Proverbs 21 Cross References - Thomson

¹ The heart of a king is in the hand of God; like a canal of water, he turneth it whithersoever he pleaseth. ² Every man appeareth righteous in his own eyes: but the Lord directeth hearts. ³ To do justice and to adhere to truth are more acceptable to God than the blood of victims. ⁴ A high minded man is contentious and stubborn: but sin is the lamp of the wicked. ⁵ [Omitted] ⁶ He who getteth treasures by a lying tongue, pursueth vanity to the snares of death. ⁷ Destruction shall lodge with the wicked; because they refuse to do justice. ⁸ To the perverse God sendeth crooked ways: for his works are pure and right. ⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner in the open air; than in apartments plaistered with injustice; and in a house which is not clean. ¹⁰ The soul of the wicked will not be pitied by any man. ¹¹ When a profligate is punished the innocent become more cautious; and the intelligent wise man will gain knowledge. ¹² A just man discerneth the hearts of the wicked; and despiseth the wicked for their wickedness. ¹³ He who stoppeth his ears that he may not hear the distressed shall himself cry, and there shall be none to answer. ¹⁴ A gift given secretly pacifieth resentments: but he who is sparing of gifts exciteth strong wrath. ¹⁵ It is the joy of the righteous to execute judgment: but in the view of the wicked a holy man is unclean. ¹⁶ A man who wandereth from the path of justice, shall go to rest among the congregation of giants. ¹⁷ A needy man loveth pleasure. He wisheth to have wine and oil for his riches: ¹⁸ and a transgressor wisheth to be acquitted as a righteous man. ¹⁹ It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a quarrelsome, clamorous and passionate wife. ²⁰ A desirable treasure will rest in the mouth of the wise: but men who are foolish will swallow it. ²¹ The way of justice and mercy will lead to life and glory. ²² A wise man hath scaled strong cities and demolished fortifications in which the wicked trusted. ²³ He who guardeth his mouth and tongue keepeth his soul from trouble. ²⁴ He who is bold, selfwilled and boastful is called loimos [a pest;] and he who harboureth mischief is called a transgressor. ²⁵ Wishing killeth the slothful; for his hands do not chuse to labour. ²⁶ All the day long a wicked man indulgeth wicked desires; but the righteous unsparingly exerciseth pity and compassion. ²⁷ The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord; because they offer them unrighteously. ²⁸ A false witness shall perish; but a man who is a witness will speak guardedly. ²⁹ A wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but the upright will himself consider his ways. ³⁰ There is no wisdom, there is no fortitude, no counsel in the wicked. ³¹ A horse is provided for the day of battle: but help cometh from the Lord.

²² and kept the festival of unleavened bread seven days, with joy; for the Lord had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assur to them, to strengthen their hands in the works of the house of the God of Israel.

²⁷ Blessed be the Lord the God of our fathers who thus put it in the king's heart to glorify the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, ²⁸ and who gave me favour in the eyes of the king and his counsellors, and of all the officers of the king who were high in office. As for me, I strengthened myself, as the good hand of God was upon me, and assembled from among Israel chiefs to go up with me.

¹¹ Turn not away, I beseech thee, Lord. But let thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy children, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I beseech thee, thy servant this day, and grant him favour in the sight of this man. Now I was the king's butler,

⁴ Thereupon the king said to me, For what dost thou make request? And when I had prayed to the God of heaven,

¹⁵ Thou didst cause springs and torrents to burst forth. Thou didst dry up the rivers of Etham.

⁴ By reason of the roaring of many waters; the mountainous billows of the sea are wonderful. The Lord on high is wonderful;

²⁵ and had turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal deceitfully with his servants;

⁴⁶ he relented and excited compassion for them among all those who had captivated them.

³ The sea saw and fled: Jordan was turned back.

⁵ What ailed thee, sea, that thou fleddest? And thee, Jordan, that thou turnedst back?

¹ [Omitted]

⁹ All the works of the Lord are with righteousness: but the wicked is kept for an evil day.

²⁴ The steps for a man are plainly set forth by the Lord: how then should a mortal consider his ways!

¹⁹ Behold I am in act to do new things, which shall now spring up and you shall know them; I will make a way in the wilderness, and streams of water in the desert.

²⁷ Who saith to the deep, Thou shalt be wasted, and I will dry up the rivers:

³⁵ and all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing; and he doth according to his pleasure in the army of heaven and in the habitations of the earth; and there is none who can stay his hand, or say to him, What hast thou done.

¹⁰ and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt, and all his household.

⁴ And the third angel poured out his vial on the rivers, and on the fountains of waters; and they became blood.

¹² And the sixth angel poured out his vial on the river the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dried up that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, nor the height of his stature, for I have rejected him: for God looketh not superficially as man looketh; for man looketh at the outward appearance, but God will look to the heart.

² because, before him, he hath acted with deceit.

² All the works of the humble are manifest in the sight of God; but the wicked shall perish in an evil day.

²⁵ There are ways which seem right to a man: but the latter ends of them look to the bottom of Hades.

⁶ A man is a great thing: and a merciful man a precious thing: but it is hard to find a faithful man.

¹² If thou should say, I do not know this man: know that the Lord knoweth the hearts of all: and that he, who gave breath to all, knoweth all things: and will render to every one according to his works.

¹² A wicked progeny judge themselves righteous, but have not purged their ways.

¹⁰ [J] I the Lord search hearts and try reins, to give to everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his devices.

¹⁵ Whereupon he said to them, You are they who justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts. Because that which is high among men, is an abomination in the sight of God,

¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus, O God, I thank thee that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers; nor even as that publican. ¹² I fast twice a week. I pay tithes of all that I possess.

²⁴ But Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all men. ²⁵ And because he had no need that any one should testify of man, for he himself knew what was in man;

³ For if any one thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

²² and be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

²³ and I will slay her children with death; and all the congregations shall know, that I am the searcher of reins and hearts, and will give to every one of you according to your works.

²² And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in whole burnt offerings, and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold obedience is better than good sacrifice; and to hearken, is better than the fat of rams.

⁸ I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices. And as for thy whole burnt offerings which are continually before me,

⁸ The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of the upright are acceptable to him.

¹¹ "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?" saith the Lord: I am cloyed with whole burnt offerings of rams: in the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats I have no delight; ¹² nor should you come to appear before me: for who hath required these at your hands? You shall no more be admitted to tread my court. ¹³ Though you bring fine flour; it is a vain incense: it is an abomination to me. Your new moons and sabbaths and great day I cannot endure: ¹⁴ your fasting and cessation from labour; and your new moons and your festivals my soul hateth. You are become loathsome to me; I will no longer remit your sins. ¹⁵ When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn mine eyes from you: and though you multiply prayer, I will not hearken to you: for your hands are full of blood. ¹⁶ Wash and become clean: remove iniquities from your souls; in my presence, cease from your evil deeds; ¹⁷ learn to do good; seek judgment; deliver him who is injured; administer justice to the orphan, and plead the cause of the widow:

²¹ Thus saith the Lord, Collect your whole burnt offerings with your sacrifices and eat flesh. ²² Because I did not speak to your fathers nor give them a charge, on the day when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, concerning the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices; ²³ but only gave them this charge saying, "Hearken to my voice and I will be your God and you shall be my people; and walk in all my ways which I command you that it may be well with you."

⁶ for I desire mercy rather than sacrifice, and an acknowledgment of God rather than whole burnt offerings.

⁶ [Balak.] "By what mean shall I gain over the Lord? Shall I take him for my God most high? Shall I gain him over by whole burnt offerings; by calves of a year old? ⁷ Will the Lord accept me for thousands of rams or myriads of fat goats? Must I give my first born for iniquity; the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul." ⁸ [Balaam.] "Must thou, man, be told what is good? What doth the Lord require from thee, but to do justice and to love mercy, and to be prepared to walk with the Lord thy God?"

³³ and to love him with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, and with the whole soul, and with the whole strength; and to love one's neighbour as himself, is more than all the burnt offerings and the sacrifices.

⁴ The sinner hath greatly provoked the Lord; according to his great anger will he not make inquisition? God is not before his eyes;

¹⁷ His eye is that of a scorner; his tongue is false; his hands are employed in shedding innocent blood;

¹³ The fear of the Lord hateth injustice and insolence and haughtiness and the ways of the wicked: and I have hated the crooked ways of bad men.

²⁷ The sacrifices of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord; because they offer them unrighteously.

¹³ A wicked progeny have lofty eyes and uplifted eyebrows.

¹¹ "For the eyes of the Lord are lofty; but man is low; and the loftiness of these men shall be humbled; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

¹⁷ [[J] Jehovah] and every man shall be humbled; and the haughtiness of these men shall fall; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

¹⁶ Thus saith the Lord, Because the daughters of Sion are haughty and have walked with outstretched neck and wanton eyes, trailing with them in their gait flowing robes, and moving in set pace with their feet;

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house acquitted, and not the other. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be humbled, but he who humbleth himself shall be exalted.

²³ Now he who maketh distinctions is condemned if he eateth, because he eateth not with belief; and every thing which is not according to belief is a sin.

⁵ Likewise ye who are young, submit to those more advanced in years. And being all submissive to one another; adorn yourselves with humility; because "God resisteth the proud and granteth favour to the humble;"

⁴ Want humbleth a man; but the hands of the diligent enrich. A well instructed son will be wise, and shall have the simple for a servant.

⁴ Every sluggard is employed in wishing: but the hands of the diligent, in procuring.

²⁹ A man slow to wrath, is of great understanding; but a passionate man is egregiously foolish.

²¹ A portion got at first with too much haste will not at the last be blessed.

²³ Be careful to know the state of thy flock; and pay close attention to thy herd: ²⁴ for wealth and power do not continue with a man forever; nor can he transmit them from one generation to another. ²⁵ Take care of the herbage in thy field: mow grass and collect provender from the hills: ²⁶ that thou mayst have sheep for clothing. Honour the field that thou mayst have lambs. ²⁷ My son, thou hast sayings from me powerfully conducive to thy life: and the life of thy servants.

²² An envious man hasteth to be rich, and knoweth not that the bountiful shall have mastery over him.

²⁸ Let the stealer steal no more; but rather labour, and procure honestly with the work of his hands, that he may have wherewithal to relieve the needy.

¹¹ and to make it your ambition to live quietly, and to mind your own business, and work with your own hands, as we charged you; ¹² that your walk may appear orderly to the world, and that you may be in want of nothing.

³⁶ But they who sin against me act wickedly against their own souls; and they who hate me love death."

² Treasures cannot profit the wicked; but righteousness will deliver from death.

¹¹ Wealth acquired by injustice, diminisheth; but he who gathereth for himself with piety, shall be satisfied. A righteous man sheweth mercy and lendeth.

¹⁴ [Omitted]

⁸ He who soweth iniquity shall reap evils; and compleat the punishment of his deeds. God blesseth a cheerful giver; and will supply the deficiency of his works.

⁸ Give me neither riches nor poverty, but order for me things necessary and convenient;

¹¹ A partridge whistled and collected young which it did not bring forth, increasing its wealth but not with judgment; in the midst of its days they will leave it, and at its end it will be a fool.

³¹ Cast away from you all your impious acts; which you have impiously committed against me; and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: now why do you die, house of Israel,

⁹ But they who determine to be rich, fall headlong into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil; to gratify which, some have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

¹¹ who ought to be curbed, who subvert whole houses teaching what they ought not, for the sake of sordid gain.

³ Indeed, with insatiable covetousness, they will, with smooth words, make merchandize of you. But the judgment prepared of old for them is not idle, nor is their destruction slumbering.

¹⁶ his mischief will return on his own head; on his own head his injustice will come down.

¹⁶ The Lord is known by executing judgments; by the works of his own hands the sinner is taken.

¹⁸ For they who are accomplices to murder, treasure up evils for themselves. And doleful is the destruction of wicked men. ¹⁹ Such are the ways of all who commit iniquitous deeds. For by wickedness they destroy their own soul.

⁶ The blessing of the Lord is on the head of the righteous; but untimely grief shall stop the mouth of the wicked.

²¹ The way of justice and mercy will lead to life and glory.

²² Oppress not the needy because he is poor: nor treat with disrespect at the gates one who is weak. ²³ For the Lord will judge his cause; and thou shouldst preserve thy life safe and secure.

²³ The chiefs are rebellious; associates of thieves: they love gifts; they seek rewards: to orphans they do not administer justice; and to the cause of widows they do not attend. ²⁴ Therefore thus saith the sovereign Lord of hosts. "Alas for the rulers of Israel; for my wrath against these adversaries shall not abate. On these enemies of mine I will execute judgment:

⁹ and commit murder, and adultery and steal and swear to a falsehood, and burn incense to Baal; and when you have gone after strange gods which you did not know; ¹⁰ you, because of your calamities, have then come and stood before me, in the house which is called by my name, and said, "We have been restrained from committing these abominations;" ¹¹ is not this house of mine, which is called by my name, become in your eyes a den of robbers? Now behold I have seen this, saith the Lord.

¹⁵ And I will drive you from my presence, as I have driven out your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim.

¹⁸ But as for his father, if he be guilty of rapine and oppression, he hath done wrong in the midst of my people, and for his iniquities he shall die.

¹³ Now when I lay my hand on thee to destroy thee, for what thou hast done and for the blood which hath been shed in thee; ¹⁴ will thy heart endure? Will thy hands be strong in the day I deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken and I will perform.

⁹ [p] Hear these things I beseech you, ye leaders of the house of Jacob, and ye remnant of the house of Israel, who abhor judgment and pervert all equity, ¹⁰ who are building up Sion with blood and Jerusalem with injustice. ¹¹ [J] Her rulers have judged for rewards; and her priests have given answers for hire; and her prophets have prophesied for silver, without waiting for the Lord, saying, "Is not the Lord among us? No evils shall come upon us:" ¹² therefore because of you, Sion shall be ploughed like a field; and Jerusalem shall be like a temporary building for summer fruits; and the mountain of the house shall be for a grove of a forest.

³ Whereupon he said to me, This is the curse which is going forth over the face of the whole earth. Since every thief on the one hand is to be punished with death, and every false swearer on the other hand is to be punished; ⁴ therefore I will bring it out saith the Lord Almighty; and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who sweareth by my name to a falsehood; and it shall lodge in his house, and destroy it with the timber and the stones thereof.

⁶ Let no one deceive you with vain discourses; for on the account of these things the wrath of God is coining on these children of disobedience,

⁵ So when the Lord God saw that the wickedness of the men on the earth was multiplied, and that every one was in his heart studiously and continually bent upon evils, ⁶ God was grieved that he had made man on the earth.

¹² And God beheld the earth and it was corrupt. Because all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth;

¹⁴ For who being mortal can be irreprehensible? Or can the offspring of woman be righteous? ¹⁵ If in his holy ones he placeth not confidence; and the heaven is not pure in his sight; ¹⁶ how abominable and filthy must man be; who drinketh iniquity in, like water!

² The Lord looked down from heaven on the children of men; to see if any had understanding or were seeking God. ³ They had all gone aside, they were altogether become vile: there is none who doeth good; no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre: with their tongues they practised deceit: the poison of asps is under the lips of them whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace they did not know: there is no fear of God before their eyes.

¹⁵ whose ways are crooked, and whose paths turn aside to lead thee far from the straight road

²⁶ An evil thought is an abomination to the Lord: but the speeches of the chaste are grave.

²⁹ God made mankind upright; but they have found out many classes.

³ There is this evil in every thing done under the sun, that one event happeneth to them all, so that the heart of the children of men being filled with evil there is an instability in their heart during their life, and it followeth them to the dead.

¹⁰ Though many be chosen and made white and purified and sanctified, and transgressors transgress; yet no transgressor will understand but the prudent will understand.

⁸ Happy the pure in heart; for they shall see God.

³³ Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad. For the tree is known by its fruit

⁹ and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by belief.

³ For you are yet carnal; for while there is among you envy and strife and divisions, are you not carnal and walking in the ways of man?

² in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world; according to the prince of the power of the air, that spirit which is now working powerfully in the children of disobedience; ³ among whom when we also were all formerly leading our lives in the desires of our flesh, executing the dictates of the flesh, and the imaginations, and were naturally children of wrath even as the rest;

¹⁵ To the pure, all things are indeed pure but to the polluted and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Their mind and conscience are polluted:

¹⁴ who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

³ For we, even we ourselves were formerly foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy, objects of hatred, hating one another;

⁵ not for works of righteousness which we had done, but according to his own mercy; he saved us by a bath of regeneration, and a renewal of a holy spirit,

²² Having, in obedience to the truth, purified your souls by the spirit for an unfeigned brotherly affection, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ as you have been born again not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed, by the word of God, which liveth and endureth forever.

²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one who practiseth righteousness is born of him.

³ Now, everyone who hath this hope in him purifieth himself as he is pure.

⁴ A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but a mischievous woman, like a Worm in wood, ruineth her husband.

¹⁷ Better is a dinner on herbs, with friendship and favour, than a feast on young bulls, with enmity.

¹ Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace; than a house full of goods and ill gotten dainties, with contention.

¹³ A foolish son is a shame to a father. vows for the hire of a harlot are not pure.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a quarrelsome, clamorous and passionate wife.

²⁴ It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a scolding wife in a wide house.

¹⁵ A continual dropping driveth a man out of his house in a rainy day: and so doth a contentious wife. ¹⁶ Boreas is a harsh wind, though it be called by an honourable name.

⁸ Inquire of thy servants, and they will tell thee. Let thy servants therefore find favour in thy sight, for we are come in a good time. Give, we pray thee, whatever thou canst conveniently to thy son David. ⁹ So the young men went and delivered the message, in David's name, to Nabal: in these very words. ¹⁰ Upon which Nabal started up, and in reply said to David's young men, Who is David? and who is the son of Jessai? There are now a days many slaves who run away every one from his master; ¹¹ and shall I take my bread, and my wine, and the flesh I have killed for my sheep shearers, and give them to men whom I know not whence they be?

⁴ He contrived mischief on his bed; he persisted in every course which was not good, and did not abhor wickedness.

² Thy tongue is like a sharp razor: thou hast practised deceit. ³ Thou hast loved evil more than good; lying more than speaking the truth.

⁵ a beneficent man who commiserateth and lendeth. He will manage his affairs with judgment;

⁹ He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; his righteousness shall endure forever. His horn shall be gloriously exalted:

²⁹ Devise not evils against thy friend; who sojourneth with thee and confideth in thee.

¹² The desires of the wicked are evil: but the roots of the righteous are in secure places.

¹³ He who stoppeth his ears that he may not hear the distressed shall himself cry, and there shall be none to answer.

⁶ For the fool will speak foolishly, and his heart will devise vain things; that he may commit iniquity, and utter error before the Lord in order to scatter hungry souls: and the thirsty souls he will send away empty. ⁷ For the counsel of the wicked will devise unlawful devices to destroy the poor with unjust pleas; and to baffle the pleas of the poor in judgment. ⁸ But the pious have counselled with understanding; and their counsel shall be established."

² As for them who hate good and seek evil, who tear off the skin from these and the flesh from their bones: ³ as they have devoured the flesh of my people and have flayed off their skin from them; and have broken their bones and chopped them up, as flesh for a kettle and as pieces of meat for a pot:

²¹ For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed those evil surmises, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² thefts, inordinate desires, malice, fraud, sensuality, envy, detraction, pride, foolishness.

⁶ Now these things were examples for us, that we may not lust after evil things as they did.

¹³ for the sentence of judgment shall be without mercy for him who hath not exercised mercy, though mercy glorieth over a sentence of judgment.

¹ Whence come wars and fightings among you? Is it not from this"from those sensual appetites of yours which are at war in your members? ² You covet and use not. You kill, and envy, and cannot enjoy. You fight, and wage war, and do not possess, because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may lavish on your sensual appetites. ⁴ Ye adulterers and adulteresses! do you not know that the friendship of this world is enmity against God? Whoever therefore wisheth to be a friend of the world is adjudged an enemy of God. ⁵ Do you think that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which dwelt in us excite desire to envy?

⁴ Behold the wages of the labourers who have reaped your fields, which you have withholden, raise a cry; and the outcries of these reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. ⁵ You have lived luxuriously on the earth. You have indulged voluptuousness. You have pampered your hearts, as on a day of public feasting. ⁶ You have condemned you have murdered the just one. Is he not setting himself in array against you?

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pomp of this life are not of the Father, but are of the world.

³⁴ And all the Israelites who were around them fled at their cry; for they said, Perhaps the earth may swallow us up.

¹¹ So all Israel will hear, and be afraid, and no more proceed to do any such wickedness as this among you.

²¹ Thereupon the men of his city shall stone him with stones, and he shall be put to death. So thou shalt remove the wicked from among you; and the rest, who hear, will be struck with awe.

⁷ Their Wounds became the dart of infants: ⁸ when their tongues vilified him. All that saw them were troubled: ⁹ Then every man was afraid. Then they rehearsed the works of God; then they understood his doings.

⁵ for by attending to them a wise man will become wiser; and a man of understanding will possess a ride of government

⁹ Give a wise man a hint and he will be wiser; an intimation to a righteous man and he will proceed to take it.

¹⁴ An upright heart seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of the uninstructed will taste evils.

¹ He who desireth to part with friends seeketh excuses; but he will always be liable to reproach.

¹⁵ The heart of a prudent man getteth knowledge; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.

²⁵ When a criminal is scourged, a simpleton becometh more wary: but if thou rebukest a wise man, he will call to mind knowledge.

⁵ Upon hearing these words Ananias fell down and expired. And great fear came upon all who heard these things.

¹¹ And great fear came upon all the congregation, and upon all that heard these things; ¹² and by the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people: Now they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch, ¹³ and of the rest no one presumed to join himself to them, but the people magnified them, ¹⁴ and believers in the Lord, multitudes both of men and women were more and more added

⁶ Now these things were examples for us, that we may not lust after evil things as they did. ⁷ Be not ye then idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play:" ⁸ Nor let us commit fornication as some of them did, and there fell in one day twenty three thousand: ⁹ nor let us try the Christ as some indeed of them did, and were destroyed by serpents: ¹⁰ nor murmur ye, as some of them murmured and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹ Now all these things came upon them for examples, and were written for the instruction of us on whom the ends of the ages have met.

¹ For this cause we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest we, through negligence, let them slip. ² For if the word spoken by messengers was firm, and every transgression and disobedience received as its reward a correspondent requital, ³ how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation, which was first published by the Lord, and confirmed for us by them who heard him,

²⁸ Whoever hath set at naught the law of Moses dieth without mercy, on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much greater punishment, think ye, will he be thought worthy, who hath trampled upon the Son of God, and accounted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, a common thing, and treated contemptuously the spirit of grace?

¹³ and at that period there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the city fell and seven thousand names of men were destroyed by the earthquake. And the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

²⁹ But when God destroyed all the cities of that neighbourhood he remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out from that destruction. Now when the Lord had destroyed those cities in which Lot had dwelt,

³ Now I have seen the foolish taking root, but their sustenance was quickly consumed.

¹⁵ Though he prop up his house, it cannot stand: Though he take hold of it, it will not abide,

¹⁴ May health be expelled from his dwelling, and distress lay hold on him with the authority of a king. ¹⁵ It will make its abode in his tent; in his night all his finery will be strewed with sulphur. ¹⁶ Underneath his roots will be dried up; and above, his product will fall. ¹⁷ May the memorial of him be destroyed from the earth. ¹⁸ When his name shall be published abroad, may they drive him from light to darkness. ¹⁹ He will not be acknowledged among his people, nor will his household be safe under the cope of heaven. But in his possessions others shall live secure. ²⁰ They who came after groaned for him, but horror seized them who were before. ²¹ Such are the houses of the unrighteous, and such the place of them who know not the Lord.

²⁸ that you will say, Where is the house of the chief, and where is the covering of the tents of the wicked? ²⁹ Ask them who travel the high ways, or their monuments, you cannot miss them. ³⁰ Because the wicked is reserved for a day of destruction: let them be carried to prison for the day of his indignation.

¹³ "This is the portion of a wicked man from the Lord: and the possession of oppressors, which shall come to them from the Almighty. ¹⁴ If their children be many they shall be for slaughter; and if they grow up to men, they shall be beggars. ¹⁵ Those who are about him shall die by pestilence: and their widows none shall compassionate. ¹⁶ Though he heap up silver as dust; and store up gold as clay: ¹⁷ the righteous shall take charge of all these; and men of truth shall enjoy his wealth. ¹⁸ His house is gone like moths or like a cobweb. ¹⁹ He shall lie down rich but shall not continue so. He hath opened his eyes, and all is gone. ²⁰ Sorrows flowed in upon him like water. In a night a tempest swept him away. ²¹ A burning wind shall take him up and go he must. It shall blow him away out of his place. ²² He will dash upon him and will not spare. Should he by flight flee from his hand, ²³ he will cause them to clap their hands at him and will hiss him out of his place."

³⁵ I have seen the wicked highly exalted, towering aloft like the cedars of Lebanon. ³⁶ Again I passed by, and lo! he was gone. Though I sought him, his place could not be found.

⁵ For this cause God will utterly destroy thee; tear thee up and hurl thee from thy dwelling; even thy rooted stock out of the land of the living.

⁴³ Whosoever is wise and will observe these things, he will understand the mercies of the Lord.

³ A righteous man dying left sorrow behind him; but the destruction of the wicked cometh suddenly and giveth joy. ⁴ [Omitted] ⁵ Righteousness maketh spotless ways straight: but wickedness falleth by iniquity.

⁶ [Omitted]

¹¹ The houses of the wicked shall vanish; but the tents of the upright shall stand.

³² A wicked man shall be driven away by his wickedness; but in his sanctity the righteous is secure.

⁹ [p] Who is wise that he may understand these things, prudent, that he may know them? Because the ways of the Lord are straight; therefore the righteous will walk in them: But in them the wicked shall be without strength.

¹¹ I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorra; and you became like a brand plucked out of fire. Now as even for this you have not turned to me, saith the Lord,

⁹ Woe to him who coveteth wicked gain for his house, that he ¹⁰ may raise his nest high to be out of the reach of evils. Thou hast contrived shame for thy house; thou hast provoked many ¹¹ peoples and thy soul hath sinned; for a stone out of a wall will cry out, and a Worm from a beam will proclaim these things. ¹² Woe to him who buildeth a city with blood and furbisheth up a city with iniquities!

⁵ But with the greater part of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

⁴ For if God spared not angels who sinned, but confining them in Tartarus, chains of darkness, delivered them up to be kept for judgment ⁵ and if he spared not the old world, but preserved eight persons, including Noah, the proclaimer of righteousness, when he brought a deluge on the world of ungodly men ⁶ and when he condemned to destruction the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes, and making them a publick example to future impious men, ⁷ delivered just Lot, who was troubled at the lascivious conduct of those licentious men, ⁸ [for at the sight and report, that righteous man who dwelt among them was daily tormented in soul by their unlawful deeds] ⁹ the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from, temptation, and to reserve the wicked to the day of judgment, to be punished;

⁶ by which the world that then existed, being deluged, was destroyed; ⁷ but the heavens and the earth which now exist are, by the same word, treasured up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment, and destruction of these impious men.

⁷ If then there chance to be among you a needy person; one of thy brethren, in one of thy cities in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy brother who is in want. ⁸ Thou shalt open thy hands liberally to him, and lend him what he is in want of, according to his necessity. ⁹ Take heed to thyself that there be not a lurking thought in thy heart; a wicked suggestion, saying, The seventh year, the year of remission is near at hand. When thou shalt look with an evil eye at thy brother who is in want, and not give him, he will cry to the Lord against thee, and it will be a great sin in thee. ¹⁰ Thou shalt surely give him, and lend him freely, what he is in want of, according to his necessity. And thou shalt not be grieved at heart when thou givest to him; for on this account the Lord thy God will bless thee in all thy works, and in all the labours of thy hands. ¹¹ Because thy land may never be without some indigent person in it, therefore I give thee a charge to do this thing, saying, Thou shalt open thy hands liberally to thy brother who is in want, and to the needy in thy land.

¹ Now there was a great cry of the people and their wives, against their brethren the Jews. ² There were some who said, We with our sons and our daughters are many, therefore we will take corn that we may eat and live. ³ There were others who said, As for our fields and our vineyards and our houses, let us mortgage them that we may get corn and eat. ⁴ There were others who said, We have borrowed money to pay the king's tribute, and pledged our fields and our vineyards and our houses, ⁵ and now our flesh is the same as that of our brethren, our sons the same as theirs, yet behold we are subjecting our sons and our daughters to be slaves, nay, some of our daughters are already subjected to bondage, and we have no means to redeem them, for our nobles have got our fields and our vineyards.

¹³ I shook my lap and said, So may God shake every man who will not perform this promise, out of his house and from his labour, and let them be shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen; and praised the Lord, and the people executed the decree.

⁴¹ They cried aloud, but there was no saviour; to the Lord, but he hearkened not to them.

⁴ They have a venom like that of a serpent; like that of a deaf adder which stoppeth its ears;

²⁸ For when you call upon me I will not listen to you. The wicked may seek me, but they shall not find me.

²⁷ He who giveth to the poor shall not be in want: but he who turneth away his eyes shall be indigent.

⁶ It is not such a fast as this that I have chosen, saith the Lord. But loose every bond of iniquity; dissolve the obligations of onerous contracts; set at liberty them who are oppressed, and tear in pieces every unjust stipulation in writing: ⁷ deal out thy bread to the hungry, and take into thy house the poor who have no shelter; if thou seest one naked, clothe him, and look not scornfully on dependants of thy race; ⁸ then shall thy light break forth like the morning, and thy remedies shall spring up speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord will surround thee. ⁹ Then thou shalt cry and God will answer thee; and whilst thou art speaking he will say, Lo I am here. If thou remove from thee the bond, and the vote and decree which occasion murmuring,

¹⁶ you have turned back and profaned my name, by causing every one his man servant, and every one his maid servant whom you had sent away free at their own disposal, to return and become your servants: ¹⁷ therefore thus said the Lord, You have not hearkened to me to proclaim a general release, every one to his neighbour; behold, I proclaim a dismission of you to the sword, and to pestilence and to famine; and I will deliver you up to dispersion in all the kingdoms of the earth.

⁹ Thus saith the Lord Almighty, Execute just judgment and shew mercy and compassion one to another; ¹⁰ and oppress not the widow, nor the orphan, nor the stranger, nor the poor; and let none treasure up in his heart for evil an injury done by his brother; ¹¹ but they refused to attend and turned back contemptuously; and stopped their ears that they might not hear; ¹² and made their heart disobedient that they might not hearken to my law; therefore [according to the words which the Lord Almighty by his spirit sent by the ministry of the former prophets] there was great wrath from the Lord Almighty; ¹³ that it might come to pass as he said, "As they hearkened not, so they shall cry and I will not listen, saith the Lord Almighty,

¹⁴ For if you forgive men their offences, your heavenly father will also forgive you;

² for as you judge, you shall be judged: and the measure which you mete, shall be measured to you again.

³⁰ And he would not; but went and cast him into prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw this they were deeply affected and went and told their lord all that was done. ³² Thereupon his lord having called him in, saith to him, Thou wicked slave, I forgave thee all that debt at thy entreaty; ³³ shouldst thou not then have had compassion on thy fellow servant as I had on thee? ³⁴ So his lord, being incensed, delivered him to the executioners of justice until he should pay all that was due to him, ³⁵ Thus also will my heavenly father deal with you, if you do not from your hearts forgive, everyone the trespasses of his brother.

⁴¹ Then he will say to them on his left, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the fire which is everlasting; that prepared for the devil and his angels! ⁴² For I was hungry, and you gave me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you did not lodge me; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me. ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? ⁴⁵ And he will answer them, saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as you have not done this to any, the least of these, you have not done it to me. ⁴⁶ So these shall go to everlasting punishment and the righteous to an everlasting life.

²⁵ When the master of the house is raised up, and shall have shut the door and you begin to stand without and knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us, he will Answer and say to you, I do not know you, whence you are.

⁵⁷ At which they screamed aloud, and stopped their ears and rushed upon him with one accord.

¹³ for the sentence of judgment shall be without mercy for him who hath not exercised mercy, though mercy glorieth over a sentence of judgment. ¹⁴ What is the advantage, my brethren, though one should say he hath belief, when he hath not works? Can that belief save him? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister be naked, or in want of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you should say to them, go in peace: be warmed, and be fed to the full; and you do not give them the things necessary for the body, is this any advantage?

²⁰ Moreover ye shall say, Behold thy servant Jacob is coming behind us. For he said, I will appease him with these previous gifts, and afterwards I will look him in the face, perhaps he will receive me favourably.

¹¹ Then Israel their father said to them, If it must be so, do this, Take of all the fruits of this land in your vessels and carry down for the man presents of balm and honey and incense both stacte and terebinthus and almonds.

³⁵ Then David received at her hand all that she brought him, and said to her, Go up in peace to thy house. See, I have hearkened to thy voice from a personal regard to thee.

⁸ Instruction is a precious reward to them who use it: and whithersoever it turneth it will prosper.

²³ When one unrighteously receiveth gifts in his bosom; his ways will not be straight. But a wicked man perverteth the ways of justice.

¹⁶ A man's gift maketh room for him, and procureth him a seat among the mighty.

⁶ Many court the favour of kings; but every one who is wicked is a disgrace to a man in power.

³ But when thou art doing an act of charity, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand is doing; ⁴ that thine act of charity may be in secret; and thy father who seeth in secret will himself reward thee openly.

¹² for I saved the poor from the hand of the mighty; and assisted the orphan who had no helper. ¹³ The blessing of him who was perishing came upon me: and the mouth of the widow blessed me. ¹⁴ I put on righteousness and cloathed myself with justice as with a mantle. ¹⁵ I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. ¹⁶ I was a father to those in distress; and the cause which I knew not I searched out. ¹⁷ And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous; and plucked the prey from betwixt their teeth.

⁸ to perform, my God, thy will, I was determined, even that law of thine, within my heart.

¹ An Alleluia. Happy the man who feareth the Lord! in his commandments he will greatly delight.

¹⁶ I will meditate on thy judgments and not forget thy words.

⁹² Had not thy law been my study, I should have perished in my affliction.

²⁰ Be not devoted to a strange woman, nor embraced in the arms of one not thine own.

²⁹ The fear of the Lord is the holy man's bulwark; but destruction is for the workers of iniquity.

¹² A just man discerneth the hearts of the wicked; and despiseth the wicked for their wickedness.

¹² I have found that there is no good in them

⁵ For it will meet them who practise righteousness, and they will remember their ways. Behold thou wast angry when we sinned; because of this we wandered

²³ to whom I will then declare, I never acknowledged you; Depart from me ye who work iniquity.

⁴¹ The son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all the stumbling blocks, and the workers of iniquity, ⁴² and cast them into the fiery furnace. Weeping and gnashing of teeth will be there.

²⁷ But he will say, I tell you I do not know you whence you are. Depart from me all you workers of iniquity. ²⁸ Weeping and gnashing of teeth will be there, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaak, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out.

³⁴ Jesus saith to them, It is my food to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work.

²² For in the inner man I am delighted with the law of God;

¹⁴ They are pent up like sheep in the mansion of the dead: death shall feed them and the early watches will rule over them: and that help of theirs from their glory, shall in the mansion of the dead become obsolete.

⁵ But them who turn aside into crooked ways, the Lord will drive away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!

¹⁸ For she hath placed her house near death; and her wheels with the earth born near the mansion of the dead. ¹⁹ None who walk by her direction can ever return; nor ever recover the right paths.

²⁶ for she hath wounded and brought down many; and innumerable are they whom she hath slain. ²⁷ Her house is the highway to Hades, leading down to the chambers of death.

¹⁸ He indeed did not know that with her the earth born perish; that he is lighting upon the perch of death. But fly thou away speedily; tarry not in that place, nor fix thine eyes upon her; for in this manner thou shouldst pass by strange water. Abstain from strange water, and drink not of a strange fountain; that thou mayst live long, and that years of life may be added to thee.

²⁰ By walking with the wise thou wilt be wise; but he who walketh with fools will be known.

⁶ and them who turn aside from the Lord, and them who seek not the Lord, and them who cleave not to him.

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light, because their works were evil. ²⁰ For whosoever doeth evil hateth the light, and doth not come to the light, that his deeds may not be detected.

¹ And with respect to you, when you were dead in those trespasses, and those sins,

⁴ for with regard to them who have been once enlightened, and have tasted this free, this heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of a holy spirit, ⁵ and tasted the good word of God, and the miraculous powers of the age about to come, ⁶ and have fallen off; it is impossible to renew them again for a reformation, since they are crucifying for themselves afresh the son of God and exposing him to open shame.

²⁶ For if we sin wilfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more any sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

³⁸ now the just shall live because of faith; but if he, through fear, draw back; my soul hath no pleasure in him."

²¹ For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. ²² But it hath happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog is returned to his vomit," and "the washed hog to its wallowing slough."

¹⁹ They went out from us; but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.

¹² They are hidden rocks in your love feasts. When they feast with you, they feed themselves without restraint. They are clouds without water, impelled by winds; autumnal trees without fruit, twice dead, and to be rooted up;

¹⁰ that strangers may not be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours go into the houses of strangers, ¹¹ and thou at last be grieved. When the flesh of thy body is consumed,

²⁰ A desirable treasure will rest in the mouth of the wise: but men who are foolish will swallow it.

²¹ For every one addicted to revelling and stews shall come to beggary: and every one given to sleep shall be clothed with rags and tatters.

¹³ And not many days after, the younger son having gathered all together, took a journey to a distant country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. ¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there came a grievous famine over all that country, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ So he went and connected himself with one of the citizens of that country who sent him to his farm to feed swine, ¹⁶ and he was fain to fill his belly with the carob pods which the swine were eating, as nobody gave him any thing.

²⁴ Whereupon he cried and said, Father, Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. ²⁵ And Abraham said, Son, remember that thou receivedst thy good things in thy life time; and Lazarus in like manner, his evil things. But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

⁶ but she, who indulgeth herself in sensuality, is dead, though she liveth.

⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

⁸ A righteous man escapeth a snare: and in his stead the wicked is delivered up.

³ Because I the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel am thy Saviour, I have given Egypt for thy ransom and Ethiopia and Soena in thy stead. ⁴ Because thou hast been precious in my sight; hast been honoured and I loved thee; therefore I will give men for thee and chiefs for thy life.

⁴ This man beareth away our sins; and for us he is in sorrow: And we considered him as being in trouble and under a stroke and in affliction. ⁵ But he was wounded for our sins, and afflicted for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him; by his bruises we are healed.

⁸ For my counsels are not as your counsels: nor are my ways as your ways, saith the Lord. ⁹ But distant as the heaven is from the earth, so is my way distant from your ways; and your thoughts from my understanding.

¹⁸ Because Christ himself suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God: being indeed put to death in flesh, but brought to life by that spirit

⁶ So that I said, that I had wings like those of a dove; that I might fly away and be at rest. ⁷ Behold I had removed far away, as a fugitive, and taken up my lodging in the wilderness.

⁵ Ah Woe is me that my sojourn is so long protracted; That I have dwelt with the tents of Kedar; ⁶ That my soul hath so long dwelt with them, who hate peace.

⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner in the open air; than in apartments plaistered with injustice; and in a house which is not clean.

² O that I had a remote lodging in the wilderness, that I might leave my people and go away from them! [J] Because they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men,

¹⁵ Riches collected unrighteously shall be vomited up. Out of his house let an angel drag him.

¹⁸ He hath wearied himself for emptiness and vanity; for riches, of which he shall not have a taste, which are like a bur, neither to be chewed nor drunk.

⁵ Thou hast spread a table before me; in the presence of them who afflict me. With oil thou hast anointed my head; and thine exhilarating cup is the very best.

³ Glory and riches are in his house; and his righteousness shall endure forever.

²² The blessing of the Lord is on the head of the righteous; it maketh rich, and to it no sorrow of heart shall be joined.

⁶ In the houses of the righteous there is much power; but the fruits of the wicked shall perish.

¹⁹ And every man indeed to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and granted him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, hath by means of his being made glad in his labour, this further gift of God,

¹¹ Wisdom is good with an inheritance; and it is an advantage to them who see the sun, that they are in the shade of it.

¹⁹ so as to excite a derision of them who are providing bread and wine and oil that they may be regaled while living. But to the subjection of money all things will be obedient.

⁸ But there were ten men among them who said to Ismael, Do not kill us; for we have treasures in a field, wheat and barley, honey and oil. So he forbore and did not kill them among their brethren.

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumeth; and where thieves do not break through and steal.

³ They who were foolish took their lamps, but did not take oil with them. ⁴ But the prudent took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said to the prudent, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.

⁴⁵ The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. And the bad man out of the bad treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is bad. For from the overflowing of the heart the mouth speaketh.

¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there came a grievous famine over all that country, and he began to be in want.

¹ Then he said to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward. And this steward was accused of having wasted his substance.

¹⁹ There was a certain rich man who was clad with purple and cotton robes, and who feasted daily in a splendid manner. ²⁰ And there was a certain poor man, named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores, ²¹ desirous indeed to be fed with the crumbs which fell from his table: and moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² At length this poor man died, and was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man died also, and was buried. ²³ And in the mansion of the dead having lifted up his eyes, being in torment, he seeth Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom.

⁹ The ways of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord; but he loveth them who follow righteousness.

⁴ The offspring of wisdom are the fear of the Lord and riches and glory and life.

¹ Hearken to me ye who are in pursuit of righteousness and who are seeking the Lord. Look at that hard rock which you have been hewing, and into that deep pit which you have digged.

³ Let us acknowledge; let us continue our pursuit to know the Lord; sure as the morning we shall find him. He will come like rain for us; like the former and latter rain for the earth."

⁶ Happy they who hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they shall be satisfied.

⁷ to them who by perseverance in well-doing, seek for glory and honour, and incorruption [he will grant] everlasting life; ⁸ but for them who are contentious and disobedient to the truth and in subjection to unrighteousness, there will be indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man who doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; ¹⁰ but glory and honour and peace, for every one who doth good; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.

¹⁹ Let us then pursue those things which tend to peace and mutual edification.

⁵⁸ So then, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, abounding always in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

¹² not that I have already received, or am yet made perfect, but I continue the pursuit, that I may lay hold that for which I have been laid hold on by the Christ Jesus.

²¹ Prove all things and adhere to what is good.

¹¹ But thou, man of God, shun these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

²² Fly then the passions of youth and pursue righteousness, fidelity, love, peace with them who invoke the Lord with a pure heart.

⁷ I have maintained the good combat. I have finished the course; I have kept the faith. ⁸ As to what remaineth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, not only to me, but to all who have loved his glorious appearance.

¹⁴ Follow peace with all men, and that holiness without which none shall see the Lord,

⁷ in order that your faith, which hath stood the test and is much more precious than gold which is of a perishable nature though tried by fire, may be found praise worthy, and honourable, and glorious, at the manifestation of Jesus Christ,

⁶ When David and his men went to Jerusalem, to the Jebusites who inhabited that land, it was said to David, Thou shalt not come here; for the blind and the lame are opposed to it, saying, David shall not come here. ⁷ So when David took the fortress, Zion, the same is the city of David, ⁸ on that day David said, Whoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him also dispatch with a dagger those lame and those blind, even them who hate the soul of David: for this cause they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house of the Lord. ⁹ And David made his abode in the fort, so it was called the city of David. And David built the city, around the citadel and his own house.

¹⁶ a wise woman cried with a loud voice from the wall, and said, Hear! Hear! Say, I pray you, to Joab, Come near hither that I may speak to him. ¹⁷ And when he drew near to her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he said, I am. Then she said to him, Hear the words of thy servant. And when Joab said, I am hearkening, ¹⁸ then she continued her speech, and said, They used heretofore to state an accusation, saying, He who is examined hath been examined both in Abel and Dan. If the liege men of Israel have been guilty of what is laid to their charge, let the examiners in Abel inquire in like manner whether they have been guilty. ¹⁹ For my part I am for observing strictly the customs of Israel, which tend to peace; but thou art seeking to destroy a city; a mother city in Israel. Why wouldst thou swallow up an inheritance of the Lord? ²⁰ In answer to which Joab said, Mercy on me! Mercy on me! Am I for swallowing up? Am I for destroying? ²¹ Is not this the case? There is a man of mount Ephraim; his name is Sabee son of Bochori, who hath lifted up his hand against king David. Only deliver him up to me, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said, Behold his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall. ²² So the woman went to all the people. And when she had spoken to the whole city in her wisdom, they cut off the head of Sabee son of Bochori. And having cut it off, they threw it to Joab; whereupon Joab sounded a trumpet, and all the people withdrew from the city, and dispersed, every man to his tent, and Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

⁵ Better is a wise man than one who is strong: and the man who hath understanding, than he who hath a large cultivated field.

¹⁹ wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men who are in the city.

¹³ This also I saw under the sun in regard to wisdom which with me is in high estimation. ¹⁴ There was a small city and few men in it. And there came against it a mighty king who besieged it and built great ramparts against it; ¹⁵ but he happened to find in it a poor wise beggar, and this man by his wisdom saved the city; yet no man remembered the class of this poor beggar. ¹⁶ Now I have said, Wisdom is better than power, yet the wisdom of this poor man is despised and his words are not regarded. ¹⁷ The words of wise men in a time of rest are more minded than the shout of men exercising authority in the bustles of folly. Wisdom is better than implements of war. One sinner indeed will destroy much good.

¹⁹ In speaking much thou canst not avoid sin; but if thou art sparing of thy lips, thou wilt be wise.

¹³ By the transgression of his lips a sinner falleth into snares: but out of them a righteous man maketh his escape. He whose looks are mild will gain compassion: but he who contendeth in the gates will afflict souls.

³ He who guardeth his mouth preserveth his life; but he who is rash with his mouth, shall bring on himself terror.

²⁷ He who forbeareth to utter a harsh word is prudent: and he who is slow to anger is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Wisdom will be imputed to a fool, who inquireth after wisdom: and he who imposeth silence on himself will be esteemed wise.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they who have the command of it shall eat the fruits thereof.

²⁶ If any one among you thinketh to be religious without bridling his tongue, he is but deceiving his heart. Such a one's religion is vain.

² for in many instances we all offend. If any one offend not in discourse he is a perfect man, and able to bridle in the whole body. ³ Behold we put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we manage their whole body. ⁴ Behold ships also, how large soever they be, though driven by hard gales are managed by a very small helm, and kept to the course which the pilot in tendeth. ⁵ So also the tongue is a very small member, yet it boasteth great things. See what a great pile of wood a little fire kindleth to a flame! ⁶ Now, the tongue is a fire, the leader of iniquity; the tongue is set among the members, staining the whole body, and setting the wheel of nature in a blaze, when it is itself set in a blaze by hell. ⁷ For all kinds of beasts, and birds, and reptiles, and fishes, are subdued and have been subdued by man; ⁸ But the tongue of man none can subdue. It is an ungovernable monster: it is full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and father; and with it we curse men, who are made after the image of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. ¹¹ Doth the fountain send forth sweet water and bitter out of the same opening? 12 Can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives? Or the vine, figs? So no fountain can yield salt Water and fresh.

¹³ Whoever among you is a man of wisdom and knowledge, let him, by a virtuous course of life, shew his works with the meekness of wisdom.

⁵ So when Haman understood that Mordecai did not bow down to him, ⁶ he was greatly inflamed with wrath, and determined to destroy all the Jews throughout the whole kingdom of Artaxerxes.

¹ Happy the man, who hath not walked by the counsel of the wicked; nor stood in the way of sinners; nor sat in the seat of the scornful.

²² "While the innocent adhere to justice they shall not be put to shame: but as for fools who delight in mischief, having become wicked they hated knowledge and are become liable to censures.

¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction: and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹² Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, and before honour it is humble.

²⁹ Rods are prepared for the profligate: and punishments in like manner for fools.

⁸ Better is a patient man than one of a haughty spirit. ⁹ Be not apt to be grieved in spirit; for grief will rest in the bosom of fools.

⁶ [s] "We have heard of the haughtiness of Moab; he is very insolent." [J] This haughtiness I have totally removed. "Is not this, is not this the oracle concerning thee?

²⁹ [p] I have heard indeed of the pride of Moab: he was very proud; and of his haughtiness; his heart was elated.

¹⁶ When Herod saw that he was treated with contempt by the magians, he was highly incensed, and he sent and slew all the male children in Bethlehem and all the territory belonging thereto, from those who had entered the second year and under, according to the time, of which he had. got exact information from the magians.

⁶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; and having seen its ways follow the example and be wiser than it. ⁷ For having no cultivated field, no driver, nor master, ⁸ it provideth its food in summer, and layeth up a plentiful supply in harvest. Or go to the bee and learn what a Worker she is: and how seriously she performeth her work, to the labours of which both kings and subjects apply themselves as far as health permits; and to all it is agreeable and honourable. And though her strength be small, having honoured wisdom she is diligently employed. ⁹ How long wilt thou sleep, sluggard, and when wilt thou rouse from sleep? ¹⁰ Thou art sleeping a little; but resting a little; but taking a short nap; but folding thy hands a little while on thy breast! ¹¹ But is not poverty coming upon thee like an unwelcome traveller? And want like a speedy courier? Whereas if thou be diligent; thy harvest will come like a fountain, and want like a bad courier will run away.

²⁴ The hand of the valiant can easily conquer: but the deceitful shall be for a prey.

²⁷ A deceitful man shall not enjoy what he hath caught; but as for a pure man, his acquisition is precious.

¹⁹ The ways of the slothful are strewed with thorns; but those of the diligent are well beaten.

²⁴ He who hideth his hands in his bosom unjustly; should not bring them out for his mouth.

⁴ Though a sluggard is reproached he is not ashamed: and the same is the case with him who borroweth corn in harvest.

¹³ A slothful man maketh excuse and saith, There is a lion in the highways and murderers in the streets.

³⁰ A fool is like a field, and a man void of understanding, like a vineyard; ³¹ if thou lettest them alone, they will be overrun with weeds and grass, and become useless, and their stone fences will be thrown down. ³² I have at length repented and looked about, with a view to chuse instruction. ³³ I am dozing a little: just taking a short nap; just infolding my breast with my hands. ³⁴ If such indeed be thy conduct; poverty will come upon thee like a traveller and want like a swift courier.

¹³ A slothful man sent on a journey saith, There is a lion in the way and murderers in the streets.

¹⁶ A slothful man thinketh himself wiser than him who in plenty carrieth a message.

²⁶ Thereupon his master said to him in reply, Malignant and slothful servant! Thou knowest that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter!

²⁶ All the day long he is merciful and lendeth, and his seed shall be entitled to a blessing.

⁴² Give to him who asketh thee. And from him who would borrow of thee, turn not thou away.

³⁰ Give to every one who asketh thee. And from him who taketh away thy goods, do not demand them back. ³¹ And as you wish men to do to you, do ye even so to them. ³² If you indeed love them who love you, what thanks are you entitled to. For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are you entitled to? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to them from whom you hope to receives what thanks are you entitled to. For even sinners lend to sinners, that they may receive as much in return. ³⁵ But love your enemies; and do good; and lend without any mistrust, and your reward will be great. And you will be the children of the Most High Because he is kind, even to the ungrateful and malignant; ³⁶ be ye therefore merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

³³ I have coveted no man's silver or gold, or raiment. ³⁴ Even you yourselves know that these very hands have ministered to my wants, and to the supply of them who were with me. ³⁵ On all occasions I have suggested to you that you ought thus to labour, and support the indigent, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, "It is a greater happiness to give, than to receive."

⁷ that, as you abound in every thing; in belief, and doctrine, and knowledge, and in all earnestness even in your love for us, you might abound also in this bounty. ⁸ I do not say this by way of command, but am, during the exertion of others, proving the genuineness of your love. ⁹ For you know the bounty of our Lord Jesus Christ, that rich as he was, he for your sakes became poor, that through his poverty you might become rich.

⁹ [as it is written, "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness shall endure for ever;" ¹⁰ and may He who furnisheth abundantly seed for the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed, and increase the products of your righteousness!] ¹¹ you are enriched in every thing for every act of bounty, which operateth through us to produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² Because the distribution of this religious offering not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but also superaboundeth with many thanksgivings to God; ¹³ [by the experience of this distribution they glorify God for your avowed subjection to the glad tidings of the Christ;] therefore, for the liberality of this contribution for them and for all; ¹⁴ and for the supplication which is made for you by them who love you on account of the supereminent favour of God for you,

⁵ For never did we at any time use flattering words, as you know; nor a pretext for covetousness, God is witness; ⁶ nor were we seeking human glory either from you or from others. We might have appeared with weight as Christ's apostles; ⁷ but we were gentle among you. Our affectionate regard for you being such, as that with which a nursing mother would cherish her own children, ⁸ we were willing to impart to you not only the glad tidings of God, but even our own lives, because you were dear to us. ⁹ For you, brethren, remember our labour and our toil: for working day and night that we might not be burthensome to any of you, we proclaimed to you the glad tidings of God.

¹² I said, Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Galgal, and I have not made my supplication to the Lord, therefore I forced myself, and offered the whole burnt offering. ¹³ And Samuel said to Saul, It is of no avail to thee, because thou hast not kept my command which the Lord commanded thee. Till now the Lord had prepared thy kingdom over Israel for ever:

²¹ and the people have taken of the spoils, flocks and herds, as first fruits of the destruction, to sacrifice them before the Lord our God, at Galgal. ²² And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in whole burnt offerings, and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold obedience is better than good sacrifice; and to hearken, is better than the fat of rams. ²³ Because divination is a sin, the consulting Theraphin bringeth sorrow and distress: because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, therefore the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

⁸ I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices. And as for thy whole burnt offerings which are continually before me, ⁹ I will not take young bulls from thy house, nor he goats from thy folds. ¹⁰ For all the beasts of the forests are mine, the cattle on the mountains, and the beeves. ¹¹ I claim all the birds of the air; and to me belong the ripe fruits of the field. ¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the World is mine and the fulness thereof. ¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls? Or do I drink the blood of goats?

⁹ As for him who turneth away his ear from hearkening to the law; even his prayer is an abomination.

¹¹ "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?" saith the Lord: I am cloyed with whole burnt offerings of rams: in the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats I have no delight; ¹² nor should you come to appear before me: for who hath required these at your hands? You shall no more be admitted to tread my court. ¹³ Though you bring fine flour; it is a vain incense: it is an abomination to me. Your new moons and sabbaths and great day I cannot endure: ¹⁴ your fasting and cessation from labour; and your new moons and your festivals my soul hateth. You are become loathsome to me; I will no longer remit your sins. ¹⁵ When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn mine eyes from you: and though you multiply prayer, I will not hearken to you: for your hands are full of blood. ¹⁶ Wash and become clean: remove iniquities from your souls; in my presence, cease from your evil deeds;

³ As for the wicked man, who sacrificeth to me a young bull: he is one who slayeth a dog: and though he offereth me fine flour: it will be as the blood of swine. Though he offereth incense for a memorial, he is as a blasphemer. As they have chosen their own ways: and their soul hath delighted in their abominations:

²⁰ Why do you bring me incense from Saba, and cinnamon from a far distant country? Your whole burnt offerings are not acceptable; nor were your incense offerings sweet to me.

¹¹ is not this house of mine, which is called by my name, become in your eyes a den of robbers? Now behold I have seen this, saith the Lord. ¹² Go then to my place which was at Selo, where I caused my name to dwell at first; and see what I have done to it, for the wickedness of my people Israel.

²¹ [J] I have hated, I have rejected your festivals, and I will not smell your sacrifices at your solemn assemblies. ²² Therefore though you offer me whole burnt offerings, I will not accept your sacrifices nor regard your sumptuous peace offerings.

¹³ Now alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens against men. For you neither enter in yourselves, nor suffer them who are going in, to enter.

¹ Thou shalt not countenance an idle report, nor conspire with the unrighteous to be a false witness.

¹⁶ And if a false witness rise up against a man, and accuse him of any crime, ¹⁷ the two men between whom is the controversy, shall stand before the Lord, and before the priests, and before the judges, who may be in those days. ¹⁸ And when the judges have made a strict examination, if the false witness hath testified falsehoods, and risen up against his brother; ¹⁹ you shall do to him as he wickedly thought to do to his brother. thou shalt remove the evil from among you;

¹⁹ as a false witness he spreadeth lies, and soweth discord among brethren.

¹⁹ True lips establish testimony: but a hasty witness hath an unrighteous tongue.

⁵ A false witness shall not go unpunished; and he who accuseth unjustly shall not escape.

⁹ Let not a false witness go unpunished; and let him who kindleth mischief perish by it.

¹⁸ Sharp is a nail and a sword and an arrow: so is a man who beareth false witness against his friend.

¹⁵ Upon which they said to her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was certainly so: then they said, It is his angel.

¹⁷ Did I then, in purposing this, use fickleness? Or what I purpose do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there may be the yes, yes; and the no, no? ¹⁸ Now as God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, [namely] Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed among you by us namely by me, and Silvanus, and Timothy, was not yes and no; but by him hath been made yes. ²⁰ For all the promises of God are in him yes, and in him Amen, for glory to God through us.

¹³ But having the same spirit of belief as is mentioned in this portion of scripture, "I believed, therefore I spake," we also believe and therefore we speak,

⁸ This is a faithful word; and in respect to these things I charge thee to exert thy utmost influence in order that they who believe in God, may study to be foremost in good works. These are the things which are comely, and profitable for men.

⁵ O that my ways may be directed, that I may keep thy rules of rectitude.

⁵⁹ I revolved thy ways in my mind, and turned my feet to thy testimonies.

⁵ Righteousness maketh spotless ways straight: but wickedness falleth by iniquity.

¹⁴ Happy the man who piously feareth all things: but he who is of an intractable temper will fall into evils.

¹ Better is a man of experience, than a man who is stiff-necked: for when the latter is suddenly burned, there is no healing him.

² Raise thine eyes, look forward and take a view! where is there a place in which thou hast not prostituted thyself? In the highways thou hast sat for them like a deserted daw, and polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wicked acts, ³ and retained many shepherds for a stumbling block to thyself: yet with the face of a harlot and behaving indecently before them all,

³ [p] Lord, thine eyes look for faithfulness. Thou hast chastised them: but they have not grieved. Thou hast consumed them and they would not receive instruction. They have made their faces harder than a rock and refused to return.

¹² [Omitted]

¹⁶ In regard to this word which thou hast spoken to us in the name of the Lord, ¹⁷ we will not hearken to thee; for we will continue to perform every word which shall proceed from our mouth to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out libations to her; as we and our fathers and our kings and our chiefs did in the cities of Juda and in the streets of Jerusalem; for we had then plenty of bread and were in happy circumstances and saw no evils:

²⁸ He hath turned away from all his wicked acts which he committed; he shall surely live; he shall not die.

⁵ Now therefore thus saith the Lord Almighty, "Turn your thoughts on your ways.

⁷ Thus saith the Lord Almighty apply your thoughts to these ways of yours:

¹⁵ Recollect now, I beseech you, from that day back, before there was a stone laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord, What were ye?

¹⁸ Turn now your thoughts from this day forward, from this twenty fourth of the ninth month: and from the day on which the foundation of the house of the Lord is laid, ¹⁹ lay up in your minds whether that will be the case in the threshing floor? whether the vine or the fig tree or the pomegranate or the olive tree will any more be unproductive? From this very day I will bless.

¹⁷ At length, coming to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing with hunger? ¹⁸ I will rise and go to my father, and say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight,

¹¹ now may he himself, our God and father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you!

²¹ There are many thoughts in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord shall endure forever.

⁵ And as for the son of Aram and the son of Romelias; because they have taken evil counsel, saying, ⁶ "Let us go up to Judea and confer with the people and bring them into our measures; and let us make the son of Tabeel king over it, ⁷ thus saith the Lord of hosts. This counsel shall not stand; nor shall it take effect.

⁹ Know this, nations, and be struck with consternation. Hearken ye who are in the remotest parts of the earth; be struck with consternation ye who have made yourselves strong; for though you should again become strong; with consternation you shall again be stricken, ¹⁰ and what counsel soever you may take, the Lord will defeat it; and what word soever you may speak shall not take effect among you; because God is with us:

²⁷ For who can disannul what the holy God hath decreed? and his hand which is lifted high, who can turn aside?

¹⁰ who can declare events before they happen, as if they were already accomplished. When I have spoken, all my counsel shall stand; and all that I have determined, I will effect. ¹¹ Calling from the east a winged fowl, even from a far distant land, for purposes which I have resolved on, I have spoken and brought, I have created and made, I have brought it and made its way prosperous.

²³ [J] Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom: nor the mighty man boast of his strength; neither let the rich man boast of his riches:

¹³ When the men had laboured hard to reach land, but could not because the sea ran high, and grew more tempestuous against them,

²⁷ For indeed against thy holy Child Jesus whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with nations and the tribes of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ to do what thy hand and thy council had determinately marked out beforehand to be brought to pass.

³⁹ But if it be of God you cannot annul it. Peradventure you may be found even fighting against God."

¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He entangleth the wise in their craft." ²⁰ And again, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain."

⁸ is indeed a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. They disbelieving the word stumble at the thing for which they were laid:

³ But thou, Lord, art my protector; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

⁸ this deliverance is the Lord's: let thy blessing be upon thy people also.

⁷ Some boast of chariots and some of horses; but by the name of the Lord our God we shall be magnified.

¹⁷ A horse is a false thing for safety; nor can he with all his power save himself. ¹⁸ Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them who fear him; on them who confide in his mercy;

²⁰ Our God is the God to save; and to the Lord belong the out goings of death.

¹⁰ to him who giveth salvation to kings, who hath redeemed his servant David from the hurtful sword.

¹⁰ In the courage of the horse he will not delight, nor is he pleased with the agility of the warrior.

¹¹ Having turned about, I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the mighty; nay not even bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding; nor favour to men of knowledge; that time and chance will happen to them all as forming one whole.

¹ ALAS! They went down to Egypt for help! They trusted in horses and chariots; for they have many and their cavalry is very numerous; and did not rely on the Holy One of Israel, nor did they ask counsel of the Lord.

²³ False indeed have been the hills and the strength of the mountains, but from the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. This shame consumed the labours of our fathers from our youth; Their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.