Proverbs 23 Cross References - Thomson

¹ When thou sittest down to eat at the table of a ruler; observe diligently what are set before thee: ² and put to thy hand, knowing that thou must provide the like. But if thou hast an appetite not easily satisfied; ³ desire not his dainties; for they give false life. ⁴ If thou art poor, enter not into competition with one who is rich: but be restrained by thine own prudence ⁵ If thou fix thy view toward him, he is out of sight: for he is provided with wings as of an eagle; and directeth his course to the house of one who is before him. ⁶ Eat not with an envious man, nor desire his meats: ⁷ for he eateth and drinketh as one swallowing a hair. Neither invite him to thy house, nor eat thy morsel with him: ⁸ for it will cause him to vomit and he will blame thy kind invitations. ⁹ Make no addresses to a man void of understanding: lest he peradventure mock thy judicious discourse. ¹⁰ Remove not ancient land marks, nor encroach upon the possession of the fatherless. ¹¹ For the Lord who is their redeemer is strong; and will plead their cause with thee. ¹² Apply thy heart to instruction; and prepare thine ears for the words of knowledge. ¹³ Refrain not from correcting a child: for if thou beat him with a rod, thou mayst prevent his death. ¹⁴ For thou wilt beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from death. ¹⁵ My son, if thy heart be wise, thou wilt gladden my heart. ¹⁶ And thy lips, if they be right, will hold long conversation with mine. ¹⁷ Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. ¹⁸ If thou indeed keep these instructions: they will be a progeny to thee and thy hope shall not perish. ¹⁹ Hear, my son and be wise and direct the thoughts of thy heart aright. ²⁰ Be not a wine bibber, nor devoted to clubs: and to the purchasing of flesh meat. 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. ²² Hearken, my son, to the father who begot thee: and despise not thy mother because she is old. ²³ [Omitted] ²⁴ A righteous father nourisheth thee well; and his soul rejoiceth in a wise son. ²⁵ Let thy father and thy mother have joy in thee: and let her who bare thee rejoice. ²⁶ My son, give me thy heart; and let thine eyes observe my ways. ²⁷ For a strange house is a hogshead full of holes: and a strange well is narrow. ²⁸ For that will quickly perish; and every transgressor shall be destroyed. ²⁹ Who hath Woes? Who hath trouble? Who hath law suits? Who hath vexations and squabbles? Who hath Wounds with out cause? Whose are the eyes suffused with blood? ³⁰ Are they not theirs who tarry long at wine; who frequent the places where there are revels? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with righteous men: and converse in the publick walks. ³¹ For if thou givest thine eyes to cups and goblets; thou wilt go about afterwards naked as a pestle: ³² and be, at last, like one swollen by the bite of a serpent; or as one stung by a basilisk. ³³ When thine eyes behold a strange woman; then will thy mouth speak perversely. ³⁴ And thou wilt lie as in the midst of the sea: and like a pilot in a mighty storm. ³⁵ And thou wilt say, They have beaten me and I felt no pain; they insulted me and I was not sensible of it. When will it be day; that I may go and seek with whom I can have a meeting.

³² So they served up for him by himself and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who dined with him, by themselves. For the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews. For that to the Egyptians is an abomination. ³³ And they sat before him, the first born according to his birth right and the youngest according to his youth. And the men were astonished, one at another. ³⁴ And when they received their several messes from him, the mess of Benjamin was five times larger than any of theirs. And when they had drank and been plentifully regaled with him

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;

⁸ If then thy hand or thy foot occasioneth thy stumbling, cut them off and cast them from thee. It is better for thee to enter lame or maimed into life, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the fire which is everlasting. ⁹ And if thine eye occasioneth thy stumbling, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with but one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into the vale of that fire.

²⁷ but I buffet my body and subdue it, lest having proclaimed the glad tidings to others I myself should be disapproved.

¹⁹ Their end is destruction; their God is their belly; and their glory is their shame. Their minds are bent on earthly things.

⁴ Let not my heart turn aside to wicked deeds; to form excuses for sins with men who work iniquity: nor let me associate with their chosen bands.

⁶ Eat not with an envious man, nor desire his meats:

⁸ And Daniel having resolved not to pollute himself with the table of the king nor with the wine which he drank, intreated the chamberlain that he might not be denied.

³⁴ Take heed therefore to yourselves that your hearts be not overloaded with excess of meat, or drink, or worldly cares, and that day come upon you unawares.

²² with respect to your former course of life, to put off the old man, which is corrupted by deceitful desires,

⁵ Trust in God with thy whole heart; and be not elated for thine own wisdom.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God and depart from all evil:

²⁷ He who receiveth bribes destroyeth himself: but he who hateth the receiving of bribes is safe. By acts of kindness and faithfulness sins are purged away: and by the fear of the Lord every one will decline from evil.

¹² I have seen a man who thought himself wise: but there was more hope of a fool than of him.

²⁰ A faithful man will be much praised; but the wicked shall not escape punishment.

²¹ Woe to them who are wise in their own conceit, and in their own eyes prudent.

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

²⁷ Labour not to procure the food which perisheth, but the food which endureth for an everlasting life, which the son of man will give you; for him the Father, namely God, hath sealed.

²⁵ For, that you, brethren, may not have too high an opinion of your selves, I would not have you ignorant of this secret, That a partial blindness hath come upon Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles shall have come in,

¹⁶ Set not your minds on high things, but accommodate yourselves to things which are low. Be not wise in your own conceits.

⁸ Having then food and raiment let us be content with these. 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.

⁵ Let your conduct be free from avarice. Be content with what you have; for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor will I ever forsake thee."

³⁶ And Jacob their father said to them, Me you have bereaved of children. Joseph is gone. Symeon is gone. And will you take away Benjamin? All these things are against me.

¹⁴ lo! a messenger came to Job, and said to him, The oxen were ploughing and the asses feeding near them, ¹⁵ and the plunderers came and carried them off. Thy servants also they slew with the sword, and I alone having escaped, am come to tell thee. ¹⁶ While he was yet speaking, another messenger came, and said to Job; Fire hath fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep, and devoured the shepherds likewise; and I, alone having escaped, am come to tell thee. ¹⁷ While this one was still speaking, another messenger came and said to Job, The horsemen, having formed three bands against us, surrounded the camels and have carried them off, and slain thy servants with the sword; and I, alone having escaped, am come to tell thee.

⁶ Man indeed walketh about as an image; still he troubleth himself in vain. He heapeth up treasures and knoweth not for whom he is to gather them.

³⁶ Incline my heart to thy testimonies and not to covetousness. ³⁷ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; keep me alive in thy way.

²⁴ for wealth and power do not continue with a man forever; nor can he transmit them from one generation to another.

² Vanity of vanities, said the preacher. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.

¹³ There is a weakness which I have seen under the sun: riches kept by one for his descendant to his own hurt. ¹⁴ Yet these riches acquired with grievous vexation shall perish, and he hath begotten a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

⁸ vanity of vanities, said the preacher; all things are vanity.

² Why are you expending money and labour for that which will not satisfy? Hearken to me and you shall eat good things; and your soul will be regaled with delicacies.

¹⁷ Behold thine eyes are not good, neither is thy heart; but they are bent upon thine inordinate desires and on the shedding of innocent blood, and on injustice, and on murder; that thou mayst perpetrate these things.

²⁹ and say this, brethren, that the time with regard to what remaineth, is shortened, so that they who have wives should be as if they had them not; ³⁰ and they who weep, as if they wept not; and they who rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they who buy, as not possessing; and they ³¹ who use this world, as not using it immoderately. For the scenery of this world is shifting;

¹⁷ Charge them who are rich in this present state not to be high minded; not to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who imparteth to us richly all things for enjoyment;

¹ Come, now, ye rich; weep, and raise a mournful cry for the miseries which are coming upon you. ² Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten.

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.

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.

⁵⁶ And the tender, and very delicate woman among you, whose foot never ventured to tread the ground because of her delicateness, and effeminacy will look with an evil eye on her husband in her bosom, and on her son, and her daughter,

⁹ He who compassionateth the poor shall be fed; for he gave of his own bread to the poor. He who giveth gifts secureth victory and honour. He indeed taketh away the soul of the receivers.

³ desire not his dainties; for they give false life.

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

⁸ And Daniel having resolved not to pollute himself with the table of the king nor with the wine which he drank, intreated the chamberlain that he might not be denied. ⁹ Now God had brought Daniel into favour and compassion with the high chamberlain, ¹⁰ therefore the chamberlain said to Daniel, I am afraid of my lord the king who hath appointed your meat and your drink. Perhaps he may see your countenance more uncomely than the youths of your age, and you may endanger my head with the king.

¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I please with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good?

²² thefts, inordinate desires, malice, fraud, sensuality, envy, detraction, pride, foolishness.

¹⁵ Then Dalida said to Sampson, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? These three times thou hast deceived me, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

²⁶ then Abessalom said to him, If not; let my brother Amnon, I pray thee, go with us. And the king said, Why should he go with thee? ²⁷ But Abessalom pressed him, so he sent with him Amnon, and all the king's sons. ²⁸ And Abessalom made a banquet like that of the king. And Abessalom gave a charge to his servants saying, Observe when the heart of Amnon is elated with wine, and I say to you, Smite Amnon; then put him to death. Be not afraid, for it is I who command you. Acquit yourselves like men, and be sons of valour.

² They spoke vanities one to another: their lips are deceitful, they spoke with a double heart:

²¹ they were scattered by the indignation of his countenance. When his heart was near, his words were smoother than oil. Now they are daggers.

²² Beneficence is a crop for a man: and a poor just man is better than a rich liar.

²⁷ Then both the kings with their hearts bent on mischief will speak lies at one table. But it will not prosper. Because an end is still put off for a time,

³ Thereupon some of the Scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. ⁴ But Jesus knowing their thoughts, said, Why do ye harbour evil thoughts in your hearts?

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said within himself, if this man were a prophet, he would know what sort of a woman this is, who toucheth him; that she is a sinner.

³⁷ After he had spoken, a certain Pharisee invited him to dine with him, so he went and placed himself at table. ³⁸ And when the Pharisee who saw this expressed surprise that he had not first washed before dinner, ³⁹ the Lord said to him, Now as for you Pharisees, yon cleanse the outside of the cup and plate; but as to the inside, it is full of your rapacity and wickedness. ⁴⁰ Unthinking men! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But with respect to the things in it, give alms, and behold they are all clean to you. ⁴² But alas for you, Pharisees! because you pay tithe of mint, and rue, and of all kinds of pulse, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have practised, without, however, neglecting the other. ⁴³ Alas for you, Pharisees! because you love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and salutations in public places. ⁴⁴ Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you are like concealed graves, over which men walk without perceiving them. ⁴⁵ Upon this, one of the teachers of the law, interposing, saith to him, Teacher, by speaking thus dost thou reproach us also? ⁴⁶ Thereupon he said, Alas for you also, ye teachers of the law, because you load men with heavy burdens hard to be borne, and will not yourselves touch these burdens with one of your fingers. ⁴⁷ Alas for you; because you build the monuments of the prophets, and your fathers slew them. ⁴⁸ You therefore bear testimony, and approve the works of your fathers. Because they slew them, you, therefore, build their monuments; ⁴⁹ on this account indeed said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill, and others they will persecute, ⁵⁰ that the blood of all the prophets, which hath been shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation. ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zacharias who was slain between the altar and the temple: Verily I say to you, it will be required of this very generation. ⁵² Alas for you, teachers of the law! because you have taken away the key of knowledge. You entered not in yourselves; and them who were entering you hindered. ⁵³ Now while he was saying these things to them, the Scribes and the Pharisees took occasion to urge him vehemently, and provoke him to speak of many things, ⁵⁴ laying snares for him, and seeking to catch something from his mouth, that they might accuse him;

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And all who practise this have good understanding. And piety towards God is the beginning of discernment: but the wicked despise wisdom and instruction.

⁷ He who instructeth the wicked shall receive for himself dishonour; and he who reproveth ⁸ the ungodly will blemish himself. Rebuke not the wicked, lest they hate thee; rebuke a wise man and he will love thee.

⁴ Answer not a fool conformably to his folly; let thou become like him. ⁵ But answer a fool according to his folly; that he may not think himself wise.

²¹ But they were silent and none answered him a word, because the king had given a charge that none should answer.

⁶ Give not that which is holy to dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine; lest they trample them under foot, and turning tear you.

¹⁴ When the Pharisees who loved money heard all these things they treated him with scorn.

⁵² Thereupon the Jews said to him, Now we know that thou art possessed by a demon. Abraham is dead and the prophets; yet thou sayest, I any one keep this doctrine of mine, he shall never taste death.

³⁰ In reply to this the man said to them, Why; in this there is something marvellous, that you do not know whence he is, though he hath opened mine eyes. ³¹ Now we know that God hearkeneth not to sinners; but if any one be a worshipper of God, and do his will, to him he hearkeneth. ³² From the beginning of the world it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of one born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God he could do nothing. ³⁴ They answered and said to him, Thou wast altogether born in sin, and dost thou teach us? And they excommunicated him.

⁴⁰ and some of the Pharisees who were with him, when they heard this, said, Are we blind?

²⁰ And many of them said, He is possessed by a demon, and is mad, Why do you. hearken to him?

⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with zeal and contradicted what was spoken by Paul; contradicting and reviling. ⁴⁶ Whereupon Paul and Barnabas with great freedom of speech said, It was necessary that the word of God should be first spoken to you. But since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of this everlasting life, behold we turn to the Gentiles

¹⁸ And while some of the epicurean and stoic philosophers were conferring with him, some said, "What would this retailer of scraps say?" And others, "He appeareth to be a proclaimer of strange deities." Because he proclaimed the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection,

³² When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some made a jest of it; and some said we will hear thee again on this subject.

²⁵ And being at variance among themselves they broke up, upon Paul's saying one word, that the holy spirit had spoken well to our fathers by the prophet Esaias, ²⁶ saying, "Go and say to the people, Hearing you shall hear, though you may not understand; and seeing you shall see, though you may not perceive; ²⁷ for the heart of this people is callous, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, that for a while they may not see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn that I may heal them." ²⁸ Be it known therefore to you, that this salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hearken to it.

²¹ For when, amidst the wisdom of God, the world did not, by means of that wisdom, know God; it pleased God by the foolishness of this proclamation to save them who believe; ²² so when the Jews demand a sign and the Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ as for us, we proclaim a crucified Christ; to the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; ²⁴ but to them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God;

¹⁰ We are fools on the account of Christ; but you are prudent in Christ: We are weak; but you are strong: you are honourable; but we are despised: ¹¹ Even at this very moment we are hungry and thirsty and naked and buffeted, and are wandering about and weary, ¹² working with our own hands. Being reviled we give good words; being persecuted we suffer patiently; ¹³ being defamed we exhort. We are become as it were the expiatory sacrifices of the world; the refuse of all things until now.

¹⁴ Thou shalt not remove the boundaries of thy neighbour, which thy fathers have settled at the distribution of the inheritances, which were given thee to possess in the land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee by lot.

¹⁷ Cursed he who removeth his neighbour's land mark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁷ because, you not only fall upon the orphan, but also insult your friend.

⁹ but hast sent widows away empty, and done injustice to orphans.

² and the wicked transgressed all bounds; and ravaged both the flock and the shepherd? ³ They have driven away the ass of the fatherless; and taken the widow's cow for a pledge.

⁹ They have torn the orphan from the breast: and him who had fallen they have pressed down.

²¹ If I have raised a hand against the fatherless, because I had around me greater support: ²² may my shoulder bone be dislocated, and my arm broken at the elbow. ²³ For the fear of the Lord restrained me, and the burden of that I could not endure.

⁶ They have slain the widow and orphan: they have murdered the stranger,

²⁸ Remove not ancient boundaries which thy fathers have set.

⁵ For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your pursuits, and actually execute judgment between man and man:

³ Thus saith the Lord, Execute judgment and justice and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of him who wrongeth him; and over the stranger and the orphan and the widow tyrannise not; nor be guilty of impiety; nor shed innocent blood in this place.

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;

⁵ And I will bring to judgment before you and be a swift witness against sorcerers, and against adulteresses, and against them who swear by my name to a falsehood, and against them who deprive the hireling of his wages, and them who oppress the widow, and them who buffet the fatherless, and them who turn aside the cause of the stranger, and them who do not fear me, saith the Lord Almighty.

²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and father is this, to take the oversight and care of orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.

²² A widow and an orphan you shall not afflict. ²³ If you in anywise afflict them and they cry to me, I will hear their voice ²⁴ and my wrath will be kindled, and I will slay you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.

¹⁹ Cursed he who perverteth the judgment of the stranger, or the orphan, or the widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

²⁵ For I know that he is eternal,

⁵ Because of the oppression of the poor; because of the groans of the needy; now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set in safety and speak boldly.

²³ For the Lord will judge his cause; and thou shouldst preserve thy life safe and secure.

³³ Thus saith the Lord, The children of Israel and the children of Juda have both been oppressed; all who captivated them tyrannised over them. Because they refused to let them go; ³⁴ therefore their Redeemer; the Mighty One, whose name is The Lord Almighty will plead their cause with their adversaries. In order that he may remove this land out of the way he will sharpen for the inhabitants of Babylon

³⁶ [J] For this cause, thus saith the Lord, Behold I will judge thine adversary and avenge thy cause; and I will drain off her sea and make her fountain dry,

² thine ear will hearken to wisdom; and thou wilt apply thy heart to understanding, and transmit it for instruction to thy son. ³ For if thou wilt call upon wisdom: and utter thy voice for understanding; ⁴ if thou wilt seek for it as silver; and search for it as for treasures; ⁵ then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord; and find the knowledge of God. ⁶ For the Lord giveth wisdom; and from his presence is knowledge and understanding:

¹ My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thine ear to my words, ² that thou mayst keep a good understanding. Now the sense of my lips giveth thee this injunction; listen not to an abandoned woman;

¹⁷ Incline thine ear to the words of the wise; and hear my discourse and apply thy heart;

¹⁹ Hear, my son and be wise and direct the thoughts of thy heart aright.

³¹ They come to thee as people assemble; and they sit before thee and hear thy words, but will not do them, because there is a lie in their mouth, and their heart goeth after their pollutions;

⁵² Then he said to them, Every Scribe then who is instructed for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a family who bringeth out of his treasury things new and old.

²¹ Therefore having thrown off all the filth and scum of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls; ²² and be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man viewing his natural face in a glass. ²⁴ For having viewed himself, and gone away, he instantly forgot what manner of person he was. ²⁵ But whosoever hath looked carefully into the perfect law of this liberty, and continued therein; he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, shall by his doing be happy.

²⁴ He who spareth the rod hateth his son; but he who loveth him correcteth diligently.

¹⁸ Chasten thy son, for thus he will be hopeful; but be not in thy soul transported to haughtiness.

¹⁵ The rod and reproofs give wisdom: but a child led astray shameth his parents.

¹⁷ Correct thy son and he will give thee rest; and add honour to thy life.

¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: but a rod and instruction will drive it from him.

⁵ to deliver such a one over to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

³² And being judged, we are corrected by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

¹⁰ My son, let not wicked men lead thee astray. Consent not when they advise thee,

¹ My son, if thou wilt receive the dictate which I enjoin and hide it with thee,

¹ Hear, children, the instructions of a father; and attend to know the meaning:

¹ A wise son maketh a father glad; but a foolish son is a grief to the mother.

²⁰ A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son mocketh his mother.

²⁴ A righteous father nourisheth thee well; and his soul rejoiceth in a wise son. ²⁵ Let thy father and thy mother have joy in thee: and let her who bare thee rejoice.

³ When a man loveth wisdom his father is gladdened: but he who feedeth harlots spendeth his substance.

⁴¹ and I will watch over them to do them good, and plant them in this land with faithfulness even with my whole heart and soul.

¹⁷ The Lord thy God is with thee. The Mighty one will save thee. He will bring thee gladness and renew thee in his love; and rejoice over thee with joy as in the day of a festival;

² And lo! they brought to him a paralytic laid on a bed: and Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Take courage, my son; thy sins are forgiven thee.

²³ And bring out the fatted calf and kill it. And let us eat and be joyful; ²⁴ because this my son was dead and is come to life. He was indeed lost and is now found. So they began to be merry.

³² But we ought to feast and rejoice because this thy brother was dead and is come to life. He was indeed lost and is now found.

¹¹ These things I have spoken to you that my joy may continue, and that your joy may be complete.

⁵ Then Jesus saith to them, Lads, have you any thing to eat? They answered him, No.

¹⁹ For what is our hope, or will be our joy, or crown of rejoicing? Will it not be you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and our joy.

⁸ Now because we live if you continue stedfast in the Lord, ⁹ what thanks then can we render to God respecting you, for all the joy with which we rejoice on your account, in the presence of our God;

¹ My children I write these things to you that you may not sin. But if any one sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous,

⁴ I was greatly rejoiced because I found some of thy children walking in truth, as we received a commandment from the Father.

³ For I was greatly rejoiced at the coming of the brethren, who bear testimony to thy truth, as thou walkest in truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.

⁶ Hearken to me, for I will speak solemn things; and with my lips disclose things which are right.

²⁹ Let no corrupt discourse proceed out of your mouth; nothing but what is good for edification, of such utility as to be a benefit to the hearers.

⁴ nor obscenity, nor foolish talking, nor jesting about things which are unbecoming; but rather thanksgiving.

⁴ that I may publish it in the manner ought to do.

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.

¹ By David. Fret not because of evil doers: nor envy them who commit iniquity. ² For like grass, they shall quickly wither: and like the tender herb, they shall quickly fall. ³ Trust in the Lord and exercise kindness; dwell in the land and thou shalt be fed with the riches thereof.

³ for I envied the unrighteous; when I saw the prosperity of sinners. ⁴ For there is no lifting up of eyes in their death: and in their affliction they have support. ⁵ They are not in trouble like other men; nor with other men to be scourged. ⁶ Therefore haughtiness hath got a mastery over them; they have clothed themselves with their iniquity and impiety. ⁷ Their iniquity springeth up as it were out of fatness; they passed on to the purpose of their heart.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and all who practise it have good understanding. Let the praise of him endure forever.

³¹ Acquire not the reproaches of bad men, nor be fond of their ways.

¹⁶ Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without that fear.

¹ My son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them:

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

⁷ because it was with a multitude of dreams and vanities, and many words that thou fearest God.

¹³ As a conclusion of the discourse, hear thou the whole sum and substance: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this conclusion every man should draw, ¹⁴ That God will bring the whole work into judgment in every case not taken notice of, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

³¹ Now then the congregations throughout all Judea and Galilee, and Samaria, were enjoying peace. Being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord, and the consolation of the holy spirit, they were multiplied.

¹ Having therefore, beloved, these promises, let us purify ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

¹⁷ And since you invoke, as father, him who without respect of persons judgeth every one according to his work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear;

¹⁸ For the poor shall not be quite forgotten; the expectation of the needy shall never perish.

³⁷ Preserve innocence and eye rectitude; for there is a remnant for the man of peace.

¹⁴ In like manner let thy soul taste wisdom; for if thou find it, thy end will be good and hope will not forsake thee.

²⁰ For the posterity of an evil one cannot continue; and the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished.

¹¹ When I plan a purpose of peace and not evils against you, to grant you this,

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.

²¹ what fruit therefore had you then from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death. ²² But being now set free from sin and become servants of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and in the end, everlasting life.

²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall in no wise be ashamed; but that in the most open manner, as always so now, Christ shall be magnified in my body, either by life or by death.

³⁵ Therefore cast not away that confidence of yours which hath a great recompense of reward.

¹⁰ Hear my son and receive my words; that, when the years of thy life shall be multiplied, thou mayst have many ways of livelihood: ¹¹ for I am teaching thee ways of wisdom; and confirming thee in right paths. ¹² For when thou goest, thy steps will not be straitened: and when thou runnest thou shalt not be tired. ¹³ Take fast hold of mine instruction, let it not go: but keep it for thyself during thy life. ¹⁴ Go not in the ways of wicked men; nor be fond of the ways of transgressors. ¹⁵ In what place soever they encamp, go not thither: but turn away from them and keep at a distance: ¹⁶ for they cannot sleep. Unless they do evil; their sleep is taken from them and they cannot lie down to rest. ¹⁷ For they eat the bread of wickedness; and drink plentifully of the wine of violence. ¹⁸ But the paths of the just shine like light; shining more and more until it is perfect day. ¹⁹ But the ways of the wicked being dark; they know not at what they stumble. ²⁰ Attend, my son, to my speech, and incline thine ear to my words. ²¹ That thy fountains may not fail thee, keep them in thy heart; ²² for they are life to them who find them and health to all flesh. ²³ Guard thy heart with all diligence; for out of these are the issues of life.

⁶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; and having seen its ways follow the example and be wiser than it.

⁶ Forsake folly, that you may reign forever: and seek prudence and build up understanding with knowledge."

¹² Apply thy heart to instruction; and prepare thine ears for the words of knowledge.

²⁶ My son, give me thy heart; and let thine eyes observe my ways.

¹ Wine is intemperate, and drunkenness scornful. And with these every fool is entangled.

²⁹ Who hath Woes? Who hath trouble? Who hath law suits? Who hath vexations and squabbles? Who hath Wounds with out cause? Whose are the eyes suffused with blood? ³⁰ Are they not theirs who tarry long at wine; who frequent the places where there are revels? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with righteous men: and converse in the publick walks. ³¹ For if thou givest thine eyes to cups and goblets; thou wilt go about afterwards naked as a pestle: ³² and be, at last, like one swollen by the bite of a serpent; or as one stung by a basilisk. ³³ When thine eyes behold a strange woman; then will thy mouth speak perversely. ³⁴ And thou wilt lie as in the midst of the sea: and like a pilot in a mighty storm. ³⁵ And thou wilt say, They have beaten me and I felt no pain; they insulted me and I was not sensible of it. When will it be day; that I may go and seek with whom I can have a meeting.

⁷ A wise son keepeth the law; but he who feedeth prodigality dishonoureth his father.

⁶ Give strong drink to those in trouble, and wine to be drunk by them who are in sorrow; ⁷ that they may forget their distress and no more remember their troubles.

¹¹ Woe to them, who rise early to follow strong drink, and continue at it till late at night; for the wine will inflame them.

²² Woe to your mighty men who drink wine; and to your princes who mingle strong drink:

¹³ yet they indulged themselves in joy and gladness, slaying oxen and sacrificing sheep, that they might eat flesh and drink wine, saying, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

⁴⁹ and begin to beat his fellow tenants, and to eat and to drink with drunkards;

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.

¹⁹ There was a certain rich man who was clad with purple and cotton robes, and who feasted daily in a splendid manner.

¹³ and let us walk as in day light, in a becoming manner; not in revels and drunken debauches; not in dalliance and wantonness; not in strife and envy;

¹⁸ And be not intoxicated with wine in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit

³ For the past time of this life sufficeth to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, walking in lasciviousness, inordinate desires, excess of wine, revels, carouses, and abominable idolatries; ⁴ at this they are surprized; and when you do not run with them into the same sink of debauchery, they rail.

²⁰ and they shall say to the men of their city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he hearkeneth not to our voice. He is devoted to revelling and drunkenness.

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.

¹⁵ Fear restraineth the effeminate; but the soul of the slothful shall suffer want.

¹⁷ A needy man loveth pleasure. He wisheth to have wine and oil for his riches:

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.

¹ [p] AH! the crown of haughtiness! The mercenaries of Ephraim! That flower which hath fallen from the glory on the top of the fertile mountain! Ye who are drunk without wine! ² Behold the wrath of the Lord is a harsh and terrible thing. Like a tempest of hail furiously driven when there is no shelter, like a mighty deluge sweeping a country. In this land it will put a stop to the labour of hands; ³ and with the feet shall be trampled down the crown of your pride, mercenaries of Ephraim.

⁵ Awake ye drunkard, from your wine and weep. Sing a mournful song all ye who drink wine to drunkenness; for joy and gladness are gone from your mouth.

¹¹ But this is what I now write to you, that if any one named a brother, be a fornicator, or one who gratifieth immoderate desires, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, you are not to associate; no, nor eat with such a one.

¹⁰ nor thieves, nor such as indulge inordinate desires, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

²¹ envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and the like, of which I forewarn you, as I have indeed before declared that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God:

³ Let every one reverence his father and his mother. And you shall keep my sabbaths. I am the Lord your God;

¹⁸ If any man hath a stubborn, and rebellious son, who hearkeneth not to the voice of his father, nor to the voice of his mother; and they have corrected him, and he will not hearken to them; ¹⁹ his father and his mother shall take him, and bring him out to the senate of his city, and to the gate of the place; ²⁰ and they shall say to the men of their city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he hearkeneth not to our voice. He is devoted to revelling and drunkenness. 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.

¹⁶ Cursed he who slighteth his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of thy father and reject not the maxims of thy mother:

²⁰ My son, keep the laws of thy father, and reject not the maxims of thy mother.

¹¹ A wicked progeny curse their father and bless not their mother.

¹⁷ The eye which derideth a father and despiseth the old age of a mother, may the ravens of the valley pick it out, and the young eagles devour it.

⁴ For God commanded saying, "Honour thy father and thy mother, and whosoever revileth father or mother let him be put to death: ⁵ but you say, "Whoever shall say to his father or to his mother, Let that by which thou mightest be benefited by me, be dedicated, ⁶ must not honour either his father or his mother." Thus you have annulled the commandment of God from a regard to your doctrines.

¹⁰ For Moses said, "Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Let him who curseth father or mother be put to death."

²⁶ Jesus therefore seeing his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, saith to his, "mother, Woman, behold thy son! ²⁷ Then he saith to the disciple, Behold thy mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. ² Honour thy father and mother [this is the first commandment with a promise]

¹² But where is wisdom to be found? And where is the place of understanding? ¹³ A mortal knoweth not the way thereof; nor hath it indeed been found out by men. ¹⁴ The abyss said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not in me. ¹⁵ would not one give for it all he hath got? ¹⁶ But silver cannot be weighed as its price; nor can it be purchased with the gold of Sophir; with the precious onyx or the sapphire. ¹⁷ Gold and chrystal cannot equal it in value; nor can jewels of gold be a barter for it. ¹⁸ Things above need not be mentioned: but prize thou wisdom above all things below. ¹⁹ The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it in value: nor is it to be rated by pure gold.

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver.

¹²⁷ For this cause I loved thy commandments more than gold or the topaz.

² thine ear will hearken to wisdom; and thou wilt apply thy heart to understanding, and transmit it for instruction to thy son. ³ For if thou wilt call upon wisdom: and utter thy voice for understanding; ⁴ if thou wilt seek for it as silver; and search for it as for treasures;

⁵ overlook not the dictate of my mouth: ⁶ forsake it not, and it will defend thee: love it and it will preserve thee: ⁷ [Omitted]

¹⁶ The productions of wisdom are better than gold: and the productions of prudence are better than silver.

¹⁶ Why should a fool have wealth? For the stupid cannot purchase wisdom. He who buildeth his house high seeketh destruction: and he who is backward to learn shall fall into evils.

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

¹ HO! ye who are thirsting, come to water! And ye who have no money, come buy and eat, without money and without price, wine and the choicest bread.

⁴⁴ Again the kingdom of the heavens is like treasure hid in the field, which, when a man found, he concealed, and for joy thereof goeth away and selleth all that he hath, and purchaseth that field.

⁴⁶ who, having met with one of great value, went and sold all that he had and purchased it.

²⁶ For what will a man be profited, if he should gain the whole world, and be punished with the forfeit of his life? Or, what will not a man give as a ransom for his life?

²³ save only that the Holy spirit testifieth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions await me.

⁷ yet what were gain to me these I have counted refuse on account of the Christ ⁸ nay more, I do therefore indeed count all things but refuse, on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have given up all and account them but dregs, that I may gain Christ

²⁶ accounting the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had an eye to the reward.

¹⁸ I advise thee to purchase of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayst be rich, and white raiment that thou mayst be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayst see.

¹¹ and they have conquered him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and have not spared to expose their life even to death.

⁴⁸ And the king said to this effect. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath this day set one of my seed on my throne, and my eyes see it.

¹ Now when David's days drew near that he should die, he spoke to his son Solomon, and said, ² I am going the way of all the earth, be thou therefore strong, and shew thyself a man, ³ and keep the watch of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which are written in the law of Moses; that thou mayest know what thou art to do, according to all that I command thee;

⁹ Now thou art not to hold him guiltless. As thou art a wise man, thou thyself therefore wilt know what to do to him, and wilt bring down his grey hairs to the grave with blood.

¹⁵ My son, if thy heart be wise, thou wilt gladden my heart. ¹⁶ And thy lips, if they be right, will hold long conversation with mine.

¹⁹ and who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Now if he hath power over all my labour for which I have toiled and in which I have displayed wisdom under the sun; surely this is vanity.

⁹ yet on account of this love I rather use entreaty. Being such as I am, Paul an old man, and now indeed a prisoner on account of Jesus Christ,

²⁰ I beseech thee, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: gratify my tender affections in the Lord.

⁹ Igabes indeed was the most honourable of his brethren. Now his mother had called his name Igabes, saying, I have brought him forth Osgabes [with sorrow.] ¹⁰ And Igabes called on the God of Israel, and said, If thou wilt bless me with blessings and enlarge my borders, let thy hand be with me, and give me knowledge that I may not debase myself. Accordingly God gave him all that he asked.

²⁵ A foolish son is a vexation to a father; and sorrow to her who bore him.

³¹ Now behold thou shall conceive, and bear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

⁴⁰ and went to the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And soon as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb: and Elizabeth was filled with a holy spirit, ⁴² and with a loud acclamation said, Blessed thou among women! and blessed the fruit of thy womb. ⁴³ How have I this honour, that the mother of my Lord should come to me! ⁴⁴ For behold! soon as the sound of thy salutation reached mine ear, the babe within me leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Happy indeed is she who believed that there shall be an accomplishment of the things spoken to her from the Lord. ⁴⁶ Then Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord: ⁴⁷ and my spirit exulteth in God, my Saviour:

⁵⁸ And her neighbours and her relations, hearing that the Lord had magnified his mercy to her, rejoiced with her.

²⁷ As he was thus speaking, it happened that a woman among the crowd, raising her voice, said to him, Happy the womb which bore thee and the breasts which thou hast sucked! ²⁸ Whereupon he said, Nay, rather happy they who hear the word of God and keep it.

⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole understanding, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole might.

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

² Happy they who search his testimonies, and seek him with their whole

⁹ BETH. By what can a youth make his way prosperous? By keeping thy words. ¹⁰ I have sought thee with my whole heart; let me not be driven from thy commandments. ¹¹ I have hid thine oracles in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.

¹ My son, forget not my laws; but let thy heart keep my commandments.

⁴ and they said when they taught me, "Let our words sink deep in thy heart. Keep our commandments; do not forget;

²³ Guard thy heart with all diligence; for out of these are the issues of life.

²⁵ Let thine eyes look straight forward and thine eyelids wink justly. ²⁶ Make straight paths with thy feet and order all thy ways right. ²⁷ Turn not to the right, nor the left; but turn away thy foot from an evil way; for God knoweth the ways on the right, but those on the left are crooked. But he will make thy paths straight and conduct thy steps in peace.

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.

³⁷ He who loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. And he who loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. ³⁸ And he who doth not take up his cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.

²⁶ If any one cometh to me, and slighteth not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, nay, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

¹⁴ For the love of the Christ urgeth us on, judging this, that if one died for all then indeed were they all dying, ¹⁵ and that he died for all to the end that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and was raised up for them.

⁵ not indeed as if we had expected this; but they gave themselves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God,

¹⁷ that, by means of this belief, the Christ may dwell in your hearts; that you being rooted and grounded in love,

¹⁹ Therefore we have a more complete confirmation of the prophetic word, to which you do well in giving attention, as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawn, and the bringer of light rise in your hearts;

¹⁴ The mouth of a transgressor is a deep ditch; and he who is hated of the Lord shall fall into it. There are bad ways before a man and he loveth not to avoid them: but he ought to avoid a crooked and bad way.

¹ While Israel abode at Sattin, the people profaned themselves to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab,

⁴ And after this he loved a woman at Alsorach, whose name was Dalida; ⁵ and the chiefs of the Philistines went up to her and said to her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and how we may prevail over him, and bind him so as to humble him; and we will give thee, every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. ⁶ Upon this Dalida said to Sampson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and with what thou couldst be bound so as to be humbled. ⁷ And Sampson said to her, Were they to bind me with seven thongs, wet, but not rotten, I should lose my strength, and be as other men. ⁸ So the chiefs of the Philistines brought her seven thongs, wet, but not rotten, and she bound him with them. ⁹ Now she had men lying in wait in her chamber. Then she said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Sampson. Upon which he broke the thongs, as one would break a thread of tow, when it is touched with fire. So his strength was not known. ¹⁰ Then Dalida said to Sampson, Behold, thou hast deceived me and told me lies. Now therefore tell me with what thou canst be bound. ¹¹ And he said to her, Were they to bind me with new ropes which have never been used, I should lose my strength, and be like other men. ¹² So Dalida took new ropes, and bound him with them, and the men in ambush came out of the chamber and she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Sampson! Where upon he broke them from his arms like a thread. ¹³ Then Dalida said to Sampson, Behold, thou hast deceived me and told me lies. Tell me, I pray thee, with what thou canst be bound. And he said to her, If thou wert to weave these seven locks of my head with the woof, and fasten them into the wall with that pin, I should be as weak as other men. ¹⁴ So when he went to sleep, Dalida took the seven locks of his head, and wove them with the woof, and fastened them with the pin to the wall, and said, The Philistines are upon thee Sampson! Whereupon he roused from his sleep, and pulled the pin of the web out of the wall. ¹⁵ Then Dalida said to Sampson, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? These three times thou hast deceived me, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. ¹⁶ And as she continued to afflict him daily with her speeches, and press him, and tired him even to death, ¹⁷ he at length told her all his heart, and said to her; There hath never come a razor on my head, because I am consecrated to God from my mother's womb. If therefore I were shaven, my strength would depart from me, and I would become weak, and be like all other men. ¹⁸ When Dalida saw that be bad told her all his heart, she sent for two chiefs of two Philistines, and said, Come up this once more, for be hath told me all his heart. So two chiefs of two Philistines went up to her, and carried the money in their hands. ¹⁹ And when Dalida had lulled Sampson to sleep on her knees, she sent for a man, and be shaved off two seven locks of his bead, and began to humble him; for his strength was gone from him. ²⁰ And when Dalida said, The Philistines are upon thee Sampson! He awoke from his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times heretofore, and rouse myself. He indeed did not know that the Lord had departed from him. ²¹ Then the Philistines seized him and put out his eyes, and carried him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass, and he was kept grinding in the prison house. ²² Now when the hairs of his head began to grow as when he was shaven,

¹⁶ and estrange thee from a just determination. ¹⁷ My son, let not evil counsel, who hath forsaken the discipline of youth and hath forgotten the divine covenant, take hold of thee. 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.

¹² For sometimes she roveth abroad: and sometimes lieth in wait in the streets, at every corner.

²² And he is gone after her, attracted by her; as an ox is led to slaughter, or as a dog to be chained: or like a deer pierced through the liver with a dart. ²³ And he hasteth like a bird to a snare; not knowing that he is running the risk of his life. ²⁴ Now therefore ray son hearken to me; and attend to the words of my mouth. ²⁵ Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways: 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.

²⁶ That bitterer than death is that whole class of women who are prostitutes. Though their heart is nets and their hands chains, he who is good in the sight of God shall be delivered from them; but a sinner shall be taken by them.

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,

¹¹ to attend to fornication and wine, therefore the heart of my people embraced drunkenness.

⁸ Nor let us commit fornication as some of them did, and there fell in one day twenty three thousand:

¹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came to me and talked with me, saying to me, Come let me shew thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth on the many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

¹² His eyes are more exhilarating than wine, And his teeth are whiter than milk.

³⁶ Then Abigaia went to Nabal, and behold he had an entertainment at his house like that; of a king, and Nabal's heart was elated for he was very drunk, so she told him nothing less or more till the next morning. ³⁷ But in the morning when Nabal had recovered from his wine, his wife told him all these things. and his heart was confounded, and he became like a stone.

²⁸ And Abessalom made a banquet like that of the king. And Abessalom gave a charge to his servants saying, Observe when the heart of Amnon is elated with wine, and I say to you, Smite Amnon; then put him to death. Be not afraid, for it is I who command you. Acquit yourselves like men, and be sons of valour.

¹⁶ Now Son Ader was revelling at Sokkoth, he and the kings, the thirty two kings his auxiliaries. ¹⁷ And when the younger sons of the chiefs of the communities first marched out, messengers were sent who told the king of Syria and said, There are men coming out of Samaria. ¹⁸ Whereupon he said to them, If they come out for peace, take them alive; or if they come out for battle take them alive and let them not get away out of the city. ¹⁹ The younger sons of the chiefs of the communities and the army that followed them had now smitten every one his man. ²⁰ And when they repeated this, every one slaying his second man, Syria fled and Israel pursued them, And Son Ader king of Syria escaped on the horse of a cavalier. ²¹ And the king of Israel went out and took all the horses and the chariots. And when he had smitten Syria with great slaughter ²² the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, Strengthen thyself and consider and see what thou art to do. For at the return of the year Son Ader king of Syria will come up against thee.

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.

⁷ For by wine these were made transgressors; they were led astray by strong drink. Priest and prophet were stupefied with strong drink; they were gorged with wine; they were agitated by drunkenness; they reeled to8 and fro. This is oracling! ⁸ A curse shall devour their counsel; for their counsel is for the sake of gain.

¹⁰ Because one shall be utterly destroyed, and consumed like bindweed and dry stubble;

⁴⁹ and begin to beat his fellow tenants, and to eat and to drink with drunkards; ⁵⁰ the lord of that servant will come on a day he least expecteth, and at an hour of which he is not aware

⁴⁵ But should that servant say in his heart, My master delayeth his coming, and begin to beat the men servants, and maid servants, and to eat and drink and carouse; ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he doth not expect him, and in an hour he is not aware of, and will scourge him in the severest manner, and assign him his portion with the unfaithful.

²¹ and he drank of the wine and was intoxicated and uncovered in his house.

⁸ For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, filled with mixed wine of horror; and out of this he hath poured into that: but the dregs of it are not emptied out; all the sinners of the land shall drink it.

² She hath slain her victims. She hath mixed her wine for the cup and furnished her table.

⁶ Some are drinking filtered wine and anointing themselves with most precious ointment and have no feeling for the affliction of Joseph.

² And it happened, that one afternoon, David arose from his couch, and walked on the roof of the king's house, and from the top of the house he saw a woman bathing, and she was very beautiful.

¹ Now therefore, Job, hear thou my words, and listen attentively to my speech;

³⁷ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; keep me alive in thy way.

²⁵ Let not a lust for beauty overcome thee: be not captivated by thine eyes, nor ensnared by her eyelids.

²⁸ But I say to you, whoever looketh on a married woman so as to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ Therefore if thy right eye cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee to lose one of thy members, than that thy whole body be cast into a vale of fire. ³⁰ And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee to lose one of thy members, than that thy whole body be cast into a vale of fire.

⁴⁷ And if thine eye causeth thee to fall, pluck it out; it is better for thee to enter one eyed into the kingdom of God, than having two eyes, to be cast into the hell of that fire;

⁵ And all the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I lay my hand on Egypt and bring the children of Israel out from among them. ⁶ So Moses acted in conjunction with Aaron; and as the Lord commanded so they did.

¹² They cast down each his staff, which became dragons. Though Aaron's staff devoured their staves,

¹⁶ May he suck the venom of dragons! and may the tongue of the viper slay him!

¹¹ and thou at last be grieved. When the flesh of thy body is consumed,

⁸ He who diggeth a pit may fall into it; and him, who is clearing away a hedge, a serpent may bite.

³ and with the feet shall be trampled down the crown of your pride, mercenaries of Ephraim.

⁵ They hatched the eggs of asps, and are weaving a spider's web; and he who was about to eat some of their eggs, upon breaking one that was hatched found therein a viper.

³¹ land. The prophets prophesy falsehoods, and the priests clapped with their hands, and my people loved to have it so. Now what will you do in regard to the consequences?

¹⁷ For behold I am sending against you deadly serpents, which cannot be charmed, and they will bite you

¹⁹ As if a man would flee from the face of a lion and a bear met him, or, as if one would leap into a house and leaning his hand on the wall a serpent bit him.

³ Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, I will there search them out and take them. And should they go down from my sight into the depths of the sea, I will there give orders to the dragon and he will bite them.

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. ²⁶ But besides all this, there is betwixt us and you, a huge gulf fixed; so that they, who would go hence to you, cannot. Neither can they who are there, cross over to us.

²¹ what fruit therefore had you then from those things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death.

³² Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him that we may raise up seed from our father. ³³ So they made their father drink wine that very night, and the elder having gone in lay with her father that night, and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. ³⁴ And on the next night the elder said to the younger, Lo! I lay with our father last night, let us make him drink wine this night also, and do thou go in and lie with him and let us raise up seed from our father. ³⁵ So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger went in and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose. ³⁶ Thus the two daughters of Lot conceived by their father. ³⁷ And the eldest bore a son and called his name Moab, saying From my father. He is the father of the present Moabites. ³⁸ And the youngest also bore a son and called his name Amman saying, Son of the same as I. He is the father of the present Ammanites.

¹² they who sat in the gate spoke against me; and they who drank wine, made me their song.

¹² that she may deliver thee from an evil way and from a man who speaketh perversely.

⁵ lest by drinking they forget wisdom, and become incapable of administering justice to the oppressed.

⁴ And having drunk wine they praised the gods of gold and silver and brass and wood and stone.

⁵ With regard to the days of your kings, the chiefs had begun to be inflamed with wine. He had stretched forth his hand with turbulent men.

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; ¹³ raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom is reserved the gloom of everlasting darkness.

⁸ At the blast of thy wrath the water parted; The waters were compacted like a wall; The waves were condensed in the midst of the sea.

³³ And blessed be thy conduct, and blessed thou who hast kept me back from coming to blood, that I might save my hand for myself. ³⁴ For as the Lord God of Israel liveth, who hath this day withheld me from doing thee an injury, if thou hadst not hastened, and come to meet me, I had determined that by the morning light there should not be left to Nabal one man. 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. ³⁶ Then Abigaia went to Nabal, and behold he had an entertainment at his house like that; of a king, and Nabal's heart was elated for he was very drunk, so she told him nothing less or more till the next morning. ³⁷ But in the morning when Nabal had recovered from his wine, his wife told him all these things. and his heart was confounded, and he became like a stone. ³⁸ And in about ten days the Lord smote Nabal, and he died.

¹⁶ So he conducted him thither, and behold they were spread abroad on the face of the whole land, eating and drinking, and celebrating a festival, for all the great spoil which they had taken from the country of the Philistines, and from the land of Judea. ¹⁷ And David came upon them, and smote them, from break of day till late in the evening, and part of the next day, so that not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled.

⁹ Zambri the commander of one half of his cavalry, conspired against him; and when he was drinking to excess in the house of Osa his steward at Thersa,

³⁸ For as in those days, before the deluge, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, till Noe entered the ark;

²⁷ They ate; they drank; they married, and were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered the ark; and the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ Just so it was also in the days of Lot. They ate; they drank; they bought; they sold; they planted; they built: ²⁹ but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

² for you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief at night. ³ For whilst they are saying, there is peace and safety, sudden destruction is then upon them, like the pangs of a woman in travail, and they cannot escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that this day should break upon you at unawares as a thief. ⁵ You are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of night, nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep as others do; but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For they who sleep, sleep at night; and they who get drunk are drunk at night.

¹⁹ Now in case any one shall hear the words of this curse, and bless himself in his heart, saying, Good luck betide me! I will walk in the error of my own heart, that the sinner may not involve the guiltless in ruin with himself.

¹¹ As a dog becometh odious when he returneth to his vomit; so is a fool for his wickedness, when he returneth to his sin. There is a shame which leadeth to sin: and a shame which procureth glory and honour.

²² Though thou shouldst whip a fool publickly and disgrace him: thou canst not take away his folly.

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.

¹⁸ I have heard the voice of Ephraim moaning, "Thou hast chastised me and I have been chastised. I like a bullock was uninstructed, bring me back that I may return; for thou art the Lord my God.

³² "if I as a man had fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is that to me if the dead are not raised up? Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we die." ³³ Be not led astray; "good morals are debauched by talk profane." ³⁴ Be righteously sober and sin not. For some have not a knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

¹⁹ have without remorse abandoned themselves to the commission of every uncleanness with inordinate desire.

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."