that it might take a firm root over many waters: he planted it on +the surface of the earth. + +Of the seed of the land, etc. . .Viz., Sedecias, whom he made king. + +17:6. And it sprung up and grew into a spreading vine of low stature, +and the branches thereof looked towards him: and the roots thereof were +under him. So it became a vine, and grew into branches, and shot forth +sprigs. + +Towards him. . .Nabuchodonosor, to whom Sedecias swore allegiance. + +17:7. And there was another large eagle, with great wings, and many +feathers: and behold this vine, bending as it were her roots towards +him, stretched forth her branches to him, that he might water it by the +furrows of her plantation. + +Another large eagle. . .Viz., the king of Egypt. + +17:8. It was planted in a good ground upon many waters, that it might +bring forth branches, and bear fruit, that it might become a large +vine. + +17:9. Say thou: Thus saith the Lord God: Shall it prosper then? shall +he not pull up the roots thereof, and strip off its fruit, and dry up +all the branches it hath shot forth, and make it wither: and this +without a strong arm, or many people to pluck it up by the root? + +17:10. Behold, it is planted: shall it prosper then? shall it not be +dried up when the burning wind shall touch it, and shall it not wither +in the furrows where it grew? + +17:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +17:12. Say to the provoking house: Know you not what these things mean? +Tell them: Behold the king of Babylon cometh to Jerusalem: and he shall +take away the king and the princes thereof and carry them with him to +Babylon. + +Shall take away. . .Or, hath taken away, etc., for all this was now +done. + +17:13. And he shall take one of the king's seed, and make a covenant +with him, and take an oath of him. Yea, and he shall take away the +mighty men of the land, + +17:14. That it may be a low kingdom and not lift itself up, but keep +his covenant and observe it. + +17:15. But he hath revolted from him and sent ambassadors to Egypt, +that it might give him horses, and much people. And shall he that hath +done thus prosper, or be saved? and shall he escape that hath broken +the covenant? + +17:16. As I live, saith the Lord God: In the place where the king +dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he hath made void, and whose +covenant he broke, even in the midst of Babylon shall he die. + +17:17. And not with a great army, nor with much people shall Pharao +fight against him: when he shall cast up mounts, and build forts, to +cut off many souls. + +17:18. For he had despised the oath, breaking his covenant, and behold +he hath given his hand: and having done all these things, he shall not +escape. + +17:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As I live, I will lay upon +his head the oath he hath despised, and the covenant he hath broken. + +17:20. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my +net: and I will bring him into Babylon, and will judge him there for +the transgression by which he hath despised me. + +17:21. And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the +sword: and the residue shall be scattered into every wind: and you +shall know that I the Lord have spoken. + +17:22. Thus saith the Lord God: I myself will take of the marrow of the +high cedar, and will set it: I will crop off a tender twig from the top +of the branches thereof, and I will plant it on a mountain high and +eminent. + +Of the marrow of the high cedar, etc. . .Of the royal stock of +David.--Ibid. A tender twig. . .Viz., Jesus Christ, whom God hath +planted in mount Sion, that is, the high mountain of his church, to +which all nations flow. + +17:23. On the high mountains of Israel will I plant it, and it shall +shoot forth into branches and shall bear fruit, and it shall become a +great cedar: and all birds shall dwell under it, and every fowl shall +make its nest under the shadow of the branches thereof. + +17:24. And all the trees of the country shall know that I the Lord have +brought down the high tree, and exalted the low tree: and have dried up +the green tree, and have caused the dry tree to flourish. I the Lord +have spoken and have done it. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 18 + + +One man shall not bear the sins of another, but every one his own; if a +wicked man truly repent, he shall be saved; and if a just man leave his +justice, he shall perish. + +18:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What is the meaning? + +18:2. That you use among you this parable as a proverb in the land of +Israel, saying: The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of +the children are set on edge. + +18:3. As I live, saith the Lord God, this parable shall be no more to +you a proverb in Israel. + +18:4. Behold all souls are mine: as the soul of the father, so also the +soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, the same shall die. + +18:5. And if a man be just, and do judgment and justice, + +18:6. And hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to +the idols of the house of Israel: and hath not defiled his neighbour's +wife, nor come near to a menstruous woman: + +Not eaten upon the mountains. . .That is, of the sacrifices there +offered to idols. + +18:7. And hath not wronged any man: but hath restored the pledge to the +debtor, hath taken nothing away by violence: hath given his bread to +the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment: + +18:8. Hath not lent upon usury, nor taken any increase: hath withdrawn +his hand from iniquity, and hath executed true judgment between man and +man: + +18:9. Hath walked in my commandments, and kept my judgments, to do +truth: he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. + +To do truth. . .That is, to act according to truth; for the Hebrews +called everything that was just, truth. + +18:10. And if he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and +that hath done some one of these things: + +18:11. Though he doth not all these things, but that eateth upon the +mountains, and that defileth his neighbour's wife: + +18:12. That grieveth the needy and the poor, that taketh away by +violence, that restoreth not the pledge, and that lifteth up his eyes +to idols, that comitteth abomination: + +18:13. That giveth upon usury, and that taketh an increase: shall such +a one live? he shall not live. Seeing he hath done all these detestable +things, he shall surely die, his blood shall be upon him. + +18:14. But if he beget a son, who, seeing all his father's sins, which +he hath done, is afraid, and shall not do the like to them: + +18:15. That hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes +to the idols of the house of Israel, and hath not defiled his +neighbour's wife: + +18:16. And hath not grieved any man, nor withholden the pledge, nor +taken away with violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and +covered the naked with a garment: + +18:17. That hath turned away his hand from injuring the poor, hath not +taken usury and increase, but hath executed my judgments, and hath +walked in my commandments: this man shall not die for the iniquity of +his father, but living he shall live. + +18:18. As for his father, because he oppressed and offered violence to +his brother, and wrought evil in the midst of his people, behold he is +dead in his own iniquity. + +18:19. And you say: Why hath not the son borne the iniquity of his +father? Verily, because the son hath wrought judgment and justice, hath +kept all my commandments, and done them, living, he shall live. + +18:20. The soul that sinneth, the same shall die: the son shall not +bear the iniquity of the father, and the father shall not bear the +iniquity of the son: the justice of the just shall be upon him, and the +wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. + +18:21. But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath +committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, +living he shall live, and shall not die. + +18:22. I will not remember all his iniquities that he hath done: in his +justice which he hath wrought, he shall live. + +18:23. Is it my will that a sinner should die, saith the Lord God, and +not that he should be converted from his ways, and live? + +18:24. But if the just man turn himself away from his justice, and do +iniquity according to all the abominations which the wicked man useth +to work, shall he live? all his justices which he hath done, shall not +be remembered: in the prevarication, by which he hath prevaricated, and +in his sin, which he hath committed, in them he shall die. + +18:25. And you have said: The way of the Lord is not right. Hear ye, +therefore, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not right, and are +not rather your ways perverse? + +18:26. For when the just turneth himself away from his justice, and +comitteth iniquity, he shall die therein: in the injustice that he hath +wrought he shall die. + +18:27. And when the wicked turneth himself away from his wickedness, +which he hath wrought, and doeth judgment, and justice: he shall save +his soul alive. + +18:28. Because he considereth and turneth away himself from all his +iniquities which he hath wrought, he shall surely live, and not die. + +18:29. And the children of Israel say: The way of the Lord is not +right. Are not my ways right, O house of Israel, and are not rather +your ways perverse? + +18:30. Therefore will I judge every man according to his ways, O house +of Israel, saith the Lord God. Be converted, and do penance for all +your iniquities: and iniquity shall not be your ruin. + +18:31. Cast away from you all your transgressions, by which you have +transgressed, and make to yourselves a new heart, and a new spirit: and +why will you die, O house of Israel? + +18:32. For I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord +God, return ye and live. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 19 + + +The parable of the young lions, and of the vineyard that is wasted. + +19:1. Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, + +19:2. And say: Why did thy mother the lioness lie down among the lions, +and bring up her whelps in the midst of young lions? + +Thy mother the lioness. . .Jerusalem. + +19:3. And she brought out one of her whelps, and he became a lion: and +he learned to catch the prey, and to devour men. + +One of her whelps. . .Viz., Joachaz, alias Sellum. + +19:4. And the nations heard of him, and took him, but not without +receiving wounds: and they brought him in chains into the land of +Egypt. + +19:5. But she seeing herself weakened, and that her hope was lost, took +one of her young lions, and set him up for a lion. + +One of her young lions. . .Joakim. + +19:6. And he went up and down among the lions, and became a lion: and +he learned to catch the prey, and to devour men. + +19:7. He learned to make widows, and to lay waste their cities: and the +land became desolate, and the fulness thereof by the noise of his +roaring. + +19:8. And the nations came together against him on every side out of +the provinces, and they spread their net over him, in their wounds he +was taken. + +19:9. And they put him into a cage, they brought him in chains to the +king of Babylon: and they cast him into prison, that his voice should +no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. + +19:10. Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood planted by the water: her +fruit and her branches have grown out of many waters. + +19:11. And she hath strong rods to make sceptres for them that bear +rule, and her stature was exalted among the branches: and she saw her +height in the multitude of her branches. + +19:12. But she was plucked up in wrath, and cast on the ground, and the +burning wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods are withered, and +dried up: the fire hath devoured her. + +19:13. And now she is transplanted into the desert, in a land not +passable, and dry. + +19:14. And a fire is gone out from a rod of her branches, which hath +devoured her fruit: so that she now hath no strong rod, to be a sceptre +of rulers. This is a lamentation, and it shall be for a lamentation. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 20 + + +God refuses to answer the ancients of Israel inquiring by the prophet: +but by him setteth his benefits before their eyes, and their heinous +sins: threatening yet greater punishments: but still mixed with mercy. + +20:1. And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the +tenth day of the month: there came men of the ancients of Israel to +inquire of the Lord, and they sat before me. + +20:2. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +20:3. Son of man, speak to the ancients of Israel and say to them: Thus +saith the Lord God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will +not answer you, saith the Lord God. + +20:4. If thou judgest them, if thou judgest, O son of man, declare to +them the abominations of their fathers. + +If thou judgest them. . .Or, if thou wilt enter into the cause and plead +against them. + +20:5. And say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when I chose +Israel, and lifted up my hand for the race of the house of Jacob: and +appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and lifted up my hand for them, +saying: I am the Lord your God: + +20:6. In that day I lifted up my hand for them to bring them out of the +land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with +milk and honey, which excelled amongst all lands. + +20:7. And I said to them: Let every man cast away the scandals of his +eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord +your God. + +Scandals, etc. . .Offensiones. That is, the abominations or idols, to +the worship of which they were allured by their eyes. + +20:8. But they provoked me, and would not hearken to me: they did not +every man cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither did they +forsake the idols of Egypt: and I said I would pour out my indignation +upon them, and accomplish my wrath against them in the midst of the +land of Egypt. + +20:9. But I did otherwise for my name's sake, that it might not be +violated before the nations, in the midst of whom they were, and among +whom I made myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of +Egypt. + +20:10. Therefore I brought them out from the land of Egypt, and brought +them into the desert. + +20:11. And I gave them my statutes, and I shewed them my judgments, +which if a man do, he shall live in them. + +20:12. Moreover I gave them also my sabbaths, to be a sign between me +and them: and that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify +them. + +20:13. But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert: they walked +not in my statutes, and they cast away my judgments, which if a man do +he shall live in them: and they grievously violated my sabbaths. I said +therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, +and would consume them. + +20:14. But I spared them for the sake of my name, lest it should be +profaned before the nations, from which I brought them out, in their +sight. + +20:15. So I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, not to bring +them into the land which I had given them flowing with milk and honey, +the best of all lands. + +20:16. Because they cast off my judgments, and walked not in my +statutes, and violated my sabbaths: for their heart went after idols. + +20:17. Yet my eye spared them, so that I destroyed them not: neither +did I consume them in the desert. + +20:18. And I said to their children in the wilderness: Walk not in the +statutes of your fathers, and observe not their judgments, nor be ye +defiled with their idols: + +20:19. I am the Lord your God: walk ye in my statutes, and observe my +judgments, and do them. + +20:20. And sanctify my sabbaths, that they may be a sign between me and +you: and that you may know that I am the Lord your God. + +20:21. But their children provoked me, they walked not in my +commandments, nor observed my judgments to do them: which if a man do, +he shall live in them: and they violated my sabbaths: and I threatened +to pour out my indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath in +them in the desert. + +20:22. But I turned away my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that +it might not be violated before the nations, out of which I brought +them forth in their sight. + +20:23. Again I lifted up my hand upon them in the wilderness, to +disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the +countries: + +20:24. Because they had not done my judgments, and had cast off my +statutes, and had violated my sabbaths, and their eyes had been after +the idols of their fathers. + +20:25. Therefore I also gave them statutes that were not good, and +judgments, in which they shall not live. + +Statutes that were not good, etc. . .Viz., the laws and ordinances of +their enemies; or those imposes upon them by that cruel tyrant the +devil, to whose power they were delivered up for their sins. + +20:26. And I polluted them in their own gifts, when they offered all +that opened the womb, for their offences: and they shall know that I am +the Lord. + +I polluted them, etc. . .That is, I gave them up to such blindness in +punishment of their offences, as to pollute themselves with the blood +of all their firstborn, whom they offered up to their idols in +compliance with their wicked devices. + +20:27. Wherefore speak to the house of Israel, O son of man, and say to +them: Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this also your fathers +blaspheme me, when they had despised and contemned me; + +20:28. And I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my +hand to give it them: they saw every high hill, and every shady tree, +and there they sacrificed their victims: and there they presented the +provocation of their offerings, and there they set their sweet odours, +and poured forth their libations. + +20:29. And I said to them: What meaneth the high place to which you go? +and the name thereof was called High-place even to this day. + +20:30. Wherefore say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: +Verily, you are defiled in the way of your fathers, and you commit +fornication with their abominations. + +20:31. And you defile yourselves with all your idols unto this day, in +the offering of your gifts, when you make your children pass through +the fire: and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith +the Lord God, I will not answer you. + +20:32. Neither shall the thought of your mind come to pass, by which +you say: We will be as the Gentiles, and as the families of the earth, +to worship stocks and stones. + +20:33. As I live, saith the Lord God, I will reign over you with a +strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. + +20:34. And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you +out of the countries, in which you are scattered, I will reign over you +with a strong hand and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured +out. + +20:35. And I will bring you into the wilderness of people, and there +will I plead with you face to face. + +The wilderness of people. . .That is, a desert in which there are no +people. + +20:36. As I pleaded against your fathers in the desert of the land of +Egypt; even so will I judge you, saith the Lord God. + +20:37. And I will make you subject to my sceptre, and will bring you +into the bands of the covenant. + +20:38. And I will pick out from among you the transgressors, and the +wicked, and will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, and +they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I +am the Lord. + +20:39. And as for you, O house of Israel: thus saith the Lord God: Walk +ye every one after your idols, and serve them. But if in this also you +hear me not, but defile my holy name any more with your gifts, and with +your idols; + +Walk ye every one, etc. . .It is not an allowance, much less a +commandment to serve idols; but a figure of speech, by which God would +have them to understand that if they would walk after their idols, they +must not pretend to serve him at the same time: for that he would by no +means suffer such a mixture of worship. + +20:40. In my holy mountain, in the high mountain of Israel, saith the +Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me; all of them I +say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there will I +require your firstfruits, and the chief of your tithes with all your +sanctifications. + +In my holy mountain, etc. . .The foregoing verse, to make the sense +complete, must be understood so as to condemn and reject that mixture +of worship which the Jews then followed. In this verse, God promises to +the true Israelites, especially to those of the Christian church, that +they shall serve him in another manner, in his holy mountain, the +spiritual Sion: and shall by accepted of by him. + +20:41. I will accept of you for an odour of sweetness, when I shall +have brought you out from the people, and shall have gathered you out +of the lands into which you are scattered, and I will be sanctified in +you in the sight of the nations. + +20:42. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have brought +you into the land of Israel, into the land for which I lifted up my +hand to give it to your fathers. + +20:43. And there you shall remember your ways, and all your wicked +doings with which you have been defiled; and you shall be displeased +with yourselves in your own sight, for all your wicked deeds which you +committed. + +20:44. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have done +well by you for my own name's sake, and not according to your evil +ways, nor according to your wicked deeds, O house of Israel, saith the +Lord God. + +20:45. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +20:46. Son of man, set thy face against the way of the south, and drop +towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field. + +Of the south. . .Jerusalem lay towards the south of Babylon, (where the +prophet then was,) and is here called the forest of the south field, +and is threatened with utter desolation. + +20:47. And say to the south forest: Hear the word of the Lord: Thus +saith the Lord God: Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and will burn +in thee every green tree, and every dry tree: the flame of the fire +shall not be quenched: and every face shall be burned in it, from the +south even to the north. + +20:48. And all flesh shall see, that I the Lord have kindled it, and it +shall not be quenched. + +20:49. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not +this man speak by parables? + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 21 + + +The destruction of Jerusalem by the sword is further described: the +ruin also of the Ammonites is forshewn. And finally Babylon, the +destroyer of others, shall be destroyed. + +21:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +21:2. Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and let thy speech +flow towards the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel: + +21:3. And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I +come against thee, and I will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, +and will cut off in thee the just, and the wicked. + +21:4. And forasmuch as I have cut off in thee the just and the wicked, +therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh, +from the south even to the north. + +21:5. That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn my sword out +of its sheath not to be turned back. + +21:6. And thou, son of man, mourn with the breaking of thy loins, and +with bitterness sigh before them. + +21:7. And when they shall say to thee: Why mournest thou? thou shalt +say: For that which I hear: because it cometh, and every heart shall +melt, and all hands shall be made feeble, and every spirit shall faint, +and water shall run down every knee: behold it cometh, and it shall be +done, saith the Lord God. + +21:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +21:9. Son of man, prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Say: The +sword, the sword is sharpened, and furbished. + +21:10. It is sharpened to kill victims: it is furbished that it may +glitter: thou removest the sceptre of my son, thou hast cut down every +tree. + +Thou removest the sceptre of my son. . .He speaks (according to St. +Jerome) to the sword of Nabuchodonosor: which was about to remove the +sceptre of Israel, whom God here calls his son. + +21:11. And I have given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: +this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, that it may be in the +hand of the slayer. + +21:12. Cry, and howl, O son of man, for this sword is upon my people, +it is upon all the princes of Israel, that are fled: they are delivered +up to the sword with my people, strike therefore upon thy thigh, + +21:13. Because it is tried: and that when it shall overthrow the +sceptre, and it shall not be, saith the Lord God. + +21:14. Thou therefore, O son of man, prophesy, and strike thy hands +together, and let the sword be doubled, and let the sword of the slain +be tripled: this is the sword of a great slaughter, that maketh them +stand amazed, + +21:15. And languish in heart, and that multiplieth ruins. In all their +gates I have set the dread of the sharp sword, the sword that is +furbished to glitter, that is made ready for slaughter. + +21:16. Be thou sharpened, go to the right hand, or to the left, which +way soever thou hast a mind to set thy face. + +21:17. And I will clap my hands together, and will satisfy my +indignation: I the Lord have spoken. + +21:18. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +21:19. And thou son of man, set thee two ways, for the sword of the +king of Babylon to come: both shall come forth out of one land: and +with his hand he shall draw lots, he shall consult at the head of the +way of the city. + +21:20. Thou shalt make a way that the sword may come to Rabbath of the +children of Ammon, and to Juda unto Jerusalem the strong city. + +21:21. For the king of Babylon stood in the highway, at the head of two +ways, seeking divination, shuffling arrows: he inquired of the idols, +and consulted entrails. + +21:22. On his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set +battering rams, to open the mouth in slaughter, to lift up the voice in +howling, to set engines against the gates, to cast up a mount, to build +forts. + +21:23. And he shall be in their eyes as one consulting the oracle in +vain, and imitating the leisure of sabbaths: but he will call to +remembrance the iniquity that they may be taken. + +21:24. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have remembered +your iniquity, and have discovered your prevarications, and your sins +have appeared in all your devices: because, I say, You have remembered, +you shall be taken with the hand. + +21:25. But thou profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come that +hath been appointed in the time of iniquity: + +Thou profane, etc. . .He speaks to king Sedecias, who had broken his +oath, and was otherwise a wicked prince. + +21:26. Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, take off the crown: +is it not this that hath exalted the low one, and brought down him that +was high? + +Is it not this that hath exalted the low one. . .The royal crown of Juda +had exalted Sedecias from a private state and condition to the +sovereign power, as the loss of it had brought down Jechonias, etc. + +21:27. I will shew it to be iniquity, iniquity, iniquity: but this was +not done till he came to whom judgment belongeth, and I will give it +him. + +I will shew it to be iniquity, etc. . .Or, I will overturn it, viz., the +crown of Juda for the manifold iniquities of the kings: but it shall +not be utterly removed, till Christ come whose right it is: and who +shall reign in the spiritual house of Jacob, that is, in his church, +for evermore. + +21:28. And thou son of man, prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God +concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach, and +thou shalt say: O sword, O sword, come out of the scabbard to kill, be +furbished to destroy, and to glitter, + +Concerning their reproach. . .By which they had reproached and insulted +over the Jews, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem. + +21:29. Whilst they see vain things in thy regard, and they divine lies: +to bring thee upon the necks of the wicked that are wounded, whose +appointed day is come in the time of iniquity. + +21:30. Return into thy sheath. I will judge thee in the place wherein +thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity. + +Return into thy sheath, etc. . .The sword of Babylon, after raging +against many nations, was shortly to be judged and destroyed at home by +the Medes and Persians. + +21:31. And I will pour out upon thee my indignation: in the fire of my +rage will I blow upon thee, and will give thee into the hands of men +that are brutish and contrive thy destruction. + +21:32. Thou shalt be fuel for the fire, thy blood shall be in the midst +of the land, thou shalt be forgotten: for I the Lord have spoken it. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 22 + + +The general corruption of the inhabitants of Jerusalem: for which God +will consume them as dross in his furnace. + +22:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +22:2. And thou son of man, dost thou not judge, dost thou not judge the +city of blood? + +22:3. And thou shalt shew her all her abominations, and shalt say: Thus +saith the Lord God: This is the city that sheddeth blood in the midst +of her, that her time may come: and that hath made idols against +herself, to defile herself. + +22:4. Thou art become guilty in thy blood which thou hast shed: and +thou art defiled in thy idols which thou hast made: and thou hast made +thy days to draw near, and hast brought on the time of thy years: +therefore have I made thee a reproach to the Gentiles, and a mockery to +all countries. + +22:5. Those that are near, and those that are far from thee, shall +triumph over thee: thou filthy one, infamous, great in destruction. + +22:6. Behold the princes of Israel, every one hath employed his arm in +thee to shed blood. + +22:7. They have abused father and mother in thee, they have oppressed +the stranger in the midst of thee, they have grieved the fatherless and +widow in thee. + +22:8. Thou hast despised my sanctuaries, and profaned my sabbaths. + +22:9. Slanderers have been in thee to shed blood, and they have eaten +upon the mountains in thee, they have committed wickedness in the midst +of thee. + +22:10. They have discovered the nakedness of their father in thee, they +have humbled the uncleanness of the menstruous woman in thee. + +22:11. And every one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's +wife, and the father in law hath wickedly defiled his daughter in law, +the brother hath oppressed his sister the daughter of his father in +thee. + +22:12. They have taken gifts in thee to shed blood: thou hast taken +usury and increase, and hast covetously oppressed thy neighbours: and +thou hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God. + +22:13. Behold, I have clapped my hands at thy covetousness, which thou +hast exercised: and at the blood that hath been shed in the midst of +thee. + +22:14. Shall thy heart endure, or shall thy hands prevail in the days +which I will bring upon thee: I the Lord have spoken, and will do it. + +22:15. And I will disperse thee in the nations, and will scatter thee +among the countries, and I will put an end to thy uncleanness in thee. + +22:16. And I will possess thee in the sight of the Gentiles, and thou +shalt know that I am the Lord. + +22:17. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +22:18. Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross to me: all these +are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace: +they are become the dross of silver. + +22:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you are all turned +into dross, therefore behold I will gather you together in the midst of +Jerusalem. + +22:20. As they gather silver, and brass, and tin, and iron, and lead in +the midst of the furnace: that I may kindle a fire in it to melt it: so +will I gather you together in my fury and in my wrath, and will take my +rest, and I will melt you down. + +22:21. And will gather you together, and will burn you in the fire of +my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst thereof. + +22:22. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall you be +in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord, when I +have poured out my indignation upon you. + +22:23. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +22:24. Son of man, say to her: Thou art a land that is unclean, and not +rained upon in the day of wrath. + +22:25. There is a conspiracy of prophets in the midst thereof: like a +lion that roareth and catcheth the prey, they have devoured souls, they +have taken riches and hire, they have made many widows in the midst +thereof. + +22:26. Her priests have despised my law, and have defiled my +sanctuaries: they have put no difference between holy and profane: nor +have distinguished between the polluted and the clean: and they have +turned away their eyes from my sabbaths, and I was profaned in the +midst of them. + +22:27. Her princes in the midst of her, are like wolves ravening the +prey to shed blood, and to destroy souls, and to run after gains +through covetousness. + +22:28. And her prophets have daubed them without tempering the mortar, +seeing vain things, and divining lies unto them, saying: Thus saith the +Lord God: when the Lord hath not spoken. + +22:29. The people of the land have used oppression, and committed +robbery: they afflicted the needy and poor, and they oppressed the +stranger by calumny without judgment. + +22:30. And I sought among them for a man that might set up a hedge, and +stand in the gap before me in favour of the land, that I might not +destroy it: and I found none. + +22:31. And I poured out my indignation upon them, in the fire of my +wrath I consumed them: I have rendered their way upon their own head, +saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 23 + + +Under the names of the two harlots, Oolla and Ooliba, are described the +manifold disloyalties of Samaria and Jerusalem, with the punishment of +them both. + +23:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +23:2. Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother. + +23:3. And they committed fornication in Egypt, in their youth they +committed fornication: there were their breasts pressed down, and the +teats of their virginity were bruised. + +Committed fornication. . .That is, idolatry. + +23:4. And their names were Oolla the elder, and Ooliba her younger +sister: and I took them, and they bore sons and daughters. Now for +their names, Samaria is Oolla, and Jerusalem is Ooliba. + +Oolla and Ooliba. . .God calls the kingdom of Israel Oolla, which +signifies their own habitation, because they separated themselves from +his temple: and the kingdom of Juda, Ooliba, which signifies his +habitation in her, because of his temple among them in Jerusalem. + +23:5. And Oolla committed fornication against me, and doted on her +lovers, on the Assyrians that came to her, + +On the Assyraians, etc. . .That is, the idols of the Assyrians: for all +that is said in this chapter of the fornications of Israel and Juda, is +to be understood in a spiritual sense, of their disloyalty to the Lord, +by worshipping strange gods. + +23:6. Who were clothed with blue, princes, and rulers, beautiful +youths, all horsemen, mounted upon horses. + +23:7. And she committed her fornications with those chosen men, all +sons of the Assyrians: and she defiled herself with the uncleanness of +all them on whom she doted. + +23:8. Moreover also she did not forsake her fornications which she had +committed in Egypt: for they also lay with her in her youth, and they +bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured out their fornication +upon her. + +23:9. Therefore have I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into +the hands of the sons of the Assyrians, upon whose lust she doted. + +23:10. They discovered her disgrace, took away her sons and daughters, +and slew her with the sword: and they became infamous women, and they +executed judgments in her. + +23:11. And when her sister Ooliba saw this, she was mad with lust more +than she: and she carried her fornication beyond the fornication of her +sister. + +23:12. Impudently prostituting herself to the children of the +Assyrians, the princes, and rulers that came to her, clothed with +divers colours, to the horsemen that rode upon horses, and to young men +all of great beauty. + +23:13. And I saw that she was defiled, and that they both took one way. + +23:14. And she increased her fornications: and when she had seen men +painted on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans set forth in colours, + +23:15. And girded with girdles about their reins, and with dyed turbans +on their heads, the resemblance of all the captains, the likeness of +the sons of Babylon, and of the land of the Chaldeans wherein they were +born, + +23:16. She doted upon them with the lust of her eyes, and she sent +messengers to them into Chaldea. + +23:17. And when the sons of Babylon were come to her to the bed of +love, they defiled her with their fornications, and she was polluted by +them, and her soul was glutted with them. + +23:18. And she discovered her fornications, and discovered her +disgrace: and my soul was alienated from her, as my soul was alienated +from her sister. + +23:19. For she multiplied her fornications, remembering the days of her +youth, in which she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. + +23:20. And she was mad with lust after lying with them whose flesh is +as the flesh of asses: and whose issue as the issue of horses. + +23:21. And thou hast renewed the wickedness of thy youth, when thy +breasts were pressed in Egypt, and the paps of thy virginity broken. + +23:22. Therefore, Ooliba, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will raise +up against thee all thy lovers with whom thy soul hath been glutted: +and I will gather them together against thee round about. + +23:23. The children of Babylon, and all the Chaldeans, the nobles, and +the kings, and princes, all the sons of the Assyrians, beautiful young +men, all the captains, and rulers, the princes of princes, and the +renowned horsemen. + +23:24. And they shall come upon thee well appointed with chariot and +wheel, a multitude of people: they shall be armed against thee on every +side with breastplate, and buckler, and helmet: and I will set judgment +before them, and they shall judge thee by their judgments. + +23:25. And I will set my jealousy against thee, which they shall +execute upon thee with fury: they shall cut off thy nose and thy ears: +and what remains shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons, and +thy daughters, and thy residue shall be devoured by fire. + +23:26. And they shall strip thee of thy garments, and take away the +instruments of thy glory. + +23:27. And I will put an end to thy wickedness in thee, and thy +fornication brought out of the land of Egypt: neither shalt thou lift +up thy eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more. + +23:28. For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will deliver thee into +the hands of them whom thou hatest, into their hands with whom thy soul +hath been glutted. + +23:29. And they shall deal with thee in hatred, and they shall take +away all thy labours, and shall let thee go naked, and full of +disgrace, and the disgrace of thy fornication shall be discovered, thy +wickedness, and thy fornications. + +23:30. They have done these things to thee, because thou hast played +the harlot with the nations among which thou wast defiled with their +idols. + +23:31. Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister and I will give her +cup into thy hand. + +23:32. Thus saith the Lord God: Thou shalt drink thy sister's cup, deep +and wide: thou shalt be had in derision and scorn, which containeth +very much. + +23:33. Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness, and sorrow: with the cup +of grief and sadness, with the cup of thy sister Samaria. + +23:34. And thou shalt drink it, and shalt drink it up even to the +dregs, and thou shalt devour the fragments thereof, thou shalt rend thy +breasts: because I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. + +23:35. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast forgotten +me, and hast cast me off behind thy back, bear thou also thy +wickedness, and thy fornications. + +23:36. And the Lord spoke to me, saying: Son of man, dost thou judge +Oolla, and Ooliba, and dost thou declare to them their wicked deeds? + +23:37. Because they have committed adultery, and blood is in their +hands, and they have committed fornication with their idols: moreover +also their children, whom they bore to me, they have offered to them to +be devoured. + +23:38. Yea, and they have done this to me. They polluted my sanctuary +on the same day, and profaned my sabbaths. + +23:39. And when they sacrificed their children to their idols, and went +into my sanctuary the same day to profane it: they did these things +even in the midst of my house. + +23:40. They sent for men coming from afar, to whom they had sent a +messenger: and behold they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, and +didst paint thy eyes, and wast adorned with women's ornaments. + +23:41. Thou sattest on a very fine bed, and a table was decked before +thee: whereupon thou didst set my incense, and my ointment. + +23:42. And there was in her the voice of a multitude rejoicing: and to +some that were brought of the multitude of men, and that came from the +desert, they put bracelets on their hands, and beautiful crowns on +their heads. + +23:43. And I said to her that was worn out in her adulteries: Now will +this woman still continue in her fornication. + +23:44. And they went in to her, as to a harlot: so went they in unto +Oolla, and Ooliba, wicked women. + +23:45. They therefore are just men: these shall judge them as +adulteresses are judged, and as shedders of blood are judged: because +they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. + +23:46. For thus saith the Lord God: Bring a multitude upon them, and +deliver them over to tumult and rapine: + +23:47. And let the people stone them with stone, and let them be +stabbed with their swords: they shall kill their sons and daughters, +and their houses they shall burn with fire. + +23:48. And I will take away wickedness out of the land: and all women +shall learn, not to do according to the wickedness of them. + +23:49. And they shall render your wickedness upon you, and you shall +bear the sins of your idols: and you shall know that I am the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 24 + + +Under the parable of a boiling pot is shewn the utter destruction of +Jerusalem: for which the Jews at Babylon shall not dare to mourn. + +24:1. And the word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the +tenth month, the tenth day of the month, saying: + +24:2. Son of man, write thee the name of this day, on which the king of +Babylon hath set himself against Jerusalem to day. + +24:3. And thou shalt speak by a figure a parable to the provoking +house, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Set on a pot, set it +on, I say, and put water in it. + +24:4. Heap together into it the pieces thereof, every good piece, the +thigh and the shoulder, choice pieces and full of bones. + +24:5. Take the fattest of the flock, and lay together piles of bones +under it: the seething thereof is boiling hot, and the bones thereof +are thoroughly sodden in the midst of it. + +24:6. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city, to the +pot whose rust is in it, and its rust is not gone out of it: cast it +out piece by piece, there hath no lot fallen upon it. + +24:7. For her blood is in the midst of her, she hath shed it upon the +smooth rock: she hath not shed it upon the ground, that it might be +covered with dust. + +24:8. And that I might bring my indignation upon her, and take my +vengeance: I have shed her blood upon the smooth rock, that it should +not be covered. + +24:9. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city, of +which I will make a great bonfire. + +24:10. Heap together the bones, which I will burn with fire: the flesh +shall be consumed, and the whole composition shall be sodden, and the +bones shall be consumed. + +24:11. Then set it empty upon burning coals, that it may be hot, and +the brass thereof may be melted: and let the filth of it be melted in +the midst thereof, and let the rust of it be consumed. + +24:12. Great pains have been taken, and the great rust thereof is not +gone out, not even by fire. + +24:13. Thy uncleanness is execrable: because I desired to cleanse thee, +and thou art not cleansed from thy filthiness: neither shalt thou be +cleansed, before I cause my indignation to rest in thee. + +24:14. I the Lord have spoken: it shall come to pass, and I will do it: +I will not pass by, nor spare, nor be pacified: I will judge thee +according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, saith the Lord. + +24:15. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +24:16. Son of man, behold I take from thee the desire of thy eyes with +a stroke, and thou shall not lament, nor weep; neither shall thy tears +run down. + +24:17. Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead: let the tire of +thy head be upon thee, and thy shoes on thy feet, and cover not thy +face, nor eat the meat of mourners. + +24:18. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the +evening: and I did in the morning as he had commanded me. + +24:19. And the people said to me: Why dost thou not tell us what these +things mean that thou doest? + +24:20. And I said to them: The word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +24:21. Speak to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I +will profane my sanctuary, the glory of your realm, and the thing that +your eyes desire, and for which your soul feareth: your sons, and your +daughters, whom you have left, shall fall by the sword. + +24:22. And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your faces, +nor shall you eat the meat of mourners. + +24:23. You shall have crowns on your heads, and shoes on your feet: you +shall not lament nor weep, but you shall pine away for your iniquities, +and every one shall sigh with his brother. + +24:24. And Ezechiel shall be unto you for a sign of things to come: +according to all that he hath done, so shall you do, when this shall +come to pass: and you shall know that I am the Lord God. + +24:25. And thou, O son of man, behold in the day wherein I will take +away from them their strength, and the joy of their glory, and the +desire of their eyes, upon which their souls rest, their sons and their +daughters. + +24:26. In that day when he that escapeth shall come to thee, to tell +thee: + +24:27. In that day, I say, shall thy mouth be opened to him that hath +escaped, and thou shalt speak, and shalt be silent no more: and thou +shalt be unto them for a sign of things to come, and you shall know +that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 25 + + +A prophecy against the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines, +for their malice against the Israelites. + +25:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +25:2. Son of man, set thy face against the children of Ammon, and thou +shalt prophesy of them. + +25:3. And thou shalt say to the children of Ammon: Hear ye the word of +the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast said: Ha, ha, +upon my sanctuary, because it was profaned: and upon the land of +Israel, because it was laid waste: and upon the house of Juda, because +they are led into captivity: + +25:4. Therefore will I deliver thee to the men of the east for an +inheritance, and they shall place their sheepcotes in thee, and shall +set up their tents in thee: they shall eat thy fruits: and they shall +drink thy milk. + +25:5. And I will make Rabbath a stable for camels, and the children of +Ammon a couching place for flocks: and you shall know that I am the +Lord. + +Rabbath. . .The capital city of the Ammonites: it was afterwards called +Philadelphia. + +25:6. For thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast clapped thy hands +and stamped with thy foot, and hast rejoiced with all thy heart against +the land of Israel: + +25:7. Therefore behold I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and will +deliver thee to be the spoil of nations, and will cut thee off from +among the people, and destroy thee out of the lands, and break thee in +pieces: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. + +25:8. Thus saith the Lord God: Because Moab and Seir have said: Behold +the house of Juda is like all other nations: + +25:9. Therefore behold I will open the shoulder of Moab from the +cities, from his cities, I say, and his borders, the noble cities of +the land of Bethiesimoth, and Beelmeon, and Cariathaim, + +25:10. To the people of the east with the children of Ammon, and I will +give it them for an inheritance: that there may be no more any +remembrance of the children of Ammon among the nations. + +25:11. And I will execute judgments in Moab: and they shall know that I +am the Lord. + +25:12. Thus saith the Lord God: Because Edom hath taken vengeance to +revenge herself of the children of Juda, and hath greatly offended, and +hath sought revenge of them: + +25:13. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: I will stretch forth my hand +upon Edom, and will take away out of it man and beast, and will make it +desolate from the south: and they that are in Dedan shall fall by the +sword. + +25:14. And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people +Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to my wrath, and my fury: +and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God. + +25:15. Thus saith the Lord God: Because the Philistines have taken +vengeance, and have revenged themselves with all their mind, destroying +and satisfying old enmities: + +25:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will stretch forth +my hand upon the Philistines, and will kill the killers, and will +destroy the remnant of the sea coast. + +25:17. And I will execute great vengeance upon them, rebuking them in +fury: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my +vengeance upon them. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 26 + + +A prophecy of the destruction of the famous city of Tyre by +Nabuchodonosor. + +26:1. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, the first day of the +month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +26:2. Son of man, because Tyre hath said of Jerusalem: Aha, the gates +of the people are broken, she is turned to me: I shall be filled, now +she is laid waste. + +26:3. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, O +Tyre, and I will cause many nations to come up to thee, as the waves of +the sea rise up. + +26:4. And they shall break down the walls of Tyre, and destroy the +towers thereof: and I will scrape her dust from her, and make her like +a smooth rock. + +26:5. She shall be a drying place for nets in the midst of the sea, +because I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and she shall be a spoil +to the nations. + +26:6. Her daughters also that are in the field, shall be slain by the +sword: and they shall know that I am the Lord. + +26:7. For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will bring against Tyre +Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, the king of kings, from the north, with +horses, and chariots, and horsemen, and companies, and much people. + +26:8. Thy daughters that are in the field, he shall kill with the +sword: and he shall compass thee with forts, and shall cast up a mount +round about: and he shall lift up the buckler against thee. + +26:9. And he shall set engines of war and battering rams against thy +walls, and shall destroy thy towers with his arms. + +26:10. By reason of the multitude of his horses, their dust shall cover +thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and wheels, +and chariots, when they shall go in at thy gates, as by the entrance of +a city that is destroyed. + +26:11. With the hoofs of his horses he shall tread down all thy +streets, thy people he shall kill with the sword, and thy famous +statues shall fall to the ground. + +26:12. They shall waste thy riches, they shall make a spoil of thy +merchandise: and they shall destroy thy walls, and pull down thy fine +houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber, and thy dust in +the midst of the waters. + +26:13. And I will make the multitude of thy songs to cease, and the +sound of thy harps shall be heard no more. + +26:14. And I will make thee like a naked rock, thou shalt be a drying +place for nets, neither shalt thou be built any more: for I have spoken +it, saith the Lord God. + +26:15. Thus saith the Lord God to Tyre: Shall not the islands shake at +the sound of thy fall, and the groans of thy slain when they shall be +killed in the midst of thee? + +26:16. Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their +thrones: and take off their robes, and cast away their broidered +garments, and be clothed with astonishment: they shall sit on the +ground, and with amazement shall wonder at thy sudden fall. + +26:17. And taking up a lamentation over thee, they shall say to thee: +How art thou fallen, that dwellest in the sea, renowned city that wast +strong in the sea, with thy inhabitants whom all did dread? + +26:18. Now shall the ships be astonished in the day of thy terror: and +the islands in the sea shall be troubled because no one cometh out of +thee. + +26:19. For thus saith the Lord God: When I shall make thee a desolate +city like the cities that are not inhabited: and shall bring the deep +upon thee, and many waters shall cover thee: + +26:20. And when I shall bring thee down with those that descend into +the pit to the everlasting people, and shall set thee in the lowest +parts of the earth, as places desolate of old, with them that are +brought down into the pit, that thou be not inhabited: and when I shall +give glory in the land of the living, + +26:21. I will bring thee to nothing, and thou shalt not be, and if thou +be sought for, thou shalt not be found any more for ever, saith the +Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 27 + + +A description of the glory and riches of Tyre: and of her irrecoverable +fall. + +27:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +27:2. Thou therefore, O son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre: + +27:3. And say to Tyre that dwelleth at the entry of the sea, being the +mart of the people for many islands: Thus saith the Lord God: O Tyre, +thou hast said: I am of perfect beauty, + +27:4. And situate in the heart of the sea. Thy neighbours, that built +thee, have perfected thy beauty: + +27:5. With fir trees of Sanir they have built thee with all sea planks: +they have taken cedars from Libanus to make thee masts. + +Sea planks. . .That is, timber brought by sea to build the city. + +27:6. They have cut thy oars out of the oaks of Basan: and they have +made thee benches of Indian ivory and cabins with things brought from +the islands of Italy. + +27:7. Fine broidered linen from Egypt was woven for thy sail, to be +spread on thy mast: blue and purple from the islands of Elisa, were +made thy covering. + +27:8. The inhabitants of Sidon, and the Arabians were thy rowers: thy +wise men, O Tyre, were thy pilots. + +27:9. The ancients of Gebal, and the wise men thereof furnished +mariners for the service of thy various furniture: all the ships of the +sea, and their mariners were thy factors. + +27:10. The Persians, and Lydians, and the Libyans were thy soldiers in +thy army: they hung up the buckler and the helmet in thee for thy +ornament. + +27:11. The men of Arad were with thy army upon thy walls round about: +the Pygmeans also that were in thy towers, hung up their quivers on thy +walls round about: they perfected thy beauty. + +Pygmeans. . .That is, strong and valiant men. In Hebrew, Gammadim. + +27:12. The Carthaginians thy merchants supplied thy fairs with a +multitude of all kinds of riches, with silver, iron, tin, and lead, + +27:13. Greece, Thubal, and Mosoch, they were thy merchants, they +brought to thy people slaves and vessels of brass. + +27:14. From the house of Thogorma they brought horses, and horsemen, +and mules to thy market. + +27:15. The men of Dedan were thy merchants: many islands were the +traffic of thy hand, they exchanged for thy price teeth of ivory and +ebony. + +27:16. The Syrian was thy merchant: by reason of the multitude of thy +works, they set forth precious stories, and purple, and broidered +works, and fine linen, and silk, and chodchod in thy market. + +Chodchod. . .It is the Hebrew name for some precious stone; but of what +kind in particular interpreters are not agreed. + +27:17. Juda and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants with the +best corn: they set forth balm, and honey, and oil and rosin in thy +fairs. + +27:18. The men of Damascus were thy merchants in the multitude of thy +works, the multitude of divers riches, in rich wine, in wool of the +best colour. + +27:19. Dan, and Greece, and Mosel have set forth in thy marts wrought +iron: stacte, and calamus were in thy market. + +27:20. The men of Dedan were thy merchants in tapestry for seats. + +27:21. Arabia, and all the princes of Cedar, they were the merchants of +thy hand: thy merchants came to thee with lambs, and rams, and kids. + +27:22. The sellers of Saba, and Reema, they were thy merchants: with +all the best spices, and precious stones, and gold, which they set +forth in thy market. + +27:23. Haran, and Chene, and Eden were thy merchants; Saba, Assur, and +Chelmad sold to thee. + +27:24. They were thy merchants in divers manners, with bales of blue +cloth, and of embroidered work, and of precious riches, which were +wrapped up and bound with cords: they had cedars also in thy +merchandise. + +27:25. The ships of the sea, were thy chief in thy merchandise: and +thou wast replenished, and glorified exceedingly in the heart of the +sea. + +27:26. Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the south wind +hath broken thee in the heart of the sea. + +27:27. Thy riches, and thy treasures, and thy manifold furniture, thy +mariners, and thy pilots, who kept thy goods, and were chief over thy +people: thy men of war also, that were in thee, with all thy multitude +that is in the midst of thee: shall fall in the heart of the sea in the +day of thy ruin. + +27:28. Thy fleets shall be troubled at the sound of the cry of thy +pilots. + +27:29. And all that handled the oar shall come down from their ships: +the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea shall stand upon the land: + +27:30. And they shall mourn over thee with a loud voice and shall cry +bitterly: and they shall cast up dust upon their heads and shall be +sprinkled with ashes. + +27:31. And they shall shave themselves bald for thee, and shall be +girded with haircloth: and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of +soul, with most bitter weeping. + +27:32. And they shall take up a mournful song for thee, and shall +lament thee: What city is like Tyre, which is become silent in the +midst of the sea? + +27:33. Which by thy merchandise that went from thee by sea didst fill +many people: which by the multitude of thy riches, and of thy people +didst enrich the kings of the earth. + +27:34. Now thou art destroyed by the sea, thy riches are in the bottom +of the waters, and all the multitude that was in the midst of thee is +fallen. + +27:35. All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at thee: and +all their kings being struck with the storm have changed their +countenance. + +27:36. The merchants of people have hissed at thee: thou art brought to +nothing, and thou shalt never be any more. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 28 + + +The king of Tyre, who affected to be like to God, shall fall under the +like sentence with Lucifer. The judgment of Sidon. The restoration of +Israel. + +28:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +28:2. Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus saith the Lord God: +Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said: I am God, and I sit +in the chair of God in the heart of the sea: whereas thou art a man, +and not God: and hast set thy heart as if it were the heart of God. + +28:3. Behold thou art wiser than Daniel: no secret is hid from thee. + +Thou art wiser than Daniel. . .Viz., in thy own conceit. The wisdom of +Daniel was so much celebrated in his days, that it became a proverb +amongst the Chaldeans, when any one would express an extraordinary +wisdom, to say he was as wise as Daniel. + +28:4. In thy wisdom and thy understanding thou hast made thyself +strong: and hast gotten gold an silver into thy treasures. + +28:5. By the greatness of thy wisdom, and by thy traffic thou hast +increased thy strength: and thy heart is lifted up with thy strength. + +28:6. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Because thy heart is lifted +up as the heart of God: + +28:7. Therefore behold, I will bring upon thee strangers: the strongest +of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of +thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy beauty. + +28:8. They shall kill thee, and bring thee down: and thou shalt die the +death of them that are slain in the heart of the sea. + +28:9. Wilt thou yet say before them that slay thee: I am God; whereas +thou art a man, and not God, in the hand of them that slay thee? + +28:10. Thou shalt die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of +strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. + +28:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, take up +a lamentation upon the king of Tyre: + +28:12. And say to him: Thus saith the Lord God: Thou wast the seal of +resemblance, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. + +Thou wast the seal of resemblance. . .The king of Tyre, by his dignity +and his natural perfections, bore in himself a certain resemblance to +God, by reason of which he might be called the seal of resemblance, +etc. But what is here said to him is commonly understood of Lucifer, +the king over all the children of pride. + +28:13. Thou wast in the pleasures of the paradise of God: every +precious stone was thy covering: the sardius, the topaz, and the +jasper, the chrysolite, and the onyx, and the beryl, the sapphire, and +the carbuncle, and the emerald: gold the work of thy beauty: and thy +pipes were prepared in the day that thou wast created. + +28:14. Thou a cherub stretched out, and protecting, and I set thee in +the holy mountain of God, thou hast walked in the midst of the stones +of fire. + +A cherub stretched out. . .That is, thy wings extended. This alludes to +the figure of the cherubims in the sanctuary, which with stretched out +wings covered the ark.--Ibid. The stones of fire. . .That is, bright and +precious stones which sparkle like fire. + +28:15. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day of thy creation, +until iniquity was found in thee. + +28:16. By the multitude of thy merchandise, thy inner parts were filled +with iniquity, and thou hast sinned: and I cast thee out from the +mountain of God, and destroyed thee, O covering cherub, out of the +midst of the stones of fire. + +28:17. And thy heart was lifted up with thy beauty: thou hast lost thy +wisdom in thy beauty, I have cast thee to the ground: I have set thee +before the face of kings, that they might behold thee. + +28:18. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thy +iniquities, and by the iniquity of thy traffic: therefore I will bring +forth a fire from the midst of thee, to devour thee, and I will make +thee as ashes upon the earth in the sight of all that see thee. + +28:19. All that shall see thee among the nations, shall be astonished +at thee: thou art brought to nothing, and thou shalt never be any more. + +28:20. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +28:21. Son of man, set thy face against Sidon: and thou shalt prophesy +of it, + +28:22. And shalt say: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against +thee, Sidon, and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they +shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall execute judgments in her, +and shall be sanctified in her. + +28:23. And I will send into her pestilence, and blood in her streets: +and they shall fall being slain by the sword on all sides in the midst +thereof: and they shall know that I am the Lord. + +28:24. And the house of Israel shall have no more a stumblingblock of +bitterness, nor a thorn causing pain on every side round about them, of +them that are against them: and they shall know that I am the Lord God. + +28:25. Thus saith the Lord God: When I shall have gathered together the +house of Israel out of the people among whom they are scattered: I will +be sanctified in them before the Gentiles: and they shall dwell in +their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. + +28:26. And they shall dwell therein secure, and they shall build +houses, and shall plant vineyards, and shall dwell with confidence, +when I shall have executed judgments upon all that are their enemies +round about: and they shall know that I am the Lord their God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 29 + + +The king of Egypt shall be overthrown, and his kingdom wasted: it shall +be given to Nabuchodonosor for his service against Tyre. + +29:1. In the tenth year, the tenth month, the eleventh day of the +month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +29:2. Son of man, set thy face against Pharao king of Egypt: and thou +shalt prophesy of him, and of all Egypt: + +29:3. Speak, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against +thee, Pharao king of Egypt, thou great dragon that liest in the midst +of thy rivers, and sayest: The river is mine, and I made myself. + +29:4. But I will put a bridle in thy jaws: and I will cause the fish of +thy rivers to stick to thy scales: and I will draw thee out of the +midst of thy rivers, and all thy fish shall stick to thy scales. + +29:5. And I will cast thee forth into the desert, and all the fish of +thy river: thou shalt fall upon the face of the earth, thou shalt not +be taken up, nor gathered together: I have given thee for meat to the +beasts of the earth, and to the fowls of the air. + +29:6. And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord: +because thou hast been a staff of a reed to the house of Israel. + +29:7. When they took hold of thee with the hand thou didst break, and +rent all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brokest, +and weakenest all their loins. + +29:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will bring the sword +upon thee: and cut off man and beast out of thee. + +29:9. And the land of Egypt shall become a desert, and a wilderness: +and they shall know that I am the Lord, because thou hast said: The +river is mine, and I made it. + +29:10. Therefore, behold I come against thee, and thy rivers: and I +will make the land of Egypt utterly desolate, and wasted by the sword, +from the tower of Syene, even to the borders of Ethiopia. + +29:11. The foot of man shall not pass through it, neither shall the +foot of beasts go through it: nor shall it be inhabited during forty +years. + +29:12. And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the +lands that are desolate, and the cities thereof in the midst of the +cites that are destroyed, and they shall be desolate for forty years: +and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse +them through the countries. + +29:13. For thus saith the Lord God: At the end of forty years I will +gather the Egyptians from the people among whom they had been +scattered. + +29:14. And I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will place +them in the land of Phatures, in the land of their nativity, and they +shall be there a low kingdom: + +29:15. It shall be the lowest among other kingdoms, and it shall no +more be exalted over the nations, and I will diminish them that they +shall rule no more over the nations. + +29:16. And they shall be no more a confidence to the house of Israel, +teaching iniquity, that they may flee, and follow them: and they shall +know that I am the Lord God. + +29:17. And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year in the first +month, in the first of the month: that the word of the Lord came to me, +saying: + +29:18. Son of man, Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon hath made his army to +undergo hard service against Tyre: every head was made bald, and every +shoulder was peeled and there hath been no reward given him, nor his +army for Tyre, for the service that he rendered me against it. + +29:19. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will set +Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon in the land of Egypt: and he shall +take her multitude, and take the booty thereof for a prey, and rifle +the spoils thereof: and it shall be wages for his army. + +29:20. And for the service that he hath done me against it: I have +given him the land of Egypt, because he hath laboured for me, saith the +Lord God. + +29:21. In that day a horn shall bud forth to the house of Israel, and I +will give thee an open mouth in the midst of them: and they shall know +that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 30 + + +The desolation of Egypt and her helpers: all her cities shall be +wasted. + +30:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +30:2. Son of man prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Howl ye, +Woe, woe to the day: + +30:3. For the day is near, yea the day of the Lord is near: a cloudy +day, it shall be the time of the nations. + +30:4. And the sword shall come upon Egypt: and there shall be dread in +Ethiopia, when the wounded shall fall in Egypt, and the multitude +thereof shall be taken away, and the foundations thereof shall be +destroyed. + +30:5. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the rest of the crowd, +and Chub, and the children of the land of the covenant, shall fall with +them by the sword. + +30:6. Thus saith the Lord God: They also that uphold Egypt shall fall, +and the pride of her empire shall be brought down: from the tower of +Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord the God of +hosts. + +30:7. And they shall be desolate in the midst of the lands that are +desolate, and the cities thereof shall be in the midst of the cities +that are wasted. + +30:8. And they shall know that I am the Lord: when I shall have set a +fire in Egypt, and all the helpers thereof shall be destroyed. + +30:9. In that day shall messengers go forth from my face in ships to +destroy the confidence of Ethiopia, and there shall be dread among them +in the day of Egypt: because it shall certainly come. + +30:10. Thus saith the Lord God: I will make the multitude of Egypt to +cease by the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon. + +30:11. He and his people with him, the strongest of nations, shall be +brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords upon +Egypt: and shall fill the land with the slain. + +30:12. And I will make the channels of the rivers dry, and will deliver +the land into the hand of the wicked: and will lay waste the land and +all that is therein by the hands of strangers, I the Lord have spoken +it. + +30:13. Thus saith the Lord God: I will also destroy the idols, and I +will make an end of the idols of Memphis: and there shall: be no more a +prince of the land of Egypt and I will cause a terror in the land of +Egypt. + +30:14. And I will destroy the land of Phatures, and will make a fire in +Taphnis, and will execute judgments in Alexandria. + +Alexandria. . .In the Hebrew, No: which was the ancient name of that +city, which was afterwards rebuilt by Alexander the Great, and from his +name called Alexandria. + +30:15. And I will pour out my indignation upon Pelusium the strength of +Egypt, and will cut off the multitude of Alexandria. + +30:16. And I will make a fire in Egypt: Pelusium shall be in pain like +a woman in labour, and Alexandria shall be laid waste, and in Memphis +there shall be daily distresses. + +30:17. The young men of Heliopolis, and of Bubastus shall fall by the +sword, and they themselves shall go into captivity. + +30:18. And in Taphnis the day shall be darkened, when I shall break +there the sceptres of Egypt, and the pride of her power shall cease in +her: a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall be led into +captivity. + +30:19. And I will execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that +I am the Lord. + +30:20. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in +the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came, me, +saying: + +30:21. Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharao king of Egypt: and +behold it is not bound up, to be healed, to be tied up with clothes, +and swathed with linen, that it might recover strength, and hold the +sword. + +30:22. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against +Pharao king of Egypt, and I will break into pieces his strong arm, +which is already broken: and I will cause the sword to fall out of his +hand: + +30:23. And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and scatter them +through the countries. + +30:24. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and will +put my sword in his hand: and I will break the arms of Pharao, and they +shall groan bitterly being slain before his face. + +30:25. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the +arms of Pharao shall fall: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when +I shall have given my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and +he shall have stretched it forth upon the land of Egypt. + +30:26. And I will disperse Egypt among the nations, and will scatter +them through the countries, and they shall know that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 31 + + +The Assyrian empire fell for their pride: the Egyptian shall fall in +like manner. + +31:1. And it came to pass, in the eleventh year, the third month the +first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +31:2. Son of man, speak to Pharao king of Egypt, and to his people: To +whom art thou like in thy greatness? + +31:3. Behold, the Assyrian like a cedar in Libanus, with fair branches, +and full of leaves, of a high stature, and his top was elevated among +the thick boughs. + +31:4. The waters nourished him, the deep set him tip on high, the +streams thereof ran round about his roots, and it sent, forth its +rivulets to all the trees of the country. + +31:5. Therefore was his height exalted above all the trees of the +country and his branches were multiplied, and his boughs were elevated +because of many waters. + +31:6. And when he had spread forth his shadow, all the fowls of the air +made their nests in his boughs, and all the beasts of the forest +brought forth their young under his branches, and the assembly of many +nations dwelt under his shadow. + +31:7. And he was most beautiful for his greatness, and for the +spreading of his branches: for his root was near great waters. + +31:8. The cedars in the paradise of God were not higher than he, the +fir trees did not equal his top, neither were the plane trees to be +compared with him for branches: no tree in the paradise of God was like +him in his beauty. + +31:9. For I made him beautiful and thick set with many branches: and +all the trees of pleasure, that were in the paradise of God, envied +him. + +31:10. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because he was exalted in +height, and shot up his top green and thick, and his heart was lifted +up in his height: + +31:11. I have delivered him into the hands of the mighty one of the +nations, he shall deal with him: I have cast him out according to his +wickedness. + +I have delivered. . .Here the time past is put for the future, i. e., I +shall deliver.--Ibid. The mighty one, etc. . .Viz., Nabuchodonosor, who +conquered both the Assyrians and Egyptians. + +31:12. And strangers, and the most cruel of the nations shall cut him +down, and cast him away upon the mountains, and his boughs shall fall +in every valley, and his branches shall be broken on every rock of the +country: and all the people of the earth shall depart from his shadow, +and leave him. + +31:13. All the fowls of the air dwelt upon his ruins, and all the +beasts of the field were among his branches. + +31:14. For which cause none of the trees by the waters shall exalt +themselves for their height: nor shoot up their tops among the thick +branches and leaves, neither shall any of them that are watered stand +up in their height: for they are all delivered unto death to the lowest +parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that +go down into the pit. + +31:15. Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when he went down to hell, I +brought in mourning, I covered him with the deep: and I withheld its +rivers, and restrained the many waters: Libanus grieved for him, and +all the trees of the field trembled. + +31:16. I shook the nations with the sound of his fall, when I brought +him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees +of pleasure, the choice and best in Libanus, all that were moistened +with waters, were comforted in the lowest parts of the earth. + +31:17. For they also shall go down with him to hell to them that are +slain by the sword; and the arm of every one shall sit down under his +shadow in the midst of the nations. + +31:18. To whom art thou like, O thou that art famous and lofty among +the trees of pleasure? Behold, thou art brought down with the trees of +pleasure to the lowest parts of the earth: thou shalt sleep in the +midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword: this +is Pharao, and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 32 + + +The prophet's lamentation for the king of Egypt. + +32:1. And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in +the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, +saying: + +32:2. Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharao the king of Egypt, +and say to him: Thou art like the lion of the nations, and the dragon +that is in the sea: and thou didst push with the horn in thy rivers, +and didst trouble the waters with thy feet, and didst trample upon +their streams. + +32:3. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: I will spread out my net over +thee with the multitude of many people, and I will draw thee up in my +net. + +32:4. And I will throw thee out on the land, I will cast thee away into +the open field and I will cause all the fowls of the air to dwell upon +thee, and I will fill the beasts of all the earth with thee. + +32:5. And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and will fill thy +hills with thy corruption, + +32:6. And I will water the earth with thy stinking blood upon the +mountains, and the valleys shall be filled with thee. + +32:7. And I will cover the heavens, when thou shalt be put out, and I +will make the stars thereof dark: I will cover the sun with a cloud, +and the moon shall not give her light. + +32:8. I will make all the lights of heaven to mourn over thee and I +will cause darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God, when thy wounded +shall fall in the midst of the land, saith the Lord God. + +32:9. And I shall provoke to anger the heart of many people, when I +shall have brought in thy destruction among the nations upon the lands, +which thou knowest not. + +32:10. And I will make many people to be amazed at thee, and their +kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when my sword shall begin to +fly upon their faces: and they shall be astonished on a sudden, every +one for his own life, in the day of their ruin. + +32:11. For thus saith the Lord God: The sword of the king of Babylon +shall come upon thee, + +32:12. By the swords of the mighty I will overthrow thy multitude: all +these nations are invincible: and they shall waste the pride of Egypt, +and the multitude thereof shall be destroyed. + +32:13. I will destroy also all the beasts thereof that were beside the +great waters: and the foot of man shall trouble them no more, neither +shall the hoof of beasts trouble them. + +32:14. Then will I make their waters clear, and cause their rivers to +run like oil, saith the Lord God: + +32:15. When I shall have made the land of Egypt desolate: and the land +shall be destitute of her fulness, when I shall have struck all the +inhabitants thereof and they shall know that I am the Lord. + +32:16. This is the lamentation, and they shall lament therewith: the +daughters of the nations shall lament therewith for Egypt, and for the +multitude thereof they shall lament therewith, saith the Lord God. + +32:17. And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of +the month, that the word of the Lord came to me saying: + +32:18. Son of man, sing a mournful song for the multitude of Egypt: and +cast her down, both her, and the daughters of the mighty nations to the +lowest part of the earth, with them that go down into the pit. + +32:19. Whom dost thou excel in beauty? go down and sleep with the +uncircumcised. + +32:20. They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain with the +sword: the sword is given, they have drawn her down, and all her +people. + +32:21. The most mighty among the strong ones shall speak to him from +the midst of hell, they that went down with his helpers and slept +uncircumcised, slain by the sword. + +32:22. Assur is there, and all his multitude: their graves are round +about him, all of them slain, and that fell by the sword. + +32:23. Whose graves are set in the lowest parts of the pit: and his +multitude lay round about his grave: all of them slain, and fallen by +the sword, they that heretofore spread terror in the land of the +living. + +32:24. There is Elam and all his multitude round about his grave, all +of them slain, and fallen by the sword; that went down uncircumcised to +the lowest parts of the earth: that caused their terror in the land of +the living, and they have borne their shame with them that go down into +the pit. + +32:25. In the midst of the slain they have set him a bed among all his +people: their graves are round about him: all these are uncircumcised, +and slain by the sword: for they spread their terror in the land of the +living, and have borne their shame with them that descend into the pit: +they are laid in the midst of the slain. + +32:26. There is Mosoch, and Thubal, and all their multitude: their +graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised and slain, and +fallen by the sword: though they spread their terror in the land of the +living. + +32:27. And they shall not sleep with the brave, and with them that fell +uncircumcised, that went down to hell with their weapons, and laid +their swords under their heads, and their iniquities were in their +bones, because they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the +living. + +32:28. So thou also shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, +and shalt sleep with them that are slain by the sword. + +32:29. There is Edom, and her kings, and all her princes, who with +their army are joined with them that are slain by the sword: and have +slept with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down into the pit. + +32:30. There are all the princes of the north, and all the hunters: who +were brought down with the slain, fearing, and confounded in their +strength: who slept uncircumcised with them that are slain by the +sword, and have borne their shame with them that go down into the pit. + +32:31. Pharao saw them, and he was comforted concerning all his +multitude, which was slain by the sword: Pharao, and all his army, +saith the Lord God: + +32:32. Because I have spread my terror in the land of the living, and +he hath slept in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are +slain by the sword: Pharao and all his multitude, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 33 + + +The duty of the watchman appointed by God: the justice of God's ways: +his judgments upon the Jews. + +33:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +33:2. Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say to them: +When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a +man, one of their meanest, and make him a watchman over them: + +33:3. And he sees the sword coming upon the land, and sound the +trumpet, and tell the people: + +33:4. Then he that heareth the sound of the trumpet, whosoever he be, +and doth not look to himself, if the sword come, and cut him off: his +blood shall be upon his own head. + +33:5. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and did not look to himself, +his blood shall be upon him: but if he look to himself, he shall save +his life. + +33:6. And if the watchman see the sword coming, and sound not the +trumpet: and the people look not to themselves, and the sword come, and +cut off a soul from among them: he indeed is taken away in his +iniquity, but I will require his blood at the hand of the watchman. + +33:7. So thou, O son of man, I have made thee a watchman to the house +of Israel: therefore thou shalt hear the word from my mouth, and shalt +tell it them from me. + +33:8. When I say to the wicked: O wicked man, thou shalt surely die: if +thou dost not speak to warn the wicked man from his way: that wicked +man shall die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood at thy +hand. + +33:9. But if thou tell the wicked man, that he may be converted from +his ways, and he be not converted from his way he shall die in his +iniquity: but thou hast delivered thy soul. + +33:10. Thou therefore, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: Thus +you have spoken, saying: Our iniquities, and our sins are upon us, and +we pine away in them: how then can we live? + +33:11. Say to them: As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the +death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way, and live. +Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways: and why will you die, O house of +Israel? + +33:12. Thou therefore, O son of man, say to the children of thy people: +The justice of the just shall not deliver him, in what day soever he +shall sin: and the wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him, in what +day soever he shall turn from his wickedness: and the just shall not be +able to live in his justice, in what day soever he shall sin. + +33:13. Yea, if I shall say to the just that he shall surely live, and +he, trusting in his justice, commit iniquity: all his justices shall be +forgotten, and his iniquity, which he hath committed, in the same shall +he die. + +33:14. And it I shall say to the wicked: Thou shalt surely die: and he +do penance for his sin, and do judgment and justice, + +33:15. And if that wicked man restore the pledge, and render what he +had robbed, and walk in the commandments of life, and do no unjust +thing: he shall surely live, and shall not die. + +33:16. None of his sins, which he hath committed, shall be imputed to +him: he hath done judgment and justice, he shall surely live. + +33:17. And the children of thy people have said: The way of the Lord is +not equitable: whereas their own way is unjust. + +33:18. For when the just shall depart from his justice, and commit +iniquities, he shall die in them. + +33:19. And when the wicked shall depart from his wickedness, and shall +do judgments, and justice, he shall live in them. + +33:20. And you say: The way of the Lord is not right, I will judge +every one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel. + +33:21. And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the +tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that there came to me one +that was fled from Jerusalem, saying: The city is laid waste. + +33:22. And the hand of the Lord had been upon me in the evening, before +he that was fled came: and he opened my mouth till he came to me in the +morning, and my mouth being opened, I was silent no more. + +33:23. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +33:24. Son of man, they that dwell in these ruinous places in the land +of Israel, speak, saying: Abraham was one, and he inherited the land, +but we are many, the land is given us in possession. + +33:25. Therefore say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: You that eat +with the blood and lift up your eyes to your uncleannesses, and that +shed blood: shall you possess the land by inheritance? + +33:26. You stood on your swords, you have committed abominations, and +every one hath defiled his neighbours wife; and shall you possess the +land by inheritance? + +33:27. Say thou thus to them: Thus saith the Lord God: As I live, they +that dwell in the ruinous places, shall fall by the sword: and he that +is in the field, shall be given to the beasts to be devoured: and they +that are in holds, and caves, shall die of the pestilence. + +33:28. And I will make the land a wilderness, and a desert, and the +proud strength thereof shall fail, and the mountains of Israel shall be +desolate, because there is none to pass by them, + +33:29. And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have made +their land waste and desolate, for all their abominations which they +have committed. + +33:30. And thou son of man: the children of thy people, that talk of +thee by the walls, and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to +another each man to his neighbour, saying: Come, and let us hear what +is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. + +33:31. And they come to thee, as if people were coming in, and my +people sit before thee: and hear thy words, and do them not: for they +turn them into a song of their mouth, and their heart goeth after their +covetousness. + +33:32. And thou art to them as a musical song which is sung with a +sweet and agreeable voice: and they hear thy words, and do them not. + +33:33. And when that which was foretold shall come to pass, for behold +it is coming, then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 34 + + +Evil pastors are reproved. Christ the true pastor shall come, and +gather together his flock from all parts of the earth, and preserve it +for ever. + +34:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, it saying: + +34:2. Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: +prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the +shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed +by the shepherds? + +Shepherds. . .That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes. + +34:3. You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and +you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. + +34:4. The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you +have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that +which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you +sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and +with a high hand. + +34:5. And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd and +they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were +scattered. + +34:6. My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: +and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was +none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them. + +34:7. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: + +34:8. As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been +made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the +field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek +after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my +flocks: + +34:9. Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: + +34:10. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the +shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them +to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds +feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, +and it shall no more be meat for them. + +34:11. For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, +and will visit them. + +34:12. As the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be +in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my +sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been +scattered in the cloudy and dark day. + +34:13. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them +out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will +feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the +habitations of the land. + +34:14. I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their +pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they +rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains +of Israel. + +34:15. I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith +the Lord God. + +34:16. I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, +I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I +will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong +I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment. + +34:17. And as for you, O my flocks, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I +judge between cattle and cattle, of rams and of he goats. + +34:18. Was it not enough for you to feed upon good pastures? but you +must also tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures: and +when you drank the clearest water, you troubled the rest with your +feet. + +34:19. And my sheep were fed with that which you had trodden with your +feet: and they drank what your feet had troubled. + +34:20. Therefore thus saith the Lord God to you: Behold, I myself will +judge between the fat cattle and the lean. + +34:21. Because you thrusted with sides and shoulders, and struck all +the weak cattle with your horns, till they were scattered abroad: + +34:22. I will save my flock, and it shall be no more a spoil, and I +will judge between cattle and cattle. + +34:23. And I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, and he shall feed +them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their +shepherd. + +David. . .Christ, who is of the house of David. + +34:24. And I the Lord will be their God: and my servant David the +prince in the midst of them: I the Lord have spoken it. + +34:25. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause +the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they that dwell in the +wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests. + +34:26. And I will make them a blessing round about my hill: and I will +send down the rain in its season, there shall be showers of blessing. + +34:27. And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth +shall yield her increase, and they shall be in their land without fear: +and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have broken the +bonds of their yoke, and shall have delivered them out of the hand of +those that rule over them. + +34:28. And they shall be no more for a spoil to the nations, neither +shall the beasts of the earth devour them: but they shall dwell +securely without, any terror. + +34:29. And I will raise up for them a bud of renown: and they shall be +no more consumed with famine in the land, neither shall they bear any +more the reproach of the Gentiles. + +A bud of renown. . .Germen nominatum. He speaks of Christ our Lord, the +illustrious bud of the house of David, renowned over all the earth. See +Jer. 33.15. + +34:30. And they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and +that they are my people the house of Israel: saith the Lord God. + +34:31. And you my flocks, the flocks of my pasture are men: and I am +the Lord your God, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 35 + + +The judgment of mount Seir, for their hatred of Israel. + +35:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +35:2. Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy +concerning it, and say to it: + +35:3. Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, mount Seir, +and I will stretch forth my hand upon thee, and I will make thee +desolate and waste. + +35:4. I will destroy thy cities, and thou shalt be desolate: and thou +shalt know that I am the Lord. + +35:5. Because thou hast been an everlasting enemy, and hast shut up the +children of Israel in the hands of the sword in the time of their +affliction, in the time of their last iniquity. + +35:6. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will deliver thee up +to blood, and blood shall pursue thee: and whereas thou hast hated +blood, blood shall pursue thee. + +35:7. And I will make mount Seir waste and desolate: and I will take +away from it him that goeth and him that returneth. + +35:8. And I will fill his mountains with his men that are slain: in thy +hills, and in thy valleys, and in thy torrents they shall fall that are +slain with the sword. + +35:9. I will make thee everlasting desolations, and thy cities shall +not be inhabited: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord God. + +35:10. Because thou hast said: The two nations, and the two lands shall +be mine, and I will possess them by inheritance: whereas the Lord was +there. + +35:11. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God, I will do according to +thy wrath, and according to thy envy, which thou hast exercised in +hatred to them: and I will be made known by them, when I shall have +judged thee. + +35:12. And thou shalt know that I the Lord have heard all thy +reproaches, that thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, +saying. They are desolate, they are given to us to consume. + +35:13. And you rose up against me with your mouth, and have derogated +from me by your words: I have heard them. + +35:14. Thus saith the Lord God: When the whole earth shall rejoice, I +will make thee a wilderness. + +35:15. As thou hast rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of +Israel, because it was laid waste, so will I do to thee: thou shalt be +laid waste, O mount Seir, and all Idumea: and they shall know that I am +the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 36 + + +The restoration of Israel, not for their merits, but by God's special +grace. Christ's baptism. + +36:1. And thou son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and +say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord: + +36:2. Thus saith the Lord God: Because the enemy hath said to you: Aha, +the everlasting heights are given to us for an inheritance. + +36:3. Therefore prophesy, and say: Thus saith the Lord God: Because you +have been desolate, and trodden under foot on every side, and made an +inheritance to the rest of the nations, and are become the subject of +the talk, and the reproach of the people: + +36:4. Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: +Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the +brooks, and to the valleys, and to desolate places, and ruinous walls, +and to the cities that are forsaken, that are spoiled, and derided by +the rest of the nations round about. + +36:5. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: In the fire of my zeal I have +spoken of the rest of the nations, and of all Edom, who have taken my +land to themselves, for an inheritance with joy, and with all the +heart, and with the mind: and have cast it out to lay it waste. + +36:6. Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say to the +mountains, and to the hills, to the ridges, and to the valleys: Thus +saith the Lord God: Behold I have spoken in my zeal, and in my +indignation, because you have borne the shame of the Gentiles. + +36:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: I have lifted up my hand, that +the Gentiles who are round about you, shall themselves bear their +shame. + +36:8. But as for you, O mountains of Israel, shoot ye forth your +branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel: for they are at +hand to come. + +36:9. For I, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be +ploughed and sown. + +36:10. And I will multiply men upon you, and all the house of Israel: +and the cities ball be inhabited, and the ruinous places shall be +repaired. + +36:11. And I will make you abound with men and with beasts: and they +shall be multiplied, and increased: and I will settle you as from the +beginning, and will give you greater gifts, than you had from the +beginning: and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +36:12. And I will bring men upon you, my people Israel, and they shall +possess thee for their inheritance: and thou shalt be their +inheritance, and shalt no more henceforth be without them. + +36:13. Thus saith the Lord God: Because thy say of you: Thou art a +devourer of men, and one that suffocatest thy nation: + +36:14. Therefore thou shalt devour men no more nor destroy thy nation +any more, saith the Lord God. + +36:15. Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the +nations any more, nor shalt thou bear the reproach of the people, nor +lose thy nation any more, saith the Lord God. + +Nor lose thy nation any more. . .This whole promise principally relates +to the church of Christ, and God's perpetual protection of her: for as +the carnal Jews, they have been removed out of their land these sixteen +hundred years. + +36:16. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +36:17. Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, +they defiled it with their ways, and with their doings: their way was +before me like the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. + +36:18. And I poured out my indignation upon them for the blood which +they had shed upon the land, and with their idols they defiled it. + +36:19. And I scattered them among the nations, and they are dispersed +through the countries: I have judged them according to their ways, and +their devices. + +36:20. And when they entered among the nations whither they went, they +profaned my holy name, when it was said of them: This is the people of +the Lord, and they are come forth out of his land. + +36:21. And I have regarded my own holy name, which the house of Israel +hath profaned among the nations to which they went in. + +36:22. Therefore thou shalt say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the +Lord God: It is not for your sake that I will do this, O house of +Israel, but for my holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the +nations whither you went. + +36:23. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the +Gentiles, which you have profaned in the midst of them: that the +Gentiles may know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord of hosts, when I +shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. + +36:24. For I will take you from among the Gentiles, and will gather you +together out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own +land. + +36:25. And I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed +from all your filthiness, and I will cleanse you from all your idols. + +36:26. And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within +you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will +give you a heart of flesh. + +36:27. And I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause +you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them. + +36:28. And you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, +and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. + +36:29. And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call +for corn, and will multiply it, and will lay no famine upon you. + +36:30. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of +the field, that you bear no more the reproach of famine among the +nations. + +36:31. And you shall remember your wicked ways, and your doings that +were not good: and your iniquities, and your wicked deeds shall +displease you. + +36:32. It is not for your sakes that I will do this, saith the Lord +God, be it known to you: be confounded, and ashamed at your own ways, O +house of Israel. + +36:33. Thus saith the Lord God: In the day that I shall cleanse you +from all your iniquities, and shall cause the cities to be inhabited, +and shall repair the ruinous places, + +36:34. And the desolate land shall be tilled, which before was waste in +the sight of all that passed by, + +36:35. They shall say: This land that was untilled is become as a +garden of pleasure: and the cities that were abandoned, and desolate, +and destroyed, are peopled and fenced. + +36:36. And the nations, that shall be left round about you, shall know +that I the Lord have built up what was destroyed, and planted what was +desolate, that I the Lord have spoken and done it. + +36:37. Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this shall the house of +Israel find me, that I will do it for them: I will multiply them as a +flock of men, + +36:38. As a holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts: +so shall the waste cities be full of flocks of men: and they shall know +that I am the Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 37 + + +A vision of the resurrection of dry bones, foreshewing the deliverance +of the people from their captivity. Juda and Israel shall be all one +kingdom under Christ. God's everlasting covenant with the church. + +37:1. The hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me forth in the +spirit of the Lord: and set me down in the midst of a plain that was +full of bones. + +37:2. And he led me about through them on every side: now they were +very many upon the face of the plain, and they were exceeding dry. + +37:3. And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou think these bones shall +live and I answered: O Lord God, thou knowest. + +37:4. And he said to me: Prophesy concerning these bones; and say to +them: Ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. + +37:5. Thus saith the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will send +spirit into you, and you shall live. + +Spirit. . .That is, soul, life, and breath. + +37:6. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to grow over +you, and will cover you with skin: and I will give you spirit and you +shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord. + +37:7. And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and as I prophesied +there was a noise, and behold a commotion: and the bones came together, +each one, its joint. + +37:8. And I saw, and behold the sinews, and the flesh came up upon +them: and the skin was stretched out over them, but there was no spirit +in them. + +37:9. And he said to me: Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, O son of +man, and say to the spirit: Thus saith the Lord God: Come, spirit, from +the four winds, and blow upon these slain, and let them live again. + +37:10. And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and the spirit came +into them, and they lived: and they stood up upon their feet, an +exceeding great army. + +37:11. And he said to me: Son of man: All these bones are the house of +Israel: they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost, and we +are cut off. + +37:12. Therefore prophesy, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: +Behold I will open your graves, and will bring you out of your +sepulchres, O my people: and will bring you into the land of Israel. + +37:13. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have opened +your sepulchres, and shall have brought you out of your graves, O my +people: + +37:14. And shall have put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I +shall make you rest upon your own land: and you shall know that I the +Lord have spoken, and done it, saith the Lord God: + +37:15. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +37:16. And thou son of man, take thee a stick: and write upon it: Of +Juda, and of the children of Israel his associates: and take another +stick and write upon it: For Joseph the stick of Ephraim, and for all +the house of Israel, and of his associates. + +37:17. And join them one to the other into one stick, and they shall +become one in thy hand. + +37:18. And when the children of thy people shall speak to thee, saying: +Wilt thou not tell us what thou meanest by this? + +37:19. Say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will take the +stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of +Israel that are associated with him, and I will put them together with +the stick of Juda, and will make them one stick: and they shall be one +in his hand. + +37:20. And the sticks whereon thou hast written, shall be in thy hand, +before their eyes. + +37:21. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I +will take of the children of Israel from the midst of the nations +whither they are gone: and I will gather them on every side, and will +bring them to their own land. + +37:22. And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of +Israel, and one king shall be king over them all: and they shall no +more be two nations, neither shall they be divided any more into two +kingdoms. + +37:23. Nor shall they be defiled any more with their idols, nor with +their abominations, nor with all their iniquities: and I will save them +out of all the places in which they have sinned, and I will cleanse +them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. + +37:24. And my servant David shall be king over them, and they shall +have one shepherd: they shall walk in my judgments, and shall keep my +commandments, and shall do them. + +37:25. And they shall dwell in the land which I gave to my servant +Jacob, wherein your fathers dwelt, and they shall dwell in it, they and +their children, and their children's children, for ever: and David my +servant shall be their prince for ever. + +37:26. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, it shall be an +everlasting covenant with them: and I will establish them, and will +multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for ever. + +37:27. And my tabernacle shall be with them: and I will be their God, +and they shall be my people. + +37:28. And the nations shall know that I am the Lord the sanctifier of +Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 38 + + +Gog shall persecute the church in the latter days. He shall be +overthrown. + +38:1. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +38:2. Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the +chief prince of Mosoch and Thubal: and prophesy of him, + +Gog. . .This name, which signifies hidden or covered, is taken in this +place, either for the persecutors of the church of God in general, or +some arch-persecutor in particular: such as Antichrist shall be in the +latter days. See Apoc. 20.8. And what is said of the punishment of Gog, +is verified by the unhappy ends of persecutors.--Ibid. Magog. . .Scythia +or Tartary, from whence the Turks, and other enemies of the church of +Christ, originally sprung. + +38:3. And say to him: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against +thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Mosoch and Thubal. + +38:4. And I will turn thee about, and I will put a bit in thy jaws: and +I will bring thee forth, and all thy army, horses and horsemen all +clothed with coats of mail, a great multitude, armed with spears and +shields and swords. + +38:5. The Persians, Ethiopians, and Libyans with them, all with shields +and helmets. + +38:6. Gomer, and all his bands, the house of Thogorma, the northern +parts and all his strength, and many peoples with thee. + +38:7. Prepare and make thyself ready, and all thy multitude that is +assembled about thee, and be thou commander over them. + +38:8. After many days thou shalt be visited: at the end of years thou +shalt come to the land that is returned from the sword, and is gathered +out of many nations, to the mountains of Israel which have been +continually waste: but it hath been brought forth out of the nations, +and they shall all of them dwell securely in it. + +38:9. And thou shalt go up and come like a storm, and like a cloud to +cover the land, thou and all thy bands and many people with thee. + +38:10. Thus saith the Lord God: In that day projects shall enter into +thy heart, and thou shalt conceive a mischievous design. + +38:11. And thou shalt say: I will go up to the land which is without a +wall, I will come to them that are at rest, and dwell securely: all +these dwell without a wall, they have no bars nor gates: + +38:12. To take spoils, and lay hold on the prey, to lay thy hand upon +them that had been wasted, and afterwards restored, and upon the people +that is gathered together out of the nations, which hath begun to +possess and to dwell in the midst of the earth. + +38:13. Saba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tharsis, and all the lions +thereof shall say to thee: Art thou come to take spoils? behold, thou +hast gathered thy multitude to take a prey, to take silver, and gold, +and to carry away goods and substance, and to take rich spoils. + +38:14. Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: Thus saith +the Lord God: Shalt thou not know, in that day, when my people of +Israel shall dwell securely? + +38:15. And thou shalt come out of thy place from the northern parts, +thou and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great +company and a mighty army. + +38:16. And thou shalt come upon my people of Israel like a cloud, to +cover the earth. Thou shalt be in the latter days, and I will bring +thee upon my land: that the nations may know me, when I shall be +sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. + +38:17. Thus saith the Lord God: Thou then art he, of whom I have spoken +in the days of old, by my servants the prophets of Israel, who +prophesied in the days of those times that I would bring thee upon +them. + +38:18. And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day of the coming +of Gog upon the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my indignation +shall come up in my wrath. + +38:19. And I have spoken in my zeal, and in the fire of my anger, that +in that day there shall be a great commotion upon the land of Israel: + +38:20. So that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the +beasts of the field, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the +ground, and all men that are upon the face of the earth, shall be moved +at my presence: and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the hedges +shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. + +38:21. And I will call in the sword against him in all my mountains, +saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be pointed against his +brother. + +38:22. And I will judge him with pestilence, and with blood, and with +violent rain, and vast hailstones: I will rain fire and brimstone upon +him, and upon his army, and upon the many nations that are with him. + +38:23. And I will be magnified, and I will be sanctified: and I will be +known in the eyes of many nations and they shall know that I am the +Lord. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 39 + + +God's judgments upon Gog. God's people were punished for their sins: +but shall be favoured with everlasting kindness. + +39:1. And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: Thus saith +the Lord God: Behold, I come against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of +Mosoch and Thubal. + +39:2. And I will turn thee round, and I will lead thee out, and will +make thee go up from the northern parts: and will bring thee upon the +mountains of Israel. + +39:3. And I will break thy bow in thy left hand, and I will cause thy +arrows to fall out of thy right hand. + +39:4. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy +bands, and thy nations that are with thee: I have given thee to the +wild beasts, to the birds, and to every fowl, and to the beasts of the +earth to be devoured. + +39:5. Thou shalt fall upon the face of the field: for I have spoken it, +saith the Lord God. + +39:6. And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them that dwell +confidently in the islands: and they shall know that I am the Lord. + +39:7. And I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people +Israel, and my holy name shall be profaned no more: and the Gentiles +shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. + +39:8. Behold it cometh, and it is done, saith the Lord God: this is the +day whereof I have spoken. + +39:9. And the inhabitants shall go forth of the cities of Israel, and +shall set on fire and burn the weapons, the shields, and the spears, +the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves and the pikes: and they +shall burn them with fire seven years. + +39:10. And they shall not bring wood out of the countries, nor cut down +out of the forests: for they shall burn the weapons with fire, and +shall make a prey of them to whom they had been a prey, and they shall +rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord God. + +39:11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give Gog a +noted place for a sepulchre in Israel: the valley of the passengers on +the east of the sea, which shall cause astonishment in them that pass +by: and there shall they bury Gog, and all his multitude, and it shall +be called the valley of the multitude of Gog. + +39:12. And the house of Israel shall bury them for seven months to +cleanse the land. + +39:13. And all the people of the land shall bury him, and it shall be +unto them a noted day, wherein I was glorified, saith the Lord God. + +39:14. And they shall appoint men to go continually about the land, to +bury and to seek out them that were remaining upon the face of the +earth, that they may cleanse it: and after seven months they shall +begin to seek. + +39:15. And they shall go about passing through the land: and when they +shall see the bone of a man, they shall set up sign by it, till the +buriers bury it in the valley, of the multitude of Gog. + +39:16. And the name of the city shall be Amona, and they shall cleanse +the land. + +39:17. And thou, O son of man, saith the Lord God, say to every fowl, +and to all the birds, and to all the beasts of the field: Assemble +yourselves, make haste, come together from every side to my victim, +which I slay for you, a great victim upon the mountains of Israel: to +eat flesh, and drink blood. + +39:18. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and you shall drink the +blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, and of lambs, and of he +goats, and bullocks, and of all that are well fed and fat. + +39:19. And you shall eat the fat till you be full, and shall drink +blood till you be drunk of the victim which I shall slay for you. + +39:20. And you shall be filled at my table with horses, and mighty +horsemen, and all the men of war, saith the Lord God. + +39:21. And I will set my glory among the nations: and all nations shall +see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon +them. + +39:22. And the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God +from that day and forward. + +39:23. And the nations shall know that the house of Israel were made +captives for their iniquity, because they forsook me, and I hid my face +from them: and I delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and +they fell all by the sword. + +39:24. I have dealt with them according to their uncleanness, and +wickedness, and hid my face from them. + +39:25. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Now will I bring back the +captivity of Jacob, and will have mercy on all the house of Israel and +I will be jealous for my holy name. + +39:26. And they shall bear their confusion, and all the transgressions +wherewith they have transgressed against me, when they shall dwell in +their land securely fearing no man: + +39:27. And I shall have brought them back from among the nations, and +shall have gathered them together out of the lands of their enemies, +and shall be sanctified in them, in the sight of many nations. + +39:28. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I +caused them to be carried away among the nations; and I have gathered +them together unto their own land, and have not left any of them there. + +39:29. And I will hide my face no more from them, for I have poured out +my spirit upon all the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 40 + + +The prophet sees in a vision the rebuilding of the temple: the +dimensions of several parts thereof. + +40:1. In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning +of the year, the tenth day of the month, the fourteenth year after the +city was destroyed: in the selfsame day the hand of the Lord was upon +me, and he brought me thither. + +40:2. In the visions of God he brought me into the land of Israel, and +set me upon a very high mountain: upon which there was as the building +of a city, bending towards the south. + +40:3. And he brought me in thither, and behold a man, whose appearance +was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and +a measuring reed in his hand, and he stood in the gate. + +40:4. And this man said to me: Son of man, see with thy eyes, and hear +with thy ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall shew thee: for +thou art brought hither that they may be shewn to thee: declare all +that thou seest, to the house of Israel. + +40:5. And behold there was a wall on the outside of the house round +about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits and a +handbreadth: and he measured the breadth of the building one reed, and +the height one reed. + +40:6. And he came to the gate that looked toward the east, and he went +up the steps thereof: and he measured the breadth of the threshold of +the gate one reed, that is, one threshold was one reed broad; + +40:7. And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad: +and between the little chambers were five cubits: + +40:8. And the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within, +was one reed. + +40:9. And he measured the porch of the gate eight cubits, and the front +thereof two cubits: and the porch of the gate was inward. + +40:10. And the little chambers of the gate that looked eastward were +three on this side, and three on that side: all three were of one +measure, and the fronts of one measure, on both parts. + +40:11. And he measured the breadth of the threshold of the gate ten +cubits: and the length of the gate thirteen cubits: + +40:12. And the border before the little chambers one cubit: and one +cubit was the border on both sides: and the little chambers were six +cubits on this side and that side. + +40:13. And he measured the gate from the roof of one little chamber to +the roof of another, in breadth five and twenty cubits: door against +door. + +40:14. He made also fronts of sixty cubits: and to the front the court +of the gate on every side round about. + +40:15. And before the face of the gate which reached even to the face +of the porch of the inner gate, fifty cubits. + +40:16. And slanting windows in the little chambers, and in their +fronts, which were within the gate on every side round about: and in +like manner there were also in the porches windows round about within, +and before the fronts the representation of palm trees. + +40:17. And he brought me into the outward court, and behold there were +chambers, and a pavement of stone in the court round about: thirty +chambers encompassed the pavement. + +There were chambers. . .Gazophylacia, so called, because the priests and +Levites kept in them the stores and vessels that belonged to the +temple. + +40:18. And the pavement in the front of the gates according to the +length of the gates was lower. + +40:19. And he measured the breadth from the face of the lower gate to +the front of the inner court without, a hundred cubits to the east, and +to the north. + +40:20. He measured also both the length and the breadth of the gate of +the outward court, which looked northward. + +40:21. And the little chambers thereof three on this side, and three on +that side: and the front thereof, and the porch thereof according to +the measure of the former gate, fifty cubits long, and five and twenty +cubits broad. + +40:22. And the windows thereof, and the porch, and the gravings +according to the measure of the gate that looked to the east, and they +went up to it by seven steps, and a porch was before it. + +40:23. And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate of the +north, and that of the east: and he measured from gate to gate a +hundred cubits. + +40:24. And he brought me out to the way of the south, and behold the +gate that looked to the south: and he measured the front thereof, and +the porch thereof according to the former measures. + +40:25. And the windows thereof, and the porches round about, as the +other windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and +twenty cubits. + +40:26. And there were seven steps to go up to it: and a porch before +the doors thereof: and there were graven palm trees, one on this side, +and another on that side in the front thereof. + +40:27. And there was a gate of the inner court towards the south: and +he measured from gate to gate towards the south, a hundred cubits. + +40:28. And he brought me into the inner court at the south gate: and he +measured the gate according to the former measures. + +40:29. The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch +thereof with the same measures: and the windows thereof, and the porch +thereof round about it was fifty cubits in length, and five and twenty +cubits in breadth. + +40:30. And the porch round about was five and twenty cubits long, and +five cubits broad. + +40:31. And the porch thereof to the outward court, and the palm trees +thereof in the front: and there were eight steps to go up to it. + +40:32. And he brought me into the inner court by the way of the east: +and he measured the gate according to the former measures. + +40:33. The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch +thereof as before: and the windows thereof, and the porches thereof +round about it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad. + +40:34. And the porch thereof, that is, of the outward court: and the +graven palm trees in the front thereof on this side and on that side: +and the going up thereof was by eight steps. + +40:35. And he brought me into the gate that looked to the north: and he +measured according to the former measures. + +40:36. The little chamber thereof, and the front thereof, and the porch +thereof, and the windows thereof round about it was fifty cubits long, +and five and twenty cubits broad. + +40:37. And the porch thereof looked to the outward court: and the +graving of palm trees in the front thereof was on this side and on that +side: and the going up to it was by eight steps. + +40:38. And at every chamber was a door in the forefronts of the gates: +there they washed the holocaust. + +40:39. And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and +two tables on that side: that the holocaust, and the sin offering, and +the trespass offering might be slain thereon. + +40:40. And on the outward side, which goeth up to the entry of the gate +that looketh toward the north, were two tables: and at the other side +before the porch of the gate were two tables, + +40:41. Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side at +the sides of the gate were eight tables, upon which they slew the +victims. + +40:42. And the four tables for the holocausts were made of square +stones: one cubit and a half long, and one cubit and a half broad, and +one cubit high: to lay the vessels upon, in which the holocaust and the +victim is slain. + +40:43. And the borders of them were of one handbreadth, turned inwards +round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering. + +40:44. And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singing men +in the inner court, which was on the side of the gate that looketh to +the north: and their prospect was towards the south, one at the side of +the east gate, which looketh toward the north. + +40:45. And he said to me: This chamber, which looketh toward the south +shall be for the priests that watch in the wards of the temple. + +40:46. But the chamber that looketh towards the north shall be for the +priests that watch over the ministry of the altar. These are the sons +of Sadoc, who among the sons of Levi, come near to the Lord, to +minister to him. + +40:47. And he measured the court a hundred cubits long, and a hundred +cubits broad foursquare: and the altar that was before the face of the +temple. + +40:48. And he brought me into the porch of the temple: and he measured +the porch five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and +the breadth of the gate three cubits on this side, and three cubits on +that side. + +40:49. And the length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth +eleven cubits, and there were eight steps to go up to it. And there +were pillars in the fronts: one on this side, and another on that side. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 41 + + +A description of the temple, and of all the parts of it. + +41:1. And he brought me into the temple, and he measured the fronts six +cubits broad on this side, and six cubits on that side, the breadth of +the tabernacle. + +The temple. . .This plan of a temple, which was here shewn to the +prophet in a vision, partly had relation to the material temple, which +was to be rebuilt: and partly, in a mystical sense, to the spiritual +temple of God, the church of Christ. + +41:2. And the breadth of the gate was ten cubits: and the sides of the +gate five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and he +measured the length thereof forty cubits, and the breadth twenty +cubits. + +41:3. Then going inward he measured the front of the gate two cubits: +and the gate six cubits, and the breadth of the gate seven cubits. + +41:4. And he measured the length thereof twenty cubits, and the breadth +twenty cubits, before the face of the temple: and he said to me: This +is the holy of holies. + +41:5. And he measured the wall of the house six cubits: and the breadth +of every side chamber four cubits round about the house on every side. + +41:6. And the side chambers one by another, were twice thirty-three: +and they bore outwards, that they might enter in through the wall of +the house in the sides round about, to hold in, and not to touch the +wall of the temple. + +One by another. . .Or one over another; literally, side to side, or side +upon side. + +41:7. And there was a broad passage round about, going up by winding +stairs, and it led into the upper loft of the temple all round: +therefore was the temple broader in the higher parts: and so from the +lower parts they went to the higher by the midst. + +41:8. And I saw in the house the height round about, the foundations of +the side chambers which were the measure of a reed the space of six +cubits: + +41:9. And the thickness of the wall for the side chamber without, which +was five cubits: and the inner house was within the side chambers of +the house, + +And the inner house was within the side chambers of the +house. . .Because these side chambers were in the very walls of the +temple all round. Or, it may also be rendered (more agreeably to the +Hebrew) so as to signify that the thickness of the wall for the side +chamber within, was the same as that of the wall without; that is, +equally five cubits. + +41:10. And between the chambers was the breadth of twenty cubits round +about the house on every side. + +41:11. And the door of the side chambers was turned towards the place +of prayer: one door was toward the north, and another door was toward +the south: and the breadth of the place for prayer, was five cubits +round about. + +41:12. And the building that was separate, and turned to the way that +looked toward the sea, was seventy cubits broad and the wall of the +building, five cubits thick round about: and ninety cubits long. + +41:13. And he measured the length of the house, a hundred cubits: and +the separate building, and the walls thereof, a hundred cubits in +length. + +41:14. And the breadth before the face of the house, and of the +separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits. + +41:15. And he measured the length of the building over against it, +which was separated at the back of it: and the galleries on both sides +a hundred cubits: and the inner temple, and the porches of the court. + +41:16. The thresholds, and the oblique windows, and the galleries round +about on three sides, over against the threshold of every one, and +floored with wood all round about: and the ground was up to the +windows, and the windows were shut over the doors. + +41:17. And even to the inner house, and without all the wall round +about within and without, by measure. + +41:18. And there were cherubims and palm trees wrought, so that a palm +tree was between a cherub and a cherub, and every cherub had two faces. + +41:19. The face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the +face of a lion was toward the palm tree on the other side: set forth +through all the house round about. + +41:20. From the ground even to the upper parts of the gate, were +cherubims and palm trees wrought in the wall of the temple. + +41:21. The threshold was foursquare, and the face of the sanctuary +sight to sight. + +The threshold was foursquare. . .That is, the gate of the temple was +foursquare: and so placed as to answer the gate of the sanctuary +within. + +41:22. The altar of wood was three cubits high: and the length thereof +was two cubits: and the corners thereof, aid the length thereof, and +the walls thereof, were of wood. And he said to me: This is the table +before the Lord. + +41:23. And there were two doors in the temple, and in the sanctuary. + +41:24. And in the two doors on both sides were two little doors, which +were folded within each other: for there were two wickets on both sides +of the doors. + +41:25. And there were cherubims also wrought in the doors of the +temple, and the figures of palm trees, like as were made on the walls: +for which cause also the planks were thicker in the front of the porch +without. + +41:26. Upon which were the oblique windows, and the representation of +palm trees on this side, and on that side in the sides of the porch, +according to the sides of the house, and the breadth of the walls. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 42 + + +A description of the courts, chambers, and other places belonging to +the temple. + +42:1. And he brought me forth into the outward court by the way that +leadeth to the north, and he brought me into the chamber that was over +against the separate building, and over against the house toward the +north. + +42:2. In the face of the north door was the length of hundred cubits, +and the breadth of fifty cubits. + +42:3. Over against the twenty cubits of the inner court, and over +against the pavement of the outward court that was paved with stone, +where there was a gallery joined to a triple gallery. + +42:4. And before the chambers was a walk ten cubits broad, looking to +the inner parts of a way of one cubit. And their doors were toward the +north. + +42:5. Where were the store chambers lower above: because they bore up +the galleries, which appeared above out of them from he lower parts, +and from the midst of the building. + +42:6. For they were of three stories, and had not pillars, as the +pillars of the courts: therefore did they appear above out of the lower +places, and out of the middle places, fifty cubits from the ground. + +42:7. And the outward wall that went about by the chambers, which were +towards the outward court on the forepart of the chambers, was fifty +cubits long. + +42:8. For the length of the chambers of the outward court was fifty +cubits: and the length before the face of the temple, a hundred cubits. + +42:9. And there was under these chambers, an entrance from the east, +for them that went into them out of the outward court. + +42:10. In the breadth of the outward wall of the court that was toward +the east, over against the separate building, and there were chambers +before the building. + +42:11. And the way before them was like the chambers which were toward +the north: they were as long as they, and as broad as they: and all the +going in to them, and their fashions, and their doors were alike. + +42:12. According to the doors of the chambers that were towards the +south: there was a door in the head of the way, which way was before +the porch, separated towards the east as one entereth in. + +42:13. And he said to me: The chambers of the north, and the chambers +of the south, which are before the separate building: they are holy +chambers, in which the priests shall eat, that approach to the Lord +into the holy of holies: there they shall lay the most holy things, and +the offering for sin, and for trespass: for it is a holy place. + +42:14. And when the priests shall have entered in, they shall not go +out of the holy places into the outward court: but there they shall lay +their vestments, wherein they minister, for they are holy: and they +shall put on other garments, and so they shall go forth to the people. + +42:15. Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he +brought me out by the way of the gate that looked toward the east: and +he measured it on every side round about. + +42:16. And he measured toward the east with the measuring reed, five +hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about. + +42:17. And he measured toward the north five hundred reeds with the +measuring reed round about. + +42:18. And towards the south he measured five hundred reeds with the +measuring reed round about. + +42:19. And toward the west he measured five hundred reeds, with the +measuring reed. + +42:20. By the four winds he measured the wall thereof on every side +round about, five hundred cubits and five hundred cubits broad, making +a separation between the sanctuary and the place of the people. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 43 + + +The glory of God returns to the new temple. The Israelites shall no +more profane God's name by idolatry: the prophet is commanded to shew +them the dimensions, and form of the temple, and of the altar, with the +sacrifices to be offered thereon. + +43:1. And he brought me to the gate that looked towards the east. + +43:2. And behold the glory of the God of Israel came in by the way of +the east: and his voice was like the noise of many waters, and the +earth shone with his majesty. + +43:3. And I saw the vision according to the appearance which I had seen +when he came to destroy the city: and the appearance was according to +the vision which I had seen by the river Chobar: and I fell upon my +face. + +43:4. And the majesty of the Lord went into the temple by the way of +the gate that looked to the east. + +43:5. And the spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court: +and behold the house was filled with the glory of the Lord. + +43:6. And I heard one speaking to me out of the house, and the man that +stood by me, + +43:7. Said to me: Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of +the soles of my feet, where I dwell in the midst of the children of +Israel for ever: and the house of Israel shall no more profane my holy +name, they and their kings by their fornications, and by the carcasses +of their kings, and by the high places. + +43:8. They who have set their threshold by my threshold, and their +posts by my posts: and there was but a wall between me, and them: and +they profaned my holy name by the abominations which they committed: +for which reason I consumed them in my wrath. + +43:9. Now therefore let them put away their fornications, and the +carcasses of their kings far from me: and I will dwell in the midst of +them for ever. + +43:10. But thou, son of man, shew to the house of Israel the temple, +and let them be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the +building: + +43:11. And be ashamed of all that they have done. Shew them the form of +the house, and of the fashion thereof, the goings out and the comings +in, and the whole plan thereof, and all its ordinances, and all its +order, and all its laws, and thou shalt write it in their sight: that +they may keep the whole form thereof, and its ordinances, and do them. + +43:12. This is the law of the house upon the top of the mountain: All +its border round about; most holy: this then is the law of the house. + +43:13. And these are the measures of the altar by the truest cubit, +which is a cubit and a handbreadth: the bottom thereof was a cubit, and +the breadth a cubit: and the border thereof unto its edge, and round +about, one handbreadth: and this was the trench of the altar. + +43:14. And from the bottom of the ground to the lowest brim two cubits, +and the breadth of one cubit: and from the lesser brim to the greater +brim four cubits, and the breadth of one cubit. + +43:15. And the Ariel itself was four cubits: and from the Ariel upward +were four horns. + +The Ariel. . .That is, the altar itself, or rather the highest part of +it, upon which the burnt offerings were laid. In the Hebrew it is +Harel, that is, the mountain of God: but in the following verse +Haariel, that is, the lion of God; a figure, from its consuming, and as +it were devouring the sacrifices, as a lion devours its prey. + +43:16. And the Ariel was twelve cubits long, and twelve cubits broad, +foursquare, with equal sides. + +43:17. And the brim was fourteen cubits long, and fourteen cubits broad +in the four corners thereof: and the crown round about it was half a +cubit, and the bottom of it one cubit round about: and its steps turned +toward the east. + +43:18. And he said to me: Son of man, thus saith the Lord God: These +are the ceremonies of the altar, in what day soever it shall be made: +that holocausts may be offered upon it, and blood poured out. + +43:19. And thou shalt give to the priests, and the Levites, that are of +the race of Sadoc, who approach to me, saith the Lord God, to offer to +me a calf of the herd for sin. + +43:20. And thou shalt take of his blood, and shalt put it upon the four +horns thereof, and upon the four corners of the brim, and upon the +crown round about: and thou shalt cleanse, and expiate it. + +43:21. And thou shalt take the calf, that is offered for sin: and thou +shalt burn him in a separate place of the house without the sanctuary. + +43:22. And in the second day thou shalt offer a he goat without blemish +for sin: and they shall expiate the altar, as they expiated it with the +calf. + +43:23. And when thou shalt have made an end of the expiation thereof, +thou shalt offer a calf of the herd without blemish, and a ram of the +flock without blemish. + +43:24. And thou shalt offer them in the sight of the Lord, and the +priests shall put salt upon them, and shall offer them a holocaust to +the Lord. + +43:25. Seven days shalt thou offer a he goat for sin daily: they shall +offer also a calf of the herd, and a ram of the flock without blemish. + +43:26. Seven days shall they expiate the altar, and shall cleanse it: +and they shall consecrate it. + +Consecrate it. . .Literally, fill its hand, that is, dedicate and apply +it to holy service. + +43:27. And the days being expired, on the eighth day and thenceforward, +the priests shall offer your holocausts upon the altar, and the peace +offerings: and I will be pacified towards you, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 44 + + +The east gate of the sanctuary shall be always shut. The uncircumcised +shall not enter into the sanctuary: nor the Levites that have served +idols: but the sons of Sadoc shall do the priestly functions, who stood +firm in the worst of times. + +44:1. And he brought me back to the way of the gate of the outward +sanctuary, which looked towards the east: and it was shut. + +44:2. And the Lord said to me: This gate shall be shut, it shall not be +opened, and no man shall pass through it: because the Lord the God of +Israel hath entered in by it, and it shall be shut + +44:3. For the prince. The prince himself shall sit in it, to eat bread +before the Lord: he shall enter in by the way of the porch of the gate, +and shall go out by the same way. + +44:4. And he brought me by the way of the north gate, in the sight of +the house: and I saw, and behold the glory of the Lord filled the house +of the Lord: and I fell on my face. + +44:5. And the Lord said to me: Son of man, attend with thy heart and +behold with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears, all that I say to thee +concerning all the ceremonies of the house of the Lord, and concerning +all the laws thereof: and mark well the ways of the temple, with all +the goings out of the sanctuary. + +44:6. And thou shalt say to the house of Israel that provoketh me: Thus +saith the Lord God: Let all your wicked doings suffice you, O house of +Israel: + +44:7. In that you have brought in strangers uncircumcised in heart, and +uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, and to defile my house: +and you offer my bread, the fat, and the blood: and you have broken my +covenant by all your wicked doings. + +44:8. And you have not kept the ordinances of my sanctuary: but you +have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. + +44:9. Thus saith the Lord God: No stranger uncircumcised in heart, and +uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, no stranger that +is in the midst of the children of Israel. + +44:10. Moreover the Levites that went away far from me, when the +children of Israel went astray, and have wandered from me after their +idols, and have borne their iniquity: + +44:11. They shall be officers in my sanctuary, and doorkeepers of the +gates of the house, and ministers to the house: they shall slay the +holocausts, and the victims of the people: and they shall stand in +their sight, to minister to them. + +44:12. Because they ministered to them before their idols, and were a +stumblingblock of iniquity to the house of Israel: therefore have I +lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord God, and they shall bear +their iniquity: + +44:13. And they shall not come near to me, to do the office of priest +to me, neither shall they come near to any of my holy things that are +by the holy of holies: but they shall bear their shame, and their +wickednesses which they have committed. + +44:14. And I will make them doorkeepers of the house, for all the +service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein. + +44:15. But the priests, and Levites, the sons of Sadoc, who kept the +ceremonies of my sanctuary, when the children of Israel went astray +from me, they shall come near to me, to minister to me: and they shall +stand before me, to offer me the fat, and the blood, saith the Lord +God. + +44:16. They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to +my table, to minister unto me, and to keep my ceremonies. + +44:17. And when they shall enter in at the gates of the inner court, +they shall be clothed with linen garments: neither shall any woollen +come upon them, when they minister in the gates of the inner court and +within. + +44:18. They shall have linen mitres on their heads, and linen breeches +on their loins, and they shall not be girded with any thing that +causeth sweat. + +44:19. And when they shall go forth to the outward court to the people, +they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them +up in the store chamber of the sanctuary, and they shall clothe +themselves with other garments: and they shall not sanctify the people +with their vestments. + +Shall not sanctify the people with their vestments. . .By exposing them +to the danger of touching the sacred vestments, which none were to +touch but they that were sanctified. + +44:20. Neither shall they shave their heads, nor wear long hair: but +they shall only poll their heads. + +44:21. And no priest shall drink wine when he is to go into the inner +court. + +44:22. Neither shall they take to wife a widow, nor one that is +divorced, but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of +Israel: but they may take a widow also, that is, the widow of a priest. + +44:23. And they shall teach my people the difference between holy and +profane, and shew them how to discern between clean and unclean. + +44:24. And when there shall be a controversy, they shall stand in my +judgments, and shall judge: they shall keep my laws, and my ordinances +in all my solemnities, and sanctify my sabbaths. + +44:25. And they shall come near no dead person, lest they be defiled, +only their father and mother, and son and daughter, and brother and +sister, that hath not had another husband: for whom they may become +unclean. + +44:26. And after one is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven +days. + +44:27. And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, to the inner +court, to minister unto me in the sanctuary, he shall offer for his +sin, saith the Lord God. + +44:28. And they shall have no inheritance, I am their inheritance: +neither shall you give them any possession in Israel, for I am their +possession. + +44:29. They shall eat the victim both for sin and for trespass: and +every vowed thing in Israel shall be theirs. + +30. And the firstfruits of all the firstborn, and all the libations of +all things that are offered, shall be the priest's: and you shall give +the firstfruits of your meats to the priest, that he may return a +blessing upon thy house. + +44:31. The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself or +caught by a beast, whether it be fowl or cattle. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 45 + + +Portions of land for the sanctuary, for the city, and for the prince. +Ordinances for the prince. + +45:1. And when you shall begin to divide the land by lot, separate ye +firstfruits to the Lord, a portion of the land to be holy, in length +twenty-five thousand and in breadth ten thousand: it shall be holy in +all the borders thereof round about. + +Twenty-five thousand. . .Viz., reeds or cubits. + +45:2. And there shall be for the sanctuary on every side five hundred +by five hundred, foursquare round about: and fifty cubits for the +suburbs thereof round about. + +45:3. And with this measure thou shalt measure the length of five and +twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand, and in it shall be +the temple and the holy of holies. + +45:4. The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the +ministers of the sanctuary, who come near to the ministry of the Lord: +and it shall be a place for their houses, and for the holy place of the +sanctuary. + +45:5. And five and twenty thousand of length, and ten thousand of +breadth shall be for the Levites, that minister in the house: they +shall possess twenty store chambers. + +45:6. And you shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand +broad, and five and twenty thousand long, according to the separation +of the sanctuary, for the whole house of Israel. + +45:7. For the prince also on the one side and on the other side, +according to the separation of the sanctuary, and according to the +possession of the city, over against the separation of the sanctuary, +and over against the possession of the city: from the side of the sea +even to the sea, and from the side of the east even to the east. And +the length according to every part from the west border to the east +border. + +45:8. He shall have a portion of the land in Israel: and the princes +shall no more rob my people: but they shall give the land to the house +of Israel according to their tribes: + +45:9. Thus saith the Lord God: Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: +cease from iniquity and robberies, and execute judgment and justice, +separate your confines from my people, saith the Lord God. + +45:10. You shall have just balances, and a just ephi, and a just bate. + +45:11. The ephi and the bate shall be equal, and of one measure: that +the bate may contain the tenth part of a core, and the ephi the tenth +part of a core: their weight shall be equal according to the measure of +a core. + +The ephi and the bate. . .These measures were of equal capacity, but the +bate served for liquids, and the ephi for dry things. + +45:12. And the sicle hath twenty obols. Now twenty sicles, and five and +twenty sicles, and fifteen sicles, make a mna, + +45:13. And these are the firstfruits, which you shall take: the sixth +part of an ephi of a core of wheat, and the sixth part of an ephi of a +core of barley. + +45:14. The measure of oil also, a bate of oil is the tenth part of a +core: and ten bates make a core: for ten bates fill a core. + +45:15. And one ram out of a flock of two hundred, of those that Israel +feedeth for sacrifice, and for holocausts, and for peace offerings, to +make atonement for them, saith the Lord God. + +45:16. All the people of the land shall be bound to these firstfruits +for the prince in Israel. + +45:17. And the prince shall give the holocaust, and the sacrifice, and +the libations on the feasts, and on the new moons, and on the sabbaths, +and on all the solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall offer the +sacrifice for sin, and the holocaust, and the peace offerings to make +expiation for the house of Israel. + +45:18. Thus saith the Lord God: In the first month, the first of the +month, thou shalt take a calf of the herd without blemish, and thou +shalt expiate the sanctuary. + +45:19. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering: and +he shall put it on the posts of the house, and on the four corners of +the brim of the altar, and oil the posts of the gate of the inner +court. + +45:20. And so shalt thou do in the seventh day of the month, for every +one that hath been ignorant, and hath been deceived by error, and thou +shalt make expiation for the house. + +45:21. In the first month, the fourteenth day of the month, you shall +observe the solemnity of the pasch: seven days unleavened bread shall +be eaten. + +45:22. And the prince on that day shall offer for himself, and for all +the people of the land, a calf for sin. + +45:23. And in the solemnity of the seven days he shall offer for a +holocaust to the Lord, seven calves, and seven rams without blemish +daily for seven days: and for sin a he goat daily. + +45:24. And he shall offer the sacrifice of an ephi for every calf, and +an ephi for every ram: and a hin of oil for every ephi. + +45:25. In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, in the +solemn feast, he shall do the like for the seven days: as well in +regard to the sin offering, as to the holocaust, and the sacrifice, and +the oil. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 46 + + +Other ordinances for the prince and for the sacrifices. + +46:1. Thus saith the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that looketh +toward the east, shall be shut the six days, on which work is done; but +on the sabbath day it shall be opened, yea and on the day of the new +moon it shall be opened. + +46:2. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate +from without, and he shall stand at the threshold of the gate: and the +priests shall offer his holocaust, and his peace offerings: and he +shall adore upon the threshold of the gate, and shall go out: but the +gate shall not be shut till the evening. + +46:3. And the people of the land shall adore at the door of that gate +before the Lord on the sabbaths, and on the new moons. + +46:4. And the holocaust that the prince shall offer to the Lord on the +sabbath day, shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without +blemish. + +46:5. And the sacrifice of all ephi for a ram: but for the lambs what +sacrifice his hand shall allow: and a hin of oil for every ephi. + +46:6. And on the day of the new moon a calf of the herd without +blemish: and the six lambs, and the rams shall be without blemish. + +46:7. And he shall offer in sacrifice an ephi for calf, an ephi also +for a ram: but for the lambs, as his hand shall find: and a hin of oil +for every ephi. + +46:8. And when the prince is to go in, let him go in by the way of the +porch of the gate, and let him go out the same way. + +46:9. But when the people of the land shall go in before the Lord in +the solemn feasts, he that goeth in by the north gate to adore, shall +go out by the way of the south gate; and he that goeth in by the way of +the south gate, shall go out by the way of the north gate: he shall not +return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go out at +that over against it. + +46:10. And the prince in the midst of them, shall go in when they go +in, and go out when they go out. + +46:11. And in the fairs, and in the solemnities there shall be the +sacrifice of an ephi to a calf, and an ephi to a ram: and to the lambs, +the sacrifice shall be as his hand shall find: and a hin of oil to +every ephi. + +46:12. But when the prince shall offer a voluntary holocaust, or +voluntary peace offering to the Lord: the gate that looketh towards the +east shall be opened to him, and he shall offer his holocaust, and his +peace offerings, as it is wont to be done on the sabbath day: and he +shall go out, and the gate shall be shut after he is gone forth. + +46:13. And he shall offer every day for a holocaust to the Lord, a lamb +of the same year without blemish: he shall offer it always in the +morning. + +46:14. And he shall offer the sacrifice for it morning by morning, the +sixth part of an ephi: and the third part of a hin of oil to be mingled +with the fine flour: a sacrifice to the Lord by ordinance continual and +everlasting. + +46:15. He shall offer the lamb, and the sacrifice, and the oil morning +by morning: an everlasting holocaust. + +46:16. Thus saith the Lord God: If the prince give a gift to any of his +sons: the inheritance of it shall go to his children, they shall +possess it by inheritance. + +46:17. But if he give a legacy out of his inheritance to one of his +servants, it shall be his until the year of release, and it shall +return to the prince: but his inheritance shall go to his sons. + +46:18. And the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by +violence, nor of their possession: but out of his own possession he +shall give an inheritance to his sons: that my people be not dispersed +every man from his possession. + +46:19. And he brought me in by the entry that was at the side of the +gate, into the chambers of the sanctuary that were for the priests, +which looked toward the north. And there was a place bending to the +west. + +46:20. And he said to me: This is the place where the priests shall +boil the sin offering, and the trespass offering: where they shall +dress the sacrifice, that they may not bring it out into the outward +court, and the people be sanctified. + +46:21. And he brought me into the outward court, and he led me about by +the four corners of the court: and behold there was a little court in +the corner of the court, to every corner of the court there was a +little court. + +46:22. In the four corners of the court were little courts disposed, +forty cubits long, and thirty broad, all the four were of one measure. + +46:23. And there was a wall round about compassing the four little +courts, and there were kitchens built under the rows round about. + +46:24. And he said to me: This is the house of the kitchens wherein the +ministers of the house of the Lord shall boil the victims of the +people. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 47 + + +The vision of the holy waters issuing out from under the temple: the +borders of the land to be divided among the twelve tribes. + +47:1. And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and behold +waters issued out from under the threshold of the house toward the +east: for the forefront of the house looked toward the east: but the +waters came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of +the altar. + +Waters. . .These waters are not to be understood literally (for there +were none such that flowed from the temple); but mystically, of the +baptism of Christ, and of his doctrine and his grace: the trees that +grow on the banks are Christian virtues: the fishes are Christians, +that spiritually live in and by these holy waters, the fishermen are +the apostles, and apostolic preachers: the fenny places, where there is +no health, are such as by being out of the church are separated from +these waters of life. + +47:2. And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he caused me +to turn to the way without the outward gate to the way that looked +toward the east: and behold there ran out waters on the right side. + +47:3. And when the man that had the line in his hand went out towards +the east, he measured a thousand cubits: and he brought me through the +water up to the ankles. + +47:4. And again he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the +water up to the knees. + +47:5. And he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water +up to the loins. And he measured a thousand, and it was a torrent, +which I could not pass over: for the waters were risen so as to make a +deep torrent, which could not be passed over. + +47:6. And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man. And he +brought me out, and he caused me to turn to the bank of the torrent. + +47:7. And when I had turned myself, behold on the bank of the torrent +were very many trees on both sides. + +47:8. And he said to me: These waters that issue forth toward the +hillocks of sand to the east, and go down to the plains of the desert, +shall go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be +healed. + +47:9. And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent +shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after +these waters shall come thither, and they shall be healed, and all +things shall live to which the torrent shall come. + +47:10. And the fishers shall stand over these waters, from Engaddi even +to Engallim there shall be drying of nets: there shall be many sorts of +the fishes thereof, as the fishes of the great sea, a very great +multitude: + +47:11. But on the shore thereof, and in the fenny places they shall not +be healed, because they shall be turned into saltpits. + +47:12. And by the torrent on the banks thereof on both sides shall grow +all trees that bear fruit: their leaf shall not fall off, and their +fruit shall not fail: every month shall they bring forth firstfruits, +because the waters thereof shall issue out of the sanctuary: and the +fruits thereof shall be for food, and the leaves thereof for medicine. + +47:13. Thus saith the Lord God: This is the border, by which you shall +possess the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: for Joseph +hath a double portion. + +47:14. And you shall possess it, every man in like manner as his +brother: concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to your +fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for a possession. + +47:15. And this is the border of the land: toward the north side, from +the great sea by the way of Hethalon, as men go to Sedada, + +47:16. Emath, Berotha, Sabarim, which is between the border of Damascus +and the border of Emath the house of Tichon, which is by the border of +Auran. + +47:17. And the border from the sea even to the court of Enan, shall be +the border of Damascus, and from the north to the north: the border of +Emath, this is the north side. + +47:18. And the east side is from the midst of Auran, and from the midst +of Damascus, and from the midst of Galaad, and from the midst of the +land of Israel, Jordan making the bound to the east sea, and thus you +shall measure the east side. + +47:19. And the south side southward is, from Thamar even to the waters +of contradiction of Cades: and, the torrent even to the great sea: and +this is the south side southward. + +47:20. And the side toward the sea, is the great sea from the borders +straight on, till thou come to Emath: this is the side of the sea. + +47:21. And you shall divide this land unto you by the tribes of Israel: + +47:22. And you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance to you, and to +the strangers that shall come over to you, that shall beget children +among you: and they shall be unto you as men of the same country born +among the children of Israel: they shall divide the possession with you +in the midst of the tribes of Israel. + +47:23. And in what tribe soever the stranger shall be, there shall you +give him possession, saith the Lord God. + + + +Ezechiel Chapter 48 + + +The portions of the twelve tribes, of the sanctuary, of the city, and +of the prince. The dimensions and gates of the city. + +48:1. And these are the names of the tribes from the borders of the +north, by the way of Hethalon, as they go to Emath, the court of Enan +the border of Damascus northward, by the way off Emath. And from the +east side thereof to the sea shall be one portion for Dan. + +48:2. And by the border of Dan, from the east side even to the side of +the sea, one portion for Aser: + +48:3. And by the border of Aser, from the east side even to the side of +the sea one portion for Nephthali. + +48:4. And by the border of Nephthali, from the east side even to the +side of the one portion for Manasses. + +48:5. And by the border of Manasses, from the east side even to the +side of the sea, one portion for Ephraim. + +48:6. And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even to the side +of the sea, one portion for Ruben. + +48:7. And by the border of Ruben, from the east side even to the side +of the sea, one portion for Juda. + +48:8. And by the border of Juda, from the east side even to the side of +the sea, shall be the firstfruits which you shall set apart, five and +twenty thousand in breadth, and length, as every one of the portions +from the east side to the side of the sea: and the sanctuary shall be +in the midst thereof. + +48:9. The firstfruits which you shall set apart for the Lord will be +the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten +thousand. + +48:10. And these shall be the firstfruits of the sanctuary for the +priests: toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and +toward the sea ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east also ten +thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in +length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof. + +48:11. The sanctuary shall be for the priests of the sons of Sadoc, who +kept my ceremonies, and went not astray when the children of Israel +went astray, as the Levites also went astray. + +48:12. And for them shall be the firstfruits of the firstfruits of the +land holy of holies, by the border of the Levites, + +48:13. And the Levites in like manner shall have by the borders of the +priests five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in +breadth. All the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the +breadth ten thousand. + +48:14. And they shall not sell thereof, nor exchange, neither shall the +firstfruits of the land be alienated, because they are sanctified to +the Lord. + +48:15. But the five thousand that remain in the breadth over against +the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city for +dwelling, and for suburbs and the city shall be in the midst thereof. + +48:16. And these are the measures thereof: on the north side four +thousand and five hundred: and on the south side four thousand and five +hundred: and on the east side four thousand and five hundred: and on +the west side four thousand and five hundred. + +48:17. And the suburbs of the city shall be to the north two hundred +and fifty, and the south two hundred and fifty, and to the east two +hundred and fifty, and to the sea two hundred and fifty. + +48:18. And the residue in length by the firstfruits of the sanctuary, +ten thousand toward the east, and ten thousand toward the west, shall +be as the firstfruits of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be +for bread to them that serve the city. + +48:19. And they that serve the city, shall serve it out of all the +tribes of Israel. + +48:20. All the firstfruits, of five and twenty thousand, by five and +twenty thousand foursquare, shall be set apart for the firstfruits of +the sanctuary, and for the possession of the city. + +48:21. And the residue shall be for the prince on every side of the +firstfruits of the sanctuary, and of the possession of the city over +against the five and twenty thousand of the firstfruits unto the east +border: toward the sea also over against the five and twenty thousand, +unto the border of the sea, shall likewise be the portion of the +prince: and the firstfruits of the sanctuary, and the sanctuary of the +temple shall be in the midst thereof. + +48:22. And from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession +of the city which are in the midst of the prince's portions: what shall +be to the border of Juda, and to the border of Benjamin, shall also +belong to the prince. + +48:23. And for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west +side, one portion for Benjamin. + +48:24. And over against the border of Benjamin, from the east side to +the west side, one portion for Simeon. + +48:25. And by the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west +side, one portion for Issachar. + +48:26. And by the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west +side, one portion for Zabulon. + +48:27. And by the border of Zabulon, from the east side to the side of +the sea, one portion for Gad. + +48:28. And by the border of Gad, the south side southward: and the +border shall be from Thamar, even to the waters of contradiction of +Cades, the inheritance over against the great sea. + +48:29. This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of +Israel: and these are the portions of them, saith the Lord God. + +48:30. And these are the goings out of the city: on the north side thou +shalt measure four thousand and five hundred. + +48:31. And the gates of the city according to the names of the tribes +of Israel, three gates on the north side, the gate of Ruben one, the +gate of Juda one, the gate of Levi one. + +48:32. And at the east side, four thousand and five hundred: and three +gates, the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of +Dan one. + +48:33. And at the south side, thou shalt measure four thousand and five +hundred: and three gates, the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar +one, the gate of Zabulon one. + +48:34. And at the west side, four thousand and five hundred, and their +three gates, the gate of Gad one, the gate of Aser one, the gate of +Nephthali one. + +48:35. Its circumference was eighteen thousand: and the name of the +city from that day, The Lord is there. + +The Lord is there. . . This name is here given to the city, that is, to +the church of Christ: because the Lord is always with her till the end +of the world. Matt. 28.20. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF DANIEL + + + +DANIEL, whose name signifies THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, was of the royal +blood of the kings of Juda: and one of those that were first of all +carried away into captivity. He was so renowned for wisdom and +knowledge, that it became a proverb among the Babylonians, AS WISE AS +DANIEL (Ezech. 28.3). And his holiness was so great from his very +childhood, that at the time when he was as yet but a young man, he is +joined by the SPIRIT of GOD with NOE and JOB, as three persons most +eminent for virtue and sanctity, Ezech. 14. He is not commonly numbered +by the Hebrews among THE PROPHETS: because he lived at court, and in +high station in the world: but if we consider his many clear +predictions of things to come, we shall find that no one better +deserves the name and title of A PROPHET: which also has been given him +by the SON of GOD himself, Matt. 24, Mark 13., Luke 21. + + + +Daniel Chapter 1 + + +Daniel and his companions are taken into the palace of the king of +Babylon: they abstain from his meat and wine, and succeed better with +pulse and water. Their excellence and wisdom. + +1:1. In the third year of the reign of Joakim, king of Juda, +Nabuchodonosor, king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem, and beseiged it. + +1:2. And the Lord delivered into his hands Joakim, the king of Juda, +and part of the vessels of the house of God: and he carried them away +into the land of Sennaar, to the house of his god, and the vessels he +brought into the treasure house of his god. + +His god. . .Bel or Belus, the principal idol of the Chaldeans. + +1:3. And the king spoke to Asphenez, the master of the eunuchs, that he +should bring in some of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, +and of the princes, + +1:4. Children in whom there was no blemish, well favoured, and skilful +in all wisdom, acute in knowledge, and instructed in science, and such +as might stand in the king's palace, that he might teach them the +learning, and tongue of the Chaldeans. + +1:5. And the king appointed them a daily provision, of his own meat, +and of the wine of which he drank himself, that being nourished three +years, afterwards they might stand before the king. + +1:6. Now there was among them of the children of Juda, Daniel, Ananias, +Misael, and Azarias. + +1:7. And the master of the eunuchs gave them names: to Daniel, +Baltassar: to Ananias, Sidrach: to Misael, Misach: and to Azarias, +Abdenago. + +1:8. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not be defiled with +the king's table, nor with the wine which he drank: and he requested +the master of the eunuchs that he might not be defiled. + +Be defiled, etc. . .Viz., either by eating meat forbidden by the law, or +which had before been offered to idols. + +1:9. And God gave to Daniel grace and mercy in the sight of the prince +of the eunuchs. + +1:10. And the prince of the eunuchs said to Daniel: I fear my lord, the +king, who hath appointed you meat and drink: who if he should see your +faces leaner than those of the other youths, your equals, you shall +endanger my head to the king. + +1:11. And Daniel said to Malasar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had +appointed over Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: + +1:12. Try, I beseech thee, thy servants for ten days, and let pulse be +given us to eat, and water to drink: + +Pulse. . .That is, pease, beans, and such like. + +1:13. And look upon our faces, and the faces of the children that eat +of the king's meat: and as thou shalt see, deal with thy servants. + +1:14. And when he had heard these words, he tried them for ten days. + +1:15. And after ten days, their faces appeared fairer and fatter than +all the children that ate of the king's meat. + +1:16. So Malasar took their portions, and the wine that they should +drink: and he gave them pulse. + +1:17. And to these children God gave knowledge, and understanding in +every book, and wisdom: but to Daniel the understanding also of all +visions and dreams. + +1:18. And when the days were ended, after which the king had ordered +they should be brought in: the prince of the eunuchs brought them in +before Nabuchodonosor. + +1:19. And when the king had spoken to them, there were not found among +them all such as Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias: and they stood +in the king's presence. + +1:20. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king +enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the diviners, +and wise men, that were in all his kingdom. + +1:21. And Daniel continued even to the first year of king Cyrus. + + + +Daniel Chapter 2 + + +Daniel, by divine revelation, declares the dream of Nabuchodonosor, and +the interpretation of it. He is highly honoured by the king. + +2:1. In the second year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, Nabuchodonosor +had a dream, and his spirit was terrified, and his dream went out of +his mind. + +The second year. . .Viz., from the death of his father Nabopolassar; for +he had reigned before as partner with his father in the empire. + +2:2. Then the king commanded to call together the diviners and the wise +men, and the magicians, and the Chaldeans: to declare to the king his +dreams: so they came and stood before the king. + +The Chaldeeans. . .That is, the astrologers, that pretended to divine by +stars. + +2:3. And the king said to them: I saw a dream: and being troubled in +mind I know not what I saw. + +2:4. And the Chaldeans answered the king in Syriac: O king, live for +ever: tell to thy servants thy dream, and we will declare the +interpretation thereof. + +2:5. And the king, answering, said to the Chaldeans: The thing is gone +out of my mind: unless you tell me the dream, and the meaning thereof, +you shall be put to death, and your houses shall be confiscated. + +2:6. but if you tell the dream, and the meaning of it, you shall +receive of me rewards, and gifts, and great honour: therefore, tell me +the dream, and the interpretation thereof. + +2:7. They answered again and said: Let the king tell his servants the +dream, and we will declare the interpretation of it. + +2:8. The king answered and said: I know for certain, that you seek to +gain time, since you know that the thing is gone from me. + +2:9. If, therefore, you tell me not the dream, there is one sentence +concerning you, that you have also framed a lying interpretation, and +full of deceit, to speak before me till the time pass away. Tell me, +therefore, the dream, that I may know that you also give a true +interpretation thereof. + +2:10. Then the Chaldeans answered before the king, and said: There is +no man upon earth, that can accomplish thy word, O king; neither doth +any king, though great and mighty, ask such a thing of any diviner, or +wise man, or Chaldean. + +2:11. For the thing that thou asketh, O king, is difficult: nor can any +one be found that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose +conversation is not with men. + +2:12. Upon hearing this, the king in fury, and in great wrath, +commanded that all the wise men of Babylon should be put to death. + +2:13. And the decree being gone forth, the wise men were slain: and +Daniel and his companions were sought for, to be put to death. + +2:14. Then Daniel inquired concerning the law and the sentence, of +Arioch, the general of the king's army, who was gone forth to kill the +wise men of Babylon. + +2:15. And he asked him that had received the orders of the king, why so +cruel a sentence was gone forth from the face of the king. And when +Arioch had told the matter to Daniel, + +2:16. Daniel went in, and desired of the king, that he would give him +time to resolve the question, and declare it to the king. + +2:17. And he went into his house, and told the matter to Ananias, and +Misael, and Azarias, his companions: + +2:18. To the end that they should ask mercy at the face of the God of +heaven, concerning this secret, and that Daniel and his companions +might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. + +2:19. Then was the mystery revealed to Daniel by a vision in the night: +and Daniel blessed the God of heaven, + +2:20. And speaking, he said: Blessed be the name of the Lord from +eternity and for evermore: for wisdom and fortitude are his. + +2:21. And he changeth times and ages: taketh away kingdoms, and +establisheth them: giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them +that have understanding: + +2:22. He revealeth deep and hidden things, and knoweth what is in +darkness: and light is with him. + +2:23. To thee, O God of our fathers, I give thanks, and I praise thee: +because thou hast given me wisdom and strength: and now thou hast shewn +me what we desired of thee, for thou hast made known to us the king's +discourse. + +2:24. After this Daniel went in to Arioch, to whom the king had given +orders to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and he spoke thus to him: +Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I +will tell the solution to the king. + +2:25. Then Arioch in haste brought in Daniel to the king, and said to +him: I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Juda, that +will resolve the question to the king. + +2:26. The king answered, and said to Daniel, whose name was Baltassar: +Thinkest thou indeed that thou canst tell me the dream that I saw, and +the interpretation thereof? + +2:27. And Daniel made answer before the king, and said: The secret that +the king desireth to know, none of the wise men, or the philosophers, +or the diviners, or the soothsayers, can declare to the king. + +2:28. But there is a God in heaven that revealeth mysteries, who hath +shewn to thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, what is to come to pass in the +latter times. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are +these: + +2:29. Thou, O king, didst begin to think in thy bed, what should come +to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth mysteries shewed thee what +shall come to pass. + +2:30. To me also this secret is revealed, not by any wisdom that I have +more than all men alive: but that the interpretation might be made +manifest to the king, and thou mightest know the thought of thy mind. + +2:31. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold there was as it were a great +statue: this statue, which was great and high, tall of stature, stood +before thee, and the look thereof was terrible. + +2:32. The head of this statue was of fine gold, but the breast and the +arms of silver, and the belly and the thighs of brass. + +2:33. And the legs of iron, the feet part of iron and part of clay. + +2:34. Thus thou sawest, till a stone was cut out of a mountain without +hands: and it struck the statue upon the feet thereof that were of iron +and clay, and broke them in pieces. + +2:35. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold +broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of a summer's +threshing floor, and they were carried away by the wind: and there was +no place found for them: but the stone that struck the statue became a +great mountain, and filled the whole earth. + +2:36. This is the dream: we will also tell the interpretation thereof +before thee, O king. + +2:37. Thou art a king of kings: and the God of heaven hath given thee a +kingdom, and strength, and power, and glory: + +2:38. And all places wherein the children of men, and the beasts of the +field do dwell: he hath also given the birds of the air into thy hand, +and hath put all things under thy power: thou, therefore, art the head +of gold. + +2:39. And after thee shall rise up another kingdom, inferior to thee, +of silver: and another third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over +all the world. + +Another kingdom. . .Viz., that of the Medes and Persians. Ibid. Third +kingdom. . .Viz., that of Alexander the Great. + +2:40. And the fourth kingdom shall be as iron. As iron breaketh into +pieces, and subdueth all things, so shall that break, and destroy all +these. + +The fourth kingdom, etc. . .Some understand this of the successors of +Alexander, the kings of Syria and Egypt, others of the Roman empire, +and its civil wars. + +2:41. And whereas thou sawest the feet, and the toes, part of potter's +clay, and part of iron: the kingdom shall be divided, but yet it shall +take its origin from the iron, according as thou sawest the iron mixed +with the miry clay. + +2:42. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay: +the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. + +2:43. And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall +be mingled indeed together with the seed of man, but they shall not +stick fast one to another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay. + +2:44. But in the days of those kingdoms, the God of heaven will set up +a kingdom that shall never by destroyed, and his kingdom shall not be +delivered up to another people: and it shall break in pieces, and shall +consume all these kingdoms: and itself shall stand for ever. + +A kingdom. . .Viz., the kingdom of Christ in the Catholic Church which +cannot be destroyed. + +2:45. According as thou sawest, that the stone was cut out of the +mountain without hands, and broke in pieces the clay and the iron, and +the brass, and the silver, and the gold, the great God hath shewn the +king what shall come to pass hereafter, and the dream is true, and the +interpretation thereof is faithful. + +2:46. Then king Nabuchodonosor fell on his face, and worshipped Daniel, +and commanded that they should offer in sacrifice to him victims and +incense. + +2:47. And the king spoke to Daniel, and said: Verily, your God is the +God of gods, and Lord of kings, and a revealer of hidden things: seeing +thou couldst discover this secret. + +2:48. Then the king advanced Daniel to a high station, and gave him +many and great gifts: and he made him governor over all the provinces +of Babylon: and chief of the magistrates over all the wise men of +Babylon. + +2:49. And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Sidrach, +Misach, and Abdenago, over the works of the province of Babylon: but +Daniel himself was in the king's palace. + + + +Daniel Chapter 3 + + +Nabuchodonosor set up a golden statue; which he commands all to adore: +the three children for refusing to do it are cast into the fiery +furnace; but are not hurt by the flames. Their prayer and canticle of +praise. + +3:1. King Nabuchodonosor made a statue of gold, of sixty cubits high, +and six cubits broad, and he set it up in the plain of Dura, of the +province of Babylon. + +3:2. Then Nabuchodonosor, the king, sent to call together the nobles, +the magistrates, and the judges, the captains, the rulers, and +governors, and all the chief men of the provinces, to come to the +dedication of the statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. + +3:3. Then the nobles, the magistrates, and the judges, the captains, +and rulers, and the great men that were placed in authority, and all +the princes of the provinces, were gathered together to come to the +dedication of the statue, which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. And +they stood before the statue which king Nabuchodonosor had set up. + +3:4. Then a herald cried with a strong voice: To you it is commanded, O +nations, tribes and languages: + +3:5. That in the hour that you shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and +of the flute, and of the harp, of the sackbut, and of the psaltery, and +of the symphony, and of all kind of music, ye fall down and adore the +golden statue which king Nabuchodonosor hath set up. + +3:6. But if any man shall not fall down and adore, he shall the same +hour be cast into a furnace of burning fire. + +3:7. Upon this, therefore, at the time when all the people heard the +sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and the +psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music, all the nations, +tribes, and languages fell down and adored the golden statue which king +Nabuchodonosor had set up. + +3:8. And presently at that very time some Chaldeans came and accused +the Jews, + +3:9. And said to king Nabuchodonosor: O king, live for ever: + +3:10. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear +the sound of the trumpet, the flute, and the harp, of the sackbut, and +the psaltery, of the symphony, and of all kind of music, shall +prostrate himself, and adore the golden statue: + +3:11. And that if any man shall not fall down and adore, he should be +cast into a furnace of burning fire. + +3:12. Now there are certain Jews, whom thou hast set over the works of +the province of Babylon, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago: these men, O +king, have slighted thy decree: they worship not thy gods, nor do they +adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. + +3:13. Then Nabuchodonosor in fury, and in wrath, commanded that +Sidrach, Misach, ad Abdenago should be brought: who immediately were +brought before the king. + +3:14. And Nabuchodonosor, the king, spoke to them, and said: Is it +true, O Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you do not worship my gods, +nor adore the golden statue that I have set up? + +3:15. Now, therefore, if you be ready, at what hour soever, you shall +hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, harp, sackbut, and psaltery, and +symphony, and of all kind of music, prostrate yourselves, and adore the +statue which I have made: but if you do not adore, you shall be cast +the same hour into the furnace of burning fire: and who is the God that +shall deliver you out of my hand? + +3:16. Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, answered, and said to king +Nabuchodonosor: We have no occasion to answer thee concerning this +matter. + +3:17. For behold our God, whom we worship, is able to save us from the +furnace of burning fire, and to deliver us out of thy hands, O king. + +3:18. But if he will not, be it known to thee, O king, that we will not +worship thy gods, nor adore the golden statue which thou hast set up. + +3:19. Then was Nabuchodonosor filled with fury: and the countenance of +his face was changed against Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and he +commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more than it +had been accustomed to be heated. + +3:20. And he commanded the strongest men that were in his army, to bind +the feet of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the +furnace of burning fire. + +3:21. And immediately these men were bound, and were cast into the +furnace of burning fire, with their coats, and their caps, and their +shoes, and their garments. + +3:22. For the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace was heated +exceedingly. And the flame of the fire slew those men that had cast in +Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago. + +3:23. But these three men, that is, Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell +down bound in the midst of the furnace of burning fire. + +3:24. And they walked in the midst of the flame, praising God, and +blessing the Lord. + +And they walked, etc. . .Here St. Jerome takes notice, that from this +verse, to ver. 91, was not in the Hebrew in his time. But as it was in +all the Greek Bibles, (which were originally translated from the +Hebrew,) it is more than probable that it had been formerly in the +Hebrew or rather in the Chaldaic, in which the book of Daniel was +written. But this is certain: that it is, and has been of old, received +by the church, and read as canonical scripture in her liturgy, and +divine offices. + +3:25. Then Azarias standing up, prayed in this manner, and opening his +mouth in the midst of the fire, he said: + +3:26. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and thy name is +worthy of praise, and glorious for ever: + +3:27. For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy +works are true, and thy ways right, and all thy judgments true. + +3:28. For thou hast executed true judgments in all the things that thou +hast brought upon us, and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers: +for according to truth and judgment, thou hast brought all these things +upon us for our sins. + +3:29. For we have sinned, and committed iniquity, departing from thee: +and we have trespassed in all things: + +3:30. And we have not hearkened to thy commandments, nor have we +observed nor done as thou hadst commanded us, that it might go well +with us. + +3:31. Wherefore, all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing +that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment: + +3:32. And thou hast delivered us into the hands of our enemies that are +unjust, and most wicked, and prevaricators, and to a king unjust, and +most wicked beyond all that are upon the earth. + +3:33. And now we cannot open our mouths: we are become a shame, and a +reproach to thy servants, and to them that worship thee. + +3:34. Deliver us not up for ever, we beseech thee, for thy name's sake, +and abolish not thy covenant. + +3:35. And take not away thy mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, thy +beloved, and Isaac, thy servant, and Israel, thy holy one: + +3:36. To whom thou hast spoken, promising that thou wouldst multiply +their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the sea +shore. + +3:37. For we, O Lord, are diminished more than any nation, and are +brought low in all the earth this day for our sins. + +3:38. Neither is there at this time prince, or leader, or prophet, or +holocaust, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place of first +fruits before thee, + +3:39. That we may find thy mercy: nevertheless, in a contrite heart and +humble spirit let us be accepted. + +3:40. As in holocausts of rams, and bullocks, and as in thousands of +fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, that it +may please thee: for there is no confusion to them that trust in thee. + +3:41. And now we follow thee with all our heart, and we fear thee, and +seek thy face. + +3:42. Put us not to confusion, but deal with us according to thy +meekness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. + +3:43. And deliver us, according to thy wonderful works, and give glory +to thy name, O Lord: + +3:44. And let all them be confounded that shew evils to thy servants, +let them be confounded in all thy might, and let their strength be +broken: + +3:45. And let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, and +glorious over all the world. + +3:46. Now the king's servants that had cast them in, ceased not to heat +the furnace with brimstone and tow, and pitch, and dry sticks, + +3:47. And the flame mounted up above the furnace nine and forth cubits: + +3:48. And it broke forth, and burnt such of the Chaldeans as it found +near the furnace. + +3:49. But the angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his +companions into the furnace: and he drove the flame of the fire out of +the furnace, + +3:50. And made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind +bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, +nor did them any harm. + +3:51. Then these three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and +blessed God, in the furnace, saying: + +3:52. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers; and worthy to +be praised, and glorified, and exalted above all for ever: and blessed +is the holy name of thy glory: and worthy to be praised and exalted +above all, in all ages. + +3:53. Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory: and exceedingly +to be praised and exalted above all for ever. + +3:54 Blessed art thou on the throne of thy kingdom, and exceedingly to be +praised, and exalted above all forever. + +3:55. Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the +cherubims: and worthy to be praised and exalted above all for ever. + +3:56. Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of +praise, and glorious for ever. + +3:57. All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:58. O ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:59. O ye heavens, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for +ever. + +3:60. O all ye waters that are above the heavens, bless the Lord: +praise and exalt him above all for ever. + +3:61. O all ye powers of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:62. O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all +for ever. + +3:63. O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:64. O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:65. O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:66. O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:67. O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:68. O ye dews and hoar frost, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:69. O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:70. O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all +for ever. + +3:71. O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:72. O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:73. O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:74. O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:75 O ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:76. O all ye things that spring up in the earth, bless the Lord: +praise and exalt him above all for ever. + +3:77. O ye fountains, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all +for ever. + +3:78. O ye seas and rivers, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:79. O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless the Lord: +praise and exalt him above all for ever. + +3:80. O all ye fowls of the air, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:81. O all ye beasts and cattle, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:82. O ye sons of men, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all +for ever. + +3:83. O let Israel bless the Lord: let them praise and exalt him above +all for ever. + +3:84. O ye priests of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:85. O ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him +above all for ever. + +3:86. O ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord: praise and +exalt him above all for ever. + +3:87. O ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord: praise and exalt +him above all for ever. + +3:88. O Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt +him above all for ever. For he hath delivered us from hell, ad saved us +out of the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the +burning flame, and saved us out of the midst of the fire. + +3:89. O give thanks to the Lord, because he is good: because his mercy +endureth for ever and ever. + +3:90. O all ye religious, bless the Lord, the God of gods: praise him, +and give him thanks, because his mercy endureth for ever and ever. + +3:91. Then Nabuchodonosor, the king, was astonished, and rose up in +haste, and said to his nobles: Did we not cast three men bound into the +midst of the fire? They answered the king, and said: True, O king. + +3:92. He answered, and said: Behold, I see four men loose, and walking +in the midst of the fire, and there is no hurt in them, and the form of +the fourth is like the son of God. + +3:93. Then Nabuchodonosor came to the door of the burning fiery +furnace, and said: Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, ye servants of the +most high God, go ye forth, and come. And immediately Sidrach, Misach, +and Abdenago, went out from the midst of the fire. + +3:94. And the nobles, and the magistrates, and the judges, and the +great men of the king, being gathered together, considered these men, +that the fire had no power on their bodies, and that not a hair of +their head had been singed, nor their garments altered, nor the smell +of the fire had passed on them. + +3:95. Then Nabuchodonosor breaking forth, said: Blessed be the God of +them, to wit, of Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, who hath sent his +angel, and delivered his servants that believed in him: and they +changed the king's word, and delivered up their bodies, that they might +not serve nor adore any god except their own God. + +3:96. By me, therefore, this decree is made: That every people, tribe, +and tongue, which shall speak blasphemy against the God of Sidrach, +Misach, and Abdenago, shall be destroyed, and their houses laid waste: +for there is no other God that can save in this manner. + +3:97. Then the king promoted Sidrach, Misach, and Abdenago, in the +province of Babylon. + +3:98. Nabuchodonosor, the king, to all peoples, nations, and tongues, +that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied unto you. + +Nabuchodonosor, etc. . .These last three verses are a kind of preface to +the following chapter, which is written in the style of an epistle from +the king. + +3:99. The most high God hath wrought signs and wonders towards me. It +hath seemed good to me, therefore, to publish + +3:100. His signs, because they are great: and his wonders, because they +are mighty: and his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his power to +all generations. + + + +Daniel Chapter 4 + + +Nabuchodonosor's dream, by which the judgments of God are denounced +against him for his pride, is interpreted by Daniel, and verified by +the event. + +4:1. I, Nabuchodonosor, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my +palace: + +4:2. I saw a dream that affrighted me: and my thoughts in my bed, and +the visions of my head, troubled me. + +4:3. Then I set forth a decree, that all the wise men of Babylon should +be brought in before me, and that they should shew me the +interpretation of the dream. + +4:4. Then came in the diviners, the wise men, the Chaldeans, and the +soothsayers, and I told the dream before them: but they did not shew me +the interpretation thereof. + +4:5. Till their colleague, Daniel, came in before me, whose name is +Baltassar, according to the name of my god, who hath in him the spirit +of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him. + +Baltassar, according to the name of my god. . .He says this, because the +name of Baltassar, or Belteshazzar, is derived from the name of Bel, +the chief god of the Babylonians. + +4:6. Baltassar, prince of the diviners, because I know that thou hast +in thee the spirit of the holy gods, and that no secret is impossible +to thee, tell me the visions of my dreams that I have seen, and the +interpretation of them? + +4:7. This was the vision of my head in my bed: I saw, and behold a tree +in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was exceeding great. + +4:8. The tree was great and strong, and the height thereof reached unto +heaven: the sight thereof was even to the ends of all the earth. + +4:9. Its leaves were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much: and +in it was food for all: under it dwelt cattle and beasts, and in the +branches thereof the fowls of the air had their abode: and all flesh +did eat of it. + +4:10. I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher, +and a holy one came down from heaven. + +A watcher. . .A vigilant angel, perhaps the guardian of Israel. + +4:11. He cried aloud, and said thus: Cut down the tree, and chop off +the branches thereof: shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits: let +the beasts fly away that are under it, and the birds from its branches. + +4:12. Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let +it be tied with a band of iron and of brass, among the grass, that is +without, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion +be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth. + +4:13. Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be +given him: and let seven times pass over him. + +Let his heart be changed, etc. . .It does not appear by scripture that +Nabuchodonosor was changed from human shape; much less that he was +changed into an ox; but only that he lost his reason, and became mad; +and in this condition remained abroad in the company of beasts, eating +grass like an ox, till his hair grew in such manner as to resemble the +feathers of eagles, and his nails to be like birds' claws. + +4:14. This is the decree by the sentence of the watchers, and the word +and demand of the holy ones: till the living know, that the most High +ruleth in the kingdom of men: and he will give it to whomsoever it +shall please him, and he will appoint the basest man over it. + +4:15. I, king Nabuchodonosor, saw this dream: thou, therefore, O +Baltassar, tell me quickly the interpretation: for all the wise men of +my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me: but thou +art able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in thee. + +4:16. Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently to think +within himself for about one hour: and his thought troubled him. But +the king answering, said: Baltassar, let not the dream and the +interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My +lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation +thereof to thy enemies. + +4:17. The tree which thou sawest, which was high and strong, whose +height reached to the skies, and the sight thereof into all the earth: + +4:18. And the branches thereof were most beautiful, and its fruit +exceeding much, and in it was food for all, under which the beasts of +the field dwelt, and the birds of the air had their abode in its +branches. + +4:19. It is thou, O king, who art grown great, and become mighty: for +thy greatness hath grown, and hath reached to heaven, and thy power +unto the ends of the earth. + +4:20. And whereas the king saw a watcher, and a holy one come down from +heaven, and say: Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave the stump +of the roots thereof in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and +brass, among the grass without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of +heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, till seven times +pass over him. + +4:21. This is the interpretation of the sentence of the most High, +which is come upon my lord, the king. + +4:22. They shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall +be with cattle, and with wild beasts, and thou shalt eat grass, as an +ox, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass +over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth over the kingdom of +men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. + +4:23. But whereas he commanded, that the stump of the roots thereof, +that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shall remain to thee, +after thou shalt have known that power is from heaven. + +4:24. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and +redeem thou thy sins with alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy +to the poor: perhaps he will forgive thy offences. + +4:25. All these things came upon king Nabuchodonosor. + +4:26. At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of +Babylon. + +4:27. And the king answered, and said: Is not this the great Babylon, +which I have built, to be the seat of the kingdom, by the strength of +my power, and in the glory of my excellence? + +4:28. And while the word was yet in the king's mouth, a voice came down +from heaven: To thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, it is said: Thy kingdom +shall pass from thee. + +4:29. And they shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling +shall be with cattle and wild beasts: thou shalt eat grass like an ox, +and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High +ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. + +4:30. The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he +was driven away from among men, and did eat grass, like an ox, and his +body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the +feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds' claws. + +4:31. Now at the end of the days, I, Nabuchodonosor, lifted up my eyes +to heaven, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the most +High, and I praised and glorified him that liveth for ever: for his +power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is to all generations. + +4:32. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing +before him: for he doth according to his will, as well with the powers +of heaven, as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none +that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why hast thou done it? + +4:33. At the same time my sense returned to me, and I came to the +honour and glory of my kingdom: and my shape returned to me: and my +nobles, and my magistrates, sought for me, and I was restored to my +kingdom: and greater majesty was added to me. + +4:34. Therefore I, Nabuchodonosor, do now praise, and magnify, and +glorify the King of heaven: because all his works are true, and his +ways judgments, and them that walk in pride he is able to abase. + +I, Nabuchodonosor, do now, etc. . .From this place some commentators +infer that this king became a true convert, and dying not long after, +was probably saved. + + + +Daniel Chapter 5 + + +Baltasar's profane banquet: his sentence is denounced by a handwriting +on the wall, which Daniel reads and interprets. + +5:1. Baltasar, the king, made a great feast for a thousand of his +nobles: and every one drank according to his age. + +Baltasar. . .He is believed to be the same as Nabonydus, the last of the +Chaldean kings, grandson to Nabuchodonosor. He is called his son, ver. +2, 11, etc., according to the style of the scriptures, because he was a +descendant from him. + +5:2. And being now drunk, he commanded that they should bring the +vessels of gold and silver, which Nabuchodonosor, his father, had +brought away out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, that the king +and his nobles, and his wives, and his concubines, might drink in them. + +5:3. Then were the golden and silver vessels brought, which he had +brought away out of the temple that was in Jerusalem: and the king and +his nobles, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. + +5:4. They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of +brass, of iron, and of wood, and of stone. + +5:5. In the same hour there appeared fingers, as it were of the hand of +a man, writing over against the candlestick, upon the surface of the +wall of the king's palace: and the king beheld the joints of the hand +that wrote. + +5:6. Then was the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled +him: and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees struck one +against the other. + +5:7. And the king cried out aloud to bring in the wise men, the +Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spoke, and said to the +wise men of Babylon: Whosoever shall read this writing, and shall make +known to me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, +and shall have a golden chain on his neck, and shall be the third man +in my kingdom. + +5:8. Then came in all the king's wise men, but they could neither read +the writing, nor declare the interpretation to the king. + +5:9. Wherewith king Baltasar was much troubled, and his countenance was +changed: and his nobles also were troubled. + +5:10. Then the queen, on occasion of what had happened to the king, and +his nobles, came into the banquet-house: and she spoke, and said: O +king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, neither let thy +countenance be changed. + +The queen. . .Not the wife, but the mother of the king. + +5:11. There is a man in thy kingdom that hath the spirit of the holy +gods in him: and in the days of thy father knowledge and wisdom were +found in him: for king Nabuchodonosor, thy father, appointed him prince +of the wise men, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers, thy father, I +say, O king: + +5:12. Because a greater spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, and +interpretation of dreams, and shewing of secrets, and resolving of +difficult things, were found in him, that is, in Daniel: whom the king +named Baltassar. Now, therefore, let Daniel be called for, and he will +tell the interpretation. + +5:13. Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke, +and said to him: Art thou Daniel, of the children of the captivity of +Juda, whom my father, the king, brought out of Judea? + +5:14. I have heard of thee, that thou hast the spirit of the gods, and +excellent knowledge, and understanding, and wisdom are found in thee. + +5:15. And now the wise men, the magicians, have come in before me, to +read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof; and they +could not declare to me the meaning of this writing. + +5:16. But I have heard of thee, that thou canst interpret obscure +things, and resolve difficult things: now if thou art able to read the +writing, and to shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be +clothed with purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck, and +shalt be the third prince in my kingdom. + +5:17. To which Daniel made answer, and said before the king: thy +rewards be to thyself, and the gifts of thy house give to another: but +the writing I will read to thee, O king, and shew thee the +interpretation thereof. + +5:18. O king, the most high God gave to Nabuchodonosor, thy father, a +kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and honour. + +5:19. And for the greatness that he gave to him, all people, tribes, +and languages trembled, and were afraid of him: whom he would, he slew: +and whom he would, he destroyed: and whom he would, he set up: and whom +he would, he brought down. + +5:20. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit hardened unto +pride, he was put down from the throne of his kingdom, and his glory +was taken away. + +5:21. And he was driven out from the sons of men, and his heart was +made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses, and he +did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: +till he knew that the most High ruled in the kingdom of men, and that +he will set over it whomsoever it shall please him. + +5:22. Thou also, his son, O Baltasar, hast not humbled thy heart, +whereas thou knewest all these things: + +5:23. But hast lifted thyself up against the Lord of heaven: and the +vessels of his house have been brought before thee: and thou, and thy +nobles, and thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them: and +thou hast praised the gods of silver, and of gold, and of brass, of +iron, and of wood, and of stone, that neither see, nor hear, nor feel: +but the God who hath thy breath in his hand, and all thy ways, thou +hast not glorified. + +5:24. Wherefore, he hath sent the part of the hand which hath written +this that is set down. + +5:25. And this is the writing that is written: MANE, THECEL, PHARES. + +5:26. And this is the interpretation of the word. MANE: God hath +numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it. + +5:27. THECEL: thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting. + +5:28. PHARES: thy kingdom is divided, and is given to the Medes and +Persians. + +5:29. Then by the king's command, Daniel was clothed with purple, and a +chain of gold was put about his neck: and it was proclaimed of him that +he had power as the third man in the kingdom. + +5:30. The same night Baltasar, the Chaldean king, was slain. + +5:31. And Darius, the Mede, succeeded to the kingdom, being threescore +and two years old. + +Darius. . .He is called Cyaxares by the historians; and was the son of +Astyages, and uncle to Cyrus. + + + +Daniel Chapter 6 + + +Daniel is promoted by Darius: his enemies procure a law forbidding +prayer; for the transgression of this law Daniel is cast into the +lions' den: but miraculously delivered. + +6:1. It seemed good to Darius, and he appointed over the kingdom a +hundred and twenty governors, to be over his whole kingdom. + +6:2. And three princes over them of whom Daniel was one: that the +governors might give an account to them, and the king might have no +trouble. + +6:3. And Daniel excelled all the princes, and governors: because a +greater spirit of God was in him. + +6:4. And the king thought to set him over all the kingdom; whereupon +the princes, and the governors, sought to find occasion against Daniel, +with regard to the king: and they could find no cause, nor suspicion, +because he was faithful, and no fault, nor suspicion was found in him. + +6:5. Then these men said: We shall not find any occasion against this +Daniel, unless perhaps concerning the law of his God. + +6:6. Then the princes, and the governors, craftily suggested to the +king, and spoke thus unto him: King Darius, live for ever: + +6:7. All the princes of the kingdom, the magistrates, and governors, +the senators, and judges, have consulted together, that an imperial +decree, and an edict be published: That whosoever shall ask any +petition of any god, or man, for thirty days, but of thee, O king, +shall be cast into the den of the lions. + +6:8. Now, therefore, O king, confirm the sentence, and sign the decree: +that what is decreed by the Medes and Persians may not be altered, nor +any man be allowed to transgress it. + +6:9. So king Darius set forth the decree, and established it. + +6:10. Now, when Daniel knew this, that is to say, that the law was +made, he went into his house: and opening the windows in his upper +chamber towards Jerusalem, he knelt down three times a day, and adored +and gave thanks before his God, as he had been accustomed to do before. + +6:11. Wherefore those men carefully watching him, found Daniel praying +and making supplication to his God. + +6:12. And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king, +hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to any +of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king, should be +cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them, saying: The +word is true, according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which +it is not lawful to violate. + +6:13. Then they answered, and said before the king: Daniel, who is of +the children of the captivity of Juda, hath not regarded thy law, nor +the decree that thou hast made: but three times a day he maketh his +prayer. + +6:14. Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much +grieved, and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him, and +even till sunset he laboured to save him. + +6:15. But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: Know +thou, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree +which the king hath made, may be altered. + +6:16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him +into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom +thou always servest, he will deliver thee. + +6:17. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: +which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his +nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel. + +6:18. And the king went away to his house, and laid himself down +without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep +departed from him. + +6:19. Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to +the lions' den: + +6:20. And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to +Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy +God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver +thee from the lions? + +6:21. And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever: + +6:22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the +lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath +been found in me: yea, and before thee, O king, I have done no offence. + +6:23. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that +Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the +den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God. + +6:24. And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that had +accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their +children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the +den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. + +6:25. Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, +dwelling in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you. + +6:26. It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom, all +men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal +God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power +shall be for ever. + +6:27. He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in +heaven, and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den. + +6:28. Now Daniel continued unto the reign of Darius, and the reign of +Cyrus, the Persian. + + + +Daniel Chapter 7 + + +Daniel's vision of the four beasts, signifying four kingdoms: of God +sitting on his throne: and of the opposite kingdoms of Christ and +Antichrist. + +7:1. In the first year of Baltasar, king of Babylon, Daniel saw a +dream: and the vision of his head was upon his bed: and writing the +dream, he comprehended it in a few words: and relating the sum of it in +short, he said: + +7:2. I saw in my vision by night, and behold the four winds of the +heavens strove upon the great sea. + +7:3. And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of +the sea. + +Four great beasts. . .Viz., the Chaldean, Persian, Grecian, and Roman +empires. But some rather choose to understand the fourth beast of the +successors of Alexander the Great, more especially of them that reigned +in Asia and Syria. + +7:4. The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I +beheld till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the +earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was +given to her. + +7:5. And behold another beast, like a bear, stood up on one side: and +there were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, +and thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh. + +7:6. After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had +upon it four wings, as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and +power was given to it. + +7:7. After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth +beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great iron +teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest with +his feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen before +it, and had ten horns. + +Ten horns. . .That is, ten kingdoms, (as Apoc. 17.12,) among which the +empire of the fourth beast shall be parcelled. Or ten kings of the +number of the successors of Alexander; as figures of such as shall be +about the time of Antichrist. + +7:8. I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out +of the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at +the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in +this horn, and a mouth speaking great things. + +Another little horn. . .This is commonly understood of Antichrist. It +may also be applied to that great persecutor Antiochus Epiphanes, as a +figure of Antichrist. + +7:9. I beheld till thrones were placed, and the ancient of days sat: +his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean +wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning +fire. + +7:10. A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of +thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand +stood before him: the judgment sat, and the books were opened. + +7:11. I beheld, because of the voice of the great words which that horn +spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was +destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt: + +7:12. And that the power of the other beasts was taken away: and that +times of life were appointed them for a time, and a time. + +7:13. I beheld, therefore, in the vision of the night, and lo, one like +the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and he came even to the +ancient of days: and they presented him before him. + +7:14. And he gave him power, and glory, and a kingdom: and all peoples, +tribes, and tongues shall serve him: his power is an everlasting power +that shall not be taken away: and his kingdom that shall not be +destroyed. + +7:15. My spirit trembled; I, Daniel, was affrighted at these things, +and the visions of my head troubled me. + +7:16. I went near to one of them that stood by, and asked the truth of +him concerning all these things, and he told me the interpretation of +the words, and instructed me: + +7:17. These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out +of the earth. + +7:18. But the saints of the most high God shall take the kingdom: and +they shall possess the kingdom for ever and ever. + +7:19. After this I would diligently learn concerning the fourth beast, +which was very different from all, and exceeding terrible: his teeth +and claws were of iron: he devoured and broke in pieces, and the rest +he stamped upon with his feet: + +7:20. And concerning the ten horns that he had on his head: and +concerning the other that came up, before which three horns fell: and +of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth speaking great things, and was +greater than the rest. + +7:21. I beheld, and lo, that horn made war against the saints, and +prevailed over them, + +7:22. Till the ancient of days came and gave judgment to the saints of +the most High, and the time came, and the saints obtained the kingdom. + +7:23. And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom +upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall +devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in +pieces. + +7:24. And the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings: and +another shall rise up after them, and he shall be mightier than the +former, and he shall bring down three kings. + +7:25. And he shall speak words against the High One, and shall crush +the saints of the most High: and he shall think himself able to change +times and laws, and they shall be delivered into his hand until a time, +and times, and half a time. + +A time, and times, and half a time. . .That is, three years and a half; +which is supposed to be the length of the duration of the persecution +of Antichrist. + +7:26. And a judgment shall sit, that his power may be taken away, and +be broken in pieces, and perish even to the end. + +7:27. And that the kingdom, and power, and the greatness of the +kingdom, under the whole heaven, may be given to the people of the +saints of the most High: whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and +all kings shall serve him, and shall obey him. + +7:28. Hitherto is the end of the word. I, Daniel, was much troubled +with my thoughts, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the +word in my heart. + + + +Daniel Chapter 8 + + +Daniel's vision of the ram and the he goat interpreted by the angel +Gabriel. + +8:1. In the third year of the reign of king Baltasar, a vision appeared +to me. I, Daniel, after what I had seen in the beginning, + +8:2. Saw in my vision when I was in the castle of Susa, which is in the +province of Elam: and I saw in the vision that I was over the gate of +Ulai. + +8:3. And I lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold a ram stood before +the water, having two high horns, and one higher than the other, and +growing up. Afterward + +A ram. . .The empire of the Medes and Persians. + +8:4. I saw the ram pushing with his horns against the west, and against +the north, and against the south: and no beasts could withstand him, +nor be delivered out of his hand: and he did according to his own will, +and became great. + +8:5. And I understood: and behold a he goat came from the west on the +face of the whole earth, and he touched not the ground, and the he goat +had a notable horn between his eyes. + +A he goat. . .The empire of the Greeks, or Macedonians. Ibid. He +touched not the ground. . .He conquered all before him, with so much +rapidity, that he seemed rather to fly, than to walk upon the +earth.--Ibid. A notable horn. . .Alexander the Great. + +8:6. And he went up to the ram that had the horns, which I had seen +standing before the gate, and he ran towards him in the force of his +strength. + +8:7. And when he was come near the ram, he was enraged against him, and +struck the ram: and broke his two horns, and the ram could not +withstand him: and when he had cast him down on the ground, he stamped +upon him, and none could deliver the ram out of his hand. + +8:8. And the he goat became exceeding great: and when he was grown, the +great horn was broken, and there came up four horns under it towards +the four winds of heaven. + +Four horns. . .Seleucus, Antigonus, Philip, and Ptolemeus, the +successors of Alexander, who divided his empire among them. + +8:9. And out of one of them came forth a little horn: and it became +great against the south, and against the east, and against the +strength. + +A little horn. . .Antiochus Epiphanes, a descendant of Seleucus. He grew +against the south, and the east, by his victories over the kings of +Egypt and Armenia: and against the strength, that is, against Jerusalem +and the people of God. + +8:10. And it was magnified even unto the strength of heaven: and it +threw down of the strength, and of the stars, and trod upon them. + +Unto the strength of heaven. . .or, against the strength of heaven. So +are here called the army of the Jews, the people of God. + +8:11. And it was magnified even to the prince of the strength: and it +took away from him the continual sacrifice, and cast down the place of +his sanctuary. + +8:12. And strength was given him against the continual sacrifice, +because of sins: and truth shall be cast down on the ground, and he +shall do and shall prosper. + +8:13. And I heard one of the saints speaking, and one saint said to +another I know not to whom, that was speaking: How long shall be the +vision, concerning the continual sacrifice, and the sin of the +desolation that is made: and the sanctuary, and the strength be trodden +under foot? + +8:14. And he said to him: Unto evening and morning two thousand three +hundred days: and the sanctuary shall be cleansed. + +Unto evening and morning two thousand three hundred days. . .That is, +six years and almost four months: which was the whole time from the +beginning of the persecution of Antiochus till his death. + +8:15. And it came to pass when I, Daniel, saw the vision, and sought +the meaning, that behold there stood before me as it were the +appearance of a man. + +8:16. And I heard the voice of a man between Ulai: and he called, and +said: Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. + +8:17. And he came, and stood near where I stood: and when he was come, +I fell on my face, trembling, and he said to me: Understand, O son of +man, for in the time of the end the vision shall be fulfilled. + +8:18. And when he spoke to me, I fell flat on the ground: and he +touched me, and set me upright. + +8:19. And he said to me: I will shew thee what things are to come to +pass in the end of the malediction: for the time hath its end. + +8:20. The ram, which thou sawest with horns, is the king of the Medes +and Persians. + +8:21. And the he goat, is the king of the Greeks, and the great horn +that was between his eyes, the same is the first king. + +8:22. But whereas when that was broken, there arose up four for it, +four kings shall rise up of his nation, but not with his strength. + +8:23. And after their reign, when iniquities shall be grown up, there +shall arise a king of a shameless face, and understanding dark +sentences. + +8:24. And his power shall be strengthened, but not by his own force: +and he shall lay all things waste, and shall prosper, and do more than +can be believed. And he shall destroy the mighty, and the people of the +saints, + +8:25. According to his will, and craft shall be successful in his hand: +and his heart shall be puffed up, and in the abundance of all things he +shall kill many: and he shall rise up against the prince of princes, +and shall be broken without hand. + +8:26. And the vision of the evening and the morning, which was told, is +true: thou, therefore, seal up the vision, because it shall come to +pass after many days. + +8:27. And I, Daniel, languished, and was sick for some days: and when I +was risen up, I did the king's business, and I was astonished at the +vision, and there was none that could interpret it. + + + +Daniel Chapter 9 + + +Daniel's confession and prayer: Gabriel informs him concerning the +seventy weeks to the coming of Christ. + +9:1. In the first year of Darius, the son of Assuerus, of the seed of +the Medes, who reigned over the kingdom of the Chaldeans: + +9:2. The first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by books the +number of the years, concerning which the word of the Lord came to +Jeremias, the prophet, that seventy years should be accomplished of the +desolation of Jerusalem. + +9:3. And I set my face to the Lord, my God, to pray and make +supplication with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. + +9:4. And I prayed to the Lord, my God, and I made my confession, and +said: I beseech thee, O Lord God, great and terrible, who keepest the +covenant, and mercy to them that love thee, and keep thy commandments. + +9:5. We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly, +and have revolted: and we have gone aside from thy commandments, and +thy judgments. + +9:6. We have not hearkened to thy servants, the prophets, that have +spoken in thy name to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, and to +all the people of the land. + +9:7. To thee, O Lord, justice: but to us confusion of face, as at this +day to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all +Israel, to them that are near, and to them that are far off, in all the +countries whither thou hast driven them, for their iniquities, by which +they have sinned against thee. + +9:8. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our princes, and to +our fathers, that have sinned. + +9:9. But to thee, the Lord our God, mercy and forgiveness, for we have +departed from thee: + +9:10. And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, our God, to +walk in his law, which he set before us by his servants, the prophets. + +9:11. And all Israel have transgressed thy law, and have turned away +from hearing thy voice, and the malediction, and the curse, which is +written in the book of Moses, the servant of God, is fallen upon us, +because we have sinned against him. + +9:12. And he hath confirmed his words which he spoke against us, and +against our princes that judged us, that he would bring in upon us a +great evil, such as never was under all the heaven, according to that +which hath been done in Jerusalem. + +9:13. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon +us: and we entreated not thy face, O Lord our God, that we might turn +from our iniquities, and think on thy truth. + +9:14. And the Lord hath watched upon the evil, and hath brought it upon +us: the Lord, our God, is just in all his works which he hath done: for +we have not hearkened to his voice. + +9:15. And now, O Lord, our God, who hast brought forth thy people out +of the land of Egypt, with a strong hand, and hast made thee a name as +at this day: we have sinned, we have committed iniquity, + +9:16. O Lord, against all thy justice: let thy wrath and thy +indignation be turned away, I beseech thee, from thy city, Jerusalem, +and from thy holy mountain. For by reason of our sins, and the +iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem, and thy people, are a reproach to +all that are round about us. + +9:17. Now, therefore, O our God, hear the supplication of thy servant, +and his prayers: and shew thy face upon thy sanctuary, which is +desolate, for thy own sake. + +9:18. Incline, O my God, thy ear, and hear: open thy eyes, and see our +desolation, and the city upon which thy name is called: for it is not +for our justifications that we present our prayers before thy face, but +for the multitude of thy tender mercies. + +9:19. O Lord, hear: O Lord, be appeased: hearken, and do: delay not, +for thy own sake, O my God: because thy name is invocated upon thy +city, and upon thy people. + +9:20. Now while I was yet speaking, and praying, and confessing my +sins, and the sins of my people of Israel, and presenting my +supplications in the sight of my God, for the holy mountain of my God: + +9:21. As I was yet speaking in prayer, behold the man, Gabriel, whom I +had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me at +the time of the evening sacrifice. + +The man Gabriel. . .The angel Gabriel in the shape of a man. + +9:22. And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: O Daniel, I am +now come forth to teach thee, and that thou mightest understand. + +9:23. From the beginning of thy prayers the word came forth: and I am +come to shew it to thee, because thou art a man of desires: therefore, +do thou mark the word, and understand the vision. + +Man of desires. . .that is, ardently praying for the Jews then in +captivity. + +9:24. Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people, and upon thy holy +city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and +iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and +vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be +anointed. + +Seventy weeks. . .Viz., of years, (or seventy times seven, that is, 490 +years,) are shortened; that is, fixed and determined, so that the time +shall be no longer. + +9:25. Know thou, therefore, and take notice: that from the going forth +of the word, to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ, the prince, +there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and the street shall +be built again, and the walls, in straitness of times. + +From the going forth of the word, etc. . .That is, from the twentieth +year of king Artaxerxes, when by his commandment Nehemias rebuilt the +walls of Jerusalem, 2 Esd. 2. From which time, according to the best +chronology, there were just sixty-nine weeks of years, that is, 483 +years to the baptism of Christ, when he first began to preach and +execute the office of Messias.--Ibid. In straitness of +times. . .angustia temporum: which may allude both to the difficulties +and opposition they met with in building: and to the shortness of the +time in which they finished the wall, viz., fifty-two days. + +9:26. And after sixty-two weeks Christ shall be slain: and the people +that shall deny him shall not be his. And a people, with their leader, +that shall come, shall destroy the city, and the sanctuary: and the end +thereof shall be waste, and after the end of the war the appointed +desolation. + +A people with their leader. . .The Romans under Titus. + +9:27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many, in one week: and in +the half of the week the victim and the sacrifice shall fail: and there +shall be in the temple the abomination of desolation: and the +desolation shall continue even to the consummation, and to the end. + +In the half of the week. . .or, in the middle of the week, etc. Because +Christ preached three years and a half: and then by his sacrifice upon +the cross abolished all the sacrifices of the law.--Ibid. The +abomination of desolation. . .Some understand this of the profanation of +the temple by the crimes of the Jews, and by the bloody faction of the +zealots. Others of the bringing in thither the ensigns and standard of +the pagan Romans. Others, in fine, distinguish three different times of +desolation: viz., that under Antiochus; that when the temple was +destroyed by the Romans; and the last near the end of the world under +Antichrist. To all which, as they suppose, this prophecy may have a +relation. + + + +Daniel Chapter 10 + + +Daniel having humbled himself by fasting and penance seeth a vision, +with which he is much terrified; but he is comforted by an angel. + +10:1. In the third year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, a word was +revealed to Daniel, surnamed Baltassar, and a true word, and great +strength: and he understood the word: for there is need of +understanding in a vision. + +10:2. In those days I, Daniel, mourned the days of three weeks. + +10:3. I ate no desirable bread, and neither flesh, nor wine, entered +into my mouth, neither was I anointed with ointment: till the days of +three weeks were accomplished. + +10:4. And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, I was by +the great river, which is the Tigris. + +10:5. And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw: and behold a man clothed in +linen, and his loins were girded with the finest gold: + +10:6. And his body was like the chrysolite, and his face as the +appearance of lightning, and his eyes as a burning lamp: and his arms, +and all downward even to the feet, like in appearance to glittering +brass: and the voice of his word like the voice of a multitude. + +10:7. And I, Daniel alone, saw the vision: for the men that were with +me saw it not: but an exceeding great terror fell upon them, and they +fled away, and hid themselves. + +10:8. And I, being left alone, saw this great vision: and there +remained no strength in me, and the appearance of my countenance was +changed in me, and I fainted away, and retained no strength. + +10:9. And I heard the voice of his words: and when I heard I lay in a +consternation upon my face, and my face was close to the ground. + +10:10. And behold a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees, +and upon the joints of my hands. + +10:11. And he said to me: Daniel, thou man of desires, understand the +words that I speak to thee, and stand upright: for I am sent now to +thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood trembling. + +10:12. And he said to me: Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that +thou didst set thy heart to understand, to afflict thyself in the sight +of thy God, thy words have been heard: and I am come for thy words. + +10:13. But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one +and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to +help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians. + +The prince, etc. . .That is, the angel guardian of Persia: who according +to his office, seeking the spiritual good of the Persians was desirous +that many of the Jews should remain among them. + +10:14. But I am come to teach thee what things shall befall thy people +in the latter days, for as yet the vision is for days. + +10:15. And when he was speaking such words to me, I cast down my +countenance to the ground, and held my peace. + +10:16. And behold as it were the likeness of a son of man touched my +lips: then I opened my mouth and spoke, and said to him that stood +before me: O my lord, at the sight of thee my joints are loosed, and no +strength hath remained in me. + +10:17. And how can the servant of my lord speak with my lord? for no +strength remaineth in me; moreover, my breath is stopped. + +10:18. Therefore, he that looked like a man, touched me again, and +strengthened me. + +10:19. And he said: Fear not, O man of desires, peace be to thee: take +courage, and be strong. And when he spoke to me, I grew strong, and I +said: Speak, O my lord, for thou hast strengthened me. + +10:20. And he said: Dost thou know wherefore I am come to thee? And now +I will return, to fight against the prince of the Persians. When I went +forth, there appeared the prince of the Greeks coming. + +10:21. But I will tell thee what is set down in the scripture of truth: +and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince. + +Michael your prince. . .The guardian general of the church of God. + + + +Daniel Chapter 11 + + +The angel declares to Daniel many things to come, with regard to the +Persian and Grecian kings: more especially with regard to Antiochus as +a figure of Antichrist. + +11:1. And from the first year of Darius, the Mede, I stood up, that he +might be strengthened, and confirmed. + +11:2. And now I will shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand yet +three kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be enriched exceedingly +above them all: and when he shall be grown mighty by his riches, he +shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. + +Three kings. . .Viz., Cambyses, Smerdes Magus, and Darius, the son of +Hystaspes.--Ibid. The fourth. . .Xerxes. + +11:3. But there shall rise up a strong king, and shall rule with great +power: and he shall do what he pleaseth. + +A strong king. . .Alexander. + +11:4. And when he shall come to his height, his kingdom shall be +broken, and it shall be divided towards the four winds of the heaven: +but not to his posterity, nor according to his power with which he +ruled. For his kingdom shall be rent in peices, even for strangers, +besides these. + +11:5. And the king of the south shall be strengthened, and one of his +princes shall prevail over him, and he shall rule with great power: for +his dominions shall be great. + +The king of the south. . .Ptolemeus the son of Lagus, king of Egypt, +which lies south of Jerusalem.--Ibid. One of his princes. . .that is, +one of Alexander's princes, shall prevail over him: that is, shall be +stronger than the king of Egypt. He speaks of Seleucus Nicator, king of +Asia and Syria, whose successors are here called the kings of the +north, because their dominions lay to the north in respect to +Jerusalem. + +11:6. And after the end of years they shall be in league together: and +the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the +north to make friendship, but she shall not obtain the strength of the +arm, neither shall her seed stand: and she shall be given up, and her +young men that brought her, and they that strengthened her in these +times. + +The daughter of the king of the south. . .Viz., Berenice, daughter of +Ptolemeus Philadelphus, given in marriage to Antiochus Theos, grandson +of Seleucus. + +11:7. And a plant of the bud of her roots shall stand up: and he shall +come with an army, and shall enter into the province of the king of the +north: and he shall abuse them, and shall prevail. + +A plant, etc. . .Ptolemeus Evergetes, the son of Philadelphus. + +11:8. And he shall also carry away captive into Egypt their gods, and +their graven things, and their precious vessels of gold and silver: he +shall prevail against the king of the north. + +The king of the north. . .Seleucus Callinicus. + +11:9. And the king of the south shall enter into the kingdom, and shall +return to his own land. + +11:10. And his sons shall be provoked, and they shall assemble a +multitude of great forces: and he shall come with haste like a flood: +and he shall return, and be stirred up, and he shall join battle with +his force. + +His sons. . .Seleucus Ceraunius, and Antiochus the Great, the sons of +Callinicus.--Ibid. He shall come. . .Viz., Antiochus the Great. + +11:11. And the king of the south being provoked, shall go forth, and +shall fight against the king of the north, and shall prepare an +exceeding great multitude, and a multitude shall be given into his +hands. + +The king of the south. . .Ptolemeus Philopator, son of Evergetes. + +11:12. And he shall take a multitude, and his heart shall be lifted up, +and he shall cast down many thousands: but he shall not prevail. + +11:13. For the king of the north shall return, and shall prepare a +multitude much greater than before: and in the end of times, and years, +he shall come in haste with a great army, and much riches. + +11:14. And in those times many shall rise up against the king of the +south, and the children of prevaricators of thy people shall lift up +themselves to fulfil the vision, and they shall fall. + +11:15. And the king of the north shall come, and shall cast up a mount, +and shall take the best fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall +not withstand, and his chosen ones shall rise up to resist, and they +shall not have strength. + +11:16. And he shall come upon him, and do according to his pleasure, +and there shall be none to stand against his face: and he shall stand +in the glorious land, and it shall be consumed by his hand. + +He shall come upon him. . .Viz., Antiochus shall come upon the king of +the south.--Ibid. The glorious land. . .Judea. + +11:17. And he shall set his face to come to possess all his kingdom, +and he shall make upright conditions with him: and he shall give him a +daughter of women, to overthrow it: and she shall not stand, neither +shall she be for him. + +All his kingdom. . .Viz., all the kingdom of Ptolemeus Epiphanes, son of +Philopator.--Ibid. A daughter of women. . .That is, a most beautiful +woman, viz., his daughter Cleopatra.--Ibid. To overthrow it. . .Viz., +the kingdom of Epiphanes: but his policy shall not succeed; for +Cleopatra shall take more to heart the interest of her husband, than that +of her father. + +11:18. And he shall turn his face to the islands, and shall take many: +and he shall cause the prince of his reproach to cease, and his +reproach shall be turned upon him. + +The prince of his reproach. . .Seipio the Roman general, called the +prince of his reproach, because he overthrew Antiochus, and obliged him +to submit to very dishonourable terms, before he would cease from the +war. + +11:19. And he shall turn his face to the empire of his own land, and he +shall stumble, and fall, ans shall not be found. + +11:20. And there shall stand up in his place one most vile, and +unworthy of kingly honour: and in a few days he shall be destroyed, not +in rage nor in battle. + +One most vile. . .Seleucus Philopator, who sent Heliodorus to plunder +the temple: and was shortly after slain by the same Heliodorus. + +11:21. And there shall stand up in his place one despised, and the +kingly honour shall not be given him: and he shall come privately, and +shall obtain the kingdom by fraud. + +One despised. . .Viz., Antiochus Epiphanes, who at first was despised +and not received for king. What is here said of this prince, is +accommodated by St. Jerome and others to Antichrist; of whom this +Antiochus was a figure. + +11:22. And the arms of the fighter shall be overcome before his face, +and shall be broken: yea, also the prince of the covenant. + +Of the fighter. . .That is, of them that shall oppose him, and shall +fight against him.--Ibid. The prince of the covenant. . .or, of the +league. The chief of them that conspired against him: or the king of +Egypt his most powerful adversary. + +11:23. And after friendships, he will deal deceitfully with him: and he +shall go up, and shall overcome with a small people. + +11:24. And he shall enter into rich and plentiful cities: and he shall +do that which his fathers never did, nor his fathers' fathers: he shall +scatter their spoils, and their prey, and their riches, and shall +forecast devices against the best fenced places: and this until a time. + +11:25. And his strength, and his heart, shall be stirred up against the +king of the south, with a great army: and the king of the south shall +be stirred up to battle with many and very strong succours: and they +shall not stand, for they shall form designs against him. + +The king. . .Ptolemeus Philometor. + +11:26. And they that eat bread with him, shall destroy him, and his +army shall be overthrown: and many shall fall down slain. + +11:27. And the heart of the two kings shall be to do evil, and they +shall speak lies at one table, and they shall not prosper: because as +yet the end is unto another time. + +11:28. And he shall return into his land with much riches: and his +heart shall be against the holy covenant, and he shall succeed, and +shall return into his own land. + +11:29. At the time appointed he shall return, and he shall come to the +south, but the latter time shall not be like the former. + +11:30. And the galleys and the Romans shall come upon him, and he shall +be struck, and shall return, and shall have indignation against the +covenant of the sanctuary, and he shall succeed: and he shall return, +and shall devise against them that have forsaken the covenant of the +sanctuary. + +The galleys and the Romans. . .Popilius, and the other Roman +ambassadors, who came in galleys, and obliged him to depart from Egypt. + +11:31. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall defile the +sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the continual sacrifice: and +they shall place there the abomination unto desolation. + +They shall place there the abomination, etc. . .The idol of Jupiter +Olympius, which Antiochus ordered to be set up in the sanctuary of the +temple: which is here called the sanctuary of strength, from the +Almighty that was worshipped there. + +11:32. And such as deal wickedly against the covenant shall deceitfully +dissemble: but the people that know their God shall prevail and +succeed. + +11:33. And they that are learned among the people shall teach many: and +they shall fall by the sword, and by fire, and by captivity, and by +spoil for many days. + +11:34. And when they shall have fallen, they shall be relieved with a +small help: and many shall be joined to them deceitfully. + +11:35. And some of the learned shall fall, that they may be tried, and +may be chosen, and made white, even to the appointed time: because yet +there shall be another time. + +11:36. And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall be +lifted up, and shall magnify himself against every god: and he shall +speak great things against the God of gods, and shall prosper, till the +wrath be accomplished. For the determination is made. + +11:37. And he shall make no account of the God of his fathers: and he +shall follow the lust of women, and he shall not regard any gods: for +he shall rise up against all things. + +11:38. But he shall worship the god Maozim, in his place: and a god +whom his fathers knew not, he shall worship with gold, and silver, and +precious stones, and things of great price. + +The god Maozim. . .That is, the god of forces or strong holds. + +11:39. And he shall do this to fortify Maozim with a strange god, whom +he hath acknowledged, and he shall increase glory, and shall give them +power over many, and shall divide the land gratis. + +And he shall increase glory, etc. . .He shall bestow honours, riches and +lands, upon them that shall worship his god. + +11:40. And at the time prefixed the king of the south shall fight +against him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a +tempest, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with a great navy, and +he shall enter into the countries, and shall destroy, and pass through. + +11:41. And he shall enter into the glorious land, and many shall fall: +and these only shall be saved out of his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the +principality of the children of Ammon. + +11:42. And he shall lay his hand upon the lands: and the land of Egypt +shall not escape. + +11:43. And he shall have power over the treasures of gold, and of +silver, and all the precious things of Egypt: and he shall pass through +Lybia, and Ethiopia. + +11:44. And tidings out of the east, and out of the north, shall trouble +him: and he shall come with a great multitude to destroy and slay many. + +11:45. And he shall fix his tabernacle, Apadno, between the seas, upon +a glorious and holy mountain: and he shall come even to the top +thereof, and none shall help him. + +Apadno. . .Some take it for the proper name of a place: others, from the +Hebrew, translate it his palace. + + + +Daniel Chapter 12 + + +Michael shall stand up for the people of God: with other things +relating to Antichrist, and the end of the world. + +12:1. But at that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who +standeth for the children of thy people: and a time shall come, such as +never was from the time that nations began, even until that time. And +at that time shall thy people be saved, every one that shall be found +written in the book. + +12:2. And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth, shall +awake: some unto life everlasting, and others unto reproach, to see it +always. + +12:3. But they that are learned, shall shine as the brightness of the +firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all +eternity. + +Learned. . .Viz., in the law of God and true wisdom, which consists in +knowing and loving God. + +12:4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to +the time appointed: many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be +manifold. + +12:5. And I, Daniel, looked, and behold as it were two others stood: +one on this side upon the bank of the river, and another on that side, +on the other bank of the river. + +12:6. And I said to the man that was clothed in linen, that stood upon +the waters of the river: How long shall it be to the end of these +wonders? + +12:7. And I heard the man that was clothed in linen, that stood upon +the waters of the river, when he had lifted up his right hand, and his +left hand to heaven, and had sworn by him that liveth for ever, that it +should be unto a time, and times, and half a time. And when the +scattering of the band of the holy people shall be accomplished, all +these things shall be finished. + +12:8. And I heard, and understood not. And I said: O my lord, what +shall be after these things? + +12:9. And he said: Go, Daniel, because the words are shut up, and +sealed until the appointed time. + +12:10. Many shall be chosen, and made white, and shall be tried as +fire: and the wicked shall deal wickedly, and none of the wicked shall +understand, but the learned shall understand. + +12:11. And from the time when the continual sacrifice shall be taken +away, and the abomination unto desolation shall be set up, there shall +be a thousand two hundred ninety days. + +12:12. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh unto a thousand three +hundred thirty-five days. + +12:13. But go thou thy ways until the time appointed: and thou shalt +rest, and stand in thy lot unto the end of the days. + + + +Daniel Chapter 13 + + +The history of Susanna and the two elders. + +This history of Susanna, in all the ancient Greek and Latin Bibles, was +placed in the beginning of the book of Daniel: till St. Jerome, in his +translation, detached it from thence; because he did not find it in the +Hebrew: which is also the case of the history of Bel and the Dragon. +But both the one and the other are received by the Catholic Church: and +were from the very beginning a part of the Christian Bible. + +13:1. Now there was a man that dwelt in Babylon, and his name was +Joakim: + +13:2. And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of +Helcias, a very beautiful woman, and one that feared God. + +13:3. For her parents being just, had instructed their daughter +according to the law of Moses. + +13:4. Now Joakim was very rich, and had an orchard near his house: and +the Jews resorted to him, because he was the most honourable of them +all. + +13:5. And there were two of the ancients of the people appointed judges +that year, of whom the Lord said: That iniquity came out from Babylon, +from the ancient judges, that seemed to govern the people. + +13:6. These men frequented the house of Joakim, and all that hand any +matters of judgment came to them. + +13:7. And when the people departed away at noon, Susanna went in, and +walked in her husband's orchard. + +13:8. And the old men saw her going in every day, and walking: and they +were inflamed with lust towards her: + +13:9. And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, +that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments. + +13:10. So they were both wounded with the love of her, yet they did not +make known their grief one to the other. + +13:11. For they were ashamed to declare to one another their lust, +being desirous to have to do with her: + +13:12. And they watched carefully every day to see her. And one said to +the other: + +13:13. Let us now go home, for it is dinner time. So going out, they +departed one from another. + +13:14. And turning back again, they came both to the same place: and +asking one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: and then +they agreed together upon a time, when they might find her alone. + +13:15. And it fell out, as they watched a fit day, she went in on a +time, as yesterday and the day before, with two maids only, and was +desirous to wash herself in the orchard: for it was hot weather. + +13:16. And there was nobody there, but the two old men that had hid +themselves, and were beholding her. + +13:17. So she said to the maids: Bring me oil, and washing balls, and +shut the doors of the orchard, that I may wash me. + +13:18. And they did as she bade them: and they shut the doors of the +orchard, and went out by a back door to fetch what she had commanded +them, and they knew not that the elders were hid within. + +13:19. Now when the maids were gone forth, the two elders arose, and +ran to her, and said: + +13:20. Behold the doors of the orchard are shut, and nobody seeth us, +and we are in love with thee: wherefore consent to us, and lie with us. + +13:21. But if thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a +young man was with thee, and therefore thou didst send away thy maids +form thee. + +13:22. Susanna sighed, and said: I am straitened on every side: for if +I do this thing, it is death to me: and if I do it not, I shall not +escape your hands. + +13:23. But it is better for me to fall into your hands without doing +it, than to sin in the sight of the Lord. + +13:24. With that Susanna cried out with a loud voice: and the elders +also cried out against her. + +13:25. And one of them ran to the door of the orchard, and opened it. + +13:26. So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the orchard, +they rushed in by the back door, to see what was the matter. + +13:27. But after the old men had spoken, the servants were greatly +ashamed: for never had there been any such word said of Susanna. And on +the next day, + +13:28. When the people were come to Joakim, her husband, the two elders +also came full of wicked device against Susanna, to put her to death. + +13:29. And they said before the people: Send to Susanna, daughter of +Helcias, the wife of Joakim. And presently they sent. + +13:30. And she came with her parents, and children and all her kindred. + +13:31. Now Susanna was exceeding delicate, and beautiful to behold. + +13:32. But those wicked men commanded that her face should be +uncovered, (for she was covered) that so at least they might be +satisfied with her beauty. + +13:33. Therefore her friends, and all her acquaintance wept. + +13:34. But the two elders rising up in the midst of the people, laid +their hands upon her head. + +13:35. And she weeping, looked up to heaven, for her heart had +confidence in the Lord. + +13:36. And the elders said: As we walked in the orchard alone, this +woman came in with two maids, and shut the doors of the orchard, ans +sent away the maids from her. + +13:37. Then a young man that was there hid came to her, and lay with +her. + +13:38. But we that were in a corner of the orchard, seeing this +wickedness, ran up to them, and we saw them lie together. + +13:39. And him indeed we could not take, because he was stronger than +us, and opening the doors, he leaped out: + +13:40. But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but +she would not tell us: of this thing we are witnesses. + +13:41. The multitude believed them, as being the elders, and the judges +of the people, and they condemned her to death. + +13:42. Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: O eternal +God, who knowest hidden things, who knowest all things before they come +to pass, + +13:43. Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me: and +behold I must die, whereas I have done none of these things, which +these men have maliciously forged against me. + +13:44. And the Lord heard her voice. + +13:45. And when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the +holy spirit of a young boy, whose name was Daniel: + +13:46. And he cried out with a loud voice: I am clear from the blood of +this woman. + +13:47. Then all the people turning themselves towards him, said: What +meaneth this word that thou hast spoken? + +13:48. But he standing in the midst of them, said: Are ye so foolish, +ye children of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the +truth, you have condemned a daughter of Israel? + +13:49. Return to judgment, for they have borne false witness against +her. + +13:50. So all the people turned again in haste, and the old men said to +him: Come, and sit thou down among us, and shew it us: seeing God hath +given thee the honour of old age. + +13:51. And Daniel said to the people: Separate these two far from one +another, and I will examine them. + +13:52. So when they were put asunder one from the other, he called one +of them, and said to him: O thou that art grown old in evil days, now +are thy sins come out, which thou hast committed before: + +13:53. In judging unjust judgments, oppressing the innocent, and +letting the guilty to go free, whereas the Lord saith: The innocent and +the just thou shalt not kill. + +13:54. Now then if thou sawest her, tell me under what tree thou sawest +them conversing together: He said: Under a mastic tree. + +13:55. And Daniel said: Well hast thou lied against thy own head: for +behold the angel of God having received the sentence of him, shall cut +thee in two. + +13:56. And having put him aside, he commanded that the other should +come, and he said to him: O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, +beauty hath deceived tee, and lust hath perverted thy heart: + +13:57. Thus did you do to the daughters of Israel, and they for fear +conversed with you: but a daughter of Juda would not abide your +wickedness. + +13:58. Now, therefore, tell me, under what tree didst thou take them +conversing together. And he answered: Under a holm tree. + +13:59. And Daniel said to him: Well hast thou also lied against thy own +head: for the angel of the Lord waiteth with a sword to cut thee in +two, and to destroy you. + +13:60. With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and they +blessed God, who saveth them that trust in him. + +13:61. And they rose up against the two elders, (for Daniel had +convicted them of false witness by their own mouth) and they did to +them as they had maliciously dealt against their neighbour, + +13:62. To fulfil the law of Moses: and they put them to death, and +innocent blood was saved in that day. + +13:63. But Helcias, and his wife, praised God, for their daughter, +Susanna, with Joakim, her husband, and all her kindred, because there +was no dishonesty found in her. + +13:64. And Daniel became great in the sight of the people from that +day, and thence forward. + +13:65. And king Astyages was gathered to his fathers; and Cyrus, the +Persian, received his kingdom. + + + +Daniel Chapter 14 + + +The history of Bel, and of the great serpent worshipped by the +Babylonians. + +14:1. And Daniel was the king's guest, and was honoured above all his +friends. + +The king's guest. . .It seems most probable, that the king here spoken +of was Evilmerodach, the son and successor of Nabuchodonosor, and a +great favourer of the Jews. + +14:2. Now the Babylonians had an idol called Bel: and there was spent +upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty +sheep, and six vessels of wine. + +14:3. The king also worshipped him, and went every day to adore him: +but Daniel adored his God. And the king said to him: Why dost thou not +adore Bel? + +14:4. And he answered, and said to him: Because I do not worship idols +made with hands, but the living God, that created heaven and earth, and +hath power over all flesh. + +14:5. And the king said to him: Doth not Bel seem to thee to be a +living god? Seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day? + +14:6. Then Daniel smiled, and said: O king, be not deceived: for this +is but clay within, and brass without, neither hath he eaten at any +time. + +14:7. And the king being angry, called for his priests, and said to +them: If you tell me not who it is that eateth up these expenses, you +shall die. + +14:8. But if you can shew that Bel eateth these things, Daniel shall +die, because he hath blasphemed against Bel. And Daniel said to the +king: Be it done according to thy word. + +14:9. Now the priests of Bel were seventy, beside their wives, and +little ones, and children. And the king went with Daniel into the +temple of Bel. + +14:10. And the priests of Bel said: Behold, we go out: and do thou, O +king, set on the meats, and make ready the wine, and shut the door +fast, and seal it with thy own ring: + +14:11. And when thou comest in the morning, if thou findest not that +Bel hath eaten up all, we will suffer death, or else Daniel, that hath +lied against us. + +14:12. And they little regarded it, because they had made under the +table a secret entrance, and they always came in by it, and consumed +those things. + +14:13. So it came to pass after they were gone out, the king set the +meats before Bel: and Daniel commanded his servants, and they brought +ashes, and he sifted them all over the temple before the king: and +going forth, they shut the door, and having sealed it with the king's +ring, they departed. + +14:14. But the priests went in by night, according to their custom, +with their wives, and their children: and they eat and drank up all. + +14:15. And the king arose early in the morning, and Daniel with him. + +14:16. And the king said: Are the seals whole, Daniel? And he answered: +They are whole, O king. + +14:17. And as soon as he had opened the door, the king looked upon the +table, and cried out with a loud voice: Great art thou, O Bel, and +there is not any deceit with thee. + +14:18. And Daniel laughed: and he held the king, that he should not go +in: and he said: Behold the pavement, mark whose footsteps these are. + +14:19. And the king said: I see the footsteps of men, and women, and +children. And the king was angry. + +14:20. Then he took the priests, and their wives, and their children: +and they shewed him the private doors by which they came in, and +consumed the things that were on the table. + +14:21. The king, therefore, put them to death, and delivered Bel into +the power of Daniel: who destroyed him and his temple. + +14:22. And there was a great dragon in that place, and the Babylonians +worshipped him. + +14:23. And the king said to Daniel: Behold, thou canst not say now, +that this is not a living god: adore him, therefore. + +14:24. And Daniel said: I adore the Lord, my God: for he is the living +God: but that is no living god. + +14:25. But give me leave, O king, and I will kill this dragon without +sword or club. And the king said, I give thee leave. + +14:26. Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and boiled them +together: and he made lumps, and put them into the dragon's mouth, and +the dragon burst asunder. And he said: Behold him whom you worship. + +14:27. And when the Babylonians had heard this, they took great +indignation: and being gathered together against the king, they said: +The king is become a Jew. He hath destroyed Bel, he hath killed the +dragon, and he hath put the priests to death. + +14:28. And they came to the king, and said: Deliver us Daniel, or else +we will destroy thee and thy house. + +14:29. And the king saw that they pressed upon him violently: and being +constrained by necessity: he delivered Daniel to them. + +14:30. And they cast him into the den of lions, and he was there six +days. + +The den of lions. . .Daniel was twice cast into the den of lions; one +under Darius the Mede, because he had transgressed the king's edict, by +praying three times a day: and another time under Evilmerodach by a +sedition of the people. This time he remained six days in the lions' +den; the other time only one night. + +14:31. And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given to +them two carcasses every day, and two sheep: but then they were not +given unto them, that they might devour Daniel. + +14:32. Now there was in Judea a prophet called Habacuc, and he had +boiled pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl: and was going into the +field, to carry it to the reapers. + +Habacuc. . .The same, as some think whose prophecy is found among the +lesser prophets but others believe him to be different. + +14:33. And the angel of the Lord said to Habacuc: Carry the dinner +which thou hast into Babylon, to Daniel, who is in the lions' den. + +14:34. And Habacuc said: Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the +den. + +14:35. And the angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and +carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon, over the +den, in the force of his spirit. + +14:36. And Habacuc cried, saying: O Daniel, thou servant of God, take +the dinner that God hath sent thee. + +14:37. And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast +not forsaken them that love thee. + +14:38. And Daniel arose, and eat. And the angel of the Lord presently +set Habacuc again in his own place. + +14:39. And upon the seventh day the king came to bewail Daniel: and he +came to the den, and looked in, and behold Daniel was sitting in the +midst of the lions. + +14:40. And the king cried out with a loud voice, saying: Great art +thou, O Lord, the God of Daniel. And he drew him out of the lions' den. + +14:41. But those that had been the cause of his destruction, he cast +into the den, and they were devoured in a moment before him. + +14:42. Then the king said: Let all the inhabitants of the whole earth +fear the God of Daniel: for he is the Saviour, working signs, and +wonders in the earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF OSEE + + + +OSEE, or Hosea, whose name signifies A saviour, was the first in the +order of time among those who are commonly called lesser prophets, +because their prophecies are short. He prophesied in the kingdom of +Israel, that is, of the ten tribes, about the same time that Isaias +prophesied in the kingdom of Juda. + + + +Osee Chapter 1 + + +By marrying a harlot, and by the names of his children, the prophet +sets forth the crimes of Israel and their punishment. He foretells +their redemption by Christ. + +1:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Osee, the son of Beeri, in the +days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda, and in the +days of Jeroboam, the son of Joas, king of Israel. + +1:2. The beginning of the Lord's speaking by Osee: and the Lord said to +Osee: Go, take thee a wife of fornications, and have of her children of +fornications: for the land by fornication shall depart from the Lord. + +A wife of fornications. . .That is, a wife that has been given to +fornication. This was to represent the Lord's proceedings with his +people Israel, who, by spiritual fornication, were continually +offending him.--Ibid. Children of fornications. . .So called from the +character of their mother, if not also from their own wicked +dispositions. + +1:3. So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Debelaim: and she +conceived, and bore him a son. + +1:4. And the Lord said to him: Call his name Jezrahel: for yet a little +while, and I will visit the blood of Jezrahel upon the house of Jehu, +and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. + +1:5. And in that day I will break in pieces the bow of Israel in the +valley of Jezrahel. + +1:6. And she conceived again, and bore a daughter, and he said to him: +Call her name, Without mercy: for I will not add any more to have mercy +on the house of Israel, but I will utterly forget them. + +Without mercy. . .Lo-Ruhamah. + +1:7. And I will have mercy on the house of Juda, and I will save them +by the Lord, their God: and I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, +nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen. + +1:8. And she weaned her that was called Without mercy. And she +conceived, and bore a son. + +1:9. And he said: Call his name, Not my people: for you are not my +people, and I will not be yours. + +Not my people. . .Lo-ammi. + +1:10. And the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of +the sea, that is without measure, and shall not be numbered. And it +shall be in the place where it shall be said to them: You are not my +people: it shall be said to them: Ye are the sons of the living God. + +The number, etc. . .Viz., of the true Israelites, the children of the +church of Christ. + +1:11. And the children of Juda, and the children of Israel, shall be +gathered together: and they shall appoint themselves one head, and +shall come up out of the land: for great is the day of Jezrahel. + +One head. . .viz., Christ.--Ibid. Great is the day of Jezrahel. . .That +is, of the seed of God; for Jezrahel signifies the seed of God. + + + +Osee Chapter 2 + + +Israel is justly punished for leaving God. The abundance of grace in +the church of Christ. + +2:1. Say ye to your brethren: You are my people: and to your sister: +Thou hast obtained mercy. + +Say to your brethren, etc. . .or, Call your brethren, My people: and +your sister, Her that hath obtained mercy. This is connected with the +latter end of the foregoing chapter, and relates to the converts of +Israel. + +2:2. Judge your mother, judge her: because she is not my wife, and I am +not her husband. Let her put away her fornications from her face, and +her adulteries from between her breasts. + +Your mother. . .The synagogue. + +2:3. Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was +born: and I will make her as a wilderness, and will set her as a land +that none can pass through and will kill her with drought. + +2:4. And I will not have mercy on her children. for they are the +children of fornications. + +2:5. For their mother hath committed fornication, she that conceived +them is covered with shame: for she said: I will go after my lovers, +that give me my bread, and my water, my wool, and my flax, my oil, and +my drink. + +2:6. Wherefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will +stop it up with a wall, and she shall not find her paths. + +2:7. And she shall follow after her lovers, and shall not overtake +them: and she shall seek them, and shall not find, and she shall say: I +will go, and return to my first husband: because it was better with me +then than now. + +2:8. And she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and +multiplied her silver, and gold, which they have used in the service of +Baal. + +2:9. Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in its season, and +my wine in its season, and I will set at liberty my wool, and my flax, +which covered her disgrace. + +2:10. And now I will lay open her folly in the eyes of her lovers: and +no man shall deliver her out of my hand: + +2:11. And I will cause all her mirth to cease, her solemnities, her new +moons, her sabbaths, and all her festival times. + +2:12. And I will destroy her vines, and her fig trees, of which she +said: These are my rewards, which my lovers have given me: and I will +make her as a forest and the beasts of the field shall devour her. + +2:13. And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, to whom she burnt +incense, and decked herself out with her earrings, and with her jewels, +and went after her lovers, and forgot me, saith the Lord. + +2:14. Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the +wilderness: and I will speak to her heart. + +I will allure her, etc. . .After all her disloyalties, I will still +allure her by my grace etc., and send her vinedressers, viz., the +apostles: originally her own children, who shall open to her the gates +of hope; as heretofore at her coming into the land of promise, she had +all good success after she had satisfied the divine justice by the +execution of Achan in the valley of Achor. Jos. 7. + +2:15. And I will give her vinedressers out of the same place, and the +valley of Achor for an opening of hope: and she shall sing there +according to the days of her youth, and according to the days of her +coming up out of the land of Egypt. + +2:16. And it shall be in that day, saith the Lord: That she shall call +me: My husband, and she shall call me no more Banli. + +My husband. . .In Hebrew, Ishi. Baali, my lord. The meaning of this +verse is: that whereas Ishi and Baali were used indifferently in those +days by wives speaking to their husbands; the synagogue, whom God was +pleased to consider as his spouse, should call him only Ishi, and +abstain from the name of Baali, because of its affinity with the idol +Baal. + +2:17. And I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and +she shall no more remember their name. + +Baalim. . .It is the plural number of Baal: for there were divers idols +of Baal. + +2:18. And in that day I will make a covenant with them, with the beasts +of the field, and with the fowls of the air, and with the creeping +things of the earth: and I will destroy the bow, and the sword, and war +out of the land: and I will make them sleep secure. + +2:19. And I will espouse thee to me for ever: and I will espouse thee +to me in justice, and judgment, and in mercy, and in commiserations. + +I will espouse thee, etc. . .This relates to the happy espousals of +Christ with his church: which shall never be dissolved. + +2:20. And I will espouse thee to me in faith: and thou shalt know that +I am the Lord. + +2:21. And it shall come to pass in that day: I will hear, saith the +Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth. + +Hear the heavens, etc. . .All shall conspire in favour of the church, +which in the following verse is called Jezrahel, that is, the seed of +God. + +2:22. And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and +these shall hear Jezrahel. + +2:23. And I will sow her unto me in the earth, and I will have mercy on +her that was without mercy. + +2:24. And I will say to that which is not my people: Thou art my +people: and they shall say: Thou art my God. + +That which was not my people, etc. . .This relates to the conversion of +the Gentiles. + + + +Osee Chapter 3 + + +The prophet is commanded again to love an adulteress; to signify God's +love to the synagogue. The wretched state of the Jews for a long time, +till at last they shall be converted. + +3:1. And the Lord said to me: Go yet again, and love a woman beloved of +her friend, and an adulteress: as the Lord loveth the children of +Israel, and they look to strange gods, and love the husks of the +grapes. + +3:2. And I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for a +core of barley, and for half a core of barley. + +3:3. And I said to her: Thou shalt wait for me many days: thou shalt +not play the harlot, and thou shalt be no man's, and I also will wait +for thee. + +3:4. For the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and +without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without +ephod, and without theraphim. + +Theraphim. . .Images or representations. + +3:5. And after this the children of Israel shall return and shall seek +the Lord, their God, and David, their king: and they shall fear the +Lord, and his goodness, in the last days. + +David their king. . .That is, Christ, who is of the house of David. + + + +Osee Chapter 4 + + +God's judgment against the sins of Israel: Juda is warned not to follow +their example. + +4:1. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel, for the Lord +shall enter into judgment with the inhabitants of the land: for there +is no truth, and there is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in +the land. + +4:2. Cursing, and lying, and killing, and theft, and adultery, have +overflowed, and blood hath touched blood. + +4:3. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth in it +shall languish with the heat of the field, and with the fowls of the +air: yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be gathered together. + +4:4. But yet let not any man judge: and let not a man be rebuked: for +thy people are as they that contradict the priest. + +Let not any man judge, etc. . .As if he would say: It is in vain to +strive with them, or reprove them, they are so obstinate in evil. + +4:5. And thou shalt fall today, and the prophet also shall fall with +thee: in the night I have made thy mother to be silent. + +4:6. My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because +thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not +do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of +thy God, I also will forget thy children. + +4:7. According to the multitude of them, so have they sinned against +me: I will change their glory into shame. + +4:8. They shall eat the sins of my people, and shall lift up their +souls to their iniquity. + +4:9. And there shall be like people like priest: and I will visit their +ways upon them, and I will repay them their devices. + +4:10. And they shall eat and shall not be filled: they have committed +fornication, and have not ceased: because they have forsaken the Lord +in not observing the law. + +4:11. Fornication, and wine, and drunkenness, take away the +understanding. + +4:12. My people have consulted their stocks, and their staff hath +declared unto them: for the spirit of fornication hath deceived them, +and they have committed fornication against their God. + +4:13. They offered sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burnt +incense upon the hills: under the oak, and the poplar, and the +turpentine tree, because the shadow thereof was good: therefore shall +your daughters commit fornication, aud your spouses shall be +adulteresses. + +4:14. I will not visit upon your daughters, when they shall commit +fornication, and upon your spouses when they shall commit adultery: +because themselves conversed with harlots, and offered sacrifice with +the effeminate, and the people that doth not understand shall be +beaten. + +4:15. If thou play the harlot, O Israel, at least let not Juda offend: +and go ye not into Galgal, and come not up into Bethaven, and do not +swear: The Lord liveth. + +Galgal and Bethaven. . .Places where idols were worshipped. Bethel, +which signifies the house of God, is called by the prophet, Bethaven, +that is, the house of vanity, from Jeroboam's golden calf that was +worshipped there. + +4:16. For Israel hath gone astray like a wanton heifer now will the +Lord feed them, as a lamb in a spacious place. + +4:17. Ephraim is a partaker with idols, let him alone. + +4:18. Their banquet is separated, they have gone astray by fornication: +they that should have protected them have loved to bring shame upon +them. + +4:19. The wind hath bound them up in its wings, and they shall be +confounded because of their sacrifices. + + + +Osee Chapter 5 + + +God's threats against the priests, the people, and princes of Israel, +for their idolatry. + +5:1. Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and +give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, +because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over +and a net spread upon Thabor. + +O priests. . .What is said of priests in this prophecy is chiefly +understood of the priests of the kingdom of Israel; who were not true +priests of the race of Aaron; but served the calves at Bethel and Dan. + +5:2. And you have turned aside victims into the depth and I am the +teacher of them all. + +5:3. I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me for now Ephraim hath +committed fornication, Israel is defiled. + +5:4. They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for the +spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known +the Lord. + +5:5. And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel, and +Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them. + +5:6. With their flocks and with their herds, they shall go to seek the +Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them. + +5:7. They have transgressed against the Lord: for they have begotten +children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their +portions. + +Children that are strangers. . .That is, aliens from God: and therefore +they are threatened with speedy destruction. + +5:8. Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in +Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin. + +5:9. Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the +tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be. + +5:10. The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I +will pour out my wrath upon them like water. + +As they that take up the bound. . .That is, they that remove the +boundary, encroaching on the property of their neighbors: figuratively: +going beyond the boundary of the laws of God. + +5:11. Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he +began to go after filthiness. + +5:12. And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the +house of Juda. + +5:13. And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went +to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be +able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from +you. + +5:14. For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion's whelp +to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and +there is none that can rescue. + +5:15. I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and +seek my face. + + + +Osee Chapter 6 + + +Affliction shall be a means to bring many to Christ, a complaint of the +untowardness of the Jews. God loves mercy more than sacrifice. + +6:1. In their affliction they will rise early to me: Come, and let us +return to the Lord. + +6:2. For he hath taken us, and he will heal us: he will strike, and he +will cure us. + +6:3. He will revive us after two days: on the third day he will raise +us up, and we shall live in his sight. We shall know, and we shall +follow on, that we may know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as +the morning light, and he will come to us as the early and the latter +rain to the earth. + +6:4. What shall I do to thee, O Ephraim? what shall I do to thee, O +Juda? your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth away +in the morning. + +6:5. For this reason have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain +them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments shall go forth as the +light. + +6:6. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God +more than holocausts. + +6:7. But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant, there have +they dealt treacherously against me. + +6:8. Galaad is a city of workers of idols, supplanted with blood. + +Supplanted with blood. . .that is, undermined and brought to ruin, for +shedding of blood: and, as it is signified in the following verse, for +conspiring with the priests (of Bethel) like robbers, to murder in the +way such as passed out of Sichem to go towards the temple of Jerusalem. +Or else . . .upplanted with blood. . .signifies flowing in such manner +with blood, as to suffer none to walk there without imbruing the soles +of their feet in blood. + +6:9. And like the jaws of highway robbers, they conspire with the +priests who murder in the way those that pass out of Sichem: for they +have wrought wickedness. + +6:10. I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: the +fornications of Ephraim there: Israel is defiled. + +6:11. And thou also, O Juda, set thee a harvest, when I shall bring +back the captivity of my people. + + + +Osee Chapter 7 + + +The manifold sins of Israel, and of their kings, hinder the Lord from +healing them. + +7:1. When I would have healed Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was +discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria, for they have committed +falsehood, and the thief is come in to steal, the robber is without. + +7:2. And lest they may say in their hearts, that I remember all their +wickedness: their own devices now have beset them about, they have been +done before my face. + +7:3. They have made the king glad with their wickedness: and the +princes with their lies. + +Made the king glad, etc. . .To please Jeroboam, and their other kings +they have given themselves up to the wicked worship of idols, which are +mere falsehood and lies. + +7:4. They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by the baker: the +city rested a little from the mingling of the leaven, till the whole +was leavened. + +7:5. The day of our king, the princes began to be mad with wine: he +stretched out his hand with scorners. + +7:6. Because they have applied their heart like an oven, when he laid +snares for them: he slept all the night baking them, in the morning he +himself was heated as a flaming fire. + +7:7. They were all heated like an oven, and have devoured their judges: +all their kings have fallen: there is none amongst them that calleth +unto me. + +7:8. Ephraim himself is mixed among the nations: Ephraim is become as +bread baked under the ashes, that is not turned. + +7:9. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knew it not: yea, +grey hairs also are spread about upon him, and he is ignorant of it. + +7:10. And the pride of Israel shall be humbled before his face: and +they have not returned to the Lord their God, nor have they sought him +in all these. + +7:11. And Ephraim is become as a dove that is decoyed, not having a +heart: they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians. + +7:12. And when they shall go, I will spread my net upon them: I will +bring them down as the fowl of the air, I will strike them as their +congregation hath heard. + +7:13. Woe to them, for they have departed from me: they shall be wasted +because they have transgressed against me: and I redeemed them: and +they have spoken lies against me. + +7:14. And they have not cried to me with their heart, but they howled +in their beds: they have thought upon wheat and wine, they are departed +from me. + +7:15. And I have chastised them, and strengthened their arms: and they +have imagined evil against me. + +7:16. They returned, that they might be without yoke: they became like +a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of +their tongue. This is their derision in the land of Egypt. + + + +Osee Chapter 8 + + +The Israelites are threatened with destruction for their impiety and +idolatry. + +8:1. Let there be a trumpet in thy throat like an eagle upon the house +of the Lord: because they have transgressed my covenant, and have +violated my law. + +8:2. They shall call upon me: O my God, we, Israel, know thee. + +8:3. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good, the enemy shall +pursue him. + +8:4. They have reigned, but not by me: they have been princes, and I +knew not: of their silver and their gold they have made idols to +themselves, that they might perish. + +8:5. Thy calf, O Samaria, is cast off, my wrath is kindled against +them. How long will they be incapable of being cleansed? + +8:6. For itself also is the invention of Israel: a workman made it, and +it is no god: for the calf of Samaria shall be turned to spiders' webs. + +8:7. For they shall sow wind, and reap a whirlwind, there is no +standing stalk in it, the bud shall yield no meal; and if it should +yield, strangers shall eat it. + +8:8. Israel is swallowed up: now is he become among the nations like an +unclean vessel. + +8:9. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: +Ephraim hath given gifts to his lovers. + +8:10. But even though they shall have hired the nations, now will I +gather them together: and they shall rest a while from the burden of +the king, and the princes. + +8:11. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin: altars are become +to him unto sin. + +8:12. I shall write to him my manifold laws, which have been accounted +as foreign. + +8:13. They shall offer victims, they shall sacrifice flesh, and shall +eat it, and the Lord will not receive them: now will he remember their +iniquity, and will visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. + +8:14. And Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and hath built temples: and +Juda hath built many fenced cities: and I will send a fire upon his +cities, and it shall devour the houses thereof. + + + +Osee Chapter 9 + + +The distress and captivity of Israel for their sins and idolatry. + +9:1. Rejoice not, O Israel: rejoice not as the nations do: for thou +hast committed fornication against thy God, thou hast loved a reward +upon every cornfloor. + +9:2. The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the wine +shall deceive them. + +9:3. They shall not dwell in the Lord's land: Ephraim is returned to +Egypt, and hath eaten unclean things among the Assyrians. + +9:4. They shall not offer wine to the Lord, neither shall they please +him: their sacrifices shall be like the bread of mourners: all that +shall eat it shall be defiled: for their bread is life for their soul, +it shall not enter into the house of the Lord. + +9:5. What will you do in the solemn day, in the day of the feast of the +Lord? + +9:6. For behold they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall +gather them together, Memphis shall bury them: nettles shall inherit +their beloved silver, the bur shall be in their tabernacles. + +9:7. The days of visitation are come, the days of repaying are come: +know ye, O Israel, that the prophet was foolish, the spiritual man was +mad, for the multitude of thy iniquity, and the multitude of thy +madness. + +9:8. The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: the prophet is become a +snare of ruin upon all his ways, madness is in the house of his God. + +9:9. They have sinned deeply, as in the days of Gabaa: he will remember +their iniquity, and will visit their sin. + +9:10. I found Israel like grapes in the desert, I saw their fathers +like the firstfruits of the fig tree in the top thereof: but they went +in to Beelphegor, and alienated themselves to that confusion, and +became abominable, as those things were, which they loved. + +9:11. As for Ephraim, their glory hath flown away like bird from the +birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. + +9:12. And though they should bring up their children, I will make them +without children among men: yea, and woe to them, when I shall depart +from them. + +9:13. Ephraim, as I saw, was a Tyre, founded in beauty: and Ephraim +shall bring out his children to the murderer. + +9:14. Give them, O Lord. What wilt thou give them? Give them a womb +without children, and dry breasts. + +9:15. All their wickedness is in Galgal, for there I hated them: for +the wickedness of their devices I will cast them forth out of my house: +I will love them no more, all their princes are revolters. + +9:16. Ephraim is struck, their root is dried up, they shall yield no +fruit. And if they should have issue, I will slay the best beloved +fruit of their womb. + +9:17. My God will cast them away, because they hearkened not to him: +and they shall be wanderers among the nations. + + + +Osee Chapter 10 + + +After many benefits, great affliction shall fall upon the ten tribes, +for their ingratitude to God. + +10:1. Israel a vine full of branches, the fruit is agreeable to it: +according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath multiplied altars, +according to the plenty of his land he hath abounded with idols. + +10:2. Their heart is divided: now they shall perish: he shall break +down their idols, he shall destroy their altars. + +10:3. For now they shall say: We have no king: because we fear not the +Lord: and what shall a king do to us? + +10:4. You speak words of an unprofitable vision, and you shall make a +covenant: and judgment shall spring up as bitterness in the furrows of +the field. + +10:5. The inhabitants of Samaria have worshipped the kine of Bethaven: +for the people thereof have mourned over it, and the wardens of its +temple that rejoiced over it in its glory because it is departed from +it. + +The kine of Bethaven. . .The golden calves of Jeroboam. + +10:6. For itself also is carried into Assyria, a present to the +avenging king: shame shall fall upon Ephraim, and Israel shall be +confounded in his own will. + +Itself also is carried, etc. . .One of the golden calves was given by +king Manahem, to Phul, king of the Assyrians, to engage him to stand by +him. + +10:7. Samaria hath made her king to pass as froth upon the face of the +water. + +10:8. And the high places of the idol, the sin of Israel shall be +destroyed: the bur and the thistle shall grow up over their altars: and +they shall say to the mountains Cover us; and to the hills: Fall upon +us. + +10:9. From the days of Gabaa, Israel hath sinned, there they stood: the +battle in Gabaa against the children of iniquity shall not overtake +them. + +10:10. According to my desire, I will chastise them: and the nations +shall be gathered together against them, when they shall be chastised +for their two iniquities. + +Their two iniquities. . .Their two calves. + +10:11. Ephraim is a heifer taught to love to tread out corn, but I +passed over upon the beauty of her neck: I will ride upon Ephraim, Juda +shall plough, Jacob shall break the furrows for himself. + +10:12. Sow for yourselves in justice, and reap in the mouth of mercy, +break up your fallow ground: but the time to seek the Lord is, when he +shall come that shall teach you justice. + +10:13. You have ploughed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have +eaten the fruit of lying: because thou hast trusted in thy ways, in the +multitude of thy strong ones. + +10:14. A tumult shall arise among thy people: and all thy fortresses +shall be destroyed as Salmana was destroyed, by the house of him that +judged Baal in the day of battle, the mother being dashed in pieces +upon her children. + +As Salmana, king of the Midianites, was destroyed by the house, that +is, by the followers of him that judged Baal; that is, of Gideon, who +threw down the altar of Baal; and was therefore called Jerubaal. See +Judges 6 and 8. + +10:15. So hath Bethel done to you, because of the evil of your +iniquities. + + + +Osee Chapter 11 + + +God proceeds in threatening Israel for their ingratitude: yet he will +not utterly destroy them. + +11:1. As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. +Because Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of +Egypt. + +I called my son. . .Viz., Israel. But as the calling of Israel out of +Egypt, was a figure of the calling of Christ from thence; therefore +this text is also applicable to Christ, as we learn from Matthew 2.15. + +11:2. As they called them, they went away from before their face: they +offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols. + +They called. . .Viz., Moses and Aaron called; but they went away after +other gods and would not hear. + +11:3. And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my +arms: and they knew not that I healed them. + +11:4. I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: +and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: +and I put his meat to him that he might eat. + +11:5. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian +shall be his king: because they would not be converted. + +11:6. The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his +chosen men, and shall devour their heads. + +11:7. And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put +upon them together, which shall not be taken off. + +11:8. How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O +Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my +heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up. + +Adama, etc. . .Adama and Seboim were two cities in the neighborhood of +Sodom: and underwent the like destruction. + +11:9. I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return +to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the +midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city. + +11:10. They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because +he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear. + +11:11. And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a +dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their +own houses, saith the Lord. + +11:12. Ephraim hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of +Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is +faithful with the saints. + + + +Osee Chapter 12 + + +Israel is reproved for sin. God's favours to them. + +12:1. Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all +the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a +covenant with the Assyrians, and carried oil into Egypt. + +12:2. Therefore there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a +visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and +according to his devices. + +12:3. In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had +success with an angel. + +12:4. And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, +and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he +spoke with us. + +12:5. Even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial. + +12:6. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope +in thy God always. + +12:7. He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he +hath loved oppression. + +12:8. And Ephraim said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an +idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have +committed. + +12:9. And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet +cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the feast. + +12:10. And I have spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied +visions, and I have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets. + +12:11. If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering +sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the +furrows of the field. + +If Galaad be an idol, etc. . .That is, if Galaad with all its idols and +sacrifices be like a mere idol itself, being brought to nothing by +Theglathphalasar: how vain is it to expect, that the idols worshipped +in Galgal shall be of any service to the tribes that remain. + +12:12. Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a +wife, and was a keeper for a wife. + +12:13. But the Lord by a prophet brought Israel out of Egypt: and he +was preserved by a prophet. + +12:14. Ephraim hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his +blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto +him. + + + +Osee Chapter 13 + + +The judgments of God upon Israel for their sins. Christ shall one day +redeem them. + +13:1. When Ephraim spoke, a horror seized Israel: and he sinned in +Baal, and died. + +13:2. And now they have sinned more and more: and they have made to +themselves a molten thing of their silver as the likeness of idols: the +whole is the work of craftsmen: to these that say: Sacrifice men, ye +that adore calves. + +13:3. Therefore they shall be as a morning cloud, and as the early dew +that passeth away, as the dust that is driven with a whirlwind out of +the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. + +13:4. But I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt: and thou shalt +know no God but me, and there is no saviour beside me. + +13:5. I knew thee in the desert, in the land of the wilderness. + +13:6. According to their pastures they were filled, and were made full: +and they lifted up their heart, and have forgotten me. + +13:7. And I will be to them as a lioness, as a leopard in the way of +the Assyrians. + +13:8. I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I +will rend the inner parts of their liver: and I will devour them there +as a lion, the beast of the field shall tear them. + +13:9. Destruction is thy own, O Israel: thy help is only in me. + +13:10. Where is thy king? now especially let him save thee in all thy +cities: and thy judges, of whom thou saidst: Give me kings and princes. + +13:11. I will give thee a king in my wrath, and will take him away in +my indignation. + +13:12. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is hidden. + +13:13. The sorrows of a woman in labour shall come upon him, he is an +unwise son: for now he shall not stand in the breach of the children. + +13:14. I will deliver them out of the hand of death. I will redeem them +from death: O death, I will be thy death; O hell, I will be thy bite: +comfort is hidden from my eyes. + +13:15. Because he shall make a separation between brothers: the Lord +will bring a burning wind that shall rise from the desert, and it shall +dry up his springs, and shall make his fountain desolate, and he shall +carry off the treasure of every desirable vessel. + + + +Osee Chapter 14 + + +Samaria shall be destroyed. An exhortation to repentance: God's favour +through Christ to the penitent. + +14:1. Let Samaria perish, because she hath stirred up her God to +bitterness: let them perish by the sword, let their little ones be +dashed, and let the women with child be ripped up. + +Perish, because she hath stirred up her God to bitterness. . .It is not +a curse or imprecation, but a prophecy of what should come to pass. + +14:2. Return, O Israel, to the Lord thy God: for thou hast fallen down +by thy iniquity. + +14:3. Take with you words, and return to the Lord, and say to him: Take +away all iniquity, and receive the good: and we will render the calves +of our lips. + +14:4. Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses, neither +will we say any more: The works of our hands are our gods: for thou +wilt have mercy on the fatherless that is in thee. + +14:5. I will heal their breaches, I will love them freely: for my wrath +is turned away from them. + +14:6. I will be as the dew, Israel shall spring as the lily, and his +root shall shoot forth as that of Libanus. + +14:7. His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive +tree: and his smell as that of Libanus. + +14:8. They shall be converted that sit under his shadow: they shall +live upon wheat, and they shall blossom as a vine: his memorial shall +be as the wine of Libanus. + +14:9. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I will +hear him, and I will make him flourish like a green fir tree: from me +is thy fruit found. + +14:10. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and +he shall know these things? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the +just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall in them. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF JOEL + + + +JOEL, whose name, according to ST. JEROME, signifies THE LORD GOD: or, +as others say, THE COMING DOWN OF GOD: prophesied about the same time +in the kingdom of Judea, as OSEE did in the kingdom of Israel. He +foretells under figure the great evils that were coming upon the people +for their sins: earnestly exhorts them to repentance: and comforts them +with the promise of a TEACHER OF JUSTICE, viz., CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, +and of the coming down of his holy SPIRIT. + + + +Joel Chapter 1 + + +The prophet describes the judgments that shall fall upon the people, +and invites them to fasting and prayer. + +1:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Joel, the son of Phatuel. + +1:2. Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the +land: did this ever happen in your days, or in the days of your +fathers? + +1:3. Tell ye of this to your children, and let your children tell their +children, and their children to another generation. + +1:4. That which the palmerworm hath left, the locust hath eaten: and +that which the locust hath left, the bruchus hath eaten: and that which +the bruchus hath left, the mildew hath destroyed. + +That which the palmerworm hath left, etc. . .Some understand this +literally of the desolation of the land by these insects: others +understand it of the different invasions of the Chaldeans, or other +enemies. + +1:5. Awake, ye that are drunk, and weep, and mourn all ye that take +delight; in drinking sweet wine: for it is cut off from your mouth. + +1:6. For a nation come up upon my land, strong, and without number: his +teeth are like the teeth of a lion: and his cheek teeth as of a lion's +whelp. + +1:7. He hath laid my vineyard waste, and hath pilled off the bark of my +fig tree: he hath stripped it bare, and cast it away; the branches +thereof are made white. + +1:8. Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her +youth. + +1:9. Sacrifice and libation is cut off from the house of the Lord: the +priests, the Lord's ministers, have mourned: + +1:10. The country is destroyed, the ground hath mourned: for the corn +is wasted, the wine is confounded, the oil hath languished. + +1:11. The husbandmen are ashamed, the vinedressers have howled for the +wheat, and for the barley, because the harvest of the field is +perished. + +1:12. The vineyard is confounded, and the fig tree hath languished: the +pomegranate tree, and the palm tree, and the apple tree, and all the +trees of the field are withered: because joy is withdrawn from the +children of men. + +1:13. Gird yourselves, and lament, O ye priests, howl, ye ministers of +the altars: go in, lie in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: because +sacrifice and libation is cut off from the house of your God. + +1:14. Sanctify ye a fast, call an assembly, gather together the +ancients, all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God: +and cry ye to the Lord: + +1:15. Ah, ah, ah, for the day: because the day of the Lord is at hand, +and it shall come like destruction from the mighty. + +1:16. Is not your food cut off before your eyes, joy and gladness from +the house of our God? + +1:17. The beasts have rotted in their dung, the barns are destroyed, +the storehouses are broken down: because the corn is confounded. + +1:18. Why did the beasts groan, why did the herds of cattle low? +because there is no pasture for them: yea, and the flocks of sheep are +perished. + +1:19. To thee, O Lord, will I cry: because fire hath devoured the +beautiful places of the wilderness: and the flame hath burnt all the +trees of the country. + +1:20. Yea, and the beasts of the field have looked up to thee, as a +garden bed that thirsteth after rain, for the springs of waters are +dried up, and fire hath devoured the beautiful places of the +wilderness. + + + +Joel Chapter 2 + + +2:1. Blow ye the trumpet in Sion, sound an alarm in my holy mountain, +let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: because the day of the +Lord cometh, because it is nigh at hand. + +The day of the Lord. . .That is, the time when he will execute justice +upon sinners. + +2:2. A day of darkness, and of gloominess, a day of clouds and +whirlwinds: a numerous and strong people as the morning spread upon the +mountains: the like to it hath not been from the beginning, nor shall +be after it, even to the years of generation and generation. + +A numerous and strong people. . .The Assyrians, or Chaldeans. Others +understand all this of an army of locusts laying waste the land. + +2:3. Before the face thereof a devouring fire, and behind it a burning +flame: the land is like a garden of pleasure before it, and behind it a +desolate wilderness, neither is there any one that can escape it. + +2:4. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and they +shall run like horsemen. + +2:5. They shall leap like the noise of chariots upon the tops of +mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as +a strong people prepared to battle. + +2:6. At their presence the people shall be in grievous pains: all faces +shall be made like a kettle. + +2:7. They shall run like valiant men: like men of war they shall scale +the wall: the men shall march every one on his way, and they shall not +turn aside from their ranks. + +2:8. No one shall press upon his brother: they shall walk every one in +his path: yea, and they shall fall through the windows, and shall take +no harm. + +2:9. They shall enter into the city: they shall run upon the wall, they +shall climb up the houses, they shall come in at the windows, as a +thief. + +2:10. At their presence the earth hath trembled, the heavens are moved: +the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn their +shining. + +2:11. And the Lord hath uttered his voice before the face of his army: +for his armies are exceedingly great, for they are strong, and execute +his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible: and who +can stand it? + +2:12. Now, therefore, saith the Lord. Be converted to me with all your +heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and mourning. + +2:13. And rend your hearts, and not your garments and turn to the Lord +your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, +and ready to repent of the evil. + +2:14. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing +behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? + +2:15. Blow the trumpet in Sion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn +assembly, + +2:16. Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the +ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the +breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of +her bridal chamber. + +2:17. Between the porch and the altar the priests, the Lord's +ministers, shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: +and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathens should rule +over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? + +2:18. The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his +people. + +2:19. And the Lord answered, and said to his people: Behold I will send +you corn, and wine, and oil, and you shall be filled with them: and I +will no more make you a reproach among the nations. + +2:20. And I will remove far off from you the northern enemy: and I will +drive him into a land unpassable, and desert, with his face towards the +east sea, and his hinder part towards the utmost sea: and his stench +shall ascend, and his rottenness shall go up, because he hath done +proudly. + +The northern enemy. . .Some understand this of Holofernes and his army: +others, of the locusts. + +2:21. Fear not, O land, be glad, and rejoice: for the Lord hath done +great things. + +2:22. Fear not, ye beasts of the fields: for the beautiful places of +the wilderness are sprung, for the tree hath brought forth its fruit, +the fig tree, and the vine have yielded their strength. + +2:23. And you, O children of Sion, rejoice, and be joyful in the Lord +your God: because he hath given you a teacher of justice, and he will +make the early and the latter rain to come down to you as in the +beginning. + +2:24. And the floors shall be filled with wheat, and the presses shall +overflow with wine, and oil. + +2:25. And I will restore to you the years which the locust, and the +bruchus, and the mildew, and the palmerworm hath eaten; my great host +which I sent upon you. + +2:26. And you shall eat in plenty, and shall be filled and you shall +praise the name of the Lord your God; who hath done wonders with you, +and my people shall not be confounded for ever. + +2:27. And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: and I am the +Lord your God, and there is none besides: and my people shall not be +confounded forever. + +2:28. And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my +spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: +your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. + +2:29. Moreover, upon my servants and handmaids in those days I will +pour forth my spirit. + +2:30. And I will shew wonders in heaven; and in earth, blood, and fire, +and vapour of smoke. + +2:31. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood: +before the great and dreadful day of the Lord doth come. + +2:32. And it shall come to pass, that every one that shall call upon +the name of the Lord, shall be saved: for in Mount Sion, and in +Jerusalem shall be salvation, as the Lord hath said, and in the residue +whom the Lord shall call. + + + +Joel Chapter 3 + + +3:1. For behold in those days, and in that time when I shall bring back +the captivity of Juda, and Jerusalem: + +3:2. I will gather together all nations and will bring them down into +the valley of Josaphat: and I will plead with them there for my people, +and for my inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the +nations, and have parted my land. + +3:3. And they have cast lots upon my people: and the boy they have put +in the stews, and the girl they have sold for wine, that they might +drink. + +3:4. But what have you to do with me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the +coast of the Philistines? will you revenge yourselves on me? and if you +revenge yourselves on me, I will very soon return you a recompense upon +your own head. + +3:5. For you have taken away my silver, and my gold: and my desirable, +and most beautiful things you have carried into your temples. + +3:6. And the children of Juda, and the children of Jerusalem, you have +sold to the children of the Greeks, that you might remove them far off +from their own country. + +3:7. Behold, I will raise them up out of the place wherein you have +sold them: and I will return your recompense upon your own heads. + +3:8. And I will sell your sons, and your daughters, by the hands of the +children of Juda, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far +off, for the Lord hath spoken it. + +3:9. Proclaim ye this among the nations: Prepare war, raise up the +strong: let them come, let all the men of war come up. + +3:10. Cut your ploughshares into swords, and your spades into spears. +Let the weak say: I am strong. + +3:11. Break forth, and come, all ye nations from round about, and +gather yourselves together: there will the Lord cause all thy strong +ones to fall down. + +3:12. Let them arise, and let the nations come up into the valley of +Josaphat: for there I will sit to judge all nations round about. + +3:13. Put ye in the sickles, for the harvest is ripe: come and go down, +for the press is full, the fats run over: for their wickedness is +multiplied. + +3:14. Nations, nations in the valley of destruction: for the day of the +Lord is near in the valley of destruction. + +3:15. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars have withdrawn +their shining. + +3:16. And the Lord shall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from +Jerusalem: and the heavens and the earth shall be moved, and the Lord +shall be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of +Israel. + +3:17. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Sion, +my holy mountain: and Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall pass +through it no more. + +3:18. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall +drop down sweetness, aud the hills shall flow with milk: and waters +shall flow through all the rivers of Juda: and a fountain shall come +forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the torrent of thorns. + +A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, etc. . .Viz., the +fountain of grace in the church militant, and of glory in the church +triumphant: which shall water the torrent or valley of thorns, that is, +the souls that before, like barren ground brought forth nothing but +thorns; or that were afflicted with the thorns of crosses and +tribulations. + +3:19. Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a wilderness destroyed: +because they have done unjustly against the children of Juda, and have +shed innocent blood in their land. + +3:20. And Judea shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to +generation and generation. + +Judea--and Jerusalem. . .That is, the spiritual Jerusalem, viz., the +church of Christ. + +3:21. And I will cleanse their blood, which I had not cleansed: and the +Lord will dwell in Sion. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF AMOS + + + +AMOS prophesied in Israel about the same time as OSEE: and was called +from following the cattle to denounce GOD'S judgments to the people of +Israel, and the neighbouring nations, for their repeated crimes, in +which they continued without repentance. + + + +Amos Chapter 1 + + +The prophet threatens Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon with the +judgments of God, for their obstinacy in sin. + +1:1. The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Thecua: which he +saw concerning Israel in the days of Ozias king of Juda, and in the +days of Jeroboam the son of Joas king of Israel two years before the +earthquake. + +The earthquake. . .Many understand this of a great earthquake, which +they say was felt at the time that king Ozias attempted to offer +incense in the temple. But the best chronologists prove that the +earthquake here spoken of must have been before that time: because +Jeroboam the second, under whom Amos prophesied, was dead long before +that attempt of Ozias. + +1:2. And he said: The Lord will roar from Sion, and utter his voice +from Jerusalem: and the beautiful places of the shepherds have mourned, +and the top of Carmel is withered. + +1:3. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Damascus, and for four I +will not convert it: because they have thrashed Galaad with iron wains. + +For three crimes--and for four. . .That is, for their many unrepented of +crimes.--Ibid. I will not convert it. . .That is, I will not spare them, +nor turn away the punishments I design to inflict upon them. + +1:4. And I will send a fire into the house of Azael, and it shall +devour the houses of Benadad. + +1:5. And I will break the bar of Damascus: and I will cut off the +inhabitants from the plain of the idol, and him that holdeth the +sceptre from the house of pleasure: and the people of Syria shall be +carried away to Cyrene, saith the Lord. + +1:6. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Gaza, and for four I will +not convert it: because they have carried away a perfect captivity to +shut them up in Edom. + +1:7. And I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour +the houses thereof. + +1:8. And I will cut off the inhabitant from Azotus, and him that +holdeth the sceptre from Ascalon: and I will turn my hand against +Accaron, and the rest of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord +God. + +1:9. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Tyre, and for four I will +not convert it: because they have shut up an entire captivity in Edom, +and have not remembered the covenant of brethren. + +1:10. And I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour +the houses thereof. + +1:11. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Edom, and for four I +will not convert him: because he hath pursued his brother with the +sword, and hath carried on his fury, and hath kept his wrath to the +end. + +1:12. I will send a fire into Theman: and it shall devour the houses of +Bosra. + +1:13. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of the children of Ammon, +and for four I will not convert him: because he hath ripped up the +women with child of Galaad to enlarge his border. + +1:14. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabba: and it shall +devour the houses thereof with shouting in the day of battle, and with +a whirlwind in the day of trouble. + +1:15. And Melchom shall go into captivity, both he, and his princes +together, saith the Lord. + +Melchom. . .The god or idol of the Ammonites, otherwise called Moloch, +and Melech: which in Hebrew signifies a king, and Melchom their king. + + + +Amos Chapter 2 + + +The judgments with which God threatens Moab, Juda, and Israel for their +sins, and their ingratitude. + +2:1. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Moab, and for four I will +not convert him: because he hath burnt the bones of the king of Edom +even to ashes. + +2:2. And I will send a fire into Moab, and it shall devour the houses +of Carioth: and Moab shall die with a noise, with the sound of the +trumpet: + +2:3. And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay +all his princes with him, saith the Lord. + +2:4. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Juda, and for four I will +not convert him: because he hath cast away the law of the Lord, and +hath not kept his commandments: for their idols have caused them to +err, after which their fathers have walked. + +2:5. And I will send a fire into Juda, and it shall devour the houses +of Jerusalem. + +2:6. Thus saith the Lord: For three crimes of Israel, and for four I +will not convert him: because he hath sold the just man for silver, and +the poor man for a pair of shoes. + +2:7. They bruise the heads of the poor upon the dust of the earth, and +turn aside the way of the humble: and the son and his father have gone +to the same young woman, to profane my holy name. + +2:8. And they sat down upon garments laid to pledge by every altar: and +drank the wine of the condemned in the house of their God. + +2:9. Yet I cast out the Amorrhite before their face: whose height was +like the height of cedars, and who was strong as an oak: and I +destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots beneath. + +2:10. It is I that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and I led +you forty years through the wilderness, that you might possess the land +of the Amorrhite. + +2:11. And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men +for Nazarites. Is it not so, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord? + +2:12. And you will present wine to the Nazarites: and command the +prophets, saying: Prophesy not. + +2:13. Behold, I will screak under you as a wain screaketh that is laden +with hay. + +I will screak. . .Unable to bear any longer the enormous load of your +sins, etc. The spirit of God, as St. Jerome takes notice, accommodates +himself to the education of the prophet and inspires him with +comparisons taken from country affairs. + +2:14. And flight shall perish from the swift, and the valiant shall not +possess his strength, neither shall the strong save his life. + +2:15. And he that holdeth the bow shall not stand, and the swift of +foot shall not escape, neither shall the rider of the horse save his +life. + +2:16. And the stout of heart among the valiant shall flee away naked in +that day, saith the Lord. + + + +Amos Chapter 3 + + +The evils that shall fall upon Israel for their sins. + +3:1. Hear the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning you, O ye +children of Israel: concerning the whole family that I brought up out +of the land of Egypt, saying: + +3:2. You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore +will I visit upon you all your iniquities. + +Visit upon. . .That is, punish. + +3:3. Shall two walk together except they be agreed? + +3:4. Will a lion roar in the forest, if he have no prey? will the +lion's whelp cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? + +3:5. Will the bird fall into the snare upon the earth, if there be no +fowler? Shall the snare be taken up from the earth, before it hath +taken somewhat? + +3:6. Shall the trumpet sound in a city, and the people not be afraid? +Shall there be evil in a city, which the Lord hath not done? + +Evil in a city. . .He speaks of the evil of punishments of war, famine, +pestilence, desolation, etc., but not of the evil of sin, of which God +is not the author. + +3:7. For the Lord God doth nothing without revealing his secret to his +servants the prophets. + +3:8. The lion shall roar, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, +who shall not prophesy? + +3:9. Publish it in the houses of Azotus, and in the houses of the land +of Egypt, and say: Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, +and behold the many follies in the midst thereof, and them that suffer +oppression in the inner rooms thereof. + +3:10. And they have not known to do the right thing, saith the Lord, +storing up iniquity, and robberies in their houses. + +3:11. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: The land shall be in +tribulation, and shall be compassed about: and thy strength shall be +taken away from thee, and thy houses shall be spoiled. + +3:12. Thus saith the Lord: As if a shepherd should get out of the +lion's mouth two legs, or the tip of the ear: so shall the children of +Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria, in a place of a bed, and in +the couch of Damascus. + +3:13. Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord the +God of hosts: + +3:14. That in the day when I shall begin to visit the transgressions of +Israel, I will visit upon him, and upon the altars of Bethel: and the +horns of the altars shall be cut off, and shall fall to the ground. + +3:15. And I will strike the winter house with the summer house: and the +houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall be destroyed, saith +the Lord. + + + +Amos Chapter 4 + + +The Israelites are reproved for their oppressing the poor, for their +idolatry, and their incorrigibleness. + +4:1. Hear this word, ye fat kine that are in the mountains of Samaria: +you that oppress the needy, and crush the poor: that say to your +masters: Bring, and we will drink. + +Fat kine. . .He means the great ones that lived in plenty and wealth. + +4:2. The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that lo, the days shall +come upon you, when they shall lift you up on pikes, and what shall +remain of you in boiling pots. + +4:3. And you shall go out at the breaches one over against the other, +and you shall be cast forth into Armon, saith the Lord. + +Armon. . .A foreign country; some understand it of Armenia. + +4:4. Come ye to Bethel, and do wickedly: to Galgal, and multiply +transgressions: and bring in the morning your victims, your tithes in +three days. + +4:5. And offer a sacrifice of praise with leaven: and call free +offerings, and proclaim it: for so you would do, O children of Israel, +saith the Lord God. + +4:6. Whereupon I also have given you dulness of teeth in all your +cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet you have not returned +to me, saith the Lord. + +4:7. I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet +three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon on city, and +caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon: and +the piece whereupon I rained not, withered. + +4:8. And two and three cities went to one city to drink water, and were +not filled: yet you returned not to me, saith the Lord. + +4:9. I struck you with a burning wind, and with mildew, the palmerworm +hath eaten up your many gardens, and your vineyards: your olive groves, +and fig groves: yet you returned not to me, saith the Lord. + +4:10. I sent death upon you in the way of Egypt, I slew your young men +with the sword, even to the captivity of your horses: and I made the +stench of your camp to come up into your nostrils: yet you returned not +to me, saith the Lord. + +4:11. I destroyed some of you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrha, and +you were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet you returned +not to me, saith the Lord. + +4:12. Therefore I will do these things to thee, O Israel: and after I +shall have done these things to thee, be prepared to meet thy God, O +Israel. + +4:13. For behold he that formeth the mountains and createth the wind, +and declareth his word to man, he that maketh the morning mist, and +walketh upon the high places of the earth: the Lord the God of hosts is +his name. + + + +Amos Chapter 5 + + +A lamentation for Israel: an exhortation to return to God. + +5:1. Hear ye this word, which I take up concerning you for a +lamentation. The house of Israel is fallen, and it shall rise no more. + +5:2. The virgin of Israel is cast down upon her land, there is none to +raise her up. + +5:3. For thus saith the Lord God: The city, out of which came forth a +thousand, there shall be left in it a hundred: and out of which there +came a hundred, there shall be left in it ten, in the house of Israel. + +5:4. For thus saith the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek ye me, and +you shall live. + +5:5. But seek not Bethel, and go not into Galgal, neither shall you +pass over to Bersabee: for Galgal shall go into captivity, and Bethel +shall be unprofitable. + +Bethel,--Galgal,--Bersabee. . .The places where they worshipped their +idols. + +5:6. Seek ye the Lord, and live: lest the house of Joseph be burnt with +fire, and it shall devour, and there shall be none to quench Bethel. + +5:7. You that turn judgment into wormwood, and forsake justice in the +land, + +5:8. Seek him that maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and that turneth +darkness into morning, and that changeth day into night: that calleth +the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: +The Lord is his name. + +Arcturus and Orion. . .Arcturus is a bright star in the north: Orion a +beautiful constellation in the south. + +5:9. He that with a smile bringeth destruction upon the strong, and +waste upon the mighty. + +With a smile. . .That is, with all ease, and without making any effort. + +5:10. They have hated him that rebuketh in the gate: and have abhorred +him that speaketh perfectly. + +5:11. Therefore because you robbed the poor, and took the choice prey +from him: you shall build houses with square stone, and shall not dwell +in them: you shall plant most delightful vineyards, and shall not drink +the wine of them. + +5:12. Because I know your manifold crimes, and your grievous sins: +enemies of the just, taking bribes, and oppressing the poor in the +gate. + +5:13. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence at that time, for it is +an evil time. + +5:14. Seek ye good, and not evil, that you may live: and the Lord the +God of hosts will be with you, as you have said. + +5:15. Hate evil, and love good, and establish judgment in the gate: it +may be the Lord the God of hosts may have mercy on the remnant of +Joseph. + +5:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord the God of hosts the sovereign +Lord: In every street there shall be wailing: and in all places that +are without, they shall say: Alas, alas! and they shall call the +husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentation to +lament. + +5:17. And in all vineyards there shall be wailing: because I will pass +through in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. + +5:18. Woe to them that desire the day of the Lord: to what end is it +for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. + +5:19. As if a man should flee from the face of a lion, and a bear +should meet him: or enter into the house, and lean with his hand upon +the wall, and a serpent should bite him. + +5:20. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light: and +obscurity, and no brightness in it? + +5:21. I hate, and have rejected your festivities: and I will not +receive the odour of your assemblies. + +5:22. And if you offer me holocausts, and your gifts, I will not +receive them: neither will I regard the vows of your fat beasts. + +5:23. Take away from me the tumult of thy songs: and I will not hear +the canticles of thy harp. + +5:24. But judgment shall be revealed as water, and justice as a mighty +torrent. + +5:25. Did you offer victims and sacrifices to me in the desert for +forty years, O house of Israel? + +Did you offer, etc. . .Except the sacrifices that were offered at the +first, in the dedication of the tabernacle, the Israelites offered no +sacrifices in the desert. + +5:26.But you carried a tabernacle for your Moloch, and the image of +your idols, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves. + +A tabernacle, etc. . .All this alludes to the idolatry which they +committed, when they were drawn away by the daughters of Moab to the +worship of their gods. Num. 25. + +5:27. And I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith +the Lord, the God of hosts is his name. + + + +Amos Chapter 6 + + +The desolation of Israel for their pride and luxury. + +6:1. Woe to you that are wealthy in Sion, and to you that have +confidence in the mountain of Samaria: ye great men, heads of the +people, that go in with state into the house of Israel. + +6:2. Pass ye over to Chalane, and see, and go from thence into Emath +the great: and go down into Geth of the Philistines, and to all the +best kingdoms of these: if their border be larger than your border. + +6:3. You that are separated unto the evil day: and that approach to the +throne of iniquity; + +6:4. You that sleep upon beds of ivory, and are wanton on your couches: +that eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of +the herd; + +6:5. You that sing to the sound of the psaltery: they have thought +themselves to have instruments of music like David; + +6:6. That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the best +ointments: and they are not concerned for the affliction of Joseph. + +6:7. Wherefore now they shall go captive at the head of them that go +into captivity: and the faction of the luxurious ones shall be taken +away. + +6:8. The Lord God hath sworn by his own soul, saith the Lord the God of +hosts: I detest the pride of Jacob, and I hate his houses, and I will +deliver up the city with the inhabitants thereof. + +6:9. And if there remain ten men in one house, they also shall die. + +6:10. And a man's kinsman shall take him up, and shall burn him, that +he may carry the bones out of the house; and he shall say to him that +is in the inner rooms of the house: Is there yet any with thee? + +6:11. And he shall answer: There is an end. And he shall say to him: +Hold thy peace, and mention not the name of the Lord. + +6:12. For behold the Lord hath commanded, and he will strike the +greater house with breaches, and the lesser house with clefts. + +6:13. Can horses run upon the rocks, or can any one plough with +buffles? for you have turned judgment into bitterness, and the fruit of +justice into wormwood. + +6:14. You that rejoice in a thing of nought: you that say: Have we not +taken unto us horns by our own strength? + +6:15. But behold, I will raise up a nation against you, O house of +Israel, saith the Lord the God of hosts; and they shall destroy you +from the entrance of Emath, even to the torrent of the desert. + + + +Amos Chapter 7 + + +The prophet sees, in three visions, evils coming upon Israel: he is +accused of treason by the false priest of Bethel. + +7:1. These things the Lord God shewed to me: and behold the locust was +formed in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter rain, and lo, +it was the latter rain after the king's mowing. + +The locust, etc. . .These judgments by locusts and fire, which, by the +prophet's intercession, were moderated, signify the former invasions of +the Assyrians under Phul and Theglathphalasar, before the utter +desolation of Israel by Salmanasar. + +7:2. And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the +grass of the land, I said: O Lord God, be merciful, I beseech thee: who +shall raise up Jacob, for he is very little? + +7:3. The Lord had pity upon this: It shall not be, said the Lord. + +7:4. These things the Lord God shewed to me: and behold the Lord called +for judgment unto fire, and it devoured the great deep, and ate up a +part at the same time. + +7:5. And I said: O Lord God, cease, I beseech thee, who shall raise up +Jacob, for he is a little one? + +7:6. The Lord had pity upon this. Yea this also shall not be, said the +Lord God. + +7:7. These things the Lord shewed to me: and behold the Lord was +standing upon a plastered wall, and in his hand a mason's trowel. + +7:8. And the Lord said to me: What seest thou, Amos? And I said: A +mason's trowel. And the Lord said: Behold, I will lay down the trowel +in the midst of my people Israel. I will plaster them over no more. + +7:9. And the high places of the idol shall be thrown down, and the +sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste: and I will rise up against +the house of Jeroboam with the sword. + +7:10. And Amasias the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, +saying: Amos hath rebelled against thee in the midst of the house of +Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words. + +7:11. For thus saith Amos: Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel +shall be carried away captive out of their own land. + +Jeroboam shall die by the sword. . .The prophet did not say this; but +that the Lord would rise up against the house of Jeroboam with the +sword: which was verified, when Zacharias, the son and successor of +Jeroboam, was slain by the sword. 4 Kings 15.10. + +7:12. And Amasias said to Amos: Thou seer, go, flee away into the land +of Juda: and eat bread there, and prophesy there. + +7:13. But prophesy not again any more in Bethel: because it is the +king's sanctuary, and it is the house of the kingdom. + +7:14. And Amos answered and said to Amasias: I am not a prophet, nor am +I the son of a prophet: but I am a herdsman plucking wild figs. + +I am not a prophet. . .That is, I am not a prophet by education: nor is +prophesying my calling or profession: but I am a herdsman, whom God was +pleased to send hither to prophesy to Israel. + +7:15. And the Lord took me when I followed the flock, and the Lord said +to me: Go, prophesy to my people Israel. + +7:16. And now hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, thou shalt +not prophesy against Israel, and thou shalt not drop thy word upon the +house of the idol. + +The house of the idol. . .Viz., of the calf worshipped in Bethel. + +7:17. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Thy wife shall play the harlot in +the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and +thy land shall be measured by a line: and thou shalt die in a polluted +land, and Israel shall go into captivity out of their land. + + + +Amos Chapter 8 + + +Under the figure of a hook, which bringeth down the fruit, the +approaching desolation of Israel is foreshewed for their avarice and +injustices. + +8:1. These things the Lord shewed to me: and behold a hook to draw down +the fruit. + +8:2. And he said: What seest thou, Amos? And I said: A hook to draw +down fruit. And the Lord said to me: The end is come upon my people +Israel: I will not again pass by them any more. + +8:3. And the hinges of the temple shall screak in that day, saith the +Lord God: many shall die: silence shall be cast in every place. + +8:4. Hear this, you that crush the poor, and make the needy of the land +to fail, + +8:5. Saying: When will the month be over, and we shall sell our wares: +and the sabbath, and we shall open the corn: that we may lessen the +measure, and increase the sicle, and may convey in deceitful balances, + +8:6. That we may possess the needy for money, and the poor for a pair +of shoes, and may sell the refuse of the corn? + +8:7. The Lord hath sworn against the pride of Jacob: surely I will +never forget all their works. + +8:8. Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that +dwelleth therein: and rise up altogether as a river, and be cast out, +and run down as the river of Egypt? + +8:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that +the sun shall go down at midday, and I will make the earth dark in the +day of light: + +8:10. And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs +into lamentation: and I will bring up sackcloth upon every back of +yours, and baldness upon every head: and I will make it as the mourning +of an only son, and the latter end thereof as a bitter day. + +8:11. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send forth a +famine into the land: not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but +of hearing the word of the Lord. + +8:12. And they shall move from sea to sea, and from the north to the +east: they shall go about seeking the word of the Lord, and shall not +find it. + +8:13. In that day the fair virgins, and the young men shall faint for +thirst. + +8:14. They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say: Thy God, O Dan, +liveth: and the way of Bersabee liveth: and they shall fall, and shall +rise no more. + + + +Amos Chapter 9 + + +The certainty of the desolation of Israel: the restoring of the +tabernacle of David, and the conversion of the Gentiles to the church; +which shall flourish for ever. + +9:1. I saw the Lord standing upon the altar, and he said: Strike the +hinges, and let the lintels be shook: for there is covetousness in the +head of them all, and I will slay the last of them with the sword: +there shall be no flight for them: they shall flee, and he that shall +flee of them shall not be delivered. + +9:2. Though they go down even to hell, thence shall my hand bring them +out: and though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down. + +9:3. And though they be hid in the top of Carmel, I will search and +take them away from thence: and though they hide themselves from my +eyes in the depth of the sea, there will I command the serpent and he +shall bite them. + +9:4. And if they go into captivity before their enemies, there will I +command the sword, and it shall kill them. And I will set my eyes upon +them for evil, and not for good. + +9:5. And the Lord the God of hosts is he who toucheth the earth, and it +shall melt: and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise +up as a river, and shall run down as the river of Egypt. + +9:6. He that buildeth his ascension in heaven, and hath founded his +bundle upon the earth: who calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth +them out upon the face of the earth, the Lord is his name. + +His ascension. . .That is, his high throne.--Ibid. His bundle. . .That +is, his church bound up together by the bands of one faith and communion. + +9:7. Are not you as the children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children +of Israel, saith the Lord? did not I bring up Israel, out of the land +of Egypt: and the Philistines out of Cappadocia, and the Syrians out of +Cyrene? + +As the children of the Ethiopians. . .That is, as black as they, by your +iniquities. + +9:8. Behold the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I +will destroy it from the face of the earth: but yet I will not utterly +destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. + +9:9. For behold I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel +among all nations, as corn is sifted in a sieve: and there shall not a +little stone fall to the ground. + +9:10. All the sinners of my people shall fall by the sword: who say: +The evils shall not approach, and shall not come upon us. + +9:11. In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, that is +fallen: and I will close up the breaches of the walls thereof, and +repair what was fallen: and I will rebuild it as in the days of old. + +9:12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all nations, +because my name is invoked upon them: saith the Lord that doth these +things. + +9:13. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when the ploughman shall +overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed: +and the mountains shall drop sweetness, and every hill shall be tilled. + +Shall overtake, etc. . .By this is meant the great abundance of +spiritual blessings; which, as it were, by a constant succession, shall +enrich the church of Christ. + +9:14. And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel: and they +shall build the abandoned cities, and inhabit them: and they shall +plant vineyards, and drink the wine of them: and shall make gardens, +and eat the fruits of them. And I will plant them upon their own land: +and I will no more pluck them out of their land which I have given +them, saith the Lord thy God. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF ABDIAS + + + +ABDIAS, whose name is interpreted THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, is believed +to have prophesied about the same time as OSEE, JOEL, and AMOS: though +some of the Hebrews, who believe him to be the same with ACHAB's +steward, make him much more ancient. His prophecy is the shortest of +any in number of words, but yields to none, says ST. JEROME, in the +sublimity of mysteries. It contains but one chapter. + + + +Abdias Chapter 1 + + +The destruction of Edom for their pride: and the wrongs they did to +Jacob: the salvation and victory of Israel. + +1:1. The vision of Abdias. Thus saith the Lord God to Edom: We have +heard a rumour from the Lord, and he hath sent an ambassador to the +nations: Arise, and let us rise up to battle against him. + +1:2. Behold I have made thee small among the nations: thou art +exceeding contemptible. + +1:3. The pride of thy heart hath lifted thee up, who dwellest in the +clefts of the rocks, and settest up thy throne on high: who sayest in +thy heart: Who shall bring me down to the ground? + +1:4. Though thou be exalted as an eagle, and though thou set thy nest +among the stars: thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord. + +1:5. If thieves had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how wouldst +thou have held thy peace? would they not have stolen till they had +enough? if the grapegatherers had come in to thee, would they not have +left thee at the least a cluster? + +1:6. How have they searched Esau, how have they sought out his hidden +things? + +1:7. They have sent thee out even to the border: all the men of thy +confederacy have deceived thee: the men of thy peace have prevailed +against thee: they that eat with thee shall lay snares under thee: +there is no wisdom in him. + +1:8. Shall not I in that day, saith the Lord, destroy the wise out of +Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? + +1:9. And thy valiant men of the south shall be afraid, that man may be +cut off from the mount of Esau. + +1:10. For the slaughter, and for the iniquity against thy brother +Jacob, confusion shall cover thee, and thou shalt perish for ever. + +1:11. In the day when thou stoodest against him, when strangers carried +away his army captive, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast +lots upon Jerusalem: thou also wast as one of them. + +1:12. But thou shalt not look on in the day of thy brother, in the day +of his leaving his country: and thou shalt not rejoice over the +children of Juda, in the day of their destruction: and thou shalt not +magnify thy mouth in the day of distress. + +Thou shalt not look, etc. . .or, thou shouldst not, etc. It is a +reprehension for what they had done, and at the same time a declaration +that these things should not pass unpunished.--Ibid. Thou shalt not +magnify thy mouth. . .That is, thou shalt not speak arrogantly against +the children of Juda as insulting them in their distress. + +1:13. Neither shalt thou enter into the gate of my people in the day of +their ruin: neither shalt thou also look on in his evils in the day of +his calamity: and thou shalt not be sent out against his army in the +day of his desolation. + +1:14. Neither shalt thou stand in the crossways to kill them that flee: +and thou shalt not shut up them that remain of him in the day of +tribulation. + +1:15. For the day of the Lord is at hand upon all nations: as thou hast +done, so shall it be done to thee: he will turn thy reward upon thy own +head. + +1:16. For as you have drunk upon my holy mountain, so all nations shall +drink continually: and they shall drink, and sup up, and they shall be +as though they were not. + +1:17. And in mount Sion shall be salvation, and it shall be holy, and +the house of Jacob shall possess those that possessed them. + +1:18. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a +flame, and the house of Esau stubble: and they shall be kindled in +them, and shall devour them: and there shall be no remains of the house +of Esau, for the Lord hath spoken it. + +1:19. And they that are toward the south, shall inherit the mount of +Esau, and they that are in the plains, the Philistines: and they shall +possess the country of Ephraim, and the country of Samaria: and +Benjamin shall possess Galaad. + +1:20. And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel, all the +places of the Chanaanites even to Sarepta: and the captivity of +Jerusalem that is in Bosphorus, shall possess the cities of the south. + +1:21. And saviours shall come up into mount Sion to judge the mount of +Esau: and the kingdom shall be for the Lord. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF JONAS + + + +JONAS prophesied in the reign of JEREBOAM the second: as we learn from +4 Kings 14.25. To whom also he foretold his success in restoring all +the borders of Israel. He was of GETH OPHER in the tribe of ZABULON, +and consequently of GALILEE: which confutes that assertion of the +Pharisees, John 7.52, that no prophet ever rose out of GALILEE. He +prophesied and prefigured in his own person the death and resurrection +of CHRIST: and was the only one among the prophets that was sent to +preach to the Gentiles. + + + +Jonas Chapter 1 + + +Jonas being sent to preach in Ninive, fleeth away by sea: a tempest +riseth: of which he being found, by lot, to be the cause, is cast into +the sea, which thereupon is calmed. + +1:1. Now the word of the Lord came to Jonas, the son of Amathi, saying: + +1:2. Arise and go to Ninive, the great city, and preach in it: For the +wickedness thereof is come up before me. + +Nineve. . .The capital city of the Assyrian empire. + +1:3. And Jonas rose up to flee into Tharsis from the face of the Lord, +and he went down to Joppe, and found a ship going to Tharsis: and he +paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them to +Tharsis from the face of the Lord, + +Tharsis. . .Which some take to be Tharsus of Cilicia, others to be +Tartessus of Spain, others to be Carthage. + +1:4. But the Lord sent a great wind to the sea: and a great tempest was +raised in the sea, and the ship was in danger to be broken. + +1:5. And the mariners were afraid, and the men cried to their god: and +they cast forth the wares that were in the ship, into the sea, to +lighten it of them: and Jonas went down into the inner part of the +ship, and fell into a deep sleep. + +A deep sleep. . .This is a lively image of the insensibility of sinners, +fleeing from God, and threatened on every side with his judgments: and +yet sleeping as if they were secure. + +1:6. And the ship master came to him and said to him: Why art thou fast +asleep? rise up call upon thy God, if so be that God will think of us +that we may not perish. + +1:7. And they said every one to his fellow: Come and let us cast lots, +that we may know why this evil is upon us. And they cast lots, and the +lot fell upon Jonas. + +1:8. And they said to him: Tell us for what cause this evil is upon us, +what is thy business? of what country art thou? and whither goest thou? +or of what people art thou? + +1:9. And he said to them: I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, and the +God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land. + +1:10. And the men were greatly afraid, and they said to him: Why hast +thou done this? (For the men knew that he fled from the face of the +Lord: because he had told them.) + +1:11. And they said to him: What shall we do with thee, that the sea +may be calm to us? for the sea flowed and swelled. + +1:12. And he said to them: take me up, and cast me into the sea, and +the sea shall be calm to you: for I know for my sake this great tempest +is upon you. + +1:13. And the men rowed hard to return the land, but they were not +able: because the sea tossed and swelled upon them. + +1:14. And they cried to the Lord, and said: We beseech thee, O Lord let +us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: +for thou, oh Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. + +1:15. And they took Jonas, and cast him into the sea, and the sea +ceased from raging. + +1:16. And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed victims +to the Lord, and made vows. + + + +Jonas Chapter 2 + + +Jonas is swallowed up by a great fish: he prayeth with confidence in +God; and the fish casteth him out on the dry land. + +2:1. Now the Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonas: and Jonas +was in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights. + +2:2. And Jonas prayed to the Lord, his God, out of the belly of the +fish. + +2:3. And he said: I cried out of my affliction to the Lord, and he +heard me: I cried out of the belly of hell, and thou hast heard my +voice. + +2:4. And thou hast cast me forth into the deep, in the heart of the +sea, and a flood hast compassed me: all thy billows, and thy waves have +passed over me. + +2:5. And I said: I am cast away out of the sight of thy eyes: but yet I +shall see the holy temple again. + +2:6. The waters compassed me about even to the soul: the deep hath +closed me round about, the sea hath covered my head. + +2:7. I went down to the lowest parts of the mountains: the bars of the +earth have shut me up for ever: and thou wilt bring up my life from +corruption, O Lord, my God. + +2:8. When my soul was in distress within me, I remembered the Lord: +that my prayer may come to thee, unto the holy temple. + +2:9. They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy. + +2:10. But I with the voice of praise will sacrifice to thee: I will pay +whatsoever I have vowed for my salvation to the Lord. + +2:11. And the Lord spoke to the fish: and it vomited out Jonas upon the +dry land. + +Spoke to the fish. . .God's speaking to the fish, was nothing else but +his will, which all things obey. + + + +Jonas Chapter 3 + + +Jonas is sent again to preach in Ninive. Upon their fasting and +repentance, God recalleth the sentence by which they were to be +destroyed. + +3:1. And the word of the Lord came to Jonas the second time saying: + +3:2. Arise, and go to Ninive, the great city: and preach in it the +preaching that I bid thee. + +3:3. And Jonas arose, and went to Ninive, according to the word of the +Lord: now Ninive was a great city of three days' journey. + +Of three days' journey. . .By the computation of some ancient +historians, Ninive was about fifty miles round: so that to go through +all the chief streets and public places was three days' journey. + +3:4. And Jonas began to enter into the city one day's journey: and he +cried and said: Yet forty days and Ninive shall be destroyed. + +3:5. And the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, +and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. + +3:6. And the word came to the king of Ninive: and he rose up out of his +throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed in sackcloth, +and sat in ashes. + +3:7. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published in Ninive, from +the mouth of the king and of his princes, saying: Let neither men nor +beasts, oxen, nor sheep taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink +water. + +3:8. And let men and beasts be covered with sackcloth, and cry to the +Lord with all their strength, and let them turn every one from his evil +way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands. + +3:9. Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive: and will turn away +from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish? + +3:10. And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil +way: and God had mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that +he would do to them, and he did it not. + + + +Jonas Chapter 4 + + +4:1. And Jonas was exceedingly troubled, and was angry: + +Was exceedingly troubled, etc. . .His concern was lest he should pass +for a false prophet; or rather, lest God's word, by this occasion, +might come to be slighted and disbelieved. + +4:2. And he prayed to the Lord, and said: I beseech thee, O Lord, is +not this what I said, when I was yet in my own country? therefore I +went before to flee into Tharsis: for I know that thou art a gracious +and merciful God, patient, and of much compassion, and easy to forgive +evil. + +4:3. And now, O Lord, I beseech thee take my life from me: for it is +better for me to die than to live. + +4:4. And the Lord said: Dost thou think thou hast reason to be angry? + +4:5. Then Jonas went out of the city, and sat toward the east side of +the city: and he made himself a booth there, and he sat under it in the +shadow, till he might see what would befall the city. + +4:6. And the Lord God prepared an ivy, and it came up over the head of +Jonas, to be a shadow over his head, and to cover him (for he was +fatigued): and Jonas was exceeding glad of the ivy. + +The Lord God prepared an ivy. . .Hederam. In the Hebrew it is Kikajon, +which some render a gourd: others a palmerist, or palma Christi. + +4:7. But God prepared a worm, when the morning arose on the following +day: and it struck the ivy and it withered. + +4:8. And when the sun was risen, the Lord commanded a hot and burning +wind: and the sun beat upon the head of Jonas, and he broiled with the +heat: and he desired for his soul that he might die, and said: It is +better for me to die than to live. + +4:9. And the Lord said to Jonas: Dost thou think thou hast reason to be +angry, for the ivy? And he said: I am angry with reason even unto +death. + +4:10. And the Lord said: Thou art grieved for the ivy, for which thou +hast not laboured, nor made it to grow, which in one night came up, and +in one night perished. + +4:11. And shall I not spare Ninive, that great city, in which there are +more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons, that know not how to +distinguish between their right hand and their left, and many beasts? + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF MICHEAS + + + +MICHEAS, of Morasti, a little town in the tribe of JUDA, was +contemporary with the prophet ISAIAS: whom he resembles both in his +spirit and his style. He is different from the prophet MICHEAS +mentioned in the third book of Kings, chap. 22. For that MICHEAS lived +in the days of king ACHAB, one hundred and fifty years before the time +of EZECHIAS, under whom this MICHEAS prophesied. + + + +Micheas Chapter 1 + + +Samaria for her sins shall be destroyed by the Assyrians; they shall +also invade Juda and Jerusalem. + +1:1. The word of the Lord, that came to Micheas, the Morasthite, in the +days of Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda: which he saw +concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. + +1:2. Hear, all ye people: and let the earth give ear, and all that is +therein: and let the Lord God be a witness to you, the Lord from his +holy temple. + +1:3. For behold the Lord will come forth out of his place: and he will +come down, and will tread upon the high places of the earth. + +1:4. And the mountains shall be melted under him: and the valleys shall +be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as waters that run down a steep +place. + +1:5. For the wickedness of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the +house of Israel. What is the wickedness of Jacob? is it not Samaria? +and what are the high places of Juda? are they not Jerusalem? + +1:6. And I will make Samaria as a heap of stones in the field when a +vineyard is planted: and I will bring down the stones thereof into the +valley, and will lay her foundations bare. + +1:7. And all her graven things shall be cut in pieces, and all her +wages shall be burnt with fire, and I will bring to destruction all her +idols: for they were gathered together of the hire of a harlot, and +unto the hire of a harlot they shall return. + +Her wages. . .That is, her donaries or presents offered to her idols: or +the hire of all her traffic and labour.--Ibid. Of the hire of a harlot, +etc. . .They were gathered together by one idolatrous city, viz., +Samaria: and they shall be carried away to another idolatrous city, +viz., Ninive. + +1:8. Therefore will I lament, and howl: I will go stript and naked: I +will make a wailing like the dragons, and a mourning like the +ostriches. + +1:9. Because her wound is desperate, because it is come even to Juda, +it hath touched the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. + +It hath touched the gate, etc. . .That is, the destruction of Samaria +shall be followed by the invasion of my people of Juda, and the +Assyrians shall come and lay all waste even to the confines of +Jerusalem. + +1:10. Declare ye it not in Geth, weep ye not with tears: in the house +of Dust sprinkle yourselves with dust. + +Declare ye it not in Geth. . .Viz., amongst the Philistines, lest they +rejoice at your calamity.--Ibid. Weep ye not, etc. . .Keep in your +tears, that you may not give your enemies an occasion of insulting over +you; but in your own houses, or in your house of dust, your earthly +habitation, sprinkle yourselves with dust, and put on the habit of +penitents. Some take the house of dust (in Hebrew, Aphrah) to be the +proper name of a city. + +1:11. And pass away, O thou that dwellest in the beautiful place, +covered with thy shame: she went not forth that dwelleth in the +confines: the house adjoining shall receive mourning from you, which +stood by herself. + +Thou that dwellest in the Beautiful place, viz., in Samaria. In the +Hebrew the Beautiful place is expressed by the word Sapir, which some +take for the proper name of a city.--Ibid. She went not forth, +etc. . .that is, they that dwelt in the confines came not forth, but kept +themselves within, for fear.--Ibid. The house adjoining, etc. . .Viz., +Judea and Jerusalem, neighbours to Samaria, and partners in her sins, +shall share also in her mourning and calamity; though they have +pretended to stand by themselves, trusting in their strength. + +1:12. For she is become weak unto good that dwelleth in bitterness: for +evil is come down from the Lord into the gate of Jerusalem. + +She is become weak, etc. . .Jerusalem is become weak unto any good; +because she dwells in the bitterness of sin. + +1:13. A tumult of chariots hath astonished the inhabitants of Lachis: +it is the beginning of sin to the daughter of Sion for in thee were +found the crimes of Israel. + +It is the beginning, etc. . .That is, Lachis was the first city of Juda +that learned from Samaria the worship of idols, and communicated it to +Jerusalem. + +1:14. Therefore shall she send messengers to the inheritance of Geth: +the houses of lying to deceive the kings of Israel. + +Therefore shall she send, etc. . .Lachis shall send to Geth for help: +but in vain: for Geth, instead of helping, shall be found to be a house +of lying and deceit to Israel. + +1:15. Yet will I bring an heir to thee that dwellest in Maresa: even to +Odollam shall the glory of Israel come. + +An heir, etc. . .Maresa (which was the name of a city of Juda) signifies +inheritance: but here God by his prophet tells the Jews, that he will +bring them an heir to take possession of their inheritance: and that +the glory of Israel shall be obliged to give place, and to retire even +to Odollam, a city in the extremity of their dominions. And therefore +he exhorts them to penance in the following verse. + +1:16. Make thee bald, and be polled for thy delicate children: enlarge +thy baldness as the eagle: for they are carried into captivity from +thee. + + + +Micheas Chapter 2 + + +The Israelites by their crying injustices provoke God to punish them. +He shall at last restore Jacob. + +2:1. Woe to you that devise that which is unprofitable, and work evil +in your beds: in the morning light they execute it, because their hand +is against God. + +2:2. And they have coveted fields, and taken them by violence, and +houses they have forcibly taken away: and oppressed a man and his +house, a man and his inheritance. + +2:3. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold I devise an evil against +this family: from which you shall not withdraw your necks, and you +shall not walk haughtily, for this is a very evil time. + +2:4. In that day a parable shall be taken up upon you, and a song shall +be sung with melody by them that say: We are laid waste and spoiled: +the portion of my people is changed: how shall he depart from me, +whereas he is returning that will divide our land? + +How shall he depart, etc. . .How do you pretend to say that the Assyrian +is departing; when indeed he is coming to divide our lands amongst his +subjects? + +2:5. Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the cord of a lot +in the assembly of the Lord. + +Thou shalt have none, etc. . .Thou shalt have no longer any lot or +inheritance in the land of the people of the Lord. + +2:6. Speak ye not, saying: It shall not drop upon these, confusion +shall not take them. + +It shall not drop, etc. . .That is, the prophecy shall not come upon +these. Such were the sentiments of the people that were unwilling to +believe the threats of the prophets. + +2:7. The house of Jacob saith: Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened or +are these his thoughts? Are not my words good to him that walketh +uprightly? + +2:8. But my people, on the contrary, are risen up as an enemy: you have +taken away the cloak off from the coat: and them that passed harmless +you have turned to war. + +You have taken away, etc. . .You have even stripped people of their +necessary garments: and have treated such as were innocently passing on +the way, as if they were at war with you. + +2:9. You have cast out the women of my people from their houses, in +which they took delight: you have taken my praise forever from their +children. + +You have cast out, etc. . .either by depriving them of their houses: or, +by your crimes, given occasion to their being carried away captives, +and their children, by that means, never learning to praise the Lord. + +2:10. Arise ye, and depart, for there is no rest here for you. For that +uncleanness of the land, it shall be corrupted with a grievous +corruption. + +2:11. Would God I were not a man that hath the spirit, and that I +rather spoke a lie: I will let drop to thee of wine, and of +drunkenness: and it shall be this people upon whom it shall drop. + +Would God, etc. . .The prophet could have wished, out of his love to his +people, that he might be deceived in denouncing to them these evils +that were to fall upon them: but by conforming himself to the will of +God, he declares to them, that he is sent to prophesy, literally to let +drop upon them, the wine of God's indignation, with which they should +be made drunk; that is, stupified and cast down. + +2:12. I will assemble and gather together all of thee, O Jacob: I will +bring together the remnant of Israel, I will put them together as a +flock in the fold, as sheep in the midst of the sheepcotes, they shall +make a tumult by reason of the multitude of men. + +2:13. For he shall go up that shall open the way before them: they +shall divide and pass through the gate, and shall come in by it: and +their king shall pass before them, and the Lord at the head of them. + + + +Micheas Chapter 3 + + +For the sins of the rich oppressing the poor, of false prophets +flattering for lucre, and of judges perverting justice, Jerusalem and +the temple shall be destroyed. + +3:1. And I said: Hear, O ye princes of Jacob, and ye chiefs of the +house of Israel: Is it not your part to know judgment, + +3:2. You that hate good, and love evil: that violently pluck off their +skins from them and their flesh from their bones? + +3:3. Who have eaten the flesh of my people, and have flayed their skin +off them: and have broken, and chopped their bones as for the kettle, +and as flesh in the midst of the pot. + +3:4. Then shall they cry to the Lord, and he will not hear them: and he +will hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved +wickedly in their devices. + +3:5. Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people +err: that bite with their teeth, and preach peace: and if a man give +not something into their mouth, they prepare war against him. + +3:6. Therefore night shall be to you instead of vision, and darkness to +you instead of divination: and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, +and the day shall be darkened over them. + +3:7. And they shall be confounded that see visions, and the diviners +shall be confounded: and they shall all cover their faces, because +there is no answer of God. + +3:8. But yet I am filled with the strength of the spirit of the Lord, +with judgment and power: to declare unto Jacob his wickedness and to +Israel his sin. + +3:9. Hear this, ye princes of the house of Jacob, and ye judges of the +house of Israel: you that abhor judgment and pervert all that is right. + +3:10. You that build up Sion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. + +3:11. Her princes have judged for bribes: and her priests have taught +for hire, and her prophets divined for money: and they leaned upon the +Lord, saying: Is not the Lord in the midst of us? no evil shall come +among us. + +3:12. Therefore because of you, Sion shall be ploughed as a field, and +Jerusalem shall be as a heap of stones, and the mountain of the temple +as the high places of the forests. + + + +Micheas Chapter 4 + + +The glory of the church of Christ, by the conversion of the Gentiles. +The Jews shall be carried captives to Babylon, and be delivered again. + +4:1. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of +the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, +and high above the hills: and people shall flow to it. + +4:2. And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up +to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob: and +he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the +law shall go forth out of Sion, and the word of the Lord out of +Jerusalem. + +4:3. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations +afar off: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their +spears into spades: nation shall not take sword against nation: neither +shall they learn war anymore. + +Neither shall they learn, etc. . .The law of Christ is a law of peace; +and all his true subjects, as much as lies in them love and keep peace +with all the world. + +4:4. And every man shall sit under his vine, and under his fig tree, +and there shall be none to make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord +of hosts hath spoken. + +4:5. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god: but we +will walk in the name of the Lord, our God, for ever and ever. + +4:6. In that day, saith the Lord, I will gather up her that halteth: +and her that I had cast out, I will gather up: and her whom I had +afflicted. + +4:7. And I will make her that halted, a remnant: and her that had been +afflicted, a mighty nation: and the Lord will reign over them in Mount +Sion, from this time now and forever. + +4:8. And thou, O cloudy tower of the flock, of the daughter of Sion, +unto thee shall it come: yea the first power shall come, the kingdom to +the daughter of Jerusalem. + +4:9. Now, why art thou drawn together with grief? Hast thou no king in +thee, or is thy counselor perished, because sorrow hath taken thee as a +woman in labour. + +4:10. Be in pain and labour, O daughter of Sion, as a woman that +bringeth forth: for now shalt thou go out of the city, and shalt dwell +in the country, and shalt come even to Babylon, there thou shalt be +delivered: there the Lord will redeem thee out of the hand of thy +enemies. + +4:11. And now many nations are gathered together against thee, and they +say: Let her be stoned: and let our eye look upon Sion. + +4:12. But they have not known the thoughts of the Lord, and have not +understood his counsel: because he hath gathered them together as the +hay of the floor. + +4:13. Arise, and tread, O daughter of Sion: for I will make thy horn +iron, and thy hoofs I will make brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces +many peoples, and shalt immolate the spoils of them to the Lord, and +their strength to the Lord of the whole earth. + + + +Micheas Chapter 5 + + +The birth of Christ in Bethlehem: his reign and spiritual conquests. + +5:1. Now shalt thou be laid waste, O daughter of the robber: they have +laid siege against us, with a rod shall they strike the cheek of the +judge of Israel. + +Daughter of the robber. . .Some understand this of Babylon; which robbed +and pillaged the temple of God: others understand it of Jerusalem; by +reason of the many rapines and oppressions committed there. + +5:2. And thou Bethlehem Ephrata, art a little one among the thousands +of Juda, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the +ruler in Israel: and his going forth is from the beginning, from the +days of eternity. + +His going forth, etc. . .That is, he who as man shall be born in thee, +as God was born of his Father from all eternity. + +5:3. Therefore will he give them up even till the time wherein she that +travaileth shall bring forth: and the remnant of his brethren shall be +converted to the children of Israel. + +5:4. And he shall stand, and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the +height of the name of the Lord, his God: and they shall be converted, +for now shall he be magnified even to the ends of the earth. + +5:5. And this man shall be our peace, when the Assyrian shall come into +our land, and when he shall set his foot in our houses: and we shall +raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. + +The Assyrian. . .That is, the persecutors of the church: who are here +called Assyrians by the prophet: because the Assyrians were at that +time the chief enemies and persecutors of the people of God.--Ibid. +Seven shepherds, etc. . .Viz., the pastors of God's church, and the +defenders of the faith. The number seven in scripture is taken to +signify many: and when eight is joined with it, we are to understand +that the number will be very great. + +5:6. And they shall feed the land of Assyria with the sword, and the +land of Nemrod with the spears thereof: and he shall deliver us from +the Assyrian when he shall come into our land, and when he shall tread +in our borders. + +They shall feed, etc. . .They shall make spiritual conquests in the +lands of their persecutors, with the word of the spirit, which is the +word of God. Eph. 6.17. + +5:7. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, as +a dew from the Lord, and as drops upon the grass, which waiteth not for +man, nor tarrieth for the children of men. + +The remnant of Jacob. . .Viz., the apostles, and the first preachers of +the Jewish nation; whose doctrine, like dew, shall make the plants of +the converted Gentiles grow up, without waiting for any man to +cultivate them by human learning. + +5:8. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst +of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a +young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, when he shall go through, +and tread down, and take there is none to deliver. + +As a lion, etc. . .This denotes the fortitude of these first preachers; +and their success in their spiritual enterprises. + +5:9. Thy hand shall be lifted up over thy enemies, and all thy enemies +shall be cut off. + +5:10. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I +will take away thy horses out of the midst of thee, and will destroy +thy chariots. + +I will take away thy horses, etc. . .Some understand this, and all that +follows to the end of the chapter, as addressed to the enemies of the +church. But it may as well be understood of the converts to the church: +who should no longer put their trust in any of these things. + +5:11. And I will destroy the cities of thy land, and will throw down +all thy strong holds, and I will take away sorceries out of thy hand, +and there shall be no divinations in thee. + +5:12. And I will destroy thy graven things, and thy statues, out of the +midst of thee: and thou shalt no more adore the works of thy hands. + +5:13. And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: and will +crush thy cities. + +5:14. And I will execute vengeance in wrath, and in indignation, among +all the nations that have not given ear. + + + +Micheas Chapter 6 + + +God expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and sins: for +which they shall be punished. + +6:1. Hear ye what the Lord saith: Arise, contend thou in judgment +against the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. + +The mountains, etc. . .That is, the great ones, the princes of the +people. + +6:2. Let the mountains hear the judgment of the Lord, and the strong +foundations of the earth: for the Lord will enter into judgment with +his people, and he will plead against Israel. + +6:3. O my people, what have I done to thee, or in what have I molested +thee? answer thou me. + +6:4. For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and delivered thee +out of the house of slaves: and I sent before thy face Moses, and +Aaron, and Mary. + +6:5. O my people, remember, I pray thee, what Balach, the king of Moab, +purposed: and what Balaam, the son of Beor, answered him, from Setim to +Galgal, that thou mightest know the justice of the Lord. + +From Setim to Galgal. . .He puts them in mind of the favour he did them, +in not suffering them to be quite destroyed by the evil purpose of +Balach, and the wicked counsel of Balaam: and then gives them a hint of +the wonders he wrought, in order to bring them into the land of +Promise, by stopping the course of the Jordan, in their march from +Setim to Galgal. + +6:6. What shall I offer to the Lord that is worthy? wherewith shall I +kneel before the high God? shall I offer holocausts unto him, and +calves of a year old? + +What shall I offer, etc. . .This is spoken in the person of the people, +desiring to be informed what they are to do to please God. + +6:7. May the Lord be appeased with thousands of rams, or with many +thousands of fat he goats? shall I give my firstborn for my wickedness, +the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? + +6:8. I will shew thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth +of thee: Verily to do judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk +solicitous with thy God. + +6:9. The voice of the Lord crieth to the city, and salvation shall be +to them that fear thy name: hear O ye tribes, and who shall approve it? + +6:10. As yet there is a fire in the house of the wicked, the treasures +of iniquity, and a scant measure full of wrath. + +Full of wrath, etc. . .That is, highly provoking in the sight of God. + +6:11. Shall I justify wicked balances, and the deceitful weights of the +bag? + +6:12. By which her rich men were filled with iniquity, and the +inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue was deceitful in +their mouth. + +6:13. And I therefore began to strike thee with desolation for thy +sins. + +6:14. Thou shalt eat, but shalt not be filled: and thy humiliation +shall be in the midst of thee: and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not +save: and those whom thou shalt save, I will give up to the sword. + +6:15. Thou shalt sow, but shalt not reap: thou shalt tread the olives, +but shalt not be anointed with oil: and the new wine, but shalt not +drink the wine. + +6:16. For thou hast kept the statutes of Amri, and all the works of the +house of Achab: and thou hast walked according their wills, that I +should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing, +and you shall bear the reproach of my people. + +The statutes of Amri, etc. . .The wicked ways of Amri and Achab, +idolatrous kings. + + + +Micheas Chapter 7 + + +The prophet laments, that notwithstanding all his preaching, the +generality are still corrupt in their manners: therefore their +desolation is at hand: but they shall be restored again and prosper; +and all mankind shall be redeemed by Christ. + +7:1. Woe is me, for I am become as one that gleaneth in autumn the +grapes of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat, my soul desired the +first ripe figs. + +7:2. The holy man is perished out of the earth, and there is none +upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood, every one hunteth +his brother to death. + +7:3. The evil of their hands they call good: the prince requireth, and +the judge is for giving: and the great man hath uttered the desire of +his soul, and they have troubled it. + +7:4. He that is best among them, is as a brier, and he that is +righteous, as the thorn of the hedge. The day of thy inspection, thy +visitation cometh: now shall be their destruction. + +7:5. Believe not a friend, and trust not in a prince: keep the doors of +thy mouth from her that sleepeth in thy bosom. + +7:6. For the son dishonoureth the father, and the daughter riseth up +against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law: and +a man's enemies are they of his own household. + +7:7. But I will look towards the Lord, I will wait for God, my saviour: +my God will hear me. + +7:8. Rejoice not, thou my enemy, over me, because I am fallen: I shall +arise, when I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light. + +7:9. I will bear the wrath of the Lord, because I have sinned against +him: until he judge my cause, and execute judgement for me: he will +bring me forth into the light, I shall behold his justice. + +7:10. And my enemy shall behold, and she shall be covered with shame, +who saith to me: Where is the Lord thy God? my eyes shall look down +upon her: now shall she be trodden under foot as the mire of the +streets. + +She shall be covered, etc. . .Viz., Babylon my enemy. + +7:11. The day shall come, that thy walls may be built up: in that day +shall the law be far removed. + +The law. . .Viz., of thy enemies, who have tyrannized over thee. + +7:12. In that day they shall come even from Assyria to thee, and to the +fortified cities: and from the fortified cities even to the river, and +from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. + +7:13. And the land shall be made desolate because of the inhabitants +thereof, and for the fruit of their devices. + +The land, etc. . .Viz., of Babylon. + +7:14. Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy inheritance, them +that dwell alone in the forest, in the midst of Carmel: they shall feed +in Basan and Galaad, according to the days of old. + +7:15. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt, I +will shew him wonders. + +7:16. The nations shall see, and shall be confounded at all their +strength: they shall put the hand upon the mouth, their ears shall be +deaf. + +7:17. They shall lick the dust like serpents, as the creeping things of +the earth, they shall be disturbed in their houses: they shall dread +the Lord, our God, and shall fear thee. + +7:18. Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity, and passest +by the sin of the remnant of thy inheritance? he will send his fury in +no more, because he delighteth in mercy. + +7:19. He will turn again, and have mercy on us: he will put away our +iniquities: and he will cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea. + +7:20. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, the mercy to Abraham: which +thou hast sworn to our fathers from the days of old. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF NAHUM + + + +NAHUM, whose name signifies A COMFORTER, was a native of Elcese, or +Elcesai, supposed to be a little town in Galilee. He prophesied, after +the ten tribes were carried into captivity, and foretold the utter +destruction of Ninive, by the Babylonians and Medes: which happened in +the reign of JOSIAS. + + + +Nahum Chapter 1 + + +The majesty of God, his goodness to his people, and severity to his +enemies. + +1:1. The burden of Ninive. The book of the vision of Nahum, the +Elcesite. + +1:2. The Lord is a jealous God, and a revenger: the Lord is a revenger, +and hath wrath: the Lord taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he is +angry with his enemies. + +1:3. The Lord is patient, and great in power, and will not cleanse and +acquit the guilty. The Lord's ways are in a tempest, and a whirlwind, +and clouds are the dust of his feet. + +1:4. He rebuketh the sea and drieth it up: and bringeth all the rivers +to be a desert. Basan languisheth and Carmel: and the flower of Libanus +fadeth away. + +1:5. The mountains tremble at him, and the hills are made desolate: and +the earth hath quaked at his presence, and the world, and all that +dwell therein. + +1:6. Who can stand before the face of his indignation? and who shall +resist in the fierceness of his anger? his indignation is poured out +like fire: and the rocks are melted by him. + +1:7. The Lord is good, and giveth strength in the day of trouble: and +knoweth them that hope in him. + +1:8. But with a flood that passeth by, he will make an utter end of the +place thereof: and darkness shall pursue his enemies. + +Of the place thereof. . .Viz., of Ninive. + +1:9. What do ye devise against the Lord? he will make an utter end: +there shall not rise a double affliction. + +1:10. For as thorns embrace one another: so while they are feasting and +drinking together, they shall be consumed as stubble that is fully dry. + +1:11. Out of thee shall come forth one that imagineth evil against the +Lord, contriving treachery in his mind. + +Shall come forth one, etc. . .Some understand this of Sennacherib. But +as his attempt against the people seems to have been prior to the +prophecy of Nahum, we may better understand it of Holofernes. + +1:12. Thus saith the Lord: Though they were perfect: and many of them +so, yet thus shall they be cut off, and he shall pass: I have afflicted +thee, and I will afflict thee no more. + +Though they were perfect, etc. . .That is, however strong or numerous +their forces may be, they shall be cut off; and their prince or leader +shall pass away and disappear. + +1:13. And now I will break in pieces his rod with which he struck thy +back, and I will burst thy bonds asunder. + +1:14. And the Lord will give a commandment concerning thee, that no +more of thy name shall be sown: I will destroy the graven and molten +thing out of the house of thy God, I will make it thy grave, for thou +art disgraced. + +Will give a commandment. . .That is, a decree, concerning thee, O king +of Ninive, thy seed shall fail, etc. + +1:15. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good +tidings, and that preacheth peace: O Juda, keep thy festivals, and pay +thy vows: for Belial shall no more pass through thee again, he is +utterly cut off. + +Belial. . .The wicked one, viz., the Assyrian. + + + +Nahum Chapter 2 + + +God sends his armies against Ninive to destroy it. + +2:1. He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep +the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power +exceedingly. + +2:2. For the Lord hath rendered the pride of Jacob, as the pride of +Israel: because the spoilers have laid them waste, and have marred +their vine branches. + +Hath rendered the pride of Jacob, etc. . .He hath punished Jacob for his +pride; and therefore Ninive must not expect to escape. Or else, +rendering the pride of Jacob means rewarding, that is, punishing Ninive +for the pride they exercised against Jacob. + +2:3. The shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are +clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of his +preparation, and the drivers are stupefied. + +Of his mighty men, etc. . .He speaks of the Chaldeans and Medes sent to +destroy Ninive.--Ibid. Stupefied. . .consopiti. That is, they drive on +furiously like men intoxicated with wine. + +2:4. They are in confusion in the ways, the chariots jostle one against +another in the streets: their looks are like torches, like lightning +running to and fro. + +2:5. He will muster up his valiant men, they shall stumble in their +march: they shall quickly get upon the walls thereof: and a covering +shall be prepared. + +Stumble in their march. . .By running hastily on. + +2:6. The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is thrown down +to the ground. + +2:7. And the soldier is led away captive: and her bondwomen were led +away mourning as doves, murmuring in their hearts. + +2:8. And as for Ninive, her waters are like a great pool: but the men +flee away. They cry: Stand, stand, but there is none that will return +back. + +2:9. Take ye the spoil of the silver, take the spoil of the gold: for +there is no end of the riches of all the precious furniture. + +2:10. She is destroyed, and rent, and torn: the heart melteth, and the +knees fail, and all the loins lose their strength: and the faces of +them all are as the blackness of a kettle. + +2:11. Where is now the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of +the young lions, to which the lion went, to enter in thither, the young +lion, and there was none to make them afraid? + +2:12. The lion caught enough for his whelps, and killed for his +lionesses: and he filled his holes with prey, and his den with rapine. + +2:13. Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will +burn thy chariots even to smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young +lions: and I will cut off thy prey out of the land, and the voice of +thy messengers shall be heard no more. + + + +Nahum Chapter 3 + + +The miserable destruction of Ninive. + +3:1. Woe to thee, O city of blood, all full of lies and violence: +rapine shall not depart from thee. + +3:2. The noise of the whip, and the noise of the rattling of the +wheels, and of the neighing horse; and of the running chariot, and of +the horsemen coming up, + +3:3. And of the shining sword, and of the glittering spear, and of a +multitude slain, and of a grievous destruction: and there is no end of +carcasses, and they shall fall down on their dead bodies. + +3:4. Because of the multitude of the fornications of the harlot that +was beautiful and agreeable, and that made use of witchcraft, that sold +nations through her fornications, and families through her witchcrafts. + +3:5. Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will +discover thy shame to thy face, and will shew thy nakedness to the +nations, and thy shame to kingdoms. + +3:6. And I will cast abominations upon thee, and will disgrace thee, +and will make an example of thee. + +3:7. And it shall come to pass that every one that shall see thee, +shall flee from thee, and shall say: Ninive is laid waste: who shall +bemoan thee? whence shall I seek a comforter for thee? + +3:8. Art thou better than the populous Alexandria, that dwelleth among +the rivers? waters are round about it: the sea is its riches: the +waters are its walls. + +Populous Alexandria. . .No-Ammon. A populous city of Egypt destroyed by +the Chaldeans, and afterwards rebuilt by Alexander, and called +Alexandria. Others suppose No-Ammon to be the same as Diospolis. + +3:9. Ethiopia and Egypt were the strength thereof, and there is no end: +Africa and the Libyans were thy helpers. + +3:10. Yet she also was removed and carried into captivity: her young +children were dashed in pieces at the top of every street, and they +cast lots upon her nobles, and all her great men were bound in fetters. + +3:11. Therefore thou also shalt be made drunk, and shalt be despised: +and thou shalt seek help from the enemies. + +3:12. All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with their green +figs: if they be shaken, they shall fall into the mouth of the eater. + +3:13. Behold thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of +thy land shall be set wide open to thy enemies, the fire shall devour +thy bars. + +3:14. Draw thee water for the siege, build up thy bulwarks: go into the +clay, and tread, work it and make brick. + +3:15. There shall the fire devour thee: thou shalt perish by the sword, +it shall devour thee like the bruchus: assemble together like the +bruchus, make thyself many like the locust. + +3:16. Thou hast multiplied thy merchandises above the stars of heaven: +the bruchus hath spread himself and flown away. + +3:17. Thy guards are like the locusts: and thy little ones like the +locusts of locusts which swarm on the hedges in the day of cold: the +sun arose, and they flew away, and their place was not known where they +were. + +Locusts of locusts. . .The young locusts. + +3:18. Thy shepherds have slumbered, O king of Assyria, thy princes +shall be buried: thy people are hid in the mountains, and there is none +to gather them. + +3:19. Thy destruction is not hidden, thy wound is grievous: all that +have heard the fame of thee, have clapped their hands over thee: for +upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF HABACUC + + + +HABACUC was a native of Bezocher, and prophesied in JUDA, some time +before the invasion of the CHALDEANS, which he foretold. He lived to +see this prophecy fulfilled, and for many years after, according to the +general opinion, which supposes him to be the same that was brought by +the ANGEL to DANIEL in BABYLON, Dan. 14. + + + +Habacuc Chapter 1 + + +The prophet complains of the wickedness of the people: God reveals to +him the vengeance he is going to take of them by the Chaldeans. + +1:1. The burden that Habacuc the prophet saw. + +Burden. . .Such prophecies more especially are called burdens, as +threaten grievous evils and punishments. + +1:2. How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? shall I cry +out to thee suffering violence, and thou wilt not save? + +1:3. Why hast thou shewn me iniquity and grievance, to see rapine and +injustice before me? and there is a judgment, but opposition is more +powerful. + +1:4. Therefore the law is torn in pieces, and judgment cometh not to +the end: because the wicked prevaileth against the just, therefore +wrong judgment goeth forth. + +1:5. Behold ye among the nations, and see: wonder, and be astonished: +for a work is done in your days, which no man will believe when it +shall be told. + +1:6. For behold, I will raise up the Chaldeans, a bitter and swift +nation, marching upon the breadth of the earth, to possess the dwelling +places that are not their own. + +1:7. They are dreadful, and terrible: from themselves shall their +judgment, and their burden proceed. + +1:8. Their horses are lighter than leopards, and swifter than evening +wolves; and their horsemen shall be spread abroad: for their horsemen +shall come from afar, they shall fly as an eagle that maketh haste to +eat. + +1:9. They shall all come to the prey, their face is like a burning +wind: and they shall gather together captives as the sand. + +1:10. And their prince shall triumph over kings, and princes shall be +his laughingstock: and he shall laugh at every strong hold, and shall +cast up a mount, and shall take it. + +1:11. Then shall his spirit be changed, and he shall pass, and fall: +this is his strength of his god. + +Then shall his spirit, etc. . .Viz., the spirit of the king of Babylon. +It alludes to the judgment of God upon Nabuchodonosor, recorded Dan. +4., and to the speedy fall of the Chaldean empire. + +1:12. Wast thou not from the beginning, O Lord my God, my holy one, and +we shall not die? Lord, thou hast appointed him for judgment: and made +him strong for correction. + +1:13. Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on +iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest +thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than +himself? + +1:14. And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the +creeping things that have no ruler. + +1:15. He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, +and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice. + +1:16. Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will +sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and +his meat dainty. + +1:17. For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare +continually to slay the nations. + + + +Habacuc Chapter 2 + + +The prophet is admonished to wait with faith. The enemies of God's +people shall assuredly be punished. + +2:1. I will stand upon my watch, and fix my foot upon the tower: and I +will watch, to see what will be said to me, and what I may answer to +him that reproveth me. + +Will stand, etc. . .Waiting to see what the Lord will answer to my +complaint, viz., that the Chaldeans, who are worse than the Jews, and +who attribute all their success to their own strength, or to their +idols, should nevertheless prevail over the people of the Lord. The +Lord's answer is, that the prophet must wait with patience and faith: +that all should be set right in due time; and the enemies of God and +his people punished according to their deserts. + +2:2. And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it +plain upon tables: that he that readeth it may run over it. + +2:3. For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, +and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall +surely come, and it shall not be slack. + +2:4. Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in +himself: but the just shall live in his faith. + +2:5. And as wine deceiveth him that drinketh it: so shall the proud man +be, and he shall not be honoured: who hath enlarged his desire like +hell: and is himself like death, and he is never satisfied: but will +gather together unto him all nations, and heap together unto him all +people. + +As wine deceiveth, etc. . .Viz., by affording only a short passing +pleasure; followed by the evils and disgrace that are the usual +consequences of drunkenness; so shall it be with the proud enemies of +the people of God; whose success affordeth them only a momentary +pleasure, followed by innumerable and everlasting evils. + +2:6. Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a dark +speech concerning him: and it shall be said: Woe to him that heapeth +together that which is not his own? how long also doth he load himself +with thick clay? + +Thick clay. . .Ill-gotten goods, that, like mire, both burden and defile +the soul. + +2:7. Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee: and they be +stirred up that shall tear thee, and thou shalt be a spoil to them? + +2:8. Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all that shall be left of +the people shall spoil thee: because of men's blood, and for the +iniquity of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. + +2:9. Woe to him that gathereth together an evil covetousness to his +house, that his nest may be on high, and thinketh he may be delivered +out of the hand of evil. + +2:10. Thou hast devised confusion to thy house, thou hast cut off many +people, and thy soul hath sinned. + +2:11. For the stone shall cry out of the wall: and the timber that is +between the joints of the building, shall answer. + +2:12. Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and prepareth a city +by iniquity. + +2:13. Are not these things from the Lord of hosts? for the people shall +labour in a great fire: and the nations in vain, and they shall faint. + +Are not these things, etc. . .That is, shall not these punishments that +are here recorded, come from the Lord upon him that is guilty of such +crimes.--Ibid. The people shall labour, etc. . .Viz., the enemies of +God's people. + +2:14. For the earth shall be filled, that men may know the glory of the +Lord, as waters covering the sea. + +2:15. Woe to him that giveth drink to his friend, and presenteth his +gall, and maketh him drunk, that he may behold his nakedness. + +2:16. Thou art filled with shame instead of glory: drink thou also, and +fall fast asleep: the cup of the right hand of the Lord shall compass +thee, and shameful vomiting shall be on thy glory. + +2:17. For the iniquity of Libanus shall cover thee, and the ravaging of +beasts shall terrify them because of the blood of men, and the iniquity +of the land, and of the city, and of all that dwell therein. + +The iniquity of Libanus. . .That is, the iniquity committed by the +Chaldeans against the temple of God, signified here by the name of +Libanus. + +2:18. What doth the graven thing avail, because the maker thereof hath +graven it, a molten, and a false image? because the forger thereof hath +trusted in a thing of his own forging, to make dumb idols. + +2:19. Woe to him that saith to wood: Awake: to the dumb stone: Arise: +can it teach? Behold, it is laid over with gold, and silver, and there +is no spirit in the bowels thereof. + +2:20. But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep +silence before him. + + + +Habacuc Chapter 3 + + +3:1. A PRAYER OF HABACUC THE PROPHET FOR IGNORANCES. + +For ignorances. . .That is, for the sins of his people. In the Hebrew, +it is Sigionoth: which some take to signify a musical instrument, or +tune; with which this sublime prayer and canticle was to be sung. + +3:2. O Lord, I have heard thy hearing, and was afraid. O Lord, thy +work, in the midst of the years bring it to life: In the midst of the +years thou shalt make it known: when thou art angry, thou wilt remember +mercy. + +Thy hearing, etc. . .That is, thy oracles, the great and wonderful +things thou hast revealed to me; and I was struck with a reverential +fear and awe.--Ibid. Thy work. . .The great work of the redemption of +man, which thou wilt bring to life and light in the midst of the years, +when our calamities and miseries shall be at their height. + +3:3. God will come from the south, and the holy one from mount Pharan: +His glory covered the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise. + +God will come from the south, etc. . .God himself will come to give us +his law, and to conduct us into the true land of promise: as heretofore +he came from the South (in the Hebrew Theman) and from mount Pharan to +give his law to his people in the desert. See Deut. 33.2. + +3:4. His brightness shall be as the light: horns are in his hands: +There is his strength hid: + +Horns, etc. . .That is, strength and power, which, by a Hebrew phrase, +are called horns. Or beams of light, which come forth from his hands. +Or it may allude to the cross, in the horns of which the hands of +Christ were fastened, where his strength was hidden, by which he +overcame the world, and drove out death and the devil. + +3:5. Death shall go before his face. And the devil shall go forth +before his feet. + +Death shall go before his face, etc. . .Both death and the devil shall +be the executioners of his justice against his enemies: as they were +heretofore against the Egyptians and Chanaanites. + +3:6. He stood and measured the earth. He beheld, and melted the +nations: and the ancient mountains were crushed to pieces. The hills of +the world were bowed down by the journeys of his eternity. + +He beheld, etc. . .One look of his eye is enough to melt all the +nations, and to reduce them to nothing. For all heaven and earth +disappear when they come before his light. Apoc. 20.11. Ibid. The +ancient mountains, etc. . .By the mountains and hills are signified the +great ones of the world, that persecute the church, whose power was +quickly crushed by the Almighty. + +3:7. I saw the tents of Ethiopia for their iniquity, the curtains of +the land of Madian shall be troubled. + +Ethiopia. . .the land of the Blacks, and Madian, are here taken for the +enemies of God and his people: who shall perish for their iniquity. + +3:8. Wast thou angry, O Lord, with the rivers? or was thy wrath upon +the rivers? or thy indignation in the sea? Who will ride upon thy +horses: and thy chariots are salvation. + +With the rivers, etc. . .He alludes to the wonders wrought heretofore by +the Lord in favour of his people Israel, when the waters of the rivers, +viz., of Arnon and Jordan, and of the Red Sea, retired before their +face: when he came as it were with his horses and chariots to save them +when he took up his bow for their defence, in consequence of the oath +he had made to their tribes: when the mountains trembled, and the deep +stood with its waves raised up in a heap, as with hands lifted up to +heaven: when the sun and the moon stood still at his command, etc., to +comply with his anger, not against the rivers and sea, but against the +enemies of his people. How much more will he do in favour of his Son: +and against the enemies of his church? + +3:9. Thou wilt surely take up thy bow: according to the oaths which +thou hast spoken to the tribes. Thou wilt divide the rivers of the +earth. + +3:10. The mountains saw thee, and were grieved: the great body of +waters passed away. The deep put forth its voice: the deep lifted up +its hands. + +3:11. The sun and the moon stood still in their habitation, in the +light of thy arrows, they shall go in the brightness of thy glittering +spear. + +3:12. In thy anger thou wilt tread the earth under foot: in thy wrath +thou wilt astonish the nations. + +3:13. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people: for salvation +with thy Christ. Thou struckest the head of the house of the wicked: +thou hast laid bare his foundation even to the neck. + +The head of the house of the wicked. . .Such was Pharao heretofore: such +shall Antichrist be hereafter. + +3:14. Thou hast cursed his sceptres, the head of his warriors, them +that came out as a whirlwind to scatter me. Their joy was like that of +him that devoureth the poor man in secret. + +3:15. Thou madest a way in the sea for thy horses, in the mud of many +waters. + +Thou madest a way in the sea, etc. . .To deliver thy people from the +Egyptian bondage: and thou shalt work the like wonders in the spiritual +way, to rescue the children of the church from their enemies. + +3:16. I have heard and my bowels were troubled: my lips trembled at the +voice. Let rottenness enter into my bones, and swarm under me. That I +may rest in the day of tribulation: that I may go up to our people that +are girded. + +I have heard, etc. . .Viz., the evils that are now coming upon the +Israelites for their sins; and that shall come hereafter upon all +impenitent sinners; and the foresight that I have of these miseries +makes me willing to die, that I may be at rest, before this general +tribulation comes, in which all good things shall be withdrawn from the +wicked.--Ibid. That I may go up to our people, etc. . .That I may join +the happy company in the bosom of Abraham, that are girded, that is, +prepared for their journey, by which they shall attend their Lord, when +he shall ascend into heaven. To which high and happy place, my Jesus, +that is, my Saviour, the great conqueror of death and hell, shall one +day conduct me rejoicing and singing psalms of praise, ver. 18 and 19. + +3:17. For the fig tree shall not blossom: and there shall be no spring +in the vines. The labour of the olive tree shall fail: and the fields +shall yield no food: the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and +there shall be no herd in the stalls. + +3:18. But I will rejoice in the Lord: and I will joy in God my Jesus. + +3:19. The Lord God is my strength: and he will make my feet like the +feet of harts: and he the conqueror will lead me upon my high places +singing psalms. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF SOPHONIAS + + + +SOPHONIAS, whose name, saith St. Jerome, signifies The Watchman of the +Lord, or The hidden of the Lord, prophesied in the beginning of the +reign of Josias. He was a native of Sarabatha, and of the tribe of +Simeon, according to the more general opinion. He prophesied the +punishments of the Jews, for their idolatry and other crimes; also the +punishments that were to come on divers nations; the coming of Christ, +the conversion of the Gentiles, the blindness of the Jews, and their +conversion towards the end of the world. + + + +Sophonias Chapter 1 + + +For divers enormous sins, the kingdom of Juda is threatened with severe +judgment. + +1:1. The word of the Lord that came to Sophonias the son of Chusi, the +son of Godolias, the son of Amarias, the son of Ezechias, in the days +of Josias, the son of Amon king of Juda. + +1:2. Gathering, I will gather together all things from off the face of +the land, saith the Lord: + +Gathering, I will gather, etc. . .That is, I will assuredly take away, +and wholly consume, either by captivity, or death, both men and beasts +out of this land. + +1:3. I will gather man, and beast, I will gather the birds of the air, +and the fishes of the sea: and the ungodly shall meet with ruin: and I +will destroy men from off the face of the land, saith the Lord. + +1:4. And I will stretch out my hand upon Juda, and upon all the +inhabitants of Jerusalem: and I will destroy out of this place the +remnant of Baal, and the names of the wardens of the temples with the +priests: + +The wardens, etc. . .Viz., of the temples of the idols. AEdituos, in +Hebrew, the Chemarims, that is, such as kindle the fires, or burn +incense. + +1:5. And them that worship the host of heaven upon the tops of houses, +and them that adore, and swear by the Lord, and swear by Melchom. + +Melchom. . .The idol of the Ammonites. + +1:6. And them that turn away from following after the Lord, and that +have not sought the Lord, nor searched after him. + +1:7. Be silent before the face of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord +is near, for the Lord hath prepared a victim, he hath sanctified his +guests. + +1:8. And it shall come to pass in the day of the victim of the Lord, +that I will visit upon the princes, and upon the king's sons, and upon +all such as are clothed with strange apparel: + +1:9. And I will visit in that day upon every one that entereth +arrogantly over the threshold: them that fill the house of the Lord +their God with iniquity and deceit. + +1:10. And there shall be in that day, saith the Lord, the noise of a +cry from the fish gate, and a howling from the Second, and a great +destruction from the hills. + +The Second. . .A part of the city so called. + +1:11. Howl, ye inhabitants of the Morter. All the people of Chanaan is +hush, all are cut off that were wrapped up in silver. + +The Morter. . .Maktesh. A valley in or near Jerusalem. Ibid. The +people of Chanaan. . .So he calls the Jews, from their following the +wicked ways of the Chanaanites. + +1:12. And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search +Jerusalem with lamps, and will visit upon the men that are settled on +their lees: that say in their hearts: The Lord will not do good, nor +will he do evil. + +Settled on their lees. . .That is, the wealthy, and such as live at +their ease, resting upon their riches, like wine upon the lees. + +1:13. And their strength shall become a booty, and their houses as a +desert: and they shall build houses, and shall not dwell in them: and +they shall plant vineyards, and shall not drink the wine of them. + +1:14. The great day of the Lord is near, it is near and exceeding +swift: the voice of the day of the Lord is bitter, the mighty man shall +there meet with tribulation. + +1:15. That day is a day of wrath, a day of tribulation and distress, a +day of calamity and misery, a day of darkness and obscurity, a day of +clouds and whirlwinds, + +1:16. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and +against the high bulwarks. + +1:17. And I will distress men, and they shall walk like blind men, +because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be +poured out as earth, and their bodies as dung. + +1:18. Neither shall their silver and their gold be able to deliver them +in the day of the wrath of the Lord: all the land shall be devoured by +the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy destruction +of all them that dwell in the land. + + + +Sophonias Chapter 2 + + +An exhortation to repentance. The judgment of the Philistines, of the +Moabites, and the Ammonites; of the Ethiopians and the Assyrians. + +2:1.Assemble yourselves together, be gathered together, O nation not +worthy to be loved: + +2:2. Before the decree bring forth the day as dust passing away, before +the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the +Lord's indignation come upon you. + +2:3. Seek the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, you that have wrought his +judgment: seek the just, seek the meek: if by any means you may be hid +in the day of the Lord's indignation. + +2:4. For Gaza shall be destroyed, and Ascalon shall be a desert, they +shall cast out Azotus at noonday, and Accaron shall be rooted up. + +2:5. Woe to you that inhabit the sea coast, O nation of reprobates: the +word of the Lord upon you, O Chanaan, the land of the Philistines, and +I will destroy thee, so that there shall not be an inhabitant. + +2:6. And the sea coast shall be the resting place of shepherds, and +folds for cattle: + +2:7. And it shall be the portion of him that shall remain of the house +of Juda, there they shall feed: in the houses of Ascalon they shall +rest in the evening: because the Lord their God will visit them, and +bring back their captivity. + +2:8. I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the blasphemies of the +children of Ammon, with which they reproached my people, and have +magnified themselves upon their borders. + +2:9. Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel, +Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrha, the +dryness of thorns, and heaps of salt, and a desert even for ever: the +remnant of my people shall make a spoil of them, and the residue of my +nation shall possess them. + +2:10. This shall befall them for their pride: because they have +blasphemed, and have been magnified against the people of the Lord of +hosts. + +2:11. The Lord shall be terrible upon them, and shall consume all the +gods of the earth: and they shall adore him every man from his own +place, all the islands of the Gentiles. + +2:12. You Ethiopians, also shall be slain with my sword. + +2:13. And he will stretch out his hand upon the north, and will destroy +Assyria: and he will make the beautiful city a wilderness, and as a +place not passable, and as a desert. + +The beautiful city, viz. . .Ninive, which was destroyed soon after this, +viz., in the sixteenth year of the reign of Josias. + +2:14. And flocks shall lie down in the midst thereof, all the beasts of +the nations: and the bittern and the urchin shall lodge in the +threshold thereof: the voice of the singing bird in the window, the +raven on the upper post, for I will consume her strength. + +2:15. This is the glorious city that dwelt in security: that said in +her heart: I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a +desert, a place for beasts to lie down in? every one that passeth by +her shall hiss, and wag his hand. + + + +Sophonias Chapter 3 + + +A woe to Jerusalem for her sins. A prophecy of the conversion of the +Gentiles, and of the poor of Israel: God shall be with them. The Jews +shall be converted at last. + +3:1. Woe to the provoking and redeemed city, the dove. + +3:2. She hath not hearkened to the voice, neither hath she received +discipline: she hath not trusted in the Lord, she drew not near to her +God. + +3:3. Her princes are in the midst of her as roaring lions: her judges +are evening wolves, they left nothing for the morning. + +3:4. Her prophets are senseless, men without faith: her priests have +polluted the sanctuary, they have acted unjustly against the law. + +3:5. The just Lord is in the midst thereof, he will not do iniquity: in +the morning, in the morning he will bring his judgment to light, and it +shall not be hid: but the wicked man hath not known shame. + +3:6. I have destroyed the nations, and their towers are beaten down: I +have made their ways desert, so that there is none that passeth by: +their cities are desolate, there is not a man remaining, nor any +inhabitant. + +3:7. I said: Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive correction: +and her dwelling shall not perish, for all things wherein I have +visited her: but they rose early, and corrupted all their thoughts. + +3:8. Wherefore expect me, saith the Lord, in the day of my resurrection +that is to come, for my judgment is to assemble the Gentiles, and to +gather the kingdoms: and to pour upon them my indignation, all my +fierce anger: for with the fire of my jealousy shall all the earth be +devoured. + +3:9. Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all +may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one +shoulder. + +3:10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, shall my suppliants, the +children of my dispersed people, bring me an offering. + +3:11. In that day thou shalt not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein +thou hast transgressed against me for then I will take away out of the +midst of thee thy proud boasters, and thou shalt no more be lifted up +because of my holy mountain. + +3:12. And I will leave in the midst of thee a poor and needy people: +and they shall hope in the name of the Lord. + +3:13. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, nor +shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed, +and shall lie down, and there shall be none to make them afraid. + +3:14. Give praise, O daughter of Sion: shout, O Israel: be glad, and +rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. + +3:15. The Lord hath taken away thy judgment, he hath turned away thy +enemies: the king of Israel, the Lord, is in the midst of thee, thou +shalt fear evil no more. + +3:16. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not: to Sion: +Let not thy hands be weakened. + +3:17. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, he will save: he +will rejoice over thee with gladness, he will be silent in his love, he +will be joyful over thee in praise. + +3:18. The triflers that were departed from the law, I will gather +together, because they were of thee: that thou mayest no more suffer +reproach for them. + +3:19. Behold I will cut off all that have afflicted thee at that time: +and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was cast +out: and I will get them praise, and a name, in all the land where they +had been put to confusion. + +3:20. At that time, when I will bring you: and at the time that I will +gather you: for I will give you a name, and praise among all the people +of the earth, when I shall have brought back your captivity before your +eyes, saith the Lord. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF AGGEUS + + + +AGGEUS was one of those that returned from the captivity of Babylon, in +the first year of the reign of king Cyrus. He was sent by the Lord, in +the second year of the reign of king Darius, the son of Hystaspes, to +exhort Zorobabel the prince of Juda, and Jesus the high priest, to the +building of the temple; which they had begun, but left off again +through the opposition of the Samaritans. In consequence of this +exhortation they proceeded in the building and finished the temple. And +the prophet was commissioned by the Lord to assure them that this +second temple should be more glorious than the former, because the +Messiah should honour it with his presence: signifying withal how much +the church of the New Testament should excel that of the Old Testament. + + + +Aggeus Chapter 1 + + +The people are reproved for neglecting to build the temple. They are +encouraged to set about the work. + +1:1. In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the +first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Aggeus +the prophet, to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, governor of Juda, and +to Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, saying: + +1:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time +is not yet come for building the house of the Lord. + +1:3. And the word of the Lord came by the hand of Aggeus the prophet, +saying: + +1:4. Is it time for you to dwell in ceiled houses, and this house lie +desolate? + +1:5. And now thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts to consider +your ways. + +1:6. You have sowed much, and brought in little: you have eaten, but +have not had enough: you have drunk, but have not been filled with +drink: you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed: and he +that hath earned wages, put them into a bag with holes. + +1:7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Set your hearts upon your ways: + +1:8. Go up to the mountain, bring timber, and build the house: and it +shall be acceptable to me, and I shall be glorified, saith the Lord. + +1:9. You have looked for more, and behold it became less, and you +brought it home, and I blowed it away: why, saith the Lord of hosts? +because my house is desolate, and you make haste every man to his own +house. + +1:10. Therefore the heavens over you were stayed from giving dew, and +the earth was hindered from yielding her fruits: + +1:11. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, +and upon the corn, and upon the wine, and upon the oil, and upon all +that the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon beasts, and upon +all the labour of the hands. + +1:12. Then Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, and Jesus the son of Josedec +the high priest, and all the remnant of the people hearkened to the +voice of the Lord their God, and to the words of Aggeus the prophet, as +the Lord their God sent him to them: and the people feared before the +Lord. + +1:13. And Aggeus the messenger of the Lord, as one of the messengers of +the Lord, spoke, saying to the people: I am with you, saith the Lord. + +1:14. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zorobabel the son of +Salathiel governor of Juda, and the spirit of Jesus the son of Josedec +the high priest, and the spirit of all the rest of the people: and they +went in, and did the work in the house of the Lord of Hosts their God. + + + +Aggeus Chapter 2 + + +Christ by his coming shall make the latter temple more glorious than +the former. The blessing of God shall reward their labour in building. +God's promise to Zorobabel. + +2:1. In the four and twentieth day of the month, in the sixth month, in +the second year of Darius the king, they began. + +2:2. And in the seventh month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of +Aggeus the prophet, saying: + +2:3. Speak to Zorobabel the son of Salathiel the governor of Juda, and +to Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and to the rest of the +people, saying: + +2:4. Who is left among you, that saw this house in its first glory? and +how do you see it now? is it not in comparison to that as nothing in +your eyes? + +2:5. Yet now take courage, O Zorobabel, saith the Lord, and take +courage, Jesus the son of Josedec the high priest, and take courage, +all ye people of the land, saith the Lord of hosts: and perform (for I +am with you, saith the Lord of hosts) + +2:6. The word that I convenanted with you when you came out of the land +of Egypt: and my spirit shall be in the midst of you: fear not. + +2:7. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Yet one little while, and I will +move the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. + +2:8. And I will move all nations: AND THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS SHALL +COME: and I will fill this house with glory: saith the Lord of hosts. + +2:9. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. + +2:10. Great shall be the glory of this last house more than of the +first, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place I will give peace, +saith the Lord of hosts. + +2:11. In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second +year of Darius the king, the word of the Lord came to Aggeus the +prophet, saying: + +2:12. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests the law, saying: + +2:13. If a man carry sanctified flesh in the skirt of his garment, and +touch with his skirt, bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat: +shall it be sanctified? And the priests answered, and said: No. + +2:14. And Aggeus said: If one that is unclean by occasion of a soul +touch any of all these things, shall it be defiled? And the priests +answered, and said: It shall be defiled. + +By occasion of a soul. . .That is, by having touched the dead; in which +case, according to the prescription of the law, Num. 19.13, 22, a +person not only became unclean himself, but made every thing that he +touched unclean. The prophet applies all this to the people, whose +souls remained unclean by neglecting the temple of God; and therefore +were not sanctified by the flesh they offered in sacrifice: but rather +defiled their sacrifices by approaching to them in the state of +uncleanness. + +2:15. And Aggeus answered, and said: So is this people, and so is this +nation before my face, saith the Lord, and so is all the work of their +hands: and all that they have offered there, shall be defiled. + +2:16. And now consider in your hearts, from this day and upward, before +there was a stone laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord. + +2:17. When you went to a heap of twenty bushels, and they became ten: +and you went into the press, to press out fifty vessels, and they +became twenty. + +2:18. I struck you with a blasting wind, and all the works of your hand +with the mildew and with hail, yet there was none among you that +returned to me, saith the Lord. + +2:19. Set your hearts from this day, and henceforward, from the four +and twentieth day of the ninth month: from the day that the foundations +of the temple of the Lord were laid, and lay it up in your hearts. + +2:20. Is the seed as yet sprung up? or hath the vine, and the fig tree, +and the pomegranate, and the olive tree as yet flourished? from this +day I will bless you. + +2:21. And the word of the Lord came a second time to Aggeus in the four +and twentieth day of the month, saying: + +2:22. Speak to Zorobabel the governor of Juda, saying: I will move both +heaven and earth. + +2:23. And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and will destroy the +strength of the kingdom of the Gentiles: and I will overthrow the +chariot, and him that rideth therein: and the horses and their riders +shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother. + +2:24. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, I will take thee, O +Zorobabel the son of Salathiel, my servant, saith the Lord, and will +make thee as a signet, for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts. + +O Zorobabel. . .This promise principally relates to Christ, who was of +the race of Zorobabel. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF ZACHARIAS + + + +ZACHARIAS began to prophesy in the same year as Aggeus, and upon the +same occasion. His prophecy is full of mysterious figures and promises +of blessings, partly relating to the synagogue, and partly to the +church of Christ. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 1 + + +The prophet exhorts the people to return to God, and declares his +visions, by which he puts them in hopes of better times. + +1:1. In the eighth month, in the second year of king Darius, the word +of the Lord came to Zacharias the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, +the prophet, saying: + +1:2. The Lord hath been exceeding angry with your fathers. + +1:3. And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Turn ye +to me, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will turn to you, saith the Lord +of hosts. + +1:4. Be not as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, +saying: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Turn ye from your evil ways, and +from your wicked thoughts: but they did not give ear, neither did they +hearken to me, saith the Lord. + +1:5. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, shall they live +always? + +1:6. But yet my words, and my ordinances, which I gave in charge to my +servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers, and they +returned, and said: As the Lord of hosts thought to do to us according +to our ways, and according to our devices, so he hath done to us. + +1:7. In the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month which is +called Sabath, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came +to Zacharias the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the prophet, +saying: + +1:8. I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he +stood among the myrtle trees, that were in the bottom: and behind him +were horses, red, speckled, and white. + +A man. . .An angel in the shape of a man. It was probably Michael, the +guardian angel of the church of God. + +1:9. And I said: What are these, my Lord? and the angel that spoke in +me, said to me: I will shew thee what these are: + +1:10. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered, and said: +These are they, whom the Lord hath sent to walk through the earth. + +These are they, etc. . .The guardian angels of provinces and nations. + +1:11. And they answered the angel of the Lord, that stood among the +myrtle trees, and said: We have walked through the earth, and behold +all the earth is inhabited, and is at rest. + +1:12. And the angel of the Lord answered, and said: O Lord of hosts, +how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the cities of +Juda, with which thou hast been angry? this is now the seventieth year. + +The seventieth year. . .Viz., from the beginning of the seige of +Jerusalem, in the ninth year of king Sedecias, to the second year of +king Darius. These seventy years of the desolation of Jerusalem and the +cities of Juda, are different from the seventy years of captivity +foretold by Jeremias; which began in the fourth year of Joakim, and +ended in the first year of king Cyrus. + +1:13. And the Lord answered the angel, that spoke in me, good words, +comfortable words. + +1:14. And the angel that spoke in me, said to me: Cry thou, saying: +Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Jerusalem, and Sion with +a great zeal. + +1:15. And I am angry with a great anger with the wealthy nations: for I +was angry a little, but they helped forward the evil. + +1:16. Therefore thus saith the Lord: I will return to Jerusalem in +mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts: and +the building line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. + +1:17. Cry yet, saying: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: My cities shall +yet flow with good things: and the Lord will yet comfort Sion, and he +will yet choose Jerusalem. + +1:18. And I lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold four horns. + +Four horns. . .The four horns represent the empires, or kingdoms, that +persecute and oppress the kingdom of God. + +1:19. And I said to the angel that spoke in me: What are these? And he +said to me: These are the horns that have scattered Juda, and Israel, +and Jerusalem. + +1:20. And the Lord shewed me four smiths. + +Four smiths. . .The four smiths, or carpenters ( for faber may signify +either) represent those whom God makes his instruments in bringing to +nothing the power of persecutors. + +1:21. And I said: What come these to do? and he spoke, saying: These +are the horns which have scattered Juda every man apart, and none of +them lifted up his head: and these are come to fray them, to cast down +the horns of the nations, that have lifted up the horn upon the land of +Juda to scatter it. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 2 + + +Under the name of Jerusalem, he prophesieth the progress of the church +of Christ, by the conversion of some Jews and many Gentiles. + +2:1. And I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold a man, with a +measuring line in his hand. + +2:2. And I said: Whither goest thou? and he said to me: To measure +Jerusalem, and to see how great is the breadth thereof, and how great +the length thereof. + +2:3. And behold the angel that spoke in me went forth, and another +angel went out to meet him. + +2:4. And he said to him: Run, speak to this young man, saying: +Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls, by reason of the multitude +of men, and of the beasts in the midst thereof. + +Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls. . .This must be understood +of the spiritual Jerusalem, the church of Christ. + +2:5. And I will be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about: +and I will be in glory in the midst thereof. + +2:6. O, O flee ye out of the land of the north, saith the Lord, for I +have scattered you into the four winds of heaven, saith the Lord. + +2:7. O Sion, flee, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon: + +2:8. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: After the glory he hath sent me +to the nations that have robbed you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth +the apple of my eye: + +2:9. For behold, I lift up my hand upon them, and they shall be a prey +to those that served them: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts +sent me. + +2:10. Sing praise, and rejoice, O daughter of Sion: for behold I come, +and I will dwell in the midst of thee: saith the Lord. + +2:11. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and +they shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: and +thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee. + +2:12. And the Lord shall possess Juda his portion in the sanctified +land: and he shall yet choose Jerusalem. + +2:13. Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is +risen up out of his holy habitation. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 3 + + +In a vision Satan appeareth accusing the high priest. He is cleansed +from his sins. Christ is promised, and great fruit from his passion. + +3:1. And the Lord shewed me Jesus the high priest standing before the +angel of the Lord: and Satan stood on his right hand to be his +adversary. + +Jesus. . .Alias, Josue, the son of Josedec, the high priest of that +time. + +3:2. And the Lord said to Satan: The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan: and the +Lord that chose Jerusalem rebuke thee: Is not this a brand plucked out +of the fire? + +3:3. And Jesus was clothed with filthy garments: and he stood before +the face of the angel. + +With filthy garments. . .Negligences and sins. + +3:4. Who answered, and said to them that stood before him, saying: Take +away the filthy garments from him. And he said to him: Behold I have +taken away thy iniquity, and have clothed thee with change of garments. + +3:5. And he said: Put a clean mitre upon his head: and they put a clean +mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments, and the angel of +the Lord stood. + +3:6. And the angel of the Lord protested to Jesus, saying: + +3:7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and +keep my charge, thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt keep my +courts, and I will give thee some of them that are now present here to +walk with thee. + +I will give thee, etc. . .Angels to attend and assist thee. + +3:8. Hear, O Jesus thou high priest, thou and thy friends that dwell +before thee, for they are portending men: for behold, I WILL BRING MY +SERVANT THE ORIENT. + +Portending men. . .That is, men, who by words and actions are to +foreshew wonders that are to come.--Ibid. My servant the +Orient. . .Christ, who according to his humanity is the servant of God, +is called the Orient from his rising like the sun in the east to +enlighten the world. + +3:9. For behold the stone that I have laid before Jesus: upon one stone +there are seven eyes: behold I will grave the graving thereof, saith +the Lord of hosts: and I will take away the iniquity of that land in +one day. + +The stone. . .Another emblem of Christ, the rock, foundation, and corner +stone of his church.--Ibid. Seven eyes. . .The manifold providence of +Christ over his church, or the seven gifts of the spirit of God.--Ibid. +One day. . .Viz., the day of the passion of Christ, the source of all +our good: when this precious stone shall be graved, that is, cut and +pierced, with whips, thorns, nails, and spear. + +3:10. In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, every man shall call his +friend under the vine and under the fig tree. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 4 + + +The vision of the golden candlestick and seven lamps, and of the two +olive trees. + +4:1. And the angel that spoke in me came again: and he waked me, as a +man that is wakened out of his sleep. + +4:2. And he said to me: What seest thou? And I said: I have looked, +and behold a candlestick all of gold, and its lamp upon the top of it: +and the seven lights thereof upon it: and seven funnels for the lights +that were upon the top thereof. + +A candlestick, etc. . .The temple of God that was then in building; and +in a more sublime sense, the church of Christ. + +4:3. And two olive trees over it: one upon the right side of the lamp, +and the other upon the left side thereof. + +4:4. And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me, saying: +What are these things, my lord? + +4:5. And the angel that spoke in me answered, and said to me: Knowest +thou not what these things are? And I said: No, my lord. + +4:6. And he answered, and spoke to me, saying: This is the word of the +Lord to Zorobabel, saying: Not with an army, nor by might, but by my +spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. + +To Zorobabel. . .This vision was in favour of Zorobabel: to assure him +of success in the building of the temple, which he had begun, signified +by the candlestick; the lamp of which, without any other industry, was +supplied with oil, dropping from the two olive trees, and distributed +by the seven funnels or pipes, to maintain the seven lights. + +4:7. Who art thou, O great mountain, before Zorobabel? thou shalt +become a plain: and he shall bring out the chief stone, and shall give +equal grace to the grace thereof. + +Great mountain. . .So he calls the opposition made by the enemies of +God's people; which nevertheless, without an army or might on their +side, was quashed by divine providence.--Ibid. Shall give equal grace, +etc. . .Shall add grace to grace, or beauty to beauty. + +4:8. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +4:9. The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundations of this house, +and his hands shall finish it: and you shall know that the Lord of +hosts hath sent me to you. + +4:10. For who hath despised little days? and they shall rejoice, and +shall see the tin plummet in the hand of Zorobabel. These are the seven +eyes of the Lord, that run to and fro through the whole earth. + +Little days. . .That is, these small and feeble beginnings of the temple +of God.--Ibid. The tin plummet. . .Literally, the stone of tin. He +means the builder's plummet, which Zorobabel shall hold in his hand for +the finishing the building.--Ibid. The seven eyes. . .The providence of +God, that oversees and orders all things. + +4:11. And I answered, and said to him: What are these two olive trees +upon the right side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof +? + +4:12. And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive +branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of +gold? + +4:13. And he spoke to me, saying: Knowest thou not what these are? And +I said: No, my lord. + +4:14. And he said: These are two sons of oil who stand before the Lord +of the whole earth. + +Two sons of oil. . .That is, the two anointed ones of the Lord; viz., +Jesus the high priest, and Zorobabel the prince. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 5 + + +The vision of the flying volume, and of the woman in the vessel. + +5:1. And I turned and lifted up my eyes: and I saw, and behold a volume +flying. + +A volume. . .That is, a parchment, according to the form of the ancient +books, which, from being rolled up, were called volumes. + +5:2. And he said to me: What seest thou? And I said: I see a volume +flying: the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof +ten cubits. + +5:3. And he said to me: This is the curse that goeth forth over the +face of the earth: for every thief shall be judged as is there written: +and every one that sweareth in like manner shall be judged by it. + +5:4. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts: and it shall come +to the house of the thief, and to the house of him that sweareth +falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and +shall consume it, with the timber thereof, and the stones thereof. + +5:5. And the angel went forth that spoke in me, and he said to me: Lift +up thy eyes, and see what this is, that goeth forth. + +5:6. And I said: What is it? And he said: This is a vessel going +forth. And he said: This is their eye in all the earth. + +This is their eye. . .This is what they fix their eye upon: or this is a +resemblance and figure of them, viz., of sinners. + +5:7. And behold a talent of lead was carried, and behold a woman +sitting in the midst of the vessel. + +5:8. And he said: This is wickedness. And he cast her into the midst of +the vessel, and cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. + +5:9. And I lifted up my eyes and looked: and behold there came out two +women, and wind was in their wings, and they had wings like the wings +of a kite: and they lifted up the vessel between the earth and the +heaven. + +5:10. And I said to the angel that spoke in me: Whither do these carry +the vessel? + +5:11. And he said to me: That a house may be built for it in the land +of Sennaar, and that it may be established, and set there upon its own +basis. + +The land of Sennaar. . .Where Babel or Babylon was built, Gen. 11., +where note, that Babylon in holy writ is often taken for the city of +the devil: that is, for the whole congregation of the wicked: as +Jerusalem is taken for the city and people of God. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 6 + + +The vision of the four chariots. Crowns are ordered for Jesus the high +priest, as a type of Christ. + +6:1. And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and saw: and behold four +chariots came out from the midst of two mountains: and the mountains +were mountains of brass. + +Four chariots. . .The four great empires of the Chaldeans, Persians, +Grecians, and Romans. Or perhaps by the fourth chariot are represented +the kings of Egypt and of Asia, the descendants of Ptolemeus and +Seleucus. + +6:2. In the first chariot were red horses, and in the second chariot +black horses. + +6:3. And in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot +grisled horses, and strong ones. + +6:4. And I answered, and said to the angel that spoke in me: What are +these, my lord? + +6:5. And the angel answered, and said to me: These are the four winds +of the heaven, which go forth to stand before the Lord of all the +earth. + +6:6. That in which were the black horses went forth into the land of +the north, and the white went forth after them: and the grisled went +forth to the land the south. + +The land of the north. . .So Babylon is called; because it lay to the +north in respect of Jerusalem. The black horses, that is, the Medes and +Persians: and after them Alexander and his Greeks, signified by the +white horses, went thither because they conquered Babylon, executed +upon it the judgments of God, which is signified, ver. 8, by the +expression of quieting his spirit.--Ibid. The land of the +south. . .Egypt, which lay to the south of Jerusalem, and was occupied +first by Ptolemeus, and then by the Romans. + +6:7. And they that were most strong, went out, and sought to go, and to +run to and fro through all the earth. And he said: Go, walk throughout +the earth: and they walked throughout the earth. + +6:8. And he called me, and spoke to me, saying: Behold they that go +forth into the land of the north, have quieted my spirit in the land of +the north. + +6:9. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: + +6:10. Take of them of the captivity, of Holdai, and of Tobias, and of +Idaias; thou shalt come in that day, a shalt go into the house of +Josias, the son of Sophonias, who came out of Babylon. + +6:11. And thou shalt take gold and silver: and shalt make crowns, and +thou shalt set them on the head of Jesus the son of Josedec, the high +priest. + +6:12. And thou shalt speak to him, saying: Thus saith the Lord of +hosts, saying: BEHOLD A MAN, THE ORIENT IS HIS NAME: and under him +shall he spring up, a shall build a temple to the Lord. + +6:13. Yea, he shall build a temple to the Lord: and he shall bear the +glory, and shall sit, and rule upon his throne: and he shall be a +priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them +both. + +Between them both. . .That is, he shall unite in himself the two offices +or dignities of king and priest. + +6:14. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and Tobias, and Idaias, and to +Hem, the son of Sophonias, a memorial in the temple of the Lord. + +6:15. And they that are far off, shall come and shall build in the +temple of the Lord: and you shall know that the Lord of hosts sent me +to you. But this shall come to pass, if hearing you will hear the voice +of the Lord your God. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 7 + + +The people inquire concerning fasting: they are admonished to fast from +sin. + +7:1. And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the +word of the Lord came to Zacharias, in the fourth day of the ninth +month, which is Casleu. + +7:2. When Sarasar, and Rogommelech, and the men that were with him, +sent to the house of God, to entreat the face of the Lord: + +7:3. To speak to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts, and to +the prophets, saying: Must I weep in the fifth month, or must I +sanctify myself as I have now done for many years? + +The fifth month. . .They fasted on the tenth day of the fifth month; +because on that day the temple was burnt. Therefore they inquire +whether they are to continue the fast, after the temple is rebuilt. See +this query answered in the 19th verse of the following chapter. + +7:4. And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: + +7:5. Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying: +When you fasted, and mourned in the fifth and the seventh month for +these seventy years: did you keep a fast unto me? + +7:6. And when you did eat and drink, did you not eat for yourselves, +and drink for yourselves? + +7:7. Are not these the words which the Lord spoke by the hand of the +former prophets, when Jerusalem as yet was inhabited, and was wealthy, +both itself and the cities round about it, and there were inhabitants +towards the south, and in the plain? + +7:8. And the word of the Lord came to Zacharias, saying: + +7:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: Judge ye true judgment, and +shew ye mercy and compassion every man to his brother. + +7:10. And oppress not the widow, and the fatherless, and the stranger, +and the poor: and let not a man devise evil in his heart against his +brother. + +7:11. But they would not hearken, and they turned away the shoulder to +depart: and they stopped their ears, not to hear. + +7:12. And they made their heart as the adamant stone, lest they should +hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts sent in his spirit +by the hand of the former prophets: so a great indignation came from +Lord of hosts. + +7:13. And it came to pass that as he spoke, and they heard not: so +shall they cry, and I will not hear, saith the Lord of hosts. + +7:14. And I dispersed them throughout all kingdoms, which they know +not: and the land was left desolate behind them, so that no man passed +through or returned: and they changed the delightful land into a +wilderness. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 8 + + +Joyful promises to Jerusalem: fully verified in the church of Christ. + +8:1. And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: + +8:2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I have been jealous for Sion with a +great jealousy, and with a great indignation have I been jealous for +her. + +8:3. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: I am returned to Sion, and I will +dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city +of truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, The sanctified +mountain. + +8:4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: There shall yet old men and old +women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem: and every man with his staff +in his hand through multitude of days. + +8:5. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls, +playing in the streets thereof. + +8:6. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: If it seem hard in the eyes of the +remnant of this people in those days: shall it be hard in my eyes, +saith the Lord of hosts? + +8:7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will save my people from +the land of the east, and from the land of the going down of the sun. + +8:8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of +Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God in +truth and in justice. + +8:9. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strengthened, you +that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, in +the day that the house of the Lord of hosts was founded, that the +temple might be built. + +8:10. For before those days there was no hire for men, neither was +there hire for beasts, neither was there peace to him that came in, nor +to him that went out, because of the tribulation: and I let all men go +every one against his neighbour. + +8:11. But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people according +to the former days, saith the Lord of hosts. + +8:12. But there shall be the seed of peace: the vine shall yield her +fruit, and the earth shall give her increase, and the heavens shall +give their dew: and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess +all these things. + +8:13. And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the +Gentiles, O house of Juda, and house of Israel: so will I save you, and +you shall be a blessing: fear not, let your hands be strengthened. + +8:14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts: As I purposed io afflict you, +when your fathers had provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord, + +8:15. And I had no mercy: so turning again I have thought in these days +to do good to the house of Juda, and Jerusalem: fear not. + +8:16. These then are the things, which you shall do: Speak ye truth +every one to his neighbour; judge ye truth and judgment of peace in +your gates. + +8:17. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his +friend: and love not a false oath: for all these are the things that I +hate, saith the Lord. + +8:18. And the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: + +8:19. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and +the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the +tenth shall be to the house of Juda, joy, and gladness, and great +solemnities: only love ye truth and peace. + +The fast of the fourth month, etc. . .They fasted, on the ninth day of +the fourth month, because on that day Nabuchodonosor took Jerusalem, +Jer. 52.6. On the tenth day of the fifth month, because on that day the +temple was burnt, Jer. 52.12. On the third day of the seventh month, +for the murder of Godolias, Jer. 41.2. And on the tenth day of the +tenth month, because on that day the Chaldeans began to besiege +Jerusalem, 4 Kings 25.1. All these fasts, if they will be obedient for +the future, shall be changed, as is here promised, into joyful +solemnities. + +8:20. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, until people come and dwell in many +cities, + +8:21. And the inhabitants go one to another, saying: Let us go, and +entreat the face of the Lord, and let us seek the Lord of hosts: I also +will go. + +8:22. And many peoples, and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord +of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the face of the Lord. + +8:23. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: In those days, wherein ten men of +all languages of the Gentiles shall take hold, and shall hold fast the +skirt of one that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you: for we have +heard that God is with you. + +Ten men, etc. . .Many of the Gentiles became proselytes to the Jewish +religion before Christ: but many more were converted to Christ by the +apostles and other preachers of the Jewish nation. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 9 + + +God will defend his church, and bring over even her enemies to the +faith. The meek coming of Christ, to bring peace, to deliver the +captives by his blood, and to give us all good things. + +9:1. The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and of +Damascus the rest thereof: for the eye of man, and of all the tribes of +Israel is the Lord's. + +Hadrach. . .Syria. + +9:2. Emath also in the borders thereof, and Tyre, and Sidon: for they +have taken to themselves to be exceeding wise. + +9:3. And Tyre hath built herself a strong hold, and heaped together +silver as earth, and gold as the mire of the streets. + +9:4. Behold the Lord shall possess her, and shall strike her strength +in the sea, and she shall be devoured with fire. + +9:5. Ascalon shall see, and shall fear, and Gaza, and shall be very +sorrowful: and Accaron, because her hope is confounded: and the king +shall perish from Gaza, and Ascalon shall not be inhabited. + +9:6. And the divider shall sit in Azotus, and I will destroy the pride +of the Philistines. + +9:7. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his +abominations from between his teeth: and even he shall be left to our +God, and he shall be as a governor in Juda, and Accaron as a Jebusite. + +His blood. . .It is spoken of the Philistines, and particularly of +Azotus, (where the temple of Dagon was,) and contains a prophecy of the +conversion of that people from their bloody sacrifices and abominations +to the worship of the true God. + +9:8. And I will encompass my house with them that serve me in war, +going and returning, and the oppressor shall no more pass through them: +for now I have seen with my eyes. + +That serve me in war. . .Viz., the Machabees. + +9:9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of +Jerusalem: BEHOLD THY KING will come to thee, the just and saviour: he +is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass. + +9:10. And I will destroy the chariot out of Ephraim, and the horse out +of Jerusalem, and the bow for war shall be broken: and he shall speak +peace to the Gentiles, and his power shall be from sea to sea, and from +the rivers even to the end of the earth. + +9:11. Thou also by the blood of thy testament hast sent forth thy +prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. + +9:12. Return to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope, I will render +thee double as I declare today. + +9:13. Because I have bent Juda for me as a bow, I have filled Ephraim: +and I will raise up thy sons, O Sion, above thy sons, O Greece, and I +will make thee as the sword of the mighty. + +Thy sons, O Sion, etc. . .Viz., the apostles, who, in the spiritual way, +conquered the Greeks, and subdued them to Christ. + +9:14. And the Lord God shall be seen over them, and his dart shall go +forth as lightning: and the Lord God will sound the trumpet, and go in +the whirlwind of the south. + +9:15. The Lord of hosts will protect them: and they shall devour, and +subdue with the stones of the sling: and drinking they shall be +inebriated as it were with wine, and they shall be filled as bowls, and +as the horns of the altar. + +9:16. And the Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock +of his people: for holy stones shall be lifted up over his land. + +Holy stones. . .The apostles, who shall be as pillars and monuments in +the church. + +9:17. For what is the good thing of him, and what is his beautiful +thing, but the corn of the elect, and wine springing forth virgins? + +The corn, etc. . .His most excellent gift is the blessed Eucharist, +called here The corn, that is, the bread of the elect, and the wine +springing forth virgins; that is, maketh virgins to bud, or spring +forth, as it were, like flowers among thorns; because it has a +wonderful efficacy to give and preserve purity. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 10 + + +God is to be sought to, and not idols. The victories of his church, +which shall arise originally from the Jewish nation. + +10:1. Ask ye of the Lord rain in the latter season, and the Lord will +make snows, and will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in +the field. + +10:2. For the idols have spoken what was unprofitable, and the diviners +have seen a lie, and the dreamers have spoken vanity: they comforted in +vain: therefore they were led away as a flock: they shall be afflicted, +because they have no shepherd. + +10:3. My wrath is kindled against the shepherds, and I will visit upon +the buck goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house +of Juda, and hath made them as the horse of his glory in the battle. + +10:4. Out of him shall come forth the corner, out of him the pin, out +of him the bow of battle, out of him ever exacter together. + +10:5. And they shall be as mighty men, treading under foot the mire of +the ways in battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with +them, and the riders of horses shall be confounded. + +10:6. And I will strengthen the house of Juda, and save the house of +Joseph: and I will bring them back again, because I will have mercy on +them: and they shall be as they were when I had not cast them off, for +I am the Lord their God, and will hear them. + +10:7. And they shall be as the valiant men of Ephraim, and their heart +shall rejoice as through wine: and their children shall see, and shall +rejoice, and their heart shall be joyful in the Lord. + +10:8. I will whistle for them, and I will gather them together, because +I have redeemed them: and I will multiply them as they were multiplied +before. + +10:9. And I will sow them among peoples: and from afar they shall +remember me: and they shall live with their children, and shall return. + +10:10. And I will bring them back out of the land of Egypt, and I will +gather them from among the Assyrians: and will bring them to the land +of Galaad, and Libanus, and place shall not be found for them. + +10:11. And he shall pass over the strait of the sea, and shall strike +the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the river shall be +confounded, and the pride of Assyria shall be humbled, and the sceptre +of Egypt shall depart. + +10:12. I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk in his +name, saith the Lord. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 11 + + +The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. God's dealings with the +Jews, and their reprobation. + +11:1. Open thy gates, O Libanus, and let fire devour thy cedars. + +O Libanus. . .So Jerusalem, and more particularly the temple, is called +by the prophets, from its height, and from its being built of the +cedars of Libanus.--Ibid. Thy cedars. . .Thy princes and chief men. + +11:2. Howl, thou fir tree, for the cedar is fallen, for the mighty are +laid waste: howl, ye oaks of Basan, because the fenced forest is cut +down. + +11:3. The voice of the howling of the shepherds, because their glory is +laid waste: the voice of the roaring of the lions, because the pride of +the Jordan is spoiled. + +11:4. Thus saith the Lord my God: Feed the flock of the slaughter, + +11:5. Which they that possessed, slew, and repented not, and they sold +them, saying: Blessed be the Lord, we are become rich: and their +shepherds spared them not. + +11:6. And I will no more spare the inhabitants of the land, saith the +Lord: behold I will deliver the men, every one into his neighbour's +hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall destroy the land, +and I will not deliver it out of their hand. + +Every one into his neighbour's hand, etc. . .This alludes to the last +siege of Jerusalem, in which the different factions of the Jews +destroyed one another; and they that remained fell into the hands of +their king, that is, of the Roman emperor, of whom they had said, John +19.15, we have no king but Caesar. + +11:7. And I will feed the flock of slaughter for this, O ye poor of the +flock. And I took unto me two rods, one I called Beauty, and the other +I called a Cord, and I fed the flock. + +Two rods. . .Or shepherd's staves, meaning the different ways of God's +dealing with his people; the one, by sweet means, called the rod of +Beauty: the other, by bands and punishments, called the Cord. And where +both these rods are made of no use or effect by the obstinacy of +sinners, the rods are broken, and such sinners are given up to a +reprobate sense, as the Jews were. + +11:8. And I cut off three shepherds in one month, and my soul was +straitened in their regard: for their soul also varied in my regard. + +Three shepherds in one month. . .That is, in a very short time. By these +three shepherds probably are meant the latter princes and high priests +of the Jews, whose reign was short. + +11:9. And I said: I will not feed you: that which dieth, let it die: +and that which is cut off, let it be cut off: and let the rest devour +every one the flesh of his neighbour. + +11:10. And I took my rod that was called Beauty, and I cut it asunder +to make void my covenant, which I had made with all people. + +11:11. And it was made void in that day: and so the poor of the flock +that keep for me, understood that it is the word of the Lord. + +11:12. And I said to them: If it be good in your eyes, bring hither my +wages: and if not, be quiet. And they weighed for my wages thirty +pieces of silver. + +11:13. And the Lord said to me: Cast it to the statuary, a handsome +price, that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty pieces of +silver, and I cast them into the house of the Lord to the statuary. + +The statuary. . .The Hebrew word signifies also a potter. + +11:14. And I cut off my second rod that was called a Cord, that I might +break the brotherhood between Juda and Israel. + +11:15. And the Lord said to me: Take to thee yet the instruments of a +foolish shepherd. + +A foolish shepherd. . .This was to represent the foolish, that is, the +wicked princes and priests that should rule the people, before their +utter desolation. + +11:16. For behold I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who shall not +visit what is forsaken, nor seek what is scattered, nor heal what is +broken, nor nourish that which standeth, and he shall eat the flesh of +the fat ones, and break their hoofs. + +11:17. O shepherd, and idol, that forsaketh the flock: the sword upon +his arm and upon his right eye: his arm shall quite wither away, and +his right eye shall be utterly darkened. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 12 + + +God shall protect his church against her persecutors. The mourning of +Jerusalem. + +12:1. The burden of the word of the Lord upon Israel. Thus saith the +Lord, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundations of +the earth, and formeth the spirit of man in him: + +12:2. Behold I will make Jerusalem a lintel of surfeiting to all the +people round about: and Juda also shall be in the siege against +Jerusalem. + +A lintel of surfeiting. . .That is, a door into which they shall seek to +enter, to glut themselves with blood; but they shall stumble, and fall +like men stupefied with wine. It seems to allude to the times of +Antiochus, and to the victories of the Machabees. + +12:3. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem +a burdensome stone to all people: all that shall lift it up shall be +rent and torn, and all the kingdoms of the earth shall be gathered +together against her. + +12:4. In that day, saith the Lord, I will strike every horse with +astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open my eyes upon +the house of Juda, and will strike every horse of the nations with +blindness. + +12:5. And the governors of Juda shall say in their heart: Let the +inhabitants of Jerusalem be strengthened for me in the Lord of hosts, +their God. + +12:6. In that day I will make the governors of Juda like a furnace of +fire amongst wood, and as a firebrand amongst hay: and they shall +devour all the people round about, to the right hand, and to the left: +and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place in Jerusalem. + +12:7. And the Lord shall save the tabernacles of Jada, as in the +beginning: that the house of David, and the glory of the inhabitants of +Jerusalem, may not boast and magnify themselves against Juda. + +12:8. In that day shall the Lord protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, +and he that hath offended among them in that day shall be as David: and +the house of David, as that of God, as an angel of the Lord in their +sight. + +12:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to +destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. + +12:10. And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the +inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace, and of prayers: and they +shall look upon me, whom they have pierced: and they shall mourn for +him as one mourneth for an only son, and they shall grieve over him, as +the manner is to grieve for the death of the firstborn. + +12:11. In that day there shall be a great lamentation in Jerusalem like +the lamentation of Adadremmon in the plain of Mageddon. + +Adadremmon. . .A place near Mageddon, where the good king Josias was +slain, and much lamented by his people. + +12:12. And the land shall mourn: families and families apart: the +families of the house of David apart, and their women apart: + +12:13. The families of the house of Nathan apart, and their women +apart: the families of the house of Levi apart, and their women apart: +the families of Semei apart, and their women apart. + +12:14. All the rest of the families, families and families apart, and +their women apart. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 13 + + +The fountain of Christ. Idols and false prophets shall be extirpated: +Christ shall suffer: his people shall be tried by fire. + +13:1. In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David, +and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: for the washing of the sinner, and +of the unclean woman. + +13:2. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, +that I will destroy the names of idols out of the earth, and they shall +be remembered no more: and I will take away the false prophets, and the +unclean spirit out of the earth. + +13:3. And it shall come to pass, that when any man shall prophesy any +more, his father and his mother that brought him into the world, shall +say to him: Thou shalt not live: because thou hast spoken a lie in the +name of the Lord. And his father, and his mother, his parents, shall +thrust him through, when he shall prophesy. + +13:4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be +confounded, every one by his own vision, when he shall prophesy, +neither shall they be clad with a garment of sackcloth, to deceive: + +13:5. But he shall say: I am no prophet, I am a husbandman: for Adam is +my example from my youth. + +13:6. And they shall say to him: What are these wounds in the midst of +thy hands? And he shall say: With these I was wounded in the house of +them that loved me. + +13:7. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that +cleaveth to me, saith the Lord of hosts: strike the shepherd, and the +sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand to the little ones. + +13:8. And there shall be in all the earth, saith the Lord, two parts in +it shall be scattered, and shall perish: but the third part shall be +left therein. + +13:9. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine +them as silver is refined: and I will try them as gold is tried. They +shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say: Thou art my +people: and they shall say: The Lord is my God. + + + +Zacharias Chapter 14 + + +After the persecutions of the church shall follow great prosperity. +Persecutors shall be punished: so shall all that will not serve God in +his church. + +14:1. Behold the days of the Lord shall come, and thy spoils shall be +divided in the midst of thee. + +14:2. And I will gather all nations to Jerusalem to battle, and the +city shall be taken, and the houses shall be rifled, and the women +shall be defiled: and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, +and the rest of the people shall not be taken away out of the city. + +I will gather, etc. . .This seems to be a prophecy of what was done by +Antiochus. + +14:3. Then the Lord shall go forth, and shall fight against those +nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. + +14:4. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, +which is over against Jerusalem towards the east: and the mount of +Olives shall be divided in the midst thereof to the east, and to the +west with a very great opening, and half of the mountain shall be +separated to the north, and half thereof to the south. + +14:5. And you shall flee to the valley of those mountains, for the +valley of the mountains shall be joined even to the next, and you shall +flee as you fled from the face of the earthquake in the days of Ozias +king of Juda: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with +him. + +14:6. And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall be no +light, but cold and frost. + +No light. . .Viz., in that dismal time of persecution of Antiochus, when +it was neither day nor night: (ver. 7) because they neither had the +comfortable light of the day, nor the repose of the night. + +14:7. And there shall be one day, which is known to the Lord, not day +nor night: and in the time of the evening there shall be light: + +In the time of the evening there shall be light. . .An unexpected light +shall arise by the means of the Machabees, when things shall seem to be +at the worst. + +14:8. And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall +go out from Jerusalem: half of them to the east sea, and half of them +to the last sea: they shall be in summer and in winter. + +Living waters. . .Viz., the gospel of Christ. + +14:9. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day there +shall be one Lord, and his name shall be one. + +14:10. And all the land shall return even to the desert, from the hill +to Remmon to the south of Jerusalem: and she shall be exalted, and +shall dwell in her own place, from the gate of Benjamin even to the +place of the former gate, and even to the gate of the corners: and from +the tower of Hananeel even to the king's winepresses. + +All the land shall return, etc. . .This, in some measure, was verified +by the means of the Machabees: but is rather to be taken in a spiritual +sense, as relating to the propagation of the church, and kingdom of +Christ, the true Jerusalem, which alone shall never fall under the +anathema of destruction, or God's curse. + +14:11. And people shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more an +anathema: but Jerusalem shall sit secure. + +14:12. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord shall strike all +nations that have fought against Jerusalem: the flesh of every one +shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes +shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away +in their mouth. + +The flesh of every one shall consume, etc. . .Such judgments as these +have often fallen upon the persecutors of God's church, as appears by +many instances in history. + +14:13. In that day there shall be a great tumult from the Lord among +them: and a man shall take the hand of his neighbour, and his hand +shall be clasped upon his neighbour's hand. + +14:14. And even Juda shall fight against Jerusalem: and the riches of +all nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, +and garments in great abundance. + +Even Juda, etc. . .The carnal Jews, and other false brothers, shall join +in persecuting the church. + +14:15. And the destruction of the horse, and of the mule, and of the +camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts, that shall be in those +tents, shall be like this destruction. + +Shall be like this destruction. . .That is, the beasts shall be +destroyed as well as the men: the common soldiers as well as their +leaders. + +14:16. And all they that shall be left of all nations that came against +Jerusalem, shall go up from year to year, to adore the King, the Lord +of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. + +They that shall be left, etc. . .That is, many of them that persecuted +the church shall be converted to its faith and communion.--Ibid. To keep +the feast of tabernacles. . .This feast was kept by the Jews in memory +of their sojourning forty years in the desert, in their way to the land +of promise. And in the spiritual sense is duly kept by all such +Christians as in their earthly pilgrimage are continually advancing +toward their true home, the heavenly Jerusalem; by the help of the +sacraments and sacrifice of the church. And they that neglect this must +not look for the kind showers of divine grace, to give fruitfulness to +their souls. + +14:17. And it shall come to pass, that he that shall not go up of the +families of the land to Jerusalem, to adore the King, the Lord of +hosts, there shall be no rain upon them. + +14:18. And if the family of Egypt go not up nor come: neither shall it +be upon them, but there shall be destruction wherewith the Lord will +strike all nations that will not go up to keep the feast of +tabernacles. + +14:19. This shall be the sin of Egypt, and this the sin of all nations, +that will not go up to keep the feast of tabernacles. + +14:20. In that day that which is upon the bridle of the horse shall be +holy to the Lord: and the caldrons in the house of the Lord shall be as +the phials before the altar. + +That which is upon the bridle, etc. . .The golden ornaments of the +bridles, etc., shall be turned into offerings in the house of God. And +there shall be an abundance of caldrons and phials for the sacrifices +of the temple; by which is meant, under a figure, the great resort +there shall be to the temple, that is, to the church of Christ, and her +sacrifice. + +14:21. And every caldron in Jerusalem and Juda shall be sanctified to +the Lord of hosts: and all that sacrifice shall come, and take of them, +and shall seethe in them: and the merchant shall be no more in the +house of the Lord of hosts in that day. + +The merchant shall be no more, etc. . .Or, as some render it, The +Chanaanite shall be no more, etc., that is, the profane and unbelievers +shall have no title to be in the house of the Lord. Or there shall be +no occasion for buyers or sellers of oxen, or sheep, or doves, in the +house of God, such as Jesus Christ cast out of the temple. + + + + +THE PROPHECY OF MALACHIAS + + + +MALACHIAS, whose name signifies The Angel of the Lord, was contemporary +with NEHEMIAS, and by some is believed to have been the same person as +ESDRAS. He was the last of the prophets, in the order of time, and +flourished about four hundred years before Christ. He foretells the +coming of Christ; the reprobation of the Jews and their sacrifices; and +the calling of the Gentiles, who shall offer up to God in every place +an acceptable sacrifice. + + + +Malachias Chapter 1 + + +God reproaches the Jews with their ingratitude: and the priests for not +offering pure sacrifices. He will accept of the sacrifice that shall be +offered in every place among the Gentiles. + +1:1. The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by the hand of +Malachias. + +1:2. I have loved you, saith the Lord: and you have said: Wherein hast +thou loved us? Was not Esau brother to Jacob, saith the Lord, and I +have loved Jacob, + +I have loved Jacob, etc. . .I have preferred his posterity, to make them +my chosen people, and to lead them with my blessings, without any merit +on their part, and though they have been always ungrateful; whilst I +have rejected Esau, and executed severe judgments upon his posterity. +Not that God punished Esau, or his posterity, beyond their desert: but +that by his free election and grace he loved Jacob, and favoured his +posterity above their deserts. See the annotations upon Rom. 9. + +1:3. But have hated Esau? and I have made his mountains a wilderness, +and given his inheritance to the dragons of the desert. + +1:4. But if Edom shall say: We are destroyed, but we will return and +build up what hath been destroyed: thus saith the Lord of hosts: They +shall build up, and I will throw down: and they shall be called the +borders of wickedness, and the people with whom the Lord is angry for +ever. + +1:5. And your eyes shall see: and you shall say: The Lord be magnified +upon the border of Israel. + +1:6. The son honoureth the father, and the servant his master: if then +I be a father, where is my honour? and if I be a master, where is my +fear: saith the Lord of hosts. + +1:7. To you, O priests, that despise my name, and have said: Wherein +have we despised thy name? You offer polluted bread upon my altar, and +you say: Wherein have we polluted thee? In that you say: The table of +the Lord is contemptible. + +1:8. If you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you +offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it to thy prince, if +he will be pleased with it, or if he will regard thy face, saith the +Lord of hosts. + +1:9. And now beseech ye the face of God, that he may have mercy on you, +(for by your hand hath this been done,) if by any means he will receive +your faces, saith the Lord of hosts. + +1:10. Who is there among you, that will shut the doors, and will kindle +the fire on my altar gratis? I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord +of hosts: and I will not receive a gift of your hand. + +1:11. For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is +great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and +there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great +among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts. + +A clean oblation. . .Viz., the precious body and blood of Christ in the +eucharistic sacrifice. + +1:12. And you have profaned it in that you say: The table of the Lord +is defiled: and that which is laid thereupon is contemptible with the +fire that devoureth it. + +1:13. And you have said: Behold of our labour, and you puffed it away, +saith the Lord of hosts, and you brought in of rapine the lame, and the +sick, and brought in an offering: shall I accept it at your hands, +saith the Lord? + +Behold of our labour, etc. . .You pretended labour and weariness, when +you brought your offering; and so made it of no value, by offering it +with an evil mind. Moreover, what you offered was both defective in +itself, and gotten by rapine and extortion. + +1:14. Cursed is the deceitful man that hath in his flock a male, and +making a vow offereth in sacrifice that which is feeble to the Lord: +for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful +among the Gentiles. + + + +Malachias Chapter 2 + + +The priests are sharply reproved for neglecting their covenant. The +evil of marrying with idolaters: and too easily putting away their +wives. + +2:1. And now, O ye priests, this commandment is to you. + +2:2. If you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give +glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts: I will send poverty upon +you, and will curse your blessings, yea I will curse them, because you +have not laid it to heart. + +2:3. Behold, I will cast the shoulder to you, and will scatter upon +your face the dung of your solemnities, and it shall take you away with +it. + +I will cast the shoulder to you. . .I will cast away the shoulder, which +in the law was appointed to be your portion, and fling it at you in my +anger: and will reject both you and your festivals like dung. + +2:4. And you shall know that I sent you this commandment, that my +covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. + +2:5. My covenant was with him of life and peace: and I gave him fear: +and he feared me, and he was afraid before my name. + +2:6. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in +his lips: he walked with me in peace, and in equity, and turned many +away from iniquity. + +2:7. For the lips of the priests shall keep knowledge, and they shall +seek the law at his mouth: because he is the angel of the Lord of +hosts. + +The angel. . .Viz., the minister and messenger. + +2:8. But you have departed out of the way, and have caused many to +stumble at the law: you have made void the covenant of Levi, saith the +Lord of hosts. + +2:9. Therefore have I also made you contemptible, and base before all +people, as you have not kept my ways, and have accepted persons in the +law. + +2:10. Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why then +doth every one of us despise his brother, violating the covenant of our +fathers? + +2:11. Juda hath transgressed, and abomination hath been committed in +Israel, and in Jerusalem: for Juda hath profaned the holiness of the +Lord, which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. + +2:12. The Lord will cut off the man that hath done this, both the +master, and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that +offereth an offering to the Lord of hosts. + +2:13. And this again have you done, you have covered the altar of the +Lord with tears, with weeping, and bellowing, so that I have no more a +regard to sacrifice, neither do I accept any atonement at your hands. + +With tears. . .Viz., by occasion of your wives, whom you have put away: +and who came to weep and lament before the altar. + +2:14. And you have said: For what cause? Because the Lord hath been +witness between thee, and the wife of thy youth, whom thou hast +despised: yet she was thy partner, and the wife of thy covenant. + +2:15. Did not one make her, and she is the residue of his spirit? And +what doth one seek, but the seed of God? Keep then your spirit, and +despise not the wife of thy youth. + +2:16. When thou shalt hate her put her away, saith the Lord, the God of +Israel: but iniquity shalt cover his garment, saith the Lord of hosts, +keep your spirit, and despise not. + +Iniquity shall cover his garment. . .Viz., of every man that putteth +away his wife without just cause; notwithstanding that God permitted it +in the law, to prevent the evil of murder. + +2:17. You have wearied the Lord with your words, and you said: Wherein +have we wearied him? In that you say: Every one that doth evil, is good +in the sight of the Lord, and such please him: or surely where is the +God of judgment? + + + +Malachias Chapter 3 + + +Christ shall come to his temple, and purify the priesthood. They that +continue in their evil ways shall be punished: but true penitents shall +receive a blessing. + +3:1. Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my +face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the +testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold, he +cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. + +My angel. . .Viz., John the Baptist, the messenger of God, and +forerunner of Christ. + +3:2. And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who +shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the +fuller's herb: + +3:3. And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall +purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, +and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. + +3:4. And the sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord, +as in the days of old, and in the ancient years. + +3:5. And I will come to you in judgment, and will be a speedy witness +against sorcerers, and adulterers, and false swearers, and them that +oppress the hireling in his wages, the widows, and the fatherless: and +oppress the stranger, and have not feared me, saith the Lord of hosts. + +3:6. For I am the Lord, and I change not: and you the sons of Jacob are +not consumed. + +3:7. For from the days of your fathers you have departed from my +ordinances, and have not kept them: Return to me, and I will return to +you, saith the Lord of hosts. And you have said: Wherein shall we +return? + +3:8. Shall a man afflict God, for you afflict me. And you have said: +Wherein do we afflict thee? in tithes and in firstfruits. + +3:9. And you are cursed with want, and you afflict me, even the whole +nation of you. + +3:10. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat +in my house, and try me in this, saith the Lord: if I open not unto you +the flood-gates of heaven, and pour you out a blessing even to +abundance. + +3:11. And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he shall not +spoil the fruit of your land: neither shall the vine in the field be +barren, saith the Lord of hosts. + +3:12. And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a +delightful land, saith the Lord of hosts. + +3:13. Your words have been unsufferable to me, saith the Lord. + +3:14. And you have said: What have we spoken against thee? You have +said: He laboureth in vain that serveth God, and what profit is it that +we have kept his ordinances, and that we have walked sorrowful before +the Lord of hosts? + +3:15. Wherefore now we call the proud people happy, for they that work +wickedness are built up, and they have tempted God and are preserved. + +3:16. Then they that feared the Lord, spoke every one with his +neighbour: and the Lord gave ear, and heard it: and a book of +remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord, and +think on his name. + +3:17. And they shall be my special possession, saith the Lord of hosts, +in the day that I do judgment: and I will spare them, as a man spareth +his son that serveth him. + +3:18. And you shall return, and shall see the difference between the +just and the wicked: and between him that serveth God, and him that +serveth him not. + + + +Malachias Chapter 4 + + +The judgment of the wicked, and reward of the just. An exhortation to +observe the law. Elias shall come for the conversion of the Jews. + +4:1. For behold the day shall come kindled as a furnace: and all the +proud, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that +cometh shall set them on fire, saith the Lord of hosts, it shall not +leave them root, nor branch. + +4:2. But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, +and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like +calves of the herd. + +4:3. And you shall tread down the wicked when they shall be ashes under +the sole of your feet in the day that I do this, saith the Lord of +hosts. + +4:4. Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him in +Horeb for all Israel, the precepts, and judgments. + +4:5. Behold, I will send you Elias the prophet, before the coming of +the great and dreadful day of the Lord. + +4:6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and +the heart of the children to their fathers: lest I come, and strike the +earth with anathema. + +He shall turn the heart, etc. . .By bringing over the Jews to the faith +of Christ, he shall reconcile them to their fathers, viz., the +partiarchs and prophets; whose hearts for many ages have been turned +away from them, because of their refusing to believe in Christ.--Ibid. +With anathema. . .In the Hebrew, Cherem, that is, with utter +destruction. + + + + +THE FIRST BOOK OF MACHABEES + + + +These books are so called, because they contain the history of the +people of God under the command of Judas Machabeus and his brethren: +and he, as some will have it, was surnamed Machabeus, from carrying in +his ensigns, or standards, those words of Exodus 15.11, Who is like to +thee among the strong, O Lord: in which the initial letters, in the +Hebrew, are M. C. B. E. I. It is not known who is the author of these +books. But as to their authority, though they are not received by the +Jews, saith St. Augustine, (lib. 18, De Civ. Dei, c. 36,) they are +received by the church: who, in settling her canon of the scriptures, +chose rather to be directed by the tradition she had received from the +apostles of Christ, than by that of the scribes and Pharisees. And as +the church has declared these two Books canonical, even in two general +councils, viz., Florence and Trent, there can be no doubt of their +authenticity. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 1 + + +The reign of Alexander and his successors: Antiochus rifles and +profanes the temple of God: and persecutes unto death all that will not +forsake the law of God, and the religion of their fathers. + +1:1. Now it came to pass, after that Alexander the son of Philip the +Macedonian, who first reigned in Greece, coming out of the land of +Cethim, had overthrown Darius, king of the Persians and Medes: + +1:2. He fought many battles, and took the strong holds of all, and slew +the kings of the earth: + +1:3. And he went through even to the ends of the earth: and took the +spoils of many nations: and the earth was quiet before him. + +1:4. And he gathered a power, and a very strong army: and his heart was +exalted and lifted up: + +1:5. And he subdued countries of nations, and princes; and they became +tributaries to him. + +1:6. And after these things, he fell down upon his bed, and knew that +he should die. + +1:7. And he called his servants, the nobles that were brought up with +him from his youth: and he divided his kingdom among them, while he was +yet alive. + +Divided his kingdom, etc. . .This is otherwise related by Q. Curtius; +though he acknowledges that divers were of that opinion, and that it +had been delivered by some authors, lib. 10. But here we find from the +sacred text, that he was in error. + +1:8. And Alexander reigned twelve years, and he died. + +1:9. And his servants made themselves kings, every one in his place: + +1:10. And they all put crowns upon themselves after his death, and +their sons after them, many years; and evils were multiplied in the +earth. + +1:11. And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus the +Illustrious, the son of king Antiochus, who had been a hostage at Rome: +and he reigned in the hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of +the Greeks. + +Antiochus the Illustrius. . .Epiphanes, the younger son of Antiochus the +Great, who usurped the kingdom, to the prejudice of his nephew +Demetrius, son of his elder brother Seleucus Philopater.--Ibid. Of the +kingdom of the Greeks. . .Counting, not from the beginning of the reign +of Alexander, but from the first year of Seleucus Nicator. + +1:12. In those days there went out of Israel wicked men, and they +persuaded many, saying: Let us go and make a covenant with the heathens +that are round about us: for since we departed from them, many evils +have befallen us. + +1:13. And the word seemed good in their eyes. + +1:14. And some of the people determined to do this, and went to the +king: and he gave them license to do after the ordinances of the +heathens. + +1:15. And they built a place of exercise in Jerusalem, according to the +laws of the nations: + +1:16. And they made themselves prepuces, and departed from the holy +covenant, and joined themselves to the heathens, and were sold to do +evil: + +1:17. And the kingdom was established before Antiochus, and he had a +mind to reign over the land of Egypt, that he might reign over two +kingdoms. + +1:18. And he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, +and elephants, and horsemen, and a great number of ships: + +1:19. And he made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt; but Ptolemee was +afraid at his presence and fled, and many were wounded unto death. + +1:20. And he took the strong cities in the land of Egypt: and he took +the spoils of the land of Egypt. + +1:21. And after Antiochus had ravaged Egypt, in the hundred and +forty-third year, he returned and went up against Israel. + +1:22. And he went up to Jerusalem, with a great multitude. + +1:23. And he proudly entered into the sanctuary, and took away the +golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels +thereof, and the table of proposition, and the pouring vessels, and the +vials, and the little mortars of gold, and the veil, and the crowns, +and the golden ornament that was before the temple: and he broke them +all in pieces. + +1:24. And he took the silver and gold, and the precious vessels: and he +took the hidden treasures, which he found: and when he had taken all +away, he departed into his own country. + +1:25. And he made a great slaughter of men, and spoke very proudly. + +1:26. And there was great mourning in Israel, and in every place where +they were: + +1:27. And the princes, and the ancients mourned, and the virgins and +the young men were made feeble, and the beauty of the women was +changed. + +1:28. Every bridegroom took up lamentation: and the bride that sat in +the marriage bed, mourned: + +1:29. And the land was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the +house of Jacob was covered with confusion. + +1:30. And after two full years, the king sent the chief collector of +his tributes to the cities of Juda, and he came to Jerusalem with a +great multitude. + +The chief collector, etc. . .Apollonius. + +1:31. And he spoke to them peaceable words in deceit; and they believed +him. + +1:32. And he fell upon the city suddenly, and struck it with a great +slaughter, and destroyed much people in Israel. + +1:33. And he took the spoils of the city, and burnt it with fire, and +threw down the houses thereof, and the walls thereof round about: + +1:34. And they took the women captive, and the children, and the cattle +they possessed. + +1:35. And they built the city of David with a great and strong wall, +and with strong towers, and made it a fortress for them: + +The city of David. . .That is, the castle of Sion. + +1:36. And they placed there a sinful nation, wicked men, and they +fortified themselves therein: and they stored up armour; and victuals, +and gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem; + +1:37. And laid them up there: and they became a great snare. + +1:38. And this was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an +evil devil in Israel. + +An evil devil. . .That is, an adversary watching constantly to do harm, +as the evil spirit is always watching and seeking whom he may devour. + +1:39. And they shed innocent blood round about the sanctuary, and +defiled the holy place. + +1:40. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled away by reason of them and +the city was made the habitation of strangers, and she became a +stranger to her own seed, and her children forsook her. + +1:41. Her sanctuary was desolate like a wilderness, her festival days +were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach, her honours were +brought to nothing. + +1:42. Her dishonour was increased according to her glory, and her +excellency was turned into mourning. + +1:43. And king Antiochus wrote to all his kingdom, that all the people +should be one: and every one should leave his own law. + +1:44. And all nations consented, according to the word of king +Antiochus. + +1:45. And many of Israel consented to his service, and they sacrificed +to idols, and profaned the sabbath. + +1:46. And the king sent letters by the hands of messengers to +Jerusalem, and to all the cities of Juda; that they should follow the +law of the nations of the earth. + +1:47. And should forbid holocausts and sacrifices, and atonements to be +made in the temple of God. + +1:48. And should prohibit the sabbath, and the festival days to be +celebrated. + +1:49. And he commanded the holy places to be profaned, and the holy +people of Israel. + +1:50. And he commanded altars to be built, and temples, and idols, and +swine's flesh to be immolated, and unclean beasts, + +1:51. And that they should leave their children uncircumcised, and let +their souls be defiled with all uncleannesses, and abominations, to the +end that they should forget the law, and should change all the +justifications of God. + +1:52. And that whosoever would not do according to the word of king +Antiochus, should be put to death. + +1:53. According to all these words he wrote to his whole kingdom: and +he appointed rulers over the people that should force them to do these +things. + +1:54. And they commanded the cities of Juda to sacrifice. + +1:55. Then many of the people were gathered to them that had forsaken +the law of the Lord: and they committed evils in the land: + +1:56. And they drove away the people of Israel into lurking holes, and +into the secret places of fugitives. + +1:57. On the fifteenth day of the month, Casleu, in the hundred and +forty-fifth year, king Antiochus set up the abominable idol of +desolation upon the altar of God, and they built altars throughout all +the cities of Juda round about: + +The abominable idol, etc. . .Viz., the statue of Jupiter Olympius. + +1:58. And they burnt incense, and sacrificed at the doors of the houses +and in the streets. + +1:59. And they cut in pieces, and burnt with fire the books of the law +of God: + +1:60. And every one with whom the books of the testament of the Lord +were found, and whosoever observed the law of the Lord, they put to +death, according to the edict of the king. + +1:61. Thus by their power did they deal with the people of Israel, that +were found in the cities month after month. + +1:62. And on the five and twentieth day of the month they sacrificed +upon the altar of the idol that was over against the altar of God. + +1:63. Now the women that circumcised their children were slain +according to the commandment of king Antiochus, + +1:64. And they hanged the children about their neck in all their +houses: and those that had circumcised them, they put to death. + +1:65. And many of the people of Israel determined with themselves, that +they would not eat unclean things: and they chose rather to die, than +to be defiled with unclean meats: + +1:66. And they would not break the holy law of God and they were put to +death: + +1:67. And there was very great wrath upon the people. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 2 + + +The zeal and success of Mathathias. His exhortation to his sons at his +death. + +2:1. In those days arose Mathathias, the son of John, the son of +Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and he abode in +the mountain of Modin: + +2:2. And he had five sons: John, who was surnamed Gaddis: + +2:3. And Simon, who was surnamed Thasi; + +2:4. And Judas, who was called Machabeus; + +2:5. And Eleazar, who was surnamed Abaron; and Jonathan, who was +surnamed Apphus. + +2:6. These saw the evils that were done in the people of Juda, and in +Jerusalem. + +2:7. And Mathathias said: Woe is me, wherefore was I born to see the +ruin of my people, and the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there, +when it is given into the hands of the enemies? + +2:8. The holy places are come into the hands of strangers her temple is +become as a man without honour. + +2:9. The vessels of her glory are carried away captive; her old men are +murdered in the streets, and her young men are fallen by the sword of +the enemies. + +2:10. What nation hath not inherited her kingdom, and gotten of her +spoils? + +2:11. All her ornaments are taken away. She that was free is made a +slave. + +2:12. And behold our sanctuary, and our beauty, and our glory is laid +waste, and the Gentiles have defiled them. + +2:13. To what end then should we live any longer? + +2:14. And Mathathias and his sons rent their garments, and they covered +themselves with haircloth, and made great lamentation. + +2:15. And they that were sent from king Antiochus, came thither, to +compel them that were fled into the city of Modin, to sacrifice, and to +burn incense, and to depart from the law of God. + +2:16. And many of the people of Israel consented and came to them: but +Mathathias and his sons stood firm. + +2:17. And they that were sent from Antiochus, answering, said to +Mathathias: Thou art a ruler, and an honourable, and great man in this +city, and adorned with sons, and brethren. + +2:18. Therefore, come thou first, and obey the king's commandment, as +all nations have done, and the men of Juda, and they that remain in +Jerusalem: and thou, and thy sons shall be in the number of the king's +friends, and enriched with gold, and silver, and many presents. + +2:19. Then Mathathias answered, and said with a loud voice: Although all +nations obey king Antiochus, so as to depart every man from the service +of the law of his fathers, and consent to his commandments: + +2:20. I and my sons, and my brethren will obey the law of our fathers. + +2:21. God be merciful unto us: it is not profitable for us to forsake +the law, and the justices of God: + +2:22. We will not hearken to the words of king Antiochus, neither will +we sacrifice and transgress the commandments of our law, to go another +way. + +2:23. Now as he left off speaking these words, there came a certain Jew +in the sight of all to sacrifice to the idols upon the altar in the +city of Modin, according to the king's commandment. + +2:24. And Mathathias saw, and was grieved, and his reins trembled, and +his wrath was kindled according to the judgment of the law, and running +upon him he slew him upon the altar: + +2:25. Moreover the man whom king Antiochus had sent, who compelled them +to sacrifice, he slew at the same time, and pulled down the altar, + +2:26. And shewed zeal for the law, as Phinees did by Zamri, the son of +Salomi. + +2:27. And Mathathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: +Every one that hath zeal for the law, and maintaineth the testament, +let him follow me. + +2:28. So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that +they had in the city. + +2:29. Then many that sought after judgment, and justice, went down into +the desert + +2:30. And they abode there, they and their children, and their wives, +and their cattle: because afflictions increased upon them. + +2:31. And it was told to the king's men, and to the army that was in +Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the +king's commandment, were gone away into the secret places in the +wilderness, and that many were gone after them. + +2:32. And forthwith they went out towards them, and made war against +them on the sabbath day. + +2:33. And they said to them: Do you still resist? come forth, and do +according to the edict of king Antiochus, and you shall live. + +2:34. And they said: We will not come forth, neither will we obey the +king's edict, to profane the sabbath day. + +2:35. And they made haste to give them battle. + +2:36. But they answered them not, neither did they cast a stone at +them, nor stopped up the secret places, + +2:37. Saying: Let us all die in our innocency: and heaven and earth +shall be witnesses for us, that you put us to death wrongfully. + +2:38. So they gave them battle on the sabbath: and they were slain, +with their wives, and their children, and their cattle, to the number +of a thousand persons. + +2:39. And Mathathias and his friends heard of it, and they mourned for +them exceedingly. + +2:40. And every man said to his neighbour: If we shall all do as our +brethren have done, and not fight against the heathens for our lives, +and our justifications, they will now quickly root us out of the earth. + +2:41. And they determined in that day, saying: Whosoever shall come up +against us to fight on the sabbath day, we will fight against him: and +we will not all die, as our brethren that were slain in the secret +places. + +2:42. Then was assembled to them the congregation of the Assideans, the +stoutest of Israel, every one that had a good will for the law. + +The Assideans. . .A set of men that led a religious life; and were +zealous for the law and worship of God. + +2:43. And all they that fled from the evils, joined themselves to them, +and were a support to them. + +2:44. And they gathered an army, and slew the sinners in their wrath, +and the wicked men in their indignation: and the rest fled to the +nations for safety. + +2:45. And Mathathias and his friends went round about, and they threw +down the altars: + +2:46. And they circumcised all the children whom they found in the +confines of Israel that were uncircumcised: and they did valiantly. + +2:47. And they pursued after the children of pride, and the work +prospered in their hands: + +2:48. And they recovered the law out of the hands of the nations, and +out of the hands of the kings: and they yielded not the horn to the +sinner. + +They yielded not the horn, etc. . .That is, they suffered not the power +of Antiochus, that man of sin, to abolish the law and religion of God. + +2:49. Now the days drew near that Mathathias should die, and he said to +his sons: Now hath pride and chastisement gotten strength, and the time +of destruction, and the wrath of indignation: + +2:50. Now, therefore, O my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give +your lives for the covenant of your fathers. + +2:51. And call to remembrance the works of the fathers, which they have +done in their generations: and you shall receive great glory, and an +everlasting name. + +2:52. Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was reputed +to him unto justice? + +2:53. Joseph, in the time of his distress, kept the commandment, and he +was made lord of Egypt. + +2:54. Phinees, our father, by being fervent in the zeal of God, +received the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. + +2:55. Jesus, whilst he fulfilled the word, was made ruler in Israel. + +Jesus. . .That is, Josue. + +2:56. Caleb, for bearing witness before the congregation, received an +inheritance. + +2:57. David, by his mercy, obtained the throne of an everlasting +kingdom. + +2:58. Elias, while he is full of zeal for the law, was taken up into +heaven. + +2:59. Ananias and Azarias and Misael, by believing, were delivered out +of the flame. + +2:60. Daniel, in his innocency, was delivered out of the mouth of the +lions. + +2:61. And thus consider, through all generations: that none that trust +in him, fail in strength. + +2:62. And fear not the words of a sinful man, for his glory is dung and +worms: + +2:63. Today he is lifted up, and tomorrow he shall not be found, +because he is returned into his earth and his thought is come to +nothing. + +2:64. You, therefore, my sons, take courage, and behave manfully in the +law: for by it you shall be glorious. + +2:65. And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel: +give ear to him always, and he shall be a father to you. + +2:66. And Judas Machabeus, who is valiant and strong from his youth up, +let him be the leader of your army, and he shall manage the war of the +people. + +2:67. And you shall take to you all that observe the law: and revenge +ye the wrong of your people. + +2:68. Render to the Gentiles their reward, and take heed to the +precepts of the law. + +2:69. And he blessed them, and was joined to his fathers. + +2:70. And he died in the hundred and forty-sixth year: and he was +buried by his sons in the sepulchres of his fathers, in Modin, and all +Israel mourned for him with great mourning. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 3 + + +Judas Machabeus succeeds his father, and overthrows Apollonius and +Seron. A great army is sent against him out of Syria. He prepares his +people for battle by fasting and prayer. + +3:1. Then his son Judas, called Machabeus, rose up in his stead. + +3:2. And all his brethren helped him, and all they that had joined +themselves to his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle +of Israel. + +3:3. And he got his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a +giant, and girt his warlike armour about him in battles, and protected +the camp with his sword. + +3:4. In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion's whelp roaring +for his prey. + +3:5. And he pursued the wicked and sought them out, and them that +troubled his people he burnt with fire: + +3:6. And his enemies were driven away for fear of him, and all the +workers of iniquity were troubled: and salvation prospered in his hand. + +3:7. And he grieved many kings, and made Jacob glad with his works, and +his memory is blessed for ever. + +3:8. And he went through the cities of Juda, and destroyed the wicked +out of them, and turned away wrath from Israel. + +3:9. And he was renowned even to the utmost part of the earth, and he +gathered them that were perishing. + +3:10. And Apollonius gathered together the Gentiles, and a numerous and +great army from Samaria, to make war against Israel. + +3:11. And Judas understood it, and went forth to meet him: and he +overthrew him, and killed him: and many fell down slain, and the rest +fled away. + +3:12. And he took their spoils, and Judas took the sword of Apollonius, +and fought with it all his lifetime. + +3:13. And Seron, captain of the army of Syria, heard that Judas had +assembled a company of the faithful, and a congregation with him, + +3:14. And he said I will get me a name, and will be glorified in the +kingdom, and will overthrow Judas, and those that are with him, that +have despised the edict of the king. + +3:15. And he made himself ready; and the host of the wicked went up +with him, strong succours, to be revenged of the children of Israel. + +3:16. And they approached even as far as Bethoron: and Judas went forth +to meet him, with a small company. + +3:17. But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to +Judas: How shall we, being few, be able to fight against so great a +multitude, and so strong, and we are ready to faint with fasting today? + +3:18. And Judas said: It is an easy matter for many to be shut up in +the hands of a few: and there is no difference in the sight of the God +of heaven to deliver with a great multitude, or with a small company: + +3:19. For the success of war is not in the multitude of the army, but +strength cometh from heaven. + +3:20. They come against us with an insolent multitude, and with pride, +to destroy us, and our wives, and our children, and to take our spoils. + +3:21. But we will fight for our lives, and our laws: + +3:22. And the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face, but as +for you, fear them not + +3:23. And as soon as he had made an end of speaking, he rushed suddenly +upon them: and Seron, and his host were overthrown before him: + +3:24. And he pursued him by the descent of Bethoron, even to the plain, +and there fell of them eight hundred men, and the rest fled into the +land of the Philistines. + +3:25. And the fear of Judas, and of his brethren, and the dread of +them, fell upon all the nations round about them. + +3:26. And his fame came to the king, and all nations told of the +battles of Judas. + +3:27. Now when king Antiochus heard these words, he was angry in his +mind: and he sent, and gathered the forces of all his kingdom, an +exceeding strong army. + +3:28. And he opened his treasury, and gave out pay to the army for a +year: and he commanded them, that they should be ready for all things. + +3:29. And he perceived that the money of his treasures failed, and that +the tributes of the country were small, because of the dissension, and +the evil that he had brought upon the land, that he might take away the +laws of old times: + +3:30. And he feared that he should not have as formerly enough for +charges and gifts, which he had given before with a liberal hand: for +he had abounded more than the kings that had been before him. + +3:31. And he was greatly perplexed in mind, and purposed to go into +Persia, and to take tributes of the countries, and to gather much +money. + +3:32. And he left Lysias, a nobleman of the blood royal to oversee the +affairs of the kingdom from the river Euphrates even to the river of +Egypt: + +3:33. And to bring up his son, Antiochus, till he came again. + +3:34. And he delivered to him half the army, and the elephants: and he +gave him charge concerning all that he would have done, and concerning +the inhabitants of Judea, and Jerusalem. + +3:35. And that he should send an army against them to destroy and root +out the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take +away the memory of them from that place. + +3:36. And that he should settle strangers, to dwell in all their +coasts, and divide their land by lot. + +3:37. So the king took the half of the army that remained, and went +forth from Antioch, the chief city of his kingdom, in the hundred and +forty-seventh year: and he passed over the river Euphrates, and went +through the higher countries. + +3:38. Then Lysias chose Ptolemee, the son of Dorymenus, and Nicanor, +and Gorgias, mighty men of the king's friends. + +3:39. And he sent with them forty thousand men, and seven thousand +horsemen: to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, according to +the king's orders. + +3:40. So they went forth with all their power, and came, and pitched +near Emmaus, in the plain country. + +3:41. And the merchants of the countries heard the fame of them: and +they took silver and gold in abundance, and servants: and they came +into the camp, to buy the children of Israel for slaves: and there were +joined to them the forces of Syria, and of the land of the strangers. + +3:42. And Judas, and his brethren, saw that evils were multiplied, and +that the armies approached to their borders: and they knew the orders +the king had given to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them. + +3:43. And they said, every man to his neighbour: Let us raise up the +low condition of our people, and let us fight for our people, and our +sanctuary. + +3:44. And the assembly was gathered, that they might be ready for +battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion. + +3:45. Now Jerusalem was not inhabited, but was like a desert: there was +none of her children that went in or out: and the sanctuary was trodden +down: and the children of strangers were in the castle, there was the +habitation of the Gentiles: and joy was taken away from Jacob, and the +pipe and harp ceased there. + +3:46. And they assembled together, and came to Maspha, over against +Jerusalem: for in Maspha was a place of prayer heretofore in Israel. + +3:47. And they fasted that day, and put on haircloth, and put ashes +upon their heads: and they rent their garments: + +3:48. And they laid open the books of the law, in which the Gentiles +searched for the likeness of their idols: + +3:49. And they brought the priestly ornaments, and the first fruits and +tithes, and stirred up the Nazarites that had fulfilled their days: + +3:50. And they cried with a loud voice toward heaven, saying: What +shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them? + +3:51. For thy holies are trodden down, and are profaned, and thy +priests are in mourning, and are brought low. + +3:52. And behold the nations are come together against us, to destroy +us: thou knowest what they intend against us. + +3:53. How shall we be able to stand before their face, unless thou, O +God, help us? + +3:64. Then they sounded with trumpets, and cried out with a loud voice. + +3:66. And after this, Judas appointed captains over the people, over +thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. + +3:66. And he said to them that were building houses, or had betrothed +wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, that they should +return every man to his house, according to the law. + +3:67. So they removed the camp, and pitched on the south side of +Emmaus. + +3:68. And Judas said: Gird yourselves, and be valiant men, and be ready +against the morning, that you may fight with these nations that are +assembled against us to destroy us and our sanctuary. + +3:59. For it is better for us to die in battle, than to see the evils +of our nation, and of the holies: + +3:60. Nevertheless, as it shall be the will of God in heaven, so be it +done. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 4 + + +Judas routs the king's army. Gorgias flies before him. Lysias comes +against him with a great army, but is defeated. Judas cleanses the +temple, sets up a new altar, and fortifies the sanctuary. + +4:1. Then Gorgias took five thousand men, and a thousand of the best +horsemen; and they removed out of the camp by night. + +4:2. That they might come upon the camp of the Jews and strike them +suddenly: and the men that were of the castle were their guides. + +4:3. And Judas heard of it, and rose up, he and the valiant men, to +attack the king's forces that were in Emmaus. + +4:4. For as yet the army was dispersed from the camp + +The army was dispersed. . .That is, in different divisions, not +altogether encamped. + +4:5. And Gorgias came by night into the camp of Judas, and found no +man; and he sought them in the mountains: for he said: These men flee +from us. + +4:6. And when it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three +thousand men only, who neither had armour nor swords: + +Who neither had armour nor swords. . .Such as they wished for. + +4:7. And they saw the camp of the Gentiles that it was strong, and the +men in breastplates, and the horsemen round about them, and these were +trained up to war. + +4:8. And Judas said to the men that were with him: Fear ye not their +multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault. + +4:9. Remember in what manner our fathers were saved in the Red Sea, +when Pharaoh pursued them with a great army. + +4:10. And now let us cry to heaven, and the Lord will have mercy on us, +and will remember the covenant of our fathers, and will destroy this +army before our face this day: + +4:11. And all nations shall know that there is one that redeemeth and +delivereth Israel. + +4:12. And the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming +against them. + +4:13. And they went out of the camp to battle, and they that were with +Judas sounded the trumpet. + +4:14. And they joined battle: and the Gentiles were routed, and fled +into the plain. + +4:15. But all the hindmost of them fell by the sword and they pursued +them as far as Gezeron, and even to the plains of Idumea, and of +Azotus, and of Jamnia: and there fell of them to the number of three +thousand men. + +4:16. And Judas returned again with his army that followed him. + +4:17. And he said to the people: Be not greedy of the spoils; for there +is war before us: + +4:18. And Gorgias and his army are near us in the mountain: but stand +ye now against our enemies, and overthrow them, and you shall take the +spoils afterwards with safety. + +4:19. And as Judas was speaking these words, behold part of them +appeared, looking forth from the mountain. + +4:20. And Gorgias saw that his men were put to flight, and that they +had set fire to the camp: for the smoke that was seen declared what was +done. + +4:21. And when they had seen this, they were seized with great fear, +seeing at the same time Judas and his army in the plain ready to fight. + +4:22. So they all fled away into the land of the strangers. + +4:23. And Judas returned to take the spoils of the camp, and they got +much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great +riches. + +4:24. And returning home, they sung a hymn, and blessed God in heaven, +because he is good, because his mercy endureth for ever. + +4:25. So Israel had a great deliverance that day. + +4:26. And such of the strangers as escaped, went and told Lysias all +that had happened. + +4:27. And when he heard these things, he was amazed and discouraged: +because things had not succeeded in Israel according to his mind, and +as the king had commanded. + +4:28. So the year following, Lysias gathered together threescore +thousand chosen men, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue +them. + +4:29. And they came into Judea, and pitched their tents in Bethoron, +and Judas met them with ten thousand men. + +4:30. And they saw that the army was strong, and he prayed and said: +Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst break the violence of +the mighty by the hand of thy servant David, and didst deliver up the +camp of the strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and +of his armour bearer. + +4:31. Shut up this army in the hands of thy people Israel, and let them +be confounded in their host and their horsemen. + +4:32. Strike them with fear, and cause the boldness of their strength to +languish, and let them quake at their own destruction. + +4:33. Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee: and let all +that know thy name praise thee with hymns. + +4:34. And they joined battle: and there fell of the army of Lysias five +thousand men. + +4:35. And when Lysias saw that his men were put to flight, and how bold +the Jews were, and that they were ready either to live, or to die +manfully, he went to Antioch, and chose soldiers, that they might come +again into Judea with greater numbers. + +4:36. Then Judas, and his brethren said: Behold our enemies are +discomfited: let us go up now to cleanse the holy places, and to repair +them. + +4:37. And all the army assembled together, and they went up into Mount +Sion. + +4:38. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and +the gates burnt, and shrubs growing up in the courts as in a forest, or +on the mountains, and the chambers joining to the temple thrown down. + +4:39. And they rent their garments, and made great lamentation, and put +ashes on their heads: + +4:40. And they fell down to the ground on their faces, and they sounded +with the trumpets of alarm, and they cried towards heaven. + +4:41. Then Judas appointed men to fight against them that were in the +castle, till they had cleansed the holy places, + +4:42. And he chose priests without blemish, whose will was set upon the +law of God. + +4:43. And they cleansed the holy places, and took away the stones that +had been defiled into an unclean place. + +4:44. And he considered about the altar of holocausts that had been +profaned, what he should do with it. + +4:45. And a good counsel came into their minds, to pull it down: lest +it should be a reproach to them, because the Gentiles had defiled it; +so they threw it down. + +4:46. And they laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple, in a +convenient place, till there should come a prophet, and give answer +concerning them. + +4:47. Then they took whole stones, according to the law and built a new +altar, according to the former: + +4:48. And they built up the holy places, and the things that were +within the temple: and they sanctified the temple and the courts. + +4:49. And they made new holy vessels, and brought in the candlestick, +and the altar of incense, and the table, into the temple. + +4:50. And they put incense upon the altar, and lighted up the lamps +that were upon the candlestick, and they gave light in the temple. + +4:51. And they set the loaves upon the table, and hung up the veils, +and finished all the works that they had begun to make. + +4:52. And they arose before the morning on the five and twentieth day +of the ninth month, (which is the month of Casleu) in the hundred and +forty-eighth year. + +4:53. And they offered sacrifice, according to the law, upon the new +altar of holocausts which they had made. + +4:54. According to the time, and according to the day wherein the +heathens had defiled it, in the same was it dedicated anew with +canticles, and harps, and lutes, and cymbals. + +4:55. And all the people fell upon their faces, and adored, and blessed +up to heaven, him that had prospered them. + +4:56. And they kept the dedication of the altar eight days, and they +offered holocausts with joy, and sacrifices of salvation, and of +praise. + +4:57. And they adorned the front of the temple with crowns of gold, and +escutcheons, and they renewed the gates, and the chambers, and hanged +doors upon them. + +4:58. And there was exceeding great joy among the people, and the +reproach of the Gentiles was turned away. + +4:59. And Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel +decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in +its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and +twentieth day of the month of Casleu, with joy and gladness. + +4:60. They built up also at that time Mount Sion, with high walls, and +strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should at any time come, +and tread it down, as they did before. + +4:61. And he placed a garrison there, to keep it, and he fortified it, +to secure Bethsura, that the people might have a defence against +Idumea. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 5 + + +Judas and his brethren attack the enemies of their country, and deliver +them that were distressed. Josephus and Azarius, attempting contrary to +order to fight against their enemies, are defeated. + +5:1. Now it came to pass, when the nations round about heard that the +altar and the sanctuary were built up, as before, that they were +exceeding angry. + +5:2. And they thought to destroy the generation of Jacob that were +among them, and they began to kill some of the people, and to persecute +them. + +5:3. Then Judas fought against the children of Esau in Idumea, and them +that were in Acrabathane: because they beset the Israelites round +about, and he made a great slaughter of them. + +5:4. And he remembered the malice of the children of Bean: who were a +snare and a stumblingblock to the people, by lying in wait for them in +the way. + +5:5. And they were shut up by him in towers, and he set upon them, and +devoted them to utter destruction, and burnt their towers with fire, +and all that were in them. + +5:6. Then he passed over to the children of Ammon, where he found a +mighty power, and much people, and Timotheus was their captain: + +5:7. And he fought many battles with them, and they were discomfited in +their sight, and he smote them: + +5:8. And he took the city of Gazer and her towns, and returned into +Judea. + +5:9. And the Gentiles that were in Galaad, assembled themselves +together against the Israelites that were in their quarters, to destroy +them: and they fled into the fortress of Datheman. + +5:10. And they sent letters to Judas, and his brethren, saying: The +heathens that are round about are gathered together against us to +destroy us: + +5:11. And they are preparing to come, and to take the fortress into +which we are fled: and Timotheus is the captain of their host. + +5:12. Now therefore come, and deliver us out of their hands, for many +of us are slain. + +5:13. And all our brethren that were in the places of Tubin, are +killed: and they have carried away their wives, and their children, +captives, and taken their spoils, and they have slain there almost a +thousand men. + +5:14. And while they were yet reading these letters, behold there came +other messengers out of Galilee with their garments rent, who related +according to these words: + +5:15. Saying, that they of Ptolemais, and of Tyre, and of Sidon, were +assembled against them, and all Galilee is filled with strangers, in +order to consume us. + +5:16. Now when Judas and the people heard these words, a great assembly +met together to consider what they should do for their brethren that +were in trouble, and were assaulted by them. + +5:17. And Judas said to Simon, his brother: Choose thee men, and go, +and deliver thy brethren in Galilee: and I, and my brother Jonathan, +will go into the country of Galaad: + +5:18. And he left Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captains +of the people, with the remnant of the army in Judea, to keep it: + +5:19. And he commanded them, saying: Take ye the charge of this people; +but make no war against the heathens, till we return. + +5:20. Now three thousand men were allotted to Simon, to go into +Galilee: and eight thousand to Judas, to go into the land of Galaad. + +5:21. And Simon went into Galilee, and fought many battles with the +heathens: and the heathens were discomfited before his face, and he +pursued them even to the gate of Ptolemais. + +5:22. And there fell of the heathens almost three thousand men, and he +took the spoils of them. + +5:23. And he took with him those that were in Galilee and in Arbatis, +with their wives, and children, and all that they had, and he brought +them into Judea with great joy. + +5:24. And Judas Machabeus, and Jonathan, his brother, passed over the +Jordan, and went three days' journey through the desert. + +5:25. And the Nabutheans met them, and received them in a peaceable +manner, and told them all that happened to their brethren in the land +of Galaad, + +5:26. And that many of them were shut up in Barasa, and in Bosor, and +in Alima, and in Casphor, and in Mageth, and in Carnaim; all these +strong and great cities. + +5:27. Yea, and that they were kept shut up in the rest of the cities of +Galaad, and that they had appointed to bring their army on the morrow +near to these cities, and to take them, and to destroy them all in one +day. + +5:28. Then Judas and his army suddenly turned their march into the +desert, to Bosor, and took the city: and he slew every male by the edge +of the sword, and took all their spoils, and burnt it with fire. + +5:29. And they removed from thence by night, and went till they came to +the fortress. + +5:30. And it came to pass that early in the morning, when they lifted +up their eyes, behold there were people without number, carrying +ladders and engines to take the fortress, and assault them. + +5:31. And Judas saw that the fight was begun, and the cry of the battle +went up to heaven like a trumpet, and a great cry out of the city: + +5:32. And he said to his host: Fight ye today for your brethren. + +5:33. And he came with three companies behind them, and they sounded +their trumpets, and cried out in prayer. + +5:34. And the host of Timotheus understood that it was Machabeus, and +they fled away before his face and they made a great slaughter of them, +and there fell of them in that day almost eight thousand men. + +5:35. And Judas turned aside to Maspha, and assaulted, and took it, and +he slew every male thereof, and took the spoils thereof, and burnt it +with fire. + +5:36. From thence he marched, and took Casbon, and Mageth, and Bosor, +and the rest of the cities of Galaad. + +5:37. But after this Timotheus gathered another army, and camped over +against Raphon, beyond the torrent. + +5:38. And Judas sent men to view the army: and they brought him word, +saying: All the nations, that are round about us, are assembled unto +him an army exceeding great: + +5:39. And they have hired the Arabians to help them, and they have +pitched their tents beyond the torrent, ready to come to fight against +thee. And Judas went to meet them. + +5:40. And Timotheus said to the captains of his army: When Judas and +his army come near the torrent of water, if he pass over unto us first, +we shall not be able to withstand him: for he will certainly prevail +over us. + +5:41. But if he be afraid to pass over, and camp on the other side of +the river, we will pass over to them, and shall prevail against him. + +5:42. Now when Judas came near the torrent of water, he set the scribes +of the people by the torrent, and commanded them, saying: Suffer no man +to stay behind: but let all come to the battle. + +5:43. And he passed over to them first, and all the people after him, +and all the heathens were discomfited before them, and they threw away +their weapons, and fled to the temple that was in Carnaim. + +5:44. And he took that city, and the temple he burnt with fire, with +all things that were therein: and Carnaim was subdued, and could not +stand against the face of Judas. + +5:45. And Judas gathered together all the Israelites that were in the +land of Galaad, from the least even to the greatest, and their wives +and children, and an army exceeding great, to come into the land of +Juda. + +5:46. And they came as far as Ephron: now this was a great city, +situate in the way, strongly fortified, and there was no means to turn +from it on the right hand or on the left, but the way was through the +midst of it. + +5:47. And they that were in the city shut themselves in, and stopped up +the gates with stones: and Judas sent to them with peaceable words, + +5:48. Saying: Let us pass through your land, to go into our own +country, and no man shall hurt you; we will only pass through on foot. +But they would not open to them. + +5:49. Then Judas commanded proclamation to be made in the camp, that +they should make an assault, every man in the place where he was. + +5:50. And the men of the army drew near, and he assaulted that city all +the day, and all the night; and the city was delivered into his hands: + +5:51. And they slew every male with the edge of the sword, and he razed +the city, and took the spoils thereof, and passed through all the city +over them that were slain. + +5:52. Then they passed over the Jordan to the great plain that is over +against Bethsan. + +5:53. And Judas gathered together the hindmost, and he exhorted the +people, all the way through, till they came into the land of Juda. + +5:54. And they went up to mount Sion with joy and gladness, and offered +holocausts, because not one of them was slain, till they had returned +in peace. + +5:55. Now in the days that Judas and Jonathan were in the land of +Galaad, and Simon his brother in Galilee, before Ptolemais, + +5:56. Joseph, the son of Zacharias, and Azarias, captain of the +soldiers, heard of the good success, and the battles that were fought, + +5:57. And he said: Let us also get us a name, and let us go fight +against the Gentiles that are round about us. + +5:58. And he gave charge to them that were in his army, and they went +towards Jamnia. + +5:59. And Gorgias and his men went out of the city, to give them +battle. + +5:60. And Joseph and Azarias were put to flight, and were pursued unto +the borders of Judea: and there fell on that day, of the people of +Israel, about two thousand men, and there was a great overthrow of the +people: + +5:61. Because they did not hearken to Judas and his brethren, thinking +that they should do manfully. + +5:62. But they were not of the seed of those men by whom salvation was +brought to Israel. + +5:63. And the men of Juda were magnified exceedingly in the sight of +all Israel, and of all the nations where their name was heard. + +5:64. And the people assembled to them with joyful acclamations. + +5:65. Then Judas and his brethren went forth and attacked the children +of Esau, in the land towards the south, and he took Chebron and her +towns: and he burnt the walls thereof, and the towers all round it. + +5:66. And he removed his camp to go into the land of the aliens, and he +went through Samaria. + +5:67. In that day some priests fell in battle, while desiring to do +manfully they went out unadvisedly to fight. + +5:68. And Judas turned to Azotus, into the land of the strangers, and +he threw down their altars, and he burnt the statues of their gods with +fire: and he took the spoils of the cities, and returned into the land +of Juda. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 6 + + +The fruitless repentance and death of Antiochus. His son comes against +Judas with a formidable army. He besieges Sion: but at last makes peace +with the Jews. + +6:1. Now king Antiochus was going through the higher countries, and he +heard that the city of Elymais in Persia, was greatly renowned, and +abounding in silver and gold, + +6:2. And that there was in it a temple exceeding rich; and coverings of +gold, and breastplates, and shields, which king Alexander, son of +Philip, the Macedonian, that reigned first in Greece, had left there. + +6:3. So he came, and sought to take the city and to pillage it; but he +was not able, because the design was known to them that were in the +city. + +6:4. And they rose up against him in battle, and he fled away from +thence, and departed with great sadness, and returned towards +Babylonia. + +6:5. And whilst he was in Persia there came one that told him how the +armies that were in the land of Juda were put to flight: + +6:6. And that Lysias went with a very great power, and was put to +flight before the face of the Jews, and that they were grown strong by +the armour, and power, and store of spoils which they had gotten out of +the camps which they had destroyed: + +6:7. And that they had thrown down the abomination which he had set up +upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the +sanctuary with high walls as before, and Bethsura also, his city. + +6:8. And it came to pass, when the king heard these words, that he was +struck with fear, and exceedingly moved: and he laid himself down upon +his bed, and fell sick for grief, because it had not fallen out to him +as he imagined. + +6:9. And he remained there many days: for great grief came more and +more upon him, and he made account that he should die. + +6:10. And he called for all his friends, and said to them: Sleep is +gone from my eyes, and I am fallen away, and my heart is cast down for +anxiety: + +6:11. And I said in my heart: Into how much tribulation am I come, and +into what floods of sorrow wherein now I am: I that was pleasant and +beloved in my power! + +6:12. But now I remember the evils that I did in Jerusalem, from whence +also I took away all the spoils of gold, and of silver, that were in +it, and I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Juda without cause. + +6:13. I know, therefore, that for this cause these evils have found me: +and behold I perish with great grief in a strange land. + +6:14. Then he called Philip, one of his friends, and he made him regent +over all his kingdom. + +6:15. And he gave him the crown, and his robe, and his ring, that he +should go to Antiochus, his son, and should bring him up for the +kingdom. + +6:16. So king Antiochus died there in the year one hundred and +forty-nine. + +6:17. And Lysias understood that the king was dead, and he set up +Antiochus, his son, to reign, whom he had brought up young: and he +called his name Eupator. + +6:18. Now they that were in the castle, had shut up the Israelites +round about the holy places: and they were continually seeking their +hurt, and to strengthen the Gentiles. + +6:19. And Judas purposed to destroy them: and he called together all +the people, to besiege them. + +6:20. And they came together, and besieged them in the year one hundred +and fifty, and they made battering slings and engines. + +6:21. And some of the besieged got out: and some wicked men of Israel +joined themselves unto them. + +6:22. And they went to the king, and said: How long dost thou delay to +execute judgment, and to revenge our brethren? + +6:23. We determined to serve thy father, and to do according to his +orders, and obey his edicts: + +6:24. And for this they of our nation are alienated from us, and have +slain as many of us as they could find, and have spoiled our +inheritances. + +6:25. Neither have they put forth their hand against us only, but also +against all our borders. + +6:26. And behold they have approached this day to the castle of +Jerusalem to take it, and they have fortified the strong hold of +Bethsura: + +6:27. And unless thou speedily prevent them, they will do greater +things than these, and thou shalt not be able to subdue them. + +6:28. Now when the king heard this, he was angry: and he called +together all his friends, and the captains of his army, and them that +were over the horsemen. + +6:29. There came also to him from other realms, and from the islands of +the sea, hired troops. + +6:30. And the number of his army was an hundred thousand footmen, and +twenty thousand horsemen, and thirty-two elephants trained to battle. + +6:31. And they went through Idumea, and approached to Bethsura, and +fought many days, and they made engines: but they sallied forth, and +burnt them with fire, and fought manfully. + +But they sallied forth. . .That is, the citizens of Bethsura sallied +forth and burnt them, that is, burnt the engines of the besiegers. + +6:32. And Judas departed from the castle, and removed the camp to +Bethzacharam, over against the king's camp. + +6:33. And the king rose before it was light, and made his troops march +on fiercely towards the way of Bethzacharam: and the armies made +themselves ready for the battle, and they sounded the trumpets: + +6:34. And they shewed the elephants the blood of grapes, and +mulberries, to provoke them to fight. + +6:35. And they distributed the beasts by the legions: and there stood +by every elephant a thousand men in coats of mail, and with helmets of +brass on their heads: and five hundred horsemen set in order were +chosen for every beast. + +6:36. These before the time wheresoever the beast was they were there: +and whithersoever it went, they went, and they departed not from it. + +These before the time. . .That is, these were ready for every occasion. + +6:37. And upon the beast, there were strong wooden towers which covered +every one of them: and engines upon them, and upon every one thirty-two +valiant men, who fought from above: and an Indian to rule the beast. + +6:38. And the rest of the horsemen he placed on this side and on that +side, at the two wings, with trumpets to stir up the army, and to +hasten them forward that stood thick together in the legions thereof. + +6:39. Now when the sun shone upon the shields of gold, and of brass, +the mountains glittered therewith, and they shone like lamps of fire. + +6:40. And part of the king's army was distinguished by the high +mountains, and the other part by the low places: and they marched on +warily and orderly. + +6:41. And all the inhabitants of the land were moved at the noise of +their multitude, and the marching of the company, and the rattling of +the armour, for the army was exceeding great and strong. + +6:42. And Judas and his army drew near for battle: and there fell of +the king's army six hundred men. + +6:43. And Eleazar, the son of Saura, saw one of the beasts harnessed +with the king's harness: and it was higher than the other beasts; and +it seemed to him that the king was on it: + +6:44. And he exposed himself to deliver his people, and to get himself +an everlasting name. + +6:45. And he ran up to it boldly in the midst of the legion, killing on +the right hand, and on the left, and they fell by him on this side and +that side. + +6:46. And he went between the feet of the elephant, and put himself +under it: and slew it, and it fell to the ground upon him, and he died +there. + +6:47. Then they seeing the strength of the king and the fierceness of +his army, turned away from them. + +6:48. But the king's army went up against them to Jerusalem: and the +king's army pitched their tents against Judea and Mount Sion. + +6:49. And he made peace with them that were in Bethsura: and they came +forth out of the city, because they had no victuals, being shut up +there, for it was the year of rest to the land. + +6:50. And the king took Bethsura: and he placed there a garrison to +keep it. + +6:51. And he turned his army against the sanctuary for many days: and +he set up there battering slings, and engines, and instruments to cast +fire, and engines to cast stones and javelins, and pieces to shoot +arrows, and slings. + +6:52. And they also made engines against their engines, and they fought +for many days. + +6:53. But there were no victuals in the city, because it was the +seventh year: and such as had stayed in Judea of them that came from +among the nations, had eaten the residue of all that which had been +stored up. + +6:54. And there remained in the holy places but a few, for the famine +had prevailed over them: and they were dispersed every man to his own +place. + +6:55. Now Lysias heard that Philip; whom king Antiochus while he lived +had appointed to bring up his son, Antiochus, and to reign, + +6:56. Was returned from Persia, and Media, with the army that went with +him and that he sought to take upon him the affairs of the kingdom: + +6:57. Wherefore he made haste to go, and say to the king and to the +captains of the army: We decay daily, and our provision of victuals is +small, and the place that we lay siege to is strong, and it lieth upon +us to take order for the affairs of the kingdom. + +6:58. Now, therefore, let us come to an agreement with these men, and +make peace with them and with all their nation. + +6:59. And let us covenant with them, that they may live according to +their own laws, as before. For because of our despising their laws, +they have been provoked, and have done all these things. + +6:60. And the proposal was acceptable in the sight of the king, and of +the princes: and he sent to them to make peace: and they accepted of +it. + +6:61. And the king and the princes swore to them: and they came out of +the strong hold. + +6:62. Then the king entered into Mount Sion, and saw the strength of +the place: and he quickly broke the oath that he had taken, and gave +commandment to throw down the wall round about. + +6:63. And he departed in haste and returned to Antioch, where he found +Philip master of the city: and he fought against him, and took the +city. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 7 + + +Demetrius is made king, and sends Bacchides and Alcimus the priest into +Judea, and after them Nicanor, who is slain by Judas with all his army. + +7:1. In the hundred and fifty-first year, Demetrius, the son of +Seleucus, departed from the city of Rome, and came up with few men into +a city of the sea coast, and reigned there. + +7:2. And it came to pass as he entered into the house of the kingdom of +his fathers, that the army seized upon Antiochus, and Lysias, to bring +them unto him. + +7:3. And when he knew it, he said: Let me not see their face. + +7:4. So the army slew them. And Demetrius sat upon the throne of his +kingdom: + +7:5. And there came to him the wicked and ungodly men of Israel: and +Alcimus was at the head of them, who desired to be made high priest. + +7:6. And they accused the people to the king, saying: Judas and his +brethren have destroyed all thy friends, and he hath driven us out of +our land. + +7:7. Now, therefore, send some men whom thou trustest, and let him go, +and see all the havoc he hath made amongst us, and in the king's lands: +and let him punish all his friends and their helpers. + +7:8. Then the king chose Bacchides, one of his friends, that ruled +beyond the great river in the kingdom, and was faithful to the king: +and he sent him, + +7:9. To see the havoc that Judas had made: and the wicked Alcimus he +made high priest, and commanded him to take revenge upon the children +of Israel. + +7:10. And they arose, and came with a great army into the land of Juda: +and they sent messengers, and spoke to Judas and his brethren with +peaceable words, deceitfully. + +7:11. But they gave no heed to their words: for they saw that they were +come with a great army. + +7:12. Then there assembled to Alcimus and Bacchides a company of the +scribes, to require things that are just: + +7:13. And first the Assideans, that were among the children of Israel, +and they sought peace of them. + +7:14. For they said: One that is a priest of the seed of Aaron is come, +he will not deceive us. + +7:15. And he spoke to them peaceably: and he swore to them, saying: We +will do you no harm, nor your friends. + +7:16. And they believed him. And he took threescore of them, and slew +them in one day, according to the word that is written: + +7:17. The flesh of thy saints, and the blood of them they have shed round +about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. + +7:18. Then fear and trembling fell upon all the people: for they said: +There is no truth, nor justice among them: for they have broken the +covenant, and the oath which they made. + +7:19. And Bacchides removed the camp from Jerusalem, and pitched in +Bethzecha: and he sent, and took many of them that were fled away from +him, and some of the people he killed, and threw them into a great pit. + +7:20. Then he committed the country to Alcimus, and left with him +troops to help him. So Bacchides went away to the king. + +7:21. But Alcimus did what he could to maintain his chief priesthood. + +7:22. And they that disturbed the people resorted to him, and they got +the land of Juda into their power, and did much hurt in Israel. + +7:23. And Judas saw all the evils that Alcimus, and they that were with +him, did to the children of Israel, much more than the Gentiles. + +7:24. And he went out into all the coasts of Judea round about, and +took vengeance upon the men that had revolted, and they ceased to go +forth any more into the country. + +7:25. And Alcimus saw that Judas and they that were with him, +prevailed: and he knew that he could not stand against them, and he +went back to the king, and accused them of many crimes. + +7:26. And the king sent Nicanor, one of his principal lords, who was a +great enemy to Israel: and he commanded him to destroy the people. + +7:27. And Nicanor came to Jerusalem with a great army, and he sent to +Judas and to his brethren deceitfully, with friendly words, + +7:28. Saying: Let there be no fighting between me and you: I will come +with a few men, to see your faces with peace. + +7:29. And he came to Judas, and they saluted one another peaceably: and +the enemies were prepared to take away Judas by force. + +7:30. And the thing was known to Judas that he was come to him with +deceit: and he was much afraid of him, and would not see his face any +more. + +7:31. And Nicanor knew that his counsel was discovered: and he went out +to fight against Judas, near Capharsalama. + +7:32. And there fell of Nicanor's army almost five thousand men, and +they fled into the city of David. + +7:33. And after this Nicanor went up into mount Sion: and some of the +priests and the people came out to salute him peaceably, and to shew +him the holocausts that were offered for the king. + +7:34. But he mocked and despised them, and abused them: and he spoke +proudly, + +7:35. And swore in anger, saying: Unless Judas and his army be +delivered into my hands, as soon as ever I return in peace, I will burn +this house. And he went out in a great rage. + +7:36. And the priests went in, and stood before the face of the altar +and the temple: and weeping, they said: + +7:37. Thou, O Lord, hast chosen this house for thy name to be called +upon therein, that it might be a house of prayer and supplication for +thy people. + +7:38. Be avenged of this man, and his army, and let them fall by the +sword: remember their blasphemies, and suffer them not to continue any +longer. + +7:39. Then Nicanor went out from Jerusalem, and encamped near to +Bethoron: and an army of Syria joined him. + +7:40. But Judas pitched in Adarsa with three thousand men: and Judas +prayed, and said: + +7:41. O Lord, when they that were sent by king Sennacherib blasphemed +thee, an angel went out, and slew of them a hundred and eighty-five +thousand: + +7:42. Even so destroy this army in our sight today and let the rest +know that he hath spoken ill against thy sanctuary: and judge thou him +according to his wickedness. + +7:43. And the armies joined battle on the thirteenth day of the month, +Adar: and the army of Nicanor was defeated, and he himself was first +slain in the battle. + +7:44. And when his army saw that Nicanor was slain they threw away +their weapons, and fled: + +7:45. And they pursued after them one day's journey from Adazer, even +till ye come to Gazara, and they sounded the trumpets after them with +signals. + +7:46. And they went forth out of all the towns of Judea round about, +and they pushed them with the horns, and they turned again to them, and +they were all slain with the sword, and there was not left of them so +much as one. + +7:47. And they took the spoils of them for a booty, and they cut off +Nicanor's head, and his right hand, which he had proudly stretched out, +and they brought it, and hung it up over against Jerusalem. + +7:48. And the people rejoiced exceedingly, and they spent that day with +great joy. + +7:49. And he ordained that this day should be kept every year, being +the thirteenth of the month of Adar + +7:50. And the land of Juda was quiet for a short time. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 8 + + +Judas hears of the great character of the Romans: he makes a league +with them. + +8:1. Now Judas heard of the fame of the Romans, that they are powerful +and strong, and willingly agree to all things that are requested of +them: and that whosoever have come to them, they have made amity with +them, and that they are mighty in power. + +8:2. And they heard of their battles, and their noble acts which they +had done in Galatia, how they had conquered them, and brought them +under tribute: + +They heard, etc. . .What is here set down of the history and character +of the ancient Romans, is not an assertion, or affirmation of the +sacred writer: but only a relation of what Judas had heard of them. + +8:3. And how great things they had done in the land of Spain, and that +they had brought under their power the mines of silver and of gold that +are there, and had gotten possession of all the place by their counsel +and patience: + +8:4. And had conquered places that were very far off from them, and +kings that came against them from the ends of the earth, and had +overthrown them with great slaughter: and the rest pay them tribute +every year. + +8:5. And that they had defeated in battle Philip and Perses the king of +the Ceteans, and the rest that had borne arms against them, and had +conquered them: + +Ceteans. . .That is, the Macedonians. + +8:6. And how Antiochus, the great king of Asia, who went to fight +against them, having a hundred and twenty elephants, with horsemen, and +chariots, and a very great army, was routed by them. + +8:7. And how they took him alive, and appointed to him, that both he +and they that should reign after him, should pay a great tribute, and +that he should give hostages, and that which was agreed upon, + +8:8. And the country of the Indians, and of the Medes, and of the +Lydians, some of their best provinces: and those which they had taken +from them, they gave to king Eumenes. + +Eumenes. . .King of Pergamus. + +8:9. And that they who were in Greece, had a mind to go and to destroy +them: and they had knowledge thereof, + +8:10. And they sent a general against them, and fought with them, and +many of them were slain, and they carried away their wives, and their +children captives, and spoiled them, and took possession of their land, +and threw down their walls, and brought them to be their servants unto +this day. + +8:11. And the other kingdoms, and islands, that at any time had +resisted them, they had destroyed and brought under their power. + +8:12. But with their friends, and such as relied upon them, they kept +amity, and had conquered kingdoms that were near, and that were far +off: for all that heard their name, were afraid of them. + +8:13. That whom they had a mind to help to a kingdom, those reigned: +and whom they would, they deposed from the kingdom: and they were +greatly exalted. + +8:14. And none of all these wore a crown, or was clothed in purple, to +be magnified thereby. + +8:15. And that they had made themselves a senate house, and consulted +daily three hundred and twenty men, that sat in counsel always for the +people, that they might do the things that were right: + +8:16. And that they committed their government to one man every year, +to rule over all their country, and they all obey one, and there is no +envy nor jealousy amongst them. + +To one man. . .There were two consuls: but one only ruled at one time, +each in his day.--Ibid. No envy, etc. . .So Judas had heard: and it was +so far true, with regard to the ancient Romans, that as yet no envy or +jealousy had divided them into such open factions and civil wars, as +they afterwards experienced in the time of Marius and Sylla, etc. + +8:17. So Judas chose Eupolemus, the son of John, the son of Jacob, and +Jason, the son of Eleazar, and he sent them to Rome to make a league of +amity and confederacy with them: + +8:18. And that they might take off from them the yoke of the Grecians, +for they saw that they oppressed the kingdom of Israel with servitude. + +8:19. And they went to Rome, a very long journey, and they entered into +the senate house, and said: + +8:20. Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the people of the Jews, +have sent us to you to make alliance and peace with you, and that we +may be registered your confederates and friends. + +8:21. And the proposal was pleasing in their sight. + +8:22. And this is the copy of the writing that they wrote back again, +graven in tables of brass, and sent to Jerusalem, that it might be with +them there for a memorial of the peace, and alliance. + +8:23. GOOD SUCCESS BE TO THE ROMANS, and to the people of the Jews by +sea, and by land, for ever: and far be the sword and enemy from them. + +8:24. But if there come first any war upon the Romans, or any of their +confederates, in all their dominions: + +8:25. The nation of the Jews shall help them according as the time +shall direct, with all their heart: + +8:26. Neither shall they give them, whilst they are fighting, or +furnish them with wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed +good to the Romans: and they shall obey their orders, without taking +any thing of them. + +8:27. In like manner also if war shall come first upon the nation of +the Jews, the Romans shall help them with all their heart, according as +the time shall permit them: + +8:28. And there shall not be given to them that come to their aid, +either wheat, or arms, or money, or ships, as it hath seemed good to +the Romans: and they shall observe their orders without deceit. + +8:29. According to these articles did the Romans covenant with the +people of the Jews. + +8:30. And, if after this, one party or the other shall have a mind to +add to these articles, or take away any thing, they may do it at their +pleasure: and whatsoever they shall add, or take away, shall be +ratified. + +8:31. Moreover, concerning the evils that Demetrius, the king, hath +done against them, we have written to him, saying: Why hast thou made +thy yoke heavy upon our friends and allies, the Jews. + +8:32. If, therefore, they come again to us complaining of thee, we will +do them justice, and will make war against thee by sea and land. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 9 + + +Bacchides is sent again into Judea: Judas fights against him with eight +hundred men and is slain. Jonathan succeeds him and revenges the murder +of his brother John. He fights against Bacchides. Alcimus dies +miserably. Bacchides besieges Bethbessen. He is forced to raise the +siege and leave the country. + +9:1. In the mean time, when Demetrius heard that Nicanor and his army +were fallen in battle, he sent again Bacchides and Alcimus into Judea; +and the right wing of his army with them. + +9:2. And they took the road that leadeth to Galgal, and they camped in +Masaloth, which is in Arabella: and they made themselves masters of it, +and slew many people. + +9:3. In the first month of the hundred and fifty-second year they +brought the army to Jerusalem: + +9:4. And they arose and went to Berea, with twenty thousand men, and +two thousand horsemen. + +9:5. Now Judas had pitched his tents in Laisa, and three thousand +chosen men with him: + +9:6. And they saw the multitude of the army that they were many, and +they were seized with great fear: and many withdrew themselves out of +the camp, and there remained of them no more than eight hundred men. + +9:7. And Judas saw that his army slipped away, and the battle pressed +upon him, and his heart was cast down: because he had not time to +gather them together, and he was discouraged. + +9:8. Then he said to them that remained: Let us arise, and go against +our enemies, if we may be able to fight against them. + +9:9. But they dissuaded him, saying: We shall not be able, but let us +save our lives now, and return to our brethren, and then we will fight +against them: for we are but few. + +9:10. Then Judas said: God forbid we should do this thing, and flee +away from them: but if our time be come, let us die manfully for our +brethren, and let us not stain our glory. + +9:11. And the army removed out of the camp, and they stood over against +them: and the horsemen were divided into two troops, and the slingers, +and the archers, went before the army, and they that were in the front +were all men of valour. + +9:12. And Bacchides was in the right wing, and the legion drew near on +two sides, and they sounded the trumpets: + +9:13. And they also that were on Judas's side, even they also cried +out, and the earth shook at the noise of the armies: and the battle was +fought from morning even unto the evening. + +9:14. And Judas perceived that the stronger part of the army of +Bacchides was on the right side, and all the stout of heart came +together with him: + +9:15. And the right wing was discomfited by them, and he pursued them +even to the mount Azotus. + +9:16. And they that were in the left wing saw that the right wing was +discomfited, and they followed after Judas, and them that were with +him, at their back: + +9:17. And the battle was hard fought, and there fell many wounded of +the one side and of the other. + +9:18. And Judas was slain, and the rest fled away. + +9:19. And Jonathan and Simon took Judas, their brother, and buried him +in the sepulchre of their fathers, in the city of Modin. + +9:20. And all the people of Israel bewailed him with great lamentation, +and they mourned for him many days. + +9:21. And said: How is the mighty man fallen, that saved the people of +Israel! + +9:22. But the rest of the words of the wars of Judas, and of the noble +acts that he did, and of his greatness, are not written: for they were +very many. + +9:23. And it came to pass, after the death of Judas, that the wicked +began to put forth their heads in all the confines of Israel, and all +the workers of iniquity rose up. + +9:24. In those days there was a very great famine, and they and all +their country yielded to Bacchides. + +9:25. And Bacchides chose the wicked men, and made them lords of the +country: + +9:26. And they sought out, and made diligent search after the friends +of Judas, and brought them to Bacchides, and he took vengeance of them, +and abused them. + +9:27. And there was a great tribulation in Israel, such as was not +since the day, that there was no prophet seen in Israel. + +9:28. And all the friends of Judas came together, and said to Jonathan: + +9:29. Since thy brother Judas died there is not a man like him to go +forth against our enemies, Bacchides, and them that are the enemies of +our nation. + +9:30. Now, therefore, we have chosen thee this day to be our prince, +and captain, in his stead, to fight our battles. + +9:31. So Jonathan took upon him the government at that time, and rose +up in the place of Judas, his brother + +9:32. And Bacchides had knowledge of it, and sought to kill him. + +9:33. And Jonathan, and Simon, his brother, knew it, and all that were +with them: and they fled into the desert of Thecua, and they pitched by +the water of the lake Asphar, + +9:34. And Bacchides understood it, and he came himself, with all his +army, over the Jordan, on the sabbath day. + +9:35. And Jonathan sent his brother, a captain of the people, to desire +the Nabutheans his friends, that they would lend them their equipage, +which was copious. + +9:36. And the children of Jambri came forth out of Madaba, and took +John, and all that he had, and went away with them. + +9:37. After this it was told Jonathan, and Simon, his brother, that the +children of Jambri made a great marriage, and were bringing the bride +out of Madaba, the daughter of one of the great princes of Chanaan, +with great pomp. + +9:38. And they remembered the blood of John, their brother: and they +went up, and hid themselves under the covert of the mountain. + +9:39. And they lifted up their eyes, and saw: and behold a tumult, and +great preparation: and the bridegroom came forth, and his friends, and +his brethren to meet them with timbrels, and musical instruments and +many weapons. + +9:40. And they rose up against them from the place where they lay in +ambush, and slew them, and there fell many wounded, and the rest fled +into the mountains, and they took all their spoils: + +9:41. And the marriage was turned into mourning, and the noise of their +musical instruments into lamentation. + +9:42. And they took revenge for the blood of their brother: and they +returned to the bank of the Jordan. + +9:43. And Bacchides heard it, and he came on the sabbath day even to +the bank of the Jordan, with a great power. + +9:44. And Jonathan said to his company: Let us arise, and fight against +our enemies: for it is not now as yesterday, and the day before. + +9:45. For behold the battle is before us, and the water of the Jordan +on this side and on that side, and banks, and marshes, and woods: and +there is no place for us to turn aside. + +9:46. Now, therefore, cry ye to heaven, that ye may be delivered from +the hand of your enemies. And they joined battle. + +9:47. And Jonathan stretched forth his hand to strike Bacchides, but he +turned away from him backwards. + +9:48. And Jonathan, and they that were with him, leapt into the Jordan, +and swam over the Jordan to them. + +9:49. And there fell of Bacchides' side that day a thousand men: and +they returned to Jerusalem, + +9:50. And they built strong cities in Judea, the fortress that was in +Jericho, and in Ammaus, and in Bethoron, and in Bethel, and Thamnata, +and Phara, and Thopo, with high walls, and gates, and bars. + +9:51. And he placed garrisons in them, that they might wage war against +Israel: + +9:52. And he fortified the city of Bethsura, and Gazara, and the +castle, and set garrisons in them, and provisions of victuals: + +9:53. And he took the sons of the chief men of the country for +hostages, and put them in the castle in Jerusalem in custody. + +9:54. Now in the year one hundred and fifty-three, the second month, +Alcimus commanded the walls of the inner court of the sanctuary to be +thrown down, and the works of the prophets to be destroyed: and he +began to destroy. + +9:55. At that time Alcimus was struck: and his works were hindered, and +his mouth was stopped, and he was taken with a palsy, so that he could no +more speak a word, nor give order concerning his house. + +9:56. And Alcimus died at that time in great torment. + +9:57. And Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead: and he returned to the +king, and the land was quiet for two years. + +9:58. And all the wicked held a council, saying: Behold Jonathan, and +they that are with him, dwell at ease and without fear: now, therefore, +let us bring Bacchides hither, and he shall take them all in one night. + +9:59. So they went, and gave him counsel. + +9:60. And he arose to come with a great army: and he sent secretly +letters to his adherents that were in Judea to seize upon Jonathan, and +them that were with him: but they could not, for their design was known +to them. + +9:61. And he apprehended of the men of the country, that were the +principal authors of the mischief, fifty men, and he slew them. + +9:62. And Jonathan, and Simon, and they that were with him, retired +into Bethbessen, which is in the desert: and he repaired the breaches +thereof, and they fortified it. + +9:63. And when Bacchides knew it, he gathered together all his +multitude: and sent word to them that were of Judea. + +9:64. And he came, and camped above Bethbessen, and fought against it +many days, and made engines. + +9:65. But Jonathan left his brother, Simon, in the city and went forth +into the country, and came with a number of men, + +9:66. And struck Odares, and his brethren, and the children of +Phaseron, in their tents, and he began to slay, and to increase in +forces. + +9:67. But Simon, and they that were with him, sallied out of the city, +and burnt the engines, + +9:68. And they fought against Bacchides, and he was discomfited by +them: and they afflicted him exceedingly, for his counsel, and his +enterprise was in vain. + +9:69. And he was angry with the wicked men that had given him counsel +to come into their country, and he slew many of them: and he purposed +to return with the rest into their country. + +9:70. And Jonathan had knowledge of it, and he sent ambassadors to him +to make peace with him, and to restore to him the prisoners. + +9:71. And he accepted it willingly, and did according to his words, and +swore that he would do him no harm all the days of his life. + +9:72. And he restored to him the prisoners which he before had taken +out of the land of Juda: and he returned, and went away into his own +country, and he came no more into their borders. + +9:73. So the sword ceased from Israel: and Jonathan dwelt in Machmas, +and Jonathan began there to judge the people, and he destroyed the +wicked out of Israel. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 10 + + +Alexander Bales sets himself up for king: both he and Demetrius seek to +make Jonathan their friend. Alexander kills Demetrius in battle, and +honours Jonathan. His victory over Apollonius. + +10:1. Now in the hundred and sixtieth year, Alexander, the son of +Antiochus, surnamed the Illustrious, came up and took Ptolemais, and +they received him, and he reigned there. + +10:2. And king Demetrius heard of it, and gathered together an +exceeding great army, and went forth against him to fight. + +10:3. And Demetrius sent a letter to Jonathan, with peaceable words, to +magnify him. + +10:4. For he said: Let us first make a peace with him, before he make +one with Alexander against us. + +10:5. For he will remember all the evils that we have done against him, +and against his brother, and against his nation. + +10:6. And he gave him authority to gather together a army, and to make +arms, and that he should be his confederate: and the hostages that were +in the castle, he commanded to be delivered to him. + +10:7. And Jonathan came to Jerusalem, and read the letters in the +hearing of all the people, and of them that were in the castle. + +10:8. And they were struck with great fear, because they heard that the +king had given him authority to gather together an army. + +10:9. And the hostages were delivered to Jonathan, and he restored them +to their parents. + +10:10. And Jonathan dwelt in Jerusalem, and began to build, and to +repair the city. + +10:11. And he ordered workmen to build the walls, and mount Sion round +about with square stones for fortification: and so they did. + +10:12. Then the strangers that were in the strong holds, which +Bacchides had built, fled away. + +10:13. And every man left his place, and departed into his own country: + +10:14. Only in Bethsura there remained some of them, that had forsaken +the law, and the commandments of God: for this was a place of refuge +for them. + +10:15. And king Alexander heard of the promises that Demetrius had made +Jonathan: and they told him of the battles, and the worthy acts that he +and his brethren had done, and the labours that they had endured. + +10:16. And he said: Shall we find such another man? now, therefore, we +will make him our friend and our confederate. + +10:17. So he wrote a letter, and sent it to him according to these +words, saying: + +10:18. King Alexander to his brother, Jonathan, greetings. + +10:19. We have heard of thee, that thou art a man of great power, and +fit to be our friend: + +10:20. Now therefore, we make thee this day high priest of thy nation, +and that thou be called the king's friend, (and he sent him a purple +robe, and a crown of gold) and that thou be of one mind with us in our +affairs, and keep friendship with us. + +10:21. Then Jonathan put on the holy vestment in the seventh month, in +the year one hundred and threescore, at the feast day of the +tabernacles: and he gathered together an army, and made a great number +of arms. + +10:22. And Demetrius heard these words, and was exceeding sorry, and +said: + +10:23. What is this that we have done, that Alexander hath prevented us +to gain the friendship of the Jews to strengthen himself? + +10:24. I also will write to them words of request, and offer dignities, +and gifts: that they may be with me to aid me. + +10:25. And he wrote to them in these words: King Demetrius to the +nation of the Jews, greeting. + +10:26. Whereas you have kept covenant with us, and have continued in +our friendship, and have not joined with our enemies, we have heard of +it, and are glad. + +10:27. Wherefore now continue still to keep fidelity towards us, and we +will reward you with good things, for what you have done in our behalf. + +10:28. And we will remit to you many charges, and will give you gifts. + +10:29. And now I free you, and all the Jews, from tributes, and I +release you from the customs of salt, and remit the crowns, and the +thirds of the seed: + +10:30. And the half of the fruit of trees, which is my share, I leave +to you from this day forward, so that it shall not be taken of the land +of Juda, and of the three cities that are added thereto out of Samaria +and Galilee, from this day forth, and for ever: + +10:31. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, with the borders thereof: +and let the tenths, and tributes be for itself. + +10:32. I yield up also the power of the castle that is in Jerusalem, +and I give it to the high priest, to place therein such men as he shall +choose, to keep it. + +10:33. And every soul of the Jews that hath been carried captive from +the land of Juda in all my kingdom, I set at liberty freely, that all +be discharged from tributes, even of their cattle. + +10:34. And I will that all the feasts, and the sabbaths, and the new +moons, and the days appointed, and three days before the solemn day, +and three days after the solemn day, be all days of immunity and +freedom, for all the Jews that are in my kingdom: + +10:35. And no man shall have power to do any thing against them, or to +molest any of them, in any cause. + +10:36. And let there be enrolled in the king's army to the number of +thirty thousand of the Jews: and allowance shall be made them, as is +due to all the king's forces and certain of them shall be appointed to +be in the fortresses of the great king: + +10:37. And some of them shall be set over the affairs of the kingdom, +that are of trust, and let the governors be taken from among +themselves, and let them walk in their own laws, as the king hath +commanded in the land of Juda. + +10:38. And the three cities that are added to Judea, out of the country +of Samaria, let them be accounted with Judea: that they may be under +one, and obey no other authority but that of the high priest: + +10:39. Ptolemais and the confines thereof, I give as a free gift to the +holy places that are in Jerusalem, for the necessary charges of the +holy things. + +10:40. And I give every year fifteen thousand sickles of silver out of +the king's accounts, of what belongs to me: + +10:41. And all that is above, which they that were over the affairs the +years before, had not paid, from this time they shall give it to the +works of the house. + +10:42. Moreover, the five thousand sickles of silver, which they +received from the account of the holy places, every year, shall also +belong to the priests that execute the ministry. + +10:43. And whosoever shall flee into the temple that is in Jerusalem, +and in all the borders thereof, being indebted to the king for any +matter, let them be set at liberty, and all that they have in my +kingdom, let them have it free. + +10:44. For the building also, or repairing the works of the holy +places, the charges shall be given out of the king's revenues: + +10:45. For the building also of the walls of Jerusalem, and the +fortifying thereof round about, the charges shall be given out of the +king's account, as also for the building of the walls in Judea. + +10:46. Now when Jonathan and the people heard these words, they gave no +credit to them, nor received them because they remembered the great +evil that he had done in Israel, for he had afflicted them exceedingly. + +10:47. And their inclinations were towards Alexander, because he had +been the chief promoter of peace in their regard, and him they always +helped. + +10:48. And king Alexander gathered together a great army, and moved his +camp near to Demetrius. + +10:49. And the two kings joined battle, and the army of Demetrius fled +away, and Alexander pursued after him, and pressed them close. + +10:50. And the battle was hard fought, till the sun went down: and +Demetrius was slain that day. + +10:51. And Alexander sent ambassadors to Ptolemee king of Egypt, with +words to this effect, saying: + +Ptolemee. . .Surnamed Philometer. + +10:52. Forasmuch as I am returned into my kingdom and am set in the +throne of my ancestors, and have gotten the dominion, and have +overthrown Demetrius and possessed our country, + +10:53. And have joined battle with him, and both he and his army have +been destroyed by us, and we are placed in the throne of his kingdom: + +10:54. Now, therefore, let us make friendship one with another: and +give me now thy daughter to wife, and I will be thy son in law, and I +will give both thee and her gifts worthy of thee. + +10:55. And king Ptolomee answered, saying: Happy is the day wherein +thou didst return to the land of thy fathers, and sattest in the throne +of their kingdom. + +10:56. And now I will do to thee as thou hast written but meet me at +Ptolemais, that we may see one another, and I may give her to thee as +thou hast said. + +10:57. So Ptolemee went out of Egypt, with Cleopatra his daughter, and +he came to Ptolemais, in the hundred and sixty-second year. + +10:58. And king Alexander met him, and he gave him his daughter, +Cleopatra: and he celebrated her marriage at Ptolemais with great +glory, after the manner of kings. + +10:59. And king Alexander wrote to Jonathan, that he should come and +meet him. + +10:60. And he went honourably to Ptolemais, and he met there the two +kings, and he gave them much silver, and gold, and presents: and he +found favour in their sight. + +10:61. And some pestilent men of Israel, men of a wicked life, +assembled themselves against him, to accuse him: and the king gave no +heed to them. + +10:62. And he commanded that Jonathan's garments should be taken off, +and that he should be clothed with purple: and they did so. And the +king made him sit by himself. + +10:63. And he said to his princes: Go out with him into the midst of +the city, and make proclamation, that no man complain against him of +any matter, and that no man trouble him for any manner of cause. + +10:64. So when his accusers saw his glory proclaimed, and him clothed +with purple, they all fled away. + +10:65. And the king magnified him, and enrolled him amongst his chief +friends, and made him governor, and partaker of his dominion. + +10:66. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with peace and joy. + +10:67. In the year one hundred and sixty-five, Demetrius, the son of +Demetrius, came from Crete into the land of his fathers. + +10:68. And king Alexander heard of it, and was much troubled, and +returned to Antioch. + +10:69. And king Demetrius made Apollonius his general, who was governor +of Celesyria: and he gathered together a great army, and came to +Jamnia: and he sent to Jonathan, the high priest, + +10:70. Saying: Thou alone standest against us, and I am laughed at and +reproached, because thou shewest thy power against us in the mountains. + +10:71. Now, therefore, if thou trustest in thy forces, come down to us +into the plain, and there let us try one another: for with me is the +strength of war. + +10:72. Ask, and learn who I am, and the rest that help me, who also say +that your foot cannot stand before our face, for thy fathers have twice +been put to flight in their own land: + +10:73. And now how wilt thou be able to abide the horsemen, and so +great an army in the plain, where there is no stone, nor rock, nor +place to flee to? + +10:74. Now when Jonathan heard the words of Apollonius, he was moved in +his mind: and he chose ten thousand men, and went out of Jerusalem, and +Simon, his brother, met him to help him. + +10:75. And they pitched their tents near Joppe, but they shut him out +of the city: because a garrison of Apollonius was in Joppe, and he laid +siege to it. + +10:76. And they that were in the city being affrighted, opened the +gates to him: so Jonathan took Joppe. + +10:77. And Apollonius heard of it, and he took three thousand horsemen, +and a great army. + +10:78. And he went to Azotus, as one that was making a journey, and +immediately he went forth into the plain: because he had a great number +of horsemen, and he trusted in them. And Jonathan followed after him to +Azotus, and they joined battle. + +10:79. And Apollonius left privately in the camp a thousand horsemen +behind them. + +10:80. And Jonathan knew that there was an ambush behind him, and they +surrounded his army, and cast darts at the people from morning till +evening. + +10:81. But the people stood still, as Jonathan had commanded them: and +so their horses were fatigued. + +10:82. Then Simon drew forth his army, and attacked the legion: for the +horsemen were wearied: and they were discomfited by him, and fled. + +10:83. And they that were scattered about the plain fled into Azotus, +and went into Bethdagon, their idol's temple, there to save themselves. + +10:84. But Jonathan set fire to Azotus, and the cities that were round +about it, and took the spoils of them and the temple of Dagon: and all +them that were fled into it, he burnt with fire. + +10:85. So they that were slain by the sword, with them that were burnt, +were almost eight thousand men. + +10:86. And Jonathan, removed his army from thence and camped against +Ascalon: and they went out of the city to meet him with great honour. + +10:87. And Jonathan returned into Jerusalem with his people, having +many spoils. + +10:88. And it came to pass, when Alexander, the king heard these words, +that he honoured Jonathan yet more. + +10:89. And he sent him a buckle of gold, as the custom is, to be given +to such as are of the royal blood. And he gave him Accaron, and all the +borders thereof, in possession. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 11 + + +Ptolemee invades the kingdom of Alexander: the latter is slain: and the +former dies soon after. Demetrius honours Jonathan, and is rescued by +the Jews from his own subjects in Antioch. Antiochus the younger +favours Jonathan. His exploits in divers places. + +11:1. And the king of Egypt gathered together an army, like the sand +that lieth upon the sea shore, and many ships: and he sought to get the +kingdom of Alexander by deceit, and join it to his own kingdom. + +11:2. And he went out into Syria with peaceable words and they opened +to him the cities, and met him: for king Alexander had ordered them to +go forth to meet him, because he was his father in law. + +11:3. Now when Ptolemee entered into the cities, he put garrisons of +soldiers in every city. + +11:4. And when he came near to Azotns, they shewed him the temple of +Dagon that was burnt with fire, and Azotus, and the suburbs thereof, +that were destroyed, and the bodies that were cast abroad, and the +graves of them that were slain in the battle, which they had made near +the way. + +11:5. And they told the king that Jonathan had done these things, to +make him odious: but the king held his peace. + +11:6. And Jonathan came to meet the king at Joppe with glory, and they +saluted one another, and they lodged there. + +11:7. And Jonathan went with the king as far as the river, called +Eleutherus: and he returned into Jerusalem. + +11:8. And king Ptolemee got the dominion of the cities by the sea side, +even to Seleucia, and he devised evil designs against Alexander. + +11:9. And he sent ambassadors to Demetrius, saying: Come, let us make a +league between us, and I will give thee my daughter whom Alexander +hath, and thou shalt reign in the kingdom of thy father. + +11:10. For I repent that I have given him my daughter: for he hath +sought to kill me. + +11:11. And he slandered him, because he coveted his kingdom, + +11:12. And he took away his daughter, and gave her to Demetrius, and +alienated himself from Alexander, and his enmities were made manifest. + +11:13. And Ptolemee entered into Antioch, and set two crowns upon his +head, that of Egypt, and that of Asia. + +11:14. Now king Alexander was in Cilicia at that time: because they +that were in those places had rebelled. + +11:15. And when Alexander heard of it, he came to give him battle: and +king Ptolemee brought forth his army, and met him with a strong power, +and put him to flight. + +11:16. And Alexander fled into Arabia, there to be protected: and king +Ptolemee was exalted. + +11:17. And Zabdiel the Arabian took off Alexander's head, and sent it +to Ptolemee. + +11:18. And king Ptolemee died the third day after: and they that were +in the strong holds were destroyed by them that were within the camp. + +11:19. And Demetrius reigned in the hundred and sixty-seventh year. + +11:20. In those days Jonathan gathered together them that were in +Judea, to take the castle that was in Jerusalem: and they made many +engines of war against it. + +11:21. Then some wicked men that hated their own nation, went away to +king Demetrius, and told him that Jonathan was besieging the castle. + +11:22. And when he heard it, he was angry: and forthwith he came to +Ptolemais, and wrote to Jonathan that he should not besiege the castle, +but should come to him in haste, and speak to him. + +11:23. But when Jonathan heard this, he bade them besiege it still: and +he chose some of the ancients of Israel, and of the priests, and put +himself in danger + +11:24. And he took gold, and silver, and raiment, and many other +presents, and went to the king to Ptolemais and he found favour in his +sight. + +11:25. And certain wicked men of his nation made complaints against +him. + +11:26. And the king treated him as his predecessors had done before: +and he exalted him in the sight of all his friends. + +11:27. And he confirmed him in the high priesthood and all the honours +he had before, and he made him the chief of his friends. + +11:28. And Jonathan requested of the king that he would make Judea free +from tribute, and the three governments, and Samaria, and the confines +thereof: and he promised him three hundred talents. + +11:29. And the king consented: and he wrote letters to Jonathan of all +these things, to this effect. + +11:30. King Demetrius to his brother, Jonathan, and to the nation of +the Jews, greeting. + +11:31. We send you here a copy of the letter which we have written to +Lasthenes, our parent, concerning you, that you might know it. + +11:32. King Demetrius to Lasthenes, his parent, greetings. + +11:33. We have determined to do good to the nation of the Jews, who are +our friends, and keep the things that are just with us, for their good +will which they bear towards us. + +11:34. We have ratified, therefore, unto them all the borders of Judea, +and the three cities, Apherema, Lydda, and Ramatha, which are added to +Judea, out of Samaria, and all their confines, to be set apart to all +them that sacrifice in Jerusalem, instead of the payments which the +king received of them every year, and for the fruits of the land, and +of the trees. + +Apherema. . .is found only in the Greek version. + +11:35. And as for other things that belonged to us of the tithes, and +of the tributes, from this time we discharge them of them: the saltpans +also, and the crowns that were presented to us. + +11:36. We give all to them, and nothing hereof shall be revoked from +this time forth and for ever. + +11:37. Now, therefore, see that thou make a copy of these things, and +let it be given to Jonathan, and set upon the holy mountain, in a +conspicuous place. + +11:38. And king Demetrius, seeing that the land was quiet before him, +and nothing resisted him, sent away all his forces, every man to his +own place, except the foreign army, which he had drawn together from +the islands of the nations: so all the troops of his fathers hated him. + +11:39. Now there was one Tryphon who had been of Alexander's party +before: who seeing that all the army murmured against Demetrius, went +to Emalchuel, the Arabian, who brought up Antiochus, the son of +Alexander: + +11:40. And he pressed him much to deliver him to him, that he might be +king in his father's place: and he told him all that Demetrius had +done, and how his soldiers hated him. And he remained there many days. + +11:41. And Jonathan sent to king Demetrius, desiring that he would cast +out them that were in the castle in Jerusalem, and those that were in +the strong holds: because they fought against Israel. + +11:42. And Demetrius sent to Jonathan, saying: I will not only do this +for thee, and for thy people, but I will greatly honour thee, and thy +nation, when opportunity shall serve. + +11:43. Now, therefore, thou shalt do well if thou send me men to help +me: for all my army is gone from me. + +11:44. And Jonathan sent him three thousand valiant men to Antioch: and +they came to the king, and the king was very glad of their coming. + +11:45. And they that were of the city assembled themselves together, to +the number of a hundred and twenty thousand men, and would have killed +the king. + +11:46. And the king fled into the palace: and they of the city kept the +passages of the city, and began to fight. + +11:47. And the king called the Jews to his assistance: and they came to +him all at once, and they all dispersed themselves through the city. + +11:48. And they slew in that day a hundred thousand men, and they set +fire to the city, and got many spoils that day, and delivered the king. + +11:49. And they that were of the city saw that the Jews had got the +city as they would: and they were discouraged in their mind, and cried +to the king, making supplication, and saying + +1:50. Grant us peace, and let the Jews cease from assaulting us, and +the city. + +11:51. And they threw down their arms, and made peace, and the Jews +were glorified in the sight of the king, and in the sight of all that +were in his realm, and were renowned throughout the kingdom, and +returned to Jerusalem with many spoils. + +11:52. So king Demetrius sat in the throne of his kingdom: and the land +was quiet before him. + +11:53. And he falsified all whatsoever he had said, and alienated +himself from Jonathan, and did not reward him according to the benefits +he had received from him, but gave him great trouble. + +11:54. And after this Tryphon returned, and with him Antiochus, the +young boy, who was made king, and put on the diadem. + +11:55. And there assembled unto him all the hands which Demetrius had +sent away, and they fought against Demetrius who turned his back and +fled. + +11:56. And Tryphon took the elephants, and made himself master of +Antioch. + +11:57. And young Antiochus wrote to Jonathan, saying: I confirm thee in +the high priesthood, and I appoint thee ruler over the four cities, and +to be one of the king's friends. + +11:58. And he sent him vessels of gold for his service, and he gave him +leave to drink in gold, and to be clothed in purple, and to wear a +golden buckle: + +11:59. And he made his brother, Simon, governor, from the borders of +Tyre even to the confines of Egypt. + +11:60. Then Jonathan went forth, and passed through the cities beyond +the river, and all the forces of Syria gathered themselves to him to +help him, and he came to Ascalon, and they met him honourably out of +the city. + +11:61. And he went from thence to Gaza: and they that were in Gaza shut +him out: and he besieged it, and burnt all the suburbs round about, and +took the spoils. + +11:62. And the men of Gaza made supplication to Jonathan, and he gave +them the right hand: and he took their sons for hostages, and sent them +to Jerusalem: and he went through the country, as far as Damascus. + +11:63. And Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come +treacherously to Cades, which is in Galilee, with a great army, +purposing to remove him from the affairs of the kingdom. + +11:64. And he went against them: but left his brother, Simon, in the +country. + +11:65. And Simon encamped against Bethsura, and assaulted it many days, +and shut them up. + +11:66. And they desired him to make peace, and he granted it them: and +he cast them out from thence, and took the city, and placed a garrison +in it. + +11:67. And Jonathan and his army encamped by the water of Genesar, and +before it was light they were ready in the plain of Asor. + +11:68. And behold the army of the strangers met him in the plain, and +they laid an ambush for him in the mountains: but he went out against +them. + +11:69. And they that lay in ambush rose out of their places, and joined +battle. + +11:70. And all that were on Jonathan's side fled, and none was left of +them, but Mathathias, the son of Absalom, and Judas, the son of Calphi, +chief captain of the army. + +11:71. And Jonathan rent his garments, and cast earth upon his head, +and prayed. + +11:72. And Jonathan turned again to them to battle, and he put them to +flight, and they fought. + +11:73. And they of his part that fled saw this, and they turned again +to him, and they all with him pursued the enemies, even to Cades, to +their own camp, and they came even thither. + +11:74. And there fell of the aliens in that day three thousand men: and +Jonathan returned to Jerusalem. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 12 + + +Jonathan renews his league with the Romans and Lacedemonians. The +forces of Demetrius flee away from him. He is deceived and made +prisoner by Tryphon. + +12:1. And Jonathan saw that the time served him, and he chose certain +men, and sent them to Rome, to confirm and to renew the amity with +them: + +12:2. And he sent letters to the Spartans, and to other places, +according to the same form. + +12:3. And they went to Rome, and entered into the senate house, and +said: Jonathan, the high priest, and the nation of the Jews, have sent +us to renew the amity, and alliance, as it was before. + +12:4. And they gave them letters to their governors in every place, to +conduct them into the land of Juda with peace. + +12:5. And this is a copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the +Spartans: + +12:6. Jonathan, the high priest, and the ancients of the nation, and +the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to the Spartans, +their brethren, greeting. + +12:7. There were letters sent long ago to Onias the high priest, from +Arius, who reigned then among you to signify that you are our brethren, +as the copy here underwritten doth specify. + +12:8. And Onias received the ambassador with honour and received the +letters, wherein there was mention made of the alliance, and amity. + +12:9. We, though we needed none of these things having for our comfort +the holy books that are in our hands, + +12:10. Chose rather to send to you to renew the brotherhood and +friendship, lest we should become stranger to you altogether: for there +is a long time passed since you sent to us. + +12:11. We, therefore, at all times without ceasing, both in our +festivals, and other days wherein it is convenient, remember you in the +sacrifices that we offer, and in our observances, as it is meet and +becoming to remember brethren. + +12:12. And we rejoice at your glory. + +12:13. But we have had many troubles and wars on every side; and the +kings that are round about us have fought against us. + +12:14. But we would not be troublesome to you, nor to the rest of our +allies and friends, in these wars. + +12:15. For we have had help from heaven, and we have been delivered, +and our enemies are humbled. + +12:16. We have chosen, therefore, Numenius the son of Antiochus, and +Antipater, the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew +with them the former amity and alliance. + +12:17. And we have commanded them to go also to you, and salute you, +and to deliver you our letters, concerning the renewing of our +brotherhood. + +12:18. And now you shall do well to give us an answer hereto. + +12:19. And this is the copy of the letter which he had sent to Onias: + +12:20. Arius, king of the Spartans, to Onias, the high priest, +greeting. + +12:21. It is found in writing concerning the Spartans, and the Jews, +that they are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham. + +12:22. And now since this is come to our knowledge, you do well to +write to us of your prosperity. + +12:23. And we also have written back to you, That our cattle, and our +possessions, are yours: and yours, ours. We, therefore, have commanded +that these things should be told you. + +12:24. Now Jonathan heard that the generals of Demetrius were come +again with a greater army than before to fight against him. + +12:25. So he went out from Jerusalem, and met them in the land of +Amath: for he gave them no time to enter into his country. + +12:26. And he sent spies into their camp, and they came back, and +brought him word that they designed to come upon them in the night. + +12:27. And when the sun was set, Jonathan commanded his men to watch, +and to be in arms all night long ready to fight, and he set sentinels +round about the camp. + +12:28. And the enemies heard that Jonathan and his men were ready for +battle: and they were struck with fear and dread in their heart: and +they kindled fires in their camp. + +12:29. But Jonathan, and they that were with him, knew it not till the +morning: for they saw the lights burning. + +12:30. And Jonathan pursued after them, but overtook them not: for they +had passed the river Eleutherus. + +12:31. And Jonathan turned upon the Arabians, that are called +Zabadeans: and he defeated them, and took the spoils of them. + +12:32. And he went forward, and came to Damascus, and passed through +all that country. + +12:33. Simon also went forth, and came as far as Ascalon, and the +neighbouring fortresses, and he turned aside to Joppe, and took +possession of it, + +12:34. (For he heard that they designed to deliver the hold to them +that took part with Demetrius) and he put a garrison there to keep it. + +12:35. And Jonathan came back, and called together the ancients of the +people; and he took a resolution with them to build fortresses in +Judea, + +12:36. And to build up walls in Jerusalem, and raise a mount between +the castle and the city, to separate it from the city, that so it might +have no communication, and that they might neither buy nor sell. + +12:37. And they came together to build up the city: for the wall that +was upon the brook, towards the east, was broken down, and he repaired +that which is called Caphetetha: + +12:38. And Simon built Adiada in Sephela, and fortified it, and set up +gates and bars. + +12:39. Now when Tryphon had conceived a design to make himself king of +Asia and to take the crown, and to stretch out his hand against king +Antiochus: + +12:40. Fearing lest Jonathan would not suffer him, but would fight +against him: he sought to seize upon him, and to kill him. So he rose +up and came to Bethsan. + +12:41. And Jonathan went out to meet him with forty thousand men chosen +for battle, and came to Bethsan. + +12:42. Now when Tryphon saw that Jonathan came with a great army, he +durst not stretch forth his hand against him. + +12:43. But received him with honour, and commended him to all his +friends, and gave him presents: and he commanded his troops to obey +him, as himself. + +12:44. And he said to Jonathan: Why hast thou troubled all the people, +whereas we have no war? + +12:45. Now, therefore, send them back to their own houses: and choose +thee a few men that may be with thee, and come with me to Ptolemais, +and I will deliver it to thee, and the rest of the strong holds, and +the army, and all that have any charge, and I will return and go away: +for this is the cause of my coming. + +12:46. And Jonathan believed him, and did as he said: and sent away his +army, and they departed into the land of Juda: + +12:47. But he kept with him three thousand men: of whom he sent two +thousand into Galilee, and one thousand went with him. + +12:48. Now as soon as Jonathan entered into Ptolemais, they of +Ptolemais shut the gates of the city, and took him: and all them that +came in with him they slew with the sword. + +12:49. Then Tryphon sent an army and horsemen into Galilee, and into +the great plain, to destroy all Jonathan's company. + +12:50. But they, when they understood that Jonathan, and all that were +with him, were taken and slain, encouraged one another, and went out +ready for battle. + +12:51. Then they that had come after them, seeing that they stood for +their lives, returned back. + +12:52. Whereupon they all came peaceably into the land of Juda and they +bewailed Jonathan, and them that had been with him, exceedingly: and +Israel mourned with great lamentation. + +12:53. Then all the heathens that were round about them, sought to +destroy them. For they said: + +12:54. They have no prince, nor any to help them: now therefore, let us +make war upon them, and take away the memory of them from amongst men. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 13 + + +Simon is made captain general in the room of his brother. Jonathan is +slain by Tryphon. Simon is favoured by Demetrius: he taketh Gaza, and +the castle of Jerusalem. + +13:1. Now Simon heard that Tryphon was gathering together a very great +army to invade the land of Juda, and to destroy it. + +13:2. And seeing that the people was in dread and in fear, he went up +to Jerusalem, and assembled the people, + +13:3. And exhorted them, saying: You know what great battles I and my +brethren, and the house of my father, have fought for the laws, and the +sanctuary, and the distresses that we have seen: + +13:4. By reason whereof all my brethren have lost their lives for +Israel's sake, and I am left alone. + +13:5. And now far be it from me to spare my life in any time of +trouble: for I am not better than my brethren. + +13:6. I will avenge then my nation and the sanctuary, and our children, +and wives: for all the heathens are gathered together to destroy us out +of mere malice. + +13:7. And the spirit of the people was enkindled as soon as they heard +these words: + +13:8. And they answered with a loud voice, saying: Thou art our leader +in the place of Judas, and Jonathan, thy brother: + +13:9. Fight thou our battles, and we will do whatsoever thou shalt say +to us. + +13:10. So gathering together all the men of war, he made haste to +finish all the walls of Jerusalem, and he fortified it round about. + +13:11. And he sent Jonathan, the son of Absalom, and with him a new +army, into Joppe, and he cast out them that were in it, and himself +remained there. + +13:12. And Tryphon removed from Ptolemais with a great army, to invade +the land of Juda, and Jonathan was with him in custody. + +13:13. But Simon pitched in Addus, over against the plain. + +13:14. And when Tryphon understood that Simon was risen up in the place +of his brother, Jonathan, and that he meant to join battle with him, he +sent messengers to him, + +13:15. Saying: We have detained thy brother, Jonathan, for the money +that he owed in the king's account, by reason of the affairs which he +had the management of. + +13:16. But now send a hundred talents of silver, and his two sons for +hostages, that when he is set at liberty he may not revolt from us, and +we will release him. + +13:17. Now Simon knew that he spoke deceitfully to him; nevertheless, +he ordered the money and the children to be sent, lest he should bring +upon himself a great hatred of the people of Israel, who might have +said: + +13:18. Because he sent not the money and the children therefore is he +lost. + +13:19. So he sent the children and the hundred talents and he lied, and +did not let Jonathan go. + +13:20. And after this, Tryphon entered within the country, to destroy +it: and they went about by the way that leadeth to Ador: and Simon and +his army marched to every place whithersoever they went. + +Simon and his army marched to every place whithersoever they +went. . .That is, whithersoever Tryphon and his horsemen went in order +to oppose them. + +13:21. And they that were in the castle, sent messengers to Tryphon, +that he should make haste to come through the desert, and send them +victuals. + +13:22. And Tryphon made ready all his horsemen to come that night; but +there fell a very great snow, and he came not into the country of +Galaad. + +13:23. And when he approached to Bascama, he slew Jonathan and his sons +there. + +13:24. And Tryphon returned, and went into his own country. + +13:25. And Simon sent, and took the bones of Jonathan, his brother, and +buried them in Modin, the city of his fathers. + +13:26. And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation: and they +mourned for him many days. + +13:27. And Simon built over the sepulchre of his father and of his +brethren, a building lofty to the sight, of polished stone, behind and +before: + +13:28. And he set up seven pyramids, one against another, for his +father, and his mother, and his four brethren: + +13:29. And round about these he set great pillars; and upon the +pillars, arms, for a perpetual memory; and by the arms, ships carved, +which might be seen by all that sailed on the sea. + +13:30. This is the sepulchre that he made in Modin, even unto this day. + +13:31. But Tryphon, when he was upon a journey with the young king, +Antiochus, treacherously slew him. + +13:32. And he reigned in his place, and put on the crown of Asia: and +brought great evils upon the land. + +13:33. And Simon built up the strong holds of Judea, fortifying them +with high towers, and great walls, and gates and bars: and he stored up +victuals in the fortresses. + +13:34. And Simon chose men, and sent to king Demetrius, to the end that +he should grant an immunity to the land; for all that Tryphon did, was +to spoil. + +13:35. And king Demetrius, in answer to this request, wrote a letter in +this manner: + +13:36. King Demetrius to Simon, the high priest, and friend of kings, +and to the ancients, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting: + +13:37. The golden crown, and the palm, which you sent, we have +received: and we are ready to make a firm peace with you, and to write +to the king's chief officers to release you the things that we have +released. + +13:38. For all that we have decreed in your favour shall stand in +force. The strong holds that you have built, shall be your own. + +13:39. And as for any oversight or fault committed unto this day, we +forgive it: and the crown which you owed: and if any other thing were +taxed in Jerusalem, now let it not be taxed. + +13:40. And if any of you be fit to be enrolled among ours, let them be +enrolled, and let there be peace between us. + +13:41. In the year one hundred and seventy, the yoke of the Gentiles +was taken off from Israel. + +13:42. And the people of Israel began to write in the instruments, and +public records, The first year under Simon, the high priest, the great +captain, and prince of the Jews. + +13:43. In those days Simon besieged Gaza, and camped round about it, +and he made engines, and set them to the city, and he struck one tower, +and took it. + +13:44. And they that were within the engine leapt into the city: and +there was a great uproar in the city. + +13:45. And they that were in the city went up, with their wives and +children, upon the wall, with their garments rent, and they cried with +a loud voice, beseeching Simon to grant them peace. + +13:46. And they said: Deal not with us according to our evil deeds, but +according to thy mercy. + +13:47. And Simon being moved, did not destroy them but yet he cast them +out of the city, and cleansed the houses wherein there had been idols, +and then he entered into it with hymns, blessing the Lord: + +13:48. And having cast out of it all uncleanness, he placed in it men +that should observe the law: and he fortified it, and made it his +habitation. + +13:49. But they that were in the castle of Jerusalem were hindered from +going out and coming into the country, and from buying and selling: and +they were straitened with hunger, and many of them perished through +famine. + +13:50. And they cried to Simon for peace, and he granted it to them: +and he cast them out from thence and cleansed the castle from +uncleannesses. + +13:51. And they entered into it the three and twentieth day of the +second month, in the year one hundred and seventy-one, with +thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and harps, and cymbals, and +psalteries, and hymns, and canticles, because the great enemy was +destroyed out of Israel. + +13:52. And he ordained that these days should be kept every year with +gladness. + +13:53. And he fortified the mountain of the temple that was near the +castle, and he dwelt there himself, and they that were with him. + +13:54. And Simon saw that John, his son, was a valiant man for war: and +he made him captain of all the forces: and he dwelt in Gazara. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 14 + + +Demetrius is taken by the king of Persia. Judea flourishes under the +government of Simon. + +14:1. In the year one hundred and seventy-two king Demetrius assembled +his army, and went into Media to get him succours to fight against +Tryphon. + +14:2. And Arsaces, the king of Persia and Media, heard that Demetrius +was entered within his borders, and he sent one of his princes to take +him alive, and bring him to him. + +14:3. And he went, and defeated the army of Demetrius: and took him, +and brought him to Arsaces, and he put him into custody. + +14:4. And all the land of Juda was at rest all the days of Simon, and +he sought the good of his nation: and his power, and his glory pleased +them well all his days. + +14:5. And with all his glory he took Joppe for a haven, and made an +entrance to the isles of the sea. + +14:6. And he enlarged the bounds of his nation, and made himself master +of the country. + +14:7. And he gathered together a great number of captives, and had the +dominion of Gazara, and of Bethsura, and of the castle: and took away +all uncleanness out of it, and there was none that resisted him. + +14:8. And every man tilled his land with peace, and the land of Juda +yielded her increase, and the trees of the fields their fruit. + +14:9. The ancient men sat all in the streets, and treated together of +the good things of the land, and the young men put on them glory, and +the robes of war. + +14:10. And he provided victuals for the cities, and he appointed that +they should be furnished with ammunition, so that the fame of his glory +was renowned even to the end of the earth. + +14:11. He made peace in the land, and Israel rejoiced with great joy. + +14:12. And every man sat under his vine, and under his fig tree: and +there was none to make them afraid. + +14:13. There was none left in the land to fight against them: kings +were discomfited in those days. + +14:14. And he strengthened all those of his people that were brought +low, and he sought the law, and took away every unjust and wicked man. + +14:15. He glorified the sanctuary, and multiplied the vessels of the +holy places. + +14:16. And it was heard at Rome, and as far as Sparta, that Jonathan +was dead: and they were very sorry. + +14:17. But when they heard that Simon, his brother, was made high +priest in his place, and was possessed of all the country, and the +cities therein: + +14:18. They wrote to him in tables of brass, to renew the friendship +and alliance which they had made with Judas and with Jonathan, his +brethren. + +14:19. And they were read before the assembly in Jerusalem. And this is +the copy of the letters that the Spartans sent. + +14:20. The princes and the cities of the Spartans, to Simon, the high +priest, and to the ancients, and the priests, and the rest of the +people of the Jews, their brethren, greeting. + +14:21. The ambassadors that were sent to our people, have told us of +your glory, and honour, and joy: and we rejoiced at their coming. + +14:22. And we registered what was said by them in the councils of the +people, in this manner: Numenius, the son of Antiochus, and Antipater, +the son of Jason, ambassadors of the Jews, came to us to renew the +former friendship with us. + +14:23. And it pleased the people to receive the men honourably, and to +put a copy of their words in the public records, to be a memorial to +the people of the Spartans. And we have written a copy of them to +Simon, the high priest. + +14:24. And after this Simon sent Numenius to Rome, with a great shield +of gold, of the weight of a thousand pounds, to confirm the league with +them. And when the people of Rome had heard + +14:25. These words, they said: What thanks shall we give to Simon, and +his sons: + +14:26. For he hath restored his brethren, and hath driven away in fight +the enemies of Israel from them: and they decreed him liberty, and +registered it in tables of brass, and set it upon pillars in mount +Sion. + +14:27. And this is a copy of the writing. The eighteenth day of the +month Elul, in the year one hundred and seventy-two, being the third +year under Simon, the high priest, at Asaramel, + +14:28. In a great assembly of the priests, and of the people, and the +princes of the nation, and the ancients of the country, these things +were notified: Forasmuch as there have often been wars in our country, + +14:29. And Simon, the son of Mathathias, of the children of Jarib, and +his brethren, have put themselves in danger, and resisted the enemies +of their nation, for the maintenance of their holy places, and the law: +and have raised their nation to great glory. + +14:30. And Jonathan gathered together his nation, and was made their +high priest, and he was laid to his people. + +14:31. And their enemies desired to tread down and destroy their +country, and to stretch forth their hands against their holy places. + +14:32. Then Simon resisted and fought for his nation, and laid out much +of his money, and armed the valiant men of his nation, and gave them +wages. + +14:33. And he fortified the cities of Judea and Bethsura that lieth in +the borders of Judea, where the armour of the enemies was before: and +he placed there a garrison of Jews. + +14:34. And he fortified Joppe, which lieth by the sea: and Gazara, +which bordereth upon Azotus, wherein the enemies dwelt before, and he +placed Jews here: and furnished them with all things convenient for +their reparation. + +14:35. And the people seeing the acts of Simon, and to what glory he +meant to bring his nation, made him their prince and high priest, +because he had done all these things, and for the justice and faith +which he kept to his nation, and for that he sought by all means to +advance his people. + +14:36. And in his days things prospered in his hands, so that the +heathens were taken away out of their country, and they also that were +in the city of David, in Jerusalem, in the castle, out of which they +issued forth, and profaned all places round about the sanctuary, and +did much evil to purity. + +14:37. And he placed therein Jews for the defence of the country, and +of the city, and he raised up the walls of Jerusalem. + +14:38. And king Demetrius confirmed him in the high priesthood. + +14:39. According to these things he made him his friend, and glorified +him with great glory. + +14:40. For he had heard that the Romans had called the Jews their +friends, and confederates, and brethren, and that they had received +Simon's ambassadors with honour: + +14:41. And that the Jews, and their priests, had consented that he +should be their prince and high priest for ever, till there should +arise a faithful prophet: + +14:42. And that he should be chief over them, and that he should have +the charge of the sanctuary, and that he should appoint rulers over +their works, and over the country, and over the armour, and over the +strong holds; + +14:43. And that he should have care of the holy places; and that he +should be obeyed by all, and that all the writings in the country +should be made in his name; and that he should be clothed with purple +and gold: + +14:44. And that it should not be lawful for any of the people, or of +the priests, to disannul any of these things, or to gainsay his words, +or to call together an assembly in the country without him: or to be +clothed with purple, or to wear a buckle of gold. + +14:45. And whosoever shall do otherwise, or shall make void any of +these things, shall be punished. + +14:46. And it pleased all the people to establish Simon, and to do +according to these words. + +14:47. And Simon accepted thereof, and was well pleased to execute the +office of the high priesthood, and to be captain, and prince of the +nation of the Jews, and of the priests, and to be chief over all. + +14:48. And they commanded that this writing should be put in tables of +brass, and that they should be set up within the compass of the +sanctuary, in a conspicuous place: + +14:49. And that a copy thereof should be put in the treasury, that +Simon, and his sons, may have it. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 15 + + +Antiochus son of Demetrius honours Simon. The Romans write to divers +nations in favour of the Jews. Antiochus quarrels with Simon, and sends +troops to annoy him. + +15:1. And king Antiochus, the son of Demetrius, sent letters from the +isles of the sea to Simon, the priest, and prince of the nation of the +Jews, and to all the people: + +15:2. And the contents were these: King Antiochus to Simon, the high +priest, and to the nation of the Jews, greeting. + +15:3. Forasmuch as certain pestilent men have usurped the kingdom of +our fathers, and my purpose is to challenge the kingdom, and to restore +it to its former estate; and I have chosen a great army, and have built +ships of war. + +15:4. And I design to go through the country, that I may take revenge +of them that have destroyed our country, and that have made many cities +desolate in my realm. + +15:5. Now, therefore, I confirm unto thee all the oblations which all +the kings before me remitted to thee, and what other gifts soever they +remitted to thee: + +15:6. And I give thee leave to coin thy own money in thy country: + +15:7. And let Jerusalem be holy and free, and all the armour that hath +been made, and the fortresses which thou hast built, and which thou +keepest in thy hands, let them remain to thee. + +15:8. And all that is due to the king, and what should be the king's +hereafter, from this present and for ever, is forgiven thee. + +15:9. And when we shall have recovered our kingdom, we will glorify +thee, and thy nation, and the temple, with great glory, so that your +glory shall be made manifest in all the earth. + +15:10. In the year one hundred and seventy-four, Antiochus entered into +the land of his fathers, and all the forces assembled to him, so that +few were left with Tryphon. + +15:11. And king Antiochus pursued after him, and he fled along by the +sea coast and came to Dora. + +15:12. For he perceived that evils were gathered together upon him, and +his troops had forsaken him. + +15:13. And Antiochus camped above Dora with a hundred and twenty +thousand men of war, and eight thousand horsemen: + +15:14. And he invested the city, and the ships drew near by sea: and +they annoyed the city by land, and by sea, and suffered none to come +in, or to go out. + +15:15. And Numenius, and they that had been with him, came from the +city of Rome, having letters written to the kings, and countries, the +contents whereof were these: + +15:16. Lucius, the consul of the Romans, to king Ptolemee, greeting. + +Ptolemee. . .Surnamed Physeon, brother and successor to Philometer. + +15:17. The ambassadors of the Jews, our friends, came to us, to renew +the former friendship and alliance, being sent from Simon, the high +priest, and the people of the Jews. + +15:18. And they brought also a shield of gold of a thousand pounds. + +15:19. It hath seemed good therefore to us, to write to the kings and +countries, that they should do them no harm, nor fight against them, +their cities, or countries: and that they should give no aid to them +that fight against them. + +15:20. And it hath seemed good to us to receive the shield of them. + +15:21. If, therefore, any pestilent men are fled out of their country +to you, deliver them to Simon, the high priest, that he may punish them +according to their law. + +15:22. These same things were written to king Demetrius, and to +Attalus, and to Ariarathes, and to Arsaces, + +Attalus, etc. . .Attalus was king of Pergamus; Ariarathes was king of +Cappadocia; and Arsaces was king of the Parthians. + +15:23. And to all the countries: and to Lampsacus and to the Spartans, +and to Delus, and Myndus, and Sicyon, and Caria, and Samus, and +Pamphylia, and Lycia, and Alicarnassus, and Cos, and Side, and Aradus, +and Rhodes, and Phaselis, and Gortyna, and Gnidus, and Cyprus, and +Cyrene. + +15:24. And they wrote a copy thereof to Simon, the high priest, and to +the people of the Jews. + +15:25. But king Antiochus moved his camp to Dora the second time, +assaulting it continually, and making engines: and he shut up Tryphon, +that he could not go out. + +15:26. And Simon sent to him two thousand chosen men to aid him, silver +also, and gold, and abundance of furniture. + +15:27. And he would not receive them, but broke all the covenant that +he had made with him before, and alienated himself from him. + +15:28. And he sent to him Athenobius, one of his friends, to treat with +him, saying: You hold Joppe and Gazara, and the castle that is in +Jerusalem, which are cities of my kingdom: + +15:29. Their borders you have wasted, and you have made great havoc in +the land, and have got the dominion of many places in my kingdom. + +15:30. Now, therefore, deliver up the cities that you have taken, and +the tributes of the places whereof you have gotten the dominion without +the borders of Judea. + +15:31. But if not, give me for them five hundred talents of silver, and +for the havoc that you have made, and the tributes of the cities, other +five hundred talents: or else we will come and fight against you. + +15:32. So Athenobius, the king's friend came to Jerusalem, and saw the +glory of Simon and his magnificence in gold, and silver, and his great +equipage, and he was astonished, and told him the king's words. + +15:33. And Simon answered him, and said to him: We have neither taken +other men's land, neither do we hold that which is other men's, but the +inheritance of our fathers, which was for some time unjustly possessed +by our enemies. + +15:34. But we having opportunity, claim the inheritance of our fathers. + +15:35. And as to thy complaints concerning Joppe and Gazara, they did +great harm to the people, and to our country: yet for these we will +give a hundred talents. And Athenobius answered him not a word. + +15:36. But returning in a rage to the king, made report to him of these +words, and of the glory of Simon, and of all that he had seen, and the +king was exceeding angry. + +15:37. And Tryphon fled away by ship to Orthosias. + +15:38. And the king appointed Cendebeus captain of the sea coast, and +gave him an army of footmen and horsemen. + +15:39. And he commanded him to march with his army towards Judea: and +he commanded him to build up Gedor, and to fortify the gates of the +city, and to war against the people. But the king himself pursued after +Tryphon. + +15:40. And Cendebeus came to Jamnia, and began to provoke the people, +and to ravage Judea, and to take the people prisoners, and to kill, and +to build Gedor. + +15:41. And he placed there horsemen, and an army: that they might issue +forth, and make incursions upon the ways of Judea, as the king had +commanded him. + + + +1 Machabees Chapter 16 + + +The sons of Simon defeat the troops of Antiochus. Simon with two of his +sons are treacherously murdered by Ptolemee his son in law. + +16:1. Then John came up from Gazara, and told Simon, his father, what +Cendebeus had done against their people. + +John. . .He was afterwards surnamed Hircanus, and succeeded his father +in both his dignities of high priest and prince. He conquered the +Edomites, and obliged them to a conformity with the Jews in religion; +and destroyed the schismatical temple of the Samaritans. + +16:2. And Simon called his two eldest sons, Judas and John, and said to +them: I and my brethren, and my father's house, have fought against the +enemies of Israel from our youth even to this day: and things have +prospered so well in our hands, that we have delivered Israel +oftentimes. + +16:3. And now I am old, but be you instead of me, and my brethren, and +go out, and fight for our nation: and the help from heaven be with you. + +16:4. Then he chose out of the country twenty thousand fighting men, +and horsemen, and they went forth against Cendebeus: and they rested in +Modin. + +16:5. And they arose in the morning, and went into the plain: and +behold a very great army of footmen and horsemen came against them, and +there was a running river between them. + +16:6. And he and his people pitched their camp over against them, and +he saw that the people were afraid to go over the river, so he went +over first: then the men seeing him, passed over after him. + +He. . .Viz., John. + +16:7. And he divided the people, and set the horsemen in the midst of +the footmen: but the horsemen of the enemies were very numerous. + +16:8. And they sounded the holy trumpets: and Cendebeus and his army +were put to flight: and there fell many of them wounded, and the rest +fled into the strong hold. + +16:9. At that time, Judas, John's brother, was wounded: but John +pursued after them, till he came to Cedron, which he had built: + +Cedron. . .Otherwise called Gedon, the city that Cendebeus was +fortifying. + +16:10. And they fled even to the towers that were in the fields of +Azotus, and he burnt them with fire. And there fell of them two +thousand men, and he returned into Judea in peace. + +16:11. Now Ptolemee, the son of Abobus, was appointed captain in the +plain of Jericho, and he had abundance of silver and gold. + +16:12. For he was son in law of the high priest. + +16:13. And his heart was lifted up, and he designed to make himself +master of the country, and he purposed treachery against Simon and his +sons, to destroy them. + +16:14. Now Simon, as he was going through the cities that were in the +country of Judea, and taking care for the good ordering of them, went +down to Jericho, he and Mathathias and Judas, his sons, in the year one +hundred and seventy-seven, the eleventh month: the same is the month +Sabath. + +16:15. And the son of Abobus received them deceitfully into a little +fortress, that is called Doch, which he had built: and he made them a +great feast, and hid men there. + +16:16. And when Simon and his sons had drunk plentifully, Ptolemee and +his men rose up, and took their weapons, and entered into the +banqueting place, and slew him, and his two sons, and some of his +servants. + +16:17. And he committed a great treachery in Israel, and rendered evil +for good. + +16:18. And Ptolemee wrote these things, and sent to the king that he +should send him an army to aid him, and he would deliver him the +country, and their cities, and tributes. + +16:19. And he sent others to Gazara to kill John: and to the tribunes +he sent letters to come to him, and that he would give them silver, and +gold, and gifts. + +16:20. And he sent others to take Jerusalem, and the mountain of the +temple. + +16:21. Now one running before, told John in Gazara, that his father and +his brethren were slain, and that he hath sent men to kill thee also. + +16:22. But when he heard it, he was exceedingly afraid: and he +apprehended the men that came to kill him, and he put them to death: +for he knew that they sought to make him away. + +16:23. And as concerning the rest of the acts of John, and his wars, +and the worthy deeds, which he bravely achieved, and the building of +the walls, which he made, and the things that he did: + +16:24. Behold, these are written in the book of the days of his +priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his +father. + + + + +THE SECOND BOOK OF MACHABEES + + + +This second book of MACHABEES is not a continuation of the history +contained in the first: nor does is come down so low as the first does: +but relates many of the same facts more at large, and adds other +remarkable particulars, omitted in the first book, relating to the +state of the Jews, as well before as under the persecution of +ANTIOCHUS. The author, who is not the same with that of the first book, +has given (as we learn from chap. 2.20, etc.) a short abstract of what +JASON of Cyrene had written in the five volumes, concerning JUDAS and +his brethren. He wrote in Greek, and begins with two letters, sent by +the Jews of Jerusalem to their brethren in Egypt. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 1 + + +Letters of the Jews of Jerusalem to them that were in Egypt. They give +thanks for their delivery from Antiochus: and exhort their brethren to +keep the feast of the dedication of the altar, and of the miraculous +fire. + +1:1. To the brethren, the Jews that are throughout Egypt; the brethren, +the Jews that are in Jerusalem, and in the land of Judea, send health +and good peace. + +1:2. May God be gracious to you, and remember his covenant that he made +with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, his faithful servants: + +1:3. And give you all a heart to worship him, and to do his will with a +great heart, and a willing mind. + +1:4. May he open your heart in his law, and in his commandments, and +send you peace. + +1:5. May he hear your prayers, and be reconciled unto you, and never +forsake you in the evil time. + +1:6. And now here we are praying for you. + +1:7. When Demetrius reigned, in the year one hundred and sixty-nine, we +Jews wrote to you in the trouble and violence that came upon us in +those years, after Jason withdrew himself from the holy land, and from +the kingdom. + +1:8. They burnt the gate, and shed innocent blood: then we prayed to +the Lord, and were heard, and we offered sacrifices, and fine flour, +and lighted the lamps, and set forth the loaves. + +1:9. And now celebrate ye the days of Scenopegia in the month of +Casleu. + +Scenopegia. . .Viz., the Encenia, or feast of the dedication of the +altar, called here Scenopegia, or feast of tabernacles, from being +celebrated with the like solemnity. + +1:10. In the year one hundred and eighty-eight, the people that is at +Jerusalem, and in Judea, and the senate, and Judas, to Aristobolus, the +preceptor of king Ptolemee, who is of the stock of the anointed +priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, health and welfare. + +1:11. Having been delivered by God out of great dangers, we give him +great thanks, forasmuch as we have been in war with such a king. + +Such a king. . .Viz., Antiochus Sidetes, who began to make war upon the +Jews, whilst Simon was yet alive. 1 Mac. 15.39. And afterwards besieged +Jerusalem under John Hircanus. So that the Judas here mentioned, ver. +10, is not Judas Machabeus, who was dead long before the year 188 of +the kingdom of the Greeks, for he died in the year 146 of that epoch, +(see above 1 Mac. chap. 2., ver. 70, also the note on chap. 1, ver. 2,) +but either Judas the eldest son of John Hircanus, or Judas the Essene, +renowned for the gift of prophecy, who flourished about that time. + +1:12. For he made numbers of men swarm out of Persia, that have fought +against us, and the holy city. + +1:13. For when the leader himself was in Persia, and with him a very +great army, he fell in the temple of Nanea, being deceived by the +counsel of the priests of Nanea. + +Nanea. . .A Persian goddess, which some have taken for Diana, others for +Venus. + +1:14. For Antiochus, with his friends, came to the place as though he +would marry her, and that he might receive great sums of money under +the title of a dowry. + +1:15. And when the priests of Nanea had set it forth, and he with a +small company had entered into the compass of the temple, they shut the +temple, + +1:16. When Antiochus was come in: and opening a secret entrance of the +temple, they cast stones and slew the leader, and them that were with +him, and hewed them in pieces; and cutting off their heads, they threw +them forth. + +1:17. Blessed be God in all things, who hath delivered up the wicked. + +1:18. Therefore, whereas we purpose to keep the purification of the +temple on the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu, we thought +it necessary to signify it to you: that you also may keep the day of +Scenopegia, and the day of the fire, that was given when Nehemias +offered sacrifice, after the temple and the altar was built. + +1:19. For when our fathers were led into Persia, the priests that then +were worshippers of God, took privately the fire from the altar, and +hid it in a valley where there was a deep pit without water, and there +they kept it safe, so that the place was unknown to all men. + +Persia. . .Babylonia, called here Persia, from being afterwards a part +of the Persian empire. + +1:20. But when many years had passed, and it pleased God that Nehemias +should be sent by the king of Persia, he sent some of the posterity of +those priests that had hid it, to seek for the fire: and as they told +us, they found no fire, but thick water. + +1:21. Then he bade them draw it up, and bring it to him: and the +priest, Nehemias, commanded the sacrifices that were laid on, to be +sprinkled with the same water, both the wood, and the things that were +laid upon it. + +1:22. And when this was done, and the time came that the sun shone out, +which before was in a cloud, there was a great fire kindled, so that +all wondered. + +1:23. And all the priests made prayer, while the sacrifice was +consuming, Jonathan beginning, and the rest answering. + +1:24. And the prayer of Nehemias was after this manner: O Lord God, +Creator of all things, dreadful and strong, just and merciful, who +alone art the good king, + +1:25. Who alone art gracious, who alone art just, and almighty, and +eternal, who deliverest Israel from all evil, who didst choose the +fathers, and didst sanctify them: + +1:26. Receive the sacrifice for all thy people Israel, and preserve thy +own portion, and sanctify it. + +1:27. Gather together our scattered people, deliver them that are +slaves to the Gentiles, and look upon them that are despised and +abhorred: that the Gentiles may know that thou art our God + +1:28. Punish them that oppress us, and that treat us injuriously with +pride. + +1:29. Establish thy people in thy holy place, as Moses hath spoken. + +1:30. And the priests sung hymns till the sacrifice was consumed. + +1:31. And when the sacrifice was consumed, Nehemias commanded the water +that was left to be poured out upon the great stones. + +1:32. Which being done, there was kindled a flame from them: but it was +consumed by the light that shined from the altar. + +1:33. And when this matter became public, it was told to the king of +Persia, that in the place where the priests that were led away, had hid +the fire, there appeared water, with which Nehemias and they that were +with him had purified the sacrifices. + +1:34. And the king considering, and diligently examining the matter, +made a temple for it, that he might prove what had happened. + +A temple. . .That is, an enclosure, or a wall round about the place +where the fire was hid, to separate it from profane uses, to the end +that it might be respected as a holy place. + +1:35. And when he had proved it, he gave the priests many goods, and +divers presents, and he took and distributed them to them with his own +hand. + +1:36. And Nehemias called this place Nephthar, which is interpreted +purification. But many call it Nephi. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 2 + + +A continuation of the second letter. Of Jeremias' hiding the ark at the +time of the captivity. The author's preface. + +2:1.Now it is found in the descriptions of Jeremias, the prophet, that +he commanded them that went into captivity, to take the fire, as it +hath been signified, and how he gave charge to them that were carried +away into captivity. + +The descriptions. . .That is, the records or memoirs of Jeremias, a work +that is now lost. + +2:2. And how he gave them the law, that they should not forget the +commandments of the Lord, and that they should not err in their minds, +seeing the idols of gold, and silver, and the ornaments of them. + +2:3. And with other such like speeches, he exhorted them that they +would not remove the law from their heart. + +2:4. It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being +warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should +accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain where Moses went up, +and saw the inheritance of God. + +2:5. And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he +carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of +incense, and so stopped the door. + +2:6. Then some of them that followed him, came up to mark the place: +but they could not find it. + +2:7. And when Jeremias perceived it, he blamed them, saying: The place +shall be unknown, till God gather together the congregation of the +people, and receive them to mercy. + +2:8. And then the Lord will shew these things, and the majesty of the +Lord shall appear, and there shall be a cloud as it was also shewed to +Moses, and he shewed it when Solomon prayed that the place might be +sanctified to the great God. + +2:9. For he treated wisdom in a magnificent manner: and like a wise +man, he offered the sacrifice of the dedication, and of the finishing +of the temple. + +2:10. And as Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down from heaven, +and consumed the holocaust: so Solomon also prayed, and fire came down +from heaven and consumed the holocaust. + +2:11. And Moses said: Because the sin offering was not eaten, it was +consumed. + +2:12. So Solomon also celebrated the dedication eight days. + +2:13. And these same things were set down in the memoirs, and +commentaries of Nehemias: and how he made a library, and gathered +together out of the countries, the books both of the prophets, and of +David, and the epistles of the kings, and concerning the holy gifts. + +2:14. And in like manner Judas also gathered together all such things +as were lost by the war we had, and they are in our possession. + +2:15. Wherefore, if you want these things, send some that may fetch +them to you. + +2:16. As we are then about to celebrate the purification, we have +written unto you: and you shall do well, if you keep the same days. + +The purification. . .That is, the feast of the purifying or cleansing of +the temple. + +2:17. And we hope that God, who hath delivered his people, and hath +rendered to all the inheritance, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, +and the sanctuary, + +2:18. As he promised in the law, will shortly have mercy upon us, and +will gather us together from every land under heaven into the holy +place. + +2:19. For he hath delivered us out of great perils, and hath cleansed +the place. + +2:20. Now as concerning Judas Machabeus, and his brethren, and the +purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar: + +2:21. As also the wars against Antiochus, the Illustrious, and his son, +Eupator: + +2:22. And the manifestations that came from heaven to them, that +behaved themselves manfully on the behalf of the Jews, so that, being +but a few they made themselves masters of the whole country, and put to +flight the barbarous multitude: + +2:23. And recovered again the most renowned temple in all the world, +and delivered the city, and restored the laws that were abolished, the +Lord with all clemency shewing mercy to them. + +2:24. And all such things as have been comprised in five books by +Jason, of Cyrene, we have attempted to abridge in one book. + +2:25. For considering the multitude of books, and the difficulty that +they find that desire to undertake the narrations of histories, because +of the multitude of the matter, + +2:26. We have taken care for those indeed that are willing to read, +that it might be a pleasure of mind: and for the studious, that they +may more easily commit to memory: and that all that read might receive +profit. + +2:27. And as to ourselves indeed, in undertaking this work of +abridging, we have taken in hand no easy task; yea, rather a business +full of watching and sweat. + +No easy task, etc. . .The spirit of God, that assists the sacred penmen, +does not exempt them from labour in seeking out the matter which they +are to treat of, and the order and manner in which they are to deliver +it. So St. Luke writ the gospel having diligently attained to all +things. Luke 1. ver. 3. + +2:28. But as they that prepare a feast, and seek to satisfy the will of +others: for the sake of many, we willingly undergo the labour. + +2:29. Leaving to the authors the exact handling of every particular, +and as for ourselves, according to the plan proposed, studying to be +brief. + +2:30. For as the master builder of a new house must have care of the +whole building: but he that taketh care to paint it, must seek out fit +things for the adorning of it: so must it be judged of us. + +2:31. For to collect all that is to be known, to put the discourse in +order, and curiously to discuss every particular point, is the duty of +the author of a history: + +2:32. But to pursue brevity of speech, and to avoid nice declarations +of things, is to be granted to him that maketh an abridgment. + +2:33. Here then we will begin the narration: let this be enough by way +of a preface: for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue, and to +be short in the story itself. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 3 + + +Heliodorus is sent by king Seleucus to take away the treasures +deposited in the temple. He is struck by God, and healed by the prayers +of the high priest. + +3:1. Therefore, when the holy city was inhabited with all peace, and +the laws as yet were very well kept, because of the godliness of Onias, +the high priest and the hatred his soul had of evil, + +3:2. It came to pass that even the kings themselves and the princes +esteemed the place worthy of the highest honour, and glorified the +temple with very great gifts: + +3:3. So that Seleucus, king of Asia, allowed out of his revenues all +the charges belonging to the ministry of the sacrifices. + +Seleucus. . .Son of Antiochus the Great, and elder brother of Antiochus +Epiphanes. + +3:4. But one Simon, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was appointed +overseer of the temple, strove in opposition to the high priest, to +bring about some unjust thing in the city. + +3:5. And when he could not overcome Onias, he went to Apollonius, the +son of Tharseas, who at that time was governor of Celesyria, and +Phenicia: + +3:6. And told him, that the treasury in Jerusalem was full of immense +sums of money, and the common store was infinite, which did not belong +to the account of the sacrifices: and that it was possible to bring all +into the king's hands. + +3:7. Now when Apollonius had given the king notice concerning the money +that he was told of, he called for Heliodorus, who had the charge over +his affairs, and sent him with commission to bring him the foresaid +money. + +3:8. So Heliodorus forthwith began his journey, under a colour of +visiting the cities of Celesyria and Phenicia, but indeed to fulfil the +king's purpose. + +3:9. And when he was come to Jerusalem, and had been courteously +received in the city by the high priest, he told him what information +had been given concerning the money: and declared the cause for which +he was come: and asked if these things were so indeed. + +3:10. Then the high priest told him that these were sums deposited, and +provisions for the subsistence of the widows and the fatherless: + +3:11. And that some part of that which wicked Simon had given +intelligence of belonged to Hircanus, son of Tobias, a man of great +dignity; and that the whole was four hundred talents of silver, and two +hundred of gold. + +3:12. But that to deceive them who had trusted to the place and temple +which is honoured throughout the whole world, for the reverence and +holiness of it, was a thing which could not by any means be done. + +3:13. But he, by reason of the orders he had received from the king, +said, that by all means the money must be carried to the king. + +3:14. So on the day he had appointed, Heliodorus entered in to order +this matter. But there was no small terror throughout the whole city. + +3:15. And the priests prostrated themselves before the altar in their +priests' vestments, and called upon him from heaven, who made the law +concerning things given to be kept, that he would preserve them safe, +for them that had deposited them. + +3:16. Now whosoever saw the countenance of the high priest, was wounded +in heart: for his face, and the changing of his colour, declared the +inward sorrow of his mind. + +3:17. For the man was so compassed with sadness and horror of the body, +that it was manifest to them that beheld him, what sorrow he had in his +heart. + +3:18. Others also came flocking together out of their houses, praying +and making public supplication, because the place was like to come into +contempt. + +3:19. And the women, girded with haircloth about their breasts, came +together in the streets. And the virgins also that were shut up, came +forth, some to Onias, and some to the walls, and others looked out of +the windows. + +3:20. And all holding up their hands towards heaven made supplication. + +3:21. For the expectation of the mixed multitude, and of the high +priest, who was in an agony, would have moved any one to pity. + +3:22. And these indeed called upon almighty God, to preserve the things +that had been committed to them safe and sure for those that had +committed them. + +3:23. But Heliodorus executed that which he had resolved on, himself +being present in the same place with his guard about the treasury. + +3:24. But the spirit of the Almighty God gave a great evidence of his +presence, so that all that had presumed to obey him, falling down by +the power of God, were struck with fainting and dread. + +3:25. For there appeared to them a horse, with a terrible rider upon +him, adorned with a very rich covering: and he ran fiercely and struck +Heliodorus with his fore feet, and he that sat upon him seemed to have +armour of gold. + +3:26. Moreover there appeared two other young men, beautiful and +strong, bright and glorious, and in comely apparel: who stood by him, +on either side, and scourged him without ceasing with many stripes. + +3:27. And Heliodorus suddenly fell to the ground, and they took him up, +covered with great darkness, and having put him into a litter, they +carried him out. + +3:28. So he that came with many servants, and all his guard, into the +aforesaid treasury, was carried out, no one being able to help him, the +manifest power of God being known. + +3:29. And he indeed, by the power of God, lay speechless, and without +all hope of recovery. + +3:30. But they praised the Lord, because he had glorified his place: +and the temple, that a little before was full of fear and trouble, when +the Almighty Lord appeared, was filled with joy and gladness. + +3:31. Then some of the friends of Heliodorus forthwith begged of Onias, +that he would call upon the Most High to grant him his life, who was +ready to give up the ghost. + +3:32. So the high priest, considering that the king might perhaps +suspect that some mischief had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, +offered a sacrifice of health for the recovery of the man. + +3:33. And when the high priest was praying, the same young men in the +same clothing stood by Heliodorus, and said to him: Give thanks to +Onias the priest: because for his sake the Lord hath granted thee life. + +3:34. And thou having been scourged by God, declare unto all men the +great works and the power of God. And having spoken thus, they appeared +no more. + +3:35. So Heliodorus, after he had offered a sacrifice to God, and made +great vows to him, that had granted him life, and given thanks to +Onias, taking his troops with him, returned to the king. + +3:36. And he testified to all men the works of the great God, which he +had seen with his own eyes. + +3:37. And when the king asked Heliodorus, who might be a fit man to be +sent yet once more to Jerusalem, he said: + +3:38. If thou hast any enemy, or traitor to thy king dom, send him +thither, and thou shalt receive him again scourged, if so be he escape: +for there is undoubtedly in that place a certain power of God. + +3:39. For he that hath his dwelling in the heavens, is the visitor and +protector of that place, and he striketh and destroyeth them that come +to do evil to it. + +3:40. And the things concerning Heliodorus, and the keeping of the +treasury, fell out in this manner. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 4 + + +Onias has recourse to the king. The ambition and wickedness of Jason +and Menelaus. Onias is treacherously murdered. + +4:1. But Simon, of whom we spoke before, who was the betrayer of the +money, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited +Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils: + +4:2. And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided +for the city, and defended his nation, and was zealous for the law of +God. + +4:3. But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were +committed by some of Simon's friends: + +4:4. Onias, considering the danger of this contention, and that +Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyia, and Phenicia, was +outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king, + +4:5. Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with view to the +common good of all the people. + +4:6. For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that +matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his +folly. + +4:7. But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called +the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason, the +brother of Onias, ambitiously sought the high priesthood: + +4:8. And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty +talents of silver, and out of other revenues fourscore talents. + +4:9. Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he +might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for +youth, and to entitle them that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians. + +4:10. Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into +his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the +fashion of the heathens. + +4:11. And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special +favour by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John, the +father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and +alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and +brought in fashions that were perverse. + +4:12. For he had the boldness to set up, under the very castle, a place +of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses. + +4:13. Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of +heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of +wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch, and no priest. + +4:14. Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices +of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, +hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance +thereof, and of the exercise of the discus. + +4:15. And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed +the Grecian glories for the best: + +4:16. For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and +followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to +be like them, who were their enemies and murderers. + +4:17. For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass +unpunished: but this the time following will declare. + +4:18. Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at +Tyre, the king being present, + +4:19. The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men, to carry three +hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the +bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, +because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges. + +4:20. So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice +of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for the +making of galleys. + +4:21. Now when Apollonius, the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to +treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that +he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his +own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to +Jerusalem. + +4:22. Where he was received in a magnificent manner by Jason, and the +city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, and from thence +he returned with his army into Phenicia. + +4:23. Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the +aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from +him concerning certain necessary affairs. + +4:24. But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the +appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by +offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver. + +4:25. So having received the king's mandate, he returned, bringing +nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel +tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast. + +4:26. Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself +undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the +Ammonites. + +4:27. So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had +promised to the king, he took no care, when Sostratus, the governor of +the castle, called for it. + +4:28. For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they +were both called before the king. + +4:29. And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus, his +brother, succeeding: and Sostratus alas made governor of the Cyprians. + +4:30. When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of +Tharsus, and Mallos, raised a sedition, because they were given for a +gift to Antiochus, the king's concubine. + +4:31. The king, therefore, went in all haste to appease them, leaving +Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy. + +4:32. Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, +having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to +Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighbouring +cities: + +4:33. Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, +keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch, beside Daphne. + +4:34. Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill +Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, +and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out +of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to +justice. + +4:35. For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, +conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of +so great a man. + +4:36. And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the +Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Greeks, went to him: +complaining of the unjust murder of Onias. + +4:37. Antiochus, therefore, was grieved in his mind for Onias, and +being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty +of the deceased. + +4:38. And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be +stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and +that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against +Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord +repaying him his deserved punishment. + +4:39. Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the +temple, by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour of it was spread +abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, +a great quantity of gold being already carried away. + +4:40. Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds +being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and +began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both +in age and in madness. + +4:41. But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up +stones, some strong clubs, and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus. + +4:42. And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the +ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow +himself, they slew him beside the treasury. + +4:43. Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against +Menelaus. + +4:44. And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the +ancients to plead the cause before him. + +4:45. But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much +money to persuade the king to favour him. + +Ptolemee. . .The son of Dorymenus, a favourite of the king. + +4:46. So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as +it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind: + +4:47. So Menelaus, who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him +of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their +cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were +condemned to death. + +4:48. Thus they that persecuted the cause for the city, and for the +people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment. + +4:49. Wherefore even the Tyrians, being moved with indignation, were +very liberal towards their burial. + +4:50. And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, +Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying +of the citizens. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 5 + + +Wonderful signs are seen in the air. Jason's wickedness and end. +Antiochus takes Jerusalem, and plunders the temple. + +5:1. At the same time Antiochus prepared for a second journey into +Egypt. + +5:2. And it came to pass, that through the whole city of Jerusalem, for +the space of forty days, there were seen horsemen running in the air, +in gilded raiment, and armed with spears, like bands of soldiers. + +5:3. And horses set in order by ranks, running one against another, +with the shakings of shields, and a multitude of men in helmets, with +drawn swords, and casting of darts, and glittering of golden armour, +and of harnesses of all sorts. + +5:4. Wherefore all men prayed that these prodigies might turn to good. + +5:5. Now when there was gone forth a false rumour as though Antiochus +had been dead, Jason taking with him no fewer than a thousand men, +suddenly assaulted the city: and though the citizens ran together to +the wall, the city at length was taken, and Menelaus fled into the +castle. + +5:6. But Jason slew his countrymen without mercy, not considering that +prosperity against one's own kindred is a very great evil, thinking +they had been enemies, and not citizens, whom he conquered. + +5:7. Yet he did not get the principality, but received confusion at the +end, for the reward of his treachery, and fled again into the country +of the Ammonites. + +5:8. At the last, having been shut up by Aretas, the king of the +Arabians, in order for his destruction, flying from city to city, hated +by all men, as a forsaker of the laws and execrable, as an enemy of his +country and countrymen, he was thrust out into Egypt: + +5:9. And he that had driven many out of their country perished in a +strange land, going to Lacedemon, as if for kindred sake he should have +refuge there: + +5:10. But he that had cast out many unburied, was himself cast forth +both unlamented and unburied, neither having foreign burial, nor being +partaker of the sepulchre of his fathers. + +5:11. Now when these things were done, the king suspected that the Jews +would forsake the alliance: whereupon departing out of Egypt with a +furious mind, he took the city by force of arms, + +5:12. And commanded the soldiers to kill, and not to spare any that +came in their way, and to go up into the houses to slay. + +5:13. Thus there was a slaughter of young and old, destruction of women +and children, and killing of virgins and infants. + +5:14. And there were slain in the space of three whole days fourscore +thousand, forty thousand were made prisoners, and as many sold. + +5:15. But this was not enough, he presumed also to enter into the +temple, the most holy in all the world Menelaus, that traitor to the +laws, and to his country, being his guide. + +5:16. And taking in his wicked hands the holy vessels, which were given +by other kings and cities, for the ornament and the glory of the place, +he unworthily handled and profaned them. + +5:17. Thus Antiochus going astray in mind, did not consider that God +was angry for a while, because of the sins of the inhabitants of the +city: and therefore this contempt had happened to the place: + +5:18. Otherwise had they not been involved in many sins, as Heliodorus, +who was sent by king Seleucus to rob the treasury, so this man also, as +soon as he had come, had been forthwith scourged, and put back from his +presumption. + +5:19. But God did not choose the people for the place's sake, but the +place for the people's sake. + +5:20. And, therefore, the place also itself was made partaker of the +evils of the people: but afterwards shall communicate in the good +things thereof, and as it was forsaken in the wrath of Almighty God, +shall be exalted again with great glory, when the great Lord shall be +reconciled. + +5:21. So when Antiochus had taken away out of the temple a thousand and +eight hundred talents, he went back in all haste to Antioch, thinking +through pride that he might now make the land navigable, and the sea +passable on foot: such was the haughtiness of his mind. + +5:22. He left also governors to afflict the people: at Jerusalem, +Philip, a Phrygian by birth, but in manners more barbarous than he that +set him there: + +5:23. And in Gazarim, Andronicus and Menelaus, who bore a more heavy +hand upon the citizens than the rest. + +5:24. And whereas he was set against the Jews, he sent that hateful +prince, Apollonius, with an army of two and twenty thousand men, +commanding him to kill all that were of perfect age, and to sell the +women and the younger sort. + +5:25. Who, when he was come to Jerusalem, pretending peace, rested till +the holy day of the sabbath: and then the Jews keeping holiday, he +commanded his men to take arms. + +5:26. And he slew all that were come forth to flee: and running through +the city with armed men, he destroyed a very great multitude. + +5:27. But Judas Machabeus, who was the tenth, had withdrawn himself +into a desert place, and there lived amongst wild beasts in the +mountains with his company: and they continued feeding on herbs, that +they might not be partakers of the pollution. + +Was the tenth. . .That is, he had nine others in his company. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 6 + + +Antiochus commands the law to be abolished, sets up an idol in the +temple, and persecutes the faithful. The martyrdom of Eleazar. + +6:1. But not long after the king sent a certain old man of Antioch, to +compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers and of God: + +6:2. And to defile the temple that was in Jerusalem, and to call it the +temple of Jupiter Olympius: and that in Garazim of Jupiter Hospitalis, +according as they were that inhabited the place. + +That in Gazarim. . .Viz., the temple of the Samaritans. And as they were +originally strangers, the name of Hospitalis (which signifies of or +belonging to strangers) was applicable to the idol set up in their +temple. + +6:3. And very bad was this invasion of evils, and grievous to all. + +6:4. For the temple was full of the riot and revellings of the +Gentiles: and of men lying with lewd women. And women thrust themselves +of their accord into the holy places, and brought in things that were +not lawful. + +6:5. The altar also was filled with unlawful things, which were +forbidden by the laws. + +6:6. And neither were the sabbaths kept, nor the solemn days of the +fathers observed, neither did any man plainly profess himself to be a +Jew. + +6:7. But they were led by bitter constraint on the king's birthday to +the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, they were +compelled to go about crowned with ivy in honour of Bacchus. + +6:8. And there went out a decree into the neighbouring cities of the +Gentiles, by the suggestion of the Ptolemeans, that they also should +act in like manner against the Jews, to oblige them to sacrifice: + +6:9. And whosoever would not conform themselves to the ways of the +Gentiles, should be put to death: then was misery to be seen. + +6:10. For two women were accused to have circumcised their children: +whom, when they had openly led about through the city, with the infants +hanging at their breasts, they threw down headlong from the walls. + +6:11. And others that had met together in caves that were near, and +were keeping the sabbath day privately, being discovered by Philip, +were burnt with fire, because they made a conscience to help themselves +with their hands, by reason of the religious observance of the day. + +Philip. . .The governor of Jerusalem. + +6:12. Now I beseech those that shall read this book, that they be not +shocked at these calamities, but that they consider the things that +happened, not as being for the destruction, but for the correction of +our nation. + +6:13. For it is a token of great goodness, when sinners are not +suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently +punished. + +6:14. For, not as with other nations, (whom the Lord patiently +expecteth, that when the day of judgment shall come, he may punish them +in the fulness of their sins:) + +6:15. Doth he also deal with us, so as to suffer our sins to come to +their height, and then take vengeance on us. + +6:16. And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: but though +he chastise his people with adversity he forsaketh them not. + +6:17. But let this suffice in a few words for a warning to the readers. +And now we must come to the narration. + +6:18. Eleazar one of the chief of the scribes, a man advanced in years, +and of a comely countenance, was pressed to open his mouth to eat +swine's flesh. + +6:19. But he, choosing rather a most glorious death than a hateful +life, went forward voluntarily to the torment. + +6:20. And considering in what manner he was to come to it, patiently +bearing, he determined not to do any unlawful things for the love of +life. + +6:21. But they that stood by, being moved with wicked pity, for the old +friendship they had with the man, taking him aside, desired that flesh +might be brought which it was lawful for him to eat, that he might make +as if he had eaten, as the king had commanded, of the flesh of the +sacrifice: + +Wicked pity. . .Their pity was wicked, inasmuch as it suggested that +wicked proposal of saving his life by dissimulation. + +6:22. That by so doing he might be delivered from death; and for the +sake of their old friendship with the man, they did him this courtesy. + +6:23. But he began to consider the dignity of his age, and his ancient +years, and the inbred honour of his grey head, and his good life and +conversation from a child; and he answered without delay, according to +the ordinances of the holy law made by God, saying, that he would +rather be sent into the other world. + +6:24. For it doth not become our age, said he, to dissemble: whereby +many young persons might think that Eleazar, at the age of fourscore +and ten years, was gone over to the life of the heathens: + +6:25. And so they, through my dissimulation, and for a little time of a +corruptible life, should be deceived, and hereby I should bring a stain +and a curse upon my old age. + +6:26. For though, for the present time, I should be delivered from the +punishments of men, yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty +neither alive nor dead. + +6:27. Wherefore, by departing manfully out of this life, I shall shew +myself worthy of my old age: + +6:28. And I shall leave an example of fortitude to young men, if with a +ready mind and constancy I suffer an honourable death, for the most +venerable and most holy laws. And having spoken thus, he was forthwith +carried to execution. + +6:29. And they that led him, and had been a little before more mild, +were changed to wrath for the words he had spoken, which they thought +were uttered out of arrogancy. + +6:30. But when be was now ready to die with the stripes, he groaned: +and said: O Lord, who hast the holy knowledge, thou knowest manifestly +that whereas I might be delivered from death, I suffer grievous pains +in body: but in soul am well content to suffer these things, because I +fear thee. + +6:31. Thus did this man die, leaving not only to young men, but also to +the whole nation, the memory of his death, for an example of virtue and +fortitude. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 7 + + +The glorious martyrdom of the seven brethren and their mother. + +7:1. It came to pass also, that seven brethren, together with their +mother, were apprehended, and compelled by the king to eat swine's +flesh against the law, for which end they were tormented with whips and +scourges. + +7:2. But one of them, who was the eldest, said thus: What wouldst thou +ask, or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the +laws of God, received from our fathers. + +7:3. Then the king being angry, commanded fryingpans and brazen +caldrons to be made hot: which forthwith being heated, + +7:4. He commanded to cut out the tongue of him that had spoken first: +and the skin of his head being drawn off, to chop off also the +extremities of his hands and feet, the rest of his brethren and his +mother looking on. + +7:6. And when he was now maimed in all parts, he commanded him, being +yet alive, to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the fryingpan: +and while he was suffering therein long torments, the rest, together +with the mother, exhorted one another to die manfully, + +7:6. Saying: The Lord God will look upon the truth, and will take +pleasure in us, as Moses declared in the profession of the canticle; +And in his servants he will take pleasure. + +7:7. So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the +next to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin +of his head with the hair, they asked him if he would eat, before he +were punished throughout the whole body in every limb. + +7:8. But he answered in his own language, and said: I will not do it. +Wherefore he also, in the next place, received the torments of the first: + +7:9. And when he was at the last gasp, he said thus: Thou indeed, O +most wicked man, destroyest us out of this present life: but the King +of the world will raise us up, who die for his laws, in the +resurrection of eternal life. + +7:10. After him the third was made a mocking-stock, and when he was +required, he quickly put forth his tongue, and courageously stretched +out his hands: + +7:11. And said with confidence: These I have from heaven, but for the +laws of God I now despise them, because I hope to receive them again +from him. + +7:12. So that the king, and they that were with him, wondered at the +young man's courage, because he esteemed the torments as nothing. + +7:13. And after he was thus dead, they tormented the fourth in the like +manner. + +7:14. And when he was now ready to die, he spoke thus: It is better, +being put to death by men, to look for hope from God, to be raised up +again by him; for, as to thee, thou shalt have no resurrection unto +life. + +7:15. And when they had brought the fifth, they tormented him. But he, +looking upon the king, + +7:16. Said: Whereas thou hast power among men though thou art +corruptible, thou dost what thou wilt but think not that our nation is +forsaken by God. + +7:17. But stay patiently a while, and thou shalt see his great power, +in what manner he will torment thee and thy seed. + +7:18. After him they brought the sixth, and he being ready to die, +spoke thus: Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things +for ourselves, having sinned against our God, and things worthy of +admiration are done to us: + +7:19. But do not think that thou shalt escape unpunished, for that thou +hast attempted to fight against God. + +7:20. Now the mother was to be admired above measure, and worthy to be +remembered by good men, who beheld her seven sons slain in the space of +one day, and bore it with a good courage, for the hope that she had in +God: + +7:21. And she bravely exhorted every one of them in her own language, +being filled with wisdom; and joining a man's heart to a woman's +thought, + +7:22. She said to them: I know not how you were formed in my womb; for +I neither gave you breath, nor soul, nor life, neither did I frame the +limbs of every one of you. + +7:23. But the Creator of the world, that formed the nativity of man, +and that found out the origin of all, he will restore to you again, in +his mercy, both breath and life, as now you despise yourselves for the +sake of his laws. + +7:24. Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and withal despising +the voice of the upbraider, when the youngest was yet alive, did not +only exhort him by words, but also assured him with an oath, that he +would make him a rich and a happy man, and, if he would turn from the +laws of his fathers, would take him for a friend, and furnish him with +things necessary. + +7:25. But when the young man was not moved with these things, the king +called the mother, and counselled her to deal with the young man to +save his life. + +7:26. And when he had exhorted her with many words she promised that +she would counsel her son. + +7:27. So bending herself towards him, mocking the cruel tyrant, she +said in her own language: My son have pity upon me, that bore thee nine +months in my womb, and gave thee suck three years, and nourished thee, +and brought thee up unto this age. + +7:28. I beseech thee, my son, look upon heaven and earth, and all that +is in them, and consider that God made them out of nothing, and mankind +also: + +7:29. So thou shalt not fear this tormentor, but being made a worthy +partner with thy brethren, receive death, that in that mercy I may +receive thee again with thy brethren. + +7:30. While she was yet speaking these words, the young man said: For +whom do you stay? I will not obey the commandment of the king, but the +commandment of the law which was given us by Moses. + +7:31. But thou that hast been the author of all mischief against the +Hebrews, shalt not escape the hand of God. + +7:32. For we suffer thus for our sins. + +7:33. And though the Lord, our God, is angry with us a little while, +for our chastisement and correction, yet he will be reconciled again to +his servants. + +7:34. But thou, O wicked, and of all men most flagitious, be not lifted +up without cause with vain hopes, whilst thou art raging against his +servants. + +7:35. For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of the Almighty God, +who beholdeth all things. + +7:36. For my brethren having now undergone a short pain, are under the +covenant of eternal life: but thou, by the judgment of God, shalt +receive just punishment for thy pride. + +7:37. But I, like my brethren, offer up my life and my body for the +laws of our fathers: calling upon God to be speedily merciful to our +nation, and that thou by torments and stripes mayst confess that he +alone is God. + +7:38. But in me, and in my brethren, the wrath of the Almighty, which +hath justly been brought upon all our nation, shall cease. + +7:39. Then the king being incensed with anger, raged against him more +cruelly than all the rest, taking it grievously that he was mocked. + +7:40. So this man also died undefiled, wholly trusting in the Lord. + +7:41. And last of all, after the sons, the mother also was consumed. + +7:42. But now there is enough said of the sacrifices and of the +excessive cruelties. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 8 + + +Judas Machabeus gathering an army gains divers victories. + +8:1. But Judas Machabeus, and they that were with him, went privately +into the towns: and calling together their kinsmen and friends, and +taking unto them such as continued in the Jews' religion, they +assembled six thousand men. + +8:2. And they called upon the Lord, that he would look upon his people +that was trodden down by all and would have pity on the temple, that +was defiled by the wicked: + +8:3. That he would have pity also upon the city that was destroyed, +that was ready to be made even with the ground, and would hear the +voice of the blood that cried to him: + +8:4. That he would remember also the most unjust deaths of innocent +children, and the blasphemies offered to his name, and would shew his +indignation on this occasion. + +8:5. Now when Machabeus had gathered a multitude, he could not be +withstood by the heathens: for the wrath of the Lord was turned into +mercy. + +8:6. So coming unawares upon the towns and cities, he set them on fire, +and taking possession of the most commodious places, he made no small +slaughter of the enemies: + +8:7. And especially in the nights he went upon these expeditions, and +the fame of his valour was spread abroad every where. + +8:8. Then Philip seeing that the man gained ground by little and +little, and that things for the most part succeeded prosperously with +him, wrote to Ptolemee, the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, to send +aid to the king's affairs. + +Philip seeing, etc. . .The governor of Jerusalem found himself unable to +contend with Judas, especially after the victories he had obtained over +Apollonius and Seron. 1 Mac. 3. + +8:9. And he with all speed sent Nicanor, the son of Patroclus, one of +his special friends, giving him no fewer than twenty thousand armed men +of different nations, to root out the whole race of the Jews, joining +also with him Gorgias, a good soldier, and of great experience in +matters of war. + +Twenty thousand. . .The whole number of the forces sent at that time +into Judea, was 40,000 footmen, and 7000 horsemen, 1 Mac. 3.30. But +only 20,000 are here taken notice of, because there were no more with +Nicanor at the time of the battle. + +8:10. And Nicanor purposed to raise for the king the tribute of two +thousand talents, that was to be given to the Romans, by making so much +money of the captive Jews: + +8:11. Wherefore he sent immediately to the cities upon the sea coast, +to invite men together to buy up the Jewish slaves, promising that they +should have ninety slaves for one talent, not reflecting on the +vengeance which was to follow him from the Almighty. + +8:12. Now when Judas found that Nicanor was coming, he imparted to the +Jews that were with him, that the enemy was at hand. + +8:13. And some of them being afraid, and distrusting the justice of +God, fled away. + +8:14. Others sold all that they had left, and withal besought the Lord, +that he would deliver them from the wicked Nicanor, who had sold them +before he came near them: + +8:15. And if not for their sakes, yet for the covenant that he had made +with their fathers, and for the sake of his holy and glorious name that +was invoked upon them. + +8:16. But Machabeus calling together seven thousand that were with him, +exhorted them not to be reconciled to the enemies, nor to fear the +multitude of the enemies who came wrongfully against them, but to fight +manfully: + +Seven thousand. . .In the Greek it is six thousand. But then three +thousand of them had no arms. 1 Mac. 4.6. + +8:17. Setting before their eyes the injury they had unjustly done the +holy place, and also the injury they had done to the city, which had +been shamefully abused, besides their destroying the ordinances of the +fathers. + +8:18. For, said he, they trust in their weapons, and in their boldness: +but we trust in the Almighty Lord, who at a beck can utterly destroy +both them that come against us, and the whole world. + +8:19. Moreover, he put them in mind also of the helps their fathers had +received from God: and how, under Sennacherib, a hundred and +eighty-five thousand had been destroyed. + +8:20. And of the battle that they had fought against the Galatians, in +Babylonia; how they, being in all but six thousand, when it came to the +point, and the Macedonians, their companions, were at a stand, slew a +hundred and twenty thousand, because of the help they had from heaven, +and for this they received many favours. + +Galatians. . .That is, the Gauls, who having ravaged Italy and Greece, +poured themselves in upon Asia, in immense multitudes, where also they +founded the kingdom of Galatia or Gallo Graecia. + +8:21. With these words they were greatly encouraged and disposed even +to die for the laws and their country. + +8:22. So he appointed his brethren captains over each division of his +army; Simon, and Joseph, and Jonathan, giving to each one fifteen +hundred men. + +8:23. And after the holy book had been read to them by Esdras, and he +had given them for a watchword, The help of God: himself leading the +first band, he joined battle with Nicanor: + +8:24. And the Almighty being their helper, they slew above nine +thousand men: and having wounded and disabled the greater part of +Nicanor's army, they obliged them to fly. + +Above nine thousand. . .Viz., including the three thousand slain in the +pursuit. + +8:25. And they took the money of them that came to buy them, and they +pursued them on every side. + +8:26. But they came back for want of time: for it was the day before +the sabbath: and therefore they did not continue the pursuit. + +8:27. But when they had gathered together their arms and their spoils, +they kept the sabbath: blessing the Lord who had delivered them that +day, distilling the beginning of mercy upon them. + +8:28. Then after the sabbath they divided the spoils to the feeble and +the orphans, and the widows, and the rest they took for themselves and +their servants. + +8:29. When this was done, and they had all made a common supplication, +they besought the merciful Lord, to be reconciled to his servants unto +the end. + +8:30. Moreover, they slew above twenty thousand of them that were with +Timotheus and Bacchides, who fought against them, and they made +themselves masters of the high strong holds: and they divided amongst +them many spoils, giving equal portions to the feeble, the fatherless, +and the widows; yea, and the aged also + +8:31. And when they had carefully gathered together their arms, they +laid them all up in convenient places, and the residue of their spoils +they carried to Jerusalem: + +8:32. They slew also Philarches, who was with Timotheus, a wicked man, +who had many ways afflicted the Jews. + +8:33. And when they kept the feast of the victory at Jerusalem, they +burnt Callisthenes, that had set fire to the holy gates, who had taken +refuge in a certain house, rendering to him a worthy reward for his +impieties: + +8:34. But as for that most wicked man, Nicanor, who had brought a +thousand merchants to the sale of the Jews, + +8:35. Being, through the help of the Lord, brought down by them, of +whom he had made no account, laying aside his garment of glory, fleeing +through the midland country, he came alone to Antioch, being rendered +very unhappy by the destruction of his army. + +Laying aside his garment of glory. . .That is, his splendid apparel, +which he wore through ostentation; he now throws it off, lest he should +be known on his flight. + +8:36. And he that had promised to levy the tribute for the Romans, by +the means of the captives of Jerusalem, now professed that the Jews had +God for their protector, and therefore they could not be hurt, because +they followed the laws appointed by him. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 9 + + +The wretched end, and fruitless repentance of king Antiochus. + +9:1. At that time Antiochus returned with dishonour out of Persia. + +9:2. For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and attempted +to rob the temple, and to oppress the city, but the multitude running +together to arms, put them to flight: and so it fell out that Antiochus +being put to flight, returned with disgrace. + +Persepolis. . .Otherwise called Elymais. + +9:3. Now when he was come about Ecbatana, he received the news of what +had happened to Nicanor and Timotheus. + +9:4. And swelling with anger, he thought to revenge upon the Jews the +injury done by them that had put him to flight. And therefore he +commanded his chariot to be driven, without stopping in his journey, +the judgment of heaven urging him forward, because he had spoken so +proudly, that he would come to Jerusalem, and make it a common burying +place of the Jews. + +9:5. But the Lord, the God of Israel, that seeth all things, struck him +with an incurable and an invisible plague. For as soon as he had ended +these words, a dreadful pain in his bowels came upon him, and bitter +torments of the inner parts. + +9:6. And indeed very justly, seeing he had tormented the bowels of +others with many and new torments, albeit he by no means ceased from +his malice. + +9:7. Moreover, being filled with pride, breathing out fire in his rage +against the Jews, and commanding the matter to be hastened, it happened +as he was going with violence, that he fell from the chariot, so that +his limbs were much pained by a grievous bruising of the body. + +9:8. Thus he that seemed to himself to command even the waves of the +sea, being proud above the condition of man, and to weigh the heights +of the mountains in a balance, now being cast down to the ground, was +carried in a litter, bearing witness to the manifest power of God in +himself: + +9:9. So that worms swarmed out of the body of this man, and whilst he +lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell off, and the filthiness of his +smell was noisome to the army. + +9:10. And the man that thought a little before he could reach to the +stars of heaven, no man could endure to carry, for the intolerable +stench. + +9:11. And by this means, being brought from his great pride, he began +to come to the knowledge of himself, being admonished by the scourge of +God, his pains increasing every moment. + +9:12. And when he himself could not now abide his own stench, he spoke +thus: It is just to be subject to God, and that a mortal man should not +equal himself to God. + +9:13. Then this wicked man prayed to the Lord, of whom he was not like +to obtain mercy. + +Of whom he was not like to obtain mercy. . .Because his repentance was +not for the offence committed against God: but barely on account of his +present sufferings. + +9:14. And the city, to which he was going in haste to lay it even with +the ground, and to make it a common burying place, he now desireth to +make free: + +9:15. And the Jews, whom he said he would not account worthy to be so +much as buried, but would give them up to be devoured by the birds and +wild beasts, and would utterly destroy them with their children, he now +promiseth to make equal with the Athenians. + +9:16. The holy temple also, which before he had spoiled, he promised to +adorn with goodly gifts, and to multiply the holy vessels, and to allow +out of his revenues the charges pertaining to the sacrifices. + +9:17. Yea also, that he would become a Jew himself, and would go +through every place of the earth, and declare the power of God. + +9:18. But his pains not ceasing, (for the just judgment of God was come +upon him) despairing of life, he wrote to the Jews, in the manner of a +supplication, a letter in these words: + +9:19. To his very good subjects the Jews, Antiochus, king and ruler, +wisheth much health, and welfare, and happiness. + +9:20. If you and your children are well, and if all matters go with you +to your mind, we give very great thanks. + +9:21. As for me, being infirm, but yet kindly remembering you, +returning out of the places of Persia, and being taken with a grievous +disease, I thought it necessary to take care for the common good: + +9:22. Not distrusting my life, but having great hope to escape the +sickness. + +9:23. But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army +into the higher countries, appointed who should reign after him: + +9:24. To the end that if any thing contrary to expectation should fall +out, or any bad tidings should be brought, they that were in the +countries, knowing to whom the whole government was left, might not be +troubled. + +9:25. Moreover, considering that neighbouring princes, and borderers, +wait for opportunities, and expect what shall be the event, I have +appointed my son, Antiochus, king, whom I often recommended to many of +you, when I went into the higher provinces: and I have written to him +what I have joined here below. + +9:26. I pray you, therefore, and request of you, that, remembering +favours both public and private, you will every man of you continue to +be faithful to me and to my son. + +9:27. For I trust that he will behave with moderation and humanity, and +following my intentions, will be gracious unto you. + +9:28. Thus the murderer and blasphemer being grievously struck, as +himself had treated others, died a miserable death in a strange +country, among the mountains. + +9:29. But Philip, that was brought up with him, carried away his body: +and out of fear of the son of Antiochus, went into Egypt to Ptolemee +Philometor. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 10 + + +The purification of the temple and city. Other exploits of Judas. His +victory over Timotheus. + +10:1. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, by the protection of +the Lord, recovered the temple and the city again. + +10:2. But he threw down the altars which the heathens had set up in the +streets, as also the temples of the idols. + +10:3. And having purified the temple, they made another altar: and +taking fire out of the fiery stones, they offered sacrifices after two +years, and set forth incense, and lamps, and the loaves of proposition. + +10:4. And when they had done these things, they besought the Lord, +lying prostrate on the ground, that they might no more fall into such +evils; but if they should at any time sin, that they might be chastised +by him more gently, and not be delivered up to barbarians and +blasphemous men. + +10:5. Now upon the same day that the temple had been polluted by the +strangers on the very same day it was cleansed again; to wit, on the +five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu. + +10:6. And they kept eight days with joy, after the manner of the feast +of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had kept the +feast of the tabernacles when they were in the mountains, and in dens +like wild beasts. + +10:7. Therefore they now carried boughs and green branches and palms, +for him that had given them good success in cleansing his place. + +10:8. And they ordained by a common statute, and decree, that all the +nation of the Jews should keep those days every year. + +10:9. And this was the end of Antiochus, that was called the +Illustrious. + +10:10. But now we will repeat the acts of Eupator, the son of that +wicked Antiochus, abridging the account of the evils that happened in +the wars. + +10:11. For when he was come to the crown, he appointed over the affairs +of his realm one Lysias, general of the army of Phenicia and Syria. + +10:12. For Ptolemee, that was called Macer, was determined to be +strictly just to the Jews and especially by reason of the wrong that +had been done them, and to deal peaceably with them. + +10:13. But being accused for this to Eupator by his friends, and being +oftentimes called traitor, because he had left Cyprus, which Philometor +had committed to him, and coming over to Antiochus the Illustrious, had +revolted also from him, he put an end to his life by poison. + +10:14. But Gorgias, who was governor of the holds, taking with him the +strangers, often fought against the Jews. + +10:15. And the Jews that occupied the most commodious holds, received +those that were driven out of Jerusalem, and attempted to make war. + +The Jews, etc. . .He speaks of them that had fallen from their religion, +and were enemies of their country, who joining with the Idumeans or +Edomites, kept possession of the strong holds, and from thence annoyed +their countrymen. + +10:16. Then they that were with Machabeus, beseeching the Lord by +prayers to be their helper, made a strong attack upon the strong holds +of the Idumeans: + +10:17. And assaulting them with great force, won the holds, killed them +that came in the way, and slew altogether no fewer than twenty +thousand. + +10:18. And whereas some were fled into very strong towers, having all +manner of provision to sustain a siege, + +10:19. Machabeus left Simon and Joseph, and Zacheus, and them that were +with them, in sufficient number to besiege them, and departed to those +expeditions which urged more. + +10:20. Now they that were with Simon, being led with covetousness, were +persuaded for the sake of money by some that were in the towers: and +taking seventy thousand didrachmas, let some of them escape. + +10:21. But when it was told Machabeus what was done, he assembled the +rulers of the people, and accused those men that they had sold their +brethren for money, having let their adversaries escape. + +10:22. So he put these traitors to death, and forthwith took the two +towers. + +10:23. And having good success in arms, and all things he took in hand, +he slew more than twenty thousand in the two holds. + +10:24. But Timotheus, who before had been overcome by the Jews, having +called together a multitude of foreign troops, and assembled horsemen +out of Asia, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms. + +10:26. But Machabeus, and they that were with him, when he drew near, +prayed to the Lord, sprinkling earth upon their heads, and girding +their loins with haircloth, + +10:26. And lying prostrate at the foot of the altar, besought him to be +merciful to them, and to be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary +to their adversaries, as the law saith. + +10:27. And so after prayer taking their arms, they went forth further +from the city, and when they were come very near the enemies they +rested. + +10:28. But as soon as the sun was risen both sides joined battle: the +one part having, with their valour, the Lord for a surety of victory, +and success: but the other side making their rage their leader in +battle. + +10:29. But when they were in the heat of the engagement, there appeared +to the enemies from heaven five men upon horses, comely, with golden +bridles, conducting the Jews: + +10:30. Two of them took Machabeus between them, and covered him on +every side with their arms, and kept him safe; but cast darts and +fireballs against the enemy, so that they fell down, being both +confounded with blindness, and filled with trouble. + +10:31. And there were slain twenty thousand five hundred, and six +hundred horsemen. + +10:32. But Timotheus fled into Gazara, a strong hold where Chereas was +governor. + +10:33. Then Machabeus, and they that were with him cheerfully laid +siege to the fortress four days. + +10:34. But they that were within, trusting to the strength of the +place, blasphemed exceedingly, and cast forth abominable words. + +10:35. But when the fifth day appeared, twenty young men of them that +were with Machabeus, inflamed in their minds, because of the blasphemy, +approached manfully to the wall, and pushing forward with fierce +courage, got up upon it: + +10:36. Moreover, others also getting up after them, went to set fire to +the towers and the gates, and to burn the blasphemers alive. + +10:37. And having for two days together pillaged and sacked the +fortress, they killed Timotheus, who was found hid in a certain place: +they slew also his brother Chereas, and Apollophanes. + +Timotheus. . .This man, who was killed at the taking of Gazara, is +different from that Timotheus who is mentioned in the fifth chapter of +the first book of Machabees, and of whom there is mention in the +following chapter. + +10:38. And when this was done, they blessed the Lord with hymns and +thanksgiving, who had done great things in Israel, and given them the +victory. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 11 + + +Lysias is overthrown by Judas. He sues for peace. + +11:1. A short time after this Lysias, the king's lieutenant, and +cousin, and who had chief charge over all the affairs, being greatly +displeased with what had happened, + +11:2. Gathered together fourscore thousand men, and all the horsemen, +and came against the Jews, thinking to take the city, and make it a +habitation of the Gentiles: + +11:3. And to make a gain of the temple, as of the other temples of the +Gentiles and to set the high priesthood to sale every year: + +11:4. Never considering the power of God, but puffed up in mind, and +trusting in the multitude of his foot soldiers, and the thousands of +his horsemen, and his fourscore elephants. + +11:5. So he came into Judea, and approaching to Bethsura, which was in +a narrow place, the space of five furlongs from Jerusalem, he laid +siege to that fortress. + +11:6. But when Machabeus, and they that were with him, understood that +the strong holds were besieged, they and all the people besought the +Lord with lamentations and tears, that he would send a good angel to +save Israel. + +11:7. Then Machabeus himself first taking his arms, exhorted the rest +to expose themselves together with him, to the danger, and to succour +their brethren. + +11:8. And when they were going forth together with a willing mind, +there appeared at Jerusalem a horseman going before them in white +clothing, with golden armour, shaking a spear. + +11:9. Then they all together blessed the merciful Lord, and took great +courage: being ready to break through not only men, but also the +fiercest beasts, and walls of iron. + +11:10. So they went on courageously, having a helper from heaven, and +the Lord, who shewed mercy to them. + +11:11. And rushing violently upon the enemy, like lions, they slew of +them eleven thousand footmen, and one thousand six hundred horsemen: + +11:12. And put all the rest to flight; and many of them being wounded, +escaped naked: Yea, and Lysias himself fled away shamefully, and +escaped. + +11:13. And as he was a man of understanding, considering with himself +the loss he had suffered, and perceiving that the Hebrews could not be +overcome, because they relied upon the help of the Almighty God, he +sent to them: + +11:14. And promised that he would agree to all things that are just, +and that he would persuade the king to be their friend. + +11:15. Then Machabeus consented to the request of Lysias, providing for +the common good in all things; and whatsoever Machabeus wrote to +Lysias, concerning the Jews, the king allowed of. + +11:16. For there were letters written to the Jews from Lysias, to this +effect: Lysias, to the people of the Jews, greeting. + +11:17. John, and Abesalom, who were sent from you, delivering your +writings, requested that I would accomplish those things which were +signified by them. + +11:18. Therefore whatsoever things could be reported to the king, +I have represented to him: and he hath granted as much as the matter +permitted. + +11:19. If, therefore, you will keep yourselves loyal in affairs, +hereafter also I will endeavour to be a means of your good. + +11:20. But as concerning other particulars, I have given orders by word +both to these, and to them that are sent by me, to commune with you. + +11:21. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the four +and twentieth day of the month of Dioscorus. + +In the year 148. . .Viz., according to the computation followed by the +Greeks; which was different from that of the Hebrews, followed by the +writer of the first book of Machabees. However, by this date, as well +as by other circumstances, it appears that the expedition of Lysias, +mentioned in this chapter, is different from that which is recorded, +1 Mac. 6. + +11:22. But the king's letter contained these words King Antiochus to +Lysias, his brother, greeting. + +11:23. Our father being translated amongst the gods we are desirous +that they that are in our realm should live quietly, and apply +themselves diligently to their own concerns. + +11:24. And we have heard that the Jews would not consent to my father +to turn to the rites of the Greeks but that they would keep to their +own manner of living and therefore that they request us to allow them +to live after their own laws. + +11:25. Wherefore being desirous that this nation also should be at +rest, we have ordained and decreed, that the temple should be restored +to them, and that they may live according to the custom of their +ancestors. + +11:26. Thou shalt do well, therefore, to send to them, and grant them +peace, that our pleasure being known, they may be of good comfort, and +look to their own affairs. + +11:27. But the king's letter to the Jews was in this manner: King +Antiochus to the senate of the Jews, and to the rest of the Jews, +greeting. + +11:28. If you are well, you are as we desire: we ourselves also are +well. + +11:29. Menelaus came to us, saying that you desired to come down to +your countrymen, that are with us. + +11:30. We grant, therefore, a safe conduct to all that come and go, +until the thirtieth day of the month of Xanthicus, + +11:31. That the Jews may use their own kind of meats, and their own +laws, as before: and that none of them any manner of ways be molested +for things which have been done by ignorance. + +11:32. And we have sent also Menelaus to speak to you. + +11:33. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the +fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus. + +11:34. The Romans also sent them a letter, to this effect: Quintus +Memmius, and Titus Manilius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people +of the Jews, greeting. + +11:35. Whatsoever Lysias, the king's cousin, hath granted to you, we +also have granted. + +11:36. But touching such things as he thought should be referred to the +king, after you have diligently conferred among yourselves, send some +one forthwith, that we may decree as it is convenient for you: for we +are going to Antioch. + +11:37. And therefore make haste to write back, that we may know of what +mind you are. + +11:38. Fare ye well. In the year one hundred and forty-eight, the +fifteenth day of the month of Xanthicus. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 12 + + +The Jews are still molested by their neighbours. Judas gains divers +victories over them. He orders sacrifice and prayers for the dead. + +12:1. When these covenants were made, Lysias went to the king, and the +Jews gave themselves to husbandry. + +12:2. But they that were behind, viz. Timotheus, and Apollonius, the +son of Genneus, also Hieronymus, and Demophon, and besides them +Nicanor, the governor of Cyprus, would not suffer them to live in +peace, and to be quiet. + +12:3. The men of Joppe also were guilty of this kind of wickedness: +they desired the Jews, who dwelt among them, to go with their wives and +children into the boats, which they had prepared, as though they had no +enmity to them. + +12:4. Which when they had consented to, according to the common decree +of the city, suspecting nothing, because of the peace: when they were +gone forth into the deep, they drowned no fewer than two hundred of +them. + +12:5. But as soon as Judas heard of this cruelty done to his +countrymen, he commanded the men that were with him: and after having +called upon God, the just judge, + +12:6. He came against those murderers of his brethren, and set the +haven on fire in the night, burnt the boats, and slew with the sword +them that escaped from the fire. + +12:7. And when he had done these things in this manner, he departed as +if he would return again, and root out all the Joppites. + +12:8. But when he understood that the men of Jamnia also designed to do +in like manner to the Jews that dwelt among them, + +12:9. He came upon the Jamnites also by night, and set the haven on +fire, with the ships, so that the light of the fire was seen at +Jerusalem, two hundred and forty furlongs off. + +12:10. And when they were now gone from thence nine furlongs, and were +marching towards Timotheus, five thousand footmen, and five hundred +horsemen of the Arabians, set upon them. + +12:11. And after a hard fight, in which, by the help of God, they got +the victory, the rest of the Arabians being overcome, besought Judas +for peace, promising to give him pastures, and to assist him in other +things. + +12:12. And Judas thinking that they might be profitable indeed in many +things, promised them peace, and after having joined hands, they +departed to their tents. + +12:13. He also laid siege to a certain strong city, encompassed with +bridges and walls, and inhabited by multitudes of different nations, +the name of which is Casphin. + +12:14. But they that were within it, trusting in the strength of the +walls, and the provision of victuals, behaved in a more negligent +manner, and provoked Judas with railing and blaspheming, and uttering +such words as were not to be spoken. + +12:15. But Machabeus calling upon the great Lord of the world, who +without any rams or engines of war threw down the walls of Jericho, in +the time of Josue, fiercely assaulted the walls. + +Rams. . .That is, engines for battering walls, etc., which were used in +sieges in those times. + +12:16. And having taken the city by the will of the Lord, he made an +unspeakable slaughter, so that a pool adjoining, of two furlongs broad, +seemed to run with the blood of the slain. + +12:17. From thence they departed seven hundred and fifty furlongs, and +came to Characa, to the Jews that are called Tubianites. + +12:18. But as for Timotheus, they found him not in those places, for +before he had dispatched any thing he went back, having left a very +strong garrison in a certain hold: + +12:19. But Dositheus, and Sosipater, who were captains with Machabeus, +slew them that were left by Timotheus in the hold, to the number of ten +thousand men. + +12:20. And Machabeus having set in order about him six thousand men, +and divided them by bands, went forth against Timotheus, who had with +him a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two thousand five +hundred horsemen. + +12:21. Now when Timotheus had knowledge of the coming of Judas, he sent +the women and children, and the other baggage, before him into a +fortress, called Carnion: for it was impregnable, and hard to come at, +by reason of the straitness of the places. + +12:22. But when the first band of Judas came in sight, the enemies were +struck with fear, by the presence of God, who seeth all things, and +they were put to flight one from another, so that they were often +thrown down by their own companions, and wounded with the strokes of +their own swords. + +12:23. But Judas pursued them close, punishing the profane, of whom he +slew thirty thousand men. + +12:24. And Timotheus himself fell into the hands of the band of +Dositheus and Sosipater, and with many prayers he besought them to let +him go with his life, because he had the parents and brethren of many +of the Jews, who, by his death, might happen to be deceived. + +12:25. And when he had given his faith that he would restore them +according to the agreement, they let him go without hurt, for the +saving of their brethren. + +12:26. Then Judas went away to Carnion, where he slew five and twenty +thousand persons. + +12:27. And after he had put to flight and destroyed these, he removed +his army to Ephron, a strong city, wherein there dwelt a multitude of +divers nations: and stout young men standing upon the walls, made a +vigorous resistance: and in this place there were many engines of war, +and a provision of darts. + +12:28. But when they had invocated the Almighty, who with his power +breaketh the strength of the enemies, they took the city: and slew five +and twenty thousand of them that were within. + +12:29. From thence they departed to Scythopolis, which lieth six +hundred furlongs from Jerusalem. + +Scythopolis. . .Formerly called Bethsan. + +12:30. But the Jews that were among the Scythopolitans testifying that +they were used kindly by them, and that even in the times of their +adversity they had treated them with humanity: + +12:31. They gave them thanks, exhorting them to be still friendly to +their nation, and so they came to Jerusalem, the feast of the weeks +being at hand. + +12:32. And after Pentecost they marched against Gorgias, the governor +of Idumea. + +12:33. And he came out with three thousand footmen and four hundred +horsemen. + +12:34. And when they had joined battle, it happened that a few of the +Jews were slain. + +12:35. But Dositheus, a horseman, one of Bacenor's band, a valiant man, +took hold of Gorgias: and when he would have taken him alive, a certain +horseman of the Thracians came upon him, and cut off his shoulder: and +so Gorgias escaped to Maresa. + +12:36. But when they that were with Esdrin had fought long, and were +weary, Judas called upon the Lord to be their helper, and leader of the +battle: + +12:37. Then beginning in his own language, and singing hymns with a +loud voice, he put Gorgias's soldiers to flight. + +12:38. So Judas having gathered together his army, came into the city +Odollam: and when the seventh day came, they purified themselves +according to the custom, and kept the sabbath in the same place. + +12:39. And the day following Judas came with his company, to take away +the bodies of them that were slain, and to bury them with their +kinsmen, in the sepulchres of their fathers. + +12:40. And they found under the coats of the slain, some of the +donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: +so that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain. + +Of the donaries, etc. . .That is, of the votive offerings, which had +been hung up in the temples of the idols, which they had taken away +when they burnt the port of Jamnia, ver. 9., contrary to the +prohibition of the law, Deut. 7.25. + +12:41. Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had +discovered the things that were hidden. + +12:42. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that +the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most +valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, +forasmuch as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of +the sins of those that were slain. + +12:43. And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachms of +silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the +dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection. + +12:44. (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise +again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) + +12:45. And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with +godliness, had great grace laid up for them. + +With godliness. . .Judas hoped that these men who died fighting for the +cause of God and religion, might find mercy: either because they might +be excused from mortal sin by ignorance; or might have repented of +their sin, at least at their death. + +12:46. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the +dead, that they may be loosed from sins. + +It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the +dead. . .Here is an evident and undeniable proof of the practice of +praying for the dead under the old law, which was then strictly observed +by the Jews, and consequently could not be introduced at that time by +Judas, their chief and high priest, if it had not been always their +custom. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 13 + + +Antiochus and Lysias again invade Judea. Menelaus is put to death. The +king's great army is worsted twice. The peace is renewed. + +13:1. In the year one hundred and forty-nine, Judas understood that +Antiochus Eupator was coming with a multitude against Judea, + +13:2. And with him Lysias, the regent, who had charge over the affairs +of the realm, having with him a hundred and ten thousand footmen, five +thousand horsemen, twenty-two elephants, and three hundred chariots. + +A hundred and ten thousand, etc. . .The difference between the numbers +here set down, and those recorded, 1 Mac. 4, is easily accounted for; +if we consider that such armies as these are liable to be at one time +more numerous than at another; either by sending away large +detachments, or being diminished by sickness; or increased by receiving +fresh supplies of troops, according to different exigencies or +occurrences. + +13:3. Menelaus also joined himself with them: and with great +deceitfulness besought Antiochus, not for the welfare of his country, +but in hopes that he should be appointed chief ruler. + +13:4. But the King of kings stirred up the mind of Antiochus against +the sinner, and upon Lysias suggesting that he was the cause of all the +evils, he commanded (as the custom is with them) that he should be +apprehended and put to death in the same place. + +13:5. Now there was in that place a tower fifty cubits high, having a +heap of ashes on every side: this had a prospect steep down. + +13:6. From thence he commanded the sacrilegious wretch to be thrown +down into the ashes, all men thrusting him forward unto death. + +13:7. And by such a law it happened that Menelaus the transgressor of +the law, was put to death: not having so much as burial in the earth. + +13:8. And indeed very justly, for insomuch as he had committed many +sins against the altar of God, the fire and ashes of which were holy: +he was condemned to die in ashes. + +13:9. But the king, with his mind full of rage, came on to shew himself +worse to the Jews than his father was. + +13:10. Which when Judas understood, he commanded the people to call +upon the Lord day and night, that as he had always done, so now also he +would help them: + +13:11. Because they were afraid to be deprived of the law, and of their +country, and of the holy temple: and that he would not suffer the +people, that had of late taken breath for a little while, to be again +in subjection to blasphemous nations. + +13:12. So when they had all done this together, and had craved mercy of +the Lord with weeping and fasting, lying prostrate on the ground for +three days continually, Judas exhorted them to make themselves ready. + +13:13. But he, with the ancients, determined before the king should +bring his army into Judea, and make himself master of the city, to go +out, and to commit the event of the thing to the judgment of the Lord. + +13:14. So committing all to God, the Creator of the world, and having +exhorted his people to fight manfully, and to stand up even to death +for the laws, the temple, the city, their country, and citizens: he +placed his army about Modin. + +13:15. And having given his company for a watchword, The victory of +God, with most valiant chosen young men, he set upon the king's quarter +by night, and slew four thousand men in the camp, and the greatest of +the elephants, with them that had been upon him, + +13:16. And having filled the camp of the enemies with exceeding great +fear and tumult, they went off with good success. + +13:17. Now this was done at the break of day, by the protection and +help of the Lord. + +13:18. But the king having taken a taste of the hardiness of the Jews, +attempted to take the strong places by policy: + +13:19. And he marched with his army to Bethsura, which was a strong +hold of the Jews: but he was repulsed, he failed, he lost his men. + +13:20. Now Judas sent necessaries to them that were within + +13:21. But Rhodocus, one of the Jews' army, disclosed the secrets to +the enemies, so he was sought out, and taken up, and put in prison. + +13:22. Again the king treated with them that were in Bethsura: gave his +right hand: took theirs: and went away. + +13:23. He fought with Judas: and was overcome. And when he understood +that Philip, who had been left over the affairs, had rebelled at +Antioch, he was in a consternation of mind, and entreating the Jews, +and yielding to them, he swore to all things that seemed reasonable, +and, being reconciled, offered sacrifice, honoured the temple, and left +gifts. + +13:24. He embraced Machabeus, and made him governor and prince from +Ptolemais unto the Gerrenians. + +13:25. But when he was come to Ptolemais, the men of that city were +much displeased with the conditions of the peace, being angry for fear +they should break the covenant. + +13:26. Then Lysias went up to the judgment seat, and set forth the +reason, and appeased the people, and returned to Antioch: and thus +matters went with regard to the king's coming and his return. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 14 + + +Demetrius challenges the kingdom. Alcimus applies to him to be made +high priest: Nicanor is sent into Judea: his dealings with Judas: his +threats. The history of Razias. + +14:1. But after the space of three years Judas, and they that were with +him, understood that Demetrius, the son of Seleucus, was come up with a +great power, and a navy by the haven of Tripolis, to places proper for +his purpose, + +14:2. And had made himself master of the countries against Antiochus, +and his general, Lysias. + +14:3. Now one Alcimus, who had been chief priest, but had wilfully +defiled himself in the time of mingling with the heathens, seeing that +there was no safety for him, nor access to the altar, + +Now Alcimus, who had been chief priest. . .This Alcimus was of the stock +of Aaron, but for his apostasy here mentioned was incapable of the high +priesthood, but king Antiochus Eupator appointed him in place of the +high priest, (see above, 1 Mac. chap. 7., ver. 9,) as Menelaus had been +before him, set up by Antiochus (above chap. 4.), yet neither of them +were truly high priests; for the true high priesthood was amongst the +Machabees, who were also of the stock of Aaron, and had strictly held +their religion, and were ordained according to the rites commanded in +the law of Moses.--Ibid. Mingling. . .with the heathens; that is, in +their idolatrous worship. + +14:4. Came to king Demetrius in the year one hundred and fifty, +presenting unto him a crown of gold, and a palm, and besides these, +some boughs that seemed to belong to the temple. And that day indeed he +held his peace. + +14:5. But having gotten a convenient time to further his madness, being +called to counsel by Demetrius, and asked what the Jews relied upon, +and what were their counsels, + +14:6. He answered thereunto: They among the Jews that are called +Assideans, of whom Judas Machabeus is captain, nourish wars, and raise +seditions, and will not suffer the realm to be in peace. + +14:7. For I also being deprived of my ancestor's glory (I mean of the +high priesthood) am now come hither: + +14:8. Principally indeed out of fidelity to the king's interests, but +in the next place also to provide for the good of my countrymen: for +all our nation suffereth much from the evil proceedings of these men. + +14:9. Wherefore, O king, seeing thou knowest all these things, take +care, I beseech thee, both of the country, and of our nation, according +to thy humanity which is known to all men. + +14:10. For as long as Judas liveth it is not possible that the state +should be quiet. + +14:11. Now when this man had spoken to this effect the rest also of the +king's friends, who were enemies of Judas, incensed Demetrius against +him. + +14:12. And forthwith he sent Nicanor, the commander over the elephants, +governor into Judea: + +14:13. Giving him in charge, to take Judas himself: and disperse all +them that were with him, and to make Alcimus the high priest of the +great temple. + +14:14. Then the Gentiles who had fled out of Judea, from Judas, came to +Nicanor by flocks, thinking the miseries and calamities of the Jews to +be the welfare of their affairs. + +14:15. Now when the Jews heard of Nicanor's coming, and that the +nations were assembled against them, they cast earth upon their heads, +and made supplication to him who chose his people to keep them for +ever, and who protected his portion by evident signs. + +14:16. Then at the commandment of their captain, they forthwith removed +from the place where they were, and went to the town of Dessau, to meet +them. + +14:17. Now Simon, the brother of Judas, had joined battle with Nicanor: +but was frightened with the sudden coming of the adversaries. + +14:18. Nevertheless Nicanor hearing of the valour of Judas's +companions, and the greatness of courage, with which they fought for +their country, was afraid to try the matter by the sword. + +14:19. Wherefore he sent Posidonius, and Theodotius and Matthias before +to present and receive the right hands. + +14:20. And when there had been a consultation thereupon, and the +captain had acquainted the multitude with it, they were all of one mind +to consent to covenants. + +14:21. So they appointed a day upon which they might come together by +themselves: and seats were brought out, and set for each one. + +14:22. But Judas ordered armed men to be ready in convenient places, +lest some mischief might be suddenly practised by the enemies: so they +made an agreeable conference. + +14:23. And Nicanor abode in Jerusalem, and did no wrong, but sent away +the flocks of the multitudes that had been gathered together. + +14:24. And Judas was always dear to him from the heart, and he was well +affected to the man. + +14:25. And he desired him to marry a wife, and to have children. So he +married: he lived quietly, and they lived in common. + +14:26. But Alcimus seeing the love they had one to another, and the +covenants, came to Demetrius, and told him that Nicanor had assented to +the foreign interest, for that he meant to make Judas, who was a +traitor to the kingdom, his successor. + +14:27. Then the king, being in a rage, and provoked with this man's +wicked accusation, wrote to Nicanor, signifying that he was greatly +displeased with the covenant of friendship: and that he commanded him +nevertheless to send Machabeus prisoner in all haste to Antioch. + +14:28. When this was known, Nicanor was in a consternation, and took it +grievously that he should make void the articles that were agreed upon, +having received no injury from the man. + +14:29. But because he could not oppose the king, he watched an +opportunity to comply with the orders + +14:30. But when Machabeus perceived that Nicanor was more stern to him, +and that when they met together as usual he behaved himself in a rough +manner; and was sensible that this rough behaviour came not of good, he +gathered together a few of his men, and hid himself from Nicanor. + +14:31. But he finding himself notably prevented by the man, came to the +great and holy temple: and commanded the priests that were offering the +accustomed sacrifices, to deliver him the man. + +14:32. And when they swore unto him, that they knew not where the man +was whom he sought, he stretched out his hand to the temple, + +14:33. And swore, saying: Unless you deliver Judas prisoner to me, I +will lay this temple of God even with the ground, and will beat down +the altar, and I will dedicate this temple to Bacchus. + +14:34. And when he had spoken thus, he departed. But the priests +stretching forth their hands to heaven, called upon him that was ever +the defender of their nation, saying in this manner: + +14:35. Thou, O Lord of all things, who wantest nothing, wast pleased +that the temple of thy habitation should be amongst us. + +14:36. Therefore now, O Lord, the holy of all holies, keep this house +for ever undefiled, which was lately cleansed. + +14:37. Now Razias, one of the ancients of Jerusalem, was accused to +Nicanor, a man that was a lover of the city, and of good report, who +for his kindness was called the father of the Jews. + +14:38. This man, for a long time, had held fast his purpose of keeping +himself pure in the Jews' religion, and was ready to expose his body +and life, that he might persevere therein. + +14:39. So Nicanor being willing to declare the hatred that he bore the +Jews, sent five hundred soldiers to take him. + +14:40. For he thought by ensnaring him to hurt the Jews very much. + +14:41. Now as the multitude sought to rush into his house, and to break +open the door, and to set fire to it, when he was ready to be taken, he +struck himself with his sword: + +He struck himself, etc. . .St. Augustine, (Epist. 61, ad Dulcitium, et +lib. 2, cap. 23, ad Epist. 2, Gaud.) discussing this fact of Razias, +says, that the holy scripture relates it, but doth not praise it, as to +be admired or imitated, and that either it was not well done by him, or +at least not proper in this time of grace. + +14:42. Choosing to die nobly rather than to fall into the hands of the +wicked, and to suffer abuses unbecoming his noble birth. + +14:43. But whereas through haste he missed of giving a sure wound, and +the crowd was breaking into the doors, he ran boldly to the wall, and +manfully threw himself down to the crowd: + +14:44. But they quickly making room for his fall, he came upon the +midst of the neck. + +He came upon the midst of the neck. . .Venit per mediam cervicem. In the +Greek it is keneona, which signifies a void place, where there is no +building. + +14:45. And as he had yet breath in him, being inflamed in mind, he +arose: and while his blood ran down with a great stream, and he was +grievously wounded, he ran through the crowd: + +14:46. And standing upon a steep rock, when he was now almost without +blood, grasping his bowels, with both hands he cast them upon the +throng, calling upon the Lord of life and spirit, to restore these to +him again: and so he departed this life. + + + +2 Machabees Chapter 15 + + +Judas encouraged by a vision gains a glorious victory over Nicanor. The +conclusion. + +15:1. But when Nicanor understood that Judas was in the places of +Samaria, he purposed to set upon him with all violence, on the sabbath +day. + +15:2. And when the Jews that were constrained to follow him, said: Do +not act so fiercely and barbarously, but give honour to the day that is +sanctified: and reverence him that beholdeth all things: + +15:3. That unhappy man asked, if there were a mighty One in heaven, +that had commanded the sabbath day to be kept. + +15:4. And when they answered: There is the living Lord himself in +heaven, the mighty One, that commanded the seventh day to be kept. + +15:5. Then he said: And I am mighty upon the earth, and I command to +take arms, and to do the king's business. Nevertheless he prevailed not +to accomplish his design. + +15:6. So Nicanor being puffed up with exceeding great pride, thought to +set up a public monument of his victory over Judas. + +15:7. But Machabeus ever trusted with all hope that God would help +them. + +15:8. And he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the nations, +but to remember the help they had before received from heaven, and now +to hope for victory from the Almighty. + +15:9. And speaking to them out of the law, and the prophets, and withal +putting them in mind of the battles they had fought before, he made +them more cheerful: + +15:10. Then after he had encouraged them, he shewed withal the +falsehood of the Gentiles, and their breach of oaths. + +15:11. So he armed every one of them, not with defence of shield and +spear, but with very good speeches, and exhortations, and told them a +dream worthy to be believed, whereby he rejoiced them all. + +15:12. Now the vision was in this manner. Onias, who had been high +priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in his looks, gentle in his +manners, and graceful in speech, and who from a child was exercised in +virtues holding up his hands, prayed for all the people of the Jews: + +15:13. After this there appeared also another man, admirable for age, +and glory, and environed with great beauty and majesty: + +15:14. Then Onias answering, said: This is a lover of his brethren, and +of the people of Israel: this is he that prayeth much for the people, +and for all the holy city, Jeremias, the prophet of God. + +15:15. Whereupon Jeremias stretched forth his right hand, and gave to +Judas a sword of gold, saying: + +15:16. Take this holy sword, a gift from God, wherewith thou shalt +overthrow the adversaries of my people Israel. + +15:17. Thus being exhorted with the words of Judas, which were very +good, and proper to stir up the courage, and strengthen the hearts of +the young men, they resolved to fight, and to set upon them manfully: +that valour might decide the matter, because the holy city, and the +temple were in danger. + +15:18. For their concern was less for their wives, and children, and +for their brethren, and kinsfolks: but their greatest and principal +fear was for the holiness of the temple. + +15:19. And they also that were in the city, had no little concern for +them that were to be engaged in battle. + +15:20. And now when all expected what judgment would be given, and the +enemies were at hand, and the army was set in array, the beasts and the +horsemen ranged in convenient places, + +15:21. Machabeus considering the coming of the multitude, and the +divers preparations of armour, and the fierceness of the beasts, +stretching out his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, that worketh +wonders, who giveth victory to them that are worthy, not according to +the power of their arms, but according as it seemeth good to him. + +15:22. And in his prayer he said after this manner: Thou, O Lord, who +didst send thy angel in the time of Ezechias, king of Juda, and didst +kill a hundred and eighty-five thousand of the army of Sennacherib: + +15:23. Send now also, O Lord of heaven, thy good angel before us, for +the fear and dread of the greatness of thy arm, + +15:24. That they may be afraid, who come with blasphemy against thy +holy people. And thus he concluded his prayer. + +15:25. But Nicanor, and they that were with him came forward, with +trumpets and songs. + +15:26. But Judas, and they that were with him, encountered them, +calling upon God by prayers: + +15:27. So fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their +hearts, they slew no less than five and thirty thousand, being greatly +cheered with the presence of God. + +15:28. And when the battle was over, and they were returning with joy, +they understood that Nicanor was slain in his armour. + +15:29. Then making a shout, and a great noise, they blessed the +Almighty Lord in their own language. + +15:30. And Judas, who was altogether ready, in body and mind, to die +for his countrymen, commanded that Nicanor's head, and his hand, with +the shoulder, should be cut off, and carried to Jerusalem. + +15:31. And when he was come thither, having called together his +countrymen, and the priests to the altar, he sent also for them that +were in the castle, + +15:32. And shewing them the head of Nicanor, and the wicked hand, which +he had stretched out, with proud boasts, against the holy house of the +Almighty God, + +15:33. He commanded also, that the tongue of the wicked Nicanor should +be cut out, and given by pieces to birds, and the hand of the furious +man to be hanged up over against the temple. + +15:34. Then all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying: Blessed be he that +hath kept his own place undefiled. + +15:35. And he hung up Nicanor's head in the top of the castle, that it +might be an evident and manifest sign of the help of God. + +15:36. And they all ordained by a common decree, by no means to let +this day pass without solemnity: + +15:37. But to celebrate the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, called +in the Syrian language, the day before Mardochias' day. + +15:38. So these things being done with relation to Nicanor, and from +that time the city being possessed by the Hebrews, I also will here +make an end of my narration. + +15:39. Which if I have done well, and as it becometh the history, it is +what I desired: but if not so perfectly, it must be pardoned me. + +If not so perfectly, etc. . .This is not said with regard to the truth +of the narration; but with regard to the style and manner of writing: +which in the sacred penmen is not always the most accurate. See St. +Paul, 2 Cor. 11.6. + +15:40. For as it is hurtful to drink always wine, or always water, but +pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other: so if the +speech be always nicely framed, it will not be grateful to the readers. +But here it shall be ended. + + + + + +APPENDICES + + + +These texts come from the 1610 Doway printing of the second tome of the +Old Testament (see the 'History' section at the top of the e-text). The +primary sources provide a glimpse both into the history of the Douay- +Rheims version and the English language itself. The reader will quickly +notice that the letter 'j' does not appear in the texts, rather 'i' +functions either as a vowel or a consonant. Likewise 'u' is not a +distinct letter; it is employed typographically in the lower-case in +place of 'v' where not starting a word. The letters 'u' and 'v' both +function either as vowels or consonants. The word 'vniuersity' +demonstrates this rule. The letter 'w' is often employed, but in some +cases the earlier form of a double-v (vv) appears instead. + +The transcriber has done his best to render the text accurately. Note +the relaxed spelling standards of the time; many variants appear. While +the errata section from the 1610 edition observed: "We haue also found +some other faultes of lesse importance; and feare there be more. But we +trust the reader may easely correct them, as they occurre." only obvious +errors have been amended. Where the transcriber has doubt between +whether an irregular spelling is either an error and a variant, the +printed text stands. 7-bit ASCII cannot fully represent the +typographical standards of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and +many special characters have been replaced with modern equivalents. +Where verse numbers stand in the margins of the printed texts, they have +been transferred to the body; the verse numbers in the 'Prayer of +Manasses' have been supplied from other versions. Reference notes have +been transferred from the margins, and their abbreviations modernized. + + + + + +ADDITIONAL BOOKS + + + +The prayer of Manasses, vvith the third & fourth Bookes of Esdras, extant +in most Latin and vulgare Bibles, are here placed after al the Canonical +bookes, of the old Testament: because they are not receiued into the +Canon of Diuine Scriptures by the Catholique Church. + + + + +THE PRAYER OF MANASSES KING OF IVDA, WHEN HE WAS HELD CAPTIVE IN BABYLON. + + + +LORD omnipotent God of our fathers, Abraham, & Isaac, and Iacob, and of +their iust sede, (2 Par 33:12) [2] which didst make heauen and earth: +with al the ornamentes of them, [3] which hast bound the sea with the +word of thy precept, which hast shut vp the depth, and sealed it with +thy terrible and laudable name: [4] whom al thinges dread, & tremble at +the countinance of thy powre, [5] because the magnificence of thy glorie +is importable, & the wrath of thy threatning vpon sinners is +intollerable: [6] but the mercie of thy promise is infinite and +vnsearchable: [7] because thou art our Lord, most high, benigne, long +suffering, and very merciful, and penitent vpon the wickednes of men. +Thou Lord according to the multitude of thy goodnes hast promised +penance, and remission to them that haue sinned to thee, and by the +multitude of thy mercies thou hast decreed penance to sinners, vnto +saluation. [8] Thou therfore Lord God of the iust, hast not appointed +penance to the iust, Abraham, & Isaac and Iacob, them that haue not +sinned to thee, but hast appointed penance for me a sinner: [9] because +I haue sinned aboue the number of the sand of the sea. Myne iniquities +Lord be multiplied, mine iniquities be multiplied, and I am not worthie +to behold, & looke vpon the height of heauen, for the multitude of mine +iniquities. [10] I am made crooked with manie a band of yron, that I can +not lift vp my head, and I haue not respiration: because I haue stirred +vp thy wrath, and haue done euil before thee: I haue not done thy wil, +and thy commandmentes I haue not kept: I haue set vp abominations, and +multiplied offenses. [11] And now I bowe the knee of my hart, beseeching +goodnes of thee. [12] I haue sinned Lord, I haue sinned, & I acknowlege +myne iniquities. [13] Wherefore I beseech disiring thee, forgeue me +Lord, forgeue me: and destroy me not together with myne iniquities, +neither reserue thou for euer, being angrie, euils for me, neither damme +me into the lowest places of the earth: because thou art Lord, God, I +say, of the penitent: [14] in me thou shalt shew al thy goodnes because +thou shalt saue me vnworthie according to thy great mercie, [15] and I +wil prayse thee alwayes al the dayes of my life: because al the power of +the heauens prayseth thee, and to thee is glorie for euer and euer. +Amen. + + + + +THE THIRD BOOKE OF ESDRAS. + + + +For helpe of the readers, especially such as haue not leysure to read al, +vve haue gathered the contentes of the chapters; but made no Annotations: +because the text it self is but as a Commentarie to the Canonical bookes; +and therfore we haue only added the concordance of other Scriptures in +the margin. + + + +CHAP. I. + + +Iosias king of Iuda maketh a great Pasch, 7. geuing manie hostes to such +as wanted for sacrifice: 14. the Priestes and Leuites performing their +functions therin: 22. in the eightenth yeare of his reigne, 25. He is +slayne in battel by the king of AEgypt, 32. and much lamented by the +Iewes. 34. His sonne Ieconias succedeth. 37. After him Ioacim, 40. who +is deposed by the king of Babylon. 43. Ioachim reigneth three monethes, +and is caried into Babylon. 46. Sedecias reigneth eleuen yeares +wickedly. 52. and he with his people is caried captiue into Babylon, the +citie and temple are destroyed. 57. so remayned til the Monarchie of the +Persians. + +AND Iosias made a Pasch in Ierusalem to our Lord & immolated the Phase +the fourtenth moone of the moneth: (4 Kings 23:21 / 2 Par 35:1) +2 appointing the Priestes by courses of dayes clothed with stoles in the +temple of our Lord. 3 And he spake to the Leuites the sacred seruantes +of Isreal, that they should sanctifie them selues to our Lord in the +placing of the holie arke of our Lord in the house, which king Salomon +sonne of Dauid built. 4 It shal not be for you to take it vpon your +shoulders. And now serue your Lord, and take the care of that nation +Israel, in part according to your villages and tribes, 5 according to the +writing of Dauid king of Israel, and according to the magnificence of +Salomon his sonne, al in the temple, and according to your fathers +portion of principalitie, among them that stand in the sight of your +brethren the children of Isreal. 6 Immolate the Pasch, and prepare the +sacrifices for your bretheren, and doe according to the precept of our +Lord which was geuen to Moyses. (Ex 12 / Lev 23 / Num 28) 7 And Iosias +gaue vnto the people that was found of sheepe, lambes, and kiddes, and +goates thirtie thousand, calues there thousand. 8 These thinges were +geuen to the people of the kinges goodes according to promisse: and to +the priestes for the Phase, sheepe in number two thousand, and calues an +hundred. 9 And Iechonias, and Semeias, and Nathanael bretheren, and +Hasabias, and Oziel, and Coraba for the Phase sheepe fiue thousand, +calues fiue hundred. 10 And when these thinges were done in good order, +the Priestes an the Leuites stood hauing azymes by tribes. 11 And +according to the portions of their fathers principalitie, in the sight of +the people they did offer, to our Lord according to those thinges, which +were written in the booke of Moyses: 12 and rosted the Phase with fire +as it ought: and the hostes they boyled in cauldrons, and in pottes with +beneuolence: 13 and they brought to al that were of the people: and +afterward they prepared for them selues and the priestes. 14 For the +Priestes offered the fatte, vntil the houre was ended: and the Leuites +prepared for them selues, and their brethren, the children of Aaron. +15 And the sacred singing men, the children of Asaph were by order +according to the precept of Dauid and Asaph, and Zacharias, and Ieddimus, +which was from the king. 16 And the porters at euerie gate, so that none +transgressed his owne: for their brethren prepared for them. 17 And the +thinges were consummate that perteyned to the sacrifice of our Lord. +18 In that day they celebrated the Phase, and offered hostes vpon the +sacrifice of our Lord, according to the precept of king Iosias. 19 And +the children of Israel, that were found at that time, celebrated the +Phase: and the festiual day of Azymes for seuen dayes: 20 and there was +not celebrated such a Phase in Isreal, from the times of Samuel the +prophet: 21 and al the kinges of Israel did not celebrate such a Phase +as Iosias did, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the Iewes, and al +Israel, that were found in their abode at Ierusalem. 22 In the eightenth +yeare, Iosias reigning was the Phase celebrated. 23 And the workes of +Iosias were directed in the sight of his Lord in a hart ful of feare: +24 and the thinges concerning him are writen in the ancient times, +touching them that sinned, and were irreligous against our Lord aboue al +nations, and that sought not the wordes of our Lord vpon Israel. 25 And +after al this fact of Iosias, came vp Pharao the king of AEgypt comming +in Charcamis from the way vpon Euphrates, and Iosias went forth to meete +him. (4 Kings 23:29 / 2 Par 35:20) 26 And the king of AEgypt sent to +Iosias saying: What is there betwen me & thee king of Iuda? 27 I was +not sent of the Lord to fight against thee: for my battel is vpon +Euphrates, goe downe in hast. 28 And Iosias did not returne vpon his +chariote: but endeuoured to ouerthrow him, not attending the word of the +prophet from the mouth of our Lord: 29 but he made battel against him in +the field of Mageddo. And princes went downe to king Iosias. 30 And the +king said to his seruantes: Remoue me from the battel, for I am weakned +excedingly. And forthwith his seruantes remoued him out of the battel. +31 And he went vp into his second chariote: & comming to Ierusalem, +dyed, and was buried in his fathers sepulchre. 32 And in al Iurie they +mourned for Iosias, & the rulers with their wiues lamented him vntil this +day. And this was geuen out to be done alwayes vnto al the stocke of +Israel. 33 But these thinges were writen before in the booke of the +histories of the kinges of Iuda: and al the actes of the doing of +Iosias, and his glorie and his vnderstanding in the law of our Lord: and +the thinges that were done by him, and that are not writen in the booke +of the kinges of Israel and Iuda. 34 And they that were of the nation, +taking Iechonias the sonne of Iosias, made him king for Iosias his +father, when he was three and twentie yeares old. (4 Kings 23:30 / +2 Par 36:1) 35 And he reigned ouer Israel three monethes. And the king +of AEgypt remoued him, that he should not reigne in Ierusalem: 36 and he +put a taxe vpon the nation of siluer an hundred talentes, and of gold one +talent. 37 And the king of AEgypt made Ioacim his brother king of Iuda +and Ierusalem: 38 and he bound the magistrates of Ioacim, and Zaracel +his brother, and taking them brought them backe into AEgypt. 39 Ioacim +was fiue and twentie yeares old when he began to reigne in the land of +Iuda and Ierusalem: and he did euil in the sight of our Lord. 40 And +after this man came vp Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and binding +him with a bande of brasse, brought him into Babylon. 41 And +Nabuchodonosor tooke the sacred vessels of our Lord, and carried away, +and consecrated them in his temple in Babylon. 42 For his vncleanes, and +lacke of religion is written in the booke of the times of the kinges. +43 And Ioachin his sonne reigned for him. And when he was made king, he +was eightene yeares old. 44 And reigned three monethes and ten dayes in +Ierusalem, and did euil in the sight of our Lord: 45 and after a yeare +Nabuchodonosor sending, transported him into Babylon together with the +sacred vessels of our Lord. (4 Kings 24:13) 46 And he made Sedecias +king of Iuda and Ierusalem, when he was one and twentie yeares old: +(4 Kings 24:17) and he reigned eleuen yeares. 47 And he did euil in the +sight of our Lord, and was not afraid of the wordes which were spoken by +Ieremie the prophet from the mouth of our Lord: (Jer 37:2) 48 and being +sworne of king Nabuchodonosor, forsworne he did reuolt: and his necke +being hardened, & his hart, he transgressed the ordinances of our Lord +the God of Israel. 49 And the princes of the people of our Lord did +manie thinges wickedly, and they did impiously aboue al the vncleannes of +the nations: and they polluted the temple of our Lord that was holie of +Ierusalem. 50 And the God of their fathers sent by his messenger to +reclame them, for that he would spare them, and his tabernacle. 51 But +they scorned at his messengers: and in the day that our Lord spake to +them, they were mocking his prophetes. 52 Who was moued euen vnto wrath +vpon his nation for their impietie, and commanded the kinges of the +Chaldees to come vp. 53 These slewe their yong men with the sword, round +about their holie temple, and spared not yong man, and old man, and +virgin, and youth: 54 but al were deliuered into their handes: & taking +al the sacred vessels of our Lord, and the kinges treasures, they caried +them into Babylon, 55 and burnt the house of our Lord, and threwe downe +the walles of Ierusalem: and the towres therof they burnt with fire, +56 and consumed al their honorable thinges, and brought them to naught, +and those that were left of the sword, they led into Babylon. 57 And +they were his seruants vntil the Persians reigned in the fulfilling of +the word of our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie: (Jer 25:12 / Jer 29:10 / +Dan 9:2) 58 as long as the land quietly kept her sabbathes, al the time +of her desolation she sabbathized in the application of seuentie yeares. + + + +CHAP. II. + + +Cyrus king of Persia permitteth the Iewes to returne into their countrie: +10. and deliuereth to them the holie vessels, which Nabuchodonosor had +taken from the temple. 16. Certaine aduersaries writing to king +Artaxerxes, hinder those that would repayre the ruines of Ierusalem. + +CYRVS king of the Persians reigning for the accomplishment of the word of +our Lord by the mouth of Ieremie, (2 Par 36:22 / 1 Esd 1:1 / 1 Esd 6:3 / +Jer 25:12 / Jer 29:10 / Dan 9:2) 2 our Lord raysed vp the spirit of Cyrus +king of the Persians, and he proclaymed in al his kingdomes, and that by +writing, 3 saying: Thus sayth Cyrus king of the Persians: The Lord of +Israel, the high Lord, hath made me king ouer the whole earth. 4 and +hath signified to me to build him a house in Ierusalem, which is in +Iurie. 5 If there be any of your kinred, his Lord goe vp with him into +Ierusalem. 6 Whosoeuer therefore dwel about the places, let them helpe +them that are in the same place, in gold and siluer, 7 in giftes, with +horses, and beastes, and with other thinges which by vowes are added into +the temple of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem. 8 And the princes of the +tribes, of the villages and of Iurie, of the tribe of Beniamin, & the +Priestes, and the Leuites standing vp, whom our Lord moued to goe vp, and +to build the house of our Lord which is in Ierusalem, and they that were +round about them, 9 did helpe them with al their gold and siluer, and +beastes, and manie whose minde was stirred vp, with many vowes. 10 And +Cyrus the king brought forth the sacred vessel of our Lord, which +Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon transported out of Ierusalem, and +consecrated them to his Idol. 11 And Cyrus the king of Persians bringing +them forth, deliuered them to Mithridatus, who was ouer his treasures. +12 And by him they were deliuered to Salmanasar president of Iurie. +13 And of these this was the number: Cuppes for libamentes of siluer two +thousand foure hundred, basens of siluer thirtie: phials of gold +thirtie, also of siluer two thousand foure hundred: and other vessels a +thousand. 14 and al the vessels of gold and siluer, were fiue thousand +eight hundred sixtie. 15 And they were numbered to Salmanasar together +with them, that came out of the captiuite of Babylon into Ierusalem. +16 But in the times of Artaxerxes king of the Persians, there wrote to +him of them that dwelt in Iurie and Ierusalem, Balsamus, and Mithridatus, +and Sabellius, and Rathimus, Balthemus, Sabellius scribe, and the rest +dweling in Samaria, and other places the epistle folowing to king +Artaxerxes. (1 Esd 4:7) 17 SIR, thy seruantes Rathimus ouer +occurrentes, and Sabellius the scribe, and the other iudges of thy court +in Caelesyria, and Phenice. 18 And now be it knowen to our Lord the +king, that Iewes came vp from you to vs, coming into Ierusalem a +rebellious, & very naughty citie, do build the fornaces thereof, and set +vp the walles, and rayse the temple. 19 And if this citie, and the +walles shal be finished, they wil not onlie not abyde to pay tributes, +but also wil resist the kinges. 20 And because that is in doing about +the temple, we thought it should doe wel not to neglect this same thing: +21 but to make it knowen to our Lord the king, that if it shal seme good, +o king it may be sought in the bookes of thy fathers, 22 and thou shalt +find in the recordes, thinges writen of these, and thou shalt know that +this citie hath bene rebellious, and trubling kinges, and cities, 23 and +the Iewes rebelles, & making battels in it from time out of mind, for the +which cause this citie was made desolate. 24 Now therfore we doe thee to +vnderstand, Lord king, that if this citie shal be built, and the walles +therof shal be erected, there wil be no comming downe for thee into +Caelesyria, & Phenice. 25 Then wrote the king to Rathimus, the writer of +the occurrentes, and to Balthemus, and to Sabellius the scribe, and to +the rest ioyned with them, and to the dwellers in Syria, and Phenice, as +foloweth: 26 I haue read the epistle that you sent me. I commanded +therfore search to be made, & it was found that the same citie is from +the beginning rebellious to kinges, 27 and the men rebelles, and making +battels in it, & there were most valient kinges ruling in Ierusalem, and +exacting tributes in Caelesyria, & Phenice. 28 Now therfore I haue geuen +commandment to forbid those men to build the citie, and to stay them that +nothing be done more then is: 29 and that they proceeded not farder, +wherof are euils, so that there may be truble brougt vpon the kinges. +30 Then these things being read which were writen of king Artaxerxes, +Rathimus, and Sabellius the scribe, and they that were apointed with them +ioyning together in hast came to Ierusalem with a troupe of horsemen, and +multitude, & companie: 31 and they begane to forbid the builders, and +they ceased from building of the temple in Ierusalem, til in the second +yeare of the reigne of Darius king of the Persians. + + + +CHAP. III. + + +After a solemne supper made to al the court, and chief princes, king +Darius sleeping: 4. three esquires of the bodie keeping watch, proposed +the question: 10. VVhether wine, or a King, or wemen, or the truth doth +excel? 17. The first prayseth wine. + +KING Darius made a great supper to al his domestical seruantes, and to al +the magistrates of Media and Persia, 2 and to al that were purple, and to +the praetors, and counsuls, and liuetenantes vnder him from India vnto +AEthiopia, an hundred twentie seuen prouinces. 3 And when they had eaten +and drunken, and returned ful, then Darius went vp into his chamber, and +slept, and awaked. 4 Then those three youngmen kepers of his bodie, +which garded the kings bodie, sayd one to an other; 5 Let euerie one of +vs say a word that may excel: & whose word soeuer shal appeare wiser +then the others, to him wil king Darius geue great giftes, 6 to be +couered with purple, & to drinke in gold, and to sleepe vpon gold, & a +chariote with a bridle of gold, & a bonet of silke, and a cheyne about +his necke: 7 and he shal sit in the second place next Darius for his +wisdome. And he shal be called the cosin of Darius. 8 Then euerie one +writing his word signed it, and they put it vnder the pillow of Darius +the king, 9 and they sayd. When the king shal rise, we wil geue him our +writinges: and which soeuer of the three the king shal iudge, and the +magistrates of Persia, that his word is the wiser, to him shal the +victorie be geuen as is writen. 10 One wrote: Wine is strong. 11 An +other wrote, a King is stronger. 12 The third wrote, Wemen are more +strong: but aboue al thinges truth ouercometh. 13 And when the king was +risen, they tooke their writinges, and gaue him, and he read. 14 And +sending he called al the Magistrates of Persians, and the Medes, and them +that weare purple, and the pretors, and the ouerseers; 15 and they sate +in the councel: and the writinges were read before them. 16 And he +sayd: Cal the youngmen, and they shal declare their owne wordes. And +they were called, and went in. 17 And he sayd to them: Declare vnto vs +concerning these thinges which are writen. And the first began, he that +had spoken of the strength of wine, 18 and sayd: O ye men, how doth wine +preuaile ouer al men that drinke! it seduceth the minde. 19 And also +the mind of king and orphane it maketh vaine. Also of the bondman and +the free, of the rich man and the poore, 20 and euerie mind it turneth +into securitie and pleasantnes, and it remembreth not any sorow and +dewtie, 21 and al hartes it maketh honest, and it remembreth not king, +nor magistrate, and it maketh a man speake al thinges by talentes. +22 And when they haue drunke, they remember not frendship, nor +brotherhood: yea and not long after they take swordes. 23 And when they +are recouered and risen from the wine, they remember not what they haue +done. 24 O ye men, doth not wine excel? who thinketh to doe so? And +hauing sayd this, he held his peace. + + + +CHAP. IIII. + + +The second prayseth the excellencie of a king: 13. The third (which is +Zorobabel) commendeth wemen: 33. but preferreth truth aboue al. +41. VVhich is so approued, and he is rewarded. 42. The king moreouer at +his request restoreth the holie vessels of the temple, and granteth +meanes to build the citie of Ierusalem, and the temple. + +AND the next began to speake, he that spake of the strength of a king. +2 O ye men doe not the men excel, which obteyne land and sea, and al +thinges that are in them? 3 But a king excelleth aboue al thinges, and +hath dominion ouer them: and euerie thing whatsoeuer he shal say to +them, they doe. 4 And if he send them to warryers, they goe, and throw +downe mountaines, and the walles, and towers. 5 They kil, and are +killed: and the kinges word they transgresse not. For if they shal +ouercome, they bring to the king al thinges whatsoeuer they haue taken +for a praye. 6 In like maner also al others, for so many as are not +souldiars, nor fight, but til the ground: when they shal reape, againe +they bring tributes to the king. 7 And he being one onlie if he say: +Kil ye, they kil: say he: forgeue, the forgeue. 8 say he: strike: +they strike: say he, destroy, they destroy: say he build, they build. +9 say he, cut downe, they cut downe, say he plant, they plant: 10 and al +the people, & potestates here him, and beside this he sitteth downe, and +drinketh, and sleepeth. 11 And others gard him round about, and can not +goe euerie one, and doe their owne workes, but at a word are obedient to +him. 12 O ye men, how doth not a king excel that is so renowmed? And he +held his peace. 13 The third that spake of wemen and truth, this is +Zorobabel, began to speake. 14 O ye men, not the great king, & many men, +neither is it wine that dothe excel. Who is it then that hath the +dominion of them? 15 Haue not wemen brought forth the king, and al the +people, that ruleth ouer land & sea: 16 and were they not borne of them, +and did not they bring vp them which planted the vineyardes, whereof wine +is made? 17 And they make the garmentes of al men, & they doe honor to +al men, and men can not be separed from wemen. 18 If they haue gathered +gold and siluer, and euerie beutiful thing, & see a woman comelie and +fayre, 19 leauing al these thinges they fixe their looke vpon her, & with +open mouth beholde her, and allure her more then gold and siluer, and +euerie precious thing. 20 Man forsaketh his father that brought him vp, +and his countrie, and ioyneth himself to a woman. 21 And with a woman he +refresheth his soul: and neither doth he remember father, nor mother, +nor countrie. 22 And hereby you must know that wemen rule ouer you. Are +you not sorie? 23 And a man taketh his sword, & goeth into the way to +commit theftes and murders, & to sayle seas & riuers, 24 and seeth a +lyon, and goeth in darkenes: and when he hath committed theft, and +fraude, and spoyles, he bringeth it to his beloued. 25 And againe, man +loueth his wife more then father or mother. 26 And many haue become +madde for their wiues: and haue been made bondmen for them: 27 and many +haue perished and bene slayne, and haue sinned for wemen. 28 And now +beleue me, that the king is great in his powre: because al countries are +afrayd to touch him. 29 Neuertheles I saw Apemes the daughter of Bezaces +the concubine of a meruelous king, sitting by the king at his right hand, +30 and taking of the crowne from his head, and putting it vpon her self, +and with the palme of her left hand she stroke the king. 31 And beside +these thinges he with open mouth beheld her: and if she smiled he +laugheth, and if she be angrie with him, he flattereth, til he be +reconciled to her fauour. 32 O ye men, why are not wemen stronger? +Great is the earth, and high is the heauen: who doeth these thinges? +33 And then the king and they that weare purple looked one vpon an other. +And he began to speake of truth. 34 O ye men, are not wemen strong? The +earth is great and heauen is high: & the swift course of the sunne +turneth the heauen round into his place in one day. 35 Is not he +magnifical that doth these thinges, and the truth great, and stronger +aboue al thinges? 36 Al the earth calleth vpon the truth, heauen also +blesseth it, and al workes are moued, and tremble at it, and there is not +any thing with it vniust. 37 Wine is vniust, the king is vniust, wemen +are vniust, al the sonnes of men are vniust, and al their workes are +vniust, and in them is not truth, and they shal perish in their +iniquitie: 38 and truth abydeth, and groweth strong for euer, and +liueth, and preuayleth for euer and euer. 39 Neither is there with it +acception of persons, nor differences: but the thinges that are iust it +doth to al men, to the vniust and malignant, and al men are wel pleased +in the workes thereof. 40 And there is no vniust thing in the iudgement +therof, but strength, and reigne, and power, and maiestie of worldes. +Blessed be the God of truth. 41 And he left speaking. And al the people +cryed, and sayd: Great is truth and it preuaileth. 42 Then the king +sayd to him: Aske, if thou wilt any more, then the thinges that are +writen, and I wil geue it thee, according as thou art found wiser then +thy neighbours, & thou shalt sitte next to me, and shalt be called my +cosin. 43 Then sayd he to the king: Be midful of thy vow, which thou +hast vowed, to build Ierusalem in the day that thou didst receiue the +kingdom: 44 and to send backe al the vessels that were taken out of +Ierusalem, which Cyrus separated, when he sacked Babylon, and would haue +sent them backe thither. 45 And thou hast vowed to build the temple, +which the Idumeians burnt, when Iurie was destroyed of the Chaldees. +46 And now this is that which I aske Lord, & which I desire, this is the +maiestie which I desire of thee, that thou performe the vowe which thou +hast vowed to the king of heauen by thy mouth. 47 Then Darius the king +rising vp, kissed him: and wrote letters to al the officers, and +ouerseers, and them that weare purple, that they should conduct him, and +them that were with him, al going vp to build Ierusalem. 48 And to al +the ouerseers that were in Syria, and Phoenice, and Libanus he wrote +letters, that they should draw Ceder trees from Libanus into Ierusalem, +to build the citie with them. 49 And he wrote to al the Iewes which went +vp from the kingdome into Iurie for libertie, euerie mightie man, & +magistrate, & ouerseer not to come vpon them to their gates, 50 and al +the countrie which they had obtayned to be free vnto them, & that the +Idumeians leaue the castels which they possesse of the Iewes, 51 and to +the building of the temple to geue euerie yeare twentie talentes vntil it +were throughly built: 52 & vpon the altars to burne holocausts dayly, as +they haue commandment: to offer other ten talentes euery yeare, 53 & to +al that go forth from Babylon to build the citie, that there should be +libertie as wel to them as to their children, and to al the priestes that +goe before. 54 And he wrote a quantitie also, and commanded the sacred +stole to be geuen, wherein they should serue; 55 and to the Leuites he +wrote to geue preceptes, vntil the day wherein the house shal be +finished, and Ierusalem builded. 56 And to al that kepe the citie, he +wrote portions and wages to be geuen to them. 57 And he sent away al the +vessels whatsoeuer Cyrus had separated from Babylon, and al thinges +whatsoeuer Cyrus sayd, he also commanded to be donne, and to be sent to +Ierusalem. 58 And when that yong man was gone forth, lyfting vp his face +toward Ierusalem, he blessed the king of heauen, 59 & sayd: Of thee is +victorie, and of thee is wisdome, and glorie. And I am thy seruant. +60 Blessed art thou which hast geuen me wisedom, and I wil confesse to +thee Lord God of our fathers. 61 And he toke the letters, and went into +Babylon. And he came, and told al his brethren that were in Babylon: +62 and they blessed the God of their fathers, because he gaue them +remission and refreshing, 63 that they should goe vp and build Ierusalem, +and the temple wherein his name was renowmed, and they reioyced with +musike and ioy seuen dayes. + + + +CHAP. V. + + +Those that returned from captiuitie of Bablyon into Ierusalem, and Iurie, +are recited. 47. They restore Gods seruice: 66. but are hindered from +building. + +AFTER these thinges there were chosen, to goe vp the princes of townes by +their houses, and tribes, and their wiues, and their sonnes and +daughters, and their men seruantes and wemen seruantes, and their cattel. +(1 Esd 2:1) 2 And Darius the king sent together with them a thousand +horsmen, til they conducted them to Ierusalem with peace, & with musicke +& with tymbrels, and shaulmes: 3 and al the brethren were playing, and +he made them goe vp together with them. 4 And these are the names of the +men that went vp by their townes according to tribes, and according to +the portion of their principalitie. 5 Priestes: The children of +Phinees, the sonne of Aaron, Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, Ioacim the sonne +of Zorobabel, the sonne of Salatheil of the house of Dauid, of the +progenie of Phares, of the tribe of Iuda. 6 Who spake vnder Darius king +of the Persians the meruelous wordes in the second yeare of his reigne +the first moneth Nisan. 7 And they are these, that of Iurie came vp from +the captiuitie of the transmigration, whom Nabuchodonosor the king of +Babylon transported into Babylon, and returned into Ierusalem. +(1 Esd 2:2 / 2 Esd 7:6) 8 And euerie one sought a part of Iurie +according to his owne citie, they that came with Zorobabel, and Iesus, +Nehemias, Areores, Elimeo, Emmanio, Mardocheo, Beelsuro, Mechpsatochor, +Olioro, Emonia one of their princes. 9 And the number of them of the +same nation, of their rulers the children of Phares, two thousand an +hundred seuentie two: 10 The children of Ares, three thousand an hundred +fiftie seuen: 11 The children of Phoemo, an hundred fourtie two: in the +children of Iesus and Ioabes, a thousand three hundred two: 12 the +children of Demu, two thousand foure hundred seuentie: the children of +Choraba, two hundred fiue: the children of Banica, an hundred sixtie +eight, 13 the children of Bebech, foure hundred three: the children of +Archad, foure hundred twentie seuen: 14 the children of Cham, thirtie +seuen: the children of Zoroar, two thousand sixtie seuen: the children +of Adin, foure hundred sixtie one: 15 the children of Aderectes, an +hundred eight: the children of Ciaso and Zelas an hundred seuen: the +children of Azoroc, foure hundred thirtie nine: 16 the children of +Iedarbone, an hundred thirtie two: the children of Ananias, an hundred +thirtie: the children of Asoni, ninetie: 17 the children of Marsar, +foure hundred twentie two: the children of Zabarus, nintie fiue: the +children of Sepolemon, an hundred twentie three: 18 the children of +Nepopas, fiftie fiue: the children of Hechanatus, an hundred fiftie +eight: the children of Cebethamus, an hundred thirite two: 19 the +children of Crearpatros, which are of Enocadie and Modia, foure hundred +twentie three: they of Gramas and Babea, an hundred twentie one. +20 They of Besselon, and Ceagge, sixtie fiue: they of Bastraro, an +hundred twentie two: 21 they of Bechenobes, fiftie fiue: the children +of Liptis, an hundred fiftie fiue: the children of Labonni, three +hundred fiftie seuen: 22 the children of Sichem, three hundred seuentie: +the children of Suadon, & Cliomus, three hundred seuentie eight: 23 the +children of Ericus, two thousand an hundred fourtie fiue: the children +of Anaas, three hundred seuentie. The priestes: 24 the children of +Ieddus, the sonne of Euther, the sonne of Eliasib, three hundred seuenty +two: the children of Emerus, two hundred fiftie two: 25 the children of +Phasurius, three hundred fiftie seuen the children of Caree, two hundred +twentie seuen. 26 The Leuites: The children of Iesus in Caduhel, and +Bamis, and Serebias, and Edias, seuentie foure, the whole number from the +twelfth yeare, thiritie thousand foure hundred sixtie two. 27 The +sonnes, and daughters, and wiues, the whole number, fourtie thousand two +hundred fourtie two. 28 The children of the Priestes, that sang in the +temple: the children of Asaph, an hundred twentie eight. 29 And the +porters: the children of Esmeni, the children of Azer, the children of +Amon, the children of Accuba, of Topa, the children of Tobi, al an +hundred thirtie nine. 30 Priestes that serued in the temple: the +children of Sel, the children of Gaspha, the children of Tobloch, the +children of Caria, the children of Su, the children of Hellu, the +children of Lobana, the children of Armacha, the children of Accub, the +children of Vtha, the children of Cetha, the children of Aggab, the +children of Obai, the children of Anani, the children of Canna, the +children of Geddu, 31 the children or An, the children of Radin, the +children of Desanon, the children of Nachoba, the children of Caseba, the +children of Gaze, the children of Ozui, the children of Sinone, the +children of Attre, the children of Hasten, the children of Asiana, the +children of Manei, the children of Nasissim, the children of Acusu, the +children of Agista, the children of Azui, the children of Fauon, the +children of Phasalon, 32 the children of Meedda, the children of Phusa, +the children of Caree, the children of Burcus, the children of Saree, the +children of Coesi, the children of Nasith, the children of Agisti, the +children of Pedon. 33 Salomon his children, the children of Asophot, the +children of Phasida, the children of Celi, the children of Dedon, the +children of Gaddehel, the children of Sephegi, 34 the children of Aggia, +the children of Sachareth, the children of Sabathen, the children of +Caroneth, the children of Malsith, the children of Ama, the children of +Sasus, the children of Addus, the children of Suba, the children of Eura, +the children of Rahotis, the children of Phasphat, the children of +Malmon. 35 Al that serued the sanctuarie, and the seruantes of Salomon, +foure hundred eightie two. 36 These are the children that came vp from +Thelmela, Thelharsa: the princes of them, Carmellam, and Careth: 37 and +they could not declare their cities, and their progenies, how they are of +Israel. The children of Dalari, the children of Tubal, the children of +Nechodaici, 38 of the Priestes, that did the function of priesthood: and +there were not found the children of Obia, the children of Achisos, the +children of Addin, who tooke a wife of the daughters of Pargeleu: 39 and +they were called by his name, and the writing of the kinred of these was +sought in the register, and it was not found, and they were forbid to doe +the function of priesthood. 40 And Nehemias and Astharus sayd to them: +Let not the holie thinges be participated, til there arise a hiegh priest +lerned for declaration and truth. 41 And al Israel was beside men +seruantes, and wemen seruantes, fourtie two thousand three hundred +fourtie. 42 Their men seruantes and wemen seruantes, seuen thousand +three hundred thirtie seuen. Singing men and singing wemen, two hundred +three score fiue. 43 Camels, foure hundred thiritie fiue. Horses, seuen +thousand thirtie six. Mules, two hundred thousand fourtie fiue. Beastes +vnder yoke, fiue thousand twentie fiue. 44 And of the rulers themselues +by their villages, when they came into the temple of God, which was in +Ierusalem, to renew and raise vp the temple in his place, according to +their power: 45 and to be geuen into the temple to the sacred treasure +of the workes, of gold twelue thousand mnas, and fiue thousand mnas of +siluer, and stoles for Priestes an hundred. 46 And the Priestes and +Leuites, and they that came out of the people, dwelt in Ierusalem, and in +the countrie, and the sacred singingmen, and porters, and al Israel in +their countries. 47 And the seuenth moneth being at hand, and when the +children of Israel were euerie man in his owne affayres, they came +together with one minde into the court, that was before the east gate. +(1 Esd 3:1) 48 And Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren the +priestes: Zorobabel the sonne of Salathiel, and his brethren standing +vp, prepared an altar, 49 that they might offer vpon it holocaustes, +according to the thinges that are writen in the booke of Moyses the man +of God. 50 And there assembled there of other nations of the land, and +al the nations of the land erected the altar in his place, and they +offered hostes, and morning holocaustes to our Lord. 51 And they +celebrated the feast of Tabernacles, and the solemne day, as it is +commanded in the lawe: and sacrifices dayly, as it behoued: 52 and +after these the appointed oblations, and the hostes of the sabbathes, and +of the newmoones, and of al the solemne sanctified dayes. 53 And as +manie as vowed to our Lord from the new moone of the seuenth moneth, +began to offer the hostes to God, and the temple of our Lord was not yet +built. 54 And they gaue monie to the masones and workemen, and drinke +and victuals with ioy. 55 And they gaue cartes to the Sidonians, and +Tyrianes, that with them they should carie ceder beames from Lybanus, and +should make boates in the hauen Ioppe, according to the decre that was +writen for them by Cyrus king of the Persians. 56 And in the second +yeare coming into the temple of God in Ierusalem, in the second moneth +began Zorobel the sonne of Salathiel, and Iosue the sonne of Iosedec, and +their bretheren, and the Priestes and Leuites, and al that were come from +the captiuitie into Ierusalem. 57 and they founded the temple of God in +the newmoone of the second moneth of the second yeare, after that they +came into Iurie and Ierusalem. 58 And they appoynted the Leuites from +twentie yeares, ouer the workes of our Lord: and Iesus stood and his +sonne, and the bretheren, al Leuites ioyning together, & executors of the +lawe, doing the workes in the house of our Lord. 59 And al the Priestes +stood, hauing stoles with trumpettes: 60 and Leuites the children of +Asaph, hauing cymbals together praysing our Lord, and blessing him +according to Dauid king of Israel. 61 And they song a song to our Lord, +because his sweetenes, and honour is for euer vpon Israel. 62 And al the +people sounded with trumpet, and cried out with a loud voice, praysing +our Lord in the raysing vp of the house of our Lord. 63 And there came +of the Priestes and Leuites, and presidentes by their villages the more +ancientes, which had sene the old house: 64 and to the building of this +with crie and great lamentation, and manie with trumpettes and great ioy: +65 in so much that the people heard not the trumpettes for the +lamentatinon of the people. For the multitude was sounding with +trumpettes magnifically, so that it was heard far of. 66 And the enimes +of the tribe of Iuda, and Beniamin heard it, and they came to knowe what +the voyce of the trumpettes was: 67 And they knew that they which were +of the captiuitie doe build a temple to our Lord the God of Israel. +68 And coming to Zorobabel & Iesus, the ouerseers of the villages, they +sayd to them: We will build together with you: (1 Esd 4:2) 69 For we +haue in like maner heard your Lord, & we walke like from the dayes of +Asbazareth king of the Assyrians, who transported vs hither. 70 And +Zorobabel, and Iesus, & the princes of the villages of Israel, sayd to +them: 71 It is not for vs and you to build the house of our God. For we +alone wil build to our Lord of Israel according as Cyrus the king of the +Persians hath commanded. 72 And the nations of the land lying vpon them +that are in Iurie, and lifting vp the worke of the building, and bringing +ambushmentes, and peoples, prohibited them to build. 73 and practising +assaultes hindred them, that the building might not be finished al the +time of the life of king Cyrus, and they differred the building for two +yeares vntil the reigne of Darius. + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +The Iewes by assistance of king Darius build vp the Temple in Ierusalem. + +AND in the second yeare of the reigne of Darius prophecied Aggeus, and +Zacharias the sonne of Addo the prophet to Iurie and Ierusalem in the +name of God of Israel vpon them. (1 Esd 5:1) 2 Then Zorobabel the sonne +of Salathiel standing vp, and Iesus the sonne of Iosedec begane to build +the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem. 3 When the prophetes of +our Lord were present with them, and did helpe them. At the same time +came Sisennes to them, the deputie of Syria, and of Phenice, and +Satrabuzanes, and his felowes: 4 and they sayd to them: By whose +commandment, build ye this house, and this roofe, and perfite al other +thinges? And who are the workmen that build these thinges? 5 And the +ancientes of the Iewes, which were left of the captiuitie by our Lord, +had fauoure when the visitation was made vpon them. 6 And they were not +hindered from building, til it was signified to Darius of al these +thinges, and answer was receiued. 7 A copie of the letter, which they +sent to Darius. SISENNES deputie of Syria and Phenice, and Satrabuzanes, +and his felowes in Syria and Phenice presidents, to king Darius +greetings: 8 Be al thinges knowen to our Lord the king, that when we +came into the countrie of Iurie, and had entered into Ierusalem, we found +them building the great house of God. 9 And the temple of polished +stones, and of great and precious matter in the walles. 10 And the +workes to be a doing earnestly, and to succede, and prosper in their +handes, and in al glorie to be perfited most diligently. 11 Then we +asked the ancients saying, by whose permission build ye this house, & +found these workes? 12 And therfore we asked them, that we might doe +thee to know the men & the ouerseers, and we required of them a rolle of +the names of the ouerseers. 13 But they answered vs saying: We are the +seruantes of the Lord, which made heauen and earth. 14 And this house +was built these manie yeares past by a king of Israel, that was great and +most valiant, and was finished. 15 And because our fathers were +prouoking to wrath, and sinned agaynst God of Israel, he deliuered them +into the handes of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, king of the +Chaldees. 16 And throwing downe this house they burnt it, and they led +the people captiue into Babylon. 17 In the first yeare when Cyrus +reigned the king of Babylon, Cyrus the king wrote to build this house. +18 And these sacred vessels of gold and siluer which Nabuchodonosor had +taken out of the house which is in Ierusalem, and had consecrated them in +his owne temple, Cyrus brought them forth agayne out of the temple which +was in Babylon, and they were deliuered to Zorobabel, & to Salmanasar the +deputie. 19 And it was commanded them that they should offer these +vessels, & lay them vp in the temple, which was in Ierusalem, and build +the temple of God itself in his place. 20 Then did Salmanasar lay the +fundations of the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem: and from +that time vntil now it is a building, and is not accomplished. 21 Now +therfore if thou thincke it good o king, let it be sought in the kings +liberaries of Cyrus the king, which are in Babylon: 22 and if it shal be +found, that the building of the house of the Lord, which is in Ierusalem, +begane by the counsel of Cyrus the king, and it be thought good of our +Lord the king, let him write to vs of these thinges. 23 Then Darius the +king commanded search to be made in the libraries: and there was found +in Ecbatana a towne that is in the countrie of Media, one place wherin +were writen these wordes: (1 Esd 6:1) 24 IN THE FIRST YEARE of the +reigne of Cyrus, king Cyrus commanded to build the house of the Lord +which is in Ierusalem, where they did burne incense with dayly fire, +25 the height wherof shal be of ten cubits, & the bredth three score +cubites, foure square with three stones polished, and with a loft galerie +of wood of the same countrie, & one new galerie, and the expenses to be +geuen out of the house of Cyrus the king. 26 And the sacred vesseles of +the house of the Lord, as wel of gold as of siluer, which Nabuchodonosor +tooke from the house of our Lord, which is in Ierusalem where they were +layed, that they be put there: 27 And he commanded Sisennes the deputie +of Syria & Phoenice, and Satrabuzanes, and his felowes & them that were +ordayned presidentes in Syria & Phoenice, that they should refraine +themselues from that place. 28 And I also haue geuen commandment to +build it wholly: and haue prouided, that they helpe them, which are of +the captiuitie of the Iewes, til the temple of the house of the Lord be +accomplished. 29 And from the vexation of the tributes of Coelesyria & +Phoenice, a quantitie to be geuen diligently to these men for the +sacrifice of the Lord, to Zorobabel the gouernour, for oxen, and rammes, +and lambes. 30 And in like maner corne also, and salt, and wine, and +oyle continually yeare by yeare, according as the priestes which are in +Ierusalem, haue prescribed to be spent dayly: 31 that libamentes may be +offered to the most high God for the king & his children, & that they may +pray for their life. 32 And that it be denounced, that whosoeuer shal +transgresse anie thing of these which are writen, or shal despise it, a +beame be taken of theyr owne, & they be hanged, & their goodes be +confiscate to the king. 33 Therfore the Lord also, whose name is +inuocated there, destroy euery king & nation, that shal extend their hand +to hinder or to handle il the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem. +34 I Darius the king haue decreed that it be most diligently done +according to these thinges. + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +The house of God is finished, 7. and dedicated, 10. the feast of Pasch is +also celebrated seuen dayes with Azimes. + +THEN Sisennes the deputie of Coelesyria, and Phaenice, and Satrabuzames, +and their felowes, obeying those thinges which were decreed of Darius the +king, (1 Esd 6:13) 2 applied the sacred workes most diligently, working +together with the ancientes of the Iewes, the princes of Syria. 3 And +the sacred workes prospered, Aggeus & Zacharias the prophetes +prophecying. 4 And they accomplished al thinges by the precept of our +Lord the God of Israel, and by the counsel of Cyrus, & Darius, and +Artaxerxes the king of the Persians. 5 And our house was a finishing +vntil the three and twentith day of the moneth of Adar, the sixth yeare +of Darius the king. 6 And the children of Israel, and the Priestes and +Leuites, and the rest that were of the captiuitie, which were added did +according to those thinges that are written in the booke of Moyses. +7 And they offered for the dedication of the temple of our Lord, oxen an +hundred, rammes two hundred, lambes foure hundred. 8 And kiddes for the +sinnes of al Israel, twelue, according to the number of the tribes of +Israel. 9 And the Priestes and Leuites stood clothed with stoles by +tribes, ouer al the workes of our Lord the God of Israel, according to +the booke of Moyses, and the porters at euerie gate. 10 And the children +of Israel, wih them that were of the captiuitie celebrated the phase of +the fourtenth moone of the first moneth, when the Priestes and Leuites +were sanctified. 11 Al the children of the captiuitie were not +sanctified together, because al the Leuites were sanctified together. +12 And al the children of the captuitie immolated the phase, both for +their brethren the Priestes, and for them selues. 13 And the children of +Israel did eate, they that were of the captiuitie al that remayned apart +from al the abominations of the nations of the land seeking our Lord. +14 And they celebrated the festiual day of Azymes seuen dayes feasting in +the sight of our Lord. 15 Because he turned the counsel of the king of +the Assirians toward them, to strengthen their handes to the workes of +our Lord the God of Israel. + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +Esdras going from Babylon to Ierusalem, 9. carieth king Artaxerxes +fauourable letters, 14. with licence to take gold, siluer, and al thinges +necessarie at their pleasure. 31. The chief men that goe with him are +recited. 51. He voweth a fast praying for good success in their iorney. +56. weigheth the gold and siluer, which he deliuereth to the Priestes, +and Leuites. 69. And seuerely admonisheth the people to repentance, for +their mariages made with infideles. + +AND after him when Artaxerxes king of the Persians reigned, came Esdras +the sonne of Azarias, the sonne of Helcias the sonne of Salome, +(1 Esd 7:1) 2 the sonne of Sadoc, the sonne of Achitob, the sonne of +Ameri, the sonne of Azahel, the sonne of Bocci, the sonne of Abisue, the +sonne of Phinees the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the first +priest. 3 This Esdras came vp from Babylon being scribe & wise in the +law of Moyses, which was geuen of our Lord the God of Israel to teach and +to doe. 4 And the king gaue him glorie, because he had found grace in al +dignitie and desire in his sight. 5 And there went vp with him of the +children of Israel, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, and the sacred +singers of the temple, and the porters, and the seuantes of the temple +into Ierusalem. 6 In the seuenth yeare when Artaxerxes reigned in the +fifth moneth, this is the seuenth yeare of his reigne, going forth of +Babylon in the newmoone of the fifth moneth, 7 they came to Ierusalem +according to his commandment, according to the prosperitie of their +iourney, which their Lord gaue them. 8 For in these Esdras had great +knowlege, that he would not pretermitte anie of those thinges, which were +according to the law, and the preceptes of our Lord, and in teaching al +Israel al iusticie and iudgement. 9 And they that wrote the writinges of +Araxerxes the king, coming deliuered the writing which was granted of +Artaxerxes the king to Esdras the Priest, & the reader of the law of our +Lord, the copie wherof here foloweth. 10 KING Artaxerxes to Esdras the +Priest, and reader of the law of the Lord, greeting. 11 I of curtesie +esteming it among benifites, haue commanded them that of their owne +accord are desirous of the nation of the Iewes, and of the Priestes and +Leuites, which are in my kingdom, to goe with thee into Ierusalem. 12 If +anie therfore desire to goe with thee, let them come together, and set +forward as it hath pleased me, and my seuen freindes my counselers: +13 that they may visite those thinges which are done touching Iurie and +Ierusalem, obseruing as thou hast in the law of the Lord. 14 And let +them carie the giftes to the Lord the God of Israel, which I haue vowed +and my freindes to Ierusalem, and al the gold and siluer, that shal be +found in the countrie of Babylon to the Lord in Ierusalem, with that, +15 which is geuen for the nation it self vnto the temple of their Lord +which is in Ierusalem: that this gold and siluer be gathered for oxen, +and rammes, and lambes, and kiddes, and for the thinges that are agreable +to these, 16 that they may offer hostes to the Lord vpon the altar of +their Lord, which is in Ierusalem. 17 And al thinges whatsoeuer thou +with thy brethren wilt doe with gold and siluer, doe it at thy pleasure +according to the precept of the Lord thy God. 18 And the sacred vessels, +which are geuen thee to the workes of the house of the Lord thy God, +which is in Ierusalem. 19 And other thinges whatsoeuer shal helpe thee +to the workes of the temple of thy God, thou shalt geue it out of the +kings treasure. 20 When thou with thy brethren wilt doe ought with gold +and siluer, doe according to the wil of the Lord. 21 And I king +Artaxerxes haue geuen commandment to the keepers of the treasure of Syria +and Phaenice, that what thinges soeuer Esdras the Priest and reader of +the law of the Lord, shal write for, they geue him vnto an hundred +talentes of siluer, likewise also of gold. 22 And vnto an hundred +measures of corne, & an hundred vessels of wine, and other thinges +whatsoeuer abound without taxing. 23 Let al thinges be done to the most +high God according to the law of God, lest perhaps there arise wrath in +the reigne of the king, and of his sonne, and his sonnes. 24 And to you +it is sayd, that vpon al the Priestes, and Leuites, and sacred singers, +and seruantes of the temple, & scribes of this temple 25 no tribute, nor +any other taxe be sette, and that no man haue auctoritie to obiect any +thing to them. 26 But thou Esdras according to the wisedom of God +appoynt iudges, and arbitrers in al Syria and Phaenice: and teach al +them that know no the law of thy God: 27 that whosoeuer shal transgresse +the law, they be diligently punished either with death, or with torment, +or els with a forfeite of money, or with banishment. 28 And Esdras the +scribe sayd: Blessed be the God of our fathers, which hath geuen this +wil into the kings hart, to glorifie his house, which is in Ierusalem. +29 And hath honoured me in the sight of the king, and of his counselers, +and freindes, and them that weare purple. 30 And I was made constant in +minde according to the ayde of our Lord my God, and gathered together of +Israel men, that should goe vp together with me. 31 And these are the +princes according to their kindredes, and seueral principalities of them +that came vp from Babylon the kingdom of Artaxerxes. (1 Esd 8:1) 32 Of +the children of Phares, Gerfomus: and of the children of Siemarith, +Amenus: of the children of Dauid, Acchus the sonne of Scecilia: 33 Of +the children of Phares, Zacharias, and with him returned an hundred +fiftie men. 34 Of the children of leader Moabilion, Zaraei, and with him +two hundred fiftie men: 35 Of the children of Zachues, Iechonias of +Zechoel, and with him two hundred fiftie men: 36 of the children of +Sala, Maasias of Gotholia, & with him seuentie men: 37 of the children +of Saphatia, Zarias of Michel, and with him eightie men: 38 of the +children of Iob, Abdias of Iehel, and with him two hundred twelue men: +39 of the children of Bania, Salimoth, the sonne of Iosaphia, and with +him an hundred sixtie men: 40 of the children of Beer, Zacharias Bebei, +and with him two hundred eight men: 41 of the children of Ezead, Ioannes +of Eccetan, and with him an hundred ten men: 42 of the children of +Adonicam, which were last, and these are their names, Eliphalam the sonne +of Gebel, and Semeias, and with him seuentie men. 43 And I gathered them +together to the riuer that is called Thia, and we camped there three +dayes, and vewed them againe. 44 And of the children of the Priestes and +Leuites I found not there. 45 And I sent to Eleazarus, and Eccelon, and +Masman, and Maloban, and Enaathan, and Samea, and Ioribum, Nathan, +Enuaugam, Zacharias, and Mosolam the leaders them selues, and that were +skilful. 46 And I sayd to them that they should come to Loddeus, who was +at the place of the treasurie. 47 And I commanded them to say to +Loddeus, and his brethren, and to them that were in the treasurie, that +they should send vs them that might doe the function of priesthood in the +house of the Lord our God. 48 And they brought vnto vs according to the +mightie hand of the Lord our God cunning men: of the children of Moholi, +the sonne of Leui, the sonne of Israel, Sebebia, & his sonnes and +brethren, which were eightene: 49 Asbia, and Amin of the sonnes of the +children of Chananeus, and their children twentie men. 50 And of them +that serued the temple, whom Dauid gaue, and the princes themselues to +the ministerie of the Leuites of them that serued the temple, two hundred +twentie. Al their names were signified in writings. 51 And I vowed +there a fast to the yong men in the sight of God, that I might aske of +him a good iourney for vs, and them that were with vs, and for the +children, and the cattel because of ambushementes. 52 For I was ashamed +to aske of the king footemen and horsemen in my companie, to guard vs, +against our aduersaries. 53 For we sayd to the king that the power of +our Lord wil be with them that seeke him with al affection. 54 And +agayne we besought the Lord our God according to these thinges: whom +also we had propicious, and we obteyned of our God. 55 And I separated +of the rulers of the people, and of the Priestes of the temple, twelue +men, and Sedebia, and Asanna, and with them of their brethren ten men. +56 And I weyed to them the gold and siluer, and the vessels of the house +of our God perteyning to the Priestes, which the king had geuen, and his +counselers, and the princes, and al Israel. 57 And when I had weyed it, +I deliuered of siluer an hundred fiftie talentes, and siluer vessels of +an hundred talentes, and of gold an hundred talentes. 58 And of vessels +of gold seuen score and twelue brasen vessels good of shyning brasse, +resembling the forme of gold. 59 And I sayd to them: You are also +sanctified to our Lord, and the vessels be holie, and the gold and siluer +is vowed to our Lord the God of our fathers. 60 Watch and keepe, til you +deliuer them to some of the rulers of the people, and to the Priestes, +and Leuites, and to the princes of the cities of Israel in Ierusalem, in +the treasurie of the house of our God. 61 And those Priestes and Leuites +that receiued the gold and siluer and vessels, brought it to Ierusalem +into the temple of our Lord. 62 And we went forward from the riuer Thia, +the twelfth day of the first moneth, til we entred into Ierusalem. +63 And when the third day was come, in the fourth day the gold being +weyed, and the siluer, was deliuered in the house of the Lord our God, to +Marimoth Priest the sonne of Iori. 64 And with him was Eleazar the sonne +of Phinees: and with them were Iosadus the sonne of Iesus, and Medias, +and Banni the sonne of a Leuite, by number and weight al thinges. 65 And +the weight of them was writen the same houre. 66 And they that came out +of the captiuitie, offered sacrifice to our Lord the God of Israel, oxen +twelue, for al Israel, rammes eightie six, 67 lambes seuentie two, bucke +goates for sinne twelue, and for health twelue kyne, al for the sacrifice +of our Lord. 68 And they read againe the preceptes of the king to the +kinges officers, and to the deputies of Coelesyria, and Phoenice: and +they honored the nation, and the temple of our Lord. 69 And these +thinges being finished, the rulers came to me, saying: The stocke of +Isreal, and the princes, and the Priestes, and the Leuites, (1 Esd 9:1) +70 and the strange people, and nations of the land haue not separated +their vncleannes from the Chananeites, and Hetheites, and Pherezeites, +and Iebuseites, and Moobites, & AEgyptians, and Idumeians. 71 For they +are ioyned to their daughters both themselues, and their sonnes: and the +holie sede is mingled with the strange nations of the earth, and the +rulers and magistrates were partakers of that iniquitie from the +beginning of the reigne it self. 72 And forthwith as I heard these +thinges, I rent my garmentes and sacred tunike: and tearing the heares +of my head, and my beard, I sate sorowful and heauie. 73 And there +assembled to me mourning vpon this iniquitie, as manie as were then moued +by the word of our Lord the God of Israel, and I sate sad vntil the +euening sacrifice. 74 And I rising vp from fasting, hauing my garmentes +rent and the sacred tunike, kneeling, and stretching forth my handes to +our Lord, 75 I sayd: Lord I am confounded, and ashamed before thy face, +76 for our sinnes are multiplied ouer our heades, and our iniquities are +exalted euen to heauen. 77 Because from the times of our fathers we are +in great sinne vnto this day. 78 And for the sinnes of vs, and of our +fathers we haue bene deliuered with our brethren, and with our Priestes +to the kinges of the earth, into sword and captiuitie, and spoile with +confusion vnto this present day. 79 And now what a great thing is this +that mercie hath happened to vs from thee o Lord God, & leaue thou vnto +vs a roote, and a name in the place of thy sanctification, 80 to discouer +our light in the house of the Lord our God, to geue vs meate in al the +time of our bondage. 81 And when we serued, we were not forsaken of the +Lord our God: but he sette vs in fauour, appointing the kinges of the +Persians to geue us meate, 82 and to glorifie the temple of the Lord our +God, and to build the desolations of Sion, to geue vs stabilitie in +Iurie, and Ierusalem. 83 And now what say we Lord, hauing these thinges? +For we haue transgressed thy preceptes, which thou gauest into the handes +of thy seruantes the prophetes, 84 saying: That the land into which ye +entred to possesse the inheritance therof, is a land polluted with the +coinquinations of the strangers of the land, and their vncleanes hath +filled it wholy with their filthines. 85 And now your daughters you shal +not match with their sonnes, and their daughters you shal not take for +your sonnes. 86 And you shal not seeke to haue peace with them for euer, +that growing strong you may eate the best things of the land, and may +distribute the inheritance to your children for euer. 87 And the thinges +that happen to vs, al are done for our nauhtie workes, and our great +sinnes. 88 And thou gauest vs such a roote, and we are returned againe +to transgresse thy ordinances, that we would be mingled with the +vncleannes of the nations of this land. 89 Wilt not thou be wrath with +vs to destroy vs, til there be no roote left nor our name? 90 Lord God +of Israel thou art true. For there is a roote left vntil this present +day. 91 Behold, now we are in thy sight in our iniquities. For it is +not to stand any longer before thee in these matters. 92 And when Esdras +with adoration confessed weeping, lying flat on the ground before the +temple, there were gathered before him out of Ierusalem a verie great +multitude, men and wemen, and yong men and yong wemen. For there was +great weeping in the multitude it self. (1 Esd 10:1) 93 And when he had +cried, Iechonias of Ieheli of the children of Israel, sayd to Esdras: We +haue sinned against our Lord, for that we haue taken vnto vs in mariage +strange wemen of the nations of the land. 94 And now thou art ouer al +Israel, in these therfore let there be an othe from our Lord to expel al +our wiues that are of strangers with their children. 95 As it was +decreed to thee of the ancesters according to the law of our Lord, rising +vp declare it. 96 For to thee the busines perteineth, and we are with +thee: doe manfully. 97 And Esdras rysing vp adiured the princes of the +Priestes and Leuites, and al Israel to doe according to these thinges and +they sware. + + + +CHAP. IX. + + +Esdras fasting for the sinnes of the people, commandeth that they +separate al strange wemen from them. 18. The Priestes and Leuites, which +had offended herein, are recited. 38 He readeth the law before the +people: 48 certaine doe expound to the multitudes in seueral places. +52 And so they are dismissed with ioy. + +AND Esdras rysing vp from before the court of the temple, went into the +chamber of Ionathas the sonne of Nasabi. (1 Esd 10:6) 2 And lodging +there he tasted no bread, nor dranke water for the iniquitie of the +multitude. 3 And there was proclamation made in al Iurie, & in Ierusalem +to al that were of the captiuitie gathered in Ierusalem, 4 that whosoeuer +shal not appeare with in two or three dayes, according to the iudgement +of the ancients sitting vpon it, their goods should be taken away, and +himselfe should be iudged an alien from the multitude of the captiuitie. +5 And al were gathered that were of the tribe of Iuda, and of Beniamin +within three dayes in Ierusalem: this is the ninth moneth, the twentith +day of the moneth. 6 And al the multitude sate in the court of the +temple trembling, for the present winter. 7 And Esdras rysing vp sayd to +them: You haue done vnlawfully taking to you in mariage strang wiues, +that you might adde to the sinnes of Israel. 8 And now geue confession, +& magnificence to our Lord the God of our fathers: 9 and accomplish his +wil, and depart from the nations of the land, and from your wiues the +strangers. 10 And al the multitude cried, and they sayd with a lowde +voice: As thou hast sayd, we wil doe. 11 But because the multitude is +great, and winter time, and we can not stand in the ayre without succour: +and this is a worke for vs not of one day, nor of two, for we haue sinned +much in these thinges: 12 Let the rulers of the multitude stand, and +that dwel with vs, and as manie as haue with them forreine wiues, 13 and +at a time appointed let the priestes out of euerie place, and the iudges +assist, vntil they appeaze the wrath of our Lord concerning this busines. +14 And Ionathas the sonne of Ezeli, and Ozias of Thecam tooke vpon them +according to these wordes: and Bosoramus, and Leuis, and Sabbathaeus, +wrought together with them. 15 And al that were of the captiuitie stood +according to al these thinges. 16 And Esdras the priest chose vnto him +men the great princes of their fathers according to their names: & they +sate together in the newmoone of the tenth moneth to examine this +busines. 17 And they determined of the men that had outlandish wiues, +vntil the newmoone of the first moneth. 18 And there were found of the +priestes entermingled that had outlandish wiues. 19 Of the sonnes of +Iesus the sonne of Iosedec, and his brethren: Maseas, and Eleazarus, and +Ioribus, and Ioadeus, 20 and they put to their handes to expel their +wiues: and to offer a ramme to obtayne pardon for their ignorance. +21 And the sonnes of Semmeri: Maseas and Esses, Ieelech, and Azarias. +22 And of the children of Fofere: Limosias, Hismaenis, and Nathanee, +Iussio, Reddus, and Thalsas. 23 And of the Leuites: Iorabdus, and +Semeis, and Colnis, and Calitas, and Facteas, and Coluas, and Eliomas, +24 and of the sacred singing men, Eliasib, Zaccarus. 25 And of the +porters, Salumus, and Tolbanes. 26 And of Israel: of the sonnes of +Foro, Ozi, and Remias, and Geddias, & Melchias, and Michelus, Eleazarus, +and Iammebias, and Bannas. 27 And of the sonnes of Iolaman: Chamas, and +Zacharias, and Iezuelus, and Ioddius, and Erimoth, and Helias. 28 And of +the sonnes of Zathoim: Eliadas, and Liasumus, Zochias, and Larimoth, & +Zabdis, and Thebedias. 29 And of the sonnes of Zebes: Ioannes, and +Amanias, and Zabdias, and Emeus. 30 And of the sonnes of Banni: Olamus, +& Maluchus, and Ieddeus, and Iasub, and Azabus, & Ierimoth. 31 And of +the sonnes of Addin: Nathus, and Moosias, & Caleus, and Raanas, Maaseas, +Mathathias, and Beseel, and Bonnus, and Manasses. 32 And of the sonnes +of Nuae: Noneas, and Aseas, and Melchias, and Sameas, and Simon, +Beniamin, and Malchus, and Marras. 33 And of the sonnes of Asom: +Carianeus, Mathathias, & Bannus, & Eliphalach, and Manasses, and Semei. +34 And of the sonnes of Banni: Ieremias, and Moadias, and Abramus, & +Iohel, and Baneas, & Pelias, and Ionas, and Marimoth, & Eliasib, and +Matheneus, and Eliasis, and Orizas, and Dielus, and Semedius, & Zambris, +and Iosephus. 35 And of the sonnes of Nobei: Idelus, and Mathathias, +and Sabadus, and Zecheda, Zedmi, and Iessei, Baneas. 36 Al these maried +outlandish wiues, and did put them away with their children. 37 And the +Priestes and the Leuites, and they that were of Israel, dwelt in +Ierusalem, and in the whole countrie in the newmoone of the seuenth +moneth. And the children of Israel were in their habitations. 38 And al +the multitude was gathered together into the court, which is on the east +of the sacred gate: 39 and they sayd to Esdras the high priest, and +reader, that he should bring the law of Moyses, which was deliuered of +our Lord the God of Israel. 40 And Esdras the high priest brought the +law to al the multitude of them from man vnto woman, and to al the +priestes to heare the law in the newmoone of the seuenth moneth. 41 And +he read in the court, which is before the sacred gate of the temple, from +breake of day vntil euening before men and wemen. And they al gaue their +minde to the law. 42 And Esdras the priest, and reader of the law stoode +vpon a tribunal of wood, which was made. 43 And by him stood Mathathias, +and Samus, and Ananias, Azarias, Vrias, Ezechias, and Balsamus on the +right hand, 44 and on the left Faldeus, Misael, Malachias, Ambusthas, +Sabus, Nabadias, and Zacharias. 45 And Esdras tooke the booke before al +the multitude: for he was chiefe in glorie in the sight of al. 46 And +when he had ended the law, they stood al vpright: and Esdras blessed our +Lord the most high God, the God of Sabaoth omnipotent. 47 And al the +people answered: Amen. And lifting vp their handes falling on the +ground, they adored our Lord. 48 Iesus and Banaeus, and Sarebias, and +Iaddimus, and Accubus, and Sabbathaeus, and Calithes, & Azarias, and +Ioradus, and Ananias, and Philias Leuites, 49 who taught the law of our +Lord, and read the same in the multitude, & euerie one preferred them +that vnderstood the lesson. 50 And Atharathes sayd to Esdras the high +priest and the reader, and to the Leuites, that taught the multitude, +51 saying: This day is sancitified to our Lord. And they al wept, when +they had heard the law. 52 And Esdras sayd, departing therfore eate ye +al the fattest thinges, & drinke al most swete things, and send giftes to +them that haue not. 53 For this is the holy day of our Lord, & be not +sad. For our Lord wil glorifie you. 54 And the Leuites denounced openly +to al, saying: This day is holie, be not sad. 55 And they went al to +eate, and drinke, and make merie, and to geue giftes to them that had +not, that they might make merie, for they were excedingly exalted with +the wordes that they were taught. 56 And they were al gathered in +Ierusalem to celebrate the ioy, according to the testament of our Lord +the God of Israel. + + + + +THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF ESDRAS. + + + +CHAP. I. + + +Esdras is sent to expostulate with the vngratful Iewes for neglecting +Gods manie great benefites. + +THE second book of Esdras the prophet, the sonne of Sarei, the sonne of +Azarei, the sonne of Helcias, the sonne of Sadanias, the sonne of Sadoch, +the sonne of Achitob, (1 Esd 7:1) 2 the sonne of Achias, the sonne of +Phinees, the sonne of Heli, the sonne of Amerias, the sonne of Asiel, the +sonne of Marimoth, the sonne of Arna, the sonne of Ozias, the sonne of +Borith, the sonne of Abisei, the sonne of Phinees, the sonne of Eleazar, +3 the sonne of Aaron of the tribe of Leui; who was captiue in the +countrie of the Medes, in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of the Persians. +4 And the word of our Lord came to me, saying: 5 Goe, and tel my people +their wicked deedes, and their children the iniquities, that they haue +done against me, that they may tel their childrens children: 6 because +the sinnes of their parentes are increased in them, for they being +forgetful of me haue sacrified to strange goddes. 7 Did not I bring them +out of the land of AEgypt from the house of bondage? But they haue +prouoked me, & haue despised my counsels. 8 But doe thou shake of the +heare of thy head, and throw al euils vpon them: because they haue not +obeyed my law. And it is a people without discipline. 9 How long shal I +beare with them, on whom I haue bestowed so great benefiates? 10 I haue +ouer throwen manie kinges from them. I haue stroke Pharao with his +seruantes, and al his hoste. (Ex 14) 11 Al nations did I destroy before +their face, & in the East I dissipated the peoples of two prouinces Tyre +and Sidon, and I slew al their aduersaries. 12 But speake thou to them, +saying: Thus sayth our Lord: 13 I made you passe through the sea, and +gaue you fensed streates from the beginning. I gaue you Moyses for your +gouernour, and Aaron for the Priest: 14 I gaue you light by the piller +of fire, & did manie meruelous things among you: but you haue forgotten +me, sayth our Lord. (Ex 13) 15 Thus sayth our Lord omnipotent: The +quayle was a signe to you, I gaue you a campe for defense, and there you +murmured: 16 And you triumphed not in my name for the destruction of +your enemies, but yet vntil now you haue murmured. (Ex 16) 17 Where +are the benefites, that I haue geuen you? Did you not crie out to me +when you were hungrie in the desert, 18 saying: Why hast thou brought vs +into this desert to kil vs? it had bene better for vs to serue the +AEgyptians, then to dye in this desert. (Num 14) 19 I was sorie for +your mournings, & gaue you manna to eate. You did eate bread of Angels. +(Ex 16 / Wis 16:20) 20 When you thirsted did not I cleaue the rocke, & +waters flowed in abundance? for the heates I couered you with the leaues +of trees. 21 I deliuered vnto you fatte landes: The Chananeites, and +Pherezeites, and Philistheans I threw out from your face: what shal I +yet doe to you, sayth our Lord? (Isa 9:4) 22 Thus sayth our Lord +omnipotent: In the desert when you were thirstie in the riuer of the +Amorrheites, and blasphemeing my name, (Ex 15:25) 23 I gaue you not fire +for blasphemies, but casting wood into the water, I made the riuer swete. +24 What shal I doe to thee Iacob? Thou wouldest not obey o Iuda. I wil +transferre my self to other nations, and wil geue them my name, that they +may keepe my ordinances. (Ex 32) 25 Because you haue forsaken me, I +aslo forsake you: when you aske mercie of me, I wil not haue mercie. +(Isa 1:15) 26 When you shal inuocate me, I wil not heare you. For you +haue defiled your handes with bloud, and your fete are quicke to commit +murders. 27 Not as though you haue forsaken me, but yourselues, sayth +our Lord. 28 Thus saith our Lord omnipotent, haue not I desired you, as +a father his sonnes, and a mother her daughters, and as a nurce her litle +ones, 29 that you would be my people, and I your God, and to me for +children, and I to you for a father? 30 So haue I gathered you, as the +henne her chickenes vnder her winges. But now what shal I doe to you? I +wil throw you from my face. (Matt 23:37) 31 When you shal bring me +oblation, I wil turne away my face from you. (Isa 66:5) For I haue +refused your festiual dayes, & newmoones, and circumcisions. 32 I sent +my seruantes the prophetes to you, whom being taken you slew, and mangled +their bodies, whose bloud I wil require, sayth our Lord. 33 Thus sayth +our Lord omnipotent, your house is made desolate, I wil throw you away, +as the winde doth stubble, 34 and your children shal not haue issue: +because they haue neglected my commandment, and haue done that which is +euil before me. 35 I wil deliuer your houses to a people comming, who +not hearing me do beleue: to whom I haue not shewed signes, they wil do +the thinges that I haue commanded. 36 The prophetes they haue not sene, +and they wil be mindful of their iniquities. 37 I cal to witnes the +grace of the people comming, whose litle ones reioyce with ioy, not seing +me with their carnal eyes, but in spirit beleuing the thinges that I haue +sayd. 38 And now brother behold what glorie: and see people comming +from the east, 39 to whom I wil geue the conduction of Abraham, Isaac, +and Iacob, and of Osee, and Amos, and of Ioel, and Abdias, and Ionas, and +Michaeas, 40 and Naum and Habacuc, of Sophonias, Aggaeus, Zacharias, and +Malachias, who also is called the Angel of our Lord. (Mal 3:1) + + + +CHAP. II. + + +The Synagogue expostulateth with her children for their ingratitude; +10. shewing that they shal be forsaken, and the gentiles called. + +THVS saith our Lord: I brought this people out of bondage, to whom I +gaue commandment by my seruantes the Prophetes, whom they would not +heare, but made my counsel frustrate. 2 Their mother that bare them, +sayth to them: Goe children, because I am a wydow and forsaken. 3 I +brought you vp with ioy, & haue lost you with mourning & sorow, because +you haue sinned before our Lord your God, & haue done that which is euil +before him. 4 But now what shal I doe to you? I am a wydow and +desolote, goe my children, & aske mercie of our Lord. 5 And I cal thee o +father a witnes vpon the mother of the children, that would not keepe my +testament, 6 that thou geue them confusion, & their mother into spoile, +that there be no generation of them. 7 Let their names be dispersed into +the Gentiles, let them be destroyed out of the land: because they haue +despised my sacrament. 8 Woe be to thee Assur, which hidest the wicked +with thee. Thou naughtie nation, remember what I did to Sodom & +Gomorrha: (Gen 19:24) 9 whose land lieth in cloddes of pitch, & heapes +of ashes: so wil I make them, that haue not heard me, saith our Lord +omnipotent. 10 Thus saith our Lord to Esdras: Tel my pople, that I wil +geue them the kingdom of Ierusalem, which I ment to geue to Isreal. +11 And I wil take to me the glorie of them, and wil geue them eternal +tabernacles, which I had prepared for them. 12 The wood of life shal be +to them for an odour of oyntment, and they shal not labour, nor be +wearied. 13 Goe & you shal receiue. Aske for your selues a few dayes, +that they may abide. Now the kingdom is prepared for you, watch ye. +14 Cal thou heauen and earth to witnes: for I haue destroyed euil, and +haue created good, because I liue sayth our Lord. 15 Mother embrace thy +children, bring them vp with ioy. As a doue confirme their feete: +because I haue chosen thee, sayth our Lord. 16 And I wil raise againe +the dead out of their places, and out of the monumentes I wil bring them +forth, because I haue knowen my name in Israel. 17 Feare not o mother of +the children, because I haue chosen thee, saith our Lord. 18 I wil send +thee ayde, my seruantes I saie, and Ieremie, at whose counsel I haue +sanctified, and prepared for thee tweleue trees loden with diuerse +fruites, 19 and as manie fountaines flowing milke and honie: and seuen +huge mountaines, hauing the rose and the lilie, in the which I wil fil +thy children with ioy. (Ex 15:27) 20 Iustifie thou the widow, iudge for +the pupil, geue to the needie, defend the orphane, cloth the naked, +21 cure the broken & feeble, mocke not the lame, defend the maimed, and +admitte the blind to the vision of my glorie. 22 The old man & the yong +keepe with in thy walles: 23 where thou shalt finde the dead, committe +them to the graue signing it, & I wil geue thee the first seate in my +resurrection. (Tob 1:20) 24 Pause and rest my people, because thy rest +shal come. 25 As a good nurce nourish thy children, confirme their +feete. 26 The seruantes that I haue geuen thee, none of them shal +perish. For I wil require them of thy number. 27 Be not wearied. For +when the day of affliction and distresse shal come, others shal weepe, +and be sad, but thou shalt be merie and plenteous. 28 The gentiles shal +enuie, and shal be able to doe nothing against thee, sayth our Lord. +29 My handes shal couer thee, that thy children see not hel. 30 Be +pleasant thou mother with thy children, because I wil deliuer thee sayth +our Lord. 31 Remember thy children that sleepe, for I wil bring them out +of the sides of the earth, & wil doe mercie with them: because I am +merciful, sayth our Lord omnipotent. 32 Embrace thy children til I come, +& shew them mercie: because my fountaines runne ouer, and my grace shal +not faile. 33 I Esdras receiued commandment of our Lord, in mount Oreb; +that I should goe to Israel: to whom when I came, they refused me, and +reiected the commandement of our Lord. 34 And therfore, I say vnto you +gentiles, which heare, and vnderstand, Looke for your pastor, he wil geue +you the rest of eternitie: because he is at hand, that shal come in the +end of the world. 35 Be ye readie for the rewardes of the kingdom, +because perpetual light shal shine to you for time euerlasting. 36 Flee +from the shadow of this world: receiue ye the pleasantnes of your +glorie. I openly cal to witnes my sauiour. 37 Receiue the commended +gift and be pleasant, geuing thankes to him that called you to the +heauenlie kingdomes. 38 Arise, & stand & see the number of them that are +signed in the feast of our Lord. 39 They that haue transferred them +selues from the shadow of the world, haue receiued glorious garmentes of +our Lord. 40 Receiue o Sion thy number, and shut vp thyne made white, +which haue accomplished the law of our Lord. 41 The number of thy +children, which thou didst wish is ful. Desire the powre of our Lord +that thy people may be sanctified, which was called from the beginning. +42 I Esdras saw in mount Sion a great multiude, which I could not number, +and they did al prayse our Lord with songes. (Apoc 7:9) 43 And in the +middes of them was a young man high of stature, appearing aboue ouer them +al, & he put crownes vpon euerie one of their heades, and he was more +exalted. And I was astonied at the miracle. 44 Then asked I an Angel, +and sayd: Who are these Lord? 45 Who answering sayd to me: These are +they that haue laid of the mortal garment, and taken an immortal, and +haue confessed the name of God. Now they are crowned, and receiue +palmes. 46 And I sayd to the Angel: That yongman what is he, which +putteth the crownes vpon them, and geueth palmes into their handes? +47 And answering he sayd to me: The same is the Sonne of God, whom they +did confesse in the world: & I begane to magnifie them, that stood +strongly for the name of our Lord. 48 Then sayd the Angel to me: Goe, +tel my people, what maner of meruelous thinges and how great, thou hast +sene of the Lord God. + + + +CHAP. III. + + +The workes of God are wonderful from the beginning, 7. and men vngrateful +13. In Abraham God chose to himself a peculiar people: who neuertheles +were froward, and obstinate. 23. He also chose Dauid, but stil the +people were sinful: 28. the Babylonians also, by whom the are afflicted, +are no lesse but rather greater sinners. + +IN the thirteth yeare of the ruine of the citie I was in Babylon, and was +trubled lying in my chamber, and my cogitations came vp ouer my hart: +2 because I saw the desolation of Sion, and the abundance of them that +dwelt in Babylon. 3 And my spirit was tossed excedingly, and I began to +speake to the highest timorous wordes, 4 and sayd: O Lord dominatour +thou spakest from the beginning, when thou didst plant the earth, and +that alone, and didst rule ouer the people, (Gen 1) 5 and gauest Adam a +dead bodie: but that also was the worke of thy handes, & didst breath +into him the spirit of life, and he was made to liue before thee: +(Gen 2:7) 6 and thou broughst him into paradise, which thy right hand +had planted, before the earth came. 7 And him thou didst command to loue +thy way, and he transgressed it, & forth with thou didst institute death +in him, and in his posteritie, and there were borne nations, and tribes, +and peoples, and kindreds, wherof there is no number. 8 And euerie +nation walked in their owne wil, & they did meruelous thinges before +thee, and despised thy preceptes. 9 And agane in time thou broughst in +the floud vpon inhabitantes of the world, and didst destroy them. +(Gen 7) 10 And there was made in euery one of them, as vnto Adam to dye, +so to them the floud, 11 But thou didst leaue one of them, Noe with his +house and of him were al the iust. 12 And it came to passe, when they +began to be multiplied, that dwelt vpon the earth, & multiplied children +and peoples and manie nations: and they begane againe to doe impietie +more then the former. 13 And it came to passe when they did iniquitie +before thee, thou didst choose thee a man of them whose name was Abraham. +14 And thou didst loue him and to him onlie thou didst shew thy wil. +(Gen 12) 15 And thou didst dispose vnto him an euerlasting testament, +and toldst him that thou wouldst neuer forsake his seede. And thou +gauest him Issac, and to Isaac thou gauest Iacob and Esau. 16 And Iacob +thou didst seuer to thy selfe, but Esau thou didst separate. And Iacob +grewe to a great multitude. 17 And it came to passe when thou didst +bring forth his sede out of AEgypt, thou broughst it vpon mount Sinai. +(Ex 19) 18 And thou didst bowe the heauens, and fasten the earth, and +didst shake the world, and madest the depthes to tremble, and trubledst +the world, 19 and thy glorie passed foure gates of fire, and of +earthquake, and winde, and frost, that thou mightst geue a law to the +seede of Iacob, and to the generation of Israel diligence. 20 And thou +didst not take away from them a malignant hart, that thy law might bring +forth fruite in them. 21 For Adam the first bearing a vicious hart +transgressed and was ouercome, yea and al that were borne of him. 22 And +it was made a permanent infirmitie, and the law with the hart of the +people, with the wickednes of the roote, and that which is good departed, +and the wicked remayned. 23 And the times passed, & the yeares were +ended: and thou didst raise vp vnto thee a seruant named Dauid, 24 and +spakest vnto him to build a citie of thy name, and to offer vnto thee in +it frankencense, and oblations. 25 And this was done manie yeares, and +they that inhabited the citie forsooke thee, 26 in al things as Adam and +al his generations. For they also vsed a wicked hart. 27 And thou didst +deliuer thy citie into the hands of thyne enimies. 28 Why, doe they +better thinges, that inhabite Babylon? And for this shal she rule ouer +Sion? (Jer 12) 29 It came to passe when I was come hither, and had sene +the impieties that can not be numbred: and my soul saw manie offending +this thirteth yeare, & my hart was astonied: 30 because I saw how thou +bearest with their sinne, and didst spare them that did impiously, and +didst destroy thine owne people, and preserue thine enimies, and didst +not signifie it. 31 I nothing remember how this way should be forsaken: +doth Babylon better thinges then Sion? 32 Or hath anie nation knowen +thee beside Israel: or what tribes haue beleued thy testamentes as +Iacob? 33 Whose reward hath not appeared, nor their labour fructified. +For passing through I passed among the nations, and I saw them abound, +and not mindeful of thy commandmentes. 34 Now therfore wey our +iniquities in a ballance, and theirs that dwel in the world: & thy name +shal not be found, but in Israel. 35 Or when haue not they sinned in thy +sight, that inhabite the earth? or what nation hath so obserued thy +commandmentes? 36 These certes by their names thou shalt finde to haue +kept thy commandments, but the nations thou shalt not finde. + + + +CHAP. IIII. + + +Mans witte and reason is not able to vnderstand the counsel and iudgement +of God, 22. why his people are afflicted by wicked nations, 33. nor of +times, and thinges to come. + +AND the Angel answered me, that was sent to me, whose name was Vriel, +2 and sayd to me: Thy hart exceding hath exceded in this world, & thou +thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest. 3 And I sayd: It is so +my Lord. And he answered me, & sayd: I am sent to shew thee three +wayes, & to propose to thee three similitudes. 4 Of the which if thou +shalt declare to me one of them, I also wil shew thee the way which thou +desirest to see, and wil teach thee whence a wicked hart is. 5 And I +sayd, Speak my Lord. And he sayd to me: Goe, wey me the weight of the +fire, or measure me the blast of the winde, or cal me backe the day that +is past. 6 And I answered, and sayd: what man borne can doe it, that +thou askest me of these thinges? 7 And he sayd to me: If I should aske +thee, saying: How great habitations are there in the hart of the sea, or +how great vaines be there in the beginning of the depth, or how great +vaines be there aboue the firmament, and what are the issues of paradise: +8 thou wouldest perhaps say to me: I haue not descended into the depth, +nor into hel as yet, neither haue I ascended at anie time into heauen. +9 But now I haue not asked thee, sauing of the fire, and the winde, and +the day by the which thou hast passed, and from the which thou canst not +be separated: and thou hast not answered me of them. 10 And he sayd to +me: Thou canst not know the thinges that are thine which grow together +with thee: 11 and how can thy vessel comprehend the way of the Highest, +and now the world being outwardly corrupted, vnderstand the corruption +euident in my sight: 12 I sayd to him: Better were it for vs not to be, +then yet liuing to liue in impieties, and to suffer, and not to +vnderstand for what thing. 13 And he answered me, & said: Going forth I +went forward to a wood of trees in the filde, and they deuised a deuise, +(Judges 9 / 2 Par 25) 14 and said: Come and let vs goe, and make warre +against the sea, that it may retyre backe before vs, and we may make vs +other woodes. 15 And in like maner the waues of the sea they also +deuised a deuise, and sayd: Come let vs goe vp, let vs ouerthrow the +woodes of the filde, that there also we may consummate an other countrie +for our selues. 16 And the woodes deuise was made vaine, for fire came, +and consumed it. 17 Likewise also the deuise of the waues of the sea. +For the sand stood, & stayed them. 18 For if thou wert iudge of these, +whom wouldest thou begin to iustifie, or whom to condemne? 19 And I +answered, and sayd: Verely they deuised a vayne deuise. For the earth +is geuen to the wood, and a place to the sea to carie her waues. 20 And +he answered me, and sayed: Thou hast iudged wel, and why hast thou not +iudged for thy self? 21 For as the earth is geuen to the wood, and the +sea for the waues therof: so they that inhabite vpon the earth, can +vnderstand onlie the thinges that are vpon the earth: and they vpon the +heauens, the thinges that are aboue the height of the heauens. 22 And I +answered, and sayd: I besech thee Lord, that sense may be geuen me to +vnderstand. 23 For I meant not to aske of thy superiour thinges, but of +those that passe by vs dayly. For what cause Israel is geuen into +reproche to the gentiles, the people whom thou hast loued, is geuen to +impious tribes, & the law of our fathers is brought to destruction, & the +written ordinances are no where: 24 and we haue passed out of the world, +as locustes, and our life is astonishment and dreade, and we are not +worthie to obtaine mercie. 25 But what wil he doe to his name that is +inuocated vpon vs? and of these thinges I did aske. 26 And he answered +me, and sayd: If thou search very much, thou shalt often meruail: +because the world hastening hasteneth to passe, 27 and can not comprehend +the thinges which in times to come are promised to the iust: because +this world is ful of iniustice and infirmities. 28 But conerning the +thinges that thou demandest I wil tel thee: for the euil is sowed, and +the destruction therof is not yet come. 29 If then that which is sowen +be not turned vp, and the place depart where the euil is sowen, that shal +not come where the good is sowen. 30 Because the grayne of il seede hath +bene sowen in the hart of Adam from the beginning: and how much impietie +hath it ingendered vntil now, and doth ingender vntil the floore come? +31 And esteme with thy self the graine of the il seede, how much fruite +of impietie it hath ingendred: 32 When the eares shal be cut, which are +innumerable, what a great floore wil they begin to make? 33 And I +answered, and sayd: How, and when shal these things be? why are our +yeares few and euil? 34 And he answered me, and sayd to me, Hasten not +aboue the Highest. For thou doest hasten in vaine to be aboue him, for +thy excesse is much. 35 Did not the soules of the iust in the cellars, +aske of these things, saying: How hope I so, and when shal the fruite +come of the floore of our reward? 36 And Ieremiel the Archangel answered +to those things, and sayd: When the number of the sedes in you shal be +filled, because he hath weyed the world in a balance, 37 and with a +measure hath he measured the times, and in number he hath numbered the +times, and hath not moued, nor stirred them, vntil the foresayd measure +be filled. 38 And I answered, and sayd: O Lord Dominatour, we also are +al ful of impietie. 39 And left perhaps for vs the floores of the iust +be not filled, for the sinnes of the inhabitantes vpon the earth. 40 And +he answered me, and sayd: Goe, and aske a woman with childe, if when +she hath accomplished her nine monethes, her wombe can yet hold the +infant within it? 41 And I sayd it can not Lord. And he sayd to me, in +hel the cellars of the soules are like to the matrice. 42 For as she +that is: In trauail maketh hast, to escape the necessitie of trauailing: +so this also hasteneth to render those thinges which are commended to it. +43 From the beginning it shal be shewed thee touching those thinges, +which thou doest couet to see. 44 And I answered, and sayd: If I haue +found grace before thine eyes, & if it be possible, and if I by fitte, +45 shew mee if there be more to come then is passed, or more things haue +passed, then are to come. 46 What passed, I know: but what is to come, +I know not. 47 And he sayd to me: Stand vpon the right side, and I wil +shew thee the interpretation of the similitude. 48 And I stood, and saw: +and behold a burning fornace passed before me, & it came to passe when +the flame passed, I saw: and behold the smoke ouercame. 49 And these +thinges there passed before me a clowd ful of water, and with violence +casting in much raine: and when the violence of raine was cast, the +droppes therin ouercame. 50 And he sayd to me: Thinke with thyself, as +the raine increaseth more then the droppes, and the fire then the smoke: +so did the measure that passed, more a bound. But the droppes, and the +smoke ouercame: 51 and I prayed, & sayd, shal I liue thinkest thou vntil +these dayes? or what shal be in those dayes? 52 He answered me, and +sayd: Of the signes wherof thou askest me, in part I can tel thee, +howbeit of thy life I was not sent to tel thee, neither doe I know. + + + +CHAP. V. + + +Diuers signes of thinges to come are shewed to Esdras by an Angel: +16. for the comforth of the people in captiuitie. + +BVT concerning signes: behold the dayes shal come, wherin they that +inhabite the earth shal be taken in a great number: and the way of truth +shal be hid: and the countrie shal be barren from fayth. 2 And +iniustice shal be multiplied aboue that which thy self seest, & aboue +that which thou hast heard in time past. (Matt 24) 3 And they shal put +their foote into the countrie which now thou seest to reigne, and they +shal see it desolate. 4 And if the Highest geue thee life, thou shalt +see after the third trumpet, and the sunne shal sodenly shine agayne in +the night, and the moone thrise in a day, 5 and out of wood bloud shal +distil, and the stone shal geue his voice, and the peoples shal be moued: +6 and he reigne, whom they hope not that inhabite vpon the earth, and +soules shal make their flight away. 7 & the sea of Sodom shal cast the +fishes, and shal make a noise in the night, which manie knew not, and al +shal heare the voice therof, 8 and there shal be made a confusion in +manie places, and the fire shal often be sent backe, and the sauage +beastes shal goe to other places, and wemen in their monethlie flowers +shal bring forth monsters, 9 and in swete waters shal salt waters be +found, and al frendes shal ouerthrow one an other: and then shal witte +be hid, and vnderstanding shal be separated into his cellar: 10 and it +shal be sought of manie, and shal not be found: and iniustice shal be +multiplied, and incontinencie vpon the earth. 11 And one countrie shal +aske her neighbour, and shal say: Hath iustice doing iust passed +throught thee? and she shal denie it. 12 And it shal be in that time, +men shal hope, and shal not obtaine: they shal labour, and their wayes +shal not haue successe. 13 These signes I am permitted to tel thee: and +if thou pray againe and weepe, as also now, and fast seuen dayes, thou +shalt heare againe greater thinges then these. 14 And I awaked, and my +bodie did shiuer excedingly: and my soule laboured, that it fainted: +15 and the Angel that came, that spake in me, held me, and strengthened +me, and sette me vpon my feete. 16 And it came to passe in the second +night, and Salathiel the prince of the people came to me, and sayd to me: +Where wast thou? and why is thy countenance heauie? 17 Knowest thou not +that Isreal is committed to thee in the countrie of their transmigration? +18 Rise vp therfore, and taste bread, and forsake vs not, as the pastour +his flocke in the hand of wicked wolues. 19 And I sayd to him: Goe from +me, & approch not vnto me. And he heard, as I sayd: and he departed +from me. 20 And I fasted seuen dayes howling & weeping, as Vriel the +Angel commanded me. 21 And it came to passe after seuen dayes, and +againe cogitations of my hart molested me very much, 22 and my soule +resumed the spirit of vnderstanding: & agayne I began to speake wordes +before the Highest: 23 and I sayd: Lord Dominatour of euerie wood of +the earth, & al the trees therof, thou hast chosen one vineyard: 24 & of +euerie land of the world thou hast chosen thee one ditch: & of al the +flowers of the world thou hast chosen thee one lilie: 25 and of al +depthes of the sea, thou hast filled thee one riuer: and of al the +builded cities, thou hast sanctified vnto thyself Sion: 26 and of al +created soules, thou hast named thee one doue: and of al beastes that +were made, thou hast prouided thee one shepe: 27 and of al multiplied +peoples, thou host purchased thee one people: and a law approued of al +thou hast geuen to this people, whom thou didst desire. 28 And now Lord, +why hast thou deliuered one vnto manie? And thou hast perpared vpon one +roote others, and hast dispersed thy onlie one in manie: 29 and they +haue troden vpon it, which gainesayd thy couenants, and which beleued not +thy testamentes. 30 And if hating thou hatest thy people, it ought to be +chastised with thy handes. 31 And it came to passe, when I had spoken +the wordes, and the Angel was sent to me, that came to me before the +night past, 32 and he sayd to me: Heare me, and I wil instruct thee: +and harken to me, and I wil adde before thee. 33 And I sayd: Speake my +Lord. And he sayd to me: Thou art become excedingly in excesse of minde +for Israel: hast thou loued it more then him that made it? 34 And I +sayd to him: No Lord, but for sorow I haue spoken, for my veynes torment +me euerie houre, to apprehend the pathe of the Highest, and to search +part of his iudgement. 35 And he sayd to me: Thou canst not. And I +sayd: Why Lord? To what was I borne, or why was not my mothers wombe my +graue, that I might not see the labour of Iacob, & the wearines of the +stocke of Israel? 36 And he sayd to me: Number me the thinges that are +not yet come, and gather me the dispersed droppes, and make me the +withered flowers grene againe, 37 and open me the shut cellars, & bring +me forth the blastes inclosed in them, shew me the image of a voice: and +then wil I shew thee the labour that thou desirest to see. 38 And I +sayd: Lord Dominatour, for who is there that can know these thinges, but +he that hath not his habitation with men? 39 And I am vnwise, and how +can I speake of these thinges, which thou hast asked me? 40 And he sayd +to me: As thou canst not doe one of these thiges, which haue bene sayd: +so canst thou not finde my iudgement, or in the end the charitie, which I +haue promised to the people. 41 And I sayd: But behold Lord thou art +nigh to them that are nere the end: and what shal they doe that haue +bene before me, or we, or they after vs? 42 And he sayd to me: I wil +resemble my iudgement to a crowne. As there shal not be slacknes of the +last, so neither swiftnes of the former. 43 And I answered, and sayd: +Couldst thou not make them that haue bene, and that are, and that shal +be, at once, that thou mayst shew thy iudgement the quicker? 44 And he +answered me, and sayd: The creature can not hasten aboue the Creatour, +nor the world sustayne them that are to be created in it, at once. +45 And I sayd: As thou didst say to thy seruant, that quickening thou +didst quicken the creature created by thee at once, and the creature +susteined it: it may now also beare them present at once. 46 And he +sayd to me: Aske the matrice of a woman, & thou shalt say to it: And if +thou bring forth children, why by times? Aske it therfore, that it geue +ten at once. 47 And I sayd, it can not verily: but according to time. +48 And he sayd to me: And I haue geuen a matrice to the earth for them, +that are sowen vpon it by time. 49 For as the infant bringeth not forth +the thinges that perteyne to the aged, so haue I disposed the world +created of me. 50 And I asked, and sayd: Wheras thou hast now geuen me +a way, I wil speake before thee: for our mother, of whom thou toldest +me, yet she is yong: now draweth nigh to old age. 51 And he answered +me, and sayd: Aske her that beareth children, and she wil tel thee. +52 For thou shalt say to her: Why are not they whom thou hast brought +forth, now like to them that were before thee, but lesse of stature? +53 And she also wil say vnto thee: They that are borne in the youth of +streingth are of one sort, and they of an other, that are borne about the +time of old age, when the matrice fayleth. 54 Consider therfore thou +also, that you are of lesse stature, then they that were before you: +55 and they that are after you, of lesser then you, as it were creatures +now waxing old, and past the strength of youth. 56 And I sayd: I besech +thee Lord, if I haue found grace before thine eyes, shew vnto thy +seruant, by whom thou doest visite thy creature. + + + +CHAP. VI. + + +God knowing al thinges before they were made, created them 54. for man: +and considerth the endes of al. + +AND he sayd to me: In the beginning of the earthlie world, and before +the endes of the world stood, and before the congregation of the windes +did blow, (Prov 8) 2 and before the voyces of thunders sounded, & before +the flashinges of lightenings shined, and before the fundations of +paradise were confirmed, 3 and before beautiful flowers were sene, and +before the moued powers were established, and before the innumerable +hostes of Angels were gathered, 4 and before the heightes of the ayre +were aduanced, and before the measures of the firmaments were named, and +before the chymneies were hote in Sion, 5 and before the present yeares +were searched out, and before their inuentions that now sinne, were put +away, and they signed that made fayth their treasure: 6 then I thought, +and they were made by me only, and not by any other: and the end by me, +and not by any other. 7 And I answered, and sayd: What separation of +times shal there be? and when shal the end of the former be, and the +begynning of that which foloweth? 8 And he sayd to me, from Abraham vnto +Isaac, when Iacob and Esau were borne of him, the hand of Iacob held from +the begynning the heele of Esau, 9 for the end of this world is Esau, and +the begynning of the next Iacob. 10 The hand of a man betwen the heele +and the hand. Aske no other thing Esdras. 11 And I answered, and sayd: +O Lord dominatour, if I haue found grace before thyne eyes, 12 I pray +thee shew thy seruant the end of thy signes, wherof thou didst shew me +part the night before. 13 And he answered, and sayd to me: Arise vpon +thy feete, and heare a voice most ful of sound. 14 And it shal be as it +were a commotion, neither shal the place be moued wherin thou standest. +15 Therfore when it speaketh be not thou afrayd, because of the end is +the word, and the fundation of the earth vnderstood, 16 for concerning +them the word trembleth and is moued, for it knoweth that their end must +be changed. 17 And it came to passe, when I had heard, I rose vpon my +feete, and I heard: and behold a voice speaking, and the sound therof as +the sound of manie waters: 18 and it sayd: Behold the dayes come, and +the time shal be when I wil begyne to approch, that I may visite the +inhabitantes vpon the earth. 19 And when I wil begin to enquire of them +that vniustly haue hurt with their iniustice, and when the humilitie of +Sion shal be accomplished. 20 And when the world shal be ouersigned that +shal beginne to passe, I wil doe these signes: Bookes shal be opened +before the face of the firmament, and al shal see together, 21 and +infantes of one yeare shal speake with their voices, & wemen with child +shal bring forth vntimely infantes not ripe of three or foure monethes, +and shal liue, and shal be raysed vp. 22 And sodenly shal appeare sowen +places not sowen, & ful cellers shal sodenly be found emptie: 23 and a +trumpet shal sound; which when al shal heare, they wil sodenly be afrayd. +24 And it shal be in that time, freindes as enimies shal ouerthrow +freindes, and the earth shal be afrayd with them: & the vaynes of +fountaynes shal stand, and shal not runne in three howres: 25 and it +shal be, euerie one that shal be leaft of al these, of whom I haue +foretold thee, he shal be saued, and shal see my saluation, & the end of +your world. 26 And the men that are receiued, shal see, they that tasted +not death from their natiuitie, and the hart of the inhabitantes shal be +turned into an other sense. 27 For euil shal be put out, and deceite +shal be extinguished, 28 but fayth shal florish, and corruption shal be +ouercome, and truth shal be shewed, which was without fruite so manie +dayes. 29 And it came to passe, when he spake to me, & I loe by litle & +litle looked on him before whom I stood, 30 and he sayd to me these +wordes: I am come to shew thee the time of the night to come. 31 If +therfore thou pray agayne, and fast agayne seuen dayes, agayne I wil tel +thee greater thinges by the day which I haue heard. 32 For thy voice is +heard before the Highest. For the strong hath sene thy direction, and +hath fore sene the chastitie which thou hast had from thy youth: 33 and +for this cause he hath sent me to shew thee al these thinges, and to say +to thee, haue confidence, and feare not, 34 and hasten not with the +former times to thinke vayne thinges, that thou hasten not from the last +times. 35 And it came to passe after these thinges, and I wept againe, +and in like maner I fasted seuen dayes, to accomplish the three weekes, +that were told me. 36 And it came to passe in the eight night, and my +hart was trubled againe in me, and I began to speake before the Highest. +37 For my spirit was inflamed excedingly, and my soul was distressed. +38 And I sayd: O Lord, speaking thou didst speake from the beginning of +creature from the first day, saying: Let heauen be made and earth: and +thy word was a perfect worke. 39 And then there was spirit, and +darknesse was caried about, and silence, the sound of the voyce of man +was not yet from thee. 40 Then thou didst command the lighsome light to +be brought forth of thy treasures, wherby thy worke might appeare. +41 And in the second day thou didst create the spirit of the firmament, +and commandest it to diuide, and to make a diuision betwen the waters, +that a certayn part should depart vpward, and part should remaine beneth. +42 And in the third day thou didst command the waters to be gathered +together in the seuenth part of the earth: but sixe partes thou didst +drie and preserue, that of them might be seruing before thee thinges +sowen of God, and tilled. 43 For thy word proceded, and the worke forth +with was made. 44 For sodenly came forth fruite of multitude infinite, +and diurse tastes of concupiscence, and flowers of vnchangeable colour, +and odours of vnsearcheable smel, and in the third day these thinges were +made. 45 And in the fourth day thou didst command to be made the +brightnesse of the sunne, the light of the moone, the disposition of the +starres: 46 and didst command them that they should serue man, that +should be made. 47 And in the fifth day: thou saydst to the seuenth +part, where the water was gathered together, that it should bring forth +beastes, and foules, and fishes: and so was it done, 48 the dumme water +and without life, the thinges that by Gods appointement were commanded, +made beastes, that therby the nations may declare thy meruelous workes. +49 And then thou didst preserue two soules: the name of one thou didst +cal Henoch, and the name of the second thou didst cal Leuiathan, 50 and +thou didst separate them from eche other. For the seuenth part, where +the water was gathered together, could not hold them. 51 And thou gauest +to Henoch one part, which was dried the third day, to dwelt therin, where +are a thousand mountaynes. 52 But to Leuiathan thou gauest the seuenth +part being moyst, and kepst it, that it might be to deuoure whom thou +wilt, and when thou wilt. 53 And in the sixt day thou didst command the +earth, to create before thee cattel, and beastes, and creeping creatures: +54 and ouer these Adam, whom thou madest ruler ouer al the workes, which +thou didst make, & out of him are al we brought forth, and the people +whom thou hast chosen. 55 And al these thinges I haue sayd before thee o +Lord, because thou didst create the world for vs. 56 But the residue of +the nations borne of Adam thou saydst that they were nothing, and that +they were like to spittle, and as it were the droping out of a vessel +thou didst liken the abundance of them. 57 And now Lord, behold these +nations which are reputed for nothing, haue begune to rule ouer vs, and +to deuoure vs: 58 but we thy people whom thou didst cal thy first onlie +begotten emulatour, are deliuered into their handes: 59 and if the world +was created for vs, why doe not we possesse inheritance with the world? +how long these thinges? + + + +CHAP. VII. + + +Without tribulations no man can attayne immortal life: 17. which the +iust shal inherite: and the wicked shal perish. 28. Christ wil come, +and dye for mankind. 36. Prayers of the iust shal profite til the end of +this world, but not after the general iudgement. 48. Al sinned in Adam. +52. and haue added more sinnes, 57. but it is in mans powre, 62. by Gods +grace, to liue eternally. + +AND it came to passe when I had ended to speake these wordes, the Angel +was sent to me, which had bene sent to me the first nights, 2 and he sayd +to me: Arise Esdras, and heare the wordes which I am come to speake to +thee. 3 And I sayd: Speake my God. And he sayd to me: The sea is set +in a large place, that it might be deepe and wide: 4 but the entrance to +it shal be set in a straict place, that it might be like to riuers. +5 For who witting wil enter into the sea, and see it, or rule ouer it: +if he passe not the streite, how shal he come into the bredth? 6 Also an +other thing: A citie is built, and set in a plaine place, and it is ful +of al goodes. 7 The entrance therof narrow, and set in a stepe place, so +that on the right hand there was fire, & on the left depe water: 8 and +there is one onlie pathe set betwen them, that is, betwen the fire and +the water, so that the pathe can not conteyne, but onlie a mans steppe. +9 And if the citie shal be geuen a man for inheritance, if he neuer passe +through the peril set before it, how shal he receiue his inhertance? +10 And I sayd: So Lord. And he sayd to me, So it is: Israel also a +part. 11 For I made the world for them: and when Adam transgressed my +constitution, that was iudged which was done. 12 And the entrance of +this world were made streite, and sorowful, & paynful, and few and euil, +and ful of dangers, & stuffed very much with labour. 13 For the +entrances of the greater world are large andsecure, and making fruite of +immortalitie. 14 If then they that liue entring in enter into these +streite and vayne thinges: they can not receiue the thinges that are +layd vp. 15 Now therfore why art thou trubled, wheras thou art +corruptible? and why art thou moued, wheras thou art mortal? 16 And why +hast thou not taken in thy hart that which is to come, but that which is +present? 17 I answered, and sayd: Lord dominatour: behold thou hast +disposed by thy law that the iust shal inherite these thinges, and the +impious shal perish. (Deut 8) 18 But the iust shal suffer the streites, +hoping for the wyde places, for they that haue done impiously, haue both +suffered the streites, and shal not see the wide places. 19 And he sayd +to me: There is no iudge aboue God, nor that vnderstandeth aboue the +Highest. 20 For manie present doe perish, because the law of God which +was set before, is neglected. 21 For God commanding commanded them that +came, when they came, what doing they should liue, and what obseruing +they should not be punished. 22 But they were not perswaded, and +gaynesayd him, and made to them selues a cogitation of vanitie, 23 and +proposed to them selues deceites of sinnes, & they sayd to the Highest +that he was not, and they knew not his wayes, 24 and dispised his law, +and denyed his couenaunces, and had not fidelitie in his ordinances, and +did not accomplish his workes. 25 For this cause Esdras, the emptie to +the emptie, and the ful to the ful. 26 Behold the time shal come, and it +shal be when the signes shal come, which I haue foretold thee, and the +bride shal appeare, and appearing she shal be shewed that now is hid with +the earth: 27 and euerie one that is deliuered from the foresaid euils, +he shal see my meruelous thinges. 28 For my sonne IESVS shal be reueled +with them that are with him, and they shal be merie that are leaft in the +foure hundred yeares. 29 And it shal be after these yeares, and my sonne +CHRIST shal dye: and al men that haue breath, 30 and the world shal be +turned into the old silence seuen dayes, as in the former iudgementes, so +that none shal be leaft. 31 And it shal be after seuen dayes, and the +world shal be raysed vp that yet waketh not, and shal dye corrupted: +32 and the earth shal render the thinges that sleepe in it, & the dust +them that dwel in it with silence, and the cellars shal render the soules +that are commended to them. 33 And the Highest shal be reueled vpon the +seate of iudgement, and miseries shal passe, and long sufferance shal be +gathered together. 34 And iudgement onlie shal remayne, truth shal +stand, and fayth shal waxe strong, 35 and the worke shal folow, and the +reward shal be shewed, and iustice shal awake, and iniustice shal not +haue dominion. [See note below.] 36 And I sayd: First Abraham prayed +for the Sodomites, and Moyses for the fathers that sinned in the desert. +(Gen 18 / Ex 32) 37 And they that were after him for Isreal in the dayes +of Achaz, and of Samuel, 38 and Dauid for the destruction, and Salomon +for them that came vnto the sanctification. (2 Kings 24:17 / 2 Par 6:13) +39 And Elias for them that receiued raine, and for the dead that he might +liue, (3 Kings 17 & 18) 40 and Ezechias for the people in the dayes of +Sennacherib, and manie for manie. (4 Kings 19:15) 41 If therfore now +when corruptible did increase, and iniustice was multiplied, and the iust +prayed for the impious: why now also shal it not be so? 42 And he +answered me and sayd: This present world is not the end, much glorie +remaineth in it: for this cause they prayed for the impotent. 43 For +the day of iudgement shal be the end of this time, and the beginning of +the immortalitie to come, wherein corruption is past: 44 intemperance is +dissolued, incredulitie is cut of: and iustice hath increased, truth is +strong. 45 For then no man can saue him that hath perished, nor drowne +him that hath ouercome. And I answered, 46 and sayd: This is my word +the first and the last, that it had bene better not to geue the earth to +Adam, or when he had now geuen it, to restraine him that he should not +sinne. 47 For what doth it profit men presently to liue in sorow, and +being dead to hope for punishment? 48 O what hast thou done Adam? For +if thou didst sinne, it was not made thy fal only, but ours also which +came of thee. (Rom 5:12) 49 For what doth it profit vs if immortal time +be promised to vs: but we haue done mortal workes? 50 And that +euerlasting hope is foretold vs: but we most wicked are become vayne? +51 And that habitations of health and securitie are reserued for vs, but +we haue conuerst naughtely? 52 And that the glorie of the Highest is +reserued to protect them that haue slowly conuerst: but we haue walked +in most wicked wayes. 53 And that paradise shal be shewed, whose fruite +continueth incorrupted, wherin is securitie and remedie: 54 but we shal +not enter in: for we haue conuerst in vnlawful places. 55 And their +faces which haue had abstinence, shal shyne aboue the starres: but our +faces blacke aboue darkenes. 56 For we did not thinke liuing when we +did iniquitie, that we shal beginne after death to suffer. 57 And he +answered, and sayd: This is the cogitation of the battel which man shal +fight, who is borne vpon the earth, 58 that if he shal be ouercome, he +suffer that which thou hast sayd: but if he ouercome he shal receiue +that which I say: 59 for this is the life which Moyses spake of when he +liued, to the people, saying: Choose vnto thee life, that thou mayst +liue. (Deut 30:19) 60 But they beleued him not, no nor the Prophetes +after him, no nor me which haue spoken to them. 61 Because there should +not be sorow vnto their perdition, as there shal be ioy vpon them, to +whom saluation is perswaded. 62 And I answered, and sayd: I know Lord, +that the Highest is called merciful in that, that he hath mercie on them +which are not yet come into the world, 63 and that he hath mercie on them +which conuerse in his law: 64 and he is long suffering, because he +sheweth long sufferance to them that haue sinned, as it were with their +owne workes: 65 and he is bountiful, because he wil geue according to +exigentes: 66 and of freat mercie, because he multiplieth more mercies +to them that are present, and that are past, and that are to come. +67 For if he shal not multiplie his mercies, the world shal not be made +aliue with them that did inherite it. 68 And he geueth: for if he shal +not geue of his bountie, that they may be releeued which haue done +iniquitie, the tenth thousand part of men can not be quickned from their +iniquities. 69 And the iudge if he shal not forgeue them that are cured +with his word, and wype away a multitude of contentions: there should +not perhaps be leaft in an innumerable multitiude, but very few. + + + +CHAP. VIII. + + +God is merciful in this world, yet fewe are saued. 6. Gods workes, and +disposition of his creatures are meruelous. 15. Esdras prayeth for the +people of Israel: 37. and saluation is promised to the iust, and +punishment threatned to the wicked. + +AND he answered me, & sayd: This world the Highest made for manie, but +that to come for few. 2 And I wil speake a similitude Esdras before +thee. For as thou shalt aske the earth, and it wil tel thee, that it wil +geue much more earth wherof earthen worke may be made, but a litle dust +wherof gold is made: so also is the act of this present world. 3 Manie +in deede are created, but few shal be saued. (Matt 20:16) 4 And I +answered, and sayd: Then o soul swallow vp the sense, and deuoure that +which is wise. 5 For thou art agred to obey, and willing to prophecie. +For there is no space geuen thee but only to liue. 6 O Lord if thou wilt +not permitte thy seruant, that we pray before thee, and thou geue vs +seede to the hart, and tillage to the vnderstanding, wherof may the +fruite be made, wherby euerie corrupt person may liue, that shal beare +the place of a man? 7 For thou art alone, and we are one workmanshippe +of thy handes, as thou hast spoken: 8 and as now the bodie made in the +matrice, and thou doest geue the members, thy creature is preserued in +fire & water: and nine monethes thy workemanship doth suffer thy +creature that is created in it: 9 and it self that keepeth, and that +which is kept, both shal be preserued: and the matrice being preserued +rendreth agayne at some time the thinges that are growen in it. 10 For +thou hast commanded of the members, that is the brestes to geue milke +vnto the fruite of the brestes, 11 that the thing which is made, may be +nourished til a certayne time, and afterward thou mayst dispose him to +thy mercie. 12 For thou hast, brought him vp in thy iustice, and hast +instructed him in thy law, and hast corrected him in thy vnderstanding: +13 and thou shalt mortifie him, as thy creature: and shalt geue him +life, as thy worke. 14 If then thou wilt destroy him that is made with +so great labours: it is easie by thy commandment to be ordayned, that +also which was made, might be preserued. 15 And now Lord I wil speake, +of euerie man thou rather knowest: but concerning thy people, for which +I am sorowful: 16 and concerning thine inheritance, for which I mourne, +and for Israel for whom I am pensiue, and concerning Iacob, for whom I am +sorowful. 17 Therfore wil I begin to pray before thee for me, & for +them: because I see our defaultes that inhabite the earth. 18 But I +haue heard of the celeritie of the iudge that shal be. 19 Therfore heare +my voyce, and vnderstand my word, and I wil speake before thee. 20 The +beginning of the wordes of Esdras before he was assumpted: and I sayd: +Lord which inhabitest the world, whose eyes are eleuated vnto thinges on +high and in the ayre: 21 and whose throne is inestimable, and glorie +incomprehensible: by whom standeth an host of Angels with trembling, +22 whose keping is turned in wynde and fire, thou whose word is true, and +sayings premanent: 23 whose commandment is strong, and disposition +terrible: whose looke dryeth vp the depthes, and indignation maketh the +mountaynes to melt, and truth doth testifie. 24 Heare the prayer of thy +seruant, & with thine eares receiue the petition of thy creature. 25 For +whiles I liue, I wil speake: and whiles I vnderstand, I wil answere: +26 Neither doe thou respect the sinnes of thy people, but them that serue +thee in truth. 27 Neither doe thou attend the impious endeuours of the +nations, but them that with sorowes haue kept thy testimonies. +28 Neither thinke thou of them that in thy sight haue conuerst falsly, +but remember them that according to thy wil haue knowen thy feare. +29 Neither be thou willing to destroy them that haue had the maners of +beastes: but respect them that haue taught thy law gloriously. +30 Neither haue indignation towards them, which are iudged worse then +beastes: but loue them that alwayes haue confidence in thy iustice, and +glorie. 31 Because we and our fatheres languish with such diseases: but +thou for sinners shalt be called merciful. 32 For if thou shalt be +desirous to haue mercie on vs, then thou shalt be called merciful, to vs +hauing no workes of iustice. 33 For the iust which haue manie workes +layd vp, of their owne workes shal receiue reward. 34 For what is man, +that thou art angrie with him: or the corruptible kinde, that thou art +so bitter touching it? 35 For in truth there is no man of them that be +borne, which hath not done impiously, and of them that confesse, which +haue not sinned. (3 Kings 8:46 / 2 Par 6:36) 36 For in this shal thy +iustice be declared, and thy goodnes, o Lord, when thou shalt haue mercie +on them, that haue no substance of good workes. 37 And he answered me, +and sayd: Thou hast spoken somethinges rightly: and according to thy +wordes, so also shal it be done, 38 because I wil not in dede thinke vpon +the worke of them that haue sinned before death, before the iudgement, +before perdition: 39 but I wil reioyce vpon the creature of the iust, +and I wil remember their pilgrimage also, and saluation, and receiuing of +reward. 40 Therfore as I haue spoken, so also it is. 41 For as the +husbandman soweth vpon the ground manie seedes, and planteth manie +plantes, but not al which were sowen in time, are preserued, nor yet al +that were planted, shal take roote: so they also that are sowen in the +world, shal not al be saued. (Matt 13 & 20) 42 And I answered, and +sayd: If I haue found grace, let me speake. 43 As the seede of the +husbandman, if it come not vp, or receiue not the rayne in time, if it be +corupted with much rayne, perisheth: 44 so likewise also man who made +with thy handes, and thou named his image: because thou art likened to +him, for whom thou hast made al thinges, and hast likened him to the +seede of the husbandman. 45 Be not angrie vpon vs, but spare thy people, +and haue mercie on thy inheritance. And thou hast mercie on thy +creature. 46 And he answered me, and sayd: The thinges that are present +to them that are present, and that shal be, to them that shal be. 47 For +thou lackest much to be able to loue my creature aboue me: and to thee +often times, euen to thyselfe I haue approched, but to the vniust neuer. +48 But in this also thou art meruelous before the Highest, 49 because +thou hast humbled thyself as becometh thee: & hast not iudged thyself, +that among the iust thou maist be very much glorified. 50 For which +cause manie miseries, and miserable thinges shal be done to them that +inhabite the world in the later dayes: because they haue walked in much +pride. 51 But thou for thyselfe vnderstand, & for them that are like +vnto thee seeke glorie. 52 For to you paradise is open, the tree of life +is planted, time to come is prepared, abundance is prepared, a citie is +builded, rest is approued, goodnes is perfited, & perfit wisdome. 53 The +roote of euil is signed from you: infirmitie, and mothe is hid from you: +& corruption is fled into hel in obliuion. 54 Sorowes are past, & the +treasure of immortalitie is shewed in the end. 55 Adde not therfore +inquiring of the multitude of them that perish. 56 For they also +receiuing libertie, haue despised the Highest, and contemned his lawe, +and forsaken his wayes. 57 Yea and moreouer they haue troden downe his +iust ones, 58 and haue sayd in their hart, that there is no God: and +that, knowing that they dye. (Ps 13 & 52) 59 For as the thinges +aforesayd shal receiue you: so thirst and torment, which are prepared +shal take them: for he would not man to be destroyed. 60 But they them +selues also which are created, haue defyled his name which made them: & +haue bene vnkind to him that prepared life. 61 Wherfore my iudgement now +approcheth. 62 Which thinges I haue not shewed to al, but to thee, & to +few like vnto thee. And I answered, and sayd: 63 Behold now Lord thou +hast shewed me a multitude of signes, which thou wilt beginne to doe in +the latter times: but thou hast not shewed me at what time. + + + +CHAP. IX. + + +Certaine signes shal goe before the day of iudgement. 14. More shal +perish then be saued. 25. Prayer with other good workes, are meanes to +saluation. + +AND he answered me, and sayd: Measuring measure thou the time in it +selfe: and it shal be when thou seest, after a certaine part of the +signes which are spoken of before shal passe, 2 then shalt thou +vnderstand, that the same is the time wherin the Highest wil beginne to +visite the world that was made by him. 3 And when there shal be sene in +the world mouing of places, and truble of peoples, 4 then shalt thou +vnderstand, that of these spake the Highest, from the dayes that were +before thee, from the beginning. 5 For as al that is made in the world +hath a beginning, and also a consummation, and the consummation is +manifest: 6 so also the times of the Highest haue the beginning manifest +in wonders and powers, and the consummations in worke and in signes. +7 And it shal be, euery one that shal be saued, and that can escape by +his workes, and by fayth, in which you haue beleeued, 8 shal be leaft out +of the foresayd dangers, and shal see my saluation in my land, and in my +costes, because I haue sancitifed my selfe from the world. 9 And then +shal they be in miserie, that now haue abused my wayes: and they that +haue reiected them in contempt, shal abide in torments. 10 For they that +knew not me, hauing obtained benefits when they liued: 11 and they that +loathed my law, when they yet had libertie, 12 and when as yet place of +penance was open to them vnderstoode not, but despised: they must after +death in torment know it. 13 Thou therfore be not yet curious, how the +impious shal be tormented: but inquire how the iust shal be saued, and +whose the world is, and for whom the world is, and when. 14 And I +answered, and sayd: 15 I haue spoken hertofore, and now I say, and +hereafter wil say: that they are more which perish then that shal be +saued: (Matt 10) 16 as a floud is multiplied aboue, more then a droppe. +17 And he ansvvered me, and sayd: Like as the field so also the sedes: +and as the flovvers, such also the colours: and as the workeman, such +also the worke: and such as the husbandman, such is the husbandrie: +because it was the time of the world. 18 And now when I was preparing +for them, for these that now are before the world was made, wherin they +should dwel: and no man gaynsayd me. 19 For then euery man, and now the +creator in this world prepared, and haruest not fayling, and law +vnsearchable their manners are corrupted. 20 And I considered the world, +and behold there was danger because of the cogitations that came in it. +21 And I saw, and spared it very much: and I kept vnto my selfe a grape +kernel of a cluster, and a plant of a great trybe. 22 Let the multitude +therfore perish, which was borne without cause, and let my kernel be +kept, & my plant: because I finished it with much labour. 23 And thou +if thou adde yet seuen other dayes, but thou shalt not fast in them, +24 thou shalt goe into a field of flowers, where no house is built: & +thou shalt eate only of the flowers of the field, and flesh thou shalt +not tast, and wine thou shalt not drinke, but only flowers. 25 Pray to +the Highest without intermission, and I wil come, and wil speake with +thee. 26 And I went forth, as he sayd to me, into a field which is +called Ardath, and I sate there among the flowers. And I did eate of the +herbes of the field, and the meate of them made me ful. 27 And it came +to passe after seuen dayes, and I sate downe vpon the grasse, and my hart +was trubled ayayne as before. 28 And my mouth was opened, and I beganne +to speake before the Highest, and sayd: 29 O Lord thou shewing thy selfe +to vs, wast shewed to our fathers in the desert, which is not troden, and +vnfruitful, when they came out of AEgypt: and saying thou saydst: +(Ex 19 & 24 / Deut 4) 30 Thou Israel heare me, and sede of Iacob attend +to my wordes. 31 For behold, I sow my lawe in you, and it shal bring +forth fruite in you, and you shal be glorified in it for euer. 32 For +our fathers receiuing the law obserued it not, and kept not my +ordinances, and the fruite of the law did not appeare: for it could not, +because it was thine. 33 For they that receiued it, perished, not +keeping that which had bene sowen in them. (Ex 32) 34 And behold it is +the custome, that when the earth hath receiued sede, or the sea a shippe, +or some vessel meate or drinke: when that shal be destroyed wherin it +was sowne, or into the which it was cast: 35 that which was sowne, or +cast in, or the thinges that were receiued, are destroyed withal, and the +thinges receiued now tarye not with vs: but it is not so done to vs. +36 We in dede that receiued the law, sinning haue perished, and our hart +that receiued it: 37 For the law hath not perished, but hath remayned in +his labour. (Ezech 48) 38 And when I spake these thinges in my hart, I +looked backe with myne eyes, and saw a woman on the right side, and +behold she mourned, and wept with a lowd voice, and was sorrowful in +mynde exceedingly, and her garments rent, and ashes vpon her heade. +39 And I left the cogitations, wherin I was thinking, and I turned to her +and sayd to her: 40 Why weepest thou? and why art thou sorie in mynde. +And she sayd to me: 41 Suffer me my Lord, that I may lament myselfe, & +adde sorrow: because I am of a very pensiue mynde, and am humbled +exceedingly. 42 And I sayd to her, What ayleth thee: tel me. And she +sayd to me: 43 I thy seruant haue beene barren, and haue not borne +childe, hauing a husband thirty yeares. 44 For I euery howre, and euerie +day, and these thirty yeares do beseche the Highest night and day. +45 And it came to passe, after thirtie yeares God heard me thy handmayd, +and saw my humilitie, and attended to my tribulation, and gaue me a +sonne: and I was very ioyful vpon him, and my husband, and al my +citizens, and we did glorifie the Strong exceedingly. 46 And I nourished +him with much labour. 47 And it came to passe when he was growen, and +came to take a wife, I made a feast day. + + + +CHAP. X. + + +The state of Ierusalem is prefigured by a woman mourning, 25. and +afterwardes reioycing. + +AND it came to passe, when my sonne was entred into his inner chamber, he +fel downe, and dyed: 2 and we al ouerthrewe the lights, and al my +citizens rose vp to comfort me, and I was quiet vntil the other day at +night. 3 And it came to passe, when al were quiet to comfort me, that I +might be quiet: and I arose in the night, and fled: and came as thou +seest into this field. 4 And I meane nowe not to returne into the citie, +but to stay here: and neither eate, nor drinke, but without intermission +to mourne, and to fast vntil I dye. 5 And I left the talke wherin I was, +and with anger answered her, & sayd: 6 Thou foole aboue al wemen, seest +thou not our mourning, & what thinges chance to vs? 7 Because Sion our +mother is sorroweful with al sorrowe, and humbled, and mourneth most +bitterly. 8 And now wheras we al mourne, and are sadde: wheras we are +sorrowful, and art thou sorrowful for one sonne? 9 For aske the earth, +and it wil tel thee: that it is she, that ought to lament the fal of so +manie thinges that spring vpon it. 10 And of her were al borne from the +beginning, and others shal come: and behold, almost al walke into +perdition, and the multitude of them commeth to destruction. 11 And who +then ought to mourne more, but she that hath lost so great a multitude, +rather then thou which art sorie for one? 12 And if thou say vnto me, +that my mourning is not lyke the earthes: because I haue lost the fruite +of my wombe, which I bare with sorrowes, and brought forth with paynes: +13 but the earth according to the maner of the earth, and the present +multitude in it hath departed as it came: and I saye to thee, 14 as thou +hast brought forth with payne, so the earth also geueth her fruite for +man from the beginning to him that made her. 15 Now therfore kepe in +with thy sorrowe, and beare stoutly the chances that haue befallen thee. +16 For if thou iustifie the end of God, thou shalt in time both receiue +his counsel, and also in such thinges thou shalt be praysed. 17 Goe in +therfore into the citie to thy husband. And she sayd to me: 18 I wil +not doe it, neither wil I enter into the citie, but here wil I dye. +19 And I added yet to speake to her, & sayd: 20 Doe not this word, but +consent to him that counseleth thee. For how manie are the chances of +Sion? Take comfort for the sorrowe of Ierusalem. 21 For thou seest that +our sanctification is made desert, and our altar is throwen downe, and +our temple is destroyed, 22 and our psalter is humbled, and hymne is +silent, and our exultation is dissolued, and the light of our +candelsticke is extinguished, and the arke of our testament is taken for +spoyle, & our holie thinges are contaminated, and the name that is +inuocated vpon vs, is almost prophaned: and our children haue suffred +contumelie, and our Priestes are burnt, & our Leuites are gone into +captiuitie, & our virgins are defloured, and our wiues haue suffered +rape, and our iust men are violently taken, and our litle ones are lost, +and our yong men are in bondage, and our valiants are made impotent: +23 and that which is greatest of al, the seale of Sion, because she is +vnsealed of her glorie: For she is also deliuered into the handes of +them that hate vs. 24 Thou therfore shake of thy great heauines, and lay +away from thee the multitude of sorrowes, that the Strong may be +propicious to thee agayne, and the Highest wil geue thee rest, rest from +thy labours. 25 And it came to passe, when I spake to her, her face did +shine suddenly, and her shape, and her visage was made glistering, so +that I was afrayde excedingly at her, & thought what this thing should +be. 26 And Behold, suddenly she put forth a great sound of a voyce ful +of feare, that the earth was moued at the womans sound. And I saw: +27 and behold, the woman did no more appeare vnto me, but a citie was +built, & a place was shewed of great fundations: and I was afrayd, & +crying with a loude voyce I sayd: 28 Where is Vriel the Angel, that from +the beginning came to me? for he made me come in multitude in excesse of +this minde, and my end is made into corruption, & my prayer into reproch. +29 And when I was speaking these thinges, behold he came to me, and sawe +me. 30 And behold I was layd as dead, & my vnderstanding was alienated, +and he held my right hand, and strengthned me, & set me vpon my feete, & +sayd to me: 31 What ayleth thee? and why is thy vnderstanding, and the +sense of thy hart trubled, & why art thou trubled? And I sayd: +32 Because thou hast forsaken me, and I in dede haue done according to +thy wordes, & went out into the field: & behold, I haue seene, & doe see +that which I cannot vtter. And he sayd to me: 33 Stand like a man, & I +wil moue thee. And I sayd: 34 Speake thou my Lord in me, forsake me +not, that I die not in vaine: 35 because I haue seene thinges that I +knew not, & I doe heare thinges that I know not. 36 Or is my sense +deceiued, & doth my soule dreame? 37 Now therfore I besech thee, that +thou shew vnto thy seruant concerning this trance. And he answered me, & +sayd: 38 Heare me, and I wil teach thee, and wil tel thee of what +thinges thou art afrayd: because the Highest hath reuealed vnto thee +manie mysteries. 39 He hath seene thy right way, that without +intermission thou was forrowful for thy people, and didst mourne +exceedingly for Sion. 40 This therfore is the vnderstanding of the +vision which appeared to thee a litle before. 41 The woman whom thou +sawest mourning, thou beganst to comfort her. 42 And now thou seest not +the forme of the woman, but there appeared to thee a citie to be built. +43 And because she tolde thee of the fal of her sonne, this is the +interpretation. 44 This woman which thou sawest, she is Sion, and wheras +she told thee of her, whom now also thou shalt see, as a citie builded. +45 And whereas she told thee, that she was barren thirtie yeares: for +the which there were thirtie yeares, when there was not yet oblation +offered in it. 46 And it came to passe after thirtie yeares, Salomon +built the citie, and offered oblations: then it was, when the barren +bare a childe. 47 And that which she sayd vnto thee, that she nourished +him with labour, this was the habitation in Ierusalem. 48 And wheras she +sayd to thee, that my sonne comming into the bryde chamber dyed, and that +a fal chanced vnto him, this was the ruine of Ierusalem that is made. +49 And behold, thou hast seene the similitude of her: and because she +lamented her sonne, thou beganst to comfort her: and of these thinges +that haue chanced, these were to be opened to thee. 50 And now the +Highest seeth that thou wast sorie from the hart: and because with thy +whole hart thou sufferest for her, he hath shewed thee the clearnes of +her glorie, and the fayrenes of her beautie. 51 For therfore did he say +to thee, that thou shouldest tarie in a field where house is not built. +52 For I knew that the Highest beganne to shew thee these thinges: +53 therfore I sayd vnto thee, that thou shouldest goe into a field, where +is no fundation of building. 54 For the worke of mans building could not +be borne in the place, where the citie of the Highest began to be shewed. +55 Thou therfore feare not, neither let thy hart dread: but goe in, and +see the beautie, and greatnes of the building, as much as the sight of +thyne eyes is capable to see: 56 & afterward thou shalt heare as much, +as the hearing of thyne eares is capable to heare. 57 For thou art +blessed aboue manie, and art called with the Highest as few. 58 And to +morrow night thou shalt tarie here: 59 and the Highest wil shew thee +those visions of the thinges on high, which the Highest wil doe to them +that inhabite vpon the earth in the later dayes. 60 And I slept that +night, and the other next, as he had sayd to me. + + + +CHAP. XI. + + +An eagle appeareth to Esdras coming forth of the sea, with three heades, +and twelue winges: sometimes one reigning in the world, sometimes an +other, but euerie one vanisheth away. 36. A lion also appeareth coming +forth of the wood, to suppresse the eagle. + +AND I sawe a dreame, & behold an eagle came vp out of the sea: which had +twelue winges of fethers, and three heades. 2 And I saw, and behold she +spred her winges into al the earth, and al the windes of heauen blew vpon +her, and were gathered together. 3 And I saw, and of her fethers sprang +contrarie feathers, and they became litle winges, and smale. 4 For her +heades were at rest, and the midle head was greater then the other +heades, but she rested with them. 5 And I saw, and behold the eagle flew +with her winges, and reigned ouer the earth, and ouer them that dwel in +it. 6 And I saw, that al thinges vnder heauen were subiect to her, and +no man gaynesayd her, no not one of the creature that is vpon the earth. +7 And I saw, and behold the eagle rose vp vpon her talons, and made a +voice with her winges, saying: 8 Watch not al together, sleepe euerie +one in his place, & watch according to time. 9 But let the heades be +preserued to the last. 10 And I saw, and behold the voice came not out +of her heades, but from the middes of her bodie. 11 And I numbered her +contrarie winges, and behold they were eight. 12 And I saw, and behold +on the right side rose one wing, and reighned ouer al the earth. 13 And +it came to passe, when it reigned, an end came to it, and the place +therof appeared not: and the next rose vp, & reigned, that held much +time. 14 And it came to passe, when it reigned, & the end of it also +came, that it appeared not as the former. 15 And behold, a voice was +sent forth to it, saying: 16 Heare thou that hast held the earth of long +time. Thus I tel thee before thou beginne not to appeare. 17 None after +thee shal hold thy time, no nor the halfe therof. 18 And the third +lifted vp it selfe, and held the principalitie as also the former: and +that also appeared not. 19 And so it chanced to al the other by one & by +one to haue the principalitie, & agayne to appeare nowhere. 20 And I +saw, and behold in time the rest of the winges were sent vp on the right +side, that they also might hold the principalitie: and of them there +were that held it, but yet forthwith they appeared not. 21 For some also +of them stoode vp, but they held not the principalitie. 22 And I saw +after these thinges, and behold the twelue winges, and two litle winges +appeared not: 23 and nothing remayned in the bodie of the eagle but two +heades resting, and six litle winges. 24 And I saw, and behold from the +six litle winges two were diuided, and they remayned vnder the head, that +is on the right side. For foure taried in their place. 25 And I saw, +and behold the vnderwinges thought to set vp them selues, and to hold the +principalities. 26 And I saw, and behold one was set vp, but forthwith +it appeared not. 27 And they that were second did sooner vanish away +then the former. 28 And I saw, and behold the two that remayned, thought +with them selues that they also would reigne: 29 and when they were +thincking thereon, behold one of the resting heades, which was the midde +one awaked, for this was greater then the other two heades. 30 And I saw +that the two heades were complete with themselues. 31 And behold the +head with them that were with him turned, and did eate the two +vnderwinges that thought to reigne. 32 And this head terrified al the +earth, & ruled in it ouer them that inhabite the earth with much labour, +and he that held the dominion of the whole world aboue al the winges that +were. 33 And I saw after these thinges, and behold the midle head +sodenly appeared not, as did the winges. 34 And there remained two +heads, which reigned also themselues ouer the earth, and ouer them that +dwelt therein. 35 And I saw, and behold the head on the right side +deuoured that which was on the left. 36 And I heard a voice saying to +me, Looke against thee, and consider what thou seest. 37 And I saw, & +behold as a lion raysed out of the wood roaring: and I saw that he sent +out a mans voyce to the eagle. And he spake saying. 38 Heare thou, and +I wil speake to thee, and the Highest wil say to thee: 39 Is it not thou +that hast ouercome of the foure beastes, which I made to reigne in my +world, and that by them the end of their times might come? 40 And the +fourth coming ouercame al the beastes that were past, and by might held +the world with much feare, and al the world with most wicked laboure, and +he inhabitied the whole earth so long time with deceipte. 41 And thou +hast iudged the earth not with truth. 42 For thou hast afflicted the +meeke, and hast trubled them that were quiet, and hast loued lyers, & +hast destroyed their habitations that did fructifie, and hast ouerthrowen +their walles that did not hurt thee. 43 And thy contumelie is ascended +euen to the Highest, and thy pride to the Strong. 44 And the Highest +hath looked vpon the proud times: and behold they are ended, and the +abominations therof are accomplished. 45 Therfore thou eagle appeare no +more, and thy horrible winges, & thy litle winges most wicked, and thy +heades malignant, and thy talons most wicked, and al thy bodie vayne, +46 that al the earth may be refreshed, and may returne deliuered from thy +violence, and may hope for his iudgement, and mercie that made it. + + + +CHAP. XII. + + +The eagle vanisheth away, 5. Esdras prayeth, 10. and the former visions +are declared to him. + +AND it came to passe, whiles the lyon spake these wordes to the eagle: I +saw, 2 and behold the head that had ouercome, and those foure winges +appeared not which passed to him, and were set vp to reigne: and their +reigne was smal, and ful of tumult. 3 And I saw, and behold they +appeared not, and al the bodie of the eagle was burnt, & the earth was +afrayd excedingly, and I by the tumult and traunce of minde, and for +great feare awaked, and sayd to my spirit: 4 Behold thou hast geuen me +this, in that, that thou searchest the wayes of the Highest. 5 Behold +yet I am wearie in minde, and in my spirit I am very feeble, and there is +not so much as a litle strength in me for the great feare, that I was +afrayd of this night. 6 Now therfore I wil pray the Highest, that he +strengthen me euen to the end. 7 And I sayd: Lord Dominatour, if I haue +found grace before thine eyes, and if I am iustified before thee aboue +manie, and if in deede my prayer be ascended before thy face, +8 strengthen me, and shew vnto me thy seruant the interpretation, and +distinction of this horrible vision, that thou mayst comfort my soule +most fully. 9 For thou hast counted me worthie to shew vnto me the later +times. And he sayd to me: 10 This is the interpretation of this vision. +11 The eagle which thou sawest coming vp from the sea, this is the +kingdom which was sene in a vision to Daniel thy brother. (Dan 7:7) +12 But it was not interpreted to him, therfore I do now interprete it to +thee. 13 Behold the dayes come, and there shal rise a kingdon vpon the +earth, and the feare shal be more terrible then of al the kingdomes that +were before it. 14 And there shal twelue kinges reigne in it, one after +an other. 15 For the second shal beginne to reigne, and he shal continew +more time then the rest of the twelue. 16 This is the interpretation of +the twelue winges which thou sawest. 17 And the voice that spake which +thou heardst, not coming forth of her heads, but from the middes of her +bodie, 18 this is the interpretation, that after the time of that kingdom +shal rise no smal contentions, and it shal be in danger to fal: and it +shal not fal then, but shal be constituted againe according to the +beginning therof. 19 And wheras thou sawest eight vnderwings cleauing to +the wings therof, 20 this is the interpretation, eight kinges shal arise +in it, whose times shal be light, and yeares swift, and two of them shal +perish. 21 But when the middest time approcheth, foure shal be kept til +a time, when the time therof shal beginne to approch to be ended, yet two +shal be kept to the end. 22 And wheras thou sawest three heads resting, +23 this is the interpretation: in her last dayes the Highest wil rayse +vp three kingdoms, and wil cal backe manie thinges into them, and they +shal rule ouer the earth, 24 and them that dwel in it, with much labour +aboue al them that vvere before them. For this cause they are called the +heads of the eagle. 25 For these shal be they that shal recapitulate her +impieties, and that shal accomplish her last thinges. 26 And wheras thou +sawest a greater head not appearing, this is the interpretation therof: +that one of them shal dye vpon his bed, and yet with torments. 27 For +the two that shal remayne, the sword shal eate them. 28 For the sword of +one shal deuoure him that is with him: but yet this also at the last +shal fal by the sword. 29 And wheras thou sawest two vnderwings passing +ouer the head that is on the right side, 30 this is the interpretation: +these are they whom the Highest hath kept to their end, this is a smal +kingdom, and ful of truble. 31 As thou sawest the lyon also, whom thou +sawest awaking out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, +and rebuking her, and her iniustices by al his wordes as thou hast heard: +32 this is the wynde which the Highest hath kept vnto the end for them, +and their impieties: and he shal rebuke them, and shal cast in their +spoyles before them. 33 For he shal sette them in iudgment aliue: and +it shal be, when he hath reproued them, then shal he chastise them. +34 For the rest of my people he shal deliuer with miserie, them that are +saued vpon my borders, and he shal make them ioyful til the end shal +come, the day of iudgment, wherof I haue spoken to thee from the +beginning. 35 This is the dreame which thou sawest, and these be the +interpretations. 36 Thou therfore only hast bene worthie to know this +secrete of the Highest. 37 Write therfore in a booke al these thinges +which thou hast sene, and put them in a hidden place: 38 and thou shalt +teach them the wise men of thy people, whose harts thou knowest able to +take, and to kepe these secretes. 39 But doe thou stay here yet other +seuen dayes, that there may be shewed thee whatsoeuer shal seme good to +the Highest to shew thee. 40 And he departed from me. And it came to +passe, when al the people had heard that the seuen dayes were past, and I +had not returned into the citie, and al gathered them selues together +from the least vnto the greatest: & came to me, & spake to me saying: +41 What haue we sinned to thee, or what haue we done vniustly against +thee, that leauing vs thou hast sitten in this place? 42 For thou alone +art remayning to vs of al peoples, as a cluster of grapes of the +vineyard, and as a candle in a darke place, and as an hauen and shippe +saued from the tempest. 43 Or are not the euiles that chance, sufficient +for vs? 44 If then thou shalt forsake vs, how much better had it bene to +vs, if we also had bene burnt with the burning of Sion? 45 For we are +not better then they that dyed there. And they wept with a lowd voice. +And I answered them, and sayd: 46 Be of good chere Israel, and be not +sorowful thou house of Iacob. 47 For there is remebrance of you before +the Highest, and the Strong hath not forgotten you in tentation. 48 For +I haue not forsaken you, neither did I depart form you: but I came into +this place, to pray for the desolation of Sion, and to seeke mercie for +the low estate of your sanctification. 49 And now goe euery one of you +into his house, and I wil come to you after these dayes. 50 And the +people departed, as I sayd to them, into the citie: 51 but I sate in the +fielde seuen dayes, as he commanded me: and I did eate of the flowers of +the field only, of the herbes was my meate made in those dayes. + + + +CHAP. XIII. + + +A vision of a winde (as it first semed, but) in dede, v. 3. of a man: +5. strong against the enimies: 21. with the interpretation. + +AND it came to passe after seuen dayse, and I dreamed a dreame in the +night. 2 And behold there rose a winde from the sea, that trubled al the +waues therof. 3 And I saw, and behold that man grew strong with +thousandes of heauen: and when he turned his countenance to consider, al +thinges trembled that were sene vnder him: 4 and whersoeuer voyce +proceded out of his mouth, al that heard his voices begane to burne, as +the earth is quiet when it feeleth the fire. 5 And I saw after these, +and behold a multitude of men was gathered together, of whom there was no +number, from the foure windes of heauen, to fight against the man that +was come vp out of the sea. 6 And I saw, and behold he had grauen to +himself a great mountaine, & he flew vpon it. 7 And I sought to see the +countrie, or the place whence the mountaine was grauen, & I could not. +8 And after these thinges I saw, and behold al that were gathered to him, +to ouerthrowe him, feared exceedingly, yet they were bold to fieght. +9 And behold as he sawe the violence of the multitude that came, he +lifted not vp his hand, nor held sword, nor anie warlyke instrument but +only as I saw, 10 that he sent forth out of his mouth as it were a blaste +of fire, and from his lippes a spirit of flame, & from his tongue he +sentforth sparkles & tempests, and al thinges were mingled together with +this blast of fire, & spirit of flame, & multitude of tempests. 11 And +it fel with violence vpon the multitude, that was prepared to fight, and +burned them al, that suddenly there was nothing sene of an innumerable +multitude, but only dust, & the sauour of smoke: and I saw, and was +afrayd. 12 And after these thinges I saw the man himself descending from +the mountaine, and calling to him an other peaceable multitude, 13 and +there came to him the countenance of manie men some reioycing, and some +sorrowing: and some bond, some bringing of them them that were offered. +And I was sicke for much feare, and awaked, and sayd. 14 Thou from the +beginning hast shewed thy seruant these meruelous thinges, and hast +counted me worthie that thou wouldest receiue my petition. 15 And now +shew me yet the interpretation of this dreame. 16 For as I thinke in my +iudgement, woe to them that were leaft in those dayes: & much more woe +to them that were not leaft. 17 For they that were not leaft, were +sorrowful. 18 I vnderstand now what thinges are layde vp in the later +dayes, and they shal happen to them, yea and to them that are leaft. +19 For therefore they came into great dangers, and manie necessities, as +these dreames do shew. 20 But yet it is easier, aduenturing to come into +it, then to passe, as a cloud from the world, and vow to see the thinges +that happen in the later time. And he answered me, and sayd: 21 Both +the interpretation of the vision I wil tel thee: and also concerning the +thinges that thou hast spoken I wil open to thee. 22 Wheras thou +speakest of them that were leaft, this is the interpretation. 23 He that +taketh away danger at that time, he hath garded himself. They that haue +fallen into danger, these are they that haue workes, and fayth in the +Strongest. 24 Know therefore that they are more blessed which are leaft, +then they that are dead. 25 These are the interpretations of the vision, +wheras thou sawest a man coming from the hart of the sea, 26 the same is +he whom the Highest preserueth much time, which by himself shal deliuer +his creature: and he shal dispose them that are leaft. 27 And wheras +thou sawest proceede out of his mouth, as it were winde, and fire, and +tempest: 28 and wheras he held no sworde, nor warlike instrument: for +his violence destroyed the multitude that came to ouerthrow him: this is +the interpretation. 29 Behold the dayes come, when the Highest shal +begin to deliuer them, that are vpon the earth: 30 and he shal come in +excesse of minde vpon them that inhabit the earth. 31 And one shal +thinke to ouerthrow an other: one citie an other citie, one place an +other place, and nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. +(Matt 24 / Luke 21) 32 And it shal be, when these thinges shal come to +passe, and the signes shal happen, which I shewed thee before: and then +shal my sonne be reueled, whom thou sawest, as a man coming vp. 33 And +it shal be when al nations shal heare his voice: and euery one in his +countrie shal leaue their warre, that they haue toward each other: +34 and an innumerable multitude shal be gathered in one, as willing to +come to ouerthrow him. 35 But he shal stand vpon the top of mount Sion. +36 And Sion shal come, and it shal be shewed to al prepared and builded, +as thou sawest the mountaine to be grauen without handes. 37 And the +same my sonne shal reproue the thinges that the gentils haue inuented, +these their impieties which came nere to the tempest, because of their +euil cogitaitons, and torments wherewith they shal begin to be tormented. +38 Which were likened to the flame, and he shal destroy them without +labour by the law that was likened to the fyre. 39 And wheras thou +sawest him gathering vnto him an other peaceable multitude. 40 These are +the ten tribes, which were made captiue out of their land in the dayes of +Osee the King, whom Salmanasar the King of the Assyrians led captiue: +and he transported them beyond the riuer, and they were transported into +an other land. (4 Kings 17) 41 But they gaue themselues this counsel, +to forsake the multitude of nations, and to goe forth into a farther +countrie, where mankind neuer inhabited. 42 Or there to obserue their +ordinances, which they had not kept in their countrie. 43 And they +entred in by the narrow entrances of the riuer Euphrates. 44 For the +Highest then wrought them signes, and stayed the vaines of the riuer til +they passed. (Ex 14 / Jos 3) 45 For by that countie was a great way to +goe, of one yeare and a half: for the countrie is called Arsareth. +46 Then did they inhabite there til in the later time: and now againe +when they beginne to come, 47 againe the Highest shal stay the vaines of +the riuer, that they may passe: for these thou sawest a multitiude with +peace. 48 But they also that were leaft of the people, these are they +that be within my border. 49 In shal come to passe therefore, when he +shal begine to destroy the multitude of these nations, that are gathered, +he shal protect them that haue ouercome the people: 50 and then shal he +shew them very manie wonders. 51 And I sayd: Lord dominatour, shew me +this, why I saw a man comming vp from the hart of the sea, and he sayd to +me: 52 As thou canst not either search these thinges, or know what +thinges are in the depth of the sea: so can not any man vpon the earth +see my sonne, or them that are with him, but in the time of a day. +53 This is the interpretation of the dreame which thou sawest, and for +the which thou only art here illuminated. 54 For thou hast leaft thyne +owne law, and hast bene occupied about my law, and hast sought it. +55 For thou hast disposed thy lyfe in wisdom, and thyne vnderstanding +thou hast called mother: 56 and for this I haue shewed thee riches with +the Highest. For it shal be after other three dayes, I wil speake other +thinges to thee, and I wil expound to thee weightie and meruelous +thinges. 57 And I went forth, and passed into the fielde, much +glorifying & praising the Highest for the meruelous thinges that he did +by time. 58 And because he gouerneth it, and the thinges that are +brought in times, & I sate there three dayes. + + + +CHAP. XIIII. + + +God appeareth in a bush, 6. reuealing some thinges to be published, and +some thinges to be hid. 10. As the world waxeth old, al thinges become +worse. 27. The people of Israel are vngratful. 32. Al shal be iudged in +the Resurrection according to their deedes. + +AND it came to passe the third day, and I sate vnder an oke. 2 And +behold a voice came forth against me out of a bush, and sayd: Esdras, +Esdras: and I sayd: Loe here I am Lord. And I arose vpon my feete. +And he sayd to me: 3 Reueling I was reueled vpon the bush, and spake to +Moyses, when the people serued in AEgypt, (Ex 3) 4 and I sent him, and +brought my people out of AEgypt, and brought him vpon mount Sina, & held +him with me manie dayes. 5 And I told him manie meruelous thinges, & +shewed him the secrets of times, and the end: and I commanded him, +saying: 6 These wordes thou shalt publish abroade, and these thou shalt +hyde. 7 And now to thee I say: 8 The signes which I haue shewed, and +the dreames which thou hast sene, and the interpretations which thou hast +sene, lay them vp in thy hart. 9 For thou shalt be receiued of al, thou +shalt be conuerted the residue with thy counsel, and with the like to +thee, til the times be finished: 10 Because the world hath lost his +youth, and the times draw nere to waxe old. 11 For the world is diuided +by twelue partes, & the tenth part, & half of the tenth part are passed: +12 and there remaineth hereafter the half of the tenth part. 13 Now +therefore dispose thy house, and correct thy people, & comfort the humble +of them, & forsake now corruption, 14 and put from thee mortal +cogitations, and cast from thee humane burdens, and doe from thee now +infirme nature, & lay at one side cogitations most trublesome to thee, & +make speedie transmigration from these times, 15 for the euiles which +thou hast sene to haue chanced now, worse then these wil they doe againe: +(Matt 24 / 1 John 2) 16 for looke how much the world shal become weake +by age, so much shal euiles be multiplied vpon the inhabitants. 17 For +truth hath remoued it self farther of, and lying hath approched, for now +the vision which thou sawest, hasteneth to come. 18 And I answered, and +sayd before thee o Lord: 19 For behold I wil goe, as thou hast commanded +me, & wil rebuke the people that now is. But them that shal yet be born, +who shal admonish? 20 The world therfore is set in darknes, and they +that dwel in it without light. 21 Because thy law is burnt, therefore no +man knowth the workes that haue bene done by thee, or that shal begin. +22 For if I haue found grace with thee, send the Holie Ghost to me, & I +wil write al that hath bene done in the world from the beginning, the +thinges that were written in thy law, that men may finde the pathe: and +they that wil liue in the later times, may liue. 23 And he answered me, +and sayd: Goe gather together the people, and thou shalt say to them, +that they seeke thee not for fourtie dayes. 24 And doe thou prepare thee +manie tables of boxe, & take with thee Sarea, Dabria, Salemia, Echanus, +and Asiel, these fiue which are readie to write sweeftly. 25 And come +hither, & I wil light in thy hart a candle of vnderstanding, which shal +not be put out til the things be finished, which thou shalt begine to +write. 26 And then some thinges thou shalt open to the perfect, some +thou shalt deliuer secretly to the wyse. For to morrow this houre thou +shalt begine to write. 27 And I went as he commanded me, & gathered +together al the people, and sayd: 28 Heare Israel these wordes: 29 Our +fathers were pilgrimes from the beginning in AEgypt, and were deliuered +from thence. (Gen 47) 30 And they receiued the law of life, which they +kept not, which you also after them haue transgressed: (Deut 4 / Acts 7) +31 and the land was geuen you by lotte, and the land of Sion, and your +fathers, and you haue done iniquitie, and haue not kept the wayes which +the Highest commanded you. 32 And whereas he is a iust iudge, he hath +taken from you in time that which he had geuen. 33 And now you are here, +and your brethren are among you. 34 If then you wil rule ouer your +sense, & instruct your hart, you shal be preserued aliue, and after death +shal obtaine mercie. 35 For the iudgement shal come after death, when we +shal returne to lyfe againe: and then the names of the iust shal +appeare, and the dedes of the impious shal be shewed. 36 Let no man +therfore come to me now, nor aske for me vntil fourtie dayes. 37 And I +tooke the fiue men, as he commandede me, and we went forth into the +field, and taried there. 38 And I was come to the morrow, & behold as +voice called me, saying: Esdras open thy mouth, and drinke that which I +wil geue thee to drinke. (Ezech 3) 39 And I opened my mouth, & behold a +ful cuppe was brought me, this was ful as it were with water: but the +colour therof like as fire. 40 And I tooke it, and dranke; and when I +had drunken of it, my hart was tormented with vnderstanding, and wisdome +grewe into my brest. For my spirit was kept by memorie. 41 And my mouth +was opened, and was shut no more. 42 The Highest gaue vnderstanding vnto +the fiue men, and they wrote excesses of the night which were spoken, +which they knewe not. 43 And at night they did eate breade, but I spake +by day, & by night held not my peace. 44 And there were written in the +fourtie dayes two hundred foure bookes. 45 And it came to passe when +they had ended the fourtie daies, the Highest spake, saying: 46 The +former thinges which thou hast written, set abrode, and let the worthie +and vnworthiereade: but the last seuentie bookes thou shalt keepe, that +thou mayest deliuer them to the wyse of thy people. 47 For in these is +the vaine of vnderstanding, and the fountaine of wisdome, and the streame +of knowledge. and I did soe. + + + +CHAP. XV. + + +Esdras is bid to denounce, that assuredly manie euiles wil come to the +world. 9. God wil protect his people, the wicked shal be punished, and +lament their final miseries, God reuenging for the good. + +BEHOLD speake into the eares of my people the wordes of prophecie, which +I shal put into thy mouth, sayth our Lord: 2 and see that they be +written in paper, because they be faithful and true. 3 Be not afrayd of +the cogitations against thee, neither let the incredulities truble thee +of them that speake. 4 Because euerie incredulous person shal dye in his +incredulitie. 5 Behold I bring in, sayth our Lord, vpon the whole earth +euils, sword, and famine, and death, and destruction. 6 Because +iniquitie hath fully polluted ouer al the earth, and their hurtful workes +are accomplished. 7 Therefore sayth our Lord: 8 I wil not now kepe +silence of their impieties which they doe irreligiously, neither wil I +beare with those thinges, which they practise vniustly. Behold the +innocent & iust bloud crieth to me, & the soules of the iust crie +continually. 9 Reuenging I wil reuenge them, sayth our Lord, and I wil +take al innocent bloud out of them vnto me. (Apoc 6:10 & 19:2) +10 Behold my people is led to slaughter as a flocke, I wil no more suffer +it to dwel in the land of AEgypt. 11 But I wil bring them forth in a +mightie hand and valiant arme, and wil strike with plague as before, and +wil corrupt al the land thereof. 12 AEgypt shal mourne, and fundations +thereof beaten with plague, and with the chastisement which God wil bring +vpon it. 13 The husbandmen that til the ground shal mourne, because +their seedes shal perish by blasting, and haile, and by a terible starre. +14 Woe to the world and them that dwel therein. 15 Because the sword is +at hand and the destruction of them, and nation shal rise vp against +nation to fight, & sword in their handes. (Matt 24 / Luke 21) 16 For +there shal be instabilitie to men, & growing one against an other they +shal not care for their king, & the princes of the way of their doinges, +in their might. 17 For a man shal desire to go into the citie & can not. +18 Because of their prides the cities shal be trubled, the houses raised, +the men shal feare. 19 Man shal not pitie his neighbour, to make their +houses nothing worth in the sword, to spoyle their goodes for famine of +bread, & much tribulation. 20 Behold, I cal together sayth God, al the +kinges of the earth to feare me, that are from the Orient, & from the +South, from the East, & from Libanus, to be turned vpon themselues, and +to render the thinges that they haue geuen them. 21 As they doe vntil +this day to myne elect, so wil I doe, and render in their bosome. Thus +sayth our Lord God: 22 My right hand shal not spare sinners, neither +shal the sword cease vpon them that shede innocent bloud vpon the earth. +23 Fire came forth from his wrath, and hath deuoured the fundations of +the earth, and sinners as it were straw set on fire. 24 Woe to them that +sinne, and obserue not my comandmentes, sayth our Lord. 25 I wil not +spare them: depart o children from the powre. Defile not my +sanctification: 26 because the Lord knoweth al that sinne against him; +therefore hath he deliuered them into death and into slaughter. 27 For +now are euils come vpon the world, and you shal tarrie in them. For God +wil not deliuer you, because you haue sinned against him. 28 Behold an +horrible vision, and the face of it from the east. 29 And the nations of +dragons of Arabians shal come forth in manie chariots, & as a winde the +number of them is caried vpon the earth, so that now al doe feare and +tremble, that shal heare them. 30 the Carmonians madde for anger, and +they shal goe forth as wild boares out of the wood, & they shal come with +great power, and shal stand in fight with them, & they shal waste the +portion of the land of the Assirians. 31 And after these thinges the +dragons shal preuaile mindful of their natiuitie, and conspiring shal +turne themselues in great force to pursue them. 32 These shal be trubled +and hold their peace at their force, and shal turne their fete into +flight. 33 And from the territorie of the Assirians the besiegers shal +beseige them, and shal consume one of them, and there shal be feare and +trembling in their armie, and contention against their kinges. 34 Behold +cloudes from the east, and from the north vnto the south, and their face +very horrible, ful of wrath and storme. 35 And they shal beate one +against an other, and they shal beate downe manie starres, and their +starre vpon the earth, and bloud shal be from the sword vnto the bellie. +36 And mans dung vnto the camels litter, and there shal be much feare, +and trembling vpon the earth. 37 And they shal shake that shal see that +wrath, and tremble shal take them: and after these thinges there shal +manie showers be moued: 38 from the south, and the north: and an other +portion from the weast. 39 And the windes from the east shal reuaile +vpon it, and shal shut it vp, and the cloudes which he raised in wrath, +and the starre to make terrour to the east winde, and the west shal be +destroyed. 40 And there shal be exalted great and mightie cloudes ful of +wrath, and a starre to terrifie al the earth, and the inhabitantes +therof, and they shal powre in vpon euerie high, and eminent place a +terrible starre, 41 fire, and haile, and flying swordes, and manie +waters, so that al fildes also shal be filled, and al riuers with the +fulnes of manie waters. 42 And they shal throw downe cities, and walles, +and mountaines, and hilles, and the trees of the woodes, and the grasse +of the medowes, and their corne. 43 And they shal passe constant vnto +Babylon, and shal raise her. (Apoc 18) 44 They shal come together +against her, and shal compasse her, and shal power out the starre, and al +wrath vpon her, and the dust and smoke shal goe vp euen into heauen, and +round about shal lament her. 45 And they that shal remaine vnder her, +shal serue them that terified her. 46 And thou Asia agreeing into the +hope of Babylon, and the glorie of her person, 47 woe be to thee thou +wretch, because thou art like to her, and hast adorned thy daughters in +fornication, to please & glorie in thy louers, which haue desired alwayes +to fornicate with thee. 48 Thou hast imitated the odious in al her +workes, and in her inuentions: therefore sayth God: 49 I wil send in +euils vpon thee, widowhood, pouertie, and famine, and sword, and +pestilence, to destroy thy houses by violation, and death, and glorie of +thy vertue. 50 As a flower shal be withered, when the heate shal rise +that is sent forth vpon thee, 51 thou shalt be weakned as a litle poore +soule plaged and chastised of wemen, that the mightie and the louers may +not receiue thee. 52 Wil I be zealous against thee sayth our Lord, +53 vnles thou hadst slayne myne elect at al times, exalting the slaughter +of the handes, and saying vpon their death, when thou wast drunken. +54 Adorne the beautie of thy countenance. 55 The reward of thy +fornication is in thy bosome, therefore thou shalt receiue recompence. +56 As thou shalt doe to my elect, sayth our Lord, so shal God do to thee, +and shal deliuer thee vnto euil. 57 And thy children shal dye for +famine: and thou shalt fal by the sword, and thy cities shal be +destroyed, & al thyne shal fal in the filde by the sword. 58 And they +that are in the mountaines, shal perish, with famine, and shal eate their +owne flesh, & drinke bloud, for the famine of bread and thirst of waters. +59 Vnhappie by the seas shalt thou come, and againe thou shalt receuie +euils. 60 And in the passage they shal beate against the idle citie, and +shal destroy some portion of thy land, and shal deface part of thy +glorie, againe returning to Babylon ourethrowen. 61 And being throwen +downe thou shalt be to them for stubble, and they shal be to thee fire: +62 and deuoure thee, and thy cities, thy land, and thy mountaynes, al thy +woodes and fruitful trees they wil burne with fire. 63 Thy children they +shal lead captiue, & shal haue thy goodes for a praye, and the glorie of +thy face they shal destroy. + + + +CHAP. XVI. + + +Al are admonished, that extreme calamities shal fal vpon this world, +36. the penitent returning to iustice shal escape, 55. & as al thinges +were made by Gods omnipotent powre at his wil, so al thinges shal serue +to the reward of the blessed, and punishment of the wicked. + +VVOE to thee Babylon & Asia, woe to thee AEgypt, and Syria. 2 Gird +yourselues with sackclothes and shirtes of heare, & mourne for your +children, & be sorie: because your destruction is at hand. 3 The sword +is sent in vpon you, and who is he that can turne it away? 4 Fire is +sent in vpon you, and who is he that can quench it? 5 Euiles are sent in +vpon you, and who is he that can repel them? 6 Shal anie man repel the +lion being hungrie in the woode, or quench the fire in stubble, forthwith +when it beginneth to burne? 7 Shal anie man repel the arrow shot of a +strong archer? 8 Our strong Lord sendeth in euiles, and who is he that +can repel them? 9 Fire came forth from his wrath, and who is he that can +quench it? 10 He wil lighten, who shal not feare, he wil thunder, and +who shal not be afrayed? 11 Our Lord wil threaten, and who shal not +vtterly be destroyed before his face? 12 The earth hath trembled, and +the fundations thereof, the sea tosseth vp waues from the depth, and the +floudes of it shal be destroyed, and the fishes thereof at the face of +our Lord, and at the glorie of his powre: 13 because his right hand is +strong which bendeth the bow, his arrowes be sharpe that are shot of him, +they shal not misse, when they shal begine to be shot into the endes of +the earth. 14 Behold euiles are sent, and they shal not returne til they +come vpon the earth. 15 The fire is kindled and it shal not be quenched, +til it consume the fundations of the earth. 16 For as the arrow shot of +a strong archer returneth not, so shal not the euils returne backe, that +shal be sent vpon the earth. 17 Woe is me, woe is me: who shal deliuer +me in those dayes? 18 The beginning of sorrowes and much mourning, the +beginning of famine and much destruction. The beginning of warres and +the potestates shal feare, the beginning of euiles and al shal tremble. +19 In these what shal I doe, when the euils shal come? 20 Behold famine, +and plague, and tribulation, and distresse are sent al as scourges for +amendment, 21 and in al these they wil not conuert themselues from their +iniquities, neither wil they be alwayes mindful of the scourges. +22 Behold, there shal be good cheape victuals vpon the earth, so that +they may thinke that peace is directly coming toward them, and then shal +euiles spring vpon the earth, sword, famine, and great confusion. 23 For +by famine manie that inhabit the earth shal dye, and the sword shal +destroy the rest that remained aliue of the famine, 24 and the dead shal +be cast forth as dung, and there shal be none to comfort them. For the +earth shal be left desert, and the cities therof shal be throwen downe. +25 There shal not be left a man to til the ground and to sow it. 26 The +trees shal yeeld fruites, and who shal gather them? 27 The grape shal +become ripe, & who shal tread it? For there shal be great desolation to +places. 28 For a man shal desire to see a man, or to heare his voyce. +29 For there shal be leaft ten of a citie, and two of the field that haue +hid themselues in thicke woodes, and cliffes of rockes. 30 As there are +left in the oliuet, and on euerie tree, three of foure oliues. 31 Or as +in a vinyeard when it is gathered there are grapes left by them, that +diligently search the vineyard: 32 so shal there be left in those dayes +three or foure, by them that search their houses in the sword. 33 And +the earth shal be left desolate, and the fildes thereof shal waxe old, & +the wayes thereof, and al the pathes thereof shal bringforth thornes, +because no man shal passe by it. 34 Virgins shal mourne hauing no +bridegromes, wemen shal mourne hauing no husbandes, their daughters shal +mourne hauing no helpe: 35 their bridegromes shal be consumed in battel, +and their husbandes be destroyed in famine. 36 But heare these thinges, +and know them ye seruantes of our Lord. 37 Behold the word of our Lord, +receiue it: beleue not the goddes of whom our Lord speaketh. 38 Behold +the euiles approch, and slacke not. 39 As a woman with childe when shee +bringeth forth her child in the ninth moneth, the houre of her +deliuerance approching, two or three howres before, paines come about her +wombe, and the infants coming out of her wombe, they wil not tarrie one +moment. 40 So the euiles shal not slacke to come forth vpon the earth, +and the world shal lament, and sorowes shal hold it round about. +41 Heare the word, my people: prepare yourselues vnto the fight, & in +the euiles so be ye as strangers of the earth. 42 He that selleth as if +he should flee, and he that byeth as he that should lose it. 43 He that +playeth the marchant, as he that should take no fruite: and he that +buildeth as he that should not inhabite. 44 He that soweth, as he that +shal not reape: so he also that pruneth a vinyeard, as if he should not +haue the vintage. 45 They that marie so as if they should not get +children, & they that marie not, so as if were widowes. 46 Wherfore they +that labour, labour without cause: 47 for foreners shal reape their +fruites, & shal violently take their goodes, and ouerthrow their houses, +and lead theire children captiue, because in captiuitie, and famine they +beget their children. 48 And they that play the marchantes by robrie, +the longer they adorne their cities and houses, and their possessions and +persons: 49 so much the more wil I be zealous toward them, vpon their +sinnes, sayth our Lord. 50 As a whore enuieth an honest & very good +woman: 51 so shal iustice hate impietie when she adorneth herselfe, and +accuseth her to her face, when he shal come that may defend him that +searcheth out al vpon the earth. 52 Therefore be not made like to her, +nor to her workes. 53 For yet a little whyle & iniquitie shal be taken +away from the earth, & iustice shal reigne ouer you. 54 Let not the +sinner say he hath not sinned: because he shal burne coales of fire vpon +his head, that sayth I haue not sinned before our Lord God and his +glorie. 55 Behold our Lord shal know al the workes of men, and their +inuentions, & their cogitations, and their hartes. (Eccli 23 / Luke 16) +56 For he sayd: Let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heauen +be made, & it was made. (Gen 1) 57 And by his worde the starrs were +made, & he noweth the number of the starres. (Ps 146:4) 58 Who +searcheth the depth and the treasures therof: who hath measured the sea, +& capacitie therof. (Job 38) 59 Who hath shut vp the sea in the midest +of waters, & hath hanged the earth vpon the waters with his word. 60 Who +hath spred heauen as it were a vault, ouer the waters he hath founded it. +61 Who hath put fountaines of waters in the desert, and lakes vpon the +toppes of mountaines, to send forth riuers from the high rocke to watter +the earth. 62 Who made man & put his hart in the midds of the bodie, and +gaue him spirit, life and vnderstanding. 63 And the inspiration of God +omnipotent that made al thinges, and searcheth al hid thinges, in the +secretes of the earth. 64 He knoweth your inuention, and what you thinke +in your hartes sinning, and willing to hide your sinnes. 65 Wherfore our +Lord in searching hath searched al your workes, and he wil put you al to +open shame, 66 and you shal be confounded when your sinnes shal come +forth before men, and the iniquities shal be they, that shal stand +accusers in that day. 67 What wil you doe? or how shal you hide your +sinnes before God and his Angels? 68 Behold God is the Iudge, feare him. +Cease from your sinnes, and now forget your iniquities to doe them anie +more, & God wil bring you out, and deliuer you from al tribulation. +69 For behold the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you, and +they shal take certaine of you by violence, & shal make the slaine to be +meate for idols. 70 And they that shal consent vnto them, shal be to +them in derision, and in reproch, and in conculcation. 71 For there shal +be place against places, and against the next cities great insurrection +vpon them that feare our Lord. 72 They shal be as it were madde sparing +no bodie, to spoyle and waste yet them that feare our Lord. 73 because +they shal waste and spoyle the goodes, and shal cast them out of their +houses. 74 Then shal appeare the probation of mine elect, as gold that +is proued by the fire. 75 Heare be beloued, sayth our Lord: Behold the +dayes of tribulation are come: and out of them I wil deliuer you. +76 Doe not feare, nor stagger, because God is your guide. 77 And he that +kepeth my commandmentes, and precepts, sayth our Lord God: Let not your +sinnes ouerway you, nor your inquities be aduanced ouer you. 78 Woe to +them that are entangled with their sinnes, and are couered with their +iniquities, as a filde is entangled with the wood, & the path therof +couered with thornes, by which no man passeth, & it is closed out, & cast +to be deuoured of the fire. + +FINIS. + + + +Note: This translation comes from the Latin text, usually printed in an +appendix to editions of the Vulgate, but these editions miss seventy +verses between 7:35 and 7:36. The missing fragment was discovered in a +Latin manuscript by Robert Lubbock Bensly in 1874. Below is a +translation of this fragment from a revised Authorized Version. +Although often numbered 7:36-7:105, they are here number as A:1-A:70 to +avoid any repetition in chapter:verse designations. + +A:1. And the pit of torment shall appear, and over against it shall be +the place of rest: and the furnace of hell shall be shewed, and over +against it the paradise of delight. +A:2. And then shall the Most High say to the nations that are raised from +the dead, See ye and understand whom ye have denied, or whom ye have not +served, or whose commandments ye have despised. +A:3. Look on this side and on that: here is delight and rest, and there +fire and torments. Thus shall he speak unto them in the day of +judgement: +A:4. This is a day that hath neither sun, nor moon, nor stars, +A:5. neither cloud, nor thunder, nor lightning, neither wind, nor water, +nor air, neither darkness, nor evening, nor morning, +A:6. neither summer, nor spring, nor heat, nor winter, neither frost, nor +cold, nor hail, nor rain, nor dew, +A:7. neither noon, nor night, nor dawn, neither shining, nor brightness, +nor light, save only the splendour of the glory of the Most High, whereby +all shall see the things that are set before them: +A:8. for it shall endure as it were a week of years. +A:9. This is my judgement and the ordinance thereof; but to thee only +have I shewed these things. +A:10. And I answered, I said even then, O Lord, and I say now: Blessed +are they that be now alive and keep the statutes ordained of thee. +A:11. But as touching them for whom my prayer was made, what shall I say? +for who is there of them that be alive that hath not sinned, and who of +the sons of men that hath not transgressed thy covenant? +A:12. And now I see, that the world to come shall bring delight to few, +but torments unto many. +A:13. For an evil heart hath grown up in us, which hath led us astray +from these statutes, and hath brought us into corruption and into the +ways of death, hath shewed us the paths of perdition and removed us far +from life; and that, not a few only, but well nigh all that have been +created. +A:14. And he answered me, and said, Hearken unto me, and I will instruct +thee; and I will admonish thee yet again: +A:15. for this cause the Most High hath not made one world, but two. +A:16. For whereas thou hast said that the just are not many, but few, and +the ungodly abound, hear the answer thereunto. +A:17. If thou have choice stones exceeding few, wilt thou set for thee +over against them according to their number things of lead and clay? +A:18. And I say, Lord, how shall this be? +A:19. And he said unto me, Not only this, but ask the earth, and she +shall tell thee; intreat her, and she shall declare unto thee. +A:20. For thou shalt say unto her, Thou bringest forth gold and silver +and brass, and iron also and lead and clay: +A:21. but silver is more abundant than gold, and brass than silver, and +iron than brass, lead than iron, and clay than lead. +A:22. Judge thou therefore which things are precious and to be desired, +whatso is abundant or what is rare. +A:23. And I said, O Lord that bearest rule, that which is plentiful is of +less worth, for that which is more rare is more precious. +A:24. And he answered me, and said, Weigh within thyself the things that +thou hast thought, for he that hath what is hard to get rejoiceth over +him that hath what is plentiful. +A:25. So also is the judgement which I have promised: for I will rejoice +over the few that shall be saved, inasmuch as these are they that have +made my glory now to prevail, and of whom my name is now named. +A:26. And I will not grieve over the multitude of them that perish; for +these are they that are now like unto vapour, and are become as flame and +smoke; they are set on fire and burn hotly, and are quenched. +A:27. And I answered and said, O thou earth, wherefore hast thou brought +forth, if the mind is made out of dust, like as all other created things? +A:28. For it were better that the dust itself had been unborn, so that +the mind might not have been made therefrom. +A:29. But now the mind groweth with us, and by reason of this we are +tormented, because we perish and know it. +A:30. Let the race of men lament and the beasts of the field be glad; let +all that are born lament, but let the fourfooted beasts and the cattle +rejoice. +A:31. For it is far better with them than with us; for they look not for +judgement, neither do they know of torments or of salvation promised unto +them after death. +A:32. For what doth it profit us, that we shall be preserved alive, but +yet be afflicted with torment? +A:33. For all that are born are defiled with iniquities, and are full of +sins and laden with offences: +A:34. and if after death we were not to come into judgement, peradventure +it had been better for us. +A:35. And he answered me, and said, When the Most High made the world, +and Adam and all them that came of him, he first prepared the judgement +and the things that pertain unto the judgement. +A:36. And now understand from thine own words, for thou hast said that +the mind groweth with us. +A:37. They therefore that dwell upon the earth shall be tormented for +this reason, that having understanding they have wrought iniquity, and +receiving commandments have not kept them, and having obtained a law they +dealt unfaithfully with that which they received. +A:38. What then will they have to say in the judgement, or how will they +answer in the last times? +A:39. For how great a time hath the Most High been longsuffering with +them that inhabit the world, and not for their sakes, but because of the +times which he hath foreordained! +A:40. And I answered and said, If I have found grace in thy sight, O +Lord, shew this also unto thy servant, whether after death, even now when +every one of us giveth up his soul, we shall be kept in rest until those +times come, in which thou shalt renew the creation, of whether we shall +be tormented forthwith. +A:41. And he answered me, and said, I will shew thee this also; but join +not thyself with them that are scorners, nor number thyself with them +that are tormented. +A:42. For thou hast a treasure of good works laid up with the Most High, +but it shall not be shewed thee until the last times. +A:43. For concerning death the teaching is: When the determinate +sentence hath gone forth from the Most High that a man should die, as the +spirit leaveth the body to return again to him who gave it, it adoreth +the glory of the Most High first of all. +A:44. And if it be one of those that have been scorners and have not kept +the way of the Most High, and that have despised his law, and that hate +them that fear God, +A:45. these spirits shall not enter into habitations, but shall wander +and be in torments forthwith, ever grieving and sad, in seven ways. +A:46. The first way, because they have despised the law of the Most High. +A:47. The second way, because they cannot now make a good returning that +they may live. +A:48. The third way, they shall see the reward laid up for them that have +believed the covenants of the Most High. +A:49. The fourth way, they shall consider the torment laid up for +themselves in the last days. +A:50. The fifth way, they shall see the dwelling places of the others +guarded by angels, with great quietness. +A:51. The sixth way, they shall see how forthwith some of them shall pass +into torment. +A:52. The seventh way, which is more grievous than all the aforesaid +ways, because they shall pine away in confusion and be consumed with +shame, and shall be withered up by fears, seeing the glory of the Most +High before whom they have sinned whilst living, and before whom they +shall be judged in the last times. +A:53. Now this is the order of those who have kept the ways of the Most +High, when they shall be separated from the corruptible vessel. +A:54. In the time that they dwelt therin they painfully served the Most +High, and were in jeopardy every hour, that they might keep the law of +the lawgiver perfectly. +A:55. Wherefore this is the teaching concerning them: +A:56. First of all they shall see with great joy the glory of him who +taketh them up, for they shall have rest in seven orders. +A:57. The first order, because they have striven with great labour to +overcome the evil thought which was fashioned together with them, that it +might not lead them astray from life into death. +A:58. The second order, because they see the perplexity in which the +souls of the ungodly wander, and the punishment that awaiteth them. +A:59. The third order, they see the witness which he that fashioned them +beareth concerning them, that while they lived they kept the law which +was given them in trust. +A:60. The fourth order, they understand the rest which, being gathered in +their chambers, they now enjoy with great quietness, guarded by angels, +and the glory that awaiteth them in the last days. +A:61. The fifth order, they rejoice, seeing how they have now escaped +from that which is corruptible, and how they shall inherit that which is +to come, while they see moreover the straitness and the painfulness from +which they have been delivered, and the large room which they shall +receive with joy and immortality. +A:62. The sixth order, when it is shewed unto them how their face shall +shine as the sun, and how they shall be made like unto the light of the +stars, being henceforth incorruptible. +A:63. The seventh order, which is greater than all the aforesaid orders, +because they shall rejoice with confidence, and because they shall be +bold without confusion, and shall be glad without fear, for they hasten +to behold the face of him whom in their lifetime they served, and from +whom they shall receive their reward in glory. +A:64. This is the order of the souls of the just, as from henceforth is +announced unto them, and aforesaid are the ways of torture which they +that would not give heed shall suffer from henceforth. +A:65. And I answered and said, Shall time therefore be given unto the +souls after they are separated from the bodies, that they may see that +whereof thou hast spoken unto me? +A:66. And he said, Their freedom shall be for seven days, that for seven +days they may see the things whereof thou hast been told, and afterwards +they shall be gathered together in their habitations. +A:67. And I answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, shew +further unto me thy servant whether in the day of judgement the just will +be able to intercede for the ungodly or to intreat the Most High for +them, +A:68. whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or brethren +for brethren, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for them that +are most dear. +A:69. And he answered me, and said, Since thou hast found favour in my +sight, I will shew thee this also: The day of judgement is a day of +decision, and displayeth unto all the seal of truth; even as now a father +sendeth not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a +friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may be sick, or sleep, +or eat, or be healed: +A:70. so never shall any one pray for another in that day, neither shall +one lay a burden on another, for then shall all bear every one his own +righteousness or unrighteousness. + + + + + +BOOK FOR COMPARISON + + + + +THE PROPHECIE OF ABDIAS. + + + +ABDIAS borne in Sichem, of the tribe Ephraim, prophecied the same time +with Amos; so briefly that his prophecie is not parted into chapters: +1. against the Idumeans; foreshewing their destruction; 10. for their +perpetual emnitie against the Iewes, and confederacie with the Chaldees. +17. The captiuitie and relaxation of the Iewes. 19. And redemption of +the whole world by Christ. + + +THE vision of Abdias. Thus sayth our Lord God to Edom: We haue heard a +bruit from our Lord, and he hath sent a legate to the Gentils: Rise ye, +and let vs arise against him into battel. 2 Behold I haue geuen thee a +litle one in the Gentils: thou art contemptible excedingly. 3 The pride +of thy hart hath extolled thee, dwelling in the clefts of rockes, +exalting thy throne: which sayst in thy hart: Who shal plucke me downe +to the earth. 4 If thou shalt be exalted as an eagle, and if thou shalt +set thy nest among the starres: thence wil I plucke thee downe, sayth +our Lord. 5 If theues had gone in to thee, if robbers by night, how +hadst thou held thy peace. would not they haue stolen thinges sufficent +for themselues. if the grape gathereres had entered in to thee, would +they not haue left thee at the least a cluster. 6 How haue they searched +Esau, haue they sought out his hidden thinges. 7 Euen to the border haue +they cast thee out: al the men of thy league haue mocked thee: the men +of thy peace haue peuailed against thee: they that eate with thee, shal +lay embushments vnder thee: there is no wisedom in him. 8 Why, shal not +I in that day, sayth our Lord, destroy the wise out of Idumea, and +prudence from the mount of Esau, 9 And thy valients of the South shal +feare, that man may perish from the mount of Esau. 10 For the slaughter, +and for the iniquitie against thy brother Iacob, confusion shal couer +thee, and thou shalt perish for euer. 11 In the day when thou stoodest +against him, when strangers tooke his armie, and foreners entered his +gates, and vpon Ierusalem cast lotte: thou also wast as one of them. +12 And thou shalt not dispise in the day of thy brother, in the day of +his peregrination: and thou shalt not reioyce ouer the children of Iuda, +in the day of their perdition: & thou shalt not magnifie thy mouth in +the day of distresse. 13 Neither shalt thou enter the gate of my people +in the day of their ruine: neither shalt thou also dispise in his euils +in the day of his distruction: and thou shalt not be sent out against +his armie in the day of his destruction. 14 Neither shalt thou stand in +the outgoings to kil them that flee: and thou shalt not shut vp his +remnant in the day of tribulation. 15 Because the day of our Lord is at +hand vpon al nations: as thou hast done, so shal it be done to thee: +thy retribution he wil returne vpon thine owne head. 16 For as you haue +drunke vpon my holie mount, shal al Gentils drinke continually: & they +shal drinke, and swallow vp, and they shal be as though they were not. +17 And in mount Sion shal be saluation, and it shal be holie: and the +house of Iacob shal possesse those that had possessed them. 18 And the +house of Iacob shal be a fyre, and the house of Ioseph a flame, and the +house of Esau stubble: and they shal be kindled in them, and shal +deuoure them: and there shal be no remaynes of the house of Esau, +because our Lord hath spoken. 19 And they that are toward the South, +shal inherite the mount of Esau, and they in the champaine countries, +Philisthiims: and they shal possesse the region of Ephraim, and the +region of Samaria: and Beniamin shal possesse Galaad. 20 And the +transmigration of this host of the children of Israel, al places of the +Chananeits euen to Sarepta: and the transmigration of Ierusalem, that is +in Bosphorus, shal possesse the cities of the South. 21 And sauiours +shal ascend into mount Sion to iudge the mount of Esau: and the kingdom +shal be to our Lord. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version, O.T. 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