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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8325.txt b/8325.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e2aa21 --- /dev/null +++ b/8325.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2075 @@ +Project Gutenberg EBook The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 25: Wisdom + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + + +Title: The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 25: Wisdom + The Challoner Revision + +Release Date: June, 2005 [EBook #8325] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on July 4, 2003] + + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BIBLE, DOUAY-RHEIMS, BOOK 25*** + + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger +from etext #1581 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 + + + + + +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 iniqnity, 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, dealiug 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. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BIBLE, DOUAY-RHEIMS, BOOK 25 *** + +*********** This file should be named 8325.txt or 8325.zip *********** + +Produced by David Widger + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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