3.2.5.22. 3Fr0m tl|p ICtbrartf nf l&tqntntl}th hg tjtm to tl|0 ttbrarg 0f Prtnrrt0n SIjMbgiral g^rmtnarQ BS 390 .S84 1896 Bible. Bible selections for daily devotion OTHER BOOKS BY SYLVANUS STALL. D. D. FIVE-MINUTE OBJECT SERMONS TO CHILDREN. " Far better than Newton's, the anecdotes and subjects of which have long since become common property. Many of the subjects are very fresh and telling." — New York Evangelist. " Delightful and instructive reading for the family circle on Sunday afternoons." — The Ratn's Horn. Pp. 253. Price, $1.00. TALKS TO THE KING'S CHILDREN. " The Rev. Dr. Sylvanus Stall is one of the best preachers for young people in the American pulpit. His ' Five-Minute Object Sermons ' to children was an ideal book in its class. The present volume is a second series of the same kind, and will be found to have no less point and charm than the vol- ume published two years ago." — Neiv York Indepetident. Pp. 249. Price, $1.00. METHODS OF CHURCH WORK. "It is stimulating, helpful, worth its weight in gold to any minister who wishes to accomplish anything for the kingdom of Christ." — New York Christian Intelligencer. Pp. 304. Price, $1.50. PASTOR'S POCKET RECORD. Undenominational. " Its departments cover everything a minister wishes to record."— «^. F. Crafts, D. D. 20 Departments. Pp, 184. Price, 75c. FUNK AND WAGNALLS COMPANY NEW YORK, LONDON, AND TORONTO BIBLE SELECTIONS FOR DAILY DEVOTION 365 READINGS Specially compiled for use in Familv JVor ship, for dailv Scripture Tread- ing by Christian Endeavorers and members of all other Societies of Young People who have covenanted to read a portion of God's Word each day, and for use in the chapel services of Colleges and Universities, and by teachers in the opening services of the Public Schools Selected and A^anged by SYLVANUS "stall, D. D. AUTHOR OF "methods OF CHURCH-WORK," " FIVE-MINUTE OBJECT SERMONS TO CHILDREN," "TALKS TO THE KING's CHIL- DREN," " pastor's pocket RECORD," ETC., ETC. AUTHORIZED VERSION NEW YORK FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LONDON AND TORONTO 1896 Copyright, 1896, BY SYLVANUS STALL. Registered at Stationers' Hall, London, England. [Printed in the United States] CONTENTS. Genesis, . Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, . Ruth, I. Samuel, II. Samuel, I. Chronicles, I. Kings and II II. Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel^ Daniel, Chronicles (harmonized). PAGE 21 49 8i 90 98 no 121 126 149 162 168 197 204 211 216 227 247 249 319 342 354 357 365 vi CONTENTS. PAGE Joel, 386 Jonah, 388 MiCAH, 391 Malachi, . . . . 393 The Four Gospels, 399 Acts, 559 Romans, 601 I. Corinthians, . . . 611 II. Corinthians, 620 Galatians, 625 Ephesians, 627 Philippians, 633 Colossians, 635 I. Thessalonians, 638 I. Timothy, 639 II. Timothy, 641 Titus, 643 Hebrews, 644 James, 652 I. Peter, 656 II. Peter, 662 I. John, 665 Revelation, 671 SELECTIONS FOR CHURCH FESTIVAL DAYS AND OTHER OCCASIONS. SELECTION PAGE Christmas Day, 193 399 New-Year's Day, 132 277 Epiphany . 194 401 Palm Sunday, 255 505 Good Friday, 278 546 279 547 Easter, 280 550 " 281 552 282 554 Ascension Day, 284 557 Fast-Day, 162 337 " " 2X1 428 Humiliation, 46 105 " ....... 126 266 249 494 Thanksgiving, 139 293 45 103 Marriage, 332 631 198 409 Sickness or Death of Child, ... 86 181 Death, ........ no 230 Funeral, 324 618 After a Funeral, 336 638 Pentecost or Whitsunday, .... 286 561 287 562 Temperance, 150 3^3 Vll PREFACE. That there has been a falling off in the good old-fashioned custom of daily famify worship, there can be no doubt. Just how much of this deplorable condition is due to the difficulty of hastily selecting scriptural passages suited to the service, it might not be easy to determine; but fully persuaded that this is an obstacle of considerable moment, we have given ourselves with much time and pains-taking during the past three years to a careful study of the Scrip- tures, with a view of selecting three hundred and sixty-five devotional readings suited for family worship, for chapel services in colleges, for the opening devotions in the public school, and for the use of young people in the Endeavor and other societies who have covenanted to read a portion of the Bible each day. In this work we have sought to avoid the fragmentary and desultory character of Bible study which has become so common. While these selections have been made with special reference to the choice of such portions of the Scrip- ture as seem best suited for devotional purposes, we have at the same time been governed by two other important prin- ciples. First, to avoid the prevalent tendency to break the entire Bible into fragments of three, four, or eight, or ten verses, with only an occasional longer passage, and then arrange them into a sort of scriptural mosaic, designed to set forth some denominational doctrine or ecclesiastical cultus. We have conscientiously preferred to leave each PREFACE. selection to teach whatever God in his infinite wisdom saw fit to intrust to it. And secondly, while following the order adopted in the arrangements of the books of the Old and New Testaments, we have sought also to have each selection to bear such a relation to the other selections from the same book as to preserve the narrative, history, or teaching in its largest possible entirety; always, however, remembering that the purpose of the compilation was to provide passages suited for family and private devotion. These selections are not presented as in any sense an abridgment or a substitute for the entire Bible; or even as necessarily containing the most important parts of God's Word. This volume is not meant in any sense to take the place of the Bible as a whole. The Bible in its entirety should be read and studied as a complete book. But in its preparation we have sought to bring together such devo- tional passages as would form a volume that could be opened at any place with the assurance that any and every passage would be found suited in character and length to be read with the family, would be edifying to children, suited to the spiritual needs of people of mature years, or be equally well suited to the use of separate individuals in the " silent time " of each day. No omission has been made which would modify the sense or affect the teaching of the context. Where any omission has been made, even in the instance of a single word, it has been carefully indicated. In the chronologically arranged Gospel narrative, when the reading passes from one clause to another removed a verse or two further on and no stars are inserted, it is because that which seems to have been omitted has only been transferred to some other portion of the narrative, where it seems properly to belong in the chronological order indicated by the other Gospel narrators. In no case has anything been added to I PREFACE. XI the text, or a single word modified, substituted, or changed; not so much as a comma has been knowingly omitted or transposed. A consciousness of the awful judgments in the last chapter of Revelation pronounced upon those who add to or take from the Word of God has been abidingly present with us throughout the entire work. In the selection of passages, we have not chosen such as are designed to teach some particular doctrine and excluded those which are designed to teach some other doctrine, or which are calculated to teach some other phase of the same doctrine; nor has any passage been excluded because of its doctrinal teachings. Passages which are usually quoted in support of the different views held concerning the sacra- ments, like all other passages, are given their proper places and left to teach whatever God purposed in his Word. The idea of adapting the book for devotional purposes has been kept constantly in mind, and while this thought has at all times been dominant, yet in our study of the Epistles, we have had also to keep in mind that what might be devo- tional for one might be above the intellectual grasp of many. Therefore, in the choice of these selections, we have .sought to keep in mind people of average culture and learn- ing, the needs of parents and children, of young and old, and especially Endeavorers and all young people who read the Scriptures daily in private devotions; as also the needs of professors and teachers in colleges and schools in the opening devotions of each day. The text used is that of the Authorized Version, although the arrangement followed has been that adopted by the editors of the Revised Version. We have omitted the verses, but indicated the numbers of both chapters and verses along the margin, and printed the text in paragraph — a feature which has been found of special value in the Revised Version. PREFACE. Where it seemed necessary to incorporate passages which contained difficult names, and where such names might not be omitted without affecting the context or teaching of the passage, the pronunciation has been indicated. It will be noticed that the pronunciation of words which might be regarded as difficult by some has only been indi- cated the first few times they occur. Their continued repetition would not only seem unnecessary, but would also in some measure spoil the appearance of the text, and thus prove a hindrance rather than a help. In the instance of words, however, which are difficult, the pronunciation is indicated to the end. In order to make this feature of value to the members of the ordinary household— and it is such who need it most — we have designedly omitted the many and various characters which would only tend to confuse and embarrass, and have simply marked those vowels which are long and those which are short, together with the accent, and divided the word into syllables, and tluis rendered the pronunciation as simple and easy as possible. The key to the pronunciation is as follows: a as in age, Abel. a (( " bat, Addon. e i i " mete, Elias. e ( ( " met, Heth. 1 i( " vine, Ahiam. 1 u '.' fin, Midian. o ii " old, Goshen. o i I " odd, Hezrod u (< " ase, Judah. u (( *' up, Uzzah. y <( '' style, Tyrus. y (( " pity, Syria. [') indicates the accented syllable. PREFACE. XIU To avoid repetition and bring the passages into chrono- logical succession, the books of I. Kings and II. Chronicles have been arranged together. The four Gospels have been arranged in one continuous narrative, in the chronological order of the events. In this part of his work the compiler lays no claim to the authority of an original investigator in the interesting department of Gospel harmony. We have followed Dr. Robinson in his "Harmony of the Four Gospels in English." While we have striven for absolute accuracy, we have not sought that critical completeness which would seek to include every word or endeavor to weave into the narrative every clause, and thus render our work critical rather than suited for devotional purposes. With this end in view, we have as a rule in each instance adopted the reading from that Gospel which contained the fullest account, without interweaving into the narrative the slight variations which might be found in the account of the same events as recorded by another of the Evangelists. In view, however, of the special interest which centers in Passion Week and the subsequent events, we have preferred a careful fullness in the account of the Lord's Supper, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the subsequent events until his ascension. For the purposes of consultation and study, the four inspired accounts, arranged separately, are unquestionably far better than any other; but, in a book for devotional reading, it seems desirable to include in one complete and continuous reading, all the events and teachings of the four Gospels, and, by thus avoiding numerous repetitions, secure a progressive and harmonious impression. If any one is willing to take the trouble to arrange the four Gospels into one harmonious and continuous reading, he will be surprised, when the result has been successfully secured, to find what a small part of any one of the narra- PREFACE. tives has been omitted. "The narrative of John, except during the week of the Savior's passion, contains very little that is found in either of the other writers. That of Luke, although in its first part and at the close it has much in common with Matthew and Mark, comprises neverthe- less in its middle portions a large amount of matter peculiar to Luke alone. Matthew and Mark have in general more resemblance to each other; though Matthew, being more full, presents much that is not found in Mark or Luke; while Mark, though briefer, has some things not contained in any of the rest. The Evangelists were led, under the guidance of the Spirit, to write each with a specific object in view, and for different communities or classes of readers; much as in the case of the authors of the Epistles. Hence, while the narratives all necessarily exhibit a certain degree of likeness, they nevertheless bear also, each for itself, the stamp of independence." * Should the reader desire a critical and complete harmony of the four Gospels, interwoven into one Gospel Harmony, the work of Rev. William Pittinger, entitled, "The Inter- woven Gospels and Gospel Harmony," will be found among the latest and best of its class. If the service we have rendered in making the devotional portion of the Scriptures more easily accessible shall con- tribute to the erection of the family altar in a larger number of homes, and to a more general use and familiarity with God's Word among the increasing number of Christian young people, the compiler will have a rich reward for his labor and possess the heritage of blessing which induced him to undertake the work. Sylvanus Stall. Philadelphia, Pa. * From the preface of Robinson's English " Harmony of the Gospels.' THE OLD TESTAMENT. [selections.] BIBLE SELECTIONS FOR DAILY DEVOTION, GENESIS. SELECTION NUMBER :i. Genesis i : 1-31. 1 I In the beginning God created the heaven and the 2 earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the 3 Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was Hght. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God 5 divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the 7 waters. x\nd God made the firmament, and divided the waters which ivere under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was 8 so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry la/id 10 appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called 11 he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding 21 2 2 GENESIS. I. 28 seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed 7vas in itself, after his kind: and God saw that // 7vas good. And the evening and the morning were the 13 third day. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament 14 of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: and let them be for lights in the firmament of 15 the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to 16 rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firma- 17 ment of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and t8 to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that /V 7£/^j good. And the evening and the morning were the 19 the fourth day. And God said. Let the waters bring 20 forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firma- ment of heaven. And God created great whales, and 21 every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and 22 multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morn- 23 ing were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living 24 creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, 25 and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creep- eth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that // was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after 26 our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created 27 man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God 28 2. 17 GENESIS. 23 blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said. Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yield- 30 ing seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein f/iere is life, / /mve given every green herb for meat: 31 and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. SELECTION NUMBER 2. Genesis 2 : 1-3, 7-9, 15-25. I I Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and 2 all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made ; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. * * 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of 8 life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he 9 put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowl- 15 edge of good and evil. * * And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress r6 it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying. Of every tree of the garden thou mayest 17 freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good 24 GENESIS. 3. 6 and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man 18 should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every 19 beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living crea- ture, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave 20 names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. And the Lord God caused 21 a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken 22 from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my 23 bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore 24 shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And 25 they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. SELECTION NUMBER 3. Genesis 3 : 1-24. Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of i the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto 2 the serpent. We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the 3 midst of the garden, God hath said. Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the ser- 4 pent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, 5 then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw 6 3. 20 GENESIS. 25 that the tree was good for food, and that it luas pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave 7 also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that thty 7vere naked; and the}^ sewed fig leaves together, 8 and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees 9 of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, 10 and said unto him. Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because 11 I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said. Who told thee that thou 7vast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest 12 not eat? And the man said. The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did 13 eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The 14 serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust 15 shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou 16 shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said. Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying. Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow 18 shalt thou eat of'it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt 19 eat the herb of the field: in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art^ and unto 20 dust shalt thou return. And Adam called his wife's 26 GENESIS. name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God 21 make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is be- 22 come as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the Lord 23 God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove 24 out the man: and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. SELECTION NUMBER 4. Genesis 4 : 2-16, And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller 2 ^ of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, 3 that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an oifering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the 4 firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but 5 unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And 6 the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt 7 thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door: and unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with 8 Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy 9 brother? And he said, I know not: Am 1 my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the 10 voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, 11 which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, 12 6. 8 GENESIS. 27 it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment zV greater 14 than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and 1 shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that 15 findeth me shall slay me.. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark 16 upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of ISfod, on the east of Eden. SELECTION NUMBER 5. Genesis 6: 1-8, 13-22. 6 I And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born 2 unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they wei-e fair; and they took them wives 3 of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts 6 of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it 7 grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that 1 . 8 have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. * * 28 GENESIS. 7. 8 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is 13 come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms 14 shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which 15 thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt 16 thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even 1, do bring a flood 17 of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will 18 I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, 19 two of every so7't shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, 20 of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind; two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep thein alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is 21 eaten, and thou shalt gather // to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; 22 according to all that God commanded him, so did he. SELECTION NUMBER 6. Genesis 7 : 1,7-24; 8: 1-3, 15-22. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all i thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. * * And Noah went in, 7 and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not 8 clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth GENESIS. 29 9 upon the earth, there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had 10 commanded Noah. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty 13 nights. In the selfsame day entered No' ah, and Shem, and Ham, and Ja'pheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with 14 them, into the ark; they, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every 15 sort. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two 16 and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him 17 in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was 18 lifted up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the 19 ark went upon the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the 21 mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth 22 upon the earth, and every man: all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land^ 23 died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained altve^ and they that were with him in the 24 ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hun- dred and fifty days. 8 I And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, 30 GENESIS. 9- " and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged. The fountains also of the deep and 2 the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the waters returned 3 from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. * * And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of 15 16 the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every 17 living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. And Noah went forth, and his sons, 18 and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: every 19 beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and what- soever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took 20 of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord 21 smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth: neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, 22 seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. SELECTION NUMBER 1. Genesis 9:8-17; 1 1 : 1-9, 27, 31, 32 ; 12 : i-io. And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons ^yith him, 8 9 saying. And I, behold, I establish my covenant with 9 you, and with your seed after you; and with every liv- 10 ing creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I 11 GENESIS. will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the 12 earth. And God said, This is the token of the cove- nant which I make between me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual genera- 13 tions: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud : 15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between m^e and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all 16 flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all 17 flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth. * * 11 I And the whole earth was of one language, and of one 2 speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shi' nar; 3 and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for 4 mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon 5 the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children 6 of men builded. And the Lord said. Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained 7 from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that 8 they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Ba'bel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: 32 GENESIS. 12. lo and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. * * Now these are the generations of Te'rah: Te'rah27 begat A'bram, Na' hor, and Ha' ran; and Ha' ran begat Lot. * * And Te'rah took Abram his son, and Lot 31 the son of Ha' ran his son's son, and Sa' rai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chal'dees, to go into the land of Ca'naan; and they came unto Ha'ran, and dwelt there. And the days of Te'rah were two hundred and five 32 years: and Te'rah died in Ha'ran. * * Now the Lord had said unto i\bram, Get thee out of i 12 thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And 2 I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And 1 will bless them that bless thee, and curse him 3 that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had 4 spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his 5 brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. And Abram passed through the land unto the place 6 of Si'chem, unto the plain of Mo'reh. And the Ca' naan-ite was then in the land. And the Lord 7 appeared unto Abram, and said. Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. And he removed from 8 thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth' el, and pitched his tent, having Beth' el on the west, and Ha'i on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. And 9 Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went 10 down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine ivas grievous in the land. 13. 15 GENESIS. 33 SELECTION NUMBER 8. Genesis 13 : 1-17 ; 18 : 1-8. 13 I And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram 7aas very rich in cattle, in silver, and in 3 gold. And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth' el, unto the place where his tent had been at the 4 beginning, between Beth' el and Ha'i; unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, 6 and herds, and tents. And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell 7 together. And there was a strife between the herd- men of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Ca' naan-ite and the Per'iz-zite dwelt then in 8 the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no . strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we de brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if f/ioii 7vilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right 10 hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where before the Lord destroyed Sod' om and Go-mor' rah, ei^eii as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zo'ar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the 12 one from the other. Abram dwelt in the land of Ca'naan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain, and 13 pitched his tent toward Sod' om. But the men of Sod' om we7'e wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly. 14 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him. Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and south- 15 ward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land 34 GENESIS. i8. 19 which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the 16 earth : so that if ^a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, 17 walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for 1 will give it unto thee. * * And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of i 18 Mam' re: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three 2 men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, and said, My Lord, if now I have 3 found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant: let a little water, I pray you, be 4 fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree: and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and com- 5 fort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said. So do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into 6 the tent unto Sarah, and said. Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead //, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and 7 fetched a calf tender and good, and gave // unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, 8 and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. SELECTION NUMBER 9. Genesis 18 : 16 33; 19 : 1-3, 12-17, 23-26. And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward 16 18 Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the Lord said. Shall I hide from Abra- 17 ham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall 18 surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I 19 know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the 19. I GENESIS. 35 Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sod'om and Go-mor' rah is great, and because their sin is very 21 grievous, I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which 22 is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said. Wilt thou also 24 destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous 25 that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do 26 right? And the Lord said. If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place 27 for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the 28 Lord, which ajn but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said. If I find 29 there forty and five, I will not destroy it. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do 30 it for forty's sake. And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak : Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will 31 not do //, if I find thirty there. And he said. Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And 32 he said, I will not destroy // for twenty's sake. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. Vd \ And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and 36 GENESIS. 19. 26 Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; and he said, Behold now, my lords, 2 turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon 3 them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. * * And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any 12 besides? son in law, -and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: for we will destroy this place, because the 13 cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot 14 went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said. Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels 15 hastened Lot, saying. Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the 16 men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them 17 forth abroad, that he said. Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. * * The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered 23 into Zo' ar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and 24 upon Go-mor' rah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the 25 plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she 26 became a pillar of salt. 22. 13 GENESIS. 37 SELECTION NUMBER 10. Genesis 22 : 1-18; 25 : 7-10. 22 I And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he 2 said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Mo-rl'ah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of 4 which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and 6 worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid // upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; 7 and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said. Here a7n I, my son. And he said. Behold the fire and the wood : but where is the lamb for a burnt offer- 8 ing ? And Abraham said. My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both 9 of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, 10 and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his 11 son. And the Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, 12 Here am I. And he said. Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not with- 13 held thy son, thine only so7i, from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind hitn a ram caught in a. thicket by his horns : and Abraham 33 GENESIS. 25, 33 went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called 14 the name of that place Je-ho' vah-jl' reh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. And the Andrei of the Lord called unto Abraham out 15 of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have 16 I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son^ that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I 17 will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall 18 all the nations of the earth be blessed ; because thou hast obeyed my voice. * * And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life 7 26 which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen years. Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good 8 old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. And his sons Isaac and Ish' ma-ej buried 9 him in the cave of Mach-pe' lah, in the field of E'phron the son of Zo' har the Hit-tite, which is before Mam' re; the field which Abraham purchased of the sons of 10 Heth : there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. SELECTION NUMBER 11. Genesis 25 : 27-34; 28 : 10-22. Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and 2786 Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac 28 loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Re-bek'ah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the 29 field, and he was faint : and Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, 30 I pray thee, with that same red pottage ; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob 31 said. Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau 32 said. Behold, I a/n at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear 33 to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold 28. 22 GENESIS. 39 34 his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. 28 lo And Jacob went out from Be' er-she' ba, and went 11 toward Ha' ran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven : and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give 14 it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth 15 be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said. How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and 18 this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had ^wt for his pillows, and set it w^ for a pillar, and poured oil upon 19 the top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that c\\.y was called Luz at 20 the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and 21 will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then 22 shall the Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have stt for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. 40 GENESIS. 37. 19 SELECTION NUMBER 12. Genesis 37 : 3-14, 17-28 ; 39 : 1-7, 10-12, 19, 20. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, 387 because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of ffumy colours. And when his brethren saw 4 that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told // his 5 brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he 6 said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed : for, behold, we were binding sheaves 7 in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his 8 brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his 9 brethren, and said. Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to 10 his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his 11 father observed the saying. And his brethren went to feed their father's flock 12 in She' chem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not 13 thy brethren feed the flock in She' chem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him. Here am I. And he said to him. Go, I pray thee, see 14 whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks: and bring me word again. * * And Joseph 17 went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came 18 near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer 19 39- 5 GENESIS. 41 20 Cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become 21 of his dreams. And Reuben heard //, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, dut cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, 24 /lis coat of ma/iy colours that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was 25 empty, f/iere was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ish' ma-el-Ites came from Gil' e-ad, with their camels bearing spicery and balm 26 and myrrh, going to carry // down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we 27 slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ish' ma-el-Ites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh: 28 and his brethren were content. Then there passed by Mid'i-an-Ites merchantmen; and they drew and li^fted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ish'- ma-el-ites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. * * 19 1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Pot'i-phar, an officer of Pha'raoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ish'- 2 ma-el-Ites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the 3 Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to 4 prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all t/iat he had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time t/iat he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for 42 GENESIS. 41. 7 Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. And he 6 left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his 7 master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; * * and it 10 came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, * * and it came to pass 11 about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there ivas none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his gar- 12 ment, * * and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. * * And it came to pass, when his ig master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's 20 master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. SELECTION NUMBER 13. Genesis 41 : 1-24. And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that \ 41 Pha' raoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well 2 favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out 3 of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the 4 ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pha' raoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, 5 behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and 6 blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and 7 full ears. And Pha' raoh awoke, and, behold, it ivas a 41- 24 GENESIS. 43 8 dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pha' raoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pha' raoh. 9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pha' raoh, saying, I 10 do remember my faults this day: Pha' raoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of 11 the guard's house, />ot/i me and the chief baker: and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man 13 according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 14 Then Pha' raoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto 15 Pha' raoh. And Pha' raoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst under- 16 stand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pha' raoh, saying, // is not in me: God shall give 17 Pha' raoh an answer of peace. And Pha' raoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank t8 of the river: and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and 19 they fed in a meadow: and, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of 20 Egypt for badness: and the lean and the ill favoured 21 kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, 22 as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, 23 full and good: and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24 and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and 44 GENESIS. 41- 39 I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare // to me. SELECTION NUMBER 14. Genesis 41 : 25-43, 46-49. 53-57- And Joseph said unto Pha'raoh, The dream of Pha'- 25 41 raoh is one: God hath shewed Pha'raoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; 26 and the seven good ears ^;r seven years: and the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that 27 came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken 28 unto Pha' raoh : What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pha' raoh. Behold, there come seven years of 29 great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: and 30 there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; and the plenty 31 shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that 32 the dream was doubled unto Pha'raoh twice; // is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pha' raoh 33 look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pha' raoh do this, and let him 34 appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years 35 that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pha' raoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food 36 shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pha' raoh, and 37 in the eyes of all his servants. And Pha' raoh said 38 unto his servants. Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God isl And Pha' raoh 39 41. 57 GENESIS. 45 said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne 41 will. I be greater than thou. And Pha' raoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pha' raoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of 43 fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. * * 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pha' raoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pha' raoh, and went throughout 47 all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous 48 years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about 49 every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for zV 7£'t7i- without number. * * 53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in 54 the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the 55 land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pha' raoh for bread: and Pha' raoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land 57 of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. 46 GENESIS. 42. 24 SELECTION NUMBER 15. Genesis 42 : 1-6, 8, 9, 17-26 ; 43 : i, 2, 13, 14, 16, 17, 27, 28. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, r 42 Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said. Behold, I have heard that there 2 is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in 3 Egypt. But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent 4 not with his brethren; for he said. Lest peradventure mischief befall him. And the sons of Israel came to 5 buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph tvas the governor 6 over the land, and he // was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. * * And Joseph knew his brethren, but they 8 knew not him. And Joseph remembered the dreams 9 which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. * * And he put them all together into ward three days. 17 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, 18 and live; for I fear God: If ye be true 77ien, let one of 19 your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: but bring 20 your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. And they said one to another, We are verily guilty 21 concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben 22 answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying. Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. And they 23 knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself 24 about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 45- 5 GENESIS. 47 25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto 26 them. And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. * * 43 I 2 And the famine was sore in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, 13 Go again, buy us a little food. * ^ Take also your 14 brother, and arise, go again unto the man: and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be 16 bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. * * And w^hen Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make 17 ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the 27 men into Joseph's house, f: * And he asked them of their welfare, and said. Is your father well, the old man 28 of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they an- swered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. SELECTION NUMBER 16. Genesis 45 : 1-15, 24-28 ; 46 : 1-6, 26, 27. 45 1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried. Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house 3 of Pha'raoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I mil Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled 4 at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. x\nd he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold 5 into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry 48 GENESIS. 46. I with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two 6 years hath the famine been in the land: and yet: there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you 7 a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now // was not you that sent me 8 hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pha' raoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler through- out all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my 9 father, and say unto him. Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: and thou shalt dwell in the land of 10 Go' shen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: and there will 1 11 nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. And, behold, your eyes see, and the 12 eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all 13 my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen ; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. And 14 he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed 15 all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. * * So he sent his 24 brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them. See that ye fall not out by the way. And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the 25 land of Ca' naan unto Jacob their father. And told him, 26 s-'iyjng, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of 27 Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. And Israel 28 said, Ft is enough; Joseph my son /> yet alive: I will go and see him before I die. .\nd Israel took his journey with all that he had, and i 46 came to Be' er-shC ba, and offered sacrifices unto the 3. 5 GENESIS. 49 2 God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And 3 he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I 4 will there make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine 5 eyes. And Jacob rose up from Be' er-she' ba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives^ in the wagons which Pha' raoh 6 had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Ca' naan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed 26 with him. * * All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's 27 sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; and the sons of Joseph, which were borne him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, ivere threescore and ten. EXODUS. SELECTION NUMBER 17. Exodus 3 : i-io ; 5 : 1-9, 22, 23 ; 6 : 1-13. 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Je' thro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of 2 God, even to Ho' reb. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned 3 with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why 4 the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he 5 said, Here am I. And he said. Draw not nigh hither: 5© EXODUS. 5. 9 put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he 6 said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction 7 of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of 8 the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. * * Now therefore, 9 behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me; and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I 10 will send thee unto Pha' raoh, that thou, mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. * * And afterward Moses and Aar' on went in, and told i 6 Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that 2 I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, 3 The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. And the king of 4 Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people 5 of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. And Pharaoh commanded the same day 6 the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, say- ing, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make 7 brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the tale of the bricks, which they did 8 make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they l)e idle; therefore they cry, saying. Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let 9 there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words. * * 6. 13 EXODUS. 51 22 And Moses returned unto the I.ord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why 23 is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all. 6 I Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive 2 them out of his land. And God spake unto Moses, and 3 said unto him, I am the Lord: and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by t/ie name oj God Almighty; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not 4 known to them. And I have also established my cove- nant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I 6 have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judg- 7 ments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God : and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the 8 burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am the Lord. 9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel; but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, 10 and for cruel bondage. And the Lord spake unto 11 Moses, saying. Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his 12 land. And Moses spake before the Lord, saying. Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who a^n of un- 13 circumcised lips? And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 5,2 EXODUS. SELECTION NUMBER 18. Exodus 6 : 28-30; 7 : i 14, 19-25. And it came to pass on the day when the Lord spake 28 6 unto Moses in the land of Egypt, that the Lord spake 29 unto Moses, saying, I atn the Lord: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee. And 30 Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircum- cised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me? And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made i 7 thee a god to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command 2 thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my 3 signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But 4 Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know 5 that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord 6 commanded them, so did they. And Moses was four- 7 score years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, 8 saying. When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, 9 Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast // before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and 10 they did so as the Lord had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his ser- vants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh also 11 called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magi- cians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, 12 and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed 8. 5 EXODUS. 53 13 up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go. * * 19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of \\oo(^, 20 and in vessels of stone. And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that ivere in the river were turned to blood. 21 And the fish that luas in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the 22 land of Egypt. And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the 23 Lord had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his 24 house, neither did he set his heart to this also. And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of 25 the river. And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river. SELECTION NUMBER 19. Exodus 8 : 1,2, 5-32. 8 I And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people 2 go, that they may serve me. And if thou refuse to let t/iem go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. * * 5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth tiiine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to 54 EXODUS. 8. 20 come up upon the land of Egypt. And Aaron stretched 6 out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. And the 7 magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, 8 Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord. And 9 Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only ? And he said, 10 To morrow. And he said. Be it according to thy word; that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God. And the frogs shall depart from thee, 11 and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only. And 12 Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh : and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh. And the Lord did accord- 13 ing to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And 14 they gathered them together upon heaps; and the land stank. But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, 15 he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, 16 Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with 17 his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. And the 18 magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, 19 This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the 20 8. 32 EXODUS. 55 morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, 22 and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the land of Go'shen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the 23 midst of the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign 24 be. And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies. 25 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and 26 said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. And Moses said. It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacri- fice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice • the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? 27 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God, as he shall command us. 28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacri- fice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye 29 shall not go very far away: entreat for me. And Moses said. Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow : but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting 30 the people go to sacrifice to the Lord. And Moses 31 went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. And the Lord did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. 32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go. 56 EXODUS. g. 13 SELECTION NUMBER 20. Exodus 9 : I- 14, 22-30, 34, 35. Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, i ^ and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. For if 2 thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cattle which 3 is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain. And the Lord shall 4 sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. And the Lord appointed a set 5 time, saying, To morrow the Lord shall do this thing in the land. And the Lord did that thing on the 6 morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died : but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. And 7 Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, 8 Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. And it shall become small dust in all the 9 land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon l)east, throughout all the land of Egypt. And they took ashes of the furnace, 10 and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. And the magi- 11 cians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. And the Lord hardened the heart 12 of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had spoken unto Moses. And the I.okd said unto Moses, Rise up early in 13 the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my 9. 35 EXODUS. 57 T4 people go, that they may serve me. For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth. * ^ 22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the 24 land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all \\\di\.was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree 26 of the field. Only in the Land of Go' shen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord 28 is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Entreat the Lord (for // is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and 1 will let you go, and 29 ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord; and \.\\q thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou 30 mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet 34 fear the Lord God. % * And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his 35 servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses. 58 EXODUS. SELECTION NUMBER 21. Exodus lo : 1-3, 12-29 ; 11 : i, 4-10. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: 1 10 for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his ser- vants, that I might shew these my signs before him: and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of 2 thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I ain the Lord. And Moses and 3 Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. * * And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine 12 hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left. And 13 Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; ^;;^when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts. And the locusts 14 went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. For they covered the face of the 15 whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; 16 and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, 17 my sin only this once, and entreat the Lord your God, that he may take away from me this death only. And 18 he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which 19 took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; I. 7 EXODUS. 59 there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 20 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. 21 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt 23 three days: they saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. 24 And Pharaoh called mito Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be 25 stayed: let your little ones also go with you. And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God. 26 Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither. 27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he 28 would not let them go. And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29 And Moses said. Thou hast spoken w^ell, I will see thy face again no more. H I And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague ;//^;v upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall \^t you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. * * 4 And Moses said. Thus saith the Lord, About midnight 5 will I go out into the midst of Egypt: and all the first- born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; 6 and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog- move his tongue, against man or beast: that he may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between 6o EXODUS. 12. 10 the Egyptians and Israel. And all these thy servants 8 shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger. And the Lord said 9 unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt. And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before ic Pharaoh: and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. SELECTION NUMBER 22. Exodus 12 : 1-20. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the i 12 land of Egypt, saying. This month shall be unto you 2 the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, say- 3 ing, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house: and if the household be 4 too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take //according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without 5 blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep 6 it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, 7 and strike // on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And 8 they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast wnth fire, and unleavened bread; ^//^/ with bitter /zw/. And ye shall observe 24 this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to 25 the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it 26 shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you. What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, 27 It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the children of Israel went away, 28 and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord 29 smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that ivas in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the 30 night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt: for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and 31 said, Rise up, ami get you forth from among my peo- ple, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve [4. 5 EXODUS. 63 32 the Lord, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me 33 also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said. We be all dead men. * * 37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Ra-me' ses to Siic' coth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were 38 men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much 39 cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for them- selves any victual. 40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. * * 13 17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, 18 and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out 19 of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you. 20 And they took their journey from Sue' coth, and encamped in E' tham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, fro?n before the people. * * 14: 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we 64 EXODUS. 14. 17 done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? And he made ready his chariot, and took his people 6 with him: and he took six hundred chosen chariots, 7 and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. And the Lord hardened the heart of 8 Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the chil- dren of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with a high hand. But the Egyptians pursued after them, 9 all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horse- men, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea. SELECTION NUMBER 24. Exodus 14 : 10-31. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel to 14 lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid : and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto 11 Moses, Because there ivere no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee 12 in Egypt, saying. Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For // had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand 13 still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your 14 peace. And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest 15 thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch 16 out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the 17 hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: 14. 29 • EXODUS. 65 and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his 18 host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I a7?i the Lord, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19 And the Angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and 20 stood behind them: and it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; an.d it was a cloud and darkness to t/ie/n, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the 21 night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry 22 land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry grou?id: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his 24 chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the 25 cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, and took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said. Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon 27 their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst 28 of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, ^///^/ all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not 29 so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the 66 EXODUS. 15. 8 waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out 30 of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyp- tians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that 31 great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses. SELECTION NUMBER 25. Exodus 15' : 1-27. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this i 16 song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, 2 And he is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; My father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war: 3 The Lord is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the 4 sea: His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: 5 They sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: 6 Thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast 7 overthrown them that rose up against thee: Thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were 8 gathered together, The floods stood upright as a heap, And the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 15. 19 EXODUS. 67 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: They sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness. Fearful /// praises, doing wonders? 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, The earth swallowed them. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided thetn in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, a?idht afraid: Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Pal-es-ti' na. 15 Then the dukes of E' dom shall be amazed; The mighty men of Mo' ab, trembling shall take hold upon them; All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, In the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; In the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 18 The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 68 EXODUS. 16. 3 And Mir' i-am the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, 20 took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And 21 Mir' i-am answered them, Sing- ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they 22 went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Ma' rah, they could not drink 23 of the waters of Ma' rah, for they were, bitter: therefore the name of it was called Ma' rah. And the people 24 murmured against Moses, saying. What shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him 25 a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said. If 26 thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I a^n the Lord that healeth_thee. And they came to E'lim. where were twelve wells of 27 water, and three-score and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. SELECTION NUMBER 26. Exodus 16 : 1-26, 35. And they took their journey from E' lim, and all the i 1^ congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between E'lim and Si' nai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. And the whole 2 congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: and the children 3 of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by i6. 15 EXODUS. 69 the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, a7id when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove 5 them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare M<^/ which they bring in; and it shall be twice 6 as much as they gather daily. And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from 7 the land of Egypt: and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that 8 ye murmur against us? And Moses said. This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord. 9 And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the con- gregation of the children of Israel, Come near before 10 the Lord: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole con- gregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, I have 12 heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying. At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know 13 that I am the Lord your God. And it came to pass,, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the de^v lay round about the host. 14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing 15 as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw //, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses 7© EXODUS. i6. 35 said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, i6 Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, 17 some more, some less. And when they did mete //with 18 an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And Moses said. Let no 19 man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they 20 hearkened not unto ]\Ioses; but some of them left of it until the morning^ and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. And they gathered it 21 every morning, every man according to his eating; and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they 22 gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one ?naii: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. And he said unto them. This is that which the 23 Lord hath said. To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. And they laid it up till the morning, as 24 Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said. Eat that to day; for 25 to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on 26 the seventh day, luhich is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. * * And the children of Israel did eat 35 manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan. 20. 3 EXODUS. 7 1 SELECTION NUMBER 27. Exodus 19 : I, 16-25 ; 20 : 1-17. 19 I In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Si' nai. * * 16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the 17 camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at 18 the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked 19 greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and 20 God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and 21 Moses went up. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto 22 the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. 23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, 24 Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and x\aron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up 25 unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them. So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them. 20 I And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 72 EXODUS. 20. 17 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or 4 any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth : thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor 5 serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that 6 love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in 7 vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six 8 9 days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the 10 seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the 11 sea, and all that in them ?>, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother : that thy days may 1 2 be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. 13 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 14 Thou shalt not steal. 15 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy 16 neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou 17 shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. 32. I EXODUS. SELECTION NUMBER 28. Exodus 24 : 3, 12, 18 ; 31 : 12-18; 32 : 1-8. 243 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. * * 12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have 18 written; that thou may est teach them. * * And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. * * 81 12 13 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying. Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know 14 that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall 15 be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord : whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath 16 day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual 17 covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. 32 I And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us 74 EXODUS. 32. 18 gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said 2 unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and hrxxigthem unto me. And all the people 3 brake oif the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them 4 at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said. These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw //, he built an 5 altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said. To morrow is a feast to the Lord. And they rose 6 up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; 7 for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: they have turned 8 aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them : they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said. These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. SELECTION NUMBER 29. Exodus 32 : 15-35. And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, 1582 and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the 16 tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. And when 17 Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said. It is not the voice of them thai 18 shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry 32, 31 EXODUS. 75 for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear. 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of 20 his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground // to powder, and strewed it upon the 21 water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, 22 that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? And Aaron said. Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. 23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is 24 become of him. And I said unto them. Whosoever hath any gold, let them break // off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. 25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked, (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame 26 among their enemies.) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said. Who is on the Lord's side ? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered 27 themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his 28 neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that 29 day about three thousand men. For Moses had said. Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. 30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make 31 an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great 76 EXODUS. 34. 9 sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if 32 thou wilt forgive their sin — ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And :^:^ the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore, 34 now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee : nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them. And the Lord plagued the people, 35 because they made the calf, which Aaron made. SELECTION NUMBER 30. Exodus 34 : 1-17, 23, 24, 27-35. And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables i 34 of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest. And be ready in the morning, and come 2 up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thy- self there to me in the top of the mount. And no man 3 shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount. And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; 4 and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. And the 5 Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord 6 passed by before him, and proclaimed. The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for 7 thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon^ the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generatio?!. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head 8 toward the earth, and worshipped. And he said, If now 9 I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, 34- 29 EXODUS. 77 I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquit}" and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance. 10 ' And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee. 11 Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Am' or-ite, and the Ca' naan-ite, and the Hit tite, and the Per'iz-zlte, and 12 the Hi' vite, and the Jeb' u-site. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the 13 midst of thee: but ye shall destroy their altars, break 14 their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is 15 Jealous, is a jealous God. Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and 16 oft^ call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy 17 sons go a whoring after their gods. Thou shaJt make thee no molten gods. * * 2;^ Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear 24 before the Lord God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God 27 thrice in the year. * * And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words; for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with 25 Israel. And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked 78 EXODUS. 35. 10 with him. And when Aaron and all the children of 30 Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses 31 called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel 32 came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And 33 //// Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. But when Moses went in before the Lord 34 to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children 35 of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. SELECTION NUMBER 31. Exodus 35 : I -10, 20-29 ; 36 : 2-7. And Moses gathered all the congregation of the i 35 children of Israel together, and said unto them. These are the words which the Lord hath commanded, that^^ should do them. Six days shall work be done, but on 2 the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. Ye shall kindle no fire 3 throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the 4 children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying. Take ye from among you an 5 offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and 6 fine linen, and goats' hair^ and rams' skins dyed red, 7 and badgers' skins, and shittim wood. And oil for the 8 light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set for the 9 ephod, and for the breastplate. And every wise hearted 10 36. 4 EXODUS. ' 79 among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded. * * 20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel 21 departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy 2 2 garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold; and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold 23 unto the Lord. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hau'^ and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought 24 them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the 25 service, brought //. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of 26 scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose 27 heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, 28 for the ephod, and for the breastplate; and spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the 29 sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. * * 682 And Moses called Be-zal' e-el and A-ho' li-ab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up 3 to come unto the work to do it: and they received of Moses all the oft'ering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free 4 offerings every morning. And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made. 8o EXODUS. 40. 13 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring 5 much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make. And Moses gave 6 commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bring- ing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the 7 work to make it, and too much. SELECTION NUMBER 32. Exodus 40 : I -16, 33-38. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, On the i 2 40 first day of the first month shalt thou set up the taber- nacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt 3 put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. And thou shalt bring in the table, and 4 set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. And thou shalt set the altar of 5 gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering 6 before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the con- gregation. And thou shalt set the laver between the 7 tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. And thou shalt set up the court round 8 about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the 9 tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. And 10 thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. And thou shalt anoint the laver and 11 his foot, and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron 12 and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the con- gregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt 13 put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and i6. 4 LEVITICUS. sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the 14 priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and 15 clothe them with coats: and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their 16 generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that 33 the Lord commanded him, so did he. * * So Moses finished the work. 34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, 35 and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the con- gregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the 36 glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed 38 not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. » LEVITICUS. SELECTION NUMBER 33. Leviticus 16 : i-io, 15-22. 16 I And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the 2 Lord, and died; and the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will 3 appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. Thus shall Aaron come int(^ the \\{^\y place; with a young bullock 4 for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He 82 LEVITICUS. i6. 19 shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. And he 5 shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of 6 the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. And he shall 7 take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And 8 Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And 9 Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer \i\m. for a sin offering. But the goat, on 10 which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilder- ness. * * Then shall he kill j:he goat of the sin offering, that is 15 for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: and he shall make an atonement for 16 the \vo\y place ^ because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. And there shall be no man in the 17 tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the \\o\y place^ until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. And 18 he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put //upon the horns of the altar round about. And 19 he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. ig. lo LEVITICUS. 83 20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the \iiAy place ^ and the tabernacle of the congregation, and 21 the altar, he shall bring the live goat: and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. SELECTION NUMBER 34. Leviticus 19 : 1-18, 30-37. 19 I And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Speak unto 2 all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. 3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. 4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God. 5 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the 6 Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will. It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in 7 the fire. And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is 8 abominable; it shall not be accepted. Therefore ^z'^r>' one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither 10 shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God. 84 LEVITICUS. 19. 36 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie 11 one to another. And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither 12 shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob 13 him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling- 14 block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God : I am the Lord. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment; thou 15 shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among i5 thy people; neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou 17 shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against 18 the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. * * Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my 30 sanctuary: I am the Lord. Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither 31 seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour 32 the face of the old man, and fear thy God : I am the Lord. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, 33 ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that 34 dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in mete- 35 yard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just 36 weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: 1 24. 23 LEVITICUS. am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the 37 land of Egypt. Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I a^n the Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 35. Leviticus 24 : 10-23; 25 : 1-17. 10 And the son of an Is' ra-el-It-ish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, wenjtout among the children of Israel: and this son of the Is' ra-el-It-ish woman and a man of 11 Israel strove together in the camp; and the Israelit- ish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and 12 cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: * * and they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be 13 shewed them. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard htm lay their hands upon his head, 15 and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever 16 curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blas- phemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as w^ell the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. 17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to 18 death. And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; 19 beast for beast. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; 20 breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to 21 him again. And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. 22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God. 23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, S6 LEVITICUS. 25. 15 and stone him with stones: and the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, 1 25 saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto 2 them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord. Six 3 years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest 4 unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. That 5 which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed : /or it is a year of rest unto the land. And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for 6 thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, and for thy cattle, and for the beast that are 7 in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto 8 thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the 9 jubilee to sound on the tenth daj> of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow 10 the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout a// the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his pos- session, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall 11 not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. For 12 it is the jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. In the year of 13 this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his posses- sion. And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbour, or 14 buyest aught of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another: according to the number of years 15 after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall 26. 7 LEVITICUS. 87 t6 sell unto thee: according to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits 17 doth he sell unto thee. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord your God. SELECTION NUMBER 36. Leviticus 25 : 18-22 ; 26 : 1-17. 018 Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land 19 in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye 20 shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year ? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: 21 then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. 22 And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat _>-ere in 19 the valley of E'lah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the 20 17. 3o I. SAMUEL. 145 sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the 2 1 battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle 2 2 in array, army against army. And David left his car- riage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran 23 into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Go-ll' ath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake accord- 24 ing to the same words: and David hea.rd t/iem. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from 25 him, and were sore afraid. And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, t/iat the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's 26 house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying. What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, 27 that he should defy the armies of the living God? And the people answered him after this manner, saying. So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 28 And E-ir ab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and E-li' ab's anger was kindled against David, and he said. Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilder- ness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see 29 the battle. And David said. What have I now done? /s there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. 46 I. SAMUEL. 17. 43 SELECTION NUMBER 68. I. Samuel 17 : 31-54. And when the words were heard which David spake, 31I7 they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because t^i of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philis- tine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go t^2> against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And 34 David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and 35 smote him, and delivered // out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both 36 the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philis- tine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The 37 Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a 38 helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his 39 armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved //. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved thetn. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five 40 smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling 7(ycz^- in his hand: and he drew near to the Philis- tine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto 41 David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw 42 David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine 43 said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me 17. 54 I. SAMUEL. 147 with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his 44 gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and 45 tp the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield : but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of 46 Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in 47 Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, 49 and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon 50 his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but f/iere was no sword in the 51 hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their 52 champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ek' ron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Sha-a-ra' im, even unto Gath, 53 and unto Ek' ron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled 54 their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Je-ru' sa-lem; but he put his armour in his tent. 148 I. SAMUEL. 31. 12 SELECTION NUMBER 69. I. Samuel 31 : 1-13. I. Chron, 10 : 13, 14. Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the i 31 men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gil-bo' a. And the Philistines fol- 2 lowed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jon'a-than, and A-bin' a-dab, and Mel' chi-shu' a, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore 3 against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. Then said Saul unto his 4 armourbearer. Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armour- 5 bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three 6 sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. And when the men of Israel that were on the other 7 side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. And 8 it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gil-bo' a. And they cut off 9 his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. And they 10 put his armour in the house of Ash' ta-roth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth' shan. And when the inhabitants of Ja' besh-gil' e-ad heard 11 of that which the Philistines had done to Saul, all 12 the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth' shan, and came to Ja'besh, and burnt them there. I. 6 II. SAMUEL. 149 13 And they took their bones, and buried tJieDi under a tree at Ja'besh, and fasted seven days. 10 13 (^) So Saul died for his transgression which he com- mitted against the Lord, eve^i against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking coimsel 14 of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. {a) I. Chronicles 10 : 13, 14. II. SAMUEL. SELECTION NUMBER 70. II. Samuel i : 1-12, 17-27. 1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Am'a-lek-Ites, and David had abode two days in 2 Zik' lag; it came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and 3 did obeisance. And David said unto him. From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp 4 of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him. How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered. That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul 5 and Jonathan his son are dead also. And David said unto the young man that told him. How knowest thou 6 that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gil-bo' a, behold, Saul leaned upon his 15° II. SAMUEL. I. 23 spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he 7 saw me, and called unto me. And I answered. Here a?n I. And he said unto me. Who art thou? And I 8 answered him, I am an Am' a-lek-ite. He said unto me 9 again, Stand, 1 pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I 10 was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his 11 clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: and they mourned, and wept, and fasted 12 until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. * * And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul 17 and over Jon' a-than his son: (also he bade them teach 18 the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, // is written in the book of Ja' sher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: 19 How are the mighty fallen! Tell // not in Gath, ^ 20 Publish // not in the streets of As' ke-16n; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gil-bo' a, 21 Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the 22 mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their 23 lives. And in their death they were not divided: 6. 4 II- SAMUEL. 151 They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights; Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thoic zvast slain in thine high places. 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women. 27 How are the mighty fallen. And the weapons of war perished! SELECTION NUMBER 71. II. Samuel 5 : 1-4; 6 : r-i6. T Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto He'bron, and spake, saying. Behold, we are thy bone 2 and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee. Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over 3 Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to He'bron; and king David made a league with them in He'bron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. * * 1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen tncnoi 2 Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and wxnt with all the people that were with him from Ba' a-le of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that 3 dwelleth betweeti the cherubim. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the houseof A-bin'a-dab that wjis in Gib'e-ah: and Uz'zah and A-hi'o, the sons of A-bin'a-dab, drave the new 4 cart. And they brought it out of the house of A-bln'a- 152 II. SAMUEL. fr. rt dab which was at Gib'e-ah, accompanying the ark of God: and A-hi'o went before the ark. And David and 5 all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. ^ And when they came to Na'chon's threshingfloor, 6 Uz' zah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shookjt. And the anger of 7 the Lord was kindled against IJz'zah, and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because the Lord 8 had made a breach upon Uz'zah: and he called the name of the place Pe' rez-iiz' zah to this day. And 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said. How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? So David would 10 not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but DavJ_d carried it aside into the house of O'bed-e'dom the Git' tite_. And the ark of the Lord ii continued in the house of O' bed-e'_dom the Git' tite three months: and the Lord blessed O bed-e' -dom, and all his household. And it was told king David, saying. The Lord hath 12 blessed the house of O'bed-e'dom, and all \.\\2X pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of O'bed-e'dom into the city of David with gladness. And it was so^ that when they that bare the ark of the 13 Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the Lord with all his might; 14 and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David 15 and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, 16 Mi' chal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. i6. 20 I. CHRONICLES. I53 SELECTION NUMBER 72. I. Chronicles 16 : 1,2, 7-36. 16 I So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings 2 before God. And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord. ^ % 7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of A' saph and his brethren. 8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the people. 9 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, Talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10 Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. 11 Seek the Lord and his strength, Seek his face continually. 12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 13 O ye seed of Israel his servant. Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 14 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant: The word whic/i he commanded to a thousand genera- tions; 16 Even of the cove ?i a fit which he made with Abraham, And of his oath unto Isaac; 17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, And to Israel /ere with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's 15 servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. And the king went forth, and all his house- 16 hold after him. And the king left ten women, * *, to keep the house. And the king went forth, and all the 17 people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. SELECTION NUMBER 74. II. Samuel 18 : 5-33. And the king commanded Jo' ab and A-bish' a-I and 5 18 It' ta-I, saying. Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel: 6 and the battle was in the wood of E' phra-im; where the 7 people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there scattered over 8 the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom met the servants of David. And 9 Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw //, and told Jo' ab, 10 and said. Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. And Jo' ab said unto the. man that told him, And, 11 behold, thou sawest ///;;/, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. And the man said 12 i8. 25 II. SAMUEL. 157 unto Jo' ab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, jv^/ would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and A-bish' a-I and It' ta-i, saying, Beware 13 that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thy- 14 self wouldest have set thyself against me. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst 15 of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew 16 him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people re- turned from pursuing after Israel : for Joab held back the 17 people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. 18 Now xA.bsalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto thjs day, Absalom's place. 19 Then said A-him'a-az the son of Za'dok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath 20 avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him. Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear 21 no tidings, because the king's son is dead. Then said Joab to Cu' shl, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. 22 And Cu' shl bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said A-him'a az the son of Za'dok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cu' shl. And Joab said. Wherefore wilt thou run, my 23 son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But how' soever, said he^ let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then A-him'a-az ran by the way of the plain, 24 and overran Cu' shl. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, 25 and behold a man running alone. And the watchman [58 II. SAMUEL. cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another 26 man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said. He also bringeth tidings. And the watch- 27 man said, Methinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of A-him' a-az the son of Za' dok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. And A-him' a-az called, and said unto the 28 kirtg. All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king 29 said. Is the young man Absalom safe.^ And A-him' a-az answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and 7ne thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what // tvas. And the king said ufito hi?n, Turn aside, and 30 stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cu' shf came; and Cu' shI said, Tidings, 31 my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. And the 32 king said unto Cu' shi. Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cu' shi answered. The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the 33 chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom! my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! SELECTION NUMBER 75. 11. Samuel 22 : 1-51. And David spake unto the Lord the words of this i 22 song, in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: and he said, 2 22. i8 II. SAMUEL. 159 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will 1 trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, My saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies, 5 When the waves of death compassed me, The floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; The snares of death prevented me. 7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God: And he did hear my voice out of his temple, And my cry did enter into his ears. 8 Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven moved And shook, because he was wroth. 9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And darkness ivas under his feet. 11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: And he was seen upon the wings of the wind. 12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. 13 Through the brightness before him Were coals of fire kindled. 14 The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice. 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were discovered, At the rebuking of the Lord, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. 17 He sent from above, he took me; He drew me out of many waters: 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, i6o II. SAMUEL. 22. 35 And from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: 19 But the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place: 20 He delivered me, because he delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my right- 21 eousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, 22 And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments ivere before me; 23 And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before him, 24 And have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according 25 to my righteousness; According to my cleanness in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, 26 And with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; 27 And with thefroward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. And the afflicted people thou wilt save: 28 Buf thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. For thou art my lamp, O Lord: 29 And the Lord will lighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop: 30 By my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect; 31 The word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord? 32 And who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power; 33 And he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like h'mds' feet; 34 And setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war; 35 22. 51 n. SAMUEL. So that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: And thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; So that my feet did not slij3. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; And turned not again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: Them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, That I might destroy them that hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth : I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and ^\(S. spread them abroad. 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people. Thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: A people tvhich I knew not shall serve me. 45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. •46 Strangers shall fade away. And they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48 It is God that avengeth me. And that bringeth down the people under me, 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord. among the heathen. And I will sing praises unto thy name. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: And sheweth mercy to his anointed, Unto David, and to his seed for evermore. i62 I. CHRONICLES. 21. I. CHRONICLES. SELECTION NUMBER 76. I. Chronicles 21 : 1-28. And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked i 21 David to number Israel. And David said to Jo' ab and 2 to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Be' er-she'ba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know //. And Joab answered, 3 The Lord make his people a hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, ^r^'they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. 4 Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people 5 unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword : and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thou- sand men that drew sword. But Levi and Benjamin 6 counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab. And God was displeased with this 7 thing; therefore he smote Israel. And David said unto 8 God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. And the Lord spake unto Gad,' David's seer, saying, 9 Go and tell David, saying. Thus saith the Lord, I offer 10 thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do // unto thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto 11 him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee either three 12 years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies over- taiceth thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel, 23 I. CHRONICLES. 163 Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring 13 again to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. 14 So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there 15 fell of Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshingfloor of Or' nan the 16 Jeb' u-site. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said unto God, Is it woX. I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. 18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Oman the 19 Jebusite. And David went up at the saying of Gad, 20 which he spake in the name of the Lord. And Oman turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Oman was threshing wheat. 21 And as David came to Oman, Oman looked and saw David, and went out 'of the threshingfloor, and bowed 22 himself to David with his face to the ground. Then David said to Oman, Grant me the place of this thresh- ingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the 23 plague may be stayed from the people. And Oman said unto David, Take // to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes : lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt ofl'erings, and the threshing instru- ments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I 164 I. CHRONICLES. 22. 8 give it all. And king David said to Oman, Nay; but I 24 will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offer- ings without cost. So David gave to Oman for the 25 place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. And 26 David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. And the Lord commanded 27 the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. At that time when David saw that the Lord h^d 28 answered him in the threshingfloor of Oman the Jebu- site, then he sacrificed there. SELECTION NUMBER 77. L Chronicles 22 : 1-19. Then David said, This is the house of the Lord God, i 22 and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. And David commanded to gather together the strangers 2 that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. And 3 David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; also cedar trees in abun- 4 dance: for the Zi-do' ni-ans and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. And David said, Solomon 5 my son is young, and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David pre- pared abundantly before his death. Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him 6 to build a house for the Lord God of Israel, And 7 David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house unto the name of the Lord my God: But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 8 Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great 22. I. CHRONICLES. 165 wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in 9 my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about : for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his 10 days. He shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. 11 Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he 12 hath said of thee. Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy 13 God. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and 14 of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance; timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add 15 thereto. Moreover, there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of 16 work. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore^ and be doing, and the Lord be with thee. 17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to 18 help Solomon his son, saying, Is not the Lord your God with you? and hath he ;/^/ given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord, and 19 before his people. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord. l66 I. CHRONICLES. 29. SELECTION NUMBER 78. I. Chronicles 29 ; 6-28. Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the 6 20 tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, and gave, for the service of the house of 7 God, of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. And they with whom precious stones 8 were found gave them to the treasure of _the house of the Lord, by the hand of Je-hl' el the Ger' shon-Ite. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered will- 9 ingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord : and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the 10 congregation: and David said. Blessed he thou. Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, 11 O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour cofue of thee, and thou reignest 12 over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and 13 praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is 14 my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before 15 thee, and sojourners, as ivere 2W our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared 16 to build thee a house for thine holy name cot?uth of thine hand, and is all thine own. I know also, my God, 17 that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in upright- ness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart 29. 28 I. CHRONICLES. 167 I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to 18 offer willingly unto thee. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy 19 people, and prepare their heart unto thee: and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, th)^ testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things^ and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision. 20 And David said to all the congregation. Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their 21 heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king. And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and 22 sacrifices in abundance for all Israel: and did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the 23 chief governor, and Za'dok to be priest. Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. 24 And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto 25 Solomon the king. And the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. 26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 And the time that he reigned over Israel ivas forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty 28 and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour; and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. i68 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. ARRANGED IN THE ORDER OF THE EVENTS. SELECTION NUMBER Y9. I. Kings 2 : 1-4, 10-12 ; II. Chronicles i : 1-17. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; i 2 and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way 2 of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; and keep the charge of the Lord thy 3 God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: that the Lord may continue his word 4 which he spake concerning me, saying. If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a m^n on the throne of Israel. * * So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in 10 the city of David. And the days that David reigned 11 over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in He'bron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his 12 father; and his kingdom was established greatly. * * And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in i l his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. Then Solomon spake unto 2 all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. So Solomon, and all the con- 3 gregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gib'e-on; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the . i6 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 169 4 Lord had made in the wilderness. But the ark of God had David brought up from Kir' jath-je'a-nm to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had 5 pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. Moreover the brazen altar, that Be-zal' e-el the son of U' ri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord; 6 and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before the Lord, which zvas at the tabernacle of the congrega- tion, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. 7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said 8 unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his 9 stead. Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge 11 this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee 12 king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that Jiave been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 13 Then Solomon came from his joiirney to the high place that ivas at Gib'e-on to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over 14 Israel. And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the 15 chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore 16 trees that are in the vale for abundance. \nd Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price. I70 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 5. 9 And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt 17 a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hit' tites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means. SELECTION NUMBER 80. I. Kings 5 : 1-18. And Hi' ram king of Tyre sent his servants unto i 5 Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hi' ram was ever a lover of David. And Solomon sent to Hi' ram, saying, 2 Thou knowest how that David my father could not 3 build a house unto the name of the Lord his God, for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now 4 the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, 5 behold, I purpose to build a house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall built a house unto my name. Now therefore command thou that they hew 6 me cedar trees out of Leb'a-non; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint : for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Si-do' ni-ans. And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of 7 Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said. Blessed he the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people. And Hiram sent to 8 Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir. My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon 9 unto the sea; and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt 6. 3 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 171 receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in 10 giving food for my household. So Hiram gave Solo- mon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire. 11 And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat /^ their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither the}'' have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, 7. 7 I- KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. I77 and toward the house which I have built for thy name: 39 then hear thou from the heavens, ei^en from thy dwelling-- place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned 40 against thee. Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears he attent unto the prayer 41 that is viade in this place. Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with 42 salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness. O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant. SELECTION NUMBER 84. II. Chronicles 7 : 1-22. 7 I Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord 2 filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord 3 had filled the Lord's house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and wor- shipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For // heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the. entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have 14 been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy cove- nant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, eve7i I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the Lord said unto 15 him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Da-mas' cus: and when thou comest, anoint Haz' a-el to be king over Syria: and Je' hu the son of Nim' shI 16 shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Sha'phat of A' bel-me-ho' lah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, 17 that him that escapeth the sword of Haz' a-el shall Je' hu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thou- 18 sand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of 19 Sha' phat, who tvas ploughing with twelve yoke of oxe?i before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left 20 the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said. Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back 21 from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him. 29. i6 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 189 SELECTION NUMBER 90. II. Chronicles 29 : 1-12, 15, 16, 20-31 ; 31 : i, 20, 21. 20 r Hez-e-ki' ah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was A-bi' jah, the 2 daughter of Zech-a-ri' ah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and 4 repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Le' vites, and gathered them together into the east 5 street, and said unto them. Hear me, ye Le'vltes; sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth thefilthiness ' 6 out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned 7 //z^/r backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place 8 unto the God of Israel. Wherefore the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hiss- 9 ing, as ye see with your eyes. For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daugh- 10 ters and our wives are in captivity for this. Now // is in mine heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. 11 My sons, be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense. 12 Then the Levites arose, * * and they gathered 15 their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 And the priests went into the inner part of the house of I90 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 29. 31 the Lord, to cleanse //, and brought out all the unclean- ness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord, •sf * Then Hez-e-kl' ah the king rose early, and gathered 20 the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven 21 rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. So they 22 killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled /Von the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. And they brought forth the he goats for 23 the sin offering before the king and the congregation ; and they laid their hands upon them: and the priests killed 24 them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin o^Qxxxig should be made for all Israel. And he set the 25 Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the command- ment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Na' than the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instru- 26 ments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. And Hez-e-ki'ah commanded to offer the burnt offering 27 upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers 28 sang, and the trumpeters sounded: ^;/^all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they 29 had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. Moreover Hez-e-kl' ah the king and the princes com- 30 manded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of A'saph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. Then Hez-e-ki'ah answered and said, 31 33. 6 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 191 Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart, burnt offerings. 31 I Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Ben' ja-min, in E'phra-im also and Ma-nas' seh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. * * 20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before 21 the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. SELECTION NUMBER 91. II. Chronicles 33 : 1-20. Ma-nas' seh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: but did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Ba' al-im, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, whereof the Lord had said. In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the L(jrd. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hin' nom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and 192 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 33- i8 with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. And he set a carved 7 image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever: neither will I any more remove the foot 8 of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses. So Ma-nas' seh made Judah and the inhabit- 9 ants of Jerusalem to err, a7id to do worse than the heathen, whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel. And the Lord spake to Ma-nas' seh, 10 and to his people; but they would not hearken. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains 11 of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Ma-nas'- seh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Bab' y-lon. And when he was in affliction, 12 he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto 13 him.: and he was entreated of him, and heard his sup- plication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God. Now after this he built a_wall without the city 14 of David, on the west side of Gi' hon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about O' phel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out 15 of the house of the Lord, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the Lord, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. And he 16 repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon l)eace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel. Nevertheless 17 the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the Lord their God only. Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer 18 unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to 34. 8 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. I93 him in the name of the Lord God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer also, and hoiv God was entreated of him, and all his sins, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers. 20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house : and A' mon his son reigned in his stead. - SELECTION NUMBER 92. II. Chronicles 34 : 1-8, 14, 18, 19-33. 84 I Jo-si' ah tvas eight years old when he began to reign, 2 and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. 3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. 4 And they brake down the altars of Ba'al-im in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves of 5 them that had sacrificed unto them. And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed 6 Judah and Jerusalem. And so did he in the cities of Ma-nas'seh, and E'phra-im, and Sim' e-on, even unto yNaph'ta-li, with their mattocks round about. And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem. 8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Sha'phan the 194 I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 34. 28 son of Az-a-li'ah, and Ma-a-se'iah the governor of the city, and Jo' ah the son of Jo' a-haz the recorder, to repair the house of the Lord his God. * * And when they brought out the money that was 14 brought into the house of the Lord, Hil-ki' ah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. * * And Sha phan read it before the king. 18 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the 19 words of the law, that he rent his clothes. And 20 the king commanded * *, saying, Go, inquire of the 21 Lord for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book. And Hil' kr ah, and they that the king had appointed^ 22 went to Hiil' dah the prophetess * * and they spake to her to that effect. And she answered them. Thus saith the Lord God 23 of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me. Thus 24 saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, eve?i all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: because they have for- 25 saken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched. And as 26 for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard; because thine heart was tender, and thou didst 27 humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord. Behold, I will gather 28 thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabit- ants of the same. So they brought the king word again. 36. 9 I- KINGS AND 11. CHRONICLES. 195 29 Then the king sent and gathered together all the 30 elders of Judah and Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the Lord. 31 And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book. 32 And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. i\nd the inhabitants of Jeru- salem did according to the covenant of God, the God T^T^ of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abomina- tions out of all the countries that pertahied to the chil- dren of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And d\\ his days they departed not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers. SELECTION NUMBER 93. II. Chronicles 36 : 5-21. 5 Je-hoi'a-kim ivas twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jeru- salem: and he did that which was evil in the siglit of the 6 Lord his God. Against him came up Neb-u-chad-nez'- zar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry 7 him to Babylon. Neb-u-chad-nez' zar also carried of the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon, and 8 put them in his temple at Babylon. Now the rest of the acts of Je-hoi' a-kim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Je-hoi' a-chin his son reigned in his stead. 9 Je-hoi' a-chin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of 19^ I. KINGS AND II. CHRONICLES. 36. 21 the Lord. And when the year was expired, king Neb-u- 10 chad-nez' zar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the Lord, and made Zed-e- kr ah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zed-e-kl'ah was one and twenty years old when he 11 began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord 12 his God, afid humbled not himself before Jer-e-ml' ah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord. And he 13 also rebelled against king Neb-u-chad-nez'zar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, 14 transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of 15 their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwellingplace: but they mocked 16 the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till the7'e ivasr\o remedy. Therefore 17 he brought upon them the king of the Chal' dees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of 18 the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the 19 wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he 20 away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to 21 fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years. 2. 9 n. KINGS. 197 II. KINGS. SELECTION NUMBER 94. II. Kings 2 : 1-25. 1 _ And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up E-ir jah into heaven by a whirlwind, that E-li' jah went 2 with E-li' shafrom GU' gal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto hi?fi, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they 3 went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that tuere at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said. Yea, I 4 know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jer' i-cho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So 5 they came to Jer' i-cho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered. Yea, I know 6 it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said. As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went 7 on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by 8 Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped // together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, 1 pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon 198 II. KINGS. 2. 22 me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: never- lo theless, if thou see me ivhen I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, 11 that, behold, there appeared -^^ chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw //, and he cried, My father, my 12 father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also 13 the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the 14 mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when 15 the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said. The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed them- selves to the ground before him. And they said unto him. Behold now, there be with 16 thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said. Ye shall not send. And when they urged him till he was 17 ashamed, he said. Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at 18 Jericho,) he said unto them. Did I not say unto you, Go not? And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I 19 pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. And he said. Bring me a new cruse, and put 20 salt therein. And they brought // to him. And he 21 went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said. Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren la^id. So the waters were 22 5. 7 II- KINGS. 199 healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake. 23 And he went up from thence unto Beth-el: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, 24 Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two 25 children of them. And he went from thence to mount Car' mel, and from thence he returned to Sa-ma' ri-a. SELECTION NUMBER 95. II. Kings 5 : 1-27. 1 Now Na a-man, captain of the host of the king of Syr' i-a, was a great man with his master, and honour- able, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he 2 was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by com- panies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Na' a-man's 3 wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my Xox^werc with the prophet that is in Samaria I for he 4 would recover him of his leprosy. And otie went in, and told his lord, saying. Thus and thus said the maid 5 that is of the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said. Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and 6 ten changes of raiment. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying. Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have there^vith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his .7 leprosy. And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said. Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? Where- 200 II. KINGS. 5. 18 fore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard 8 that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying. Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came 9 with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a mes- 10 senger unto him, saying. Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went 11 away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his^hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Ab' a-na and Phar' par, rivers of 12 Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and 13 spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, would est thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee. Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped 14 himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his 15 company, and came, and stood before him: and he said. Behold, now I know that t/iere is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. But he said. As the Lord 16 liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused. And Naaman 17 said. Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord. In this thing the 18 Lord pardon thy servant, t/iat when my master goeth into the house of Rim' mon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rim' m6n: when I bow down mvself in the house of 7. I II. KINGS. 20I Rim' mon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing. 19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from hjm a little way. 20 But Ge-ha'zl,the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Na' a-man this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth,_I will run after him, and take 21 somewhat of him. So Ge-ha' zi followed after Naaman. x\nd when Naaman saw Mm running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, 22 Is all well? And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount E' phra-im two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and 23 two changes of garments. And Naaman said, Be con- tent, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid t/ie?/i upon two of his servants; and 24 they bare t/iem before him. And when he came to the tower, he took t/iem from their hand, and bestowed f/i^m in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master And Elisha said unto him, Whence contest thou, Ge-ha' zP And he 26 said, Thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, Went not mine heart z£'/V// thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee' Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, 27 and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. SELECTION NUMBER 96. II. Kings 7 : 1-20. 7 I Then Elisha said. Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 202 II. KINGS. 7- 12 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered 2 the man of God, and said, Behold, // the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said. Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. And there were four leprous men at the entering in 3 of the gate : and they said one to another. Why sit we here until we die? If we say. We will enter into the 4 city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now there- fore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. And they rose up in the twilight, to 5 go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. For the Lord had 6 made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, eve7i the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hit' tites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore 7 they rose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it wasy and fled for their life. And when these lepers 8 came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also^ and went and hid //. Then they said one 9 to another. We do not well : this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. So they came and called unto the porter of 10 the city: and they told them, saying. We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they ivere. And he called the 11 porters; and they told // to the king's house within. And the king arose 'in the night, and said unto his 12 servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have 7. 2o II. KINGS. 203 done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we 13 shall catch them alive, and get into the city. And one of his servants answered and said. Let sorne take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in 14 the city, * * and let us send and see. They took therefore two chariot horses ; and the king sent after the 15 host of the Syrians, saying. Go and see. And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way w^j full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, 16 and told the king. And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord. 17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to 18 him. And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow 19 about this time in the gate of Samaria: and that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said. Behold, thou shalt see it with 20 thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died. 204 EZRA. EZRA. SELECTION NUMBER 97. Ezra I : i-6; 2 : 64, 65,68-70; 3 : 1-13. Now in the first year of Cy' rus king of Per' sia, that i 1 the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God 2 of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him a house at Jeru- salem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of 3 all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place 4 where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and 5 Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And all they 6 that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. * * The whole congregation together «/«.y forty and two 64 2 thousand three hundred and threescore, besides their 65 servants and their maids, of whom there ivere seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women. * -x- And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came 68 3. 8 EZRA. 205 to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: 69 they gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests' 70 garments. So the priests, and the l.evites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Neth' i-nim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. 3 I And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered 2 themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jesh' u-a the son of Joz'a-dak, and his breth- ren the priests, and Ze-riib' ba-bel the son of She-al' ti-el, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written 3 in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear zuas upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt offerings 4 morning and evening. They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as // is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the 5 duty of every day required ; and afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offer- 6 ing unto the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord 7 was not yet laid. They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zi' don, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Jop' pa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia. 8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Ze-rub' ba-bel the son of She-al' ti-el, and Jesh' u-a the son of Joz' a-dak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out 2o6 EZRA. 4. 3 of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set for- ward the work of the house of the Lord. Then stood 9 Jesh' u-a with his sons and his brethren, Kad' mi-el and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Hena- dad, luith their sons and their brethren the Levites. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple 10 of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of A' saph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by 11 course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the founda- tion of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of 12 the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: so that the people could not discern the noise of 13 the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off. SELECTION NUMBER 98. Ezra 4 : 1-6, 17-24; 6: 1-12, 15-22, Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin i * heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; then they came 2 to Ze-rub' ba-bel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them. Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of E' sar-had' don king of As' sur, which brought us up hither. But Ze-rub' ba-bel, and Jeshua, and the 3 rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our 6. 3 EZRA. • 207 God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia 4 hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and 5 troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the jeign of Darius 6 king of Persia. And in the reign of A-has-u-e' rus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. * * 17 Then sent the king an answer unto Re hum the chan- cellor, and to Shim' shai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the 18 rest beyond the river. Peace, and at such a time. The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read 19 before me. And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and 20 sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, 21 and custom, was paid unto them. Give ye now com- mandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until ^«(?M^r commandment shall be 22 given from me. Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23 Now when the copy of king Ar-tax-erx' es' letter was read before Re' hum, and Shim' shai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. 24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. * * 0 I Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were 2 laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Ach' me- tha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, 3 a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king, the same Cyrus the king made a ^.tcr to, concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, 2o8 ■ EZRA. 6. i6 Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; with three rows of 4 great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house: and also let 5 the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Neb-u-chad-nez' zar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jeru- salem, everyone to his place, and place thein in the house of God. Now therefore^ Tat' na-i, governor beyond the 6 river. She' thar-boz' na-i, and your companions the A-phar' sach-ites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: let the work of this house of God alone; 7 let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. Moreover I make 8 a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river-, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. And that which they have need of, both 9 young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day with- out fail: that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours 10 unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. Also I have made a decree, that 1 1 whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. And the God that hath caused his name to 12 dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is ^t Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed. * * And this house was finished on the third day of the 15 month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. And the children of Israel, the 16 priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of 7. 9 EZRA. 209 the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God 17 with joy, and offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes 18 of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which /^ at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of 19 Moses. And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of xXi^vivwere pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the 21 priests, and for themselves. And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of 22 Israel, did eat. And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. SELECTION NUMBER 9P. Ezra 7:1, 6-28. I Now after these things, in the reign of Ar-tax-erx es 6 king of Persia, * * Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord 7 his God upon him. And there went up so7ne of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Neth' i-nim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Ar-tax-erx' es 8 the king. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, 9 which was in the seventh year of the king. For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came 2IO EZRA. 7. 22 he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek lo the law of the Lord, and to do /V, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king ii Ar-tax-erx' es gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. Ar-tax-erx' es, 12 king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, ^tritct peace, and at such a time. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, 13 and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, 14 and of his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; and to carry the silver and 15 gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, and all the silver and gold that thou canst 16 find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering will- ingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: that thou mayest buy speedily with this money 17 bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. And 18 whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. The vessels also that are 19 given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. And 20 whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow // out of the king's treasure house. And I, even I 21 Ar-tax-erx' es the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred 22 measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, I. 2 NEHEMIAH. and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without pre- 23 scribing how iiiuch. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 24 Also we certify you, that, touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Neth' i-nim, or minis- ters of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to 25 impose toil, tribute, or custom, upon them. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know 26 them not. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speed- ily upon him, whether // be unto death, or to banish- ment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. 27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify 28 the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem: and hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God icas upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. NEHEMIAH. SELECTION NUMBER 100. Nehemiah i : i-ii ; 2 : 1-8, 11-18. 1 The words of Ne-he-mi' ah- the son of Hach-a-li' ah. And it came to pass in the month Chis' leu, in the 2 twentieth year, as I was in Shu' shan the palace, that Ha-na' nl, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and 1 asked them concerning the Jews NEHEMIAH. that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The 3 remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province ^z/-*? in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when 1 heard these words, that 4 I sat down and wept, and mourned ceriam days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, and 5 said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, 6 that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have 7 dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remem- 8 ber, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying. If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: but //ye turn 9 unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and 10 thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech 11 thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer. And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the i 2 twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave // unto the king. Now 1 had not been beforetiine sad in his presence. Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is 2 2. t6 NEHEMIAH. 213 thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore 3 afraid, and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, 4 and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? 5 So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king. If it please the king, and if thy servant hath found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, 6 that I may build it. And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased 7 the king to send me; and I set him a time. Moreover I said unto the king. If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they 8 may convey jne over till I come into Judah; and a letter unto A' saph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according^ to the good hand of my God upon me. * * 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any m.2iX\ what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there atiy 13 beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that 15 was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told // to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 214 NEHEMIAH. 4. i Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we 17 are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I 18 told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said. Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. SELECTION NUMBER lOL Nehemiah 4 : i -18; 6 : 15, 16; 13 : 15-22. But it came to pass, that when San-bal' lat heard that i ^ we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. And he spake 2 before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps^of the rub- bish which are burned? Now To-bi'ah the Am' mon-ite 3 was by him, and he said, Even that Avhich they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and 4 turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: and cover not 5 their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. So built we the wall; and all the wall 6 was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work. But it came to_pass, that when SanJ)ar lat, and 7 To-bi'ah, ^and the A-ra' bi-ans, and the Am' mon-ftes, and the Ash' dod-Ites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and\.\vA\ the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, and conspired all of them 8 together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our 9 God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. And Judah said, The strength of the 10 13- 15 NEHEMIAH. 215 bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; 11 so that we are not able to build the wall. And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and 12 cause the work to cease. And it came to pass, that when the- Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. 13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their 14 bows. And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them : remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every 16 one unto his work. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the 17 rulers ivere ht\\m(\ all the house of Judah. They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one \\\th. ont of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet 7uas by me. * * 615 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of 16 the month E' lul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they per- ceived that this work was wrought of our God. * * 13 15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine- presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all ma?iner of hwrdtns,, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and 1 testified against them in the 2x6 ESTHER. 2. 3 day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of 16 Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the 17 nobles of Judah, and said unto them. What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did 18 not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. And it 19 came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, if/iat there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and 20 sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said 21 unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded 22 the Levites, that they should cleanse themselves, and tkat they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. ESTHER. SELECTION NUMBER 102. Esther 2 : i-ii, 15-23. After these things, when the wrath of king A-his- i 2 u-e' rtis was appeased, he remembered Vash tl, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. Then 2 said the king's servants that ministered unto him. Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: and 3 2. 15 ESTHER. 217 let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shu' shan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of He' ge the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things 4 for purification be given them: and let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vash' tl. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. 5 Noiv in vShu' shan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mor' de-cai, the son of Ja ir, the son 6 of Shim' e-f, the son of Kish, a Ben'ja-mite; who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jec-o-nl'ah king of Judah, whom Neb-u-chad-nez' zar the king of Babylon 7 had^carried away. And he brought up Ha- das' sah, that />, Es' ther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mor' de-cai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter, 8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shu' shan the palace, to the custody of Heg'a-I, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Heg' a-i, keeper 9 of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which wei^e meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mor' de-cai had charged her that she should not 11 shew /■/. x\nd Mor'de-cai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. * * 15 ^ Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Ab-i-ha'il the uncle of Mor' de-cai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Heg'ai the king's chamber- lain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked 2i8 ESTHER. 3. 3 upon her. So Esther was taken unto king A-has-u-e'rus i6 into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Te'beth, in the seventh year of his reign. And 17 the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vash'tT. Then 18 the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, eve/i Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king. And when the virgins were gathered 19 together the second time, then Mor'de-cai sat in the king's gate. Esther had not yet shewed her kindred 20 nor her people, as Mor'de-cai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mor'de-cai, like as when she was brought up with him. In those days, while Mor' de-cai sat in the king's gate, 21 two of the king's chamberlains, Big' than and Te' resh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king A-has-u-e'rus. And the thing 22 was known to Mor' de-cai, who told tt unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mor' de-cai's name. And when inquisition was made 23 of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king. SELECTION NUMBER 103. Esther 3 : 1-15. After these things did king A-has-u-e^rus promote i Ha' man the son of Ham-med'a-tha the A'gag-ite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that 2 were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did hi77i reverence. Then the 3 king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's command- ESTHER. 219 4 ment ? Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would 5 stand: for he had told them that he was 2i Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did 6 him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were through- out the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. 7 In the first month, that is, the month Ni' san, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month A' dar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's 9 profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed : and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the 10 king's treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Ham-med' a-tha 11 the A' gag-fte, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people 12 also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province accord- ing to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it 13 written, and sealed with the king's ring. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, 220 ESTHER. 4. which ts the month A' dar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a command- 14 ment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. The posts went out, being hastened by the king's com- 15 mandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed. SELECTION NUMBER 104. Esther 4 : 1-17. When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mor- i decai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; and came even before the 2 king's gate: for none might enttv into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province, 3 whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and 4 told //her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received // not. Then called Esther for Ha tach, one of the king's 5 chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was^ and why it ivas. So Ha' tach went 6 forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of 7 all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he 8 gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew // unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplica- 5. a ESTHER. 221 tion unto him, and to make request before him for her 9 people. And Ha tach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 Again Esther spake unto Ha' tach, and gave him 11 commandment unto Mordecai; All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether' man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the 12 king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai 13 Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape 14 in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether boldest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer^ 16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, 17 I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did accord- ing to all that Esther had commanded him. SELECTION NUMBER 105. Esther 5 : 1-14. 1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel^ and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over 2 against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to 222 ESTHER. 5. 14 Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen 3 Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. And Esther answered, 4 If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Hainan come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him. Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, 5 that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared. And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of 6 wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the king- dom it shall be performed. Then answered Esther, 7 and said. My petition and my request is; If I have 8 found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said. Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a 9 glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecaiin the king's gate, that he .stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless 10 Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Ze' resh his wife. And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and 11 the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman 12 said moreover. Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long 13 as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then said Ze' resh his wife and all his friends unto 14 him. Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. 6. II ESTHER. 223 SELECTION NUMBER 106. Esther 6 : 1-14 ; 7 : i-io. 6 I On that night could not the king sleep, and he com- manded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; 2 and they were read before the king. And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Big' tha-na and Te' resh, t\Vo of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said. What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's ser- vants that ministered unto him. There is nothing done for him. 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows 5 that he had prepared for him. And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. 6 And the king said, Let him come in. So Haman came in. And the king said unto him. What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart. To whom would the 7 king delight to do honour more than to myself? And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the 8 king delighteth to honour, let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which 9 is set upon his head: and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him. Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king 10 delighteth to honour. Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all 11 that thou hast spoken. Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him 224 ESTHER. 7. 8 on horseback through the street of the city, and pro- claimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour. And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But 12 Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. And Haman told Ze' resh his wife and 13 all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Ze' resh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. And while they were 14 yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther i 5 the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on 2 the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen 3 answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: for 4 we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bond- men and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto 5 Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, 6 The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his 7 wrath 2£/^;^^ into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace 8 garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's ESTHER. 225 9 mouth, they covered Hainan's face. And Har-bo' nah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, 10 Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. SELECTION NUMBER 107. Esther 8 : 1-17. 1 On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told 2 what he ivas unto her. And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. 3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought_him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the A' gag-Ite, and his device 4 that he had devised against the Jews. Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther 5 arose, and stood before the king, and said. If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seetn right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Ham-med' a-tha the A' gag-Ite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the 6 king's provinces: for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? 7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. 8 Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the 226 ESTHER. 5. 17 writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. Then were 9 the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Si' van, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieu- tenants, and the deputies and_rulers of the provinces which are from India unto E-thi-o' pi-a, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province accord- ing to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writ- ing, and according to their language. And he wrote in 10 the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, ^//^ riders on mules, camels, ^/z^/ young dromedaries: Wherein the 11 king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. Upon one day in all the provinces of king 12 Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month A' dar. The copy 13 of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. So the posts that 14 rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. And Mordecai went out from the presence of the 15 king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 16 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever 17 the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them. JOB. 227 JOB, SELECTION NUMBER 108. Job I : 1-22. I I There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one 2 that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were 3 born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of 4 the east. And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their 5 three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings ac- cording to the number of them all: for Job said. It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came 7 also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said. From going to and fro in the earth, and from 8 walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright 9 man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God 10 for nought? Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his II substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse 12 thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, 2 28 JOB. 2. Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon him- self put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters 13 were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, 14 The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sa-be' ans fell upon them, and took them 15 away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, 16 and said. The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and con- sumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, 17 and said, The Chal-de ans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet 18 speaking, there came also another, and said. Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and, behold, there came a 19 great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and 20 shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, * * the Lord gave, and the 21 Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God 22 foolishly. SELECTION NUMBER 109. Job 2 : 1-13. Again there was a day when the sons of God came to i 2 present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest 2 . 13 JOB. 229 thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and 3 down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there /j-none Hke him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fear- eth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, 4 to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the Lord, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man 5 hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will 6 curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, 7 Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his 8 crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself 9 withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him. Dost thou still retain thine integ- 10 rity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. • 11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; * « for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him, and to comfort 12 him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent everyone his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon 13 their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him : for they saw that his grief was very great. 230 JOB. 14. 15 SELECTION NUMBER 110. Job 14 : 1-22. Man that is born of a woman 1 14 Is of few days, and full of trouble. He Cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: 2 He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, 3 And bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not 4 one. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his 5 months are with thee. Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Turn from him, that he may rest, 6 Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it 7 will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, 8 And the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, 9 And bring forth boughs like a plant. But man dieth, and wasteth away: 10 Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, 11 And the flood decayeth and drieth up; So man lieth down, and riseth not: 12 Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be raised out of their sleep. Oh that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, 13 That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past. That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? 14 All the days of my appointed time will I wait, Till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; 15 8. 8 JOB. 231 Thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 16 For now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And thou sewest up mine iniquity. 18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, And the rock is removed out of his place. 19 The waters wear the stones: Thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; And thou destroyest the hope of man. 20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth // not of them. 22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, And his soul within him shall mourn. SELECTION NUMBER 111. Job 18 : 1-21. Then answered Bil' dad the Shu' hite, and said. How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? Mark, and afterwards we will speak. Wherefore are we counted as beasts, y^?^^ reputed vile in your sight? He teareth himself in his anger: Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? And shall the rock be removed out of his place? Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle. And his candle shall be put out with him. The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down. For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walketh upon a snare. 232 JOB. 23. 4 The gin shall take hun by the heel, 9 And Xh& robber shall prevail against him. The snare is laid for him in the ground, 10 And a trap for him in the way. Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, 11 And shall drive him to his feet. His strength shall be hungerbitten, 12 And destruction shall be ready at his side. It shall devour the strength of his skin: 13 Even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, 14 And it shall bring him to the king of terrors. It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of 15 his: Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation. His roots shall be dried up beneath, 16 And above shall his branch be cut off. His remembrance shall perish from the earth, 17 And he shall have no name in the street. He shall be driven from light into darkness, 18 And chased out of the world. He shall neither have son nor nephew among his 19 people, Nor any remaining in his dwellings. They that come after hiin shall be astonied at his 20 day, As they that went before were affrighted. Surely such at-e the dwellings of the wicked, 21 And this is the place of him that knoweth not God. SELECTION NUMBER 112. Job 23 : 1-17 ; 27 : 1-23. Then Job answered and said, i 28 Even to day is my complaint bitter: 2 My stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him! 3 That I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, 4 27. 5 JOB. 233 And fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me. 6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see hiiu: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot hath held his steps. His way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary /^^^. 13 But he is in one mind^ and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: And many such things are with him. 15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: When I consider, I am afraid of him. 16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: 17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. * * 27 I Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; 3 All the while my breath is in me. And the spirit of God is in my nostrils; 4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit. 5 God forbid that I should justify you: Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. 234 JOB. 27. 23 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: 6 My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. Let mine enemy be as the wicked, 7 And he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath 8 gained, When God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry 9 When trouble cometh upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? 10 Will he always call upon God? I will teach you by the hand of God: 11 That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; 12 Why then are ye thus altogether vain? This is the portion of a wicked man with God, 13 And the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: 14 And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: 15 And his widows shall not weep. Though he heap up silver as the dust, 16 And prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare //, but the just shall put // on, 17 And the innocent shall divide the silver. He buildeth his house as a moth, 18 And as a booth that the keeper maketh. The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be 19 gathered: He openeth his eyes, and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, 20 A tempest stealeth him away in the night. The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: 21 And as a storm hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: 22 He would fain flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, 23 And shall hiss him out of his place. 28. 17 JOB. 235 SELECTION NUMBER 113. Job 28 : 1-28. 28 1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, And a place for gold where they fine /'/. 2 Iron is taken out of the earth, And brass is molten out And the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, 2 And night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, 3 Where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, 4 And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 5 ^/z^rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, 6 And his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the 7 soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the 8 heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: 9 The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much 10 fine gold : Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: 11 And in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? 12 Cleanse thou me from secret fau/ts. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous 13 sins; 23. 4 PSALMS. 253 Let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, x\nd I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. XX. 20 I The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; The name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, And strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, And accept thy burnt sacrifice; [Selah. 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, And fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation. And in the name of our God we will set up our banners: The Lord fulfil all thy petitions. 6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; He will hear him from his holy heaven With the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: But we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord: Let the king hear us when we call. XXIII. 23 I The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Vea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 254 PSALMS. 24. 10 I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of 5 mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 6 days of my life : And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for eyer. SELECTION NUMBER 122. Psalms 24, 26, 27. XXIV. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; i 24 The world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, 2 And established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 3 Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; 4 Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity. Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, 5 And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, 6 That seek thy face, O Jacob. [Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; 7 And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? 8 The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; 9 Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? 10 The Lord of hosts. He is the King of glory. [Selah. 27. 3 PSALMS. 255 XXVI. 26 1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord ; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: And I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, Neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; And will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Lord: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, And the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners. Nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief. And their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: Redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: In the congregations will I bless the Lord. XXVII. 27 I The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, Came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, 256 PSALMS. 27. 14 In this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek 4 after; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his 5 pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine 6 enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : 7 Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst^ Seek ye my face; my heart said 8 unto thee, Thy face. Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face/«;- from me; 9 Put not thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, 10 Then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, ii And lead me in a plain path. Because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: 12 For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. J had fainted, unless I had believed to see the good- 13 ness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: 14 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart : Wait, 1 say, on the Lord. 32. II PSALMS. 257 SELECTION NUMBER 123. Psalms 32, 34. XXXII. 32 I Blessed is he luhose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old Through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture is turned into the drought of summer. [Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. [Selah. 6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliver- ance. [Selah. 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: 1 will guide thee with mine eye. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle. Lest they come near unto thee. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked : But he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall com- pass him about. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: And shout for joy, 2\\ ye that are upright in heart. 258 PSALMS. 34- 18 XXXIV. I will bless the Lord at all times: i 34 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: 2 The humble shall hear thereof^ and be glad. 0 magnify the Lord with me, 3 And let us exalt his name together, 1 sought the Lord, and he heard me, 4 And delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: 5 And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard hun^ 6 And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 7 that fear him, And delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: 8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 0 fear the Lord, ye his saints: 9 For there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: 10 But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thiiig. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: 11 1 will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, 12 And love th ma?iy days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, 13 And thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; 14 Seek peace, and pursue, it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, 15 And his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, 16 To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, 17 And delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken 18 heart, And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 37. 9 PSALMS. 259 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivereth him out of them all, 20 He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: And none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. SELECTION NUMBER 124. Psalm 37. XXXVII. 37 I Fret not thyself because of evil doers. Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; . Trust also in him; and he shall bring // to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, And thy judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9 For evil doers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. 26o PSALMS. 37. 26 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: 10 Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; ii And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, 12 And gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: 13 For he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent 14 their bow, To cast down the poor and needy. And to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, 15 And their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man hath 16 Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: 17 But the Lord upholdeth the righteous. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: 18 And their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: 19 And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, 20 And the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs : They shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: 21 But the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; 22 And they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. The steps of 2^ good man are ordered by the Lord: 23 And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: 24 For the Lord upholdeth ///;;/ with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; 25 Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken. Nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; 26 37- 40 PSALMS. 261 And his seed is blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore. 28 For the Lord loveth judgment, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land. And dwell therein for ever. 30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, And his tongue talketh of judgment. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide. 32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him. 2,T, The Lord will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged. 34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way. And he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37 Mark the perfect man^ and behold the upright: For the end of that man is peace, 38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: The end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord : He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, Because they trust in him. 262 PSALMS. 40- 10 SELECTION NUMBER 125. Psalms 40, 42. XL. I waited patiently for the Lord; i 40 And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of 2 the miry clay. And set my feet upon a rock, a?id established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise 3 unto our God: Many shall see //, and fear, And shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, 4 And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works 5 which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us- ward : They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee; If\ would declare and speak of them ^ They are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; 6 Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: 7 In the volume of the book // is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: 8 Yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congrega- 9 tion: Lo, I have not refrained my lips, 0 Lord, thou knowest. 1 have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; 10 I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindnessand thy truth from the great congregation. 42. 4 PSALMS. 263 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of mine head : there- fore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it; Let them be driven backward and put to shame That wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame That say unto me. Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. 17 But I ajn poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God. XLII. 42 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night. While they continually say unto me. Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things^ I pour out my soul in me: For I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 264 PSALMS. 46. 3 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? 5 And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him For the help of his countenance. 0 my God, my soul is cast down within me: 6 Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, And of the Her' mon-ites, from the hill Mi' zar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy water- 7 spouts: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the 8 daytime. And in the night his song shall be with me, And my prayer unto the God of my life. 1 will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten 9 me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my l)ones, mine enemies reproach 10 me; While they say daily unto me. Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? ii And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him. Who is the health of my countenance, and my God. SELFXTION NUMBER 126. Psalms 46, 47, 51. XLVI. God is our refuge and strength, i *^ A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be 2 removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ; Though the waters thereof roar arid be troubled, 3 47. 8 PSALMS. 265 Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. [Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy //«<;^ of the tabernacles of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, What desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, 1 will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah. XLVII. O clap your hands, all ye people; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us. And the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, The excellency of Jacob whom he loved. [Selah. God is gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: Sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: 266 PSALMS. 51. 14 God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, 9 , Even the people of the God of Abraham: For the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted. LI. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving- i 51 kindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, 2 And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: 3 And my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, 4 And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; 5 And in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: 6 And in the hidden J^art thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: 7 Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; 8 T/iaf the bones w/iic/i thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, 9 And blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; 10 And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; 11 And take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; 12 And uphold me laif/i thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; 13 And sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of 14 my salvation: 57. 6 PSALMS. 267 And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give if: Thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: Then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. SELECTION NUMBER 127. Psalms 57, 61, 62. LVII. 57 r Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: For my soul trusteth in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, Until f/tese calamities be overpast. 2 I will cry unto God most high; Unto God that performeth a// things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven, and save me From the reproach of him that would swallow me up. [Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. 4 My soul zV among lions: And I lie even among them that are set on fire. Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: 268 PSALMS. 62. 2 They have digged a pit before me, Into the midst whereof the}^ are fallen themselves. [Selah. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: 7 I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: 8 I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: 9 I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, 10 And thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: 11 Let thy glory be above all the earth. LXI. Hear my cry, O God; i 61 Attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when 2 my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than L For thou hast been a shelter for me, 3 And a. strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: 4 I will trust in the covert of thy wings. [Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: 5 Thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life: 6 And his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: 7 O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, 8 That I may daily perform my vows. LXII. Truly my soul waiteth upon God : i 62 From him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation ; , 2 He is my defence; 1 shall not be greatly moved. 63. 2 PSALMS. 269 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? Ye shall be slain all of you: As a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast Mm down from his excel- lency: They delight in lies: They bless with their mouth, but they curse in- wardly. [Selah. 5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; For my expectation is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. [Selah. 9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, afid men of high degree are a lie: To be laid in the balance, They are altogether lighter than vanity. 10 Trust not in oppression. And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 11 God hath spoken once; Twice have I heard this; That power belongeth unto God. 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: For thou renderest to every man according to his work. SELECTION NUMBER 128. Psalms 63, 64, 67. LXIII. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee In a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, 270 PSALMS. 64. 7 So as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, 3 My lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: 4 I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; 5 And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, 6 ^;^^ meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, 7 Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: 8 Thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy zV, 9 Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: 10 They shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; 11 Every one that sweareth by him shall glory: But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. LXIV. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: i 64 Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; 2 From the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, 3 And bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: 4 Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves /;/ an evil matter: 5 They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent 6 search: Both the inward thought of every one of them^ and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; 7 70. 2 PSALMS. 271 Suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: All that see them shall flee away. 9 And all men shall fear, And shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider of his doing. 10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory. LXVII. 67 I God be merciful unto us, and bless us; And cause his face to shine upon us; [Selah. 2 That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations. 3 Let the people praise thee, O God; Let all the people praise thee. 4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: For thou shalt judge the people righteously. And govern the nations upon earth. [Selah. 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; Let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; ^;/^ God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; And all the ends of the earth shall fear him. SELECTION NUMBER 129. Psalms 70, 72. LXX. 70 I Make haste, O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded That seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, That desire my hurt. 2 72 PSALMS. 7^. 12 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame 3 That say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in 4 thee: And let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy; 5 Make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying. LXXII. Give the king thy judgments, O God, i 72 And thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, 2 And thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, 3 And the little hills, by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, 4 He shall save the children of the needy, And shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon 5 endure, Throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: 6 As showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; 7 And abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, 8 And from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before 9 him; And his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tar' shish and of the isles shall bring 10 presents: The kings of She'ba and Se' ba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: it All nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; 12 73. 5 PSALMS. 273 The poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, And shall save the souls of the needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: And precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of She' ba: Prayer also shall be made for him continually; And daily shall he be praised. 16 There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17 His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun: And men shall be blessed in him: All nations shall call him blessed. 18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things. 19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and amen. 20 The prayers of David the son of Jes'se are ended. SELECTION NUMBER 130. Psalm 73. LXXIII. 73 I Truly God /Vgood to Israel, Even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish. When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: But their strength is firm. 274 PSALMS. 73. 24 They are not in trouble as other men; 5 Neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; 6 Violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: 7 They have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning 8 oppression: They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, 9 And their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: 10 And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? 11 And is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, 12 Who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, 13 And washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, 14 And chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; 15 Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, i6 It zvas too painful for me. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; 17 Then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: 18 Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! 19 They are utterly consumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh; 20 So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, 21 And I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: 22 I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: 23 Thou hast holden ))ie by my right hand. 84. 8 PSALMS. 275 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth : But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But // is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all thy works. SELECTION NUMBER 13L Psalms 84, 86. LXXXIV. 84 I How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found a house. And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young. Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, • My King, and my God. 4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: They will be still praising thee. [Selah. 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; In whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Ba'ca make it a well; The rain also filleth the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, Every one of the?n in Zion appeareth before God. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: Give ear, O God of Jacob. [Selah. 276 PSALMS. 86. Behold, O (tocI our shield, 9 xA.nd look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 10 I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield : 11 The Lord will give grace and glory: No good thi;ig will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, 12 Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. LXXXVI. Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: i 86 For I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I af/i holy: 2 0 thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: 3 For I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: 4 For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou. Lord, «r/ good, and ready to forgive; 5 And plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; 6 And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: 7 For thou wilt answer me. Among the gods thej-e is none like unto thee, O Lord; 8 Neither are there any ivorks like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and 9 worship before thee, O Lord; And shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: lo Thou rt!r/God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy 11 truth : Unite my heart to fear thy name. 1 will praise thee, O Tvord my God, with all my 12 heart; go. 6 PSALMS. 277 And I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13 For great is thy mercy toward me: And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. 14 O God, the proud are risen against me, And the assemblies of violent ine?t have sought after my soul; And have not set thee before them. 15 But thou, O Lord, art 3. God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; Give thy strength unto thy servant, And save the son of thine handmaid. 17 Shew me a token for good; That they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed : Because thou. Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. SELECTION NUMBER 132. Psalms 90, 91. xc. 90 I Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth. Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction; And sayest. Return, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past. And as a watch in the night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: In the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 278 PSALMS. 91- 5 For we are consumed by thine anger, 7 And by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, 8 Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: 9 We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; 10 And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, Yet is their strength labour and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? 11 Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, 12 That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? 13 And let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; 14 That we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast 15 afflicted us, And the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, 16 And thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: 17 And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. xci. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most i 91 High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress : 2 My God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the 3 fowler, ^;z^ from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, 4 And under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; 5 92. 2 PSALMS. 279 Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold And see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, tvhich is my refuge, Even the Most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands. Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble"; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him. And shew him my salvation. SELECTION NUMBER 133. Psalms 92, 93, 95. XCII. 92 // is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, And to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, And thy faithfulness every night. 28o PSALMS. 93. 2 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the 3 psaltery; Upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy 4 work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 0 Lord, how great are thy works! 5 And thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; 6 Neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, 7 And when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; It is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. 8 For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, 9 For, lo, thine enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of a uni- 10 corn: 1 shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see 7ny desire on mine enemies, 11 And mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: 12 He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord 13 Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; 14 They shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the Lord is upright: 15 He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. XCIII. The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; i 93 The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: The world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: 2 95. II PSALMS. 281 Thou art from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves. 4 The Lord on high is mightier Than the noise of many waters, Yea^ than the mighty waves of the sea. 5 Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. xcv. 95 I O come, let us sing unto the Lord: Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salva- tion. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving. And make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the Lord is a great God, And a great king above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: The strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea is his, and he made it: And his hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 7 For he is our God; And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation. And 2iS in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my work. 10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, And said. It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways: 11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath That they should not enter into my rest. 282 PSALMS. 97. I SELECTION NUMBER 134. Psalms 96, 97, 98. xcvi. O sing unto the Lord a new song: i 96 Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; 2 Shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, 3 His wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: 4 He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: 5 But the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: 6 Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, 7 Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due tmto his name: 8 Bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: 9 Fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: 10 The world also shall be established that it shall not be moved : He shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; 11 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: 12 Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice Before the Lord: for he cometh, 13 For he cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the people with his truth. XCVII. The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; i 97 Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 98. 3 PSALMS. 283 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings enlightened the world : The earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, And all the people see his glory. 7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, That boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all j^ gods. 8 Zion heard, and was glad; And the daughters of Judah rejoiced Because of thy judgments, O Lord. 9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods. 10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous. And gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. XCVIII. 98 I O sing unto the Lord a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: His righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 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. 284 PSALMS. 99. 7 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth : 4 Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; 5 With the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet 6 Make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; 7 The world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: 8 Let the hills be joyful together Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: 9 With righteousness shall he judge the world. And the people with equity. SELECTION NUMBER 135. Psalms 99, 100, loi. XCIX. The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: i 99 He sitteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion; 2 And he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; 3 For it is holy. The king's strength also loveth judgment; 4 Thou dost establish equity. Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the Lord our God, 5 And worship at his footstool; For he is holy. Moses and Aaron among his priests, '6 And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: 7 They kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. loi. 6 ' PSALMS. 285 8 Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, Though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at his holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy. c. 100 I Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God : // is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, ^;^^ into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, ^/z^ bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endiireth to all generations. CI. 101 1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: Unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. 2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. 0 when wilt thou come unto me? 1 will walk within my house with a perfect heart. 3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; // shall not cleave to me. 4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a ^izVq^. person. 5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. 6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. 286 PSALMS. 103. 13 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my 7 house: He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; 8 That I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 136. Psalms 103, 116. cm. Bless the Lord, O my soul: i 103 And all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, 2 And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities: 3 Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; 4 Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with goodi things; 5 So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executeth righteousness 6 And judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, 7 His acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, 8 Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: 9 Neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; 10 Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, 11 So great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, 12 So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, 13 So the Lord pitieth them that fear him. it6. 8 PSALMS. 287 14 For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all. 20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels. That excel in strength, that do his commandments, Hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the Lord, 2.W. ye his hosts; Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works In all places of his dominion: Bless the Lord, O my soul. cxvi. 116 I I love the Lord, because he hath heard My voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, Therefore will I call upon Mdi as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me. And the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; 0 Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserveth the simple: 1 was brought low,- and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, 288 PSALMS. 122. 4 Mine eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord 9 In the land of the living. I believed, therefore have I spoken: 10 I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, 11 All men are liars. What shall I render unto the Lord 12 For all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, 13 And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord 14 Now in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord 15 Is the death of his saints. 0 Lord, truly I a7}i thy servant; 16 1 am thy servant, ^^^^ the son of thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, 17 And will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord 18 Now in the presence of all his people, In the courts of the Lord's house, - 19 In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 137. Psalms 122, 126, 133, 137. CXXII. I was glad when they said unto me, i 122 Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand 2 Within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded 3 As a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, 4 133. 2 PSALMS. 289 Unto the testimony of Israel, To give thanks unto the name of the Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment, The thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, ^;/^ prosperity within thy palaces, 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. 9 Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. cxxvi. 126 1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, We were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us; Whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. CXXXIII. 133 I Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 // is like the precious ointment upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Eve7i Aaron's beard : That went down to the skirts of his garments; 290 PSALMS. 139. 4 As the dew of Hermon, 3 And as the dew \y\2X descended upon the mountains of Zion: For there the Lord commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore. CXXXVII. By the rivers of Babylon, i 137 There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps 2 Upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required 3 of us a song; And they that wasted us required of us mirth, sayings Sing us o?ie of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song 4 In a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, 5 Let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, 6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy. * * SELECTION NUMBER 138. Psalms 139, 142. CXXXIX. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. i 139 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; 2 Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, 3 And art acquainted 7vith all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, 4 Buty lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. T39. 20 PSALMS. 291 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If\ take the wings of the morning, A/id dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me. And thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say. Surely the darkness shall cover me; Even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. * * 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully ««^ wonder- fully made; Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, When I was made in secret. And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unper- fect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, When as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If\ should count them, they are more in number than the sand : When I awake, I am still with thee. 19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy 7iame in vain. 292 PSALMS. 142. 7 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? 21 And am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: 22 I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: 23 Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be aiiy wicked way in me, 24 And lead me in the way everlasting. CXLII. I cried unto the Lord with my voice; i 142 With my voice unto the Lord did I make my sup- plication. I poured out my complaint before him; 2 I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then 3 thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there 4 ivas no man that would know me: Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: 5 I said, Thou art my refuge And my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: 6 Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy 7 name: The righteous shall compass me about; For thou shalt deal bountifully with me. I 148. 2 PSALMS. 293 SELECTION NUMBER 139. Psalms 146, 148, 150. CLXVI. 146 I Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. 2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. 3 Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help. Whose hope is in the Lord his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth. The sea, and all that therein is : Which keepeth truth for ever: 7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: Which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: 8 The Lord openeth the eyes of t\\& blind: The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: The Lord loveth the righteous: 9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow: But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down 10 The Lord shall reign for ever. Even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. CLXVIII. 148 I Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: Praise him in the heights. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: 294 PSALMS. 150. 4 Praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: 3 Praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, 4 And ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: 5 For he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: 6 He hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the Lord from the earth, 7 Ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; 8 Stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; 9 Fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; 10 Creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; 11 Princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; 12 Old men, and children: Let them praise the name of the Lord: 13 For his name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, 14 The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. CL. Praise ye the Lord. i 160 Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: 2 Praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: 3 Praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance; 4 I. 17 PROVERBS. 295 Praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: Praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. PROVERBS. SELECTION NUMBER 140. Proverbs 1 : 7-33. 1 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowl- edge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee. Consent thou not. 11 If they say. Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; And whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; Let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil. And make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird. 296 PROVERBS. And they lay wait for their own blood; 18 They lurk privily for their oivn lives. So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; 19 Which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. Wisdom crieth without; 20 She uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief places of concourse, 21 In the openings of the gates: In the city she uttereth her words, sayings How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? 22 And the scorners delight in their scorning. And fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: 23 Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; 24 I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, 25 And would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; 26 I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, 27 And your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; 28 They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, 29 And did not choose the fear of the Lord: They would none of my counsel: 30 They despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own 31 way, And be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, 32 And the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, 33 And shall be quiet from fear of evil. 2. 17 PROVERBS. 297 SELECTION NUMBER 141. Proverbs 2 : 1-22. 2 I My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, ^;/^liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver. And searchest for her a.s /or hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understand- ing. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment. And preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judg- ment, And equity; yea^ every good path. 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, And knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee. Understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil 7nan, From the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness. To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, ^;2^ delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked. And they froward in their paths : 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Everi from the stranger ivhich flattereth with her words ; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God. 298 PROVERBS. 3. 12 For her house inclineth unto death, 18 And her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, 19 Neither take they hold of the paths of life. That thou mayest walk in the way of good men^ 20 And keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, 21 And the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, 22 And the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. SELECTION NUMBER 142. Proverbs 3 : 1-35. My son, forget not my law; i 8 But let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, 2 And peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: 3 Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding 4 In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; 5 And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, 6 And he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: 7 Fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, 8 And fiiarrow to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance, 9 And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, 10 And thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; ii Neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; 12 3. 30 PROVERBS. 299 Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding: 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the mer- chandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; Andxn her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her, 19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; By understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up. And the clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely. And thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou best down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it Cometh. 26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence. And shall keep thy foot from being taken. 27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour. Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee. 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, 300 ^ PROVERBS. 4. II If he have done thee no harm. Envy not thou the oppressor, 31 And choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: 32 But his secret is with the righteous. The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: 33 But he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: 34 But he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: 35 But shame shall be the promotion of fools. SELECTION NUMBER 143. Proverbs 4 : 1-27, Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, i 4 And attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, 2 Forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, 3 Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, 4 Let thine heart retain my words: Keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: 5 Forget // not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: 6 Love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: 7 And with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: 8 She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: 9 A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; 10 And the years of thy life shall be many. 4. 27 PROVERBS. 301 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life. 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, And go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it. Turn from it, and pass away. 16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light. That shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them. And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth. And perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil. 302 PROVERBS. SELECTION NUMBER 144. Proverbs 6 : 1-22. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, i 6 If thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, 2 Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, 3 When thou art come into the hand of thy friend; Go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, 4 Nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter^ 5 And as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; 6 Consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, 7 Overseer, or ruler. Provideth her meat in the summer, 8 And gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? 9 When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, 10 A little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, 11 And thy want as an armed man. A naughty person, a wicked man, 12 Walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, 13 He teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief 14 continually; He soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; 15 Suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things ^oX)i\ the Lord hate; 16 Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: lo. 9 PROVERBS. 303 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speak eth lies. And he that soweth discord among brethren. 20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, And forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, And tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. SELECTION NUMBER 145. Proverbs 10 : 1-32. 10 I The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. 2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: But righteousness delivereth from death. 3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: But he casteth away the substance of the wicked. 4 He becometh poor that dealeth witA a slack hand: But the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 5 He that gathereth in summer t's a wise son: Bi^t he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. 6 Blessings a?r upon the head of the just: But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 7 The memory of the just is blessed : But the name of the wicked shall rot. 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: But a prating fool shall fall. 9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: 304 PROVERBS. lo. 28 But he that perverteth his ways shall be known. He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: 10 But a prating fool shall fall. The mouth of a righteous vmn is a well of life: 11 But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Hatred stirreth up strifes: 12 But love covereth all sins. In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is 13 found: But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. Wise 77ien lay up knowledge: 14 But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. The rich man's wealth is his strong city: 15 The destruction of the poor is their poverty. The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: 16 The fruit of the wicked to sin. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: 17 But he that refuseth reproof erreth. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, 18 And he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: 19 But he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: 20 The heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: ?i But fools die for want of wisdom. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, 22 And he addeth no sorrow with it. // is as sport to a fool to do mischief: 23 But a man of understanding hath wisdom. The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: 24 But the desire of the righteous shall be granted. As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: 25 But the righteous is an everlasting foundation. As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, 26 So is the sluggard to them that send him. The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: 27 But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: 28 But the expectation of the wicked shall perish. II. 12 PROVERBS. 305 29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: But destruction s/ia// be to the workers of iniquity. 30 The righteous shall never be removed: But the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: But the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: But the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. SELECTION NUMBER 146. Proverbs 11 : 1-31. 11 I A false balance is an abomination to the Lord : But a just weight is his delight. 2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: But with the lowly is wisdom, 3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: But the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: But righteousness delivereth from death. 5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: But transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish : And the hope of unjust 7nen perisheth. 8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead. 9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: But through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: And when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: But a man of understanding holdeth his peace. 3o6 PROVERBS. II. 28 A talebearer revealeth secrets: 13 But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Where no council is, the people fall: 14 But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. He that is surety for a stranger shall smart /i7r //.• 15 And he that hateth suretyship is sure. A gracious woman retaineth honour: 16 And strong fjien retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: 17 But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. The wicked worketh a deceitful work: 18 But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness te7ideth to life: 19 So he that pursueth evil ptirsueth it to his own death. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to 20 the Lord: But such as are upright in their way are his delight. Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be 21 unpunished: But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, 22 So is a fair woman which is without discretion. The desire of the righteous is only good: 23 But the expectation of the wicked is wrath. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; 24 And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tetideth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: 25 And he that watereth shall be watered also himself. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse 26 him: But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth //. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: 27 But he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: 28 But the righteous shall flourish as a branch. 15. 12 PROVERBS. 307 29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: And the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart. 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise. 31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: Much more the wicked and the sinner. SELECTION NUMBER 147. Proverbs 15 : 1-33. 15 I A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue /j- a tree of life: But perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. 5 A. fool despiseth his father's instruction: But he that regardeth reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: But the heart of the foolish doeth not so. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: But the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that foUoweth after righteousness. 10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: And he that hateth reproof shall die. 11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: How much more then the hearts of the children of men.-- 12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him 3o8 PROVERBS. 15. 30 Neither will he go unto the wise. A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: 13 But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh 14 knowledge: But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. All the days of the afflicted «3!?'^ evil : 15 But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Better is little with the fear of the Lord, 16 Than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, 17 Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: 18 But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. The way of the slothful inaii is as a hedge of thorns: 19 But the way of the righteous is made plain. A wise son maketh a glad father: 20 But a foolish man despiseth his mother. Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: 21 But a man of understanding walketh uprightly. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: 22 But in the multitude of counsellors they are established. A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: 23 And a word spoken in due season, how good is it ! The way of life is above to the wise, 24 That he may depart from hell beneath. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: 25 But he will establish the border of the widow. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the 26 Lord : But the words of the pure are pleasant words. He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; 27 But he that hateth gifts shall live. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: 28 But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. The Lord is far from the wicked: 29 But he heareth the prayer of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: 30 And 3. good report maketh the bones fat. i6. 19 PROVERBS. 309 31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life Abideth among the wise. 32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: But he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. 33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour is humility. SELECTION NUMBER 148. Proverbs 16: 1-8, 16-19, 24, 25, 31-33 ; 17 : 1-5, I3-I5' 27, 28; 19 : 13-18 ; 20: 4, 13, 14. 16 I The preparations of the heart in man And the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But the Lord weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, And thy thoughts shall be established. 4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: Though hand Join in hand, he shall not be un- punished. 6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: And by the fear of the Lord 7nen depart from evil. 7 When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness. Than great revenues without right. * ^ 16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. iS Pride ^^^/// before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better // is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. * * 3IO PROVERBS. 19. 13 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, 24 Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; 25 But the end thereof are the ways of death. * * The hoary head is a crown of glory, 31 //" it be found in the way of righteousness. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; 32 And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. The lot is cast into the lap; 33 But the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, i 17 Than a house full of sacrifices ivith strife. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth 2 shame, And shall have part of the mheritance among the brethren. The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: 3 But the Lord trieth the hearts. A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; 4 And 3. liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: 5 And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpun- ished. * * Whoso rewardeth evil for good, 13 Evil shall not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out 14 water: Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. He that justifieth the wicked, and hethat condemneth 15 the just. Even they both are abomination to the Lord. * ^ He that hath knowledge spareth his words: 27 And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted 28 wise: And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. A foolish son is the calamity of his father: 13 19 22. 6 PROVERBS. 311 And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riclies are tiie inheritance of fathers: And a prudent wife is from the Lord. 15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; But he that despiseth his ways shall die. 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; And that which he hath given will he pay him again. 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, And let not thy soul spare for his crying. * * 20 4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have noth- ing. * * 13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. SELECTION NUMBER 149. Proverbs 22 : 1-29. 22 I A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, A7id\oV\xig favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and poor meet together: The Lord is the maker of them all, 3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: But the simple pass on, and are punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, and honour, and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward : He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way he should go\ And when he is old, he will not depart from it. 312 PROVERBS. 22. 24 The rich ruleth over the poor, 7 And the borrower is servant to the lender. He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: 8 And the rod of his anger shall fail. He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; 9 For he giveth of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; 10 Yea, strife and reproach shall cease. He that loveth pureness of heart, 11 For the grace of his lips the king sliall be his friend. The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, 12 And he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, 13 I shall be slain in the streets. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: 14 He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; 15 But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. He that oppresseth the poor to increase his inches, 16 And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, 17 And apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within 18 thee; They shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the Lord, 19 I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things 20 In counsels and knowledge. That I might make thee know the certainty of the 21 words of truth; That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Rob not the poor, because he is poor: 22 Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the Lord will plead their cause, 23 And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Make no friendship with an angry man; 24 23. 34 PROVERBS. 3^3 And with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul. 26 Be not thou 07ie of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts. 27 If thou hast nothing to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee? 28 Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set. 29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men. SELECTION NUMBER 150. Proverbs 23 : 1^21^ 29-35 5 3^ • 4-3i« 23 19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; Among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: And drowsiness shall clothe a 7nan with rags. * * 29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath con- tentions? Who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red When it giveth his colour in the cup, When it moveth itself aright. 32 At the last it biteth like a serpent. And stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women. And thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 314 PROVERBS. 31. 20 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not 35 sick; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. * * // is not for kings, O Lem' u-el, // is not for kings to 48! drink wine; Nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, 5 And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, 6 And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, 7 And remember his misery no more. Open thy mouth for the dumb 8 In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, 9 And plead the cause of the poor and needy. Who can find a virtuous woman? 10 For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, 11 So that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil 12 All the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, 13 And worketh vv^illingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; 14 She bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, 15 And giveth meat to her household. And a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: 16 With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, 17 And strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: 18 Her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, 19 And her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; 20 2. 3 ECCLESIASTES. 3i5 Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: For all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; Her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour a7'e her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household. And eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also^ and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously. But thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain : But a. woman t/iat feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her own works praise her in the gates. ECCLESIASTES. SELECTION NUMBER 15L Ecclesiastes 2 : 1-26. 2 I I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, 2 this also is vanity.' I said of laughter, // is mad: and 3 of mirth. What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what 3i6 ECCLESIASTES. 2. 18 was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I made 4 me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I 5 planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me 6 pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got 77ie servants and maidens, 7 and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver 8 and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instru- ments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and 9 increased more than all that were before me in Jerusa- lem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatso- 10 ever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had 11 wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, 12 and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light 13 excelleth darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his 14 head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, 15 so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of 16 the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man2 as the fool. Therefore I hated life; because the 17 work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under 18 the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that ir. 6 ECCLESIASTES. 3^7 19 shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also 20 vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave \tfor his portion. This 22 also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein 23 he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from 25 the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can 26 hasten hereunto^ more than I? For 6^^^giveth to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to hi^n that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. SELECTION NUMBER 152. Ecclesiastes 11 : i-io ; 12 : 1-14. 11 I Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find 2 it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the 3 earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty them- selves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree 4 falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall 5 not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, * * even so thou knowest not the works of 6 God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou ECCLESIASTES. 12. 10 knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for 7 the eyes to behold the sun: but if a man live many 8 years, ajid rejoice in them all ; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that Cometh is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy 9 heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from 10 thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for child- hood and youth are vanity. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, i 12 while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, 2 be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, 3 and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened. And the doors 4 shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, 5 and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: or ever the 6 silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to 7 the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. 8 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still 9 taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The 10 Preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that I. 6 ISAIAH. 319 which ivas written ivas upright, even words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, 7uhich are given 12 from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished ; of making many books there is no end ; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the 14 whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether // be good, or whether it be evil. ISAIAH. SELECTION NUMBER 153. Isaiah 1 : 1-24. 1 The vision of Isaiah the son of A' moz, which he s^aw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uz-zi' ah, Jo' tham. A' haz, and Hez-e-kl'ah, kings of 2 Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken; I have nourished and brought 3 up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. 4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole 6 heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oint- 320 ISAIAH. I. 23 ment. Your country is desolate, your cities a^-e burned 7 with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your pres- ence, and // is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vine- 8 yard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very 9 small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Go-mor' rah. Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; 10 give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Go-mor'- rah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacri- 11 fices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who 12 hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomina- 13 tion unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with ; // is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your 14 appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear thejn. And when ye 15 spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your 16 doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn 17 to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, 18 and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good 19 of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be 20 devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken //. How is the faithful city become a harlot! it was full 21 of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine 22 mixed with water: thy princes a^-e rebellious, and com- 23 panions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and fol- 5. 5 ISAIAH. 321 loweth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 24 Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies. SELECTION NUMBER 154. Isaiah 2 : 1-5 ; 5 : 1-8, 11, 12, 20-30. 2 I The word that Isaiah the son of A'moz saw concern- 2 ing Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall 3 flow unto it. And many people shall go and say. Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from 4 Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning- hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 5 neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. * * 5 I Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath 2 a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein; and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild 3 grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my 4 vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it 5 forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what 322 ISAIAH. 5. 27 I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will 6 lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also com- mand the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For 7 the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteous- ness, but behold a cry. Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay 8 field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! * * Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, 11 />^^/ they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, //// wine inflame them! And the harp and the 12 viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither con- sider the operation of his hands. * * Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; 20 that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto 21 them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to 22 drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward, and take 23 away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the 24 flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his 25 people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, 26 and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: none shall 27 ISAIAH. 323 be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be 28 loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a 29 whirlwind: their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry // away safe, and none shall 30 deliver it. And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if 07ie look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is dark- ened in the heavens thereof. SELECTION NUMBER 155. Isaiah 6 : 1-13 ; 9 : 1-7 ; 10 : 1-6. 6^1 In the year that king Uz-zl' ah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his 2 train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he 3 did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full 4 of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the 6 King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the sera- phim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he 7 had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid // upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin 8 purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people. Hear ye in- deed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but per- 324 ISAIAH. 10. 2 ceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make lo their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and under- stand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, ii Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there 12 he a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and // shall return, and 13 shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose sub- stance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in i 9 her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zeb' u-lun, and the land of Naph' ta-ll, and after- ward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people 2 that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the 3 nation, and not increased the joy; they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the 4 yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Mid'i-an. For 5 every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and iuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a 6 son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his govern- 7 ment and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from hence- forth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. * * Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and i 10 that write grievousness whieh they have prescribed; to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take 2 II. 8 ISAIAH. 325 away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the father- 3 less! And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave 4 your glory? Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in 6 their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. SELECTION NUMBER 156. Isaiah 11 : 1-12, 16; 12 : 1-6; 25 : 1-9. 11 I And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of 2 Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the 3 Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of 4 his ears : but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. ■ 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and 6 faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw 8 like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the 326 ISAIAH. 25. 4 hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor 9 destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which 10 shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it 11 shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left. * * And he shall 12 set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. * * And 16 there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will i 12 praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Be- 2 hold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore 3 with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salva- tion. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, 4 call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing 5 unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou 6 inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will i 25 praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful tJmigs; thy counsels of old are faithfulness a7idXxM\.\\. For thou 2 hast made of a city a heap; ^/a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, 3 the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For 4 thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow 26. 8 ISAIAH. 327 from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is 5 as a storm against the wall. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. 6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the 7 lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the 8 vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord 9 hath spoken //. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. SELECTION NUMBER 157. Isaiah 26 : 1-9 ; 33 : 13-16 ; 35 : i-io. 26 I In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God 2 appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may 3 enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. 5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the 6 ground; he bringeth it eve7i\.o the dust. The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps 7 of the needy. The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. 8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, 328 ISAIAH. 35- 9 and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I 9 desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. * * Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye 1383 that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in 14 Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypo- crites. AVho among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burn- ings? He that walked righteously, and speaketh up- 15 rightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stop- peth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his 16 place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters j//i?// /^f sure. * * The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad i 35 for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice 2 even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excel- lency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the 3 feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, 4 Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be 5 opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame 7?ian leap as a hart, and the tongue 6 of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched 7 ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And a 8 highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, 9 nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not 40. 12 ISAIAH. 329 be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. SELECTION NUMBER 158. Isaiah 40 : 1--31. 40 I Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Pre- pare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the 4 desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough 5 places plain: and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the 6 mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the 7 field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the 8 people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth : but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your 10 God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward 11 />y with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry the7n in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. 12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his 33^ ISAIAH. 40. 27 hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and com- prehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or 13 3eing his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took 14 he counsel, and 7£j/io instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the 15 nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to 16 burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offer- ing. All nations before him areas nothing; and they 17 are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness 18 will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a 19 graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that zs so impov- 20 erished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree t//af will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, t/ial shall not be moved. Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not 21 been told you from the beginning? have ye not under- stood from the foundations of the earth? // is he that 22 sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; 23 he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, 24 they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown; yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To 25 whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold 26 who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and 27 speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 43. I ISAIAH. 33i 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no 29 searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth 30 strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, 31 and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and \.\\Qy shall walk, and not faint. SELECTION NUMBER 159. Isaiah 42 : 1-9; 43 : 1-13. 42 I Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be 3 heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall 4 bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law. 5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk 6 therein: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gen- 7 tiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and thtm. that sit in darkness out of 8 the prison house. I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my 9 praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. * * 43 I But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, 0 Israel, Fear not: 332 ISAIAH. 43. 13 for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou ^r/ mine. When thou passest through 2 the waters, I luill be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For \ a7n -^ the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt Z^;- thy ransom, E-thi-o' pi-a and Se' ba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my 4 sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not; for I ^w with thee: I will bring thy 5 seed from the east, and gather thee from the west: I 6 will say to the north. Give up; and to the south, Keep . not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; even every one that is 7 called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the 8 deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered 9 together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, // is truth. Ye 10 are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even 1, am 11 the Lord; and beside me t/iere is no saviour. I have 12 declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when t/iere was no strange god among you : therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. Yea, 13 before the day 7vas I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? 51. II ISAIAH. 333 SELECTION NUMBER 160. Isaiah 51 : 1-13 ; 52 : 1-15. 51 I Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord : look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and 3 increased him. For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, 0 my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and 1 will make my judgment to rest for a light of the 5 people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on my mine arm shall 6 they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. 7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation. 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded 10 the dragon? A7't thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths 11 of the sea a way for the ramsomed to pass over? There- fore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come 334 ISAIAH. 52. 10 with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I, am 12 he that comforteth you: who a?'t thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and for- 13 gettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? * * Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on i 52 thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from 2 the dust; arise, ajid sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thy- self from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold your- 3 selves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. For thus saith the Lord God, My people went 4 down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now there- 5 fore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my 6 people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak : behold, // is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of 7 him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice 8 together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places 9 of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made 10 bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 53. 8 ISAIAH. 335 11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thhigj go ye out of the midst of her; be ye 12 clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you ; and the God of Israel will be your rearward. 13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be 14 exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: so 15 shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for ///^/ which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. SELFXTION NUMBER 161. Isaiah 53 : 1-12 ; 55 : 1-13. 53 I Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the 2 arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, t/ie?'e is no beauty that we should desire 3 him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sor- rows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, 5 and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgres- sions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastise- ment of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes 6 we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the 7 Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth 8 not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from 336 ISAIAH. 55. 9 judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the trans- gression of my people was he stricken. And he made 9 his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put 10 him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be 11 satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. There- 12 fore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, i 56 and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and with- out price. Wherefore do ye spend money for thattvhich 2 is not bread? and your labour for that ivhich satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your 3 soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, eve?i the sure mercies of David. Behold, I 4 have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call 5 a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glori- fied thee. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye 6 upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his 7 way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts: neither are 8 your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens 9 58. 6 ISAIAH. 337 are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may 11 give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper /;/ the thing whereto 12 I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of 13 the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree : and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. SELECTION NUMBER 162. Isaiah 58 : 1-14. 58 I Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house 2 of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and de- light to know my ways, as a nation that did righteous- ness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. 3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast 4 ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to 5 make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afilict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes imder him'^ wilt thou call this a fast, 6 and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the 33^ ISAIAH. 58. 14 fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wicked- ness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it 7 not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and 8 thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy right- eousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and the 9 Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, 10 and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and 11 the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be oi 12. thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called. The repairer of the breach. The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, ft-oni 13 doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will 14" cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 6o. 13 ISAIAH. 339 SELECTION NUMBER 163. Isaiah 60 : 1-15, 17-22. 60 I Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of 2 the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the dark- ness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his 3 glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy 4 rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall 5 be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto 6 thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Mid' i-an and E'phah; all they from She'ba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; 7 and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Ke' dar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Ne-ba' ioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and 8 I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he 10 hath glorified thee. And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour 11 have I had mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the 12 Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; 13 yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my 340 ISAIAH. i6. 3 sanctuary ; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come 14 bending- unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Whereas thou hast been forsaken 15 and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many genera- ations. * * For brass I will bring gold, and for 17 iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more 18 be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy 19 light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun 20 shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon with- draw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit 21 the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall 22 become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time. SELECTION NUMBER 164. Isaiah 61 : i-ii ; 62 : 1-12. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the 1 16 Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken- hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; to pro- 2 claim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto 3 them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they 62. 4 ISAIAH. 341 might be called Trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your ploughmen and your 6 vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: 7nen shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 7 For your shame ye shall have double; and /(?r con- fusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting 8 joy shall be unto them. Fori the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting 9 covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that 10 they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of right- eousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself ^n\\.\\ orna- ments, and as a bride adorneth herself with, her jewels. 11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. 62 I For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof 2 as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the 3 Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in 4 the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken: neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou, shalt be called Heph' zi-bah, and 342 JEREMIAH. 7. 2 thy land Beu'lah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons 5 marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. I have set 6 watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. And give him 7 no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The Lord hath sworn by his right 8 hand, and by the arm of his strength. Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: but they that have 9 gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the 10 way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the 11 end of the world. Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall 12 call them. The holy people. The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. JEREMIAH. SELECTION NUMBER 166. Jeremiah 7 : 1-28. The word that came to Jer-e-mi' ah from the Lord, i 7 saying, Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and pro- 2 claim there this word, and say, "Hear the word of the Lord, all^f ^/ Judah, that enter ip at these gates to 7. 19 JEREMIAH. 343 3 worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and 4 I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these. 5 For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and 6 his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your 7 hurt; then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. 8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other 10 gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, 11 We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen //, saith 12 the Lord. But go ye now unto my place which was in Shi' loh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye 14 answered not; therefore will I do unto //z/V house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have 15 done to Shi' loh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, eve7i the whole seed 16 of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. 17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah 18 and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other 19 gods, that they may provoke me to anger. Do they provoke me to anger? saith the Lord : do they not pro- 344 JEREMIAH. 8. 2 voke themselves to the confusion of their own faces? Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, mine 20 anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; 21 Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor com- 22 manded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my 23 voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have com- manded you, that it may be well unto you. But they 24 hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels andm the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Since the day 25 that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day, I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending the7n: yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, 26 but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speak all these words 27 unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them. This is a nation 28 that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. SELECTION NUMBER 167. Jeremiah 8 : 1-9, 18-22; 9 : 1-3. At that time, saith the Lord, they shall bring out the i 8 bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jeru- salem, out of their graves: and they shall spread them 2 9. I JEREMIAH. 345 before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall 3 be for dung upon the face of the earth. And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the Lord of hosts. 4 Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn 5 away, and not return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? 6 they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I heark- ened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying. What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse 7 rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. 8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen 9 of the scribes is in vain. The wise 7nen are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? * * 1 8 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my 19 heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with 20 their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not 21 saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on 22 me. Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? 9 I Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a 34^ JEREMIAH. i6. g fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh that I had 2 in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: 3 but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 168. Jeremiah 16 : 1-15. The word of the Lord came also unto me, saying, i 16 Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou 2 have sons nor daughters in this place. For thus saith 3 the Lord concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land; they shall die 4 of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcasses shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. For thus saith the Lord, Enter not into the 5 house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them : for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the Lord, even lovingkindness and mercies. Both 6 the great and the small shall die in this land : they shall not be buried, neither shall meji lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them: neither shall meji tear the?nselves for them in mourning, 7 to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother. Thou shalt not also go into 8 the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink. For thus saith the I^ord of hosts, the God 9 of Israel; behold, I will cause to cease out of this place 17. 8 JEREMIAH. 347 in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride. 10 And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee. Wherefore hath the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the Lord our God? 11 Then shalt thou say unto them. Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the Lord, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not 12 kept my law; and ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken 13 unto me: therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour. 14 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said. The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of 15 Egypt; but The Lord liveth, that brought up the chil- dren of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. SELECTION NUMBER 169. Jeremiah 17: i, 2, 7-10, 19-27. 17 I The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: // is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars; 2 whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills. * * 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and 8 whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the 348 JEREMIAH. 17. 27 river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart /i- deceitful above all things^ and desperately 9 wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, 10 / try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, <3!«^ according to the fruit of his doings. Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the 19 gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; and say unto them, Hear ye 20 the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the Lord: Take heed to your- 21 selves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring // in by the gates of Jerusalem; neither carry 22 forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they obeyed not, 23 neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. And it 24 shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; then shall there enter into 25 the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever. And 26 they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the Lord. But if ye will not 27 hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched. 23. 27 JEREMIAH. o49 SELECTION NUMBER 170. Jeremiah 23 : 1-8, 23-32. 23 I Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter 2 the sheep of my pasture! saith the I^ord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the 3 Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and 4 increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. 5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and 6 justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR 7 RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say. The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of 8 Israel out of the land of Egypt; but. The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. * * 23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God 24 afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven 25 and earth? saith the Lord. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, 26 I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; 27 which think to cause my people to forget my name 'by their dreams, which they tell every man to his neigh- 350 JEREMIAH. 24. 7 bour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; 28 and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faith- fully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like 29 a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, 30 behold, I af?t against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, 31 I afn against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say. He saith. Behold, I am against 32 them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor com- manded them : therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 17L Jeremiah 24 : i-io. The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of i 24 figs ivere set before the temple of the Lord. * * One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are 2 first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. Then 3 said the Lord unto me. What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said. Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 4 Thus saith th^e Lord, the God of Israel; Like these 5 good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chal-de'ans for ///m- good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will 6 bring them again to this land:, and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them a heart to know 7 me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. 25. 14 JEREMIAH. 351 8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zed-e-ki'ah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and 9 them that dwell in the land of Egypt: and I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. 10 And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pesti- lence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers. 25 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye 9 have not heard my words, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Neb-u-chad-nez'zar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desola- 10 tions. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bride- groom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the 11 millstones, and the light of the candle. And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual 13 desolations. And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, eve?i all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied 14 against all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and accord- ing to the works of their own hands. 352 JEREMIAH. 3J. 29 SELECTION NUMBER 172. Jeremiah 29 : i, 4-6, 10-14 ; 31 : 27-34 ; 32 : 36-44. Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah i 29 the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jeru- salem to Babylon; * * Thus saith the Lord of hosts, 4 the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away cap- tives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; build ye houses, and dwell in 5 them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take 6 wives for your sons, and give your daughters to hus- bands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. * * For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be 10 accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think 11 toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye 12 call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find 13 me^ when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will 14 turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. * * Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow 27 31 the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. And it shall come to 28 pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord. In those days they shall say 29 32. 43 JEREMIAH. 353 no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the 30 children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. 31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with 32 the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a hus- 33 band unto them, saith the Lord: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will 34 be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord : for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. * * 32 36 And now therefore thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say. It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; 37 behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this 38 place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: and they 39 shall be my people, and I will be their God : and I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children 40 after them: and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that 41 they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole 42 soul. For thus saith the Lord; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon 43 them all the good that I have promised them. And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, // is 354 LAMENTATIONS. desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. Men shall buy fields for money, and 44 subscribe evidences, and seal them^ and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jeru- salem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the Lord. LAMENTATIONS. SELECTION NUMBER 1V3. Lamentations 1:1-312: 15-19; 3 : 22-36; 4 : 16-20; 5 : 14-22. How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of i 1 people! How'is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, How is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on 2 her cheeks: Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: All her friends have dealt treacherously with her, They are become her enemies. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and 3 because of great servitude: She dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. * * All that pass by clap their hands at thee; 15 ^ They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty. The joy of the whole earth? 3. 30 LAMENTATIONS. 355 i6 All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: They hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: Certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen //. 17 The Lord hath done that which he had devised; He hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: And he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, He hath set up the horn of thine adversaries. 18 Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: Give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease. 19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches Pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, That faint for hunger in the top of every street. * * 3 22 // is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 // is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. 27 // is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29 He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 356 LAMENTATIONS. 5. 19 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 31 But though he cause grief, yet will he have com- 32 passion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the ^^ children of men. To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, 34 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of 35 the Most High, To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth 36 not. * * The anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will 16 4: no more regard them: They respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: 17 In our watching we have watched for a nation i^t could not save t^s. They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our 18 streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come. Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the 19 heaven: They pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, 20 was taken in their pits. Of whom we said. Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen. * * The elders have ceased from the gate, 146 The young men from their musick. The joy of our heart is ceased; 15 Our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen /r an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. I Neb-u-chad-nez' zar was at rest in mine house, and 4 flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made 5 me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a 6 decree to bring in all the wise me7i of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpre- tation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the 7 astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before me whose name 8 was Bel-te-shaz' zar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before* him I told the dream, sayings O Bel-te-shaz' zar, master 9 of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. Thus were the visions of mine 10 head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The 11 tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: the leaves tfiereof were fair and the 12 fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon 13 my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; he cried aloud, and said thus. Hew 14 4. 22 DANIEL. 375 down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: 15 nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the 16 earth: let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times 17 pass over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the 18 basest of men. This dream I king Neb-u-chad-nez' zar have seen. Now thou, O Bel-te-shaz' zar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art a.h\e; for the spirit of the holy gods IS in thee. 19 Then Daniel, whose name was Bel-te-shaz' zar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Bel-te-shaz' zar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Bel-te-shaz' zar answered and said. My lord, the dream de to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. SELECTION NUMBER 183. Daniel 4 : 20-37. 4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight 21 thereof to all the earth; whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose 22 branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: it IS thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and 376 DANIEL. 4. 33 thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the 23 king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; this is the inter- 24 pretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That 25 they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, 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. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of 26 the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable 27 unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. AH this came upon the king Neb-u-chad-nez' zar. 28 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of 29 the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, 30 Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in 31 the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying^ O king Neb-u-chad-nez' zar, to 'thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive 32 thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field : they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The 33 same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Neb-u-chad-nez'- zar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers^ and his 5. 5 DANIEL. 377 34 nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Neb-u-chad-nez' zar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to 35 generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and a?fiong the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto 36 him. What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was 37 added unto me. Now I Neb-u-chad-nez' zar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. SELECTION NUMBER 184. Daniel 5 : 1-3 1. 1 Bel-shaz' zar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2 Bel-shaz' zar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Neb-u-chad-nez' zar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his 3 wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was 2it Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his con- 4 cubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. 5 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the 378 DANIEL. 5. 15 part of the hand that wrote. Then the king's counte- 6 nance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The king cried aloud to 7 bring in the astrologers, the Chal-de'ans, and the sooth- sayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men oi Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then came in 8 all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Bel-shaz' zar greatly troubled, 9 and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. No7v the queen by reason of the words of the king and 10 his lords came into the banquet house: a7id the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: there is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is 11 the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Neb-u-chad-nez' zar thy father, the king, / say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chal-de'ans, ^/z^soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent 12 spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolv- ing of doubts, were found in the same i)aniel, whom the king named Bel-te-shaz' zar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. Then was 13 Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, A7't thou that Daniel which art oi the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jew' ry? I have even heard 14 of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers, have 15 been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of 5. 28 DANIEL. 379 i6 the thing: and I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make 18 known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave Neb-u-chad-nez'zar thy father a 19 kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: and for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he 20 put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly 21 throne, and they took his glory from him: and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling 7vas with the wild asses : they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he 22 appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Bel-shaz'zar, hast not humbled thine heart, 23 though thou knewest all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: 24 then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. 25 And thisj'i- the writing that was written, ME'NE, 26 ME'NE, TE'KEL, U-PHAR'_SIN. This is the inter- pretation of the thing : ME'NE; God hath numbered thy 27 kingdom, and finished it. TE' KEL; thou art weighed 28 in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy 380 DANIEL. 6. 9 kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel 29 with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chalde- 30 ans slain. And Da-rl'us the Median took the kingdom, 31 being about threescore and two years old. SELECTION NUMBER 185. Daniel 6 : 1-28. It pleased Da-ri' us to set over the kingdom a hundred i 6 and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; and over these three presidents; of whom 2 Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then 3 ♦this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find 4 occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men. We shall not find 5 any occasion against this Daniel, except we find // against him concerning the law of his God. Then 6 these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Da-ri' us, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the gov- 7 ernors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the cap- tains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign 8 the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Da-ri' us signed the writing and the 9 decree. 6. 20 DANIEL. 381 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks 11 before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making sup- 12 plication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said. The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which 13 altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the cap- tivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition 14 three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he laboured till 15 the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king. Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king estab- 16 lisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast hivi into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver 17 thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the pur- pose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and 20 went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the 382 DANIEL. 9. 2 lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live 21 for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut 22 the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: foras- much as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then 23 was the king exceeding glad for himi, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those 24 men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Then king Da-rl' us wrote unto all people, nations, 25 and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every 26 dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel : for he is the living God, and stead- fast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and 27 wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel 28 prospered in the reign of Da-rl' us, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. SELECTION NUMBER 186. Daniel 9 : 1-23. In the first year of Da-ri' us the son of A-has' u-e-rus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; in the first year of his reign, I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 9. 15 DANIEL. SS^ 3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, 4 and ashes: and I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his command- 5 ments; we have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the 7 land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have tres- 8 passed against thee. O Lord, to us belo7igeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, 9 because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have 10 rebelled against him; neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set 11 before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned 12 against him. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done 13 upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn 14 from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. There- fore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. 15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy 384 DANIEL. 12. I people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech 16 thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy serv- 17 ant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, 18 and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, 19 hearken and do ; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God : for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. And while I was speaking, and praying, and confess- 20 ing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and present- ing my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; yea, while I was speaking in 21 prayer, even the man Ga'bri-el, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me^ and talked with me, and said, 22 O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications 23 the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee J for thou ar/ greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. SELECTION NUMBER 187. Daniel 12 : 1-13. And at that time shall Mi'chael stand up, the great i 12 prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time : and at DANIEL. 385 that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that 2 shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting 3 contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many 4 to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end : many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and 6 the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river. How long shall it be to the end of 7 these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever, that // shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accom- plished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these 8 things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of 9 these thijigs? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel : for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the 10 end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall under- 11 stand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deso- late set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and 12 ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. 386 JOEL. 2. II JOEL. SELECTION NUMBER 188. Joel 2 : 1-17, 28-32. Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in i my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of 2 clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, eve7t to the years of many generations. A fire 3 devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth : the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the 4 appearance of horses ; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains 5 shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much 6 pained : all faces shall gather blackness. They shall 7 run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: neither shall one 8 thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they 9 shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall ic tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: and the Lord shall ii utter his voice before his army: for his camp /V very great: for he is strong that executeth his word; for the 2. 32 JOEL. 387 day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? 12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weep- 13 ing, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great 14 kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a 16 solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the con- gregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts : let the bridegroom go forth 17 of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say. Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? - * * 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream 29 dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those 30 days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew won- ders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, 31 and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great 32 and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. 388 JONAH. I. 12 JONAH. SELECTION NUMBER 189. Jonah I : 1-17 ; 2 : i-io. Now the word of the Lord came unto Jo' nah the son i 1 of A-mit' ta-r, saying, Arise, go to Nin' e-veh, that great 2 city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jo' nah rose up to flee unto Tar'- 3 shish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Jop' pa; and he found a ship going to Tar' shish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tar' shish from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and 4 there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, 5 and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten // of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides. of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the ship- 6 master came to him, and said unto him. What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. And they 7 said every one to his Fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then 8 said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil /^ upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? And he said unto them, I am a 9 Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were 10 the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then said they unto him. What shall we do unto thee, 11 that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. And he said unto them, Take 12 2. 8 JONAH. 389 me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this 13 great tempest /s upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring // to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. 14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not per- ish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee. 15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: 16 and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows. 17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 2 I Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the 2 fish's belly, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, And he heard me; Out of the belly of hell cried I, And thou heardest my voice. 3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; And the floods compassed me about: All thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: The depth closed me round about, The weeds were wrapped about my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with her bars 7£/as about me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. 7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: And my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 8 They that observe lying vanities Forsake their own mercy. 390 JONAH. 4. 2 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanks- 9 giving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out 10 Jonah upon the dry land. SELECTION NUMBER 190. Jonah 3 : i-io ; 4 : i-ii, And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the sec- i 3 ond time, saying, Arise, go unto Nin' e-veh, that great 2 city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nin' e-veh, according to 3 the word of the Lord. Now Nin' e-veh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. And Jonah began to 4 enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said. Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and pro- 5 claimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came 6 unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused // to be 7 proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying. Let neither man. nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: but let man and beast 8 be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell z/God 9 will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from 10 their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them ; and he did // not. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very i ^ angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray 2 thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: 4. 2 MICAH. 391 for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest 3 thee of the evil. Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. 4 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry? 5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would 6 become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. 7 But God prepared a -worm when the morning rose the 8 next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God pre- pared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, // is better for me to die than to live. 9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even 10 unto death. Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and 11 perished in a night; and should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thou- sand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? MICAH. SELECTION NUMBER 19L Micah 4:1-7; 5 : 10-15 ^ ^ • 6-8 ; 7 : 18-20. 4 I But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted 2 above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And 392 MICAH. 6. 8 many nations shall come, 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 of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke 3 strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every 4 man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make the7n afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every 5 one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. In that 6 day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that halted a 7 remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever. * * And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, 106 that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: and I will cut off the 11 cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: and I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and 12 thou shalt have no ;// Luke 7 : 1-9 ; '^ Matt. 8 : 1 1-13 ; ^ Luke 7 : 1 1-17. * Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audi- i c7 ence of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And 2 , a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of 3 Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseech- ing him that he would come and heal his servant. And 4 when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying. That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a 5 synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when 6 he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him. Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself 7 worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under 8 authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one. Go, and he goeth; and to another. Come, and he Cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth ?V. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and 9 turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 'And I say unto you. That many shall come from the 11 ^8 east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven : but the children of 12 the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus 13 -jc. 23 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 433 said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. Ic 11 ^And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Na'in; and many of his disciples went 12 with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, 14 and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare hwi stood still. 15 And he said. Young man, I say unto thee. Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he 16 delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying. That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath 17 visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. SELECTION NUMBER 214. > Luke 7 : 18-35 I ^ Matt. 11 : 20-30. 18 'And the disciples of John shewed him of all these 19 things. And John calling mito him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should 20 come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or 21 look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; 22 and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is 23 preached. And blessed is he^ whosoever shall not be' offended in me. 434 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. iia. 24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he 24 began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? 25 A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? 26 Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is /ie, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my 27 messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that 28 are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard 29 /ii'm^ and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and 30 lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the 31 men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, 32 and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came 33 neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, he hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and 34 drinking, and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But 35 wisdom is justified of all her children. ^Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most 20^7!! of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Cho-ra'zin! woe unto thee, 21 Beth-sa'i-da! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I 22 say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, 23 Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto 24 ^c. 42 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 435 you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast 26 revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it 27 seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto me, 2^.\ ye that labour and are heavy laden, 29 and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye 30 shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. SELECTION NUMBER 215. ' Luke 7 : 36-50 ; ^ 8 : 1-3 ; ^ Mark 3 : 19-21. 7^36 ^ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, 37 and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster 38 box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind htjn weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe the/n with the hairs of her head, and kissed his 39 feet, and anointed the?n with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw //, he spake within himself, saying. This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this 40 is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to 41 say unto thee. And he saith. Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one 42 owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him 43^ THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 12a. 23 most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he^ to 43 wliom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, 44 and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: 45 but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst 46 not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which 47 are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he 48 said unto her. Thy sins are forgiven. And they that 49 sat at meat with him began to say within themselves. Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to 50 the woman. Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. '^ And it came to pass afterward, that he went through- i c% out every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been 2 healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Mag-da-le' ne, out of whom went seven devils, and 3 Jo-an'na the wife of Chu' za Herod's steward, and Su-san'na, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. '^ And they went into a house. And the multitude 19^3 Cometh together again, so that they could not so much 20 as eat bread. And when his friends heard of it, they 21 went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. SELECTION NUMBER 216. Matt. 12 : 22-42. Then was brought unto him one possessed with 22 «12 a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all 23 the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son 12a. 40 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 437 24 of David? But when the Pharisees heard //, they said, Th\s fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Be-el'ze- 25 biib the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city 26 or house divided against itself shall not stand: and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; 27 how shall then his kingdom stand? and if I by Be-el' ze- biib cast out devils, by whom do your children cast 28 them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the king- 29 dom of God is come unto you. Or else, how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will 30 spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven 32 unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be for- given him, neither in this world, neither in the woj'ld 2,2, to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit 34 corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O genera- tion of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the 35 mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day 37 of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying. Master, we would see a sign from 39 thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the 40 prophet Jo'nas: for as Jonas was three days and three 43^ THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 12a. 48 nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nin' e-veh shall rise in judgment with this 41 generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas zV here. The queen of the south 42 shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. SELECTION NUMBER 2lV. ' Luke 1 1 : 24-26, 33-36 ; ^ Matt. 12 : 46- 50 ; s Luke 1 1 : 37-54. *When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he 24^11 walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept 25 and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh / woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith 34 hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. While he yet spake, there came from the 35 ruler of the synagogue's house certai?i which said, Thy daughter is dead; why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was 36 spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue. Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to 37 follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the 38 ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was 39 come in, he saith unto them. Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And 40 they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel 41 by the hand, and said unto her, Tal' i-tha cu'ml; which is, being interpreted. Damsel, (I say unto thee,) arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she 42 was of the age of twelve years. And they were aston- ished with a great astonishment. And he charged 43 them straitly that no man should know it; and com- manded that something should be given her to eat. SELECTION NUMBER 225. * Matt. 9 : 27-34 ; ^ Mark 6:1-6; ^ Matt. 9 : 35-38 ; "^ 10 : i, 5-15. ^ And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men 27 followed him, crying, and saying, Thoic Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the 28 house, the blind men came to him : and Jesus saith unto them. Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, 29 saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And 30 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 453 their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged 31 them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a 2iZ dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes 34 marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said. He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. 63 I ^ And he went out from thence, and came into his 2 own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing hwi were astonished, saying. From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even 3 such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Jo' ses, and of Ju' da, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended 4 at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his 5 own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few 6 sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. 9^35 ^And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were 37 scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plente- 38 ous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 10« I * And when he had called unto hi77i his twelve dis- ciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and 454 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. loa. 22 all manner of disease. These twelve Jesus sent forth, 5 and commanded them, saying. Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of 6 Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of 7 heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, 8 raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor 9 brass in your purses; nor scrip (or your journey, neither 10 two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the work- man is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city 11 or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into 12 a house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let 13 your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not 14 receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you. It shall be more tolerable for the 15 land of Sodom and Go-mor' rah in the day of judgment, than for that city. SELECTION NUMBER 226. ' Matt. 10 : 16-42 ; 2 II : i; 3 Mark 6:12, 13. ' Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of 16 alO wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver 17 you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be brought before gov- 18 ernors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, 19 take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father 20 which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver 21 up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against t/ieir parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated 22 loa. 41 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 455 of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to 23 the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, 24 till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above 25 /wV master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the serv- ant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Be-el' ze-bub, how much more s/m// they call them 26 of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, 27 that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that 28 preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are notable to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul 29 and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground 30 without your Father. But the very hairs of your head 31 are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of 32 more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also 33 before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before 34 my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, 35 but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more 38 than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and foUoweth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me; and he that re- 41 ceiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall 45^ THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. tb. 23 receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever 42 shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. ^ And it i aW came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of com- manding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. ^And they went out, and preached that men should 12^6 repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed 13 with oil many that were sick, and healed them. SELECTION NUMBER 227. 1 Mark 6 : 14-42 ; "^ John 6 : 12, 13; ^ Matt. 14 : 21 ; * John 6 : 14. ^ And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was i4<^6 spread abroad;) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Others said. That it 15 is Elias. And others said. That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof ^ 16 he said, It is John, whom I beheaded; he is risen from the dead. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid 17 hold upon John, and bound him in prison for He-ro' di-as' sake, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee 18 to have thy brother's wife. Therefore He-ro' di-as had 19 a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: for Herod feared John, knowing that he 20 was a just man and a holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when a convenient day was come, that 21 Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; and when the 22 daughter of the said He-ro' di-as came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel. Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, 23 Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give // thee, bb. 41 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 457 24 unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she 25 said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the 26 head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which 27 sat with him, he would not reject her. And immedi- ately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in 28 the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it^ they came and took 30 up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had 31 taught. And he said unto them. Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while : for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so 32 much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place 33 by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to 35 teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said. This 2,(i is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: 37 for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them. Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of 38 bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they 39 knew, they say. Five, and two fishes. And he com- manded them to make all sit down by companies upon 40 the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by 41 hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, 45^ THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 14a. 31 and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave f/ie7n to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. And they did all eat, and were 42 filled. ^When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, 12^6 Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered f/iem together, and 13 filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. ^ And they that had eaten were 21 ^14 about five thousand men, beside women and children. *Then those men, when they had seen the miracle 14^6 that Jesus did, said. This is of a truth that Prophet that should come unto the world. SELECTION NUMBER 228. 1 Matt. 14 : 22-36 ; ^ John 6 : 22-35. *And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to 22 al^ get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he 23 had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a moun- tain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of 24 the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto 25 them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw 26 him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straight- 27 way Jesus spake unto them, saying. Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and 28 said. Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said. Come. And when Peter was 29 come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he 30 was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying. Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth 31 (id. 32 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 459 his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of 32 little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when 2il they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying. Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the 35 land of Gen-nes' a-ret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that coun- try round about, and brought unto him all that were 36 diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. 6^22 ^The day following, when the people, which stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away 23 alone; howbeit there came other boats from Tl-be' ri-as nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that 24 the Lord had given thanks: when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Ca-per' na-um, 25 seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him. Rabbi, 26 when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said. Verily, verily, I say unto you. Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of 27 the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto 28 you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him. What shall we do, that we might work 29 the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them. This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 30 he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe 31 thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written. He gave them bread from 32 heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread 460 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. td. 50 from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh 33 down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this 34 bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of 35 life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. SELECTION NUMBER 229. 'John 6 : 36-71 ; "7:1. ^But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and 36^6 believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come 37 to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do 38 mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And 39 this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is 40 the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have ever- lasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am 41 the bread which came down from heaven. And they 42 said. Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered 43 and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the P'ather which hath 44 sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets. And they shall be 45 all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which 46 is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say 47 unto you. He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna 48 in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread 49 which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat 50 U. 71 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRAVIVE. 461 51 thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, 53 How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, 54 ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise 55 him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, 56 and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in 57 him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by 58 me. This is that bread which came down from heaven : not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he 59 that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in 60 Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said. This is a hard saying; who 61 can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his dis- ciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this 62 offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man (iT^ ascend up where he was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that 65 believed not, and who should betray him. And he said. Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and 67 walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the 68 twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter an- swered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the 69 words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that 70 thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one 71 of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Is-car'i-ot, the son 462 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. -jb. 11 of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. ^ After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he i dl would not walk in Jew' ry, because the Jews sought to kill him. SELECTION NUMBER 230. ' Mark 7 : 1-16 ; '^ Matt. 15 : 12-28. ^ Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and \bl certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with 2 defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, ex- 3 cept they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the 4 market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked 5 him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with un- washen hands? He answered and said unto them, 6 Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written. This people honoureth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, 7 Teaching/, than of the ninety and nine which 14 went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear fAee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses 17 every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell // unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen 18 man and a publican. Verily I say unto you. Whatso- ever ye shall bind on earth shall be' bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed 19 in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which 472 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. iSa. 35 is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered 20 together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Then came Peter to him, and said. Lord, how oft 21 shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, 22 Until seven times: but. Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a 23 certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought 24 unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But 25 forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant there- 26 fore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the 27 lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same 28 servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took /ti'm by th-e throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow servant fell down at his 29 feet, and besought him, saying. Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but 30 went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, 31 they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had 32 called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy 33 fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his 34 lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise 35 shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. lor. i6 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 473 SELECTION NUMBER 236. > Luke lo : 1-16 ; ^ John 7 : 2-10 ; ' Luke 9 : 51-56. lOr I 'After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers 3 into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you 4 forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. 5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be 6 to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you 7 again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is 8 worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, peat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them. The kingdom 10 of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways 11 out into the streets of the same, and say. Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding, be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in 13 that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Cho-ra' zin! woe unto thee, Beth-sa' i-da! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago 14 repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, 15 than for you. And thou, Ca-per' na-um, which art 16 exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 474 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 17c. 14 ^ Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 2 dl His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, 3 and go into Judea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For ^/lere is no man i/ta/ doeth 4 any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him. 5 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: 6 but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate 7 you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go 8 not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he 9 abode sft'// in Galilee. But when his brethren were 10 gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. ^ And it came to pass, when the time was come that 51 ^9 he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: 52 and they went, and entered into a village of the Samari- tans, to make ready for him. And they did not re- 53 ceive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John 54 saw t/iis, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, 55 and said. Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, 56 but to save t/iem. And they went to another village. SELECTION NUMBER 23V. 'Luke 17 : 11-19; ^John 7 : TI-31. ^ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, 11 rl7 that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Gali- lee. And as he entered into a certain village, there 12 met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up t/iei'r voices, and said, Jesus, 13 Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw t/iefn^ he 14 7^. 26 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 475 said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were 15 cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified 16 God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him 17 thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said. Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the 18 nine? There are not found that returned to give glory 19 to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. 7^11 ^ Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, 12 Where is he? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said. Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13 Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. 14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into 15 the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, say- ing. How knoweth this man letters, having never 16 learned? Jesus answered them, and said. My doctrine 17 is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of 18 God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no un- 19 righteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye 20 about to kill me? The people answered and said. Thou 21 hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, 22 and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you cir- cumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on 24 the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appear- 25 ance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek 26 to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say noth- ing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this 476 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. id. 42 is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence 27 he is: but when Christ cometh, nomanknoweth whence he is. Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, 28 saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him; for I am 29 from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to 30 take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people 31 believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this via7i hath done? SELECTION NUMBER 238. 1 John 7 : 32-53 ; 28 : 12-32. ' The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such 32 d1 things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto 33 them. Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall 34 not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he 35 go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dis- persed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What man7ier of saying is this that he said. Ye shall seek 36 me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come? In the last day, that great day of the 37 feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth 38 on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the 39 Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet give?ij because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Many of the people therefore, when they heard this 40 saying, said. Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others 41 said. This is the Christ. But some said. Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said, 42 That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of Sd. 23 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 477 43 the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there 44 was a division among the people because of him. And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. 45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not 46 brought him? The officers answered. Never man spake 47 like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are 48 ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the 49 Pharisees believed on him? But this people who 50 knoweth not the law are cursed. Nic-o-de' mus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one 51 of them,) Doth our law judge a?zy man, before it hear 52 him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and 53 look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. And every man went unto his own house. 8^12 ^Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follow^eth me shall not 13 walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him. Thou bearest record 14 of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, 7^/ my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I 15 go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And 16 yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, 17 but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written 18 in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that 19 sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him. Where is thy Father? Jesus answered. Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye 20 should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet 21 come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither 22 I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith. Whither I go, ye cannot 23 come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; 478 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. Sd. 41 I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in 24 your sins: for if ye believe not that I am /le, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art 25 thou? And Jesus saith unto them. Even f/ie sajne that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things 26 to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to 27 them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them. When 28 ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he^ and that\ do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And 29 he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. 30 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on 31 him. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my dis- ciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the 32 truth shall make you free. SELECTION NUMBER 239. John 8 : 33-59. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and ^t, d^ were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, 34 verily, I say unto you. Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the 35 house for ever: but \.\iQ Son abideth ever. If the Son ^6 therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill 37 me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak 38 that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered 39 and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, 40 a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of 41 8^. 59 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 479 your father. Then said they to him, We be not born 42 of fornication; we have one Fa.theT, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; 43 neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear 44 my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh 45 of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And 46 because I teW you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, 47 why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear //lem not, because ye 48 are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, 49 and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that 51 seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest. If a man keep my saying, he shall never 53 taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abra- ham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom 54 makest thou thyself? Jesus answered. If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 y^t ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like 56 unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw //, 57 and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them. Verily, verily, I say unto you, 59 Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 480 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. loc. 40 ; SELECTION NUMBER 240. ' Luke 10 : 25-42 ; 2 u ; 1-13. ' And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted 25 Luke 14 : 25-35 ; '^ 15 • i-io- 14^25 'And there went great multitudes with him: and he 26 turned, and said unto them. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and chil- dren, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life 27 also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my 28 disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether 29 he have sufficient to finish itl lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish //, all that 30 behold // begin to mock him, saying, This man began 31 to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with 32 twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth condi- 33 tions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 494 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 15^. 14 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, 34 wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the 35 land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. ^ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and i c\h sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes 2 murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying. What 3 man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of 4 them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilder- ness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found //, he layeth // on his shoulders, 5 rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth 6 together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them. Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in 7 heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she 8 lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seekdiUgently till she find it? And when she 9 hath found it, she calleth her friends and he?' neighbours together, saying. Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there 10 is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. SELECTION NUMBER 249. Luke 15 : 11-32. And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the 11 c\h younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the 12 portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the 13 younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had 14 spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and ■Sc 32 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 495 15 he began to be in want. And he went and joined him- self to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into 16 his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and ho 17 man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me 20 as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell 21 on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants. Bring forth the best robe, and put // on him; and put a ring on his hand, 23 and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, 24 and kill itj and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is 25 found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to 26 the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him. Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath 28 received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and 29 entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither trans- gressed I at any time thy commandment; and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with 30 my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed 31 for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him. Son, 32 thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. 496 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. i6c. 15 SELECTION NUMBER 250. Luke 16 : 1-31. And he said also unto his disciples, There was a irl6 certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him. How is it that I 2 hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the 3 steward said within himself. What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, 4 that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one 5 of his lord's debtors unto him^ and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, A 6 hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him. Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then 7 said he to another. And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him. Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the 8 lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say 9 unto you. Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in 10 that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If there- 11 fore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mam- mon, who will commit to your trust the true riches'^ And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another 12 man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will 13 hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were 14 covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify your- 15 ^ j6c. 31 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 497 selves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomina- 16 tion in the sight of God. The law and the prophets 7£/^rd. 26 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 52? Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no 9 part with me, Simon Peter saith unto him. Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and 7?iy head. 10 Jesus saith unto him. He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye 11 are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray 12 him; therefore said he. Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye 13 what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord : 14 and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash 15 one another's feet. For I have given you an example, 16 that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent 17 him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth 19 bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, 20 ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me ; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that 22 one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked 23 one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, 24 whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he 25 spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, 26^23 Lord, who is it? '^And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall 24 betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him : but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not 25 been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him. Thou hast 13^26 said. 'Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give 528 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 2ta. 33 a sop, when I have dipped it And when he had dipped the sop, he gave // to Judas Is-car' i-ot, the sott of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said 27 Jesus unto him. That thou doest, do quickly. Now no 28 man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas 29 had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him. Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then, having 30 received the sop, went immediately out; and it was night. Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said. Now 31 is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him 32 in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Little 33 children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new command- 34 ment I give unto you. That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this 35 shall all me7i know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. SELECTION NUMBER 238. - John 13 : 36, 37 ; ' Matt. 26 : 31-33 ; ^ Luke 22 : 31-33 ; * Matt. 26 : 34, 35 ; 6 Luke 22 : 35-38 ; e Matt. 26 : 26 ; ' Luke 22 : 19 ; s Matt. 26 : 27 ; 9 L Cor. 11:25; '" Matt. 26 : 27, 28 ; " L Cor. 11:25; ^^ Matt. 29 : 29. ' Simon Peter said unto him. Lord, whither goest 36 d\% thou? Jesus answered him. Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me after- wards. Peter said unto him. Lord, why cannot I fol- 37 low thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. ""Then saith Jesus unto them. All ye shall be offended 31 «26 because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go 32 before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto 33 26a. 29 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 529 him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 22*; 31 ^And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 2,2, And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 26^34 "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee. That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me 35 thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. 22^35 ^And he said unto them. When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And ^6 they said. Nothing. Then said he unto them. But now, he that hath a purse, let him take //, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his gar- 37 ment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me. And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things con- 38 cerning me have an end. And they said. Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them. It is enough. 26^ 26 ' And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed //, and brake it, and gave // to the disciples, 22^ 19 and said. Take, eat; this is my body Vhich is given 26^27 for you: this do in remembrance of me. ®And he took 11/25 the cup and gave thanks, and ^when he had supped, 26« 28 " gave // to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many 11/25 for the remission of sins. ^^ This do ye, as oft as ye 26tz 29 drink //, in remembrance of me. ^^ But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. / I. Cor. 530 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 14^. 18 SELECTION NUMBER 269. John 14 : 1-31. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, i ^14 believe also in me. In my Father's house are many 2 mansions: if it were not so^ I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare 3 a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And 4 whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas 5 saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I 6 am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye 7 should have known my Father also: and from hence- forth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith 8 unto him. Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with 9 you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then^ Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that 10 I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in 11 me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, 12 verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And 13 whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father maybe glorified in the Son. If ye shall 14 ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will 15 pray the Father, and he shall give you another Com- 16 forter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the 17 spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 18 \Sd. 3 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 53^ 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but 20 ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I ain in my Father, and ye in 21 me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love 22 him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with 24 him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's 25 which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, 26 being J',?/ present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your 28 heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater 29 than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince 31 of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. SELECTION NUMBER 270. John 15 : 1-27. 15^1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husband- 2 man. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he 3 purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now 532 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. i^d. 21 ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch 4 cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, 5 ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is 6 cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast the?n into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and m)^ words abide in you, ye shall 7 ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein 8 is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so 9 have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep 10 my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that 11 my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment. That ye love one 12 another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no 13 man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I com- 14 mand you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for 15 the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth : but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye i6 have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and or- dained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that yoMV fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. 17 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before 18 it hated yow. If ye were of the world, the world would 19 love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said 20 unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my 21 name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. ltd. 12 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 533 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not 23 had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin. He 24 that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and 25 hated both me and my Father. But this corneth to pass., that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their 26 law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from 27 the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. SELECTION NUMBER 271 John 16 : 1-33. 16^1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should 2 not be offended. They shall put you out of the syna- gogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth 3 you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not 4 known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I 5 was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow 7 hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; 8 but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of 9 righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they 10 believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to 11 my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, be- 12 cause the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them 534 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. i6d. i8 now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, 13 he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, /// John 19 : 4-16 ; 2 Matt. 27 : 3-10, 31 ; ^ Luke 23 : 26-32. * Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto 4 ^19 them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus 5 forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, 6 they cried out, saying. Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him. We have 7 a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was 8 the more afraid; and went again into the judgment 9 hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto 10 him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered. Thou couldest have no power 11 at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivereth me unto thee hath the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to 12 release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought 13 Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gab'ba-tha. And it was the preparation of the pass- 14 over, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out. Away 15 with hi^n, away with hiin, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them. Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered. We have no king but Cesar. Then delivered 16 he him therefore unto them to be crucified. ^Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw 3 «27 that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought 23^. 32 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 545 again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and 4 elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said. What is that to us? 5 see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged him- 6 self. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said. It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, 7 because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury 8 strangers in. Wherefore that field was called. The 9 field of blood, unto this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying. And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel lo did value; and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. 31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and 23^26 led him away to crucify hh?i. ^And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cy-re'ni-an, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said. Daughters of Jeru- salem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and 29 for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never 30 gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the moun- 31 tains. Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done 32 in the dry? And there were also two others, male- factors, led with him to be put to death. 54*5 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 27a. 42 SELECTION NUMBER 278. * Matt. 27:33, 34; 'Mark 15: 25, 27, 28: ^John 19: 23, 24; *John 19 : 19-22; ^Matt. 27 : 39-42; ^ Luke 23 : 36, 37; 'Matt. 27 : 42, 43 ; ** Luke 23 : 39-43 ; ' John 19 : 25-27. * And when they were come unto a place called 33 a27 Gol' go-tha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave 34 him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. ^ And it was 25 b\h the third hour, and they crucified him. And with 27 him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the Scripture was ful- 28 filled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. ^ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, 23 ^19 took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said 24 therefore among themselves. Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith. They parted my raiment among them, And for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. * And Pilate wrote a title, and put // on the cross. 19 ^19 And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of 20 the Jews; for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, a7id Latin. Then said the chief priests of the 21 Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, 22 What I have written I have written. ^ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their 39 aVl heads, and saying. Thou that destroyest the temple, 40 and buildest // in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise 41 also the chief priests mocking hi7n, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot 42 27«. 47 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 547 23^36 save. ^ And the soldiers also mocked him, coming 27^42 to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, 'If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from 43 the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him : for he said, I am the Son of God. 2Sc 39 '^ And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself 40 and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying. Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same 41 condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done 42 nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remem- 43 ber me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 19c/ 25 ^ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the av/^ of Cle' o-phas, 26 and Mary Mag-da-le' ne. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own /lome. SELECTION NUMBER 279. ' Matt. 27 : 44-49; - Luke 23 : 46 ; ^Matt. 27 : 51-56; ^John 19 : 31-37 ; = Mark 15 : 42-43 ; "^ Luke 23 : 50-51 ; '' Mark 15 : 43 ; ^ John 19 : 38 ; 9 Mark 15 : 43-45 ; '« John 19 : 38 ; >' Mark 15 : 46 ; ''^ John 19 : 39-41; '2 Matt. 27 : 60 ; -^John 19 : 41,42; '^Matt. 27 : 60 ; ifi Luke 23 : 54-56 ; ^" ^L1tt. 27 : 62-66. la 44 ^ The thieves also, which were crucified with him, 45 cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth 46 hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, la' ma sa-bach-tha' ni? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 47 me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard 548 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 15^. 43 that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straight- 48 way one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias 49 will come to save him. *And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he 46 5 Mark 16 : 13. 'And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus 9 a2S met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus 10 unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the 11 watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they 12 were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying. Say 13 ye. His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's 14 ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they 15 took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. ^ And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these 9 <:24 things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was 10 Mary Mag-da-le' ne, and Jo-an' na, and Mary t/ie mother of James, and other womeji that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words 11 seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. ^ And * * he was seen of Cephas. 5/15 * And, behold, ^two of them went that same day to a 13 ^24 village called Em' ma-us, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together 14 of all these things which had happened. And it came 15 to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know 16 him. And he said unto them. What manner of com- 17 munications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose 18 name was Cle' o-pas, answering said unto him, Art thou / 1. Cor. i6^. 13 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 553 only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all 20 the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have 21 crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he v\rhich should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us 23 astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he 24 was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the 25 women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all 26 that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things 28 concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he 29 would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying. Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed //, and brake, and gave to 31 them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew 32 him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another. Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened 33 to us the Scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven 34 gathered together, and them that were with them, say- ing, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to 35 Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of \^b 13 bread. ^Neither believed they them. 554 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. ibb. 15 SELECTION NUMBER 282. J John 20 : 19; ' Mark 16 : 14 ; ^ John 20 : 19 ; * Luke 24 : 37-40 ; John 20 : 20 ; ^ Luke 24:41-49; 'Mark 16 : 15-18; ^John 20: 21-29. ^ Then the same day at evening, being the first day 19 ^20 of the week, when the doors were shut where the dis- ciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus '^unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided 14^16 them with their unbelief and hardness of -heart, be- cause they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen, ^and stood in the midst, and saith unto 19^20 them. Peace be unto you. " But they were terrified 37 ^24 and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them. Why are ye troubled? 38 and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my 39 hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed 40 them his hands and his feet, ^and his side. Then 20 ^20 were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. ^ And while they yet believed not for joy, and won- 41 c2^ dered, he said unto them. Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a 42 honeycomb. And he took //, and did eat before them. 43 And he said unto them, These ai-e the words which I 44 spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and i?i the prophets, and in the psalms, con- cerning me. Then opened he their understanding, 45 that they might understand the Scriptures, and said 46 unto them. Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should 47 be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. 48 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon 49 you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. '' And he said unto 15 ^16 them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel 2id. 2 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 555 i6 to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be 17 damned. And these signs shall follow them that be- lieve; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall 18 speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 20^21 *Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: 22 as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on the7n^ and saith 23 unto them. Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; a«^ whose- soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Did'y-mus, 25 was not with them when Jesus came. The other dis- ciples therefore said unto him. We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them. Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be 27 unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, 28 but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto 29 him. My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast be- lieved: blessed ^r^they that have not seen, and yet have believed. SELECTION NUMBER 283. John 21 : 1-24. 21^1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias ; and on this wise shewed 2 he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Did'y-mus, and Na-than'a-el of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his 556 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 2\d. 17 disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. 3 They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning 4 was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the dis- ciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith 5 unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them. Cast the net on the 6 right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom 7 Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples 8 came in a little ship, (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, 9 they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them. Bring of the fish which 10 ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew n the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them. Come and dine. 12 And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and 13 taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This 14 is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, 15 Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him. Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him. Feed my lambs. He 16 saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him. Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, 17 Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him. Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith le. 3 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 557 i8 unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee. When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry t/iee whither thou wouldest 19 not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith 20 unto him. Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said. Lord, 21 which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him 22 saith to Jesus, Lord, and what s/ia// this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what 23 IS that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him. He shall not die; but. If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to 24 thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. SELECTION NUMBER 284. » Matt. 28 : 16-20; '^ L Cor. 15 : 6, 7 ; ^ Acts 1:3-8; ^ Luke 24 : 50 ; 6 Acts I : 9-1 1 ; * Luke 24 : 52, 53 ; ''Mark 16:20; ^ John 20 : 30, 31 ; ^ 21 : 25. ;8^ 16 'Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, 17 into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some 18 doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, say- ing. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 20 the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 15/6 ^ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto 7 this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he 1^ 3 was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ^ To /I. Cor., e Acts. 558 THE GOSPELS IN ONE NARRATIVE. 21^. 25 whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them^ 4 commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly 5 baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they there- 6 fore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to 7 know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after 8 that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,and in all Judea,and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. *And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he 50^24 lifted up his hands, and blessed them. ^And when he 9^1 had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he 10 went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand 11 ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. ®And 52^24 they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, prais- 53 ing and blessing God. ''And they went forth, and 20 ^16 preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. ®And many other signs truly did Jesus in the pres- 30^20 ence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus 31 is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ®And there are 25 t/21 also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. I. 12 THE ACTS. 559 THE ACTS. SELECTION NUMBER 285. Acts I : 1-26. 1 I The former treatise have I made, O The-oph'i-lus, of 2 all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the 3 apostles whom he had chosen: to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of 4 the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with tJufu, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have 5 heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many 6 days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying. Lord, wilt thou at this time 7 restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, 9 and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white 11 apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like 12 manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's jour- 56o THE ACTS. I. i6 ney. And when they were come in, they went up into 13 an upper room, where abode both .Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bar- thol' 6-mew, and Mat' thew, James the son of Al-phe' us, and Simon Ze-lo' tes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and 14 supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the 15 disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about a hundred and twenty,) Men and brethren, this 16 Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before con- cerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained 17 part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field 18 with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jeru- 19 salem; insomuch as that field is called, in their proper tongue, A-cel' da-ma, that is to say. The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, 20 'Let his habitation be desolate. And let no man dwell therein: and, His bishoprick let another take. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us 21 all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that 22 same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Bar'sa-bas, who 23 was surnamed Jus' tus, and Mat-thi'as. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men^ shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and 25 apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave 16 forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 2. 17 THE ACTS. 561 SELECTION NUMBER 286. Acts 2 : 1-21. 2 I And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they 2 were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as 4 of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with 5 other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, 6 out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak 7 in his own language. And they were all amazed, and marvelled, saying one to another. Behold, are not all 8 these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherejn we were born? 9 Par' thi-ans, and Medes, and E' lam-ites, and the dwellers in Mes-o-po-ta' mi-a, and in Ju-de' a, and 10 Cap-pa-do' c!-a, in Pon' tus, and A'sia, Phryg'i-a, and Pam-phyl-i-a, in Egypt, and in the parts of Lib' y-a about Cy-re'ne, and strangers of Rome, Jews and prose- 11 lytes, Cretes and A-ra' bi-ans, we do hear them speak 12 in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to 13 another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said. These men are full of new wine. 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them. Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and 15 hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye 16 suppose, seeing it is duf the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 562 THE ACTS. 2. 28 And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will 18 pour out in those days of my Spirit; And they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, 19 And signs in the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, 20 And the moon into blood. Before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call 21 on the name of the Lord shall be saved. SELECTION NUMBER 287. Acts 2 : 22-47. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of 22 2 Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: him, 23 being delivered by the determinate counsel and fore- knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, 24 having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David 25 speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was 26 glad; Moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, 27 Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; 28 Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 2. 46 THE ACTS. 563 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and 30 his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his 31 throne; he, seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his 32 flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised T^T^ up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed 34 forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this^ they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the 38 apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remis- sion of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 39 Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as 40 the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying. Save your- selves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto theiti 42 about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and 43 in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were 44 done by the apostles. And all that believed were 45 together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as 46 every man had need. And they, continuing daily with 564 THE ACTS. 3. 13 one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour 47 with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. SELECTION NUMBER 288. Acts 3 : 1-26. Now Peter and John went up together into the temple i 3 at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a cer- 2 tain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to 3 go into the temple, asked an alms. And Peter, fasten- 4 ing his eyes upon him with John, said. Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive 5 something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold 6 have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up : 7 and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and 8 entered with them into the temple, walking, and leap- ing, and praising God. And all the people saw him 9 walking and praising God: and they knew that it was 10 he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amaze- ment at that which had happened unto him. And as 11 the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when Peter saw //, he answered unto the people, 12 Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of 13 Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our 3. 26 THE ACTS. 5^5 fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he 14 was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted 15 unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness 17 in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did zV, as did also your 18 rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing 20 shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 whom the heaven must receive until the times of resti- tution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatso- 23 ever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall 24 be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow -fter, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these 25 days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds 26 of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turn- ing away every one of you from his iniquities. 566 THE ACTS. SELECTION NUMBER 289. Acts 4 : I--22. And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and i 4 the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, 2 and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in 3 hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; 4 and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, 5 and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and 6 Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them 7 in the midst, they asked, -By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the 8 Holy Ghost, said unto them. Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the 9 good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all 10 the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought 11 of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is 12 none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, 13 and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding 14 the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had com- 15 manded them to go aside out of the council, they con- ferred among themselves, saying. What shall we do to 16 these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been 4. 3o THE ACTS. 5^7 done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in 17 Jerusalem; and we cannot deny //. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this 18 name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them. Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto 20 you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all 7ne7t glorified God for 22 that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. SELECTION NUMBER 290. Acts 4 : 23-37. 423 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had 24 said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and 25 the sea, and all that in them is; who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said. Why did the heathen rage. And the people imagine vain things? 26 The kings of the earth stood up. And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pon' ti-us Pi' late, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered 28 together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel 29 determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings : and grant unto thy servants, that with 30 all boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching 568 THE ACTS. 5. 7 forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken 31 where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that 32 believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of t/ie?fi that aught of the things which he pos- sessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the 33 resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that 34 lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid thejn down at the apostles' 35 feet: and distribution was made unto every man accord- ing as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles 36 was surnamed Bar' na-bas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold //, and brought the 37 money, and laid // at the apostles' feet. SELECTION NUMBER 291. Acts 5 : 1-32. But a certain man named An-a-ni' as, with Sap-phi' ra i 5 his. wife, sold a possession, and kept back pa?'t of the 2 price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a cer- tain part, and laid // at the apostles' feet. But Peter 3 said, An-a-ni' as, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep hdick part oi the price' of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? 4 and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias 5 hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried 6 him out, and buried hi??i. And it was about the space 7 5. 23 THE ACTS. 569 of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what 8 was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And 9 she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee 10 out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by 11 her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they 13 were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the 14 people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women ;) 15 insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow 16 some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were 18 filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the 19 apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, 20 and brought them forth, and said. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, 22 and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the 23 prison, they returned, and told, saying. The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had 570 THE ACTS. 7. 41 opened, we found no man within. Now when the high 24 priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them where- unto this would grow. Then came one and told them, 25 saying. Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then 26 went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought 27 them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command 28 you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, 29 We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of 30 our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand 31 to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his wit- 32 nesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. SELECTION NUMBER 292. Acts 7 : 37-41, 51-60; 8 : 1-4. This is that Moses, which said unto the children of 37 7 Israel, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. This is he, that was in the church in the wilder- t^2> ness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: to whom our fathers would 39 not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron, Make 40 us gods to go before us: for ^^/ bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. SELECTION NUMBER 304. Acts 23 : i-ii. 23 I And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men ^;z^ brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before 2 God until this day. And the high priest Ananias com- manded them that stood by him to smite him on the 3 mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten con- 4 trary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest 5 thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. 6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sad- ducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council. Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead 7 I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the 8 Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither 9 angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken 10 to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, com- manded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the 590 THE ACTS. 23. 22 castle. And the night following the Lord stood by 11 him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. SELECTION NUMBER 305. Acts 23 : 12-30, 34-35. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded 12 1 together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had 13 made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief 14 priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council 15 signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul's 16 sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul 17 called one of the centurions unto /«>;/, and said. Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought 18 him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him^ and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went 19 with him aside privately, and asked /«'///, What is that thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have 20 agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not 21 thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound them- selves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, look- ing for a promise from thee. So the chief captain then 22 24. 12 THE ACTS. 591 let the young man depart, and charged him^ See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me. 23 And he called unto hwi two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Ces-a-re'a, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hun- 24 dred, at the third hour of the night; and provide the7n beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe 25 unto Fe' lix the governor. And he wrote a letter after 26 this manner: Clau' di-us Lys'ias unto the most excel- 27 lent governor Fe' lix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having 28 understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I 29 brought him forth into their council: whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave com- mandment to his accusers also to say before thee what 34 they had against him. Farewell. * * And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of 35 Ci-li' cia; I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall. SELECTION NUMBER 306. Acts 24 : 10-27. 24 10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered. Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11 because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to 12 worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, 592 THE ACTS. 24. 27 neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: neither can 13 they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which 14 they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: and have hope toward God, which they 15 themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein 16 do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after 17 many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found 18 me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before 19 thee, and object, if they had aught against me. Or else 20 let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, except it be for 21 this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touch- ing the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. And when Fe' lix heard these things, 22 having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said. When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to 23 let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. And 24 after certain days, when Fe' lix came with his wife Dru-sil'la, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he 25 reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Fe'lix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have 26 been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Por'ci-us Fes' tus came 27 into Fe'lix' room; and Fe'lix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound. 25. 12 THE ACTS. 593 SELECTION NUMBER 307. Acts 25 : 1-12. 25 I Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Cesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed 3 him against Paul, and besought him, and desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, 4 laying wait in the way to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Cesarea, and 5 that he himself would depart shortly thithe}-. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with ine^ and accuse this man, if there be any wicked- 6 ness in him. And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Cesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded 7 Paul to be brought. And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, 8 which thfsy could not prove. While he answered for himself. Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Cesar, have I 9 offended any thing at all. But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said. Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these 10 things before me? Then said Paul, I stand at Cesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11 For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Cesar. 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered. Hast thou appealed unto Cesar? unto Cesar shalt thou go. 594 THE ACTS. 26. 14 SELECTION NUMBER 308. Acts 26 : 1-32. Then A-grip'pa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted i 26 to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand,_and answered for himself: I think myself happy, 2 king A-grip' pa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: especially because I know thee to 3 be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the 4 first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, if they 5 would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am 6 judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, 7 instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king A-grip' pa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible 8 with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily 9 thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which 10 thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft 11 in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto, strange cities. Whereupon as I went 12 to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a 13 light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me; and when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard 14 a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? // is hard 26. 31 THE ACTS. 595 15 for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou 16 persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will 17 appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and 1^ from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn thern from darkness to light,. and//w;/ the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19 Whereupon, O king A-grip'pa, I was not disobedient 20 unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for 21 repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in 22 the temple, and went about to kill me. Having there- fore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did 23 say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learn- 25 ing doth make thee mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth 26 and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden fr_om him; for this 27 thing was not done in a corner. King A-grip' pa, believ- est thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then A-grip' pa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest 29 me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except 30 these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that 31 sat with them: and when they were gone asrde, they 596 THE ACTS. 27. 12 talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said 32 A-grip'pa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cesar. SELECTION NUMBER 309. Acts 27 : 1-26. And when it was determined that we should sail into i 27 Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band. And entering into a ship of Ad-ra-myt' ti-um,^ we 2 launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia ; one Ar-is- tar' chus, a Mac-e-do' ni-an of Thes-sa-lo-ni' ca, being with us. And the next day we touched at Sidon. And 3 Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gdi\thi?n liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. And when we had 4 launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over 5 the seaof Cr-li' cia and Pam-phyl'i-a, we came to My'ra, a city of Ly'cia. And there the centurion found a ship 6 of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce 7 were come over against Cni' dus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Sal-mo' ne; and, 8 hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called the Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of La-se' a. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was 9 now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I per- 10 ceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much dam- age, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the 11 owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not com- 12 modious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phe-nl' ce, and there to winter; which is a haven of Crete, and lieth toward the southwest and northwest. 27. 28 THE ACTS. 597 13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they 14 sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Eu-roc'ly-don. 15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up 16 into the wind, we let hei- drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clau' da, we had much 17 work to come by the boat: which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fear- ing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake 18 sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the 19 ship; and the third day we cast out with our own hands ' 20 the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken 21 away. But after long abstinence, Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, 22 and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no 23 loss of atiy mans life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I 24 am, and whom I serve, saying. Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and, lo, God hath given 25 thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even 26 as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. SELECTION NUMBER 310. Acts 27 : 27-44. 27 27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in A'dri-a, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 and sounded, and found // twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and 59^ THE ACTS. 27. 44 found // fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should 29 have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen 30 were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul 31 said to the centurion and to the soldiers. Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers 32 cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And 33 while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying. This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take so7?ie meat; for 34 this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus 35 spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all; and when he had broken/^, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and 36 they also took some meat. And we were in all in the 37 ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And 38 when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea. And when it was 39 day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And 40 when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas 41 met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers' 42 counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. But the centurion, willing to 43 save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and com- manded that they which could swim should cast them- selves first iiito the sea, and get to land: and the rest, 44 some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. 28. 17 THE ACTS. 599 SELECTION NUMBER 311. Acts 28 : 1-6 ; 11-31. 28 I And when they were escaped, then they knew that 2 the island was called Mel' i-ta. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a . fire, and received us every one, because of the present 3 rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid the7n on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on 4 his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he 5 hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and 6 felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. 11 ^ And after three months we departed in a ship of Al-ex-an' dri-a, which had wintered in the isle, whose 12 sign was Cas'tor and Pol-lux. And landing at Syr'a- 13 cuse, we tarried there three days. And from thence we fetched a compass and came to Rhe'gi-um: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next 14 day to Pu-te' o-ll: where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went 15 toward Rome. And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Ap-pi-I Fo' rum, and the Three Taverns; whom when Paul 16 saw, he thanked God, and took courage. And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept 17 him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and 6oo THE ACTS. 28. 29 brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans: who, when they had examined me, would 18 have let 77ie go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spake against //, I was con- 19 strained to appeal unto Cesar; not that I had aught to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have 20 I called for you, to see you^ and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, We neither 21 received letters out of Judea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what 22 thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they 23 had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Aioses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the 24 things which were spoken, and some believed not. And 25 when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, 26 Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; And seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, 27 And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes have they closed; Lest they should see with their eyes, And hear with their ears. And understand with their heart, And should be converted, And I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of 28 God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews 29 departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. 3. 21 ROMANS. 6oi 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired 31 house, and received all that came in unto him, preach- ing -the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all con- fidence, no man forbidding him. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE ROMANS. SELECTION NUMBER 312. Rom. 3 : 9-31. 5 9 We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that 10 they are all under sin; as it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the -law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become 20 guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the 21 law zV the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by 6o2 ROMANS. 5- lo the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of 22 God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all 23 have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemp- 24 tion that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth 25 to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, / say^ at 26 this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where /V 27 boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude 28 that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of 29 the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing// « 30 one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make 31 void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we estab- lish the law. SELECTION NUMBER 313. Rom. 5 : 1-21. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with i 5 God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we 2 have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only 3 so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; 4 and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; 5 because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we 6 were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one 7 die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, 8 in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we 9 shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when 10 ROMANS. 603 we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall 11 be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we 12 have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have 13 sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin 14 is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift: for if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one 16 man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift : for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift 17 is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as by the offence of ontjudg?ne7it came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification 19 of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be 20 made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace 21 did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 3U. Rom. 6 : 1-23. 6 I What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that 2 grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that 3 are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ 6o4 ROMANS. 6. 22 were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried 4 with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if 5 we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, 6 that the body of sin might be destroyed, that hence- forth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is 7 freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we 8 believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that 9 Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, 10 he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be 11 dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your 12 mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of un- 13 righteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your mem- bers as instruments of righteousness unto God. For 14 sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we 15 sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield 16 yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obe- dience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that 17 ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the 18 servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner 19 of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your mem- bers servants to righteousness unto holiness. For 20 when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things 21 whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, 22 8. 15 ROMANS. 605 and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto 23 holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. SELECTION NUMBER 315. Rom. 8 : 1-31. 8 I There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, 2 but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin 3 and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned 4 sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, 5 but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are 6 after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded 7 is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, 8 neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh 9 cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is 10 none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of right- 11 eousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by 12 his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye 14 shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of 15 God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye 6o6 ROMANS. 8. 31 have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with 16 our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if 17 children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him^ that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the 18 sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be com- pared ^'ith. the glory which shall be revealed in us. For 19 the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature 20 was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from 21 the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole 22 creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they^ but ourselves also, which 23 have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit^ the redemption of our body. For we are saved by 24 hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope 25 for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for //. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: 26 for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that 27 searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints accordingly to the will of God. And we know that all 28 things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate 29 to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, 30 whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then 31 say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? lo. 9 ROMANS. 607 SELECTION NUMBER 316. Rom. 8 : 32-39 ; 10 : 1-17. 8 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give 33 us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of 34 God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? // is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who 35 also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or id sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the 37 slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than 38 conquerors through him that loved us. For I am per- suaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 39 things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of ' God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 10 I Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for 2 Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according 3 to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the 4 righteousness of God. For Christ /> the end of the law 5 for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law. That the man which doeth those things shall live by 6 them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down/r^;;/ above-) 7 or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring 8 up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath 6o8 ROMANS. 12. 8 raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For lo with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him ii shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference be- 12 tvveen the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever 13 shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have 14 not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except 15 they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all 16 obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith conieth by hearing, 17 and hearing by the word of God. SELECTION NUMBER 317. Rom. 12 : 1-2 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of i 12 God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye trans- 2 formed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto 3 me, to every man that is among you, not to think of hii7iself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many mem- 4 bers in one body, and all members have not the same ofifice: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and 5 every one members one of another. Having then gifts 6 differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let 21s prophesy according to the pro- portion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our minister- 7 ing; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that 8 13. 4 ROMANS. 609 exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with dihgence; he that 9 sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that 10 which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the 12 Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; con- 13 tinning instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity 14 of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which per- 15 secute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them 16 that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not 17 wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all i8 men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live 19 peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written. Vengeance is mine ; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals 21 of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but over- come evil with good. SELECTION NUMBER 318. Rom. 13 : 1-14; 14 : 1-17. 13 I Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be 2 are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they 3 that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 6iO ROMANS. 14. 8 Wherefore j^ must needs be subject, not only for wrath, 5 but also for conscience' sake. For, for this cause 6 pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render 7 therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute ts due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but 8 to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this. Thou shalt not commit 9 adultery. Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to 10 his neighbour: therefore love/j the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now // is high time 11 to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the 12 day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us 13 walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunken- ness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make 14 not provision for the flesh, to fidfil the lusts thereof. Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to i 14 doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may 2 eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; 3 and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest 4 another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One manesteemeth one day above 5 another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that 6 regardeth the day, regardeth //unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us 7 liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For 8 I. 19 I. CORINTHIANS. 611 whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live there- 9 fore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord 10 both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat 11 of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, And every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to 13 God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put astumblingblock 14 or an occasion to fall in /it's brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that f/iere is noth- ing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any 15 thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom 16 Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 17 for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. SELECTION NUMBER 319. I. Cor. I : 17-31 ; 2 : 1-6. 1 17 ■ Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gos- pel : not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ 18 should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto 19 us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, 6i2 I. CORINTHIANS. 2. 6 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. AVhere is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the 20 disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of 21 God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after 22 wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews 23 a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, 24 Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and 25 the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see 26 your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the 27 world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things 28 which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him 29 are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wis- 30 dom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemp- tion: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, 31 let him glory in the Lord. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with i 2 excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know 2 any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in 3 fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my 4 preaching ivas not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that 5 your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among 6 them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought. 3. 21 I. CORINTHIANS. 613 SELECTION NUMBER 320. I. Cor. 3 : 4-23. 3 4 While one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of 5 A-pol'los; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is A-p61' los, but ministers by whom ye believed, 6 even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, 7 A-pol' 16s watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he 8 that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own 9 labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. Accord- 10 ing to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed 11 how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, sil- 13 ver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire 14 shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he 15 shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be 16 saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in 17 you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which 18 temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let 19 him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wis- dom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the 21 wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory 6i4 I. CORINTHIANS. lo. 4 in men: for all things are yours; whether Paul, or 22 A-pol'los, or Ce' phas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 23 SELECTION NUMBER 321. I. Cor. 6 : i-ii ; 10 : 1-15. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go i 6 to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? 2 and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye un- worthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not 3 that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of 4 things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. 5 Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his breth- ren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that 6 before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly 7 a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye 8 do wrong, and defraud, and thsit your brethren. Know 9 ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the king- dom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor 10 covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some 11 of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. * * Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be i 10 ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized 2 unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all 3 eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same 4 II. 27 I. CORINTHIANS. 615 spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock 5 that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they 6 were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust 7 after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as wej-e some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thou- 9 sand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them 10 also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were 11 destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things hap- pened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world 12 are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth 13 take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to 14 escape, that ye may be able to bear //. Wherefore, my 15 dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. SELECTION NUMBER 322. I. Cor. II : 23-34 ; 13 : 1-13. l1 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same 24 night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake //, and said. Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in 25 remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye 26 drink //, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the 27 Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, 6i6 I. CORINTHIANS. 13. 13 unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let 28 him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he 29 that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many ^r/? weak and sickly 30 among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge 31 ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are 32 judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my 33 brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; 34 that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of i 13 angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift 2 of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the 3 poor^ and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth 4 long, ««^ is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself 5 unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth 6 in the truth: beareth all things, believeth all things, 7 hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never 8 faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know 9 in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which 10 is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I 11 understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now 12 we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, 13 these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 15. 20 I. CORINTHIANS. 617 SELECTION NUMBER 323. I. Cor. 15 : 1-34. 15 I Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, 2 and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye 3 have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for 4 our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according 5 to the Scriptures: and that he was seen of Ce'phas, 6 then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the 8 apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of 9 one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, 10 because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed n^on me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of 11 God which was with me. Therefore whether // wej-e 12 I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the 13 dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then 14 is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is 15 our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom 16 he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For 17 if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith ?> vain; ye are yet in 18 your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in 19 Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope 20 in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, ^«^ become the firstfruits 6i8 I. CORINTHIANS. 15. 39 of them that slept. For since by man came death, by 21 man ca^ne also the resurrection of the dead. For as in 22 Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; 23 afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then 24 Cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he 25 must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he 26 hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, 27 All things are put under hiui, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And 28 when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. Else 29 what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? and why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 30 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus 31 our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I 32 have fought with beasts at Eph' e-sus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications 2>?> corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and 34 sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. SELECTION NUMBER 324. I. Cor. 15 : 35-58. But some man will say. How are the dead raised up? 35 15 and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that ^fi which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: and 37 that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grai7i: but God giveth it a body as it hath 38 pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh 39 . is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of 15. 58 I. CORINTHIANS. 619 men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and 40 another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, 41 and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for pict on charity, which is the bond 15 of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and 16 be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing- 17 ing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And what- soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by 18 him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own hus- 19 bands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love jw/r 20 wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing 21 unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to 22 anger^ lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, 23 fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do // heartily, as to 24 the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye 25 serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 638 I. THESSALONIANS. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. SELECTION NUMBER 336. I. Thes. 4 : 13-18; 5 : 1-28. I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, con- 13 cerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe 14 that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we 15 say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and Tevna.m unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord him- 16 self shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are 17 alive and rema.in shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one 18 another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have i 5 no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know 2 perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say. Peace and 3 safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that 4 that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the 5 children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us 6 not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be 7 drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are 8 of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For 9 God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain 2. 2 I. TIMOTHY. 639 10 salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together 11 with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, 12 and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admon- 13 ish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, 15 be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is 16 good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice 17 evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give 18 thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus con- 19 cerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not 20 prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which 21 is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And 22 the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray 23 God y OUT whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do //. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY. SELECTION NUMBER 337. I. Tim. 2 : 1-6 ; 4 : 1-6 ; 6 : 6-21. 2 I I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made 2 for all men; for kings, and /^r all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godli- 640 I. TIMOTHY. 6. 15 ness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in 3 the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to 4 be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God 5 and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a 6 ransom for all, to be testified in due time. * * Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter i 4 times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies 2 in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, a7id covwianding to abstain 3 from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing 4 to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: for 5 it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou 6 put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. * * Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we 6 6 brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can 7 carry nothing out. And having food and raiment, let 8 us be therewith content. But they that will be rich 9 fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all 10 evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these 11 things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, 12 lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 give thee charge in the sight of God, who 13 quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who be- fore Pon' ti-us Pilate witnessed a good confession; that 14 thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebuke- able, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed 15 and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of 2. 8 II. TIMOTHY. 641 16 lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, 19 ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and opposi- 21 tionsof science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace ^^ with thee. Amen. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO TIMOTHY. SELECTION NUMBER 338. II. Tim. 2 : 1-15 ; 3 : 14-17 ; 4 : 1-8. 1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that 2 is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others 3 also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good 4 soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entan- gleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may 5 please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, jj'^/ is he not crowned, 6 except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that 7 laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Con- sider what I say; and the Lord give thee understand- 8 ing in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead, according to 642 II. TIMOTHY. 4- 8 my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, 9 even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that 10 they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is 2. faithful saying: For if. 11 we be dead with him^ we shall also live with him: if we 12 suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny /«>«, he also will deny us: if we believe not, yet he abideth 13 faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put 14 them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself 15 approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. * * Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned 14 3 and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known 15 the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 16 profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may 17 be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord i 4 Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; 2 be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the 3 time will come when they will not endure sound doc- trine; but after their own lusts shall they reap to them- selves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall 4 turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure 5 afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, 'make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be 6 offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I 7 have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me 8 a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 3. I TITUS. 643 THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TITUS. SELECTION NUMBER 339. Titus 2 : 1-15 ; 3 : i-ii. 2 I But speak thou the things which become sound 2 docrine: that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, 3 sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, 4 teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their 5 children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God 6 be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be 7 soberminded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shelving uncorruptness, 8 gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be con- demned; that he that is of the contrary part maybe 9 ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhoi't servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all 11 things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 12 hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, 13 righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the 14 great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 15 zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 3 I Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and 644 HEBREWS. i. 3 powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but 2 gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we 3 ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But 4 after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness 5 which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through 6 Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his 7 grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these 8 things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to main- tain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and gene- 9 alogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is a 10 heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, 11 being condemned of himself. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS. SELECTION NUMBER 340. Heb. I : 1-14. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners i 1 spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom 2 he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, 3 I. 14 HEBREWS. 645 and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by him- self purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the 4 Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more 5 excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time. Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith. And let all the angels of God wor- 7 ship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits. And his ministers a flame of fire. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the works of thine hands. 11 They shall perish, but thou remainest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, And they shall be changed: But thou art the same. And thy years shall not fail. 13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand. Until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minis- ter for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 646 HEBREWS. 2. 14 SELECTION NUMBER 341. Heb. 2 : 1-18. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to i 2 the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels 2 was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we 3 escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to bespoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him j God also bearing //^^w 4 witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? For unto the angels hath he not put in sub- 5 jection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one 6 in a certain place testified, saying. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; 7 Thou crownedst him with glory and honour. And didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. 8 For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see 9 Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all 10 things, and by whom aj-e all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sancti- 11 fieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in 12 the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, 13 Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh 14 I [o. 29 HEBREWS. 647 and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that 15 had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their life- 16 time subject to bondage. For verily he took not on hivi the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed 17 of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. SELECTION NUMBER 342. Heb. 10 : 19-31 ; n : i-io. 10 19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into 20 the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the 21 vail, that is to say, his flesh; and having 2i high priest 22 over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies 23 washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profes- sion of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful 24 that promised; and let us consider one another to pro- 25 voke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one ajiother: and so much the 26 more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery 28 indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two 29 or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, sup- pose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy 648 HEBREWS. II. 19 thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belofigeth 30 unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again. The Lord shall judge his people. // is a fearful thing 31 to fall into the hands of the living God. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the 1 11 evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders 2 obtained a good report. Through faith we understand 3 that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God 4 a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see 5 death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith // is impossible to 6 please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that dili- gently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God 7 of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he con- demned the world, and became heir of the righteous- ness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he 8 was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned 9 in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwell- ing in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city 10 which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. SELECTION NUMBER 343. Heb. II : 17-30, 32-40, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up 17 11 Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac 18 shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was di\At 19 I. 37 HEBREWS. 649 to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence 20 also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed 21 Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his 22 staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave com- 23 mandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were 24 not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he. was come to years, refused to be called 25 the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy 26 the pleasures of sin for a season ; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should 29 touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians essaying to do 30 were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. * * 32 And what_shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gid'e-on, and of Ba' rak, and of Samson, and of Jeph'thah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the T^-^ prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped 34 the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the 35 armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrec- 36 tion: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourg- 37 ings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, 650 HEBREWS. 12. II tormented; of whom the world was not worthy: they 38 wandered in deserts, and /// mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a 39 good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that 40 they without us should not be made perfect. SELECTION NUMBER 344. Heb. 12 : 1-7, 9-29. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with 1 12 so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; 2 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that 3 endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have 4 not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And 5 ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, 6 And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as 7 with sons; for what son is he whom the father chas- teneth not? * * Furthermore, we have had fathers 9 of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them rev- erence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a 10 few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holi- ness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to 11 be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them [2. 28 HEBREWS. 651 12 which are exercised thereby. Wherefore Uft up the 13 hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all niefi^ and holiness, without 15 which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you^ and thereby many 16 be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his 17 birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it 18 carefully with tears. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word 20 should not be spoken to them any more: (for they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, 21 or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22 but ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an 23 innumerable company of angels, to the general assem- bly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits 24 of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that 25 speaketh better things than that ^/ Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape^ if we turn away from him that speaketh 26 from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake 27 not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word^ Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those 28 things which cannot be shaken may remain. Where- 652 JAMES. I. 13 fore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereb}^ we may serve God accepta- bl)^ with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a 29 consuming fire. THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. SELECTION NUMBER 345. James i : 1-27. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, i '. to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greet- ing. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers 2 temptations; knowing f/ii's, that the trying of your faith 3 worketh patience. But let patience have /ler perfect 4 work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that 5 giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing 6 wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that 7 man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways. 8 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is 9 exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low: because 10 as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the 11 sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for 12 when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of 13 2. 2 JAMES. 653 God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither 14 tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when 15 he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and 16 sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not 17 err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither 18 shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be 20 swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted 22 word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving 23 your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his 24 natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner 25 of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein^ he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall 26 be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue,^ but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. SELECTION NUMBER 346. James 2 : 1-26. 2 I My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus 2 Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor 654 JAMES. 2. 23 man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that 3 weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor. Stand thou there, or sit here under ray footstool: are ye not then 4 partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not 5 God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not 6 rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judg- ment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name 7 by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law 8 according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neigh- bour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to 9 persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole 10 law, and yet offend in one pointy he is guilty of all. For he that said. Do not commit adultery, said also, 11 Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by 12 the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without 13 mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say 14 he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily 15 food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, 16 h^ ye warned and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is 17 dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say. Thou hast 18 faith, and I have works : shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: 19 the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou 20 know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when 21 he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou 22 how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled 23 5. 12 JAMES. 655 which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was im- puted unto him for righteousness: and he was called 24 the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a 25 man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out 26 another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. SELECTION NUMBER 347. James 5 : 1-20. > I Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your 2 miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are 3 corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the 4 last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped 5 are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sab'a-oth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned andVxW^^ the just; a?idhe doth not 7 resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming 9 of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the 10 judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender 12 mercy. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, 656 I. PETER. I. 5 neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any 13 merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 14 let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and 15 the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults 16 one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like 17 passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed 18 again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one 19 convert him; let him know, that he which converteth 20 the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. SELECTION NUMBER 348. L Peter i : 3-25. Blessed de the God and Father of our Lord Jesus 3 1 Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrec- tion of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance 4 incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power 5 I. 21 I. PETER. 657 of God through faith unto salvation ready to be 6 revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness 7 through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of 8 Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice 9 with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the 10 end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come 11 unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the 12 glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought 14 unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the 15 former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of con- 16 versation; because it is written. Be ye holy; for I am 17 holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb 20 without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but 21 was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be 658 I. PETER. 2. 9 in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying 22 the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, 23 but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For 24 All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, And the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 25 And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. SELECTION NUMBER 349. \. Peter 2 : 1-25. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and i hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as 2 newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that 3 the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a liv- 4 ing stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built 5 up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, ■ 6 Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but 7 unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed, The same is made the head of the corner, and 8 A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedi- ent: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are 9 a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 2. 25 I. PETER. 659 a peculiar people; that he should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his 10 marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God : which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against 12 the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may hy your %oo^ works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of 15 them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of 16 foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God, Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the 19 froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for con- science toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is 21 acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us 22 an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did 23 no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself \.o 24 him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose 25 stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 66o I. PETER. 4. 15 SELECTION NUMBER 350. I. Peter 4 : 1-19 ; 5 : i-ii. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in i 4 the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in 2 the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have 3 wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, ban- quetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think 4 it strange that ye run not with thejn to the same excess of riot, speaking evil oi you: who shall give account to 5 him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to 6 them that are dead, that they might be judged accord- ing to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye 7 therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above 8 all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospi- 9 tality one to another without grudging. As every man 10 hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; ii if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ: to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not 12 strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but 13 rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffer- ings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for 14 the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let 15 none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an 5. II I. PETER. 66l evil doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. i6 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be 17 ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if // first begin at us, what shall the end be 18 of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly 19 and the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. > I The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof^ not by constraint, but willingly; not 3 for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the 4 flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth 6 grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you 7 in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he 8 careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, 9 seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accom- 10 plished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle 11 you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 662 II. PETER. I. 14 THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. SELECTION NUMBER 351. II. Peter i : 1-21. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, i 1 to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through 2 the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, accord- 3 ing as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowl- edge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious 4 promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all 5 diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowl- edge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temper- 6 ance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to 7 godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kind- ness, charity. For if these things be in you, and 8 abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see 9 afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili- 10 gence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance 11 shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the ever- lasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always 12 in remembrance of these things, though ye know them^ and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it 13 meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting j(?z^ in remembrance; knowing that shortly 14 3. 7 II. PETER. 663 I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord 15 Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have 16 these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus 17 Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well 18 pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we 19 heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar 20 arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy 21 of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. SELECTION NUMBER 352. II. Peter 3 : 1-18. 3 I This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remem- 2brance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and 3 Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in 4 the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying. Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were 5 from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the 6 water and in the water: whereby the world that then 7 was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same 664 II. PETER. 3. 18 word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that 8 one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack 9 concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the 10 night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seei?tg thtn that all these things shall be 11 • dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hast- 12 ing unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the ele- ments shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, 13 according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such 14 things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that 15 the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his 16 epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things 17 before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and /;/ the knowledge of our Lord 18 and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. I. 4 I. JOHN. 665 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN. SELECTION NUMBER 353. I. John I : i-io ; 2 : 1-17. L I That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we 2 have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen //, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested 3 unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with 4 his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in 6 him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and 7 do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all 8 sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our- 9 selves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and 10 to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. J I My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advo- 2 cate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours 3 only, but also for the stns of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his 4 commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keep- 666 I. JOHN. I. 17 eth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily 5 is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought 6 himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, 7 but an old commandment which ye had from the begin- ning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new com- 8 mandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, 9 and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and 10 there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he 11 that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes, I write unto you, little children, because your sins 12 are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto 13 you, fathers, because ye have known him ^M/ is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have 14 known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things 15 that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the i6 world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust 17 thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 3. i6 I. JOHN. 667 SELECTION NUMBER 354. I. John 3 : 1-24. 3 I Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew 2 him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for 3 we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: 5 for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in 6 him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known 7 him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is 8 righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might 9 destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in 10 him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not 11 of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, 12 that we should love one another. Not as Cain, ivho was of that wicked one and slew his brother. And where- fore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his 15 brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer 16 hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life 668 I. JOHN. 4. 7 for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and 17 seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, 18 neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And 19 hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart con- 20 demn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then 21 have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we 22 ask, we receive of him, because we keep his command- ments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should 23 believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he 24 that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. SELECTION NUMBER 355. I. John 4 : 1-21. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits i whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the 2 Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God : and every spirit that 3 confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little chil- 4 dren, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are 5 of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that 6 knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; 7 5-4 I- JOHN. 669 and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth 8 God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God 9 is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into 10 the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and 1 1 sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected 13 in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he 14 in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son 15 to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and 16 he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth 17 in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this 18 world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment He that 19 feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, 20 because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God 21 whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. SELECTION NUMBER 356. I. John 5 : 1-2 1. 5 I Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat 2 loveth him also that is begotten of him. By thisVe know that we love the children of God, when we love 3 God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his 4 commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the 670 I. JOHN. 5. 21 victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that be- 5 lieveth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that 6 came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the 7 Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in 8 earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of 9 men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He 10 that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given 11 to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that 12 hath the Son hath life; atidho. that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto 13 you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is 14 the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we 15 know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any 16 man see his brother sin a sin whieh is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness 17 is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; 18 but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. A7id w& know that 19 we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath 20 given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, eve7i in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 21 14 THE REVELATION. 671 THE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. SELECTION NUMBER 357. Rev. I : 4- 20. I4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits 5 which are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, a7id the firstbegotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his 6 own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever 7 and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. E^ven so. Arnen. 8 I am Al' pha and O' me-ga, the beginning and the end- ing, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard 11 behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Ar pha and O' me-ga, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the 12 seven churches which are in Asia. * * And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, 13 I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks o?ie like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt 14 about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and /z/.r hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and 672 THE REVELATION, 2. 7 his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto 15 fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters And he had in his right 16 hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword : and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell 17 at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 1 am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, 18 I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast 19 seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars 20 which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. SELECTION NUMBER 358. Rev. 2 : 1-29. Unto the angel of the church of Eph'e-sus write; i These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy 2 labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my 3 name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because 4 thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from 5 whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds 6 of the Nic-o-la' i-tanes, which I also hate. He that hath 7 an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of 2. 19 THE REVELATION. 673 the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. 8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyr' na write; These things saith the first and the last, which was 9 dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and / know the blas- phemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, 10 but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast so77ie of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days : be thou faithful unto 11 death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 12 And to the angel of the church in Per'ga-mos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword 13 with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou boldest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein An' ti-pas was my faithful martyr, 14 who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Ba' laam, who taught Ba' lak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, 15 and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nic-o-la' i-tanes, which 16 thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of 17 my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it, 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thy-a-ti' ra write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to bemoxo. 674 THE REVELATION. 3. 4 than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things 20 against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jez' e-bel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants. * * And I gave her 21 space to repent; * * and she repented not. Behold, 22 I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with 23 death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But 24 unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thy-a-ti' ra, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have 25 already, hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, 26 and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a 27 rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an 28 ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the 29 churches. SELECTION NUMBER 359. Rev. 3 : 1-22. And unto the angel of the church in Sar'dis write; i These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watch- 2 ful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast 3 received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sar' dis 4 which have not defiled their garments; and they shall 3. i8 THE REVELATION. 675 5 walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and 6 before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 7 And to the angel of the church in Phil-a-del' pM-a write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man Sshutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before 10 thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the 11 earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which 12 thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon 13 him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 14 And^unto the angel of the church of the La-od-i-ce' ans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true 15 witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would 16 thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art luke- warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of 17 my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and in- creased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and 18 poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of 676 THE REVELATION. me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As 19 many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous there- fore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and 20 knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit 21 with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath 22 an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. SELECTION NUMBER 360. Rev. 4 : i-ii ; 5 : 1-14. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in i 4 heaven : and the first voice which I heard'w^j as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a 2 throne was set in heaven, and 07ie sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a 3 sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round 4 about the throne 7£^^r^ four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, "clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings 5 and thunderings and voices: and there ivere seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was 3. sea 6 of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was 7 like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each 8 THE REVELATION. 677 of them six wings about hi7n; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy. Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and 9 is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who 10 liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and wor- ship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their 1 1' crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 5 I And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side, 2 sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel pro- claiming with a loud voice. Who is worthy to open the 3 book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able 4 to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and 5 to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me. Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into 7 all the earth. And he came and took the book out of 8 the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four a«^ twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, 9 which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying. Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, 10 and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on 11 the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, 678 THE REVELATION. 6. and the elders: and the number of them was ten thou- sand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was 12 slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And 13 every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the 14 four beasts said. Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. SELECTION NUMBER 36L Rev. 6: 1-17. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, i 6 and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying. Come and see. And I saw, and 2 behold a white horse : and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the 3 second beast say, Come and see. And there went out 4 another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the 5 third beast say. Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst 6 of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the 7 voice of the fourth beast say. Come and see. And I 8 looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat 7. 2 THE REVELATION. 679 on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word 10 of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying. How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our 11 blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were^ should be fulfilled. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as 13 blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is 14 shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain 15 and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the 16 dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the 17 wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? SELECTION NUMBER 362. Rev. 7 : 1-4, 9-17 ; 12 : 7-12. 1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, 2 nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another 68o THE REVELATION. 12. 9 angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the 3 trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them 4 which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. * * After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which 9 no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, 10 Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about 11 the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, 12 and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one 13 of the elders answered, saying unto me. What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him. Sir, thou knowest. And 14 he said to me. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they 15 before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, 16 neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the 17 midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. * * And there was war in heaven : Mi' chael and his angels 7 12 fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place 8 found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was 9 cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into 19. II THE REVELATION. 68i 10 the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our 11 God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; 12 and they loved not their lives unto the death. There- fore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. SELECTION NUMBER 363. Rev. 19 : 4-16; 20 : 1-15. • 194 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, 5 saying, Amen; Al-le-lu'ia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying. Praise our God, all ye his servants, 6 and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Al-le-lu'ia: for the Lord God 7 omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is 8 come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the right- 9 eousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me. These are 10 the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me. See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testi- mony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, 682 THE REVELATION. 20. 8 and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were 12 many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a 13 vesture dipped in blood : and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven 14 followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp 15 sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his 16 thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. * * And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having i 20 the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old ser- 2 pent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, 3 and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and 4 judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the 5 rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resur- 6 rection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan 7 shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to 8 deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Ma' gog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 21. 5 THE REVELATION. 683 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the be- loved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, 10 and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are^ and shall be tor- mented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; 12 and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, accord- 13 ing to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every 14 man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second 15 death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. SELECTION NUMBER 364. Rev. 21 : 1-19, 21-27. 21 I And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and 2 there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, 3 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself 4 shall be with them, ajid be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain : for the former things are passed 5 away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me. Write: 684 THE REVELATION. 21. 22 for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto 6 me, It is done. I am Al' pha and O' me-ga, the begin- ning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that 7 overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and 8 unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there came unto me one of the seven angels 9 which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me 10 away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory 11 of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and 12 had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: on the east three gates; on the north three 13 gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, 14 and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he that talked with me had a golden 15 reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and 16 the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and i or ty 17 and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was 18 of jasper: and the o^W.^ was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were 19 garnished with all manner of precious stones. * * And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several 21 gate was of one pearl : and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no 22 22. 9 THE REVELATION. 685 temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the 23 Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light 24 thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do 25 bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be 26 no night there. And they shall bring the glory and 27 honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither what- soever worketh abomination, or 7naketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. SELECTION NUMBER 365. Rev. 22 : 1-21. 1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of 2 the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing 3 of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and 4 his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; 5 and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6 And he said unto me. These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must 7 shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed /i- he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these 9 things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not : for 686 THE REVELATION. 22. 21 I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book : worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the 10 prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He 11 that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my 12 reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Al' pha and O' me-ga, the beginning 13 and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they 14 that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and 15 whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and who- soever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these 16 things in the churches. I am the root and the off- spring of David, atid the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And let 17 him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words 18 of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall takeaway 19 from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, Rndfrom the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith. Surely I come 20 quickly: Amen. Even so, come. Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 21 Amen. THE END.