# verses

text:
 Now if Christ be preached, that he arose again from the dead, how do some among you say, that there is no resurrection of the dead?


text:
 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God: because we have given testimony against God, that he hath raised up Christ; whom he hath not raised up, if the dead rise not again.


text:
 But every one in his own order: the firstfruits Christ, then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming.


text:
 Afterwards the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father, when he shall have brought to nought all principality, and power, and virtue.


text:
 And the enemy death shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet. And whereas he saith,


text:
 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then the Son also himself shall be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.


text:
 Otherwise what shall they do that are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not again at all? why are they then baptized for them?


text:
 If (according to man) I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me, if the dead rise not again? Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we shall die.


text:
 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be; but bare grain, as of wheat, or of some of the rest.


text:
 All flesh is not the same flesh: but one is the flesh of men, another of beasts, another of birds, another of fishes.


text:
 And there are bodies celestial, and bodies terrestrial: but, one is the glory of the celestial, and another of the terrestrial.


text:
 One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory.


text:
 It is sown a natural body, it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written:


text:
 Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; afterwards that which is spiritual.


text:
 Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly.


text:
 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot possess the kingdom of God: neither shall corruption possess incorruption.


text:
 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall rise again incorruptible: and we shall be changed.


text:
 And when this mortal hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.


text:
 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast and unmoveable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.


text:
 NOW concerning the collections that are made for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, so do ye also.


text:
 On the first day of the week let every one of you put apart with himself, laying up what it shall well please him; that when I come, the collections be not then to be made.


text:
 And when I shall be with you, whomsoever you shall approve by letters, them will I send to carry your grace to Jerusalem.


text:
 Now I will come to you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia. For I shall pass through Macedonia.


text:
 And with you perhaps I shall abide, or even spend the winter: that you may bring me on my way whithersoever I shall go.


text:
 For I will not see you now by the way, for I trust that I shall abide with you some time, if the Lord permit.


text:
 Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear, for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.


text:
 Let no man therefore despise him, but conduct ye him on his way in peace: that he may come to me. For I look for him with the breatheren.


text:
 And touching our brother Apollo, I give you to understand, that I much entreated him to come unto you with the breatheren: and indeed it was not his will at all to come at this time. But he will come when he shall have leisure.


text:
 And I beseech you, brethren, you know the house of Stephanas, and of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints:


text:
 And I rejoice in the presence of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because that which was wanting on your part, they have supplied.


text:
 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house, with whom I also lodge.


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother: to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia:


text:
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.


text:
 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God.


text:
 Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.


text:
 That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.


text:
 For we would not have you ignorant,brethren, of our tribulation, which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life.


text:
 But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.


text:
 Who hath delivered and doth deliver us out of so great dangers: in whom we trust that he will yet also deliver us.


text:
 You helping withal in prayer for us: that for this gift obtained for us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf.


text:
 For our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity of heart and sincerity of God, and not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conversed in this world: and more abundantly towards you.


text:
 For we write no other things to you than what you have read and known. And I hope that you shall know unto the end:


text:
 As also you have known us in part, that we are your glory, as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be brought on my way towards Judea.


text:
 Whereas then I was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or, the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that there should be with me, It is, and It is not?


text:
 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was in him.


text:
 Not because we exercise dominion over your faith: but we are helpers of your joy: for in faith you stand.


text:
 For if I make you sorrowful, who is he then that can make me glad, but the same who is made sorrowful by me?


text:
 And I wrote this same to you; that I may not, when I come, have sorrow upon sorrow, from them of whom I ought to rejoice: having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.


text:
 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears: not that you should be made sorrowful: but that you might know the charity I have more abundantly towards you.


text:
 And if any one have caused grief, he hath not grieved me; but in part, that I may not burden you all.


text:
 So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.


text:
 For to this end also did I write, that I may know the experiment of you, whether you be obedient in all things.


text:
 And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ.


text:
 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.


text:
 Now thanks be to God, who always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifesteth the odour of his knowledge by us in every place.


text:
 To the one indeed the odour of death unto death: but to the others the odour of life unto life. And for these things who is so sufficient?


text:
 For we are not as many, adulterating the word of God; but with sincerity, but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.


text:
 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?


text:
 Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart.


text:
 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.


text:
 Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.


text:
 Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:


text:
 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.


text:
 For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of the glory that excelleth.


text:
 And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.


text:
 But their senses were made dull. For, until this present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remaineth not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).


text:
 But we all beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.


text:
 But we renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God.


text:
 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of unbelievers, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine unto them.


text:
 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus.


text:
 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God, and not of us.


text:
 In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute;


text:
 Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.


text:
 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.


text:
 But having the same spirit of faith, as it is written: I believed, for which cause I have spoken; we also believe, for which cause we speak also:


text:
 For all things are for your sakes; that the grace abounding through many, may abound in thanksgiving unto the glory of God.


text:
 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man is corrupted, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.


text:
 For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.


text:
 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen, are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal.


text:
 For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.


text:
 For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life.


text:
 Therefore having always confidence, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord.


text:
 But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.


text:
 For we must all be manifested before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.


text:
 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to men; but to God we are manifest. And I trust also that in your consciences we are manifest.


text:
 We commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf; that you may have somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart.


text:
 And Christ died for all; that they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.


text:
 Wherefore henceforth, we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh; but now we know him so no longer.


text:
 If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new.


text:
 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.


text:
 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.


text:
 For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.


text:
 For he saith: In an accepted time have I heard thee; and in the day of salvation have I helped thee. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.


text:
 But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses,


text:
 In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned,


text:
 In the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left;


text:
 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet known;


text:
 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as needy, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.


text:
 Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?


text:
 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God saith: I will dwell in them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


text:
 Wherefore, Go out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing:


text:
 And I will receive you; and I will be a Father to you; and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.


text:
 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sactification in the fear of God.


text:
 I speak not this to your condemnation. For we have said before, that you are in our hearts, to die together, and to live together.


text:
 Great is my confidence for you, great is my glorying for you. I am filled with comfort: I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulation.


text:
 For also when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we suffered all tribulation; combats without, fears within.


text:
 And not by his coming only, but also by the consolation, wherewith he was comforted in you, relating to us your desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more.


text:
 For although I made you sorrowful by my epistle, I do not repent; and if I did repent, seeing that the same epistle (although but for a time) did make you sorrowful;


text:
 Now I am glad: not because you were made sorrowful; but because you were made sorrowful unto penance. For you were made sorrowful according to God, that you might suffer damage by us in nothing.


text:
 For the sorrow that is according to God worketh penance, steadfast unto salvation; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.


text:
 For behold this selfsame thing, that you were made sorrowful according to God, how great carefulness it worketh in you; yea defence, yea indignation, yea fear, yea desire, yea zeal, yea revenge: in all things you have shewed yourselves to be undefiled in the matter.


text:
 Wherefore although I wrote to you, it was not for his sake that I did the wrong, nor for him that suffered it; but to manifest our carefulness that we have for you


text:
 Before God: therefore we were comforted. But in our consolation, we did the more abundantly rejoice for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.


text:
 And if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I have not been put to shame; but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so also our boasting that was made to Titus is found a truth.


text:
 And his bowels are more abundantly towards you; remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you have received him.


text:
 Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.


text:
 That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy; and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.


text:
 With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.


text:
 And not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God:


text:
 Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.


text:
 That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us, so in this grace also you may abound.


text:
 I speak not as commanding; but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.


text:
 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.


text:
 And herein I give my advice; for this is profitable for you, who have begun not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.


text:
 Now therefore perform ye it also in deed; that as your mind is forward to be willing, so it may be also to perform, out of that which you have.


text:
 For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, not according to that which he hath not.


text:
 In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be an equality,


text:
 And not that only, but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord, and our determined will:


text:
 And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things; but now much more diligent, with much confidence in you,


text:
 Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.


text:
 Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity, and of our boasting on your behalf.


text:
 For concerning the ministry that is done towards the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.


text:
 For I know your forward mind: for which I boast of you to the Macedonians. That Achaia also is ready from the year past, and your emulation hath provoked very many.


text:
 Now I have sent the brethren, that the thing which we boast of concerning you, be not made void in this behalf, that (as I have said) you may be ready:


text:
 Lest, when the Macedonians shall come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say ye) should be ashamed in this matter.


text:
 Therefore I thought it necessary to desire the brethren that they would go to you before, and prepare this blessing before promised, to be ready, so as a blessing, not as covetousness.


text:
 Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings.


text:
 Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.


text:
 And God is able to make all grace abound in you; that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work,


text:
 As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever.


text:
 And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you bread to eat, and will multiply your seed, and increase the growth of the fruits of your justice:


text:
 That being enriched in all things, you may abound unto all simplicity, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.


text:
 Because the administration of this office doth not only supply the want of the saints, but aboundeth also by many thanksgivings in the Lord,


text:
 By the proof of this ministry, glorifying God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the simplicity of your communicating unto them, and unto all.


text:
 Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ, who in presence indeed am lowly among you, but being absent, am bold toward you.


text:
 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present, with that confidence wherewith I am thought to be bold, against some, who reckon us as if we walked according to the flesh.


text:
 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels,


text:
 And every height that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ;


text:
 See the things that are according to outward appearance. If any man trust to himself, that he is Christ's, let him think this again with himself, that as he is Christ's, so are we also.


text:
 For if also I should boast somewhat more of our power, which the Lord hath given us unto edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed.


text:
 (For his epistles indeed, say they, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible,)


text:
 Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by epistles, when absent, such also we will be indeed when present.


text:
 For we dare not match, or compare ourselves with some, that commend themselves; but we measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves with ourselves.


text:
 But we will not glory beyond our measure; but according to the measure of the rule, which God hath measured to us, a measure to reach even unto you.


text:
 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as if we reached not unto you. For we are come as far as to you in the gospel of Christ.


text:
 Not glorying beyond measure in other men's labours; but having hope of your increasing faith, to be magnified in you according to our rule abundantly;


text:
 Yea, unto those places that are beyond you, to preach the gospel, not to glory in another man's rule, in those things that are made ready to our hand.


text:
 For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God. For I have espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.


text:
 But I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted, and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ.


text:
 For if he that cometh preacheth another Christ, whom we have not preached; or if you receive another Spirit, whom you have not received; or another gospel which you have not received; you might well bear with him.


text:
 For although I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but in all things we have been made manifest to you.


text:
 Or did I commit a fault, humbling myself, that you might be exalted? Because I preached unto you the gospel of God freely?


text:
 And, when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was wanting to me, the brethren supplied who came from Macedonia; and in all things I have kept myself from being burthensome to you, and so I will keep myself.


text:
 The truth of Christ is in me, that this glorying shall not be broken off in me in the regions of Achaia.


text:
 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off the occasion from them that desire occasion, that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.


text:
 For such false apostles are deceitful workmen, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.


text:
 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of justice, whose end shall be according to their works.


text:
 I say again, (let no man think me to be foolish, otherwise take me as one foolish, that I also may glory a little.)


text:
 That which I speak, I speak not according to God, but as it were in foolishness, in this matter of glorying.


text:
 For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face.


text:
 I speak according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part. Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly), I dare also.


text:
 They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as one less wise): I am more; in many more labours, in prisons more frequently, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.


text:
 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea.


text:
 In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own nation, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils from false brethren.


text:
 In labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


text:
 At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to apprehend me.


text:
 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed): but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.


text:
 I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven.


text:
 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter.


text:
 For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me.


text:
 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.


text:
 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.


text:
 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.


text:
 I am become foolish: you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you: for I have no way come short of them that are above measure apostles, although I be nothing.


text:
 Yet the signs of my apostleship have been wrought on you, in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.


text:
 For what is there that you have had less than the other churches, but that I myself was not burthensome to you? Pardon me this injury.


text:
 Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.


text:
 But I most gladly will spend and be spent myself for your souls; although loving you more, I be loved less.


text:
 I desired Titus, and I sent with him a brother. Did Titus overreach you? Did we not walk with the same spirit? did we not in the same steps?


text:
 Of old, think you that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ; but all things, my dearly beloved, for your edification.


text:
 For I fear lest perhaps when I come I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found by you such as you would not. Lest perhaps contentions, envyings, animosities, dissensions, detractions, whisperings, swellings, seditions, be among you.


text:
 Lest again, when I come, God humble me among you: and I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, and fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed.


text:
 Behold, this is the third time I am coming to you: In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand.


text:
 I have told before, and foretell, as present, and now absent, to them that sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare.


text:
 Do you seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty in you?


text:
 For although he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him: but we shall live with him by the power of God towards you.


text:
 Try your own selves if you be in the faith; prove ye yourselves. Know you not your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you, unless perhaps you be reprobates?


text:
 Now we pray God, that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is good, and that we may be as reprobates.


text:
 Therefore I write these things, being absent, that, being present, I may not deal more severely, according to the power which the Lord hath given me unto edification, and not unto destruction.


text:
 For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace; and the God of peace and of love shall be with you.


text:
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.


text:
 Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,


text:
 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present wicked world, according to the will of God and our Father:


text:
 I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel.


text:
 Which is not another, only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.


text:
 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.


text:
 As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.


text:
 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.


text:
 For I give you to understand, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.


text:
 For you have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion: how that, beyond measure, I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.


text:
 And I made progress in the Jews' religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.


text:
 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood.


text:
 Neither went I to Jerusalem, to the apostles who were before me: but I went into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus.


text:
 But they had heard only: He, who persecuted us in times past, doth now preach the faith which once he impugned:


text:
 And I went up according to revelation; and communicated to them the gospel, which I preach among the Gentiles, but apart to them who seemed to be some thing: lest perhaps I should run, or had run in vain.


text:
 But because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into servitude.


text:
 To whom we yielded not by subjection, no not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.


text:
 But of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time, it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man,) for to me they that seemed to be some thing added nothing.


text:
 But contrariwise, when they had seen that to me was committed the gospel of the uncircumcision, as to Peter was that of the circumcision.


text:
 (For he who wrought in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, wrought in me also among the Gentiles.)


text:
 And when they had known the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship: that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision:


text:
 For before that some came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them who were of the circumcision.


text:
 And to his dissimulation the rest of the Jews consented, so that Barnabas also was led by them into that dissimulation.


text:
 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly unto the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all: If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as the Jews do, how dost thou compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?


text:
 But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ; we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.


text:
 But if while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners; is Christ then the minister of sin? God forbid.


text:
 For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to God: with Christ I am nailed to the cross.


text:
 And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself for me.


text:
 O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you?


text:
 This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?


text:
 Are you so foolish, that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you would now be made perfect by the flesh?


text:
 He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you; doth he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?


text:
 And the scripture, foreseeing, that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.


text:
 For as many as are of the works of the law, are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one, that abideth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them.


text:
 But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.


text:
 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:


text:
 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.


text:
 Brethren (I speak after the manner of man,) yet a man's testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth, nor addeth to it.


text:
 To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.


text:
 Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.


text:
 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.


text:
 Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.


text:
 Was the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.


text:
 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.


text:
 But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed.


text:
 There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.


text:
 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;


text:
 And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.


text:
 But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?


text:
 And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,


text:
 Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and would have given them to me.


text:
 They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.


text:
 But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.


text:
 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman.


text:
 But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.


text:
 Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:


text:
 For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.


text:
 For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.


text:
 But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now.


text:
 But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.


text:
 So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.


text:
 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision: but faith that worketh by charity.


text:
 I have confidence in you in the Lord: that you will not be of another mind: but he that troubleth you, shall bear the judgment, whosoever he be.


text:
 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the scandal of the cross made void.


text:
 For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty: only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh, but by charity of the spirit serve one another.


text:
 For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another: so that you do not the things that you would.


text:
 Envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.


text:
 Brethren, and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.


text:
 But let every one prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another.


text:
 And let him that is instructed in the word, communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things.


text:
 For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.


text:
 Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.


text:
 For as many as desire to please in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer the persecution of the cross of Christ.


text:
 For neither they themselves who are circumcised, keep the law; but they will have you to be circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.


text:
 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.


text:
 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.


text:
 From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me; for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, to all the saints who are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.


text:
 Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ:


text:
 As he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and unspotted in his sight in charity.


text:
 Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will:


text:
 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of his grace,


text:
 That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,


text:
 In the dispensation of the fulness of times, to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in him.


text:
 In whom we also are called by lot, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.


text:
 In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth, (the gospel of your salvation;) in whom also believing, you were signed with the holy Spirit of promise,


text:
 Who is the pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of acquisition, unto the praise of his glory.


text:
 Wherefore I also, hearing of your faith that is in the Lord Jesus, and of your love towards all the saints,


text:
 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him:


text:
 The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.


text:
 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us, who believe according to the operation of the might of his power,


text:
 Which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead, and setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places.


text:
 Above all principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.


text:
 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of this air, of the spirit that now worketh on the children of unbelief:


text:
 In which also we all conversed in time past, in the desires of our flesh, fulfilling the will of the flesh and of our thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:


text:
 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,)


text:
 And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus.


text:
 That he might shew in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus.


text:
 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God hath prepared that we should walk in them.


text:
 For which cause be mindful that you, being heretofore Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands;


text:
 That you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the conversation of Israel, and strangers to the testament, having no hope of the promise, and without God in this world.


text:
 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and breaking down the middle wall of partition, the enmities in his flesh:


text:
 Making void the law of commandments contained in decrees; that he might make the two in himself into one new man, making peace;


text:
 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God,


text:
 Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:


text:
 How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me, as I have written above in a few words;


text:
 Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:


text:
 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and co-partners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel:


text:
 Of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which is given to me according to the operation of his power:


text:
 To me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ,


text:
 And to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things:


text:
 That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places through the church,


text:
 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man,


text:
 You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth:


text:
 To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.


text:
 Now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly than we desire or understand, according to the power that worketh in us;


text:
 I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called,


text:
 Now that he ascended, what is it, but because he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?


text:
 He that descended is the same also that ascended above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.


text:
 And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,


text:
 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:


text:
 Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;


text:
 That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive


text:
 From whom the whole body, being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in charity.


text:
 This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,


text:
 Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.


text:
 Who despairing, have given themselves up to lasciviousness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto the working of all uncleanness, unto covetousness.


text:
 To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.


text:
 Wherefore putting away lying, speak ;ye the truth every man with his neighbour; for we are members one of another.


text:
 He that stole, let him now steal no more; but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have something to give to him that suffereth need.


text:
 Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth; but that which is good, to the edification of faith, that it may administer grace to the hearers.


text:
 Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all malice.


text:
 And be ye kind one to another; merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ.


text:
 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.


text:
 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:


text:
 Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks.


text:
 For know you this and understand, that no fornicator, or unclean, or covetous person (which is a serving of idols), hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.


text:
 Let no man deceive you with vain words. For because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the children of unbelief.


text:
 But all things that are reproved, are made manifest by the light; for all that is made manifest is light.


text:
 Wherefore he saith: Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee.


text:
 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord;


text:
 Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the saviour of his body.


text:
 Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things.


text:
 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any; such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.


text:
 So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife, loveth himself.


text:
 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as also Christ doth the church:


text:
 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be two in one flesh.


text:
 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular love his wife as himself: and let the wife fear her husband.


text:
 And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord.


text:
 Servants, be obedient to them that are your lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ:


text:
 Not serving to the eye, as it were pleasing men, but, as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart,


text:
 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the Lord, whether he be bond, or free.


text:
 And you, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatenings, knowing that the Lord both of them and you is in heaven; and there is no respect of persons with him.


text:
 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.


text:
 Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.


text:
 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of justice,


text:
 In all things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the most wicked one.


text:
 By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:


text:
 And for me, that speech may be given me, that I may open my mouth with confidence, to make known the mystery of the gospel.


text:
 For which I am an ambassador in a chain, so that therein I may be bold to speak according as I ought.


text:
 But that you also may know the things that concern me, and what I am doing, Tychicus, my dearest brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make known to you all things:


text:
 Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that you may know the things concerning us, and that he may comfort your hearts.


text:
 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ; to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.


text:
 Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.


text:
 As it is meet for me to think this for you all, for that I have you in my heart; and that in my bands, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my joy.


text:
 And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in knowledge, and in all understanding:


text:
 That you may approve the better things, that you may be sincere and without offence unto the day of Christ,


text:
 Now, brethren, I desire you should know, that the things which have happened to me, have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:


text:
 And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.


text:
 And some out of contention preach Christ not sincerely: supposing that they raise affliction to my bands.


text:
 But what then? So that by all means, whether by occasion, or by truth, Christ be preached: in this also I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.


text:
 For I know that this shall fall out to me unto salvation, through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,


text:
 According to my expectation and hope; that in nothing I shall be confounded, but with all confidence, as always, so now also shall Christ be magnified in my body, wither it be by life, or by death.


text:
 And if to live in the flesh, that is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know not.


text:
 But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better.


text:
 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, and continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith:


text:
 Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you, or, being absent, may hear of you, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind labouring together for the faith of the gospel.


text:
 And in nothing be ye terrified by the adversaries: which to them is a cause of perdition, but to you of salvation, and this from God:


text:
 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration:


text:
 Fulfil ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.


text:
 Let nothing be done through contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:


text:
 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.


text:
 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:


text:
 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, (as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more now in my absence,) with fear and trembling work out your salvation.


text:
 That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world.


text:
 Holding forth the word of life to my glory in the day of Christ, because I have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain.


text:
 Yea, and if I be made a victim upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and congratulate with you all.


text:
 And I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy unto you shortly, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know the things concerning you.


text:
 Now know ye the proof of him, that as a son with the father, so hath he served with me in the gospel.


text:
 But I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow labourer, and fellow soldier, but your apostle, and he that hath ministered to my wants.


text:
 For indeed he was sick, nigh unto death; but God had mercy on him; and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.


text:
 Therefore I sent him the more speedily: that seeing him again, you may rejoice, and I may be without sorrow.


text:
 Because for the work of Christ he came to the point of death: delivering his life, that he might fulfil that which on your part was wanting towards my service.


text:
 As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not wearisome, but to you it is necessary.


text:
 For we are the circumcision, who in spirit serve God; and glory in Christ Jesus, not having confidence in the flesh.


text:
 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinketh he may have confidence in the flesh, I more,


text:
 Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; according to the law, a Pharisee:


text:
 According to zeal, persecuting the church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, conversing without blame.


text:
 Furthermore I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ:


text:
 And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith:


text:
 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death,


text:
 Not as though I has already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.


text:
 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before,


text:
 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to you.


text:
 Nevertheless whereunto we are come, that we be of the same mind, let us also continue in the same rule.


text:
 For many walk, of whom I have told you often (and now tell you weeping), that they are enemies of the cross of Christ;


text:
 Whose end is destruction; whose God is their belly; and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things.


text:
 But our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
 Who will reform the body of our lowness, made like to the body of his glory, according to the operation whereby also he is able to subdue all things unto himself.


text:
 Therefore, my dearly beloved brethren, and most desired, my joy and my crown; so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.


text:
 And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.


text:
 Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.


text:
 And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


text:
 For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.


text:
 The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.


text:
 Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly, that now at length your thought for me hath flourished again, as you did also think; but you were busied.


text:
 I speak not as it were for want. For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith.


text:
 I know both how to be brought low, and I know how to abound: (everywhere, and in all things I am instructed) both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to suffer need.


text:
 And you also know, O Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only:


text:
 But I have all, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, an odour of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.


text:
 The brethren who are with me, salute you. All the saints salute you; especially they that are of Caesar's household.


text:
 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.


text:
 For the hope that is laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard in the word of the truth of the gospel,


text:
 Which is come unto you, as also it is in the whole world, and bringeth forth fruit and groweth, even as it doth in you, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.


text:
 As you learned of Epaphras, our most beloved fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ Jesus;


text:
 Therefore we also, from the day that we heard it, cease not to pray for you, and to beg that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom, and spiritual understanding:


text:
 That you may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God:


text:
 Strengthened with all might, according to the power of his glory, in all patience and longsuffering with joy,


text:
 Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light:


text:
 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,


text:
 For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and in him.


text:
 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the primacy:


text:
 And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.


text:
 Yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unspotted, and blameless before him:


text:
 If so ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and immoveable from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which is preached in all the creation that is under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.


text:
 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:


text:
 Whereof I am made a minister according to the dispensation of God, which is given me towards you, that I may fulfil the word of God:


text:
 To whom God would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ, in you the hope of glory.


text:
 Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.


text:
 For I would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh:


text:
 That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus:


text:
 For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you; rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.


text:
 Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving.


text:
 Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ:


text:
 In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ:


text:
 Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead.


text:
 And you, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences:


text:
 Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross:


text:
 And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.


text:
 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths,


text:
 Let no man seduce you, willing in humility, and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh,


text:
 And not holding the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth unto the increase of God.


text:
 If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?


text:
 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.


text:
 Therefore, if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God:


text:
 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols.


text:
 But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.


text:
 And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.


text:
 Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all, and in all.


text:
 Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:


text:
 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.


text:
 And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.


text:
 Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.


text:
 All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.


text:
 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not serving to the eye, as pleasing men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.


text:
 For he that doth wrong, shall receive for that which he hath done wrongfully: and there is no respect of persons with God.


text:
 Masters, do to your servants that which is just and equal: knowing that you also have a master in heaven.


text:
 Praying withal for us also, that God may open unto us a door of speech to speak the mystery of Christ (for which also I am bound;)


text:
 Let your speech be always in grace seasoned with salt: that you may know how you ought to answer every man.


text:
 All the things that concern me, Tychicus, our dearest brother, and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord, will make known to you,


text:
 Whom I have sent to you for this same purpose, that he may know the things that concern you, and comfort your hearts,


text:
 With Onesimus, a most beloved and faithful brother, who is one of you. All things that are done here, they shall make known to you.


text:
 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin german of Barnabus, touching whom you have received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him:


text:
 And Jesus, that is called Justus: who are of the circumcision: these only are my helpers in the kingdom of God; who have been a comfort to me.


text:
 Epaphras saluteth you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect, and full in all the will of God.


text:
 For I bear him testimony that he hath much labour for you, and for them that are at Laodicea, and them at Hierapolis.


text:
 And when this epistle shall have been read with you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans: and that you read that which is of the Laodiceans.


text:
 And say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.


text:
 Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy: to the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Grace be to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all; making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing,


text:
 Being mindful of the work of your faith, and labour, and charity, and of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father:


text:
 For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes.


text:
 And you became followers of us, and of the Lord; receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost:


text:
 For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia, and in Achaia, but also in every place, your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing.


text:
 For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God.


text:
 And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.


text:
 But having suffered many things before, and been shamefully treated (as you know) at Philippi, we had confidence in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God in much carefulness.


text:
 But as we were approved by God that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts.


text:
 For neither have we used, at any time, the speech of flattery, as you know; nor taken an occasion of covetousness, God is witness:


text:
 Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children:


text:
 So desirous of you, we would gladly impart unto you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you were become most dear unto us.


text:
 For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.


text:
 You are witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and without blame, we have been to you that have believed:


text:
 We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.


text:
 Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because, that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it is indeed) the word of God, who worketh in you that have believed.


text:
 For you, brethren, are become followers of the churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered the same things from your own coutrymen, even as they have from the Jews,


text:
 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and please not God, and are adversaries to all men;


text:
 Prohibiting us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath of God is come upon them to the end.


text:
 But we, brethren, being taken away from you for a short time, in sight, not in heart, have hastened the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.


text:
 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? Are not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?


text:
 And we sent Timothy, our brother, and the minister of God in the gospel of Christ, to confirm you and exhort you concerning your faith:


text:
 That no man should be moved in these tribulations: for yourselves know, that we are appointed thereunto.


text:
 For even when we were with you, we foretold you that we should suffer tribulations, as also it is come to pass, and you know.


text:
 For this cause also, I, forbearing no longer, sent to know your faith: lest perhaps he that tempteth should have tempted you, and our labour should be made vain.


text:
 But now when Timothy came to us from you, and related to us your faith and charity, and that you have a good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us as we also to see you;


text:
 Therefore we were comforted, brethren, in you, in all our necessity and tribulation, by your faith,


text:
 For what thanks can we return to God for you, in all the joy wherewith we rejoice for you before our God,


text:
 Night and day more abundantly praying that we may see your face, and may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith?


text:
 And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in charity towards one another, and towards all men: as we do also towards you,


text:
 To confirm your hearts without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints. Amen.


text:
 For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.


text:
 And that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified.


text:
 Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.


text:
 But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.


text:
 For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more:


text:
 And that you use your endeavour to be quiet, and that you do your own business, and work with your own hands, as we commanded you:


text:
 And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.


text:
 For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.


text:
 For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.


text:
 For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first.


text:
 Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord.


text:
 For when they shall say, peace and security; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape.


text:
 For all you are the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.


text:
 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, having on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.


text:
 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the purchasing of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you:


text:
 And we beseech you, brethren, rebuke the unquiet, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men.


text:
 See that none render evil for evil to any man; but ever follow that which is good towards each other, and towards all men.


text:
 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you in all things; that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Paul, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you towards each other, aboundeth:


text:
 So that we ourselves also glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith, and in all your persecutions and tribulations, which you endure,


text:
 For an example of the just judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which also you suffer.


text:
 And to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with the angels of his power:


text:
 In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his power:


text:
 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made wonderful in all them who have believed; because our testimony was believed upon you in that day.


text:
 Wherefore also we pray always for you; that our God would make you worthy of his vocation, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith in power;


text:
 That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:


text:
 That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.


text:
 Let no man deceive you by any means, for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,


text:
 Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.


text:
 For the mystery of iniquity already worketh; only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.


text:
 And then that wicked one shall be revealed whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth; and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, him,


text:
 And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.


text:
 But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you firstfruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit, and faith of the truth:


text:
 Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.


text:
 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who hathloved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope in grace,


text:
 For the rest, brethren, pray for us, that the word of God may run, and may be glorified, even as among you;


text:
 And we have confidence concerning you in the Lord, that the things which we command, you both do, and will do.


text:
 And we charge you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother walking disorderly, and not according to the tradition which they have received of us.


text:
 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing, but in labour and in toil we worked night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you.


text:
 For also when we were with you, this we declared to you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.


text:
 For we have heard there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but curiously meddling.


text:
 Now we charge them that are such, and beseech them by the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with silence, they would eat their own bread.


text:
 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed:


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus our hope:


text:
 To Timothy, his beloved son in faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
 As I desired thee to remain at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some not to teach otherwise,


text:
 Not to give heed to fables and endless genealogies: which furnish questions rather than the edification of God, which is in faith.


text:
 Now the end of the commandment is charity, from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faith.


text:
 Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.


text:
 Knowing this, that the law is not made for the just man, but for the unjust and disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners, for the wicked and defiled, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,


text:
 For fornicators, for them who defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and whatever other thing is contrary to sound doctrine,


text:
 Which is according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which hath been committed to my trust.


text:
 I give thanks who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he hath counted me faithful, putting me in the ministry;


text:
 Who before was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and contumelious. But I obtained the mercy of God, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.


text:
 A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.


text:
 But for this cause have I obtained mercy: that in me first Christ Jesus might shew forth all patience, for the information of them that shall believe in him unto life everlasting.


text:
 Now to the king of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 This precept I commend to thee, O son Timothy; according to the prophecies going before on thee, that thou war in them a good warfare,


text:
 Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered up to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.


text:
 I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men:


text:
 For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity.


text:
 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, (I say the truth, I lie not,) a doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth.


text:
 I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger and contention.


text:
 In like manner women also in decent apparel: adorning themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire,


text:
 Yet she shall be saved through childbearing; if she continue in faith, and love, and sanctification, with sobriety.


text:
 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,


text:
 Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.


text:
 Deacons in like manner chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:


text:
 For they that have ministered well, shall purchase to themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.


text:
 And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.


text:
 Now the Spirit manifestly saith, that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils,


text:
 Forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving by the faithful, and by them that have known the truth.


text:
 These things proposing to the brethren, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished up in the words of faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast attained unto.


text:
 For bodily exercise is profitable to little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.


text:
 For therefore we labor and are reviled, because we hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of the faithful.


text:
 Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the faithful in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in chastity.


text:
 Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.


text:
 Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them. For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.


text:
 But if any widow have children, or grandchildren, let her learn first to govern her own house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is acceptable before God.


text:
 But she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, let her trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers night and day.


text:
 But if any man have not care of his own, and especially of those of his house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.


text:
 Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.


text:
 Having testimony for her good works, if she have brought up children, if she have received to harbour, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered to them that suffer tribulation, if she have diligently followed every good work.


text:
 And withal being idle they learn to go about from house to house: and are not only idle, but tattlers also, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.


text:
 I will therefore that the younger should marry, bear children, be mistresses of families, give no occasion to the adversary to speak evil.


text:
 If any of the faithful have widows, let him minister to them, and let not the church be charged: that there may be sufficient for them that are widows indeed.


text:
 Let the priests that rule well, be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine:


text:
 For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward.


text:
 I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side.


text:
 Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.


text:
 Do not still drink water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake, and thy frequent infirmities.


text:
 Whosoever are servants under the yoke, let them count their masters worthy of all honour; lest the name of the Lord and his doctrine be blasphemed.


text:
 But they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but serve them the rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who are partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.


text:
 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to that doctrine which is according to godliness,


text:
 He is proud, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and strifes of words; from which arise envies, contentions, blasphemies, evil suspicions,


text:
 Conflicts of men corrupted in mind, and who are destitute of the truth, supposing gain to be godliness.


text:
 For they that will become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition.


text:
 For the desire of money is the root of all evils; which some coveting have erred from the faith, and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.


text:
 But thou, O man of God, fly these things: and pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness.


text:
 Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses.


text:
 I charge thee before God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate, a good confession,


text:
 Which in his times he shall shew who is the Blessed and only Mighty, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;


text:
 Who only hath immortality, and inhabiteth light inaccessible, whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and empire everlasting. Amen.


text:
 Charge the rich of this world not to be highminded, nor to trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, (who giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy,)


text:
 To lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the true life.


text:
 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding the profane novelties of words, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called.


text:
 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 To Timothy my dearly beloved son, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.


text:
 I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that without ceasing, I have a remembrance of thee in my prayers, night and day.


text:
 Calling to mind that faith which is in thee unfeigned, which also dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I am certain that in thee also.


text:
 For which cause I admonish thee, that thou stir up the grace of God which is in thee, by the imposition of my hands.


text:
 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but labour with the gospel, according to the power of God,


text:
 Who hath delivered us and called us by his holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world.


text:
 But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath destroyed death, and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel:


text:
 For which cause I also suffer these things: but I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day.


text:
 Hold the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith, and in the love which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 Thou knowest this, that all they who are in Asia, are turned away from me: of whom are Phigellus and Hermogenes.


text:
 The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus: because he hath often refreshed me, and hath not been ashamed of my chain:


text:
 The Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou very well knowest.


text:
 And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also.


text:
 No man, being a soldier to God, entangleth himself with secular businesses; that he may please him to whom he hath engaged himself.


text:
 Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen again from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel.


text:
 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory.


text:
 Of these things put them in mind, charging them before the Lord. Contend not in words, for it is to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.


text:
 Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.


text:
 Who have erred from the truth, saying, that the resurrection is past already, and have subverted the faith of some.


text:
 But the sure foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal: the Lord knoweth who are his; and let every one depart from iniquity who nameth the name of the Lord.


text:
 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth: and some indeed unto honour, but some unto dishonour.


text:
 If any man therefore shall cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and profitable to the Lord, prepared unto every good work.


text:
 But flee thou youthful desires, and pursue justice, faith, charity, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.


text:
 With modesty admonishing them that resist the truth: if peradventure God may give them repentance to know the truth,


text:
 And they may recover themselves from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will.


text:
 Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,


text:
 For of these sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires:


text:
 Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.


text:
 But they shall proceed no farther; for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.


text:
 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,


text:
 Persecutions, afflictions: such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra: what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me.


text:
 But continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and which have been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them;


text:
 And because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can instruct thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.


text:
 All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice,


text:
 I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming, and his kingdom:


text:
 Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine.


text:
 For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears:


text:
 But be thou vigilant, labour in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. Be sober.


text:
 As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love his coming. Make haste to come to me quickly.


text:
 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.


text:
 The cloak that I left at Troas, with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, especially the parchments.


text:
 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching may be accomplished, and that all the Gentiles may hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.


text:
 The Lord hath delivered me from every evil work: and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 Make haste to come before winter Eubulus and Pudens, and Linus and Claudia, and all the brethren, salute thee.


text:
 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of the elect of God and the acknowledging of the truth, which is according to godliness:


text:
 Unto the hope of life everlasting, which God, who lieth not, hath promised before the times of the world:


text:
 But hath in due times manifested his word in preaching, which is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior:


text:
 To Titus my beloved son, according to the common faith, grace and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus our Savior.


text:
 For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee:


text:
 If any be without crime, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot, or unruly.


text:
 For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre:


text:
 Embracing that faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort in sound doctrine, and to convince the gainsayers.


text:
 For there are also many disobedient, vain talkers, and seducers: especially they who are of the circumcision:


text:
 Who must be reproved, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.


text:
 One of them a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slothful bellies.


text:
 All things are clean to the clean: but to them that are defiled, and to unbelievers, nothing is clean: but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.


text:
 They profess that they know God: but in their works they deny him; being abominable, and incredulous, and to every good work reprobate.


text:
 The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well:


text:
 To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.


text:
 The sound word that can not be blamed: that he, who is on the contrary part, may be afraid, having no evil to say of us.


text:
 Not defrauding, but in all things shewing good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things:


text:
 Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world,


text:
 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.


text:
 Admonish them to be subject to princes and powers, to obey at a word, to be ready to every good work.


text:
 For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.


text:
 Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost;


text:
 It is a faithful saying: and these things I will have thee affirm constantly: that they, who believe in God, may be careful to excel in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.


text:
 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain.


text:
 Knowing that he, that is such an one, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment.


text:
 When I shall send to thee Artemas or Tychicus, make haste to come unto me to Nicopolis. For there I have determined to winter.


text:
 All that are with me salute thee: salute them that love us in the faith. The grace of God be with you all. Amen.


text:
 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy, a brother: to Philemon, our beloved and fellow labourer;


text:
 And to Appia, our dearest sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the church which is in thy house:


text:
 That the communication of thy faith may be made evident in the acknowledgment of every good work, that is in you in Christ Jesus.


text:
 For I have had great joy and consolation in thy charity, because the bowels of the saints have been refreshed by thee, brother.


text:
 Wherefore though I have much confidence in Christ Jesus, to command thee that which is to the purpose:


text:
 For charity sake I rather beseech, whereas thou art such a one, as Paul an old man, and now a prisoner also of Jesus Christ.


text:
 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered to me in the bands of the gospel:


text:
 But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary.


text:
 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season from thee, that thou mightest receive him again for ever:


text:
 Not now as a servant, but instead of a servant, a most dear brother, especially to me: but how much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord?


text:
 I Paul have written it with my own hand: I will repay it: not to say to thee, that thou owest me thy own self also.


text:
 But withal prepare me also a lodging. For I hope that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.


text:
 God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all,


text:
 In these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world.


text:
 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high.


text:
 For to which of the angels hath he said at any time, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?


text:
 And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him.


text:
 And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.


text:
 But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.


text:
 And: Thou in the beginning, O Lord, didst found the earth: and the works of thy hands are the heavens.


text:
 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.


text:
 But to which of the angels said he at any time: Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?


text:
 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?


text:
 Therefore ought we more diligently to observe the things which we have heard, lest perhaps we should let them slip.


text:
 For if the word, spoken by angels, became steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward:


text:
 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? which having begun to be declared by the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.


text:
 God also bearing them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will.


text:
 But one in a certain place hath testified, saying: What is man, that thou art mindful of him: or the son of man, that thou visitest him?


text:
 Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast set him over the works of thy hands:


text:
 Thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in that he hath subjected all things to him, he left nothing not subject to him. But now we see not as yet all things subject to him.


text:
 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God, he might taste death for all.


text:
 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, by his passion.


text:
 For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:


text:
 And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold I and my children, whom God hath given me.


text:
 Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that, through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil:


text:
 And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude.


text:
 Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful priest before God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people.


text:
 For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is able to succour them also that are tempted.


text:
 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly vocation, consider the apostle and high priest of our confession, Jesus:


text:
 For this man was counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, by so much as he that hath built the house, hath greater honour than the house.


text:
 And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be said:


text:
 But Christ as the Son in his own house: which house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and glory of hope unto the end.


text:
 Forty years: for which cause I was offended with this generation, and I said: They always err in heart. And they have not known my ways,


text:
 Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God.


text:
 But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called to day, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.


text:
 For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end.


text:
 While it is said, To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in that provocation.


text:
 And with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with them that sinned, whose carcasses were overthrown in the desert?


text:
 And to whom did he swear, that they should not enter into his rest: but to them that were incredulous?


text:
 Let us fear therefore lest the promise being left of entering into his rest, any of you should be thought to be wanting.


text:
 For unto us also it hath been declared, in like manner as unto them. But the word of hearing did not profit them, not being mixed with faith of those things they heard.


text:
 For we, who have believed, shall enter into rest; as he said: As I have sworn in my wrath; If they shall enter into my rest; and this indeed when the works from the foundation of the world were finished.


text:
 For in a certain place he spoke of the seventh day thus: And God rested the seventh day from all his works.


text:
 Seeing then it remaineth that some are to enter into it, and they, to whom it was first preached, did not enter because of unbelief:


text:
 Again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time, as it is above said: To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts.


text:
 For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his.


text:
 Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest; lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief.


text:
 For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


text:
 Neither is there any creature invisible in his sight: but all things are naked and open to his eyes, to whom our speech is.


text:
 Having therefore a great high priest that hath passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession.


text:
 For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin.


text:
 Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid.


text:
 For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins:


text:
 Who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity.


text:
 So Christ also did not glorify himself, that he might be made a high priest: but he that said unto him: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.


text:
 As he saith also in another place: Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.


text:
 Who in the days of his flesh, with a strong cry and tears, offering up prayers and supplications to him that was able to save him from death, was heard for his reverence.


text:
 Of whom we have much to say, and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.


text:
 For whereas for the time you ought to be masters, you have need to be taught again what are the first elements of the words of God: and you are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.


text:
 For every one that is a partaker of milk, is unskillful in the word of justice: for he is a little child.


text:
 But strong meat is for the perfect; for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.


text:
 Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect, not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works, and of faith towards God,


text:
 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.


text:
 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,


text:
 And are fallen away: to be renewed again to penance, crucifying again to themselves the Son of God, and making him a mockery.


text:
 For the earth that drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God.


text:
 But that which bringeth forth thorns and briers, is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.


text:
 But, my dearly beloved, we trust better things of you, and nearer to salvation; though we speak thus.


text:
 For God is not unjust, that he should forget your work, and the love which you have shewn in his name, you who have ministered, and do minister to the saints.


text:
 And we desire that every one of you shew forth the same carefulness to the accomplishing of hope unto the end:


text:
 That you become not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience shall inherit the promises.


text:
 For God making promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom he might swear, swore by himself,


text:
 For men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.


text:
 Wherein God, meaning more abundantly to shew to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed an oath:


text:
 That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have the strongest comfort, who have fled for refuge to hold fast the hope set before us.


text:
 Where the forerunner Jesus is entered for us, made a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.


text:
 For this Melchisedech was king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:


text:
 To whom also Abraham divided the tithes of all: who first indeed by interpretation, is king of justice: and then also king of Salem, that is, king of peace:


text:
 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened unto the Son of God, continueth a priest for ever.


text:
 Now consider how great this man is, to whom also Abraham the patriarch gave tithes out of the principal things.


text:
 And indeed they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is to say, of their brethren: though they themselves also came out of the loins of Abraham.


text:
 But he, whose pedigree is not numbered among them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.


text:
 If then perfection was by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedech, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?


text:
 For he, of whom these things are spoken, is of another tribe, of which no one attended on the altar.


text:
 For it is evident that our Lord sprung out of Juda: in which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.


text:
 And it is yet far more evident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedech there ariseth another priest,


text:
 Who is made not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the power of an indissoluble life:


text:
 There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness thereof:


text:
 (For the law brought nothing to perfection,) but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.


text:
 And inasmuch as it is not without an oath, (for the others indeed were made priests without an oath;


text:
 But this with an oath, by him that said unto him: The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever.)


text:
 And the others indeed were made many priests, because by reason of death they were not suffered to continue:


text:
 Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us.


text:
 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;


text:
 Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, in offering himself.


text:
 For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath, which was since the law, the Son who is perfected for evermore.


text:
 Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens,


text:
 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that he also should have some thing to offer.


text:
 If then he were on earth, he would not be a priest: seeing that there would be others to offer gifts according to the law,


text:
 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shewn thee on the mount.


text:
 But now he hath obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament, which is established on better promises.


text:
 For if that former had been faultless, there should not indeed a place have been sought for a second.


text:
 For finding fault with them, he saith: Behold, the days shall come, saith the Lord: and I will perfect unto the house of Israel, and unto the house of Juda, a new testament:


text:
 Not according to the testament which I made to their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my testament: and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.


text:
 For this is the testament which I will make to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my laws into their mind, and in their heart will I write them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:


text:
 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the least to the greatest of them:


text:
 Now in saying a new, he hath made the former old. And that which decayeth and groweth old, is near its end.


text:
 For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the candlesticks, and the table, and the setting forth of loaves, which is called the holy.


text:
 Having a golden censer, and the ark of the testament covered about on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna, and the rod of Aaron, that had blossomed, and the tables of the testament.


text:
 And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly.


text:
 Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of sacrifices.


text:
 But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not without blood, which he offereth for his own, and the people's ignorance:


text:
 The Holy Ghost signifying this, that the way into the holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing.


text:
 Which is a parable of the time present: according to which gifts and sacrifices are offered, which can not, as to the conscience, make him perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks,


text:
 But Christ, being come an high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:


text:
 Neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.


text:
 For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh:


text:
 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?


text:
 And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death, for the redemption of those trangressions, which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.


text:
 For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.


text:
 For when every commandment of the law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,


text:
 And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission.


text:
 It is necessary therefore that the patterns of heavenly things should be cleansed with these: but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.


text:
 For Jesus is not entered into the holies made with hands, the patterns of the true: but into heaven itself, that he may appear now in the presence of God for us.


text:
 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holies, every year with the blood of others:


text:
 For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of the world: but now once at the end of ages, he hath appeared for the destruction of sin, by the sacrifice of himself.


text:
 So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; the second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto salvation.


text:
 For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things; by the selfsame sacrifices which they offer continually every year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect:


text:
 For then they would have ceased to be offered: because the worshippers once cleansed should have no conscience of sin any longer:


text:
 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me:


text:
 Then said I: Behold I come: in the head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God.


text:
 In saying before, Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin thou wouldest not, neither are they pleasing to thee, which are offered according to the law.


text:
 Then said I: Behold, I come to do thy will, O God: he taketh away the first, that he may establish that which followeth.


text:
 And every priest indeed standeth daily ministering, and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.


text:
 And this is the testament which I will make unto them after those days, saith the Lord. I will give my laws in their hearts, and on their minds will I write them:


text:
 Let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water.


text:
 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised),


text:
 Not forsaking our assembly, as some are accustomed; but comforting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.


text:
 For if we sin wilfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins,


text:
 But a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries.


text:
 How much more, do you think he deserveth worse punishments, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the Spirit of grace?


text:
 For we know him that hath said: Vengeance belongeth to me, and I will repay. And again: The Lord shall judge his people.


text:
 But call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions.


text:
 And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazingstock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort.


text:
 For you both had compassion on them that were in bands, and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance.


text:
 By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God; that from invisible things visible things might be made.


text:
 By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.


text:
 By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.


text:
 But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him.


text:
 By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith.


text:
 By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.


text:
 By faith he abode in the land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.


text:
 By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,


text:
 For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead) as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.


text:
 All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.


text:
 And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return.


text:
 But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.


text:
 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son;


text:
 Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.


text:
 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.


text:
 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents; because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king's edict.


text:
 Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time,


text:
 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward.


text:
 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured as seeing him that is invisible.


text:
 By faith he celebrated the pasch, and the shedding of the blood; that he, who destroyed the firstborn, might not touch them.


text:
 By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up.


text:
 And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:


text:
 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:


text:
 Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.


text:
 They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:


text:
 Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth.


text:
 And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:


text:
 Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.


text:
 For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.


text:
 And you have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh to you, as unto children, saying: My son, neglect not the discipline of the Lord; neither be thou wearied whilst thou art rebuked by him.


text:
 Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?


text:
 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are made partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.


text:
 Moreover we have had fathers of our flesh, for instructors, and we reverenced them: shall we not much more obey the Father of spirits, and live?


text:
 And they indeed for a few days, according to their own pleasure, instructed us: but he, for our profit, that we might receive his sanctification.


text:
 Now all chastisement for the present indeed seemeth not to bring with it joy, but sorrow: but afterwards it will yield, to them that are exercised by it, the most peaceable fruit of justice.


text:
 And make straight steps with your feet: that no one, halting, may go out of the way; but rather be healed.


text:
 Looking diligently, lest any man be wanting to the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up do hinder, and by it many be defiled.


text:
 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau; who for one mess, sold his first birthright.


text:
 For know ye that afterwards, when he desired to inherit the benediction, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, although with tears he had sought it.


text:
 For you are not come to a mountain that might be touched, and a burning fire, and a whirlwind, and darkness, and storm,


text:
 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard excused themselves, that the word might not be spoken to them:


text:
 For they did not endure that which was said: And if so much as a beast shall touch the mount, it shall be stoned.


text:
 But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels,


text:
 And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,


text:
 And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.


text:
 See that you refuse him not that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke upon the earth, much more shall not we, that turn away from him that speaketh to us from heaven.


text:
 Whose voice then moved the earth; but now he promiseth, saying: Yet once more, and I will move not only the earth, but heaven also.


text:
 And in that he saith, Yet once more, he signifieth the translation of the moveable things as made, that those things may remain which are immoveable.


text:
 Therefore receiving an immoveable kingdom, we have grace; whereby let us serve, pleasing God, with fear and reverence.


text:
 Remember them that are in bands, as if you were bound with them; and them that labour, as being yourselves also in the body.


text:
 Let your manners be without covetousness, contented with such things as you have; for he hath said: I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee.


text:
 Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation,


text:
 Be not led away with various and strange doctrines. For it is best that the heart be established with grace, not with meats; which have not profited those that walk in them.


text:
 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holies by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.


text:
 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate.


text:
 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that is to say, the fruit of lips confessing to his name.


text:
 Obey your prelates, and be subject to them. For they watch as being to render an account of your souls; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief. For this is not expedient for you.


text:
 Pray for us. For we trust we have a good conscience, being willing to behave ourselves well in all things.


text:
 And may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great pastor of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the blood of the everlasting testament,


text:
 Fit you in all goodness, that you may do his will; doing in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 And I beseech you, brethren, that you suffer this word of consolation. For I have written to you in a few words.


text:
 James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.


text:
 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men abundantly, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.


text:
 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.


text:
 For the sun rose with a burning heat, and parched the grass, and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.


text:
 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive a crown of life, which God hath promised to them that love him.


text:
 Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils, and he tempteth no man.


text:
 Then when concupiscence hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. But sin, when it is completed, begetteth death.


text:
 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration.


text:
 For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures.


text:
 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger.


text:
 Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.


text:
 For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass.


text:
 But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed.


text:
 And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.


text:
 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.


text:
 For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,


text:
 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:


text:
 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?


text:
 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?


text:
 If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.


text:
 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.


text:
 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.


text:
 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?


text:
 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?


text:
 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.


text:
 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.


text:
 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?


text:
 For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.


text:
 For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.


text:
 Behold also ships, whereas they are great, and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.


text:
 Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.


text:
 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.


text:
 For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man:


text:
 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.


text:
 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear grapes; or the vine, figs? So neither can the salt water yield sweet.


text:
 Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew, by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.


text:
 But if you have bitter zeal, and there be contentions in your hearts; glory not, and be not liars against the truth.


text:
 But the wisdom, that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.


text:
 From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members?


text:
 You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not.


text:
 Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world, becometh an enemy of God.


text:
 Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?


text:
 But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.


text:
 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


text:
 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into sorrow.


text:
 Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracteth his brother, or he that judgeth his brother, detracteth the law, and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.


text:
 But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? Behold, now you that say: To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year, and will traffic, and make our gain.


text:
 For what is your life? It is a vapour which appeareth for a little while, and afterwards shall vanish away. For that you should say: If the Lord will, and if we shall live, we will do this or that.


text:
 Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days.


text:
 Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.


text:
 You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter.


text:
 Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain.


text:
 Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door.


text:
 Take, my brethren, for an example of suffering evil, of labour and patience, the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord.


text:
 Behold, we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate.


text:
 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be, yea, yea: no, no: that you fall not under judgment.


text:
 Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.


text:
 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.


text:
 Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.


text:
 Elias was a man passible like unto us: and with prayer he prayed that it might not rain upon the earth, and it rained not for three years and six months.


text:
 He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.


text:
 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect,


text:
 According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, unto the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.


text:
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,


text:
 Unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that can not fade, reserved in heaven for you,


text:
 Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations:


text:
 That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


text:
 Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified;


text:
 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and diligently searched, who prophesied of the grace to come in you.


text:
 Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify: when it foretold those sufferings that are in Christ, and the glories that should follow:


text:
 To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they ministered those things which are now declared to you by them that have preached the gospel to you, the Holy Ghost being sent down from heaven, on whom the angels desire to look.


text:
 Wherefore having the loins of your mind girt up, being sober, trust perfectly in the grace which is offered you in the revelation of Jesus Christ,


text:
 But according to him that hath called you, who is holy, be you also in all manner of conversation holy:


text:
 And if you invoke as Father him who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to every one's work: converse in fear during the time of your sojourning here.


text:
 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as gold or silver, from your vain conversation of the tradition of your fathers:


text:
 Who through him are faithful in God, who raised him up from the dead, and hath given him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.


text:
 Purifying your souls in the obedience of charity, with a brotherly love, from a sincere heart love one another earnestly:


text:
 Being born again not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God who liveth and remaineth for ever.


text:
 For all flesh is as grass; and all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass is withered, and the flower thereof is fallen away.


text:
 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel hath been preached unto you.


text:
 Wherefore laying away all malice, and all guile, and dissimulations, and envies, and all detractions,


text:
 As newborn babes, desire the rational milk without guile, that thereby you may grow unto salvation:


text:
 Unto whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen and made honourable by God:


text:
 Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.


text:
 Wherefore it is said in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious. And he that shall believe in him, shall not be confounded.


text:
 To you therefore that believe, he is honour: but to them that believe not, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner:


text:
 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of scandal, to them who stumble at the word, neither do believe, whereunto also they are set.


text:
 But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:


text:
 Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.


text:
 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul,


text:
 Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation.


text:
 Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be to the king as excelling;


text:
 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.


text:
 For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.


text:
 For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God.


text:
 For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps.


text:
 Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.


text:
 Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.


text:
 For you were as sheep going astray; but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.


text:
 In like manner also let wives be subject to their husbands: that if any believe not the word, they may be won without the word, by the conversation of the wives.


text:
 Whose adorning let it not be the outward plaiting of the hair, or the wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel:


text:
 But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God.


text:
 For after this manner heretofore the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:


text:
 As Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, doing well, and not fearing any disturbance.


text:
 Ye husbands, likewise dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honour to the female as to the weaker vessel, and as to the co-heirs of the grace of life: that your prayers be not hindered.


text:
 And in fine, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble:


text:
 Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.


text:
 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.


text:
 Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them that do evil things.


text:
 But if also you suffer any thing for justice' sake, blessed are ye. And be not afraid of their fear, and be not troubled.


text:
 But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.


text:
 But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.


text:
 Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,


text:
 Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.


text:
 Whereunto baptism being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.


text:
 Who is on the right hand of God, swallowing down death, that we might be made heirs of life everlasting: being gone into heaven, the angels and powers and virtues being made subject to him.


text:
 Christ therefore having suffered in the flesh, be you also armed with the same thought: for he that hath suffered in the flesh, hath ceased from sins:


text:
 That now he may live the rest of his time in the flesh , not after the desires of men, but according to the will of God.


text:
 For the time past is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, for them who have walked in riotousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and unlawful worshipping of idols.


text:
 Wherein they think it strange, that you run not with them into the same confusion of riotousness, speaking evil of you.


text:
 For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to the dead: that they might be judged indeed according to men, in the flesh; but may live according to God, in the Spirit.


text:
 But before all things have a constant mutual charity among yourselves: for charity covereth a multitude of sins.


text:
 As every man hath received grace, ministering the same one to another: as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.


text:
 If any man speak, let him speak, as the words of God. If any man minister, let him do it, as of the power, which God administereth: that in all things God may be honoured through Jesus Christ: to whom is glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 Dearly beloved, think not strange the burning heat which is to try you, as if some new thing happened to you;


text:
 But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.


text:
 If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory, and power of God, and that which is his Spirit, resteth upon you.


text:
 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other men's things.


text:
 For the time is, that judgment should begin at the house of God. And if first at us, what shall be the end of them that believe not the gospel of God?


text:
 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God, commend their souls in good deeds to the faithful Creator.


text:
 The ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech, who am myself also an ancient, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ: as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come:


text:
 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God: not for filthy lucre's sake, but voluntarily:


text:
 In like manner, ye young men, be subject to the ancients. And do you all insinuate humility one to another, for God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace.


text:
 Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation:


text:
 Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour.


text:
 Whom resist ye, strong in faith: knowing that the same affliction befalls your brethren who are in the world.


text:
 But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you.


text:
 By Sylvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I think, I have written briefly: beseeching and testifying that this is the true grace of God, wherein you stand.


text:
 Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained equal faith with us in the justice of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.


text:
 As all things of his divine power which appertain to life and godliness, are given us, through the knowledge of him who hath called us by his own proper glory and virtue.


text:
 By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world.


text:
 For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you to be neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.


text:
 Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time.


text:
 For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


text:
 For which cause I will begin to put you always in remembrance of these things: though indeed you know them, and are confirmed in the present truth.


text:
 But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.


text:
 Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand, according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified to me.


text:
 And I will endeavour, that you frequently have after my decease, whereby you may keep a memory of these things.


text:
 For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his greatness.


text:
 For he received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.


text:
 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:


text:
 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.


text:
 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction.


text:
 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition slumbereth not.


text:
 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto judgment:


text:
 And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the eighth person, the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.


text:
 And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that should after act wickedly.


text:
 For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them, who from day to day vexed the just soul with unjust works.


text:
 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented.


text:
 And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government, audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming.


text:
 Whereas angels who are greater in strength and power, bring not against themselves a railing judgment.


text:
 But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their corruption,


text:
 Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you:


text:
 Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with covetousness, children of malediction:


text:
 Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,


text:
 But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the yoke, which speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet.


text:
 These are fountains without water, and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved.


text:
 For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the desires of fleshly riotousness, those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error:


text:
 Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.


text:
 For if, flying from the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they be again entangled in them and overcome: their latter state is become unto them worse than the former.


text:
 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them.


text:
 For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog is returned to his vomit: and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.


text:
 Behold this second epistle I write to you, my dearly beloved, in which I stir up by way of admonition your sincere mind:


text:
 That you may be mindful of those words which I told you before from the holy prophets, and of your apostles, of the precepts of the Lord and Saviour.


text:
 Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come deceitful scoffers, walking after their own lusts,


text:
 Saying: Where is his promise or his coming? for since the time that the fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.


text:
 For this they are wilfully ignorant of, that the heavens were before, and the earth out of water, and through water, consisting by the word of God.


text:
 But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of the ungodly men.


text:
 But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.


text:
 The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance.


text:
 But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence, and the elements shall be melted with heat, and the earth and the works which are in it, shall be burnt up.


text:
 Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness?


text:
 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat?


text:
 Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent that you may be found before him unspotted and blameless in peace.


text:
 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:


text:
 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.


text:
 You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness.


text:
 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.


text:
 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the word of life:


text:
 For the life was manifested; and we have seen and do bear witness, and declare unto you the life eternal, which was with the Father, and hath appeared to us:


text:
 That which we have seen and have heard, we declare unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship may be with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.


text:
 And this is the declaration which we have heard from him, and declare unto you: That God is light, and in him there is no darkness.


text:
 But if we walk in the light, as he also is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.


text:
 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity.


text:
 My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just:


text:
 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.


text:
 He who saith that he knoweth him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.


text:
 But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected; and by this we know that we are in him.


text:
 Dearly beloved, I write not a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you have heard.


text:
 Again a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true both in him and in you; because the darkness is passed, and the true light now shineth.


text:
 But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth; because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.


text:
 I write unto you, fathers, because you have known him, who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.


text:
 I write unto you, babes, because you have known the Father. I write unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.


text:
 Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.


text:
 For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world.


text:
 And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever.


text:
 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that Antichrist cometh, even now there are become many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last hour.


text:
 They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us; but that they may be manifest, that they are not all of us.


text:
 I have not written to you as to them that know not the truth, but as to them that know it: and that no lie is of the truth.


text:
 Who is a liar, but he who denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is Antichrist, who denieth the Father, and the Son.


text:
 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that confesseth the Son, hath the Father also.


text:
 As for you, let that which you have heard from the beginning, abide in you. If that abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning, you also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.


text:
 And as for you, let the unction, which you have received from him, abide in you. And you have no need that any man teach you; but as his unction teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie. And as it hath taught you, abide in him.


text:
 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be confounded by him at his coming.


text:
 Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.


text:
 Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.


text:
 He that commmitteth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.


text:
 Whosoever is born of God, commmitteth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God.


text:
 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not just, is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother.


text:
 For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another.


text:
 Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother's just.


text:
 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death.


text:
 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.


text:
 In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.


text:
 He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?


text:
 And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.


text:
 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.


text:
 And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.


text:
 Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they be of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.


text:
 By this is the spirit of God known. Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God:


text:
 And every spirit that dissolveth Jesus, is not of God: and this is Antichrist, of whom you have heard that he cometh, and he is now already in the world.


text:
 You are of God, little children, and have overcome him. Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.


text:
 We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.


text:
 Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God.


text:
 By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him.


text:
 In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.


text:
 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us.


text:
 And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.


text:
 And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God hath to us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him.


text:
 In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.


text:
 Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.


text:
 If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?


text:
 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him.


text:
 For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.


text:
 This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth.


text:
 And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one.


text:
 And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three are one.


text:
 If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son.


text:
 He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son, maketh him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of his Son.


text:
 These things I write to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.


text:
 And this is the confidence which we have towards him: That, whatsoever we shall ask according to his will, he heareth us.


text:
 And we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask: we know that we have the petitions which we request of him.


text:
 He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him, who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any man ask.


text:
 We know that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: but the generation of God preserveth him, and the wicked one toucheth him not.


text:
 And we know that the Son of God is come: and he hath given us understanding that we may know the true God, and may be in his true Son. This is the true God and life eternal.


text:
 The ancient to the lady Elect, and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth,


text:
 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and from Christ Jesus the Son of the Father; in truth and charity.


text:
 I was exceeding glad, that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.


text:
 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as writing a new commandment to thee, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.


text:
 And this is charity, that we walk according to his commandments. For this is the commandment, that, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in the same:


text:
 For many seducers are gone out into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this is a seducer and an antichrist.


text:
 Look to yourselves, that you lose not the things which you have wrought: but that you may receive a full reward.


text:
 Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son.


text:
 If any man come to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him, God speed you.


text:
 Having more things to write unto you, I would not by paper and ink: for I hope that I shall be with you, and speak face to face: that your joy may be full.


text:
 Dearly beloved, concerning all things I make it my prayer that thou mayest proceed prosperously, and fare well as thy soul doth prosperously.


text:
 I was exceedingly glad when the brethren came and gave testimony to the truth in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.


text:
 Who have given testimony to thy charity in the sight of the church: whom thou shalt do well to bring forward on their way in a manner worthy of God.


text:
 I had written perhaps to the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, doth not receive us.


text:
 For this cause, if I come, I will advertise his works which he doth, with malicious words prating against us. And as if these things were not enough for him, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that do receive them he forbiddeth, and casteth out of the church.


text:
 Dearly beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doth good, is of God: he that doth evil, hath not seen God.


text:
 To Demetrius testimony is given by all, and by the truth itself, yea and we also give testimony: and thou knowest that our testimony is true.


text:
 But I hope speedily to see thee, and we will speak mouth to mouth. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.


text:
 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James: to them that are beloved in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.


text:
 Dearly beloved, taking all care to write unto you concerning your common salvation, I was under a necessity to write unto you: to beseech you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.


text:
 For certain men are secretly entered in, (who were written of long ago unto this judgment,) ungodly men, turning the grace of our Lord God into riotousness, and denying the only sovereign Ruler, and our Lord Jesus Christ.


text:
 I will therefore admonish you, though ye once knew all things, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, did afterwards destroy them that believed not:


text:
 And the angels who kept not their principality, but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in everlasting chains, unto the judgment of the great day.


text:
 As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.


text:
 When Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses, he durst not bring against him the judgment of railing speech, but said: The Lord command thee.


text:
 But these men blaspheme whatever things they know not: and what things soever they naturally know, like dumb beasts, in these they are corrupted.


text:
 Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain: and after the error of Balaam they have for reward poured out themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core.


text:
 These are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water, which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots,


text:
 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusion; wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.


text:
 Now of these Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying: Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his saints,


text:
 To execute judgment upon all, and to reprove all the ungodly for all the works of their ungodliness, whereby they have done ungodly, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against God.


text:
 These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring persons for gain's sake.


text:
 But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
 Who told you, that in the last time there should come mockers, walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses.


text:
 Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting.


text:
 But others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal.


text:
 Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin, and to present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,


text:
 To the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, and now, and for all ages of ages. Amen.


text:
 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to make known to his servants the things which must shortly come to pass: and signified, sending by his angel to his servant John,


text:
 Who hath given testimony to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, what things soever he hath seen.


text:
 Blessed is he, that readeth and heareth the words of this prophecy; and keepeth those things which are written in it; for the time is at hand.


text:
 John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be unto you and peace from him that is, and that was, and that is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne,


text:
 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,


text:
 And hath made us a kingdom, and priests to God and his Father, to him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 Behold, he cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also that pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth shall bewail themselves because of him. Even so. Amen.


text:
 " I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, saith the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. "


text:
 I John, your brother and your partner in tribulation, and in the kingdom, and patience in Christ Jesus, was in the island, which is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus.


text:
 " Saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send to the seven churches which are in Asia, to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardis, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. "


text:
 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks:


text:
 And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.


text:
 And his head and his hairs were white, as white wool, and as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire,


text:
 And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters.


text:
 And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his mouth came out a sharp two edged sword: and his face was as the sun shineth in his power.


text:
 " And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last, "


text:
 " And alive, and was dead, and behold I am living for ever and ever, and have the keys of death and of hell. "


text:
 " Write therefore the things which thou hast seen, and which are, and which must be done hereafter. "


text:
 " The mystery of the seven stars, which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. And the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. "


text:
 " Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he, who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: "


text:
 " I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil, and thou hast tried them, who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: "


text:
 " Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance. "


text:
 " He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him, that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God. "


text:
 " And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead, and is alive: "


text:
 " I know thy tribulation and thy poverty, but thou art rich: and thou art blasphemed by them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. "


text:
 " Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison that you may be tried: and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful until death: and I will give thee the crown of life. "


text:
 " He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome, shall not be hurt by the second death. "


text:
 " And to the angel of the church of Pergamus write: These things, saith he, that hath the sharp two edged sword: "


text:
 " I know where thou dwellest, where the seat of Satan is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith. Even in those days when Antipas was my faithful witness, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. "


text:
 " But I have against thee a few things: because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat, and to commit fornication: "


text:
 " In like manner do penance: if not, I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. "


text:
 " He, that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: To him that overcometh, I will give the hidden manna, and will give him a white counter, and in the counter, a new name written, which no man knoweth, but he that receiveth it. "


text:
 " And to the angel of the church of Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like to a flame of fire, and his feet like to fine brass. "


text:
 " I know thy works, and thy faith, and thy charity, and thy ministry, and thy patience, and thy last works which are more than the former. "


text:
 " But I have against thee a few things: because thou sufferest the woman Jezabel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach, and to seduce my servants, to commit fornication, and to eat of things sacrificed to idols. "


text:
 " Behold, I will cast her into a bed: and they that commit adultery with her shall be in very great tribulation, except they do penance from their deeds. "


text:
 " And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give to every one of you according to your works. But to you I say, "


text:
 " And to the rest who are at Thyatira: Whosoever have not this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will not put upon you any other burthen. "


text:
 " And he that shall overcome, and keep my works unto the end, I will give him power over the nations. "


text:
 " And to the angel of the church of Sardis, write: These things saith he, that hath the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast the name of being alive: and thou art dead. "


text:
 " Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, which are ready to die. For I find not thy works full before my God. "


text:
 " Have in mind therefore in what manner thou hast received and heard: and observe, and do penance. If then thou shalt not watch, I will come to thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know at what hour I will come to thee. "


text:
 " But thou hast a few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments: and they shall walk with me in white, because they are worthy. "


text:
 " He that shall overcome, shall thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. "


text:
 " And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia, write: These things saith the Holy One and the true one, he that hath the key of David; he that openeth, and no man shutteth; shutteth, and no man openeth: "


text:
 " I know thy works. Behold, I have given before thee a door opened, which no man can shut: because thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. "


text:
 " Behold, I will bring of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and adore before thy feet. And they shall know that I have loved thee. "


text:
 " Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of the temptation, which shall come upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth. "


text:
 " He that shall overcome, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; and he shall go out no more; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and my new name. "


text:
 " And to the angel of the church of Laodicea, write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God: "


text:
 " But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth. "


text:
 " Because thou sayest: I am rich, and made wealthy, and have need of nothing: and knowest not, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. "


text:
 " I counsel thee to buy of me gold fire tried, that thou mayest be made rich; and mayest be clothed in white garments, and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. "


text:
 " Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. "


text:
 " To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne. "


text:
 After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must be done hereafter.


text:
 And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.


text:
 And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.


text:
 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats, four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads were crowns of gold.


text:
 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.


text:
 And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind.


text:
 And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying.


text:
 And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.


text:
 And when those living creatures gave glory, and honour, and benediction to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever;


text:
 The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:


text:
 Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory, and honour, and power: because thou hast created all things; and for thy will they were, and have been created.


text:
 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals.


text:
 And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?


text:
 And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.


text:
 And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.


text:
 And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.


text:
 And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints:


text:
 And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.


text:
 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; and the number of them was thousands of thousands,


text:
 Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction.


text:
 And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them: I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever.


text:
 And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever.


text:
 And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures, as it were the voice of thunder, saying: Come, and see.


text:
 And I saw: and behold a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and there was a crown given him, and he went forth conquering that he might conquer.


text:
 And there went out another horse that was red: and to him that sat thereon, it was given that he should take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another, and a great sword was given to him.


text:
 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying: Come, and see. And behold a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of scales in his hand.


text:
 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying: Two pounds of wheat for a penny, and thrice two pounds of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the wine and the oil.


text:
 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature, saying: Come, and see.


text:
 And behold a pale horse, and he that sat upon him, his name was Death, and hell followed him. And power was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to kill with sword, with famine, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.


text:
 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.


text:
 And they cried with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord (holy and true) dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?


text:
 And white robes were given to every one of them one; and it was said to them, that they should rest for a little time, till their fellow servants, and their brethren, who are to be slain, even as they, should be filled up.


text:
 And I saw, when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair: and the whole moon became as blood:


text:
 And the stars from heaven fell upon the earth, as the fig tree casteth its green figs when it is shaken by a great wind:


text:
 And the heaven departed as a book folded up: and every mountain, and the islands were moved out of their places.


text:
 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and tribunes, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of mountains:


text:
 And they say to the mountains and the rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb:


text:
 After these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that they should not blow upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor on any tree.


text:
 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,


text:
 Saying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads.


text:
 And I heard the number of them that were signed, an hundred forty-four thousand were signed, of every tribe of the children of Israel.


text:
 Of the tribe of Juda, were twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Ruben, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand signed:


text:
 Of the tribe of Aser, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Nephthali, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Manasses, twelve thousand signed:


text:
 Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand signed:


text:
 Of the tribe of Zabulon, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand signed: Of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand signed.


text:
 After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands:


text:
 And they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God, who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb.


text:
 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and the four living creatures; and they fell down before the throne upon their faces, and adored God,


text:
 Saying: Amen. Benediction, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 And one of the ancients answered, and said to me: These that are clothed in white robes, who are they? and whence came they?


text:
 And I said to him: My Lord, thou knowest. And he said to me: These are they who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


text:
 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he, that sitteth on the throne, shall dwell over them.


text:
 For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall rule them, and shall lead them to the fountains of the waters of life, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.


text:
 And I saw seven angels standing in the presence of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets.


text:
 And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God.


text:
 And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel.


text:
 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it on the earth, and there were thunders and voices and lightnings, and a great earthquake.


text:
 And the first angel sounded the trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and it was cast on the earth, and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.


text:
 And the second angel sounded the trumpet: and as it were a great mountain, burning with fire, was cast into the sea, and the third part of the sea became blood:


text:
 And the third part of those creatures died, which had life in the sea, and the third part of the ships was destroyed.


text:
 And the third angel sounded the trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, burning as it were a torch, and it fell on the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters:


text:
 And the name of the star is called Wormwood. And the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.


text:
 And the fourth angel sounded the trumpet, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars, so that the third part of them was darkened, and the day did not shine for a third part of it, and the night in like manner.


text:
 And I beheld, and heard the voice of one eagle flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice: Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth: by reason of the rest of the voices of the three angels, who are yet to sound the trumpet.


text:
 And the fifth angel sounded the trumpet, and I saw a star fall from heaven upon the earth, and there was given to him the key of the bottomless pit.


text:
 And he opened the bottomless pit: and the smoke of the pit arose, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke of the pit.


text:
 And from the smoke of the pit there came out locusts upon the earth. And power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power:


text:
 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree: but only the men who have not the sign of God on their foreheads.


text:
 And it was given unto them that they should not kill them; but that they should torment them five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man.


text:
 And in those days men shall seek death, and shall not find it: and they shall desire to die, and death shall fly from them.


text:
 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle: and on their heads were, as it were, crowns like gold: and their faces were as the faces of men.


text:
 And they had breastplates as breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was as the noise of chariots and many horses running to battle.


text:
 And they had tails like to scorpions, and there were stings in their tails; and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had over them


text:
 A king, the angel of the bottomless pit; whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyon; in Latin Exterminans,


text:
 And the sixth angel sounded the trumpet: and I heard a voice from the four horns of the great altar, which is before the eyes of God,


text:
 Saying to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet: Loose the four angels, who are bound in the great river Euphrates.


text:
 And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year: for to kill the third part of men.


text:
 And the number of the army of horsemen was twenty thousand times ten thousand. And I heard the number of them.


text:
 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: and they that sat on them, had breastplates of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone, and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions: and from their mouths proceeded fire, and smoke, and brimstone.


text:
 And by these three plagues was slain the third part of men, by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.


text:
 For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For, their tails are like to serpents, and have heads: and with them they hurt.


text:
 And the rest of the men, who were not slain by these plagues, did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:


text:
 Neither did they penance from their murders, nor from their sorceries, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts.


text:
 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.


text:
 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth.


text:
 And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roareth. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.


text:
 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: Seal up the things which the seven thunders have spoken; and write them not.


text:
 And he swore by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things which are therein; and the earth, and the things which are in it; and the sea, and the things which are therein: That time shall be no longer.


text:
 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared by his servants the prophets.


text:
 And I heard a voice from heaven again speaking to me, and saying: Go, and take the book that is open, from the hand of the angel who standeth upon the sea, and upon the earth.


text:
 And I went to the angel, saying unto him, that he should give me the book. And he said to me: Take the book, and eat it up: and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.


text:
 And I took the book from the hand of the angel, and ate it up: and it was in my mouth, sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.


text:
 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and it was said to me: Arise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar and them that adore therein.


text:
 But the court, which is without the temple, cast out, and measure it not: because it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city they shall tread under foot two and forty months:


text:
 And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.


text:
 And if any man will hurt them, fire shall come out of their mouths, and shall devour their enemies. And if any man will hurt them, in this manner must he be slain.


text:
 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and they have power over waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they will.


text:
 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast, that ascendeth out of the abyss, shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.


text:
 And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city, which is called spiritually, Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord also was crucified.


text:
 And they of the tribes, and peoples, and tongues, and nations, shall see their bodies for three days and a half: and they shall not suffer their bodies to be laid in sepulchres.


text:
 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry: and shall send gifts one to another, because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth.


text:
 And after three days and a half, the spirit of life from God entered into them. And they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them that saw them.


text:
 And they heard a great voice from heaven, saying to them: Come up hither. And they went up to heaven in a cloud: and their enemies saw them.


text:
 And at that hour there was made a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell: and there were slain in the earthquake names of men seven thousand: and the rest were cast into a fear, and gave glory to the God of heaven.


text:
 And the seventh angel sounded the trumpet: and there were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of this world is become our Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Amen.


text:
 And the four and twenty ancients, who sit on their seats in the sight of God, fell on their faces and adored God, saying:


text:
 We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who art, and who wast, and who art to come: because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and thou hast reigned.


text:
 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest render reward to thy servants the prophets and the saints, and to them that fear thy name, little and great, and shouldest destroy them who have corrupted the earth.


text:
 And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake, and great hail.


text:
 And a great sign appeared in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars:


text:
 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, and ten horns: and on his head seven diadems:


text:
 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered; that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son.


text:
 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to God, and to his throne.


text:
 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, that there they should feed her a thousand two hundred sixty days.


text:
 And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels:


text:
 And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.


text:
 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.


text:
 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.


text:
 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.


text:
 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, who brought forth the man child:


text:
 And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.


text:
 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river; that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.


text:
 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth.


text:
 And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


text:
 And he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.


text:
 And the beast, which I saw, was like to a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his own strength, and great power.


text:
 And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast.


text:
 And they adored the dragon, which gave power to the beast: and they adored the beast, saying: Who is like to the beast? and who shall be able to fight with him?


text:
 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies: and power was given to him to do two and forty months.


text:
 And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.


text:
 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation.


text:
 And all the dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, which was slain from the beginning of the world.


text:
 He that shall lead into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword, must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.


text:
 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns, like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.


text:
 And he executed all the power of the former beast in his sight; and he caused the earth, and them that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose wound to death was healed.


text:
 And he did great signs, so that he made also fire to come down from heaven unto the earth in the sight of men.


text:
 And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs, which were given him to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and lived.


text:
 And it was given him to give life to the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak; and should cause, that whosoever will not adore the image of the beast, should be slain.


text:
 And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads.


text:
 And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.


text:
 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.


text:
 And I beheld, and lo a lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.


text:
 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder; and the voice which I heard, was as the voice of harpers, harping on their harps.


text:
 And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the ancients; and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth.


text:
 These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb:


text:
 And I saw another angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the eternal gospel, to preach unto them that sit upon the earth, and over every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people:


text:
 Saying with a loud voice: Fear the Lord, and give him honour, because the hour of his judgment is come; and adore ye him, that made heaven and earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters.


text:
 And another angel followed, saying: That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen; which made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.


text:
 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man shall adore the beast and his image, and receive his character in his forehead, or in his hand;


text:
 He also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mingled with pure wine in the cup of his wrath, and shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy angels, and in the sight of the Lamb.


text:
 And the smoke of their torments shall ascend up for ever and ever: neither have they rest day nor night, who have adored the beast, and his image, and whoever receiveth the character of his name.


text:
 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow them.


text:
 And I saw, and behold a white cloud; and upon the cloud one sitting like to the Son of man, having on his head a crown of gold, and in his hand a sharp sickle.


text:
 And another angel came out from the temple crying with a loud voice to him that sat upon the cloud: Thrust in thy sickle, and reap, because the hour is come to reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe.


text:
 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire; and he cried with a loud voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying: Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth; because the grapes thereof are ripe.


text:
 And the angel thrust in his sharp sickle into the earth, and gathered the vineyard of the earth, and cast it into the great press of the wrath of God:


text:
 And the press was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the press, up to the horses' bridles, for a thousand and six hundred furlongs.


text:
 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues. For in them is filled up the wrath of God.


text:
 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had overcome the beast, and his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God:


text:
 And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, O King of ages.


text:
 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come, and shall adore in thy sight, because thy judgments are manifest.


text:
 And after these things I looked; and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:


text:
 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen, and girt about the breasts with golden girdles.


text:
 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.


text:
 And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.


text:
 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels: Go, and pour out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.


text:
 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a sore and grievous wound upon men, who had the character of the beast; and upon them that adored the image thereof.


text:
 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and there came blood as it were of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.


text:
 And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters; and there was made blood.


text:
 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art, and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things:


text:
 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.


text:
 And I heard another, from the altar, saying: Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.


text:
 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and it was given unto him to afflict men with heat and fire:


text:
 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who hath power over these plagues, neither did they penance to give him glory.


text:
 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom became dark, and they gnawed their tongues for pain:


text:
 And they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their pains and wounds, and did not penance for their works.


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


text:
 And I saw from the mouth of the dragon, and from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.


text:
 For they are the spirits of devils working signs, and they go forth unto the kings of the whole earth, to gather them to battle against the great day of the Almighty God.


text:
 " Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. "


text:
 And the seventh angel poured out his vial upon the air, and there came a great voice out of the temple from the throne, saying: It is done.


text:
 And there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and there was a great earthquake, such an one as never had been since men were upon the earth, such an earthquake, so great.


text:
 And the great city was divided into three parts; and the cities of the Gentiles fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath.


text:
 And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God for the plague of the hail: because it was exceeding great.


text:
 And there came one of the seven angels, who had the seven vials, and spoke with me, saying: Come, I will shew thee the condemnation of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters,


text:
 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication; and they who inhabit the earth, have been made drunk with the whine of her whoredom.


text:
 And he took me away in spirit into the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.


text:
 And the woman was clothed round about with purple and scarlet, and gilt with gold, and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the abomination and filthiness of her fornication.


text:
 And on her forehead a name was written: A mystery; Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications, and the abominations of the earth.


text:
 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I wondered, when I had seen her, with great admiration.


text:
 And the angel said to me: Why dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.


text:
 The beast, which thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall come up out of the bottomless pit, and go into destruction: and the inhabitants on the earth (whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world) shall wonder, seeing the beast that was, and is not.


text:
 And here is the understanding that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman sitteth, and they are seven kings:


text:
 Five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come: and when he is come, he must remain a short time.


text:
 And the beast which was, and is not: the same also is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into destruction.


text:
 And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but shall receive power as kings one hour after the beast.


text:
 These shall fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and elect, and faithful.


text:
 And he said to me: The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and nations, and tongues.


text:
 And the ten horns which thou sawest in the beast: these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her with fire.


text:
 For God hath given into their hearts to do that which pleaseth him: that they give their kingdom to the beast, till the words of God be fulfilled.


text:
 And the woman which thou sawest, is the great city, which hath kingdom over the kings of the earth.


text:
 And after these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory.


text:
 And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen; and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every unclean spirit, and the hold of every unclean and hateful bird:


text:
 Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; and the merchants of the earth have been made rich by the power of her delicacies.


text:
 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying: Go out from her, my people; that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.


text:
 Render to her as she also hath rendered to you; and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup wherein she hath mingled, mingle ye double unto her.


text:
 As much as she hath glorified herself, and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her; because she saith in her heart: I sit a queen, and am no widow; and sorrow I shall not see.


text:
 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be burnt with the fire; because God is strong, who shall judge her.


text:
 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived in delicacies with her, shall weep, and bewail themselves over her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning:


text:
 Standing afar off for fear of her torments, saying: Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city: for in one hour is thy judgment come.


text:
 And the merchants of the earth shall weep, and mourn over her: for no man shall buy their merchandise any more.


text:
 Merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones; and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of precious stone, and of brass, and of iron, and of marble,


text:
 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.


text:
 And the fruits of the desire of thy soul are departed from thee, and all fat and goodly things are perished from thee, and they shall find them no more at all.


text:
 The merchants of these things, who were made rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of her torments, weeping and mourning.


text:
 And saying: Alas! alas! that great city, which was clothed with fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and was gilt with gold, and precious stones, and pearls.


text:
 For in one hour are so great riches come to nought; and every shipmaster, and all that sail into the lake, and mariners, and as many as work in the sea, stood afar off.


text:
 And they cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying: Alas! alas! that great city, wherein all were made rich, that had ships at sea, by reason of her prices: for in one hour she is made desolate.


text:
 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.


text:
 And a mighty angel took up a stone, as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying: With such violence as this shall Babylon, that great city, be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.


text:
 And the voice of harpers, and of musicians, and of them that play on the pipe, and on the trumpet, shall no more be heard at all in thee; and no craftsman of any art whatsoever shall be found any more at all in thee; and the sound of the mill shall be heard no more at all in thee;


text:
 And the light of the lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, for all nations have been deceived by thy enchantments.


text:
 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.


text:
 After these things I heard as it were the voice of much people in heaven, saying: Alleluia. Salvation, and glory, and power is to our God.


text:
 For true and just are his judgments, who hath judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and hath revenged the blood of his servants, at her hands.


text:
 And the four and twenty ancients, and the four living creatures fell down and adored God that sitteth upon the throne, saying: Amen; Alleluia.


text:
 And a voice came out from the throne, saying: Give praise to our God, all ye his servants; and you that fear him, little and great.


text:
 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunders, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord our God the Almighty hath reigned.


text:
 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath prepared herself.


text:
 And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself with fine linen, glittering and white. For the fine linen are the justifications of saints.


text:
 And he said to me: Write: Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith to me: These words of God are true.


text:
 And I fell down before his feet, to adore him. And he saith to me: See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, who have the testimony of Jesus. Adore God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.


text:
 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and with justice doth he judge and fight.


text:
 And his eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many diadems, and he had a name written, which no man knoweth but himself.


text:
 And the armies that are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.


text:
 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp two edged sword; that with it he may strike the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God the Almighty.


text:
 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that did fly through the midst of heaven: Come, gather yourselves together to the great supper of God:


text:
 That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of tribunes, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all freemen and bondmen, and of little and of great.


text:
 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war with him that sat upon the horse, and with his army.


text:
 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast, and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone.


text:
 And the rest were slain by the sword of him that sitteth upon the horse, which proceedeth out of his mouth; and all the birds were filled with their flesh.


text:
 And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his hand.


text:
 And he laid hold on the dragon the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.


text:
 And he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should no more seduce the nations, till the thousand years be finished. And after that, he must be loosed a little time.


text:
 And I saw seats; and they sat upon them; and judgment was given unto them; and the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and who had not adored the beast nor his image, nor received his character on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.


text:
 The rest of the dead lived not, till the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.


text:
 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection. In these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ; and shall reign with him a thousand years.


text:
 And when the thousand years shall be finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go forth, and seduce the nations, which are over the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, and shall gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.


text:
 And they came upon the breadth of the earth, and encompassed the camp of the saints, and the beloved city.


text:
 And there came down fire from God out of heaven, and devoured them; and the devil, who seduced them, was cast into the pool of fire and brimstone, where both the beast


text:
 And I saw a great white throne, and one sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was no place found for them.


text:
 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works.


text:
 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works.


text:
 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth was gone, and the sea is now no more.


text:
 And I John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.


text:
 And I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: Behold the tabernacle of God with men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people; and God himself with them shall be their God.


text:
 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.


text:
 And he that sat on the throne, said: Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me: Write, for these words are most faithful and true.


text:
 And he said to me: It is done. I am Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. To him that thirsteth, I will give of the fountain of the water of life, freely.


text:
 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, they shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.


text:
 And there came one of the seven angels, who had the vials full of the seven last plagues, and spoke with me, saying: Come, and I will shew thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.


text:
 And he took me up in spirit to a great and high mountain: and he shewed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,


text:
 Having the glory of God, and the light thereof was like to a precious stone, as to the jasper stone, even as crystal.


text:
 And it had a wall great and high, having twelve gates, and in the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.


text:
 On the east, three gates: and on the north, three gates: and on the south, three gates: and on the west, three gates.


text:
 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them, the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.


text:
 And he that spoke with me, had a measure of a reed of gold, to measure the city and the gates thereof, and the wall.


text:
 And the city lieth in a foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he measured the city with the golden reed for twelve thousand furlongs, and the length and the height and the breadth thereof are equal.


text:
 And he measured the wall thereof an hundred and forty-four cubits, the measure of a man, which is of an angel.


text:
 And the building of the wall thereof was of jasper stone: but the city itself pure gold, like to clear glass.


text:
 And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper: the second, sapphire: the third, a chalcedony: the fourth, an emerald:


text:
 The fifth, sardonyx: the sixth, sardius: the seventh, chrysolite: the eighth, beryl: the ninth, a topaz: the tenth, a chrysoprasus: the eleventh, a jacinth: the twelfth, an amethyst.


text:
 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, one to each: and every several gate was of one several pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.


text:
 And the city hath no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it. For the glory of God hath enlightened it, and the Lamb is the lamp thereof.


text:
 And the nations shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honour into it.


text:
 There shall not enter into it any thing defiled, or that worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they that are written in the book of life of the Lamb.


text:
 And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.


text:
 In the midst of the street thereof, and on both sides of the river, was the tree of life, bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.


text:
 And there shall be no curse any more; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him.


text:
 And night shall be no more: and they shall not need the light of the lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall enlighten them, and they shall reign for ever and ever.


text:
 And he said to me: These words are most faithful and true. And the Lord God of the spirits of the prophets sent his angel to shew his servants the things which must be done shortly.


text:
 And I, John, who have heard and seen these things. And after I had heard and seen, I fell down to adore before the feet of the angel, who shewed me these things.


text:
 And he said to me: See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them that keep the words of the prophecy of this book. Adore God.


text:
 He that hurteth, let him hurt still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is just, let him be justified still: and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still.


text:
 " Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. "


text:
 Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.


text:
 Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and unchaste, and murderers, and servers of idols, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.


text:
 " I Jesus have sent my angel, to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and stock of David, the bright and morning star. "


text:
 And the spirit and the bride say: Come. And he that heareth, let him say: Come. And he that thirsteth, let him come: and he that will, let him take the water of life, freely.


text:
 For I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book.


text:
 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from these things that are written in this book.


text:
 " He that giveth testimony of these things, saith, Surely I come quickly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. "


text:
Tobias of the tribe and city of Nephtali, (which is in the upper parts of Galilee above Naasson, beyond the way that leadeth to the west, having on the right hand the city of Sephet,)


text:
When he was made captive in the days of Salmanasar king of the Assyrians, even in his captivity, forsook not the way of truth,


text:
And when he was younger than any of the tribe of Nephtali, yet did he no childish thing in his work.


text:
Moreover when all went to the golden calves which Jeroboam king of Israel had made, he alone fled the company of all,


text:
And went to Jerusalem to the temple of the Lord, and there adored the Lord God of Israel, offering faithfully all his firstfruits, and his tithes,


text:
But when he was a man, he took to wife Anna of his own tribe, and had a son by her, whom he called after his own name,


text:
And when by the captivity he with his wife and his son and all his tribe was come to the city of Ninive,


text:
(When all ate of the meats of the Gentiles) he kept his soul and never was defiled with their meats.


text:
And because he was mindful of the Lord with all his heart, God gave him favour in the sight of Salmanasar the king.


text:
And when he was come to Rages a city of the Medes, and had ten talents of silver of that with which he had been honoured by the king:


text:
And when amongst a great multitude of his kindred, he saw Gabelus in want, who was one of his tribe, taking a note of his hand he gave him the aforesaid sum of money.


text:
But after a long time, Salmanasar the king being dead, when Sennacherib his son, who reigned in his place, had a hatred for the children of Israel:


text:
Tobias daily went among all his kindred and comforted them, and distributed to every one as he was able, out of his goods:


text:
He fed the hungry, and gave clothes to the naked, and was careful to bury the dead, and they that were slain.


text:
And when king Sennacherib was come back, fleeing from Judea by reason of the slaughter that God had made about him for his blasphemy, and being angry slew many of the children of Israel, Tobias buried their bodies.


text:
But after this, when there was a festival of the Lord, and a good dinner was prepared in Tobias's house,


text:
And when he had gone, returning he told him, that one of the children of Israel lay slain in the street. And he forthwith leaped up from his place at the table, and left his dinner, and came fasting to the body.


text:
And taking it up carried it privately to his house, that after the sun was down, he might bury him cautiously.


text:
Remembering the word which the Lord spoke by Amos the prophet: Your festival days shall be turned into lamentation and mourning.


text:
Now all his neighbours blamed him, saying: once already commandment was given for thee to be slain because of this matter, and thou didst scarce escape the sentence of death, and dost thou again bury the dead?


text:
But Tobias fearing God more than the king, carried off the bodies of them that were slain, and hid them in his house, and at midnight buried them.


text:
Now it happened one day that being wearied with burying, he came to his house, and cast himself down by the wall and slept,


text:
Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job.


text:
For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him,


text:
For we are the children of saints, and look for that life which God will give to those that never change their faith from him.


text:
Now Anna his wife went daily to weaving work, and she brought home what she could get for their living by the labour of her hands.


text:
And when her husband heard it bleating, he said: Take heed, lest perhaps it be stolen: restore ye it to its owners, for it is not lawful for us either to eat or to touch any thing that cometh by theft.


text:
At these words his wife being angry answered: It is evident the hope is come to nothing, and thy alms now appear.


text:
Saying, Thou art just, O Lord, and all thy judgments are just, and all thy ways mercy, and truth, and judgment:


text:
And now, O Lord, think of me, and take not revenge of my sins, neither remember my offences, nor those of my parents.


text:
For we have not obeyed thy commandments, therefore are we delivered to spoil and to captivity, and death, and are made a fable, and a reproach to all nations, amongst which thou hast scattered us.


text:
And now, O Lord, great are thy judgments, because we have not done according to thy precepts, and have not walked sincerely before thee.


text:
And now, O Lord, do with me according to thy will, and command my spirit to be received in peace: for it is better for me to die, than to live.


text:
Now it happened on the same day, that Sara daughter of Raguel, in Rages a city of the Medes, received a reproach from one of her father's servant maids,


text:
Because she had been given to seven husbands and a devil named Asmodeus had killed them, at their first going in unto her.


text:
So when she reproved the maid for her fault, she answered her, saying: May we never see son, or daughter of thee upon the earth, thou murderer of thy husbands.


text:
Wilt thou kill me also, as thou hast already killed seven husbands? At these words, she went into an upper chamber of her house: and for three days and three nights did neither eat nor drink:


text:
She said: Blessed is thy name, O God of our fathers, who when thou hast been angry, wilt shew mercy, and in the time of tribulation forgivest the sins of them that call upon thee.


text:
I beg, O Lord, that thou loose me from the bond of this reproach, or else take me away from the earth.


text:
Never have I joined myself with them that play: neither have I made myself partaker with them that walk in lightness.


text:
And either I was unworthy of them, or they perhaps were not worthy of me: because perhaps thou hast kept me for another man,


text:
But this every one is sure of that worshippeth thee, that his life, if it be under trial, shall be crowned and if it be under tribulation, it shall be delivered: and if it be under correction, it shall be allowed to come to thy mercy.


text:
For thou art not delighted in our being lost, because after a storm thou makest a calm, and after tears and weeping thou pourest in joyfulness.


text:
And the holy angel of the Lord, Raphael was sent to heal them both, whose prayers at one time were rehearsed in the sight of the Lord.


text:
Therefore when Tobias thought that his prayer was heard that he might die, he called to him Tobias his son,


text:
When God shall take my soul, thou shalt bury my body: and thou shalt honour thy mother all the days of her life:


text:
And all the days of thy life have God in thy mind: and take heed thou never consent to sin, nor transgress the commandments of the Lord our God.


text:
Give alms out of thy substance, and turn not away thy face from any poor person: for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee.


text:
If thou have much give abundantly: if thou have little, take care even so to bestow willingly a little.


text:
Take heed to keep thyself, my son, from all fornication, and beside thy wife never endure to know a crime.


text:
Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind, or in thy words: for from it all perdition took its beginning.


text:
If any man hath done any work for thee, immediately pay him his hire, and let not the wages of thy hired servant stay with thee at all.


text:
Lay out thy bread, and thy wine upon the burial of a just man, and do not eat and drink thereof with the wicked.


text:
Bless God at all times: and desire of him to direct thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in him.


text:
I tell thee also, my son, that I lent ten talents of silver, while thou wast yet a child, to Gabelus, in Rages a city of the Medes, and I have a note of his hand with me:


text:
Now therefore inquire how thou mayst go to him, and receive of him the foresaid sum of money, and restore to him the note of his hand.


text:
Fear not, my son: we lead indeed a poor life, but we shall have many good things if we fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is good.


text:
Then Tobias answered his father, and said: I will do all things, father, which thou hast commanded me.


text:
But how I shall get this money, I cannot tell; he knoweth not me, and I know not him: what token shall I give him? nor did I ever know the way which leadeth thither.


text:
Then his father answered him, and said: I have a note of his hand with me, which when thou shalt shew him, he will presently pay it.


text:
But go now, and seek thee out some faithful man, to go with thee for his hire: that thou mayst receive it, while I yet live.


text:
Then Tobias going forth, found a beautiful young man, standing girded, and as it were ready to walk.


text:
And not knowing that he was an angel of God, he saluted him, and said: From whence art thou, good young man?


text:
But he answered: Of the children of Israel. And Tobias said to him: Knowest thou the way that leadeth to the country of the Medes?


text:
And he answered: I know it: and I have often walked through all the ways thereof, and I have abode with Gabelus our brother, who dwelleth at Rages a city of the Medes, which is situate in the mount of Ecbatana.


text:
Then Tobias going in told all these things to his father. Upon which his father being in admiration, desired that he would come in unto him.


text:
And Tobias said: What manner of joy shall be to me, who sit in darkness and see not the light of heaven?


text:
And Tobias said to him: Canst thou conduct my son to Gabelus at Rages, a city of the Medes? and when thou shalt return, I will pay thee thy hire.


text:
And Raphael the angel answered: Dost thou seek the family of him thou hirest, or the hired servant himself to go with thy son?


text:
And Tobias answered: Thou art of a great family. But I pray thee be not angry that I desired to know thy family.


text:
And Tobias answering, said: May you have a good journey, and God be with you in your way, and his angel accompany you.


text:
Then all things being ready, that were to be carried in their journey, Tobias bade his father and his mother farewell, and they set out both together.


text:
And when they were departed, his mother began to weep, and to say: Thou hast taken the staff of our old age, and sent him away from us.


text:
And Tobias said to her: Weep not, our son will arrive thither safe, and will return safe to us, and thy eyes shall see him.


text:
For I believe that the good angel of God doth accompany him, and doth order all things well that are done about him, so that he shall return to us with joy.


text:
And Tobias went forward, and the dog followed him, and he lodged the first night by the river of Tigris.


text:
And the angel said to him: Take him by the gill, and draw him to thee. And when he had done so, he drew him out upon the land, and he began to pant before his feet.


text:
Then the angel said to him: Take out the entrails of this fish, and lay up his heart, and his gall, and his liver for thee: for these are necessary for useful medicines.


text:
And when he had done so, he roasted the flesh thereof, and they took it with them in the way: the rest they salted as much as might serve them, till they came to Rages the city of the Medes.


text:
Then Tobias asked the angel, and said to him: I beseech thee, brother Azarias, tell me what remedies are these things good for, which thou hast bid me keep of the fish?


text:
And the angel, answering, said to him: If thou put a little piece of its heart upon coals, the smoke thereof driveth away all kind of devils, either from man or from woman, so that they come no more to them.


text:
And the gall is good for anointing the eyes, in which there is a white speck, and they shall be cured.


text:
And the angel answering, said: Here is one whose name is Raguel, a near kinsman of thy tribe, and he hath a daughter named Sara, but he hath no son nor any other daughter beside her.


text:
Then Tobias answered, and said: I hear that she hath been given to seven husbands, and they all died: moreover I have heard, that a devil killed them.


text:
Now I am afraid, lest the same thing should happen to me also: and whereas I am the only child of my parents, I should bring down their old age with sorrow to hell.


text:
Then the angel Raphael said to him: Hear me, and I will shew thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail.


text:
For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the devil hath power.


text:
But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the chamber, and for three days keep thyself continent from her, and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with her.


text:
And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou mayst obtain a blessing in children.


text:
And when he was speaking many good things of him, the angel said to Raguel: Tobias concerning whom thou inquirest is this young man's father.


text:
And Raguel went to him, and kissed him with tears and weeping upon his neck, said: A blessing be upon thee, my son, because thou art the son of a good and most virtuous man.


text:
And after they had spoken, Raguel commanded a sheep to be killed, and a feast to be prepared. And when he desired them to sit down to dinner,


text:
Tobias said: I will not eat nor drink here this day, unless thou first grant me my petition, and promise to give me Sara thy daughter.


text:
Now when Raguel heard this he was afraid, knowing what had happened to those seven husbands, that went in unto her: and he began to fear lest it might happen to him also in like manner: and as he was in suspense, and gave no answer to his petition,


text:
The angel said to him: Be not afraid to give her to this man, for to him who feareth God is thy daughter due to be his wife: therefore another could not have her.


text:
And I believe he hath therefore made you come to me, that this maid might be married to one of her own kindred, according to the law of Moses: and now doubt not but I will give her to thee.


text:
And taking the right hand of his daughter, he gave it into the right hand of Tobias, saying: The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and may he join you together, and fulfil his blessing in you.


text:
And she said to her: Be of good cheer, my daughter: the Lord of heaven give thee joy for the trouble thou hast undergone.


text:
And Tobias remembering the angel's word, took out of his bag part of the liver, and laid it upon burning coals.


text:
Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock.


text:
For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.


text:
And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee.


text:
And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.


text:
Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health.


text:
And it came to pass about the cockcrowing, Raguel ordered his servants to be called for, and they went with him together to dig a grave.


text:
For he said: Lest perhaps it may have happened to him, in like manner as it did to the other seven husbands, that went in unto her.


text:
So she sent one of her maidservants, who went into the chamber, and found them safe and sound, sleeping both together.


text:
And thou hast taken pity upon two only children. Make them, O Lord, bless thee more fully: and to offer up to thee a sacrifice of thy praise, and of their health, that all nations may know, that thou alone art God in all the earth.


text:
And he spoke to his wife to make ready a feast, and prepare all kind of provisions that are necessary for such as go a journey.


text:
He caused also two fat kine, and four wethers to be killed, and a banquet to be prepared for all his neighbours, and all his friends,


text:
And of all things which Raguel possessed, he gave one half to Tobias, and made a writing, that the half that remained should after their decease come also to Tobias.


text:
Then Tobias called the angel to him, whom he took to be a man, and said to him: Brother Azarias, I pray thee hearken to my words:


text:
However, I beseech thee, to take with thee beasts and servants, and to go to Gabelus to Rages the city of the Medes: and to restore to him his note of hand, and receive of him the money, and desire him to come to my wedding.


text:
For thou knowest that my father numbereth the days: and if I stay one day more, his soul will be afflicted.


text:
Then Raphael took four of Raguel's servants, and two camels, and went to Rages the city of the Medes: and finding Gabelus, gave him his note of hand, and received of him all the money.


text:
And he told him concerning Tobias the son of Tobias, all that had been done: and made him come with him to the wedding.


text:
And when he was come into Raguel's house he found Tobias sitting at the table: and he leaped up, and they kissed each other: and Gabelus wept, and blessed God,


text:
And said: The God of Israel bless thee, because thou art the son of a very good and just man, and that feareth God, and doth almsdeeds:


text:
And may you see your children, and your children's children, unto the third and fourth generation: and may your seed be blessed by the God of Israel, who reigneth for ever and ever.


text:
And when all had said, Amen, they went to the feast: but the marriage feast they celebrated also with the fear of the Lord.


text:
But as Tobias made longer stay upon occasion of the marriage, Tobias his father was solicitous, saying: Why thinkest thou doth my son tarry, or why is he detained there?


text:
And he began to be exceeding sad, both he and Anna his wife with him: and they began both to weep together, because their son did not return to them on the day appointed.


text:
But his mother wept and was quite disconsolate, and said: Woe, woe is me, my son; why did we send thee to go to a strange country, the light of our eyes, the staff of our old age, the comfort of our life, the hope of our posterity?


text:
And Tobias said to her: Hold thy peace, and be not troubled, our son is safe: that man with whom we sent him is very trusty.


text:
But she could by no means be comforted, but daily running out looked round about, and went into all the ways by which there seemed any hope he might return, that she might if possible see him coming afar off.


text:
But Raguel said to his son in law: Stay here, and I will send a messenger to Tobias thy father, that thou art in health.


text:
And Tobias said to him: I know that my father and mother now count the days, and their spirit is grievously afflicted within them.


text:
And when Raguel had pressed Tobias with many words, and he by no means would hearken to him, he delivered Sara unto him, and half of all his substance in menservants, and womenservants, in cattle, in camels, and in kine, and in much money, and sent him away safe and joyful from him,


text:
Saying: The holy angel of the Lord be with you in your journey, and bring you through safe, and that you may find all things well about your parents, and my eyes may see your children before I die.


text:
Admonishing her to honour her father and mother in law, to love her husband, to take care of the family, to govern the house, and to behave herself irreprehensibly.


text:
If it please thee therefore, let us go before, and let the family follow softly after us, together with thy wife, and with the beasts.


text:
And as this their going pleased him, Raphael said to Tobias: Take with thee of the gall of the fish, for it will be necessary. So Tobias took some of that gall and departed.


text:
And while she watched his coming from that place, she saw him afar off, and presently perceived it was her son coming: and returning she told her husband, saying: Behold thy son cometh.


text:
And Raphael said to Tobias: As soon as thou shalt come into thy house, forthwith adore the Lord thy God: and giving thanks to him, go to thy father, and kiss him.


text:
And immediately anoint his eyes with this gall of the fish, which thou carriest with thee. For be assured that his eyes shall be presently opened, and thy father shall see the light of heaven, and shall rejoice in the sight of thee.


text:
Then the dog, which had been with them in the way, ran before, and coming as if he had brought the news, shewed his joy by his fawning and wagging his tail.


text:
And his father that was blind, rising up, began to run stumbling with his feet: and giving a servant his hand, went to meet his son.


text:
And he stayed about half an hour: and a white skin began to come out of his eyes, like the skin of an egg.


text:
And Tobias said: I bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, because thou hast chastised me, and thou hast saved me and behold I see Tobias my son.


text:
And after seven days Sara his son's wife and all the family arrived safe, and the cattle, and the camels, and an abundance of money of his wife's: and that money also which he had received of Gabelus,


text:
And he told his parents all the benefits of God, which he had done to him by the man that conducted him.


text:
And Achior and Nabath the kinsmen of Tobias came, rejoicing for Tobias, and congratulating with him for all the good things that God had done for him.


text:
Then Tobias called to him his son and said to him: What can we give to this holy man, that is come with thee?


text:
Tobias answering, said to his father: Father, what wages shall we give him? or what can be worthy of his benefits?


text:
He conducted me and brought me safe again, he received the money of Gabelus, he caused me to have my wife, and he chased from her the evil spirit, he gave joy to her parents, myself he delivered from being devoured by the fish, thee also he hath made to see the light of heaven, and we are filled with all good things through him. What can we give him sufficient for these things?


text:
But I beseech thee, my father, to desire him, that he would vouchsafe to accept of one half of all things that have been brought.


text:
So the father and the son calling him, took him aside: and began to desire him that he would vouchsafe to accept of half of all things that they had brought,


text:
Then he said to them secretly, Bless ye the God of heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he hath shewn his mercy to you.


text:
For alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting.


text:
When thou didst pray with tears, and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner, and hide the dead by day in thy house, and bury them by night, I offered thy prayer to the Lord.


text:
And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face.


text:
I seemed indeed to eat and to drink with you but I use an invisible meat and drink, which cannot be seen by men.


text:
It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works.


text:
Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God, and rising up, they told all his wonderful works.


text:
And Tobias the elder opening his mouth, blessed the Lord, and said: Thou art great O Lord, for ever, and thy kingdom is unto all ages.


text:
For thou scourgest, and thou savest: thou leadest down to hell, and bringest up again: and there is none that can escape thy hand.


text:
Because he hath therefore scattered you among the Gentiles, who know not him, that you may declare his wonderful works, and make them know that there is no other almighty God besides him.


text:
See then what he hath done with us, and with fear and trembling give ye glory to him: and extol the eternal King of worlds in your works.


text:
As for me, I will praise him in the land of my captivity: because he hath shewn his majesty toward a sinful nation,


text:
Be converted therefore, ye sinners, and do justice before God, believing that he will shew his mercy to you.


text:
Give glory to the Lord for thy good things, and bless the God eternal that he may rebuild his tabernacle in thee, and may call back all the captives to thee, and thou mayst rejoice for ever and ever.


text:
Nations from afar shall come to thee: and shall bring gifts, and shall adore the Lord in thee, and shall esteem thy land as holy.


text:
They shall be cursed that shall despise thee: and they shall be condemned that shall blaspheme thee: and blessed shall they be that shall build thee up,


text:
But thou shalt rejoice in thy children, because they shall all be blessed, and shall be gathered together to the Lord.


text:
My soul, bless thou the Lord, because the Lord our God hath delivered Jerusalem his city from all her troubles.


text:
The gates of Jerusalem shall be built of sapphire, and of emerald, and all the walls thereof round about of precious stones.


text:
All its streets shall be paved with white and clean stones: and Alleluia shall be sung in its streets,


text:
And the words of Tobias were ended. And after Tobias was restored to his sight, he lived two and forty years, and saw the children of his grandchildren.


text:
For he was six and fifty years old when he lost the sight of his eyes, and sixty when he recovered it again.


text:
And the rest of his life was in joy, and with great increase of the fear of God he departed in peace.


text:
And at the hour of his death he called unto him his son Tobias and his children, seven young men, his grandsons, and said to them:


text:
The destruction of Ninive is at hand: for the word of the Lord must be fulfilled: and our brethren, that are scattered abroad from the land of Israel, shall return to it.


text:
And all the land thereof that is desert shall be filled with people, and the house of God which is burnt in it, shall again be rebuilt: and all that fear God shall return thither.


text:
Hearken therefore, my children, to your father: serve the Lord in truth, and seek to do the things that please him:


text:
And command your children that they do justice and almsdeeds, and that they be mindful of God, and bless him at all times in truth, and with all their power.


text:
And now, children, hear me, and do not stay here: but as soon as you shall bury your mother by me in one sepulchre, without delay direct your steps to depart hence:


text:
And it came to pass that after the death of his mother, Tobias departed out of Ninive with his wife, and children, and children's children, and returned to his father and mother in law.


text:
And he found them in health in a good old age: and he took care of them, and he closed their eyes: and all the inheritance of Raguel's house came to him: and he saw his children's children to the fifth generation.


text:
And all his kindred, and all his generation continued in good life, and in holy conversation, so that they were acceptable both to God, and to men, and to all that dwelt in the land.


text:
Now Arphaxad king of the Medes had brought many nations under his dominions, and he built a very strong city, which he called Ecbatana,


text:
Of stones squared and hewed: he made the walls thereof seventy cubits broad, and thirty cubits high, and the towers thereof he made a hundred cubits high. But on the square of them, each side was extended the space of twenty feet.


text:
Now in the twelfth year of his reign, Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, who reigned in Ninive the great city, fought against Arphaxad and overcame him,


text:
In the great plain which is called Ragua, about the Euphrates, and the Tigris, and the Jadason, in the plain of Erioch the king of the Elicians.


text:
Then was the kingdom of Nabuchodonosor exalted, and his heart was elevated: and he sent to all that dwelt in Cilicia and Damascus, and Libanus,


text:
And to the nations that are in Carmelus, and Cedar, and to the inhabitants of Galilee in the great plain of Asdrelon,


text:
And to all that were in Samaria, and beyond the river Jordan even to Jerusalem, and all the land of Jesse till you come to the borders of Ethiopia.


text:
Then king Nabuchodonosor being angry against all that land, swore by his throne and kingdom that he would revenge himself of all those countries.


text:
In the thirteenth year of the reign of Nabuchodonosor, the two and twentieth day of the first month, the word was given out in the house of Nabuchodonosor king of the Assyrians, that he would revenge himself.


text:
And he called all the ancients, and all the governors, and his officers of war, and communicated to them the secret of his counsel:


text:
And when this saying pleased them all, Nabuchodonosor, the king, called Holofernes the general of his armies,


text:
And said to him: Go out against all the kingdoms of the west, and against them especially that despised my commandment.


text:
Then Holofernes called the captains, and officers of the power of the Assyrians: and he mustered men for the expedition, and the king commanded him, a hundred and twenty thousand fighting men on foot, and twelve thousand archers, horsemen.


text:
And he made all his warlike preparations to go before with a multitude of innumerable camels, with all provisions sufficient for the armies in abundance, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, without number.


text:
And he went forth he and all the army, with the chariots, and horsemen, and archers, who covered the face of the earth, like locusts.


text:
And when he had passed through the borders of the Assyrians, he came to the great mountains of Ange, which are on the left of Cilicia: and he went up to all their castles, and took all the strong places.


text:
And he took by assault the renowned city of Melothus, and pillaged all the children of Tharsis, and the children of Ismahel, who were over against the face of the desert, and on the south of the land of Cellon.


text:
And he passed over the Euphrates and came into Mesopotamia: and he forced all the stately cities that were there, from the torrent of Mambre, till one comes to the sea:


text:
And he took the borders thereof, from Cilicia to the coasts of Japheth, which are towards the south.


text:
And he carried away all the children of Madian, and stripped them of all their riches, and all that resisted him he slew with the edge of the sword.


text:
And after these things he went down into the plains of Damascus in the days of the harvest, and he set all the corn on fire, and he caused all the trees and vineyards to be cut down.


text:
Then the kings and the princes of all the cities and provinces, of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Syria Sobal, and Libya, and Cilicia sent their ambassadors, who coming to Holofernes, said:


text:
Let thy indignation towards us cease, for it is better for us to live and serve Nabuchodonosor the great king, and be subject to thee, than to die and to perish, or suffer the miseries of slavery.


text:
All our cities and our possessions, all mountains and hills, and fields, and herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep, and goats, and horses, and camels, and all our goods, and families are in thy sight:


text:
Then he came down from the mountains with horsemen, in great power, and made himself master of every city, and all the inhabitants of the land.


text:
And so great a fear lay upon all those provinces, that the inhabitants of all the cities, both princes and nobles, as well as the people, went out to meet him at his coming.


text:
For Nabuchodonosor the king had commanded him to destroy all the gods of the earth, that he only might be called God by those nations which could be brought under him by the power of Holofernes.


text:
And when he had passed through all Syria Sobal, and all Apamea, and all Mesopotamia, he came to the Idumeans into the land of Gabaa,


text:
And he took possession of their cities, and stayed there for thirty days, in which days he commanded all the troops of his army to be united.


text:
Then the children of Israel, who dwelt in the land of Juda, hearing these things, were exceedingly afraid of him.


text:
Dread and horror seized upon their minds, lest he should do the same to Jerusalem and to the temple of the Lord, that he had done to other cities and their temples.


text:
And they sent into all Samaria round about, as far as Jericho, and seized upon all the tops of the mountains:


text:
And Eliachim the priest wrote to all that were over against Esdrelon, which faceth the great plain near Dothain, and to all by whom there might be a passage of way, that they should take possession of the ascents of the mountains, by which there might be any way to Jerusalem, and should keep watch where the way was narrow between the mountains.


text:
And all the people cried to the Lord with great earnestness, and they humbled their souls in fastings, and prayers, both they and their wives.


text:
And the priests put on haircloths, and they caused the little children to lie prostrate before the temple of the Lord, and the altar of the Lord they covered with haircloth.


text:
And they cried to the Lord the God of Israel with one accord, that their children might not be made a prey, and their wives carried off, and their cities destroyed, and their holy things profaned, and that they might not be made a reproach to the Gentiles.


text:
Saying: Know ye that the Lord will hear your prayers, if you continue with perseverance in fastings and prayers in the sight of the Lord.


text:
Remember Moses the servant of the Lord overcame Amalec that trusted in his own strength, and in his power, and in his army, and in his shields, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen, not by fighting with the sword, but by holy prayers:


text:
So they being moved by this exhortation of his, prayed to the Lord, and continued in the sight of the Lord.


text:
So that even they who offered the holocausts to the Lord, offered the sacrifices to the Lord girded with haircloths, and with ashes upon their head.


text:
And it was told Holofernes the general of the army of the Assyrians, that the children of Israel prepared themselves to resist, and had shut up the ways of the mountains.


text:
And he was transported with exceeding great fury and indignation, and he called all the princes of Moab and the leaders of Ammon.


text:
And he said to them: Tell me what is this people that besetteth the mountains: or what are their cities, and of what sort, and how great: also what is their power, or what is their multitude: or who is the king over their warfare:


text:
And why they above all that dwell in the east, have despised us, and have not come out to meet us, that they might receive us with peace?


text:
Then Achior captain of all the children of Ammon answering, said; If thou vouchsafe, my lord, to hear, I will tell the truth in thy sight concerning this people, that dwelleth in the mountains, and there shall not a false word come out of my mouth.


text:
They dwelt first in Mesopotamia, because they would not follow the gods of their fathers, who were in the land of the Chaldeans.


text:
They worshipped one God of heaven, who also commanded them to depart from thence, and to dwell in Charan. And when there was a famine over all the land, they went down into Egypt, and there for four hundred years were so multiplied, that the army of them could not be numbered.


text:
And when the king of Egypt oppressed them, and made slaves of them to labour in clay and brick, in the building of his cities, they cried to their Lord, and he struck the whole land of Egypt with divers plagues.


text:
And when the Egyptians had cast them out from them, and the plague had ceased from them, and they had a mind to take them again, and bring them back to their service,


text:
The God of heaven opened the sea to them in their flight, so that the waters were made to stand firm as a wall on either side, and they walked through the bottom of the sea and passed it dry foot.


text:
And when an innumerable army of the Egyptians pursued after them in that place, they were so overwhelmed with the waters, that there was not one left, to tell what had happened to posterity.


text:
After they came out of the Red Sea, they abode in the deserts of mount Sina, in which never man could dwell, or son of man rested.


text:
There bitter fountains were made sweet for them to drink, and for forty years they received food from heaven.


text:
Wheresoever they went in without bow and arrow, and without shield and sword, their God fought for them and overcame.


text:
And there was no one that triumphed over this people, but when they departed from the worship of the Lord their God.


text:
But as often as beside their own God, they worshipped any other, they were given to spoil and to the sword, and to reproach.


text:
And as often as they were penitent for having revolted from the worship of their God, the God of heaven gave them power to resist.


text:
So they overthrew the king of the Chanaanites, and of the Jebusites, and of the Pherezites, and of the Hethites, and of the Hevites, and of the Amorrhites, and all the mighty ones in Hesebon, and they possessed their lands, and their cities:


text:
And as long as they sinned not in the sight of their God, it was well with them: for their God hateth iniquity.


text:
And even some years ago when they had revolted from the way which God had given them to walk therein, they were destroyed in battles by many nations and very many of them were led away captive into a strange land.


text:
But of late returning to the Lord their God, from the different places wherein they were scattered, they are come together and are gone up into all these mountains, and possess Jerusalem again, where their holies are.


text:
Now therefore, my lord, search if there be any iniquity of theirs in the sight of their God: let us go up to them, because their God will surely deliver them to thee, and they shall be brought under the yoke of thy power:


text:
But if there be no offence of this people in the sight of their God, we cannot resist them because their God will defend them: and we shall be a reproach to the whole earth.


text:
And it came to pass, when Achior had ceased to speak these words, all the great men of Holofernes were angry, and they had a mind to kill him, saying to each other:


text:
Who is this, that saith the children of Israel can resist king Nabuchodonosor, and his armies, men unarmed, and without force, and without skill in the art of war?


text:
That Achior therefore may know that he deceiveth us, let us go up into the mountains: and when the bravest of them shall be taken, then shall he with them be stabbed with the sword,


text:
That every nation may know that Nabuchodonosor is god of the earth, and besides him there is no other.


text:
And it came to pass when they had left off speaking, that Holofernes being in a violent passion, said to Achior:


text:
Because thou hast prophesied unto us, saying: That the nation of Israel is defended by their God, to shew thee that there is no God, but Nabuchodonosor:


text:
When we shall slay them all as one man, then thou also shalt die with them by the sword of the Assyrians, and all Israel shall perish with thee:


text:
And thou shalt find that Nabuchodonosor is lord of the whole earth: and then the sword of my soldiers shall pass through thy sides, and thou shalt be stabbed and fall among the wounded of Israel, and thou shalt breathe no more till thou be destroyed with them.


text:
But if thou think thy prophecy true, let not thy countenance sink, and let the paleness that is in thy face, depart from thee, if thou imaginest these my words cannot be accomplished.


text:
And that thou mayst know that thou shalt experience these things together with them, behold from this hour thou shalt be associated to their people, that when they shall receive the punishment they deserve from my sword, thou mayst fall under the same vengeance.


text:
Then Holofernes commanded his servants to take Achior, and to lead him to Bethulia, and to deliver him into the hands of the children of Israel.


text:
And the servants of Holofernes taking him, went through the plains: but when they came near the mountains, the slingers came out against them.


text:
Then turning out of the way by the side of the mountain, they tied Achior to a tree hand and foot, and so left him bound with ropes, and returned to their master.


text:
And the children of Israel coming down from Bethulia, came to him, and loosing him they brought him to Bethulia, and setting him in the midst of the people, asked him what was the matter that the Assyrians had left him bound.


text:
In those days the rulers there, were Ozias the son of Micha of the tribe of Simeon, and Charmi, called also Gothoniel.


text:
And Achior related in the midst of the ancients, and in the presence of all the people, all that he had said being asked by Holofernes: and how the people of Holofernes would have killed him for this word,


text:
And how Holofernes himself being angry had commanded him to be delivered for this cause to the Israelites: that when he should overcome the children of Israel, then he might command Achior also himself to be put to death by diverse torments, for having said: The God of heaven is their defender.


text:
And when Achior had declared all these things, all the people fell upon their faces, adoring the Lord, and all of them together mourning and weeping poured out their prayers with one accord to the Lord,


text:
Saying: O Lord God of heaven and earth, behold their pride, and look on our low condition, and have regard to the face of thy saints, and shew that thou forsakest not them that trust on thee, and that thou humblest them that presume of themselves, and glory in their own strength.


text:
So when their weeping was ended, and the people's prayer, in which they continued all the day, was concluded, they comforted Achior,


text:
Saying: The God of our fathers, whose power thou hast set forth, will make this return to thee, that thou rather shalt see their destruction.


text:
And when the Lord our God shall give this liberty to his servants, let God be with thee also in the midst of us: that as it shall please thee, so thou with all thine mayst converse with us.


text:
Then Ozias, after the assembly was broken up, received him into his house, and made him a great supper.


text:
And all the ancients were invited, and they refreshed themselves together after their fast was over.


text:
And afterwards all the people were called together, and they prayed all the night long within the church, desiring help of the God of Israel.


text:
Now there were in his troops a hundred and twenty thousand footmen, and two and twenty thousand horsemen, besides the preparations of those men who had been taken, and who had been brought away out of the provinces and cities of all the youth.


text:
All these prepared themselves together to fight against the children of Israel, and they came by the hillside to the top, which looketh toward Dothain, from the place which is called Belma, unto Chelmon, which is over against Esdrelon.


text:
But the children of Israel, when they saw the multitude of them, prostrated themselves upon the ground, putting ashes upon their heads, praying with one accord, that the God of Israel would shew his mercy upon his people.


text:
And taking their arms of war, they posted themselves at the places, which by a narrow pathway lead directly between the mountains, and they guarded them all day and night.


text:
Now Holofernes, in going round about, found that the fountain which supplied them with water, ran through an aqueduct without the city on the south side: and he commanded their aqueduct to be cut off.


text:
Nevertheless there were springs not far from the walls, out of which they were seen secretly to draw water, to refresh themselves a little rather than to drink their fill.


text:
But the children of Ammon and Moab came to Holofernes, saying: The children of Israel trust not in their spears, nor in their arrows, but the mountains are their defence, and the steep hills and precipices guard them.


text:
Wherefore that thou mayst overcome them without joining battle, set guards at the springs that they may not draw water out of them, and thou shalt destroy them without sword, or at least being wearied out they will yield up their city, which they suppose, because it is situate in the mountains, to be impregnable.


text:
And these words pleased Holofernes, and his officers, and he placed all round about a hundred men at every spring.


text:
And when they had kept this watch for full twenty days, the cisterns, and the reserve of waters failed among all the inhabitants of Bethulia, so that there was not within the city, enough to satisfy them, no not for one day, for water was daily given out to the people by measure.


text:
Then all the men and women, young men, and children, gathering themselves together to Ozias, all together with one voice,


text:
Said: God be judge between us and thee, for thou hast done evil against us, in that thou wouldst not speak peaceably with the Assyrians, and for this cause God hath sold us into their hands.


text:
And therefore there is no one to help us, while we are cast down before their eyes in thirst, and sad destruction.


text:
And now assemble ye all that are in the city, that we may of our own accord yield ourselves all up to the people of Holofernes.


text:
For it is better, that being captives we should live and bless the Lord, than that we should die, and be a reproach to all flesh, after we have seen our wives and our infants die before our eyes.


text:
We call to witness this day heaven and earth, and the God of our fathers, who taketh vengeance upon us according to our sins, conjuring you to deliver now the city into the hand of the army of Holofernes, that our end may be short by the edge of the sword, which is made longer by the drought of thirst.


text:
And when they had said these things, there was great weeping and lamentation of all in the assembly, and for many hours with one voice they cried to God, saying:


text:
Have thou mercy on us, because thou art good, or punish our iniquities by chastising us thyself, and deliver not them that trust in thee to a people that knoweth not thee,


text:
Ozias rising up all in tears, said: Be of good courage, my brethren, and let us wait these five days for mercy from the Lord.


text:
Now it came to pass, when Judith a widow had heard these words, who was the daughter of Merari, the son of Idox, the son of Joseph, the son of Ozias, the son of Elai, the son of Jamnor, the son of Gedeon, the son of Raphaim, the son of Achitob, the son of Melchias, the son of Enan, the son of Nathanias, the son of Salathiel, the son of Simeon, the son of Ruben:


text:
For he was standing over them that bound sheaves in the field; and the heat came upon his head, and he died in Bethulia his own city, and was buried there with his fathers.


text:
And she made herself a private chamber in the upper part of her house, in which she abode shut up with her maids.


text:
And she wore haircloth upon her loins, and fasted all the days of her life, except the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feasts of the house of Israel.


text:
And she was exceedingly beautiful, and her husband left her great riches, and very many servants, and large possessions of herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep.


text:
And she was greatly renowned among all, because she feared the Lord very much, neither was there any one that spoke an ill word of her.


text:
When therefore she had heard that Ozias had promised that he would deliver up the city after the fifth day, she sent to the ancients Chabri and Charmi.


text:
And they came to her, and she said to them: What is this word, by which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the Assyrians, if within five days there come no aid to us?


text:
This is not a word that may draw down mercy, but rather that may stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation.


text:
You have set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have appointed him a day, according to your pleasure.


text:
But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us be penitent for this same thing, and with many tears let us beg his pardon:


text:
And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing in an humble spirit, in his service:


text:
Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.


text:
For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods.


text:
For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but him.


text:
Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace.


text:
And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.


text:
They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.


text:
So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.


text:
But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring against the Lord,


text:
But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and not for our destruction.


text:
And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy words.


text:
You shall stand at the gate this night, and I will go out with my maidservant: and pray ye, that as you have said, in five days the Lord may look down upon his people Israel.


text:
But I desire that you search not into what I am doing, and till I bring you word let nothing else be done but to pray for me to the Lord our God.


text:
And Ozias the prince of Juda said to her: Go in peace, and the Lord be with thee to take revenge of our enemies. So returning they departed.


text:
And when they were gone, Judith went into her oratory: and putting on haircloth, laid ashes on her head: and falling down prostrate before the Lord, she cried to the Lord, saying:


text:
Lord God of my father Simeon, who gavest him a sword to execute vengeance against strangers, who had defiled by their uncleanness, and uncovered the virgin unto confusion:


text:
And who gavest their wives to be made a prey, and their daughters into captivity: and all their spoils to be divided to the servants, who were zealous with thy zeal: assist, I beseech thee, O Lord God, me a widow.


text:
For thou hast done the things of old, and hast devised one thing after another: and what thou hast designed hath been done.


text:
Look upon the camp of the Assyrians now, as thou wast pleased to look upon the camp of the Egyptians, when they pursued armed after thy servants, trusting in their chariots, and in their horsemen, and in a multitude of warriors.


text:
So may it be with these also, O Lord, who trust in their multitude, and in their chariots, and in their pikes, and in their shields, and in their arrows, and glory in their spears,


text:
And know not that thou art our God, who destroyest wars from the beginning, and the Lord is thy name.


text:
Lift up thy arm as from the beginning, and crush their power with thy power: let their power fall in their wrath, who promise themselves to violate thy sanctuary, and defile the dwelling place of thy name, and to beat down with their sword the horn of thy altar.


text:
Let him be caught in the net of his own eyes in my regard, and do thou strike him by the graces of the words of my lips.


text:
For thy power, O Lord, is not in a multitude, nor is thy pleasure in the strength of horses, nor from the beginning have the proud been acceptable to thee: but the prayer of the humble and the meek hath always pleased thee.


text:
O God of the heavens, creator of the waters, and Lord of the whole creation, hear me a poor wretch, making supplication to thee, and presuming of thy mercy.


text:
Remember, O Lord, thy covenant, and put thou words in my mouth, and strengthen the resolution in my heart, that thy house may continue in thy holiness:


text:
And it came to pass, when she had ceased to cry to the Lord, that she rose from the place wherein she lay prostrate before the Lord.


text:
And she called her maid, and going down into her house she took off her haircloth, and put away the garments of her widowhood,


text:
And she washed her body, and anointed herself with the best ointment, and plaited the hair of her head, and put a bonnet upon her head, and clothed herself with the garments of her gladness, and put sandals on her feet, and took her bracelets, and lilies, and earlets, and rings, and adorned herself with all her ornaments.


text:
And the Lord also gave her more beauty: because all this dressing up did not proceed from sensuality, but from virtue: and therefore the Lord increased this her beauty, so that she appeared to all men's eyes incomparably lovely.


text:
And she gave to her maid a bottle of wine to carry, and a vessel of oil, and parched corn, and dry figs, and bread and cheese, and went out.


text:
But they asked her no question, only they let her pass, saying: The God of our fathers give thee grace, and may he strengthen all the counsel of thy heart with his power, that Jerusalem may glory in thee, and thy name may be in the number of the holy and just.


text:
And it came to pass, when she went down the hill, about break of day, that the watchmen of the Assyrians met her, and stopped her, saying: Whence comest thou or whither goest thou?


text:
And she answered: I am a daughter of the Hebrews, and I am fled from them, because I knew they would be made a prey to you, because they despised you, and would not of their own accord yield themselves, that they might find mercy in your sight.


text:
For this reason I thought with myself, saying: I will go to the presence of the prince Holofernes, that I may tell him their secrets, and shew him by what way he may take them, without the loss of one man of his army.


text:
And when the men had heard her words, they beheld her face, and their eyes were amazed, for they wondered exceedingly at her beauty.


text:
And be assured of this, that when thou shalt stand before him, he will treat thee well, and thou wilt be most acceptable to his heart. And they brought her to the tent of Holofernes, telling him of her.


text:
And his officers said to him: Who can despise the people of the Hebrews, who have such beautiful women, that we should not think it worth our while for their sakes to fight against them?


text:
And Judith seeing Holofernes sitting under a canopy, which was woven of purple and gold, with emeralds and precious stones:


text:
After she had looked on his face, bowed down to him, prostrating herself to the ground. And the servants of Holofernes lifted her up, by the command of their master.


text:
Then Holofernes said to her: Be of good comfort, and fear not in thy heart: for I have never hurt a man that was willing to serve Nabuchodonosor the king.


text:
And Judith said to him: Receive the words of thy handmaid, for if thou wilt follow the words of thy handmaid, the Lord will do with thee a perfect thing.


text:
For as Nabuchodonosor the king of the earth liveth, and his power liveth which is in thee for chastising of all straying souls: not only men serve him through thee, but also the beasts of the field obey him.


text:
For the industry of thy mind is spoken of among all nations, and it is told through the whole world, that thou only art excellent, and mighty in all his kingdom, and thy discipline is cried up in all provinces.


text:
It is known also what Achior said, nor are we ignorant of what thou hast commanded to be done to him.


text:
For it is certain that our God is so offended with sins, that he hath sent word by his prophets to the people, that he will deliver them up for their sins.


text:
Moreover also a famine hath come upon them, and for drought of water they are already to be counted among the dead.


text:
And the consecrated things of the Lord their God which God forbade them to touch, in corn, wine, and oil, these have they purposed to make use of, and they design to consume the things which they ought not to touch with their hands: therefore because they do these things, it is certain they will be given up to destruction.


text:
And I thy handmaid knowing this, am fled from them, and the Lord hath sent me to tell thee these very things.


text:
For I thy handmaid worship God even now that I am with thee, and thy handmaid will go out, and I will pray to God,


text:
And he will tell me when he will repay them for their sins, and I will come and tell thee, so that I may bring thee through the midst of Jerusalem, and thou shalt have all the people of Israel, as sheep that have no shepherd, and there shall not so much as one dog bark against thee:


text:
And all these words pleased Holofernes, and his servants, and they admired her wisdom, and they said one to another:


text:
And Holofernes said to her: God hath done well who sent thee before the people, that thou mightest give them into our hands:


text:
And because thy promise is good, if thy God shall do this for me, he shall also be my God, and thou shalt be great in the house of Nabuchodonosor, and thy name shall be renowned through all the earth.


text:
Then he ordered that she should go in where his treasures were laid up, and bade her tarry there, and he appointed what should be given her from his own table.


text:
And Judith answered him and said: Now I cannot eat of these things which thou commandest to be given me, lest sin come upon me: but I will eat of the things which I have brought.


text:
And Holofernes said to her: If these things which thou hast brought with thee fail thee, what shall we do for thee?


text:
And Judith said: As thy soul liveth, my lord, thy handmaid shall not spend all these things till God do by my hand that which I have purposed. And his servants brought her into the tent which he had commanded.


text:
And when she was going in, she desired that she might have liberty to go out at night and before day to prayer, and to beseech the Lord.


text:
And he commanded his chamberlains, that she might go out and in, to adore her God as she pleased, for three days.


text:
And she went out in the nights into the valley of Bethulia, and washed herself in a fountain of water.


text:
And as she came up, she prayed to the Lord the God of Israel, that he would direct her way to the deliverance of his people.


text:
And it came to pass on the fourth day, that Holofernes made a supper for his servants, and said to Vagao his eunuch: Go, and persuade that Hebrew woman, to consent of her own accord to dwell with me.


text:
For it is looked upon as shameful among the Assyrians, if a woman mock a man, by doing so as to pass free from him.


text:
Then Vagao went in to Judith, and said: Let not my good maid be afraid to go in to my lord, that she may be honoured before his face, that she may eat with him and drink wine and be merry.


text:
All that shall be good and best before his eyes, I will do. And whatsoever shall please him, that shall be best to me all the days of my life.


text:
And Holofernes said to her: Drink now, and sit down and be merry; for thou hast found favour before me.


text:
And Holofernes was made merry on her occasion, and drank exceeding much wine, so much as he had never drunk in his life.


text:
And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way.


text:
Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour look on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst raise up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I have purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee.


text:
And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at his bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it.


text:
And when she had drawn it out, she took him by the hair of his head, and said: Strengthen me, O Lord God, at this hour.


text:
And she struck twice upon his neck, and cut off his head, and took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless body.


text:
And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet.


text:
And they two went out according to their custom, as it were to prayer, and they passed the camp, and having compassed the valley, they came to the gate of the city.


text:
And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls: Open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel.


text:
And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they now had no hopes that she would come.


text:
And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And when all had held their peace,


text:
And by me his handmaid he hath fulfilled his mercy, which he promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed the enemy of his people by my hand this night.


text:
Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general of the army of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in his drunkenness, where the Lord our God slew him by the hand of a woman.


text:
But as the same Lord liveth, his angel hath been my keeper both going hence, and abiding there, and returning from thence hither: and the Lord hath not suffered me his handmaid to be defiled, but hath brought me back to you without pollution of sin, rejoicing for his victory, for my escape, and for your deliverance.


text:
And they all adored the Lord, and said to her: The Lord hath blessed thee by his power, because by thee he hath brought our enemies to nought.


text:
And Ozias the prince of the people of Israel, said to her: Blessed art thou, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth.


text:
Blessed be the Lord who made heaven and earth, who hath directed thee to the cutting off the head of the prince of our enemies.


text:
Because he hath so magnified thy name this day, that thy praise shall not depart out of the mouth of men who shall be mindful of the power of the Lord for ever, for that thou hast not spared thy life, by reason of the distress and tribulation of thy people, but hast prevented our ruin in the presence of our God.


text:
And Achior being called for came, and Judith said to him: The God of Israel, to whom thou gavest testimony, that he revengeth himself of his enemies, he hath cut off the head of all the unbelievers this night by my hand.


text:
And that thou mayst find that it is so, behold the head of Holofernes, who in the contempt of his pride despised the God of Israel: and threatened them with death, saying: When the people of Israel shall be taken, I will command thy sides to be pierced with a sword.


text:
Then Achior seeing the head of Holofernes, being seized with a great fear he fell on his face upon the earth, and his soul swooned away.


text:
Blessed art thou by thy God in every tabernacle of Jacob, for in every nation which shall hear thy name, the God of Israel shall be magnified on occasion of thee.


text:
And as soon as the sun shall rise, let every man take his arms, and rush ye out, not as going down beneath, but as making an assault.


text:
And when the captains of them shall run to the tent of Holofernes, and shall find him without his head wallowing in his blood, fear shall fall upon them.


text:
And when you shall know that they are fleeing, go after them securely, for the Lord will destroy them under your feet.


text:
Then Achior seeing the power that the God of Israel had wrought, leaving the religion of the Gentiles, he believed God, and circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and was joined to the people of Israel, with all the succession of his kindred until this present day.


text:
And immediately at break of day, they hung up the head of Holofernes upon the walls, and every man took his arms, and they went out with a great noise and shouting.


text:
And they that were in the tent came, and made a noise, before the door of the chamber to awake him, endeavouring by art to break his rest, that Holofernes might awake, not by their calling him, but by their noise.


text:
But when his captains and tribunes were come, and all the chiefs of the army of the king of the Assyrians, they said to the chamberlains:


text:
Go in, and awake him, for the mice, coming out of their holes, have presumed to challenge us to fight.


text:
Then Vagao going into his chamber, stood before the curtain, and made a clapping with his hands: for he thought that he was sleeping with Judith.


text:
But when with hearkening, he perceived no motion of one lying, he came near to the curtain, and lifting it up, and seeing the body of Holofernes, lying upon the ground, without the head, weltering in his blood, he cried out with a loud voice, with weeping, and rent his garments.


text:
And said: One Hebrew woman hath made confusion in the house of king Nabuchodonosor: for behold Holofernes lieth upon the ground, and his head is not upon him.


text:
Now when the chiefs of the army of the Assyrians had heard this, they all rent their garments, and an intolerable fear and dread fell upon them, and their minds were troubled exceedingly.


text:
And when all the army heard that Holofernes was beheaded, courage and counsel fled from them, and being seized with trembling and fear they thought only to save themselves by flight.


text:
So that no one spoke to his neighbour, but hanging down the head, leaving all things behind, they made haste to escape from the Hebrews, who, as they heard, were coming armed upon them, and fled by the ways of the fields, and the paths of the hills.


text:
So the children of Israel seeing them fleeing, followed after them. And they went down sounding with trumpets and shouting after them.


text:
And because the Assyrians were not united together, they went without order in their flight; but the children of Israel pursuing in one body, defeated all that they could find.


text:
And every country, and every city, sent their chosen young men armed after them, and they pursued them with the edge of the sword until they came to the extremities of their confines.


text:
And the rest that were in Bethulia went into the camp of the Assyrians, and took away the spoils which the Assyrians in their flight had left behind them, and they were laden exceedingly,


text:
But they that returned conquerors to Bethulia, brought with them all things that were theirs, so that there was no numbering of their cattle, and beasts, and all their moveables, insomuch that from the least to the greatest all were made rich by their spoils.


text:
And when she was come out to him, they all blessed her with one voice, saying: Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honour of our people:


text:
For thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been strengthened, because thou hast loved chastity, and after thy husband hast not known any other: therefore also the hand of the Lord hath strengthened thee, and therefore thou shalt be blessed for ever.


text:
And thirty days were scarce sufficient for the people of Israel to gather up the spoils of the Assyrians.


text:
But all those things that were proved to be the peculiar goods of Holofernes, they gave to Judith in gold, and silver, and garments and precious stones, and all household stuff, and they all were delivered to her by the people.


text:
And all the people rejoiced, with the women, and virgins, and young men, playing on instruments and harps.


text:
Begin ye to the Lord with timbrels, sing ye to the Lord with cymbals, tune unto him a new psalm, extol and call upon his name.


text:
The Assyrian came out of the mountains from the north in the multitude of his strength: his multitude stopped up the torrents, and their horses covered the valleys.


text:
He bragged that he would set my borders on fire, and kill my young men with the sword, to make my infants a prey, and my virgins captives.


text:
But the almighty Lord hath struck him, and hath delivered him into the hands of a woman, and hath slain him.


text:
For their mighty one did not fall by young men, neither did the sons of Titan strike him, nor tall giants oppose themselves to him, but Judith the daughter of Merari weakened him with the beauty of her face.


text:
For she put off her the garments of widowhood, and put on her the garments of joy, to give joy to the children of Israel.


text:
She anointed her face with ointment, and bound up her locks with a crown, she took a new robe to deceive him.


text:
Her sandals ravished his eyes, her beauty made his soul her captive, with a sword she cut off his head.


text:
The sons of the damsels have pierced them through, and they have killed them like children fleeing away: they perished in battle before the face of the Lord my God.


text:
Let all thy creatures serve thee: because thou hast spoken, and they were made: thou didst send forth thy spirit, and they were created, and there is no one that can resist thy voice.


text:
The mountains shall be moved from the foundations with the waters: the rocks shall melt as wax before thy face.


text:
Woe be to the nation that riseth up against my people: for the Lord almighty will take revenge on them, in the day of judgment he will visit them.


text:
And it came to pass after these things, that all the people, after the victory, came to Jerusalem to adore the Lord: and as soon as they were purified, they all offered holocausts, and vows, and their promises.


text:
And Judith offered for an anathema of oblivion all the arms of Holofernes, which the people gave her, and the canopy that she had taken away out of his chamber.


text:
And the people were joyful in the sight of the sanctuary, and for three months the joy of this victory was celebrated with Judith.


text:
And after those days every man returned to his house, and Judith was made great in Bethulia, and she was most renowned in all the land of Israel.


text:
And chastity was joined to her virtue, so that she knew no man all the days of her life, after the death of Manasses her husband.


text:
And she abode in her husband's house a hundred and five years, and made her handmaid free, and she died, and was buried with her husband in Bethulia.


text:
But the day of the festivity of this victory is received by the Hebrews in the number of holy days, and is religiously observed by the Jews from that time until this day.


text:
Love justice, you that are the judges of the earth. Think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in simplicity of heart:


text:
For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.


text:
For the spirit of wisdom is benevolent, and will not acquit the evil speaker from his lips: for God is witness of his reins, and he is a true searcher of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.


text:
For the Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world: and that which containeth all things, hath knowledge of the voice.


text:
Therefore he that speaketh unjust things, cannot be hid, neither shall the chastising judgment pass him by.


text:
For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly, and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities.


text:
Keep yourselves, therefore, from murmuring, which profiteth nothing, and refrain your tongue from detraction, for an obscure speech shall not go for nought: and the mouth that belieth, killeth the soul.


text:
Seek not death in the error of your life, neither procure ye destruction by the works of your hands.


text:
For he created all things that they might be: and he made the nations of the earth for health: and there is no poison of destruction in them, nor kingdom of hell upon the earth.


text:
But the wicked with works and words have called it to them: and esteeming it a friend, have fallen away and have made a covenant with it: because they are worthy to be of the part thereof.


text:
For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell:


text:
For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a spark to move our heart,


text:
Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof:


text:
For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth:


text:
Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth.


text:
Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not the flower of the time pass by us.


text:
Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us every where leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot.


text:
Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor honour thc ancient grey hairs of the aged.


text:
Let us, therefore, lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way of life.


text:
He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, and his ways are very different.


text:
We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, and glorieth that he hath God for his father.


text:
Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be.


text:
For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies.


text:
And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls.


text:
Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself.


text:
As gold in the furnace, he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust, he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them.


text:
They that trust in him shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love, shall rest in him: for grace and peace are to his elect.


text:
But the wicked shall be punished according to their own devices: who have neglected the just, and have revolted from the Lord.


text:
For he that rejecteth wisdom, and discipline, is unhappy: and their hope is vain, and their labours without fruit, and their works unprofitable.


text:
Their offspring is cursed, for happy is the barren: and the undefiled, that hath not known bed in sin, she shall have fruit in the visitation of holy souls.


text:
And the eunuch, that hath not wrought iniquity with his hands, nor thought wicked things against God for the precious gift of faith shall be given to him, and a most acceptable lot in the temple of God.


text:
But the children of adulterers shall not come to perfection, and the seed of the unlawful bed shall be rooted out.


text:
And if they live long, they shall be nothing regarded, and their last old age shall be without honour.


text:
How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men.


text:
When it is present, they imitate it: and they desire it, when it hath withdrawn itself, and it triumpheth crowned for ever, winning the reward of undefiled confiicts.


text:
But the multiplied brood of the wicked shall not thrive, and bastard slips shall not take deep root, nor any fast foundation.


text:
And if they flourish in branches for a time, yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out.


text:
For the branches not being perfect, shall be broken, and their fruits shall be unprofitable, and sour to eat, and fit for nothing.


text:
For the children that are born of unlawful beds, are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial.


text:
For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but the understanding of a man is grey hairs.


text:
For the bewitching of vanity obscureth good things, and the wandering of concupiscence overturneth the innocent mind.


text:
For his soul pleased God: therefore he hastened to bring him out of the midst of iniquities: but the people see this, and understand not, nor lay up such things in their hearts:


text:
But the just that is dead, condemneth the wicked that are living, and youth soon ended, the long life of the unjust.


text:
For they shall see the end of the wise man, and it shall not understand what God hath designed for him, and why the Lord hath set him in safety.


text:
And they shall fall after this without honour, and be a reproach among the dead for ever: for he shall burst them puffed up and speechless, and shall shake them from the foundations, and they shall be utterly laid waste: they shall be in sorrow, and their memory shall perish.


text:
They shall come with fear at the thought of their sins, and their iniquities shall stand against them to convict them.


text:
Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have afflicted them, and taken away their labours.


text:
These seeing it, shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation,


text:
Saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of spirit: These are they, whom we had sometime in derision, and for a parable of reproach.


text:
Therefore we have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us.


text:
We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known.


text:
And as a ship, that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found. nor the path of its keel in the waters:


text:
Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight: she moved her wings, and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way:


text:
Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air quickly cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known:


text:
So we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to shew no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness.


text:
For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by.


text:
But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High.


text:
Therefore shall they receive a kingdom of glory, and a crown of beauty at the hand of the Lord: for with his right hand he will cover them, and with his holy arm he will defend them.


text:
And he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole world shall fight with him against the unwise.


text:
Then shafts of lightning shall go directly from the clouds, as from a bow well bent, they shall be shot out, and shall fly to the mark.


text:
And thick hail shall be cast upon them from the stone casting wrath: the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the rivers shall run together in a terrible manner.


text:
A mighty wind shall stand up against them, and as a whirlwind shall divide them: and their iniquity shall bring all the earth to a desert, and wickedness shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.


text:
For power is given you by the Lord, and strength by the most High, who will examine your works: and search out your thoughts:


text:
Because being ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly, nor kept the law of justice, nor walked according to the will of God.


text:
Horribly and speedily will he appear to you: for a most severe judgment shall be for them that bear rule.


text:
For God will not except any man's person, neither will he stand in awe of any man's greatness: for he made the little and the great, and he hath equally care of all.


text:
For they that have kept just things justly, shall be justified: and they that have learned these things, shall find what to answer.


text:
Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away, and is easily seen by them that love her, and is found by them that seek her.


text:
To think, therefore, upon her, is perfect understanding: and he that watcheth for her, shall quickly be secure.


text:
For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, and she sheweth herself to them cheerfully in the ways, and meeteth them with all providence.


text:
And the care of discipline is love: and love is the keeping of her laws: and the keeping of her laws is the firm foundation of incorruption:


text:
If then your delight be in thrones, and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, love wisdom, that you may reign for ever.


text:
Now what wisdom is, and what was her origin, I will declare: and I will not hide from you the mysteries of God, but will seek her out from the beginning of her birth, and bring the knowledge of her to light, and will not pass over the truth:


text:
Now the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world: and a wise king is the upholding of the people.


text:
I myself am a mortal man, like all others, and of the race of him, that was first made of the earth, and in the womb of my mother I was fashioned to be flesh.


text:
In the time of ten months I was compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure of sleep concurring.


text:
And being born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, that is made alike, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.


text:
Wherefore I wished, and understanding was given me: and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me:


text:
Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone: for all gold, in comparison of her, is as a little sand; and silver, in respect to her, shall be counted as clay.


text:
I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for her light cannot be put out.


text:
And I rejoiced in all these: for this wisdom went before me, and I knew not that she was the mother of them all.


text:
For she is an infinite treasure to men: which they that use, become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts of discipline.


text:
And God hath given to me to speak as I would, and to conceive thoughts worthy of those things that are given me: because he is the guide of wisdom, and the director of the wise:


text:
For he hath given me the true knowledge of the things that are: to know the disposition of the whole world, and the virtues of the elements,


text:
The beginning, and ending, and midst of the times, the alterations of their courses, and the changes of seasons,


text:
The natures of living creatures, and rage of wild beasts, the force of winds, and reasonings of men, the diversities of plants, and the virtues of roots,


text:
And all such things as are hid, and not foreseen, I have learned: for wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me.


text:
For in her is the spirit of understanding; holy, one, manifold, subtile, eloquent, active, undefiled, sure, sweet, loving that which is good, quick, which nothing hindereth, beneficent,


text:
Gentle, kind, steadfast, assured, secure, having all power, overseeing all things, and containing all spirits: intelligible, pure, subtile:


text:
For she is a vapour of the power of God, and a certain pure emmanation of the glory of the Almighty God: and therefore no defiled thing cometh into her.


text:
For she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of God's majesty, and the image of his goodness.


text:
And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself the same, she reneweth all things, and through nations conveyeth herself into holy souls, she maketh the friends of God and prophets.


text:
For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of the stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it.


text:
Her have I loved, and have sought her out from my youth, and have desired to take for my spouse, and I became a lover of her beauty.


text:
She glorifieth her nobility by being conversant with God: yea, and the Lord of all things hath loved her.


text:
And if a man love justice: her labours have great virtues: for she teacheth temperance, and prudence, and justice, and fortitude, which are such things as men can have nothing more profitable in life.


text:
And if a man desire much knowledge: she knoweth things past, and judgeth of things to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and the solutions of arguments: she knoweth signs and wonders before they be done, and the events of times and ages.


text:
I purposed, therefore, to take her to me to live with me: knowing that she will communicate to me of her good things, and will be a comfort in my cares and grief.


text:
For her sake I shall have glory among the multitude, and honour with the ancients, though I be young:


text:
And I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of the mighty, and the faces of princes shall wonder at me.


text:
They shall wait for me when I hold my peace, and they shall look upon me when I speak; and if I talk much, they shall lay their hands on their mouth.


text:
Moreover, by the means of her I shall have immortality: and shall leave behind me an everlasting memory to them that come after me.


text:
Terrible kings hearing, shall be afraid of me: among the multitude I shall be found good, and valiant in war.


text:
When I go into my house, I shall repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness.


text:
Thinking these things with myself, and pondering them in my heart, that to be allied to wisdom is immortality,


text:
And that there is great delight in her friendship, and inexhaustible riches in the works of her hands, and in the exercise of conference with her, wisdom, and glory in the communication of her words: I went about seeking, that I might take her to myself.


text:
And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, and this also was a point of wisdom, to know whose gift it was, I went to the Lord, and besought him, and said with my whole heart:


text:
And by thy wisdom hast appointed man, that he should have dominion over the creature that was made by thee,


text:
That he should order the world according to equity and justice, and execute justice with an upright heart:


text:
For I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid, a weak man, and of short time, and falling short of the understanding of judgment and laws.


text:
For if one be perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.


text:
And hast commanded me to build a temple on thy holy mount, and an altar in the city of thy dwelling place, a resemblance of thy holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning:


text:
And thy wisdom with thee, which knoweth thy works, which then also was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was agreeable to thy eyes, and what was right in thy commandments.


text:
Send her out of thy holy heaven, and from the throne of thy majesty, that she may be with me, and may labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable with thee:


text:
For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and shall lead me soberly in my works, and shall preserve me by her power.


text:
So shall my works be acceptable, and I shall govern thy people justly, and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.


text:
For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.


text:
And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth: and with labour do we find the things that are before us. But the things that are in heaven, who shall search out?


text:
And so the ways of them that are upon earth may be corrected, and men may learn the things that please thee?


text:
She preserved him, that was first formed by God, the father of the world, when he was created alone,


text:
But when the unjust went away from her in his anger, he perished by the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.


text:
For whose cause, when water destroyed the earth, wisdom healed it again, directing the course of the just by contemptible wood.


text:
Moreover, when the nations had conspired together to consent to wickedness, she knew the just, and preserved him without blame to God, and kept him strong against the compassion for his son.


text:
She delivered the just man, who fled from the wicked that were perishing, when the fire came down upon Pentapolis:


text:
Whose land, for a testimony of their wickedness, is desolate, and smoketh to this day, and the trees bear fruits that ripen not, and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an incredulous soul.


text:
For regarding not wisdom, they did not only slip in this, that they were ignorant of good things; but they left also unto men a memorial of their folly, so that in the things in which they sinned, they could not so much as lie hid.


text:
She conducted the just, when he fled from his brother's wrath, through the right ways, and shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him the knowledge of the holy things, made him honourable in his labours, and accomplished his labours.


text:
She kept him safe from his enemies, and she defended him from seducers, and gave him a strong conflict, that he might overcome, and know that wisdom is mightier than all.


text:
She forsook not the just when he was sold, but delivered him from sinners: she went down with him into the pit.


text:
And in bands she left him not, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: and shewed them to be liars that had accused him, and gave him everlasting glory.


text:
She entered into the soul of the servant of God and stood against dreadful kings in wonders and signs.


text:
And she rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night:


text:
But their enemies she drowned in the sea, and from the depth of hell she brought them out. Therefore the just took the spoils of the wicked.


text:
They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in desert places they pitched their tents.


text:
They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the hard stone.


text:
For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and rejoiced:


text:
And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked for:


text:
For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew how the wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented.


text:
For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn.


text:
For when they heard that by their punishments the others were benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was come to pass.


text:
For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the just.


text:
But for the foolish devices of their iniqnity, because some being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance:


text:
For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,


text:
Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting horrible sparks out of their eyes:


text:
Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also the very sight might kill them through fear.


text:
Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight.


text:
For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho earth.


text:
But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.


text:
For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it.


text:
And therefore thou chastisest them that err, by little and little: and admonishest them, and speakest to them, concerning the things wherein they offend: that leaving their wickedness, they may believe in thee, O Lord.


text:
And those merciless murderers of their own children, and eaters of men's bowels, and devourers of blood from the midst of thy consecration,


text:
And those parents sacrificing with their own hands helpless souls, it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our parents,


text:
That the land which of all is most dear to thee, might receive a worthy colony of the children of God.


text:
Yet even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps forerunners of thy host, to destroy them by little and little.


text:
Not that thou wast unable to bring the wicked under the just by war, or by cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them at once:


text:
But executing thy judgments by degrees, thou gavest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a wicked generation, and their malice natural, and that their thought could never be changed.


text:
For it was a cursed seed from the beginning: neither didst thou for fear of any one give pardon to their sins.


text:
For who shall say to thee: What hast thou done? or who shall withstand thy judgment? or who shall come before thee to be a revenger of wicked men? or who shall accuse thee, if the nations perish, which thou hast made ?


text:
For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly.


text:
For so much then, as thou art just, thou orderest all things justly: thinking it not agreeable to the power, to condemn him who deserveth not to be punished.


text:
For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all.


text:
For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know thee not.


text:
But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity, and with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou wilt.


text:
But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: because in judging, thou givest place for repentance for sins.


text:
For if thou didst punish the enemies of thy servants, and that deserved to die, with so great deliberation, giving them time and place whereby they might be changed from their wickedness:


text:
With what circumspection hast thou judged thy own children, to whose parents thou hast sworn, and made covenants of good promises?


text:
Therefore whereas thou chastisest us, thou scourgest our enemies very many ways, to the end that when we judge we may think on thy goodness: and when we are judged, we may hope for thy mercy.


text:
Wherefore thou hast also greatly tormented them, who, in their life, have lived foolishly and unjustly, by the same things which they worshipped.


text:
For they went astray for a long time in the ways of error, holding those things for gods which are the most worthless among beasts, living after the manner of children without understanding.


text:
But they that were not amended by mockeries and reprehensions, experienced the worthy judgment of God.


text:
For seeing, with indignation, that they suffered by those very things which they took for gods, when they were destroyed by the same, they acknowledged him the true God, whom in time past they denied that they knew: for which cause the end also of their condemnation came upon them.


text:
But all men are vain, in whom there is not the knowledge of God: and who by these good things that are seen, could not understand him that is, neither by attending to the works have acknowledged who was the workman:


text:
But have imagined either the fire, or the wind, or the swift air, or the circle of the stars, or the great water, or the sun and moon, to be the gods that rule the world.


text:
With whose beauty, if they, being delighted, took them to be gods: let them know how much the Lord of them is more beautiful than they: for the first author of beauty made all those things.


text:
Or if they admired their power, and their effects, let them understand by them, that he that made them, is mightier than they:


text:
For by the greatness of the beauty, and of the creature, the creator of them may be seen, so as to be known thereby.


text:
But yet as to these they are less to be blamed. For they perhaps err, seeking God, and desirous to find him.


text:
For being conversant among his works, they search: and they are persuaded that the things are good which are seen.


text:
For if they were able to know so much as to make a judgment of the world: how did they not more easily find out the Lord thereof?


text:
But unhappy are they, and their hope is among the dead, who have called gods the works of the hand of men, gold and silver, the inventions of art, and the resemblances of beasts, or an unprofitable stone the work of an ancient hand.


text:
Or if an artist, a carpenter, hath cut down a tree proper for his use in the wood, and skilfully taken off all the bark thereof, and with his art, diligently formeth a vessel profitable for the common uses of life,


text:
And taking what was left thereof, which is good for nothing, being a crooked piece of wood, and full of knots, carveth it diligently when he hath nothing else to do, and by the skill of his art fashioneth it, and maketh it like the image of a man:


text:
Or the resemblance of some beast, laying it over with vermilion, and painting it red, and covering every spot that is in it:


text:
And maketh a convenient dwelling place for it, and setting it in a wall, and fastening it with iron,


text:
Providing for it, lest it should fall, knowing that it is unable to help itself: for it is an image, and hath need of help.


text:
And then maketh prayer to it, enquiring concerning his substance, and his children, or his marriage. And he is not ashamed to speak to that which hath no life:


text:
And for health he maketh supplication to the weak, and for life prayeth to that which is dead, and for help calleth upon that which is unprofitable:


text:
And for a good journey he petitioneth him that cannot walk: and for getting, and for working, and for the event of all things he asketh him that is unable to do any thing.


text:
Again, another designing to sail, and beginning to make his voyage through the raging waves, calleth upon a piece of wood more frail than the wood that carrieth him.


text:
But thy providence, O Father, governeth it: for thou hast made a way even in the sea, and a most sure path among the waves,


text:
But that the works of thy wisdom might not be idle: therefore men also trust their lives even to a little wood, and passing over the sea by ship, are saved.


text:
And from the beginning also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world fleeing to a vessel, which was governed by thy hand, left to the world seed of generation.


text:
But the idol that is made by hands, is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he because he made it; and it because being frail it is called a god.


text:
Therefore there shall be no respect had even to the idols of the Gentiles: because the creatures of God are turned to an abomination, and a temptation to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.


text:
For the beginning of fornication is the devising of idols: and the invention of them is the corruption of life.


text:
For by the vanity of men they came into the world: and therefore they shall be found to come shortly to an end.


text:
For a father being afflicted with bitter grief, made to himself the image of his son, who was quickly taken away: and him who then had died as a man, he began now to worship as a god, and appointed him rites and sacrifices among his servants.


text:
Then, in process of time, wicked custom prevailing, this error was kept as a law, and statues were worshipped by the commandment of tyrants.


text:
And those whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they brought their resemblance from afar, and made an express image of the king, whom they had a mind to honour: that by this their diligence, they might honour as present, him that was absent.


text:
And to the worshipping of these, the singular diligence also of the artificer helped to set forward the ignorant.


text:
For he being willing to please him that employed him, laboured with all his art to make the resemblance in the best manner.


text:
And the multitude of men, carried away by the beauty of the work, took him now for a god, that little before was but honoured as a man.


text:
And this was the occasion of deceiving human life: for men serving either their affection, or their kings, gave the incommunicable name to stones and wood.


text:
And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and so great evils peace.


text:
For either they sacrifice their own children, or use hidden sacrifices, or keep watches full of madness,


text:
So that now they neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another through envy, or grieveth him by adultery:


text:
And all things are mingled together, blood, murder, theft, and dissimulation, corruption and unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,


text:
Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness.


text:
For either they are mad when they are merry: or they prophesy lies, or they live unjustly, or easily forswear themselves.


text:
For whilst they trust in idols, which are without life, though they swear amiss, they look not to be hurt.


text:
But for both these things they shall be justly punished, because they have thought not well of God, giving heed to idols, and have sworn unjustly, in guile despising justice.


text:
For it is not the power of them, by whom they swear, but the just vengeance of sinners always punisheth the transgression of the unjust.


text:
For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy greatness: and if we sin not, we know that we are counted with thee.


text:
For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is the root of immortality.


text:
For the invention of mischievous men hath not deceived us, nor the shadow of a picture, a fruitless labour, a graven figure with divers colours,


text:
The sight whereof enticeth the fool to lust after it, and he loveth the lifeless figure of a dead image.


text:
The lovers of evil things deserve to have no better things to trust in, both they that make them, and they that love them, and they that worship them.


text:
The potter also tempering soft earth, with labour fashioneth every vessel for our service, and of the same clay he maketh both vessels that are for clean uses, and likewise such as serve to the contrary: but what is the use of these vessels, the potter is the judge.


text:
And of the same clay by a vain labour he maketh a god: he who a little before was made of earth himself, and a little after returneth to the same out of which he was taken, when his life, which was lent him, shall be called for again.


text:
But his care is, not that he shall labour, nor that his life is short, but he striveth with the goldsmiths and silversmiths: and he endeavoureth to do like the workers in brass, and counteth it a glory to make vain things.


text:
Forasmuch as he knew not his maker, and him that inspired into him the soul that worketh, and that breathed into him a living spirit.


text:
Yea, and they have counted our life a pastime and the business of life to be gain, and that we must be getting every way, even out of evil.


text:
For that man knoweth that he offendeth above all others, who of earthly matter maketh brittle vessels, and graven gods.


text:
But all the enemies of thy people that hold them in subjection, are foolish, and unhappy, and proud beyond measure:


text:
For they have esteemed all the idols of the heathens for gods, which neither have the use of eyes to see, nor noses to draw breath, nor ears to hear, nor fingers of hands to handle, and as for their feet, they are slow to walk.


text:
For man made them: and he that borroweth his own breath, fashioned them. For no man can make a god like to himself.


text:
For being mortal himself, he formeth a dead thing with his wicked hands. For he is better than they whom he worshippeth, because he indeed hath lived, though he were mortal, but they never.


text:
Moreover, they worship also the vilest creatures: but things without sense, compared to these, are worse than they.


text:
Yea, neither by sight can any man see good of these beasts. But they have fled from the praise of God, and from his blessing.


text:
For these things, and by the like things to these, they were worthily punished, and were destroyed by a multitude of beasts.


text:
Instead of which punishment, dealiug well with thy people, thou gavest them their desire of delicious food, of a new taste, preparing for them quails for their meat:


text:
To the end, that they indeed desiring food, by means of those things that were shewn and sent among them, might loath even that which was necessary to satisfy their desire. But these, after suffering want for a short time, tasted a new meat.


text:
For it was requisite that inevitable destruction should come upon them that exercised tyranny: but to these it should only be shewn how their enemies were destroyed.


text:
For when the fierce rage of beasts came upon these, they were destroyed by the bitings of crooked serpents.


text:
But thy wrath endured not for ever, but they were troubled for a short time for their correction, having a sign of salvation, to put them in remembrance of the commandment of thy law.


text:
For the bitings of locusts, and of flies, killed them, and there was found no remedy for their life: because they were worthy to be destroyed by such things.


text:
But not even the teeth of venomous serpents overcame thy children: for thy mercy came and healed them.


text:
For they were examined for the remembrance of thy words, and were quickly healed, lest falling into deep forgetfulness, they might not be able to use thy help.


text:
For it was neither herb, nor mollifying plaster, that healed them, but thy word, O Lord, which healeth all things.


text:
For it is thou, O Lord, that hast power of life and death, and leadest down to the gates of death, and bringest back again:


text:
A man indeed killeth through malice, and when the spirit is gone forth, it shall not return, neither shall he call back the soul that is received:


text:
For the wicked that denied to know thee, were scourged by the strength of thy arm, being persecuted by strange waters, and hail, and rain, and consumed by fire.


text:
And which was wonderful, in water, which extinguisheth all things, the fire had more force: for the world fighteth for the just.


text:
For at one time the fire was mitigated, that the beasts which were sent against the wicked might not be burnt, but that they might see, and perceive that they were persecuted by the judgment of God.


text:
And at another time the fire, above its own power, burnt in the midst of water, to destroy the fruits of a wicked land.


text:
Instead of which things, thou didst feed thy people with the food of angels, and gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without labour; having in it all that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste.


text:
For thy sustenance shewed thy sweetness to thy children, and serving every man's will, it was turned to what every man liked.


text:
But snow and ice endured the force of fire, and melted not: that they might know that the fire, burning in the hail, and flashing in the rain, destroyed the fruits of the enemies.


text:
For the creature serving thee, the Creator, is made fierce against the unjust for their punishment: and abateth its strength for the benefit of them that trust in thee.


text:
Therefore even then it was transformed into all things, and was obedient to thy grace, that nourisheth all, according to the will of them that desired it of thee:


text:
That thy children, O Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but thy word preserveth them that believe in thee.


text:
For that which could not be destroyed by fire, being warmed with a little sunbeam, presently melted away:


text:
That it might be known to all, that we ought to prevent the sun to bless thee, and adore thee at the dawning of the light.


text:
For the hope of the unthankful shall melt away as the winter's ice, and shall run off as unprofitable water.


text:
For thy judgments, O Lord, are great, and thy words cannot be expressed: therefore undisciplined souls have erred.


text:
For while the wicked thought to be able to have dominion over the holy nation, they themselves being fettered with the bonds of darkness, and a long night, shut up in their houses, lay there exiled from the eternal providence.


text:
And while they thought to lie hid in their obscure sins, they were scattered under a dark veil of forgetfullness, being horribly afraid, and troubled with exceeding great astonishment.


text:
For neither did the den that held them, keep them from fear: for noises coming down troubled them, and sad visions appearing to them, affrighted them.


text:
And no power of fire could give them light, neither could the bright flames of the stars enlighten that horrible night.


text:
But there appeared to them a sudden fire, very dreadful: and being struck with the fear of that face, which was not seen, they thought the things which they saw to be worse:


text:
And the delusions of their magic art were put down, and their boasting of wisdom was reproachfully rebuked.


text:
For they who promised to drive away fears and troubles from a sick soul, were sick themselves of a fear worthy to be laughed at.


text:
For though no terrible thing disturbed them: yet being scared with the passing by of beasts, and hissing of serpents, they died for fear and denying that they saw the air, which could by no means be avoided.


text:
For whereas wickedness is fearful, it beareth witness of its condemnation: for a troubled conscience always forecasteth grievous things.


text:
And while there is less expectation from within, the greater doth it count the ignorance of that cause which bringeth the torment.


text:
But they that during that night, in which nothing could be done, and which came upon them from the lowest and deepest hell, slept the same sleep,


text:
Were sometimes molested with the fear of monsters, sometimes fainted away, their soul failing them: for a sudden and unlooked for fear was come upon them.


text:
For if any one were a husbandman, or a shepherd, or a labourer in the field, and was suddenly overtaken, he endured a necessity from which he could not fly.


text:
For they were all bound together with one chain of darkness. Whether it were a whistling wind, or the melodious voice of birds, among the spreading branches of trees, or a fall of water running down with violence,


text:
Or the mighty noise of stones tumbling down, or the running that could not be seen of beasts playing together, or the roaring voice of wild beasts, or a rebounding echo from the highest mountains: these things made them to swoon for fear.


text:
But over them only was spread a heavy night, an image of that darkness which was to come upon them. But they were to themselves more grievous than the darkness.


text:
But thy saints had a very great light, and they heard their voice indeed, but did not see their shape. And because they also did not suffer the same things, they glorified thee:


text:
And they that before had been wronged, gave thanks, because they were not hurt now: and asked this gift, that there might be a difference.


text:
Therefore they received a burning pillar of fire for a guide of the way which they knew not, and thou gavest them a harmless sun of a good entertainment.


text:
The others indeed were worthy to be deprived of light, and imprisoned in darkness, who kept thy children shut up, by whom the pure light of the law was to be given to the world.


text:
And whereas they thought to kill the babes of the just: one child being cast forth, and saved to reprove them, thou tookest away a multitude of their children, and destroyedst them altogether in a mighty water.


text:
For that night was known before by our fathers, that assuredly knowing what oaths they had trusted to, they might be of better courage.


text:
For the just children of good men were offering sacrifice secretly, and they unanimously ordered a law of justice: that the just should receive both good and evil alike, singing now the praises of the fathers.


text:
But on the other side there sounded an ill according cry of the enemies, and a lamentable mourning was heard for the children that were bewailed.


text:
And the servant suffered the same punishment as the master, and a common man suffered in like manner as the king.


text:
So all alike had innumerable dead, with one kind of death. Neither were the living sufficient to bury them: for in one moment the noblest offspring of them was destroyed.


text:
For whereas they would not believe any thing before by reason of the enchantments, then first upon the destruction of the firstborn, they acknowledged the people to be of God.


text:
Thy Almighty word leaped down from heaven from thy royal throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction,


text:
With a sharp sword carrying thy unfeigned commandment, and he stood and filled all things with death, and standing on the earth, reached even to heaven.


text:
For the visions that troubled them foreshewed these things, lest they should perish, and not know why they suffered these evils.


text:
But the just also were afterwards touched by an assault of death, and there was a disturbance of the multitude in the wilderness: but thy wrath did not long continue;


text:
For a blameless man made haste to pry for the people, bringing forth the shield of his ministry, prayer, and by incense making supplication, withstood the wrath, and put an end to the calamity, shewing that he was thy servant.


text:
And he overcame the disturbance, not by strength of body nor with force of arms, but with a word he subdued him that punished them, alleging the oath and covenant made with the fathers.


text:
For when they were now fallen down dead by heaps one upon another, he stood between and stayed the assault, and cut off the way to the living.


text:
For in the priestly robe which he wore, was the whole world: and in the four rows of the stones, the glory of the fathers was graven, and thy majesty was written upon the diadem of his head.


text:
And to these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for the proof only of wrath was enough.


text:
But as to the wicked, even to the end there came upon them wrath without mercy. For he knew before also what they would do:


text:
For when they had given them leave to depart and had sent them away with great care, they repented and pursued after them.


text:
For whilst they were yet mourning, and lamenting at the graves of the dead, they took up another foolish device: and pursued them as fugitives whom they had pressed to be gone:


text:
For a necessity, of which they were worthy, brought them to this end: and they lost the remembrance of those things which had happened, that their punishment might fill up what was wanting to their torments:


text:
For every creature, according to its kind was fashioned again as from the beginning, obeying thy commandments, that thy children might be kept without hurt.


text:
For a cloud overshadowed their camps and where water was before, dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea a way without hindrance, and out of the great deep a springing field:


text:
Through which all the nation passed which was protected with thy hand, seeing thy miracles and wonders.


text:
For they fed on their food like horses, and they skipped like lambs, praising thee, O Lord, who hadst delivered them.


text:
For they were yet mindful of those things which had been done in the time of their sojourning, how the ground brought forth flies instead of cattle, and how the river cast up a multitude of frogs instead of fishes.


text:
And at length they saw a new generation of birds, when being led by their appetite, they asked for delicate meats.


text:
For to satisfy their desire, the quail came up to them from the sea: and punishments came upon the sinners, not without foregoing signs by the force of thunders: for they suffered justly according to their own wickedness.


text:
For they exercised a more detestable inhospitality than any: others indeed received not strangers unknown to them, but these brought their guests into bondage that had deserved well of them.


text:
And not only so, but in another respect also they were worse: for the others against their will received the strangers.


text:
But these grievously afflicted them whom they had received with joy, and who lived under the same laws.


text:
But they were struck with blindness: as those others were at the doors of the just man, when they were covered with sudden darkness, and every one sought the passage of his own door.


text:
For while the elements are changed in themselves, as in an instrument the sound of the quality is changed, yet all keep their sound: which may clearly be perceived by the very sight.


text:
For the things of the land were turned into things of the water: and the things that before swam in the water passed upon the land.


text:
On the other side, the flames wasted not the flesh of corruptible animals walking therein, neither did they melt that good food, which was apt to melt as ice. For in all things thou didst magnify thy people, O Lord, and didst honour them, and didst not despise them, but didst assist them at all times, and in every place.


text:
Who hath numbered the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of the world? Who hath measured the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss?


text:
To whom hath the discipline of wisdom been revealed and made manifest? and who hath understood the multiplicity of her steps?


text:
There is one most high Creator Almighty, and a powerful king, and greatly to be feared, who sitteth upon his throne, and is the God of dominion.


text:
And he poured her out upon all his works, and upon all flesh according to his gift, and hath given her to them that love him.


text:
With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the latter end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.


text:
And they to whom she shall shew herself love her by the sight, and by the knowledge of her great works.


text:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and was created with the faithful in the womb, it walketh with chosen women, and is known with the just and faithful.


text:
Wisdom shall distribute knowledge, and understanding of prudence: and exalteth the glory of them that hold her.


text:
In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination.


text:
Son, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for temptation.


text:
Humble thy heart, and endure: incline thy ear, and receive the words of understanding: and make not haste in the time of clouds.


text:
Wait on God with patience: join thyself to God, and endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end.


text:
Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience.


text:
Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.


text:
My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded.


text:
For who hath continued in his commandment, and hath been forsaken? or who hath called upon him, and he despised him?


text:
For God is compassionate and merciful, and will forgive sins in the day of tribulation: and he is a protector to all that seek him in truth.


text:
Woe to them that are of a double heart and to wicked lips, and to the hands that do evil, and to the sinner that goeth on the earth two ways.


text:
Woe to them that are fainthearted, who believe not God: and therefore they shall not be protected by him.


text:
Woe to them that have lost patience, and that have forsaken the right ways, and have gone aside into crooked ways.


text:
They that fear the Lord, will not be incredulous to his word: and they that love him, will keep his way.


text:
They that fear the Lord, will seek after the things that are well pleasing to him: and they that love him, shall be filled with his law.


text:
Saying: If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men.


text:
For God hath made the father honourable to the children: and seeking the judgment of the mothers, hath confirmed it upon the children.


text:
He that loveth God, shall obtain pardon for his sins by prayer, and shall refrain himself from them, and shall be heard in the prayer of days.


text:
He that honoureth his father shall have joy in his own children, and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.


text:
He that honoureth his father shall enjoy a long life: and he that obeyeth the father, shall be a comfort to his mother.


text:
He that feareth the Lord, honoureth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world.


text:
The father's blessing establisheth the houses of the children: but the mother's curse rooteth up the foundation.


text:
For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father, and a father without honour is the disgrace of the son.


text:
And if his understanding fail, have patience with him, and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotten.


text:
And in justice thou shalt be built up, and in the day of affliction thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather.


text:
Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father: and he is cursed of God that angereth his mother.


text:
Seek not the things that are too high for thee, and search not into things above thy ability: but the things that God hath commanded thee, think on them always, and in many of his works be not curious.


text:
A heart that goeth two ways shall not have success, and the perverse of heart shall be scandalized therein.


text:
The congregation of the proud shall not be healed: for the plant of wickedness shall take root in them, and it shall not be perceived.


text:
A wise heart, and which hath understanding, will abstain from sins, and in the works of justice shall have success.


text:
And God provideth for him that sheweth favour: he remembereth him afterwards, and in the time of his fall he shall find a sure stay.


text:
Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.


text:
For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.


text:
Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.


text:
Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.


text:
And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.


text:
Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.


text:
They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.


text:
She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by her laws, and trust his soul.


text:
And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.


text:
For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.


text:
Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.


text:
Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, and oppressing them that are under thee.


text:
Set not thy heart upon unjust possessions, and say not: I have enough to live on: for it shall be of no service in the time of vengeance and darkness.


text:
And say not: How mighty am I? and who shall bring me under for my deeds? for God will surely take revenge.


text:
Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten: for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge.


text:
Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so is every sinner proved by a double tongue.


text:
Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep with thee.


text:
If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded.


text:
For confusion and repentance is upon a thief, and an evil mark of disgrace upon the double tongued, but to the whisperer hatred, and enmity, and reproach.


text:
Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbour: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.


text:
For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.


text:
A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.


text:
And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.


text:
A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.


text:
If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.


text:
Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.


text:
A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.


text:
He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.


text:
She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.


text:
For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.


text:
Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:


text:
My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.


text:
If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.


text:
Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.


text:
And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.


text:
Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.


text:
Justify not thyself before God, for he knoweth the heart: and desire not to appear wise before the king.


text:
Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to extirpate iniquities: lest thou fear the person of the powerful, and lay a stumblingblock for thy integrity.


text:
Say not: God will have respect to the multitude of my gifts, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept my offerings.


text:
Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one that humbleth and exalteth, God who seeth all.


text:
Do not transgress against thy friend deferring money, nor despise thy dear brother for the sake of gold.


text:
Depart not from a wise and good wife, whom thou hast gotten in the fear of the Lord: for the grace of her modesty is above gold.


text:
Let a wise servant be dear to thee as thy own soul, defraud him not of liberty, nor leave him needy.


text:
If thou hast a wife according to thy soul, cast her not off: and to her that is hateful, trust not thyself. With thy whole heart,


text:
Remember that thou hadst not been born but through them: and make a return to them as they have done for thee.


text:
Give them their portion, as it is commanded thee, of the firstfruits and of purifications: and for thy negligences purify thyself with a few.


text:
Offer to the Lord the gift of thy shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things:


text:
For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.


text:
Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof.


text:
Rejoice not at the death of thy enemy; knowing that we all die, and are not willing that others should rejoice at our death.


text:
Despise not the discourse of them that are ancient and wise, but acquaint thyself with their proverbs.


text:
For of them thou shalt learn wisdom, and instruction of understanding, and to serve great men without blame.


text:
Kindle not the coals of sinners by rebuking them, lest thou be burnt with the flame of the fire of their sins.


text:
Stand not against the face of an injurious person, lest he sit as a spy to entrap thee in thy words.


text:
Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish together with his folly.


text:
Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.


text:
Open not thy heart to every man: lest he repay thee with an evil turn, and speak reproachfully to thee.


text:
Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, lest she shew in thy regard the malice of a wicked lesson.


text:
Give not the power of thy soul to a woman, lest she enter upon thy strength, and thou be confounded.


text:
Use not much the company of her that is a dancer, and hearken not to her, lest thou perish by the force of her charms.


text:
Many by admiring the beauty of another man's wife, have become reprobate, for her conversation burneth as fire.


text:
And strive not with her over wine, lest thy heart decline towards her and by thy blood thou fall into destruction.


text:
Be not pleased with the wrong done by the unjust, knowing that even to hell the wicked shall not please.


text:
Know it to be a communication with death: for thou art going in the midst of snares, and walking upon the arms of them that are grieved.


text:
And let the thought of God be in thy mind, and all thy discourse on the commandments of the Highest.


text:
Works shall be praised for the hand of the artificers, and the prince of the people for the wisdom of his speech, but the word of the ancients for the sense.


text:
As the judge of the people is himself, so also are his ministers: and what manner of man the ruler of a city is, such also are they that dwell therein.


text:
An unwise king shall be the ruin of his people: and cities shall be inhabited through the prudence of the rulers.


text:
The power of the earth is in the hand of God, and in his time he will raise up a profitable ruler over it.


text:
The prosperity of man is in the hand of God, and upon the person of the scribe he shall lay his honour.


text:
A kingdom is translated from one people to another, because of injustices, and wrongs, and injuries, and divers deceits.


text:
There is not a more wicked thing than to love money: for such a one setteth even his own soul to sale: because while he liveth he hath cast away his bowels.


text:
Because his heart is departed from him that made him: for pride is the beginning of all sin: he that holdeth it, shall be filled with maledictions, and it shall ruin him in the end.


text:
He hath made some of them to wither away, and hath destroyed them, and hath made the memory of them to cease from the earth.


text:
God hath abolished the memory of the proud, and hath preserved the memory of them that are humble in mind.


text:
That seed of men shall be honoured, which feareth God: but that seed shall be dishonoured, which transgresseth the commandments of the Lord.


text:
In the midst of brethren their chief is honourable: so shall they that fear the Lord, be in his eyes.


text:
The great man, and the judge, and the mighty is in honour: and there is none greater than he that feareth God.


text:
They that are free shall serve a servant that is wise: and a man that is prudent and well instructed will not murmur when he is reproved; and he that is ignorant, shall not be honoured.


text:
Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself and wanteth bread.


text:
Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own soul?


text:
The poor man is glorified by his discipline and fear, and there is a man that is honoured for his wealth.


text:
But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in wealth? and he that is glorified in wealth, let him fear poverty.


text:
Glory not in apparel at any time, and be not exalted in the day of thy honour: for the works of the Highest only are wonderful, and his works are glorious, and secret, and hidden.


text:
Many mighty men have been greatly brought down, and the glorious have been delivered into the hand of others.


text:
My son, meddle not with many matters: and if thou be rich, thou shalt not be free from sin: for if thou pursue after thou shalt not overtake; and if thou run before thou shalt not escape.


text:
There is an ungodly man that laboureth, and maketh haste, and is in sorrow, and is so much the more in want.


text:
Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified God.


text:
Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.


text:
And he knoweth not what time shall pass, and that death approacheth, and that he must leave all to others, and shall die.


text:
Be steadfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and grow old in the work of thy commandments.


text:
The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour his blessing beareth fruit.


text:
In the day of good things be not unmindful of evils: and in the day of evils be not unmindful of good things:


text:
The affliction of an hour maketh one forget great delights, and in the end of a man is the disclosing of his works.


text:
For as corrupted bowels send forth stinking breath, and as the partridge is brought into the cage, and as the roe into the snare: so also is the heart of the proud, and as a spy that looketh on the fall of his neighbour.


text:
Of one spark cometh a great fire, and of one deceitful man much blood: and a sinful man lieth in wait for blood.


text:
Take heed to thyself of a mischievous man, for he worketh evils: lest he bring upon thee reproach for ever.


text:
Receive a stranger in, and he shall overthrow thee with a whirlwind, and shall turn thee out of thy own.


text:
Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.


text:
For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.


text:
Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance.


text:
Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee.


text:
For thou shalt receive twice as much evil for all the good thou shalt have done to him: for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.


text:
Set him not by thee, neither let him sit on thy right hand, lest he turn into thy place, and seek to take thy seat and at the last thou acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings.


text:
Who will pity an enchanter struck by a serpent, or any that come near wild beasts? so is it with him that keepeth company with a wicked man, and is involved in his sins.


text:
An enemy speaketh sweetly with his lips, but in his heart he lieth in wait, to throw thee into a pit.


text:
He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.


text:
He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one more honourable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is richer than thyself.


text:
What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? for if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken.


text:
The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace.


text:
If thou have any thing, he will live with thee, and will make thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee.


text:
If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What wantest thou?


text:
And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.


text:
Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not far from him, lest thou be forgotten.


text:
Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will examine thee concerning thy secrets.


text:
His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison.


text:
Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to what thou hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin.


text:
When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance.


text:
When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him.


text:
Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.


text:
Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.


text:
Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?


text:
He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.


text:
And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.


text:
The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.


text:
An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.


text:
Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.


text:
Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.


text:
Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.


text:
Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.


text:
He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways.


text:
He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent high unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.


text:
With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved.


text:
And she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours.


text:
And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.


text:
She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.


text:
But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.


text:
Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God.


text:
For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.


text:
If thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they shall preserve thee.


text:
Rejoice not in ungodly children, if they be multiplied: neither be delighted in them, if the fear of God be not with them.


text:
In the congregation of sinners a fire shall be kindled, and in an unbelieving nation wrath shall flame out.


text:
The ancient giants did not obtain pardon for their sins, who were destroyed trusting to their own strength:


text:
So did he with the six hundred thousand footmen, who were gathered together in the hardness of their heart: and if one had been stiffnecked, it is a wonder if he had escaped unpunished:


text:
The sinner shall not escape in his rapines, and the patience of him that sheweth mercy shall not be put off.


text:
All mercy shall make a place for every man according to the merit of his works, and according to the wisdom of his sojournment.


text:
Behold the heaven, and the heavens of heavens, the deep, and all the earth, and the things that are in them, shall be moved in his sight,


text:
The mountains also, and the hills, and the foundations of the earth: when God shall look upon them, they shall be shaken with trembling.


text:
For many of his works are hidden, but the works of his justice who shall declare? or who shall endure? for the testament is far from some, and the examination of all is in the end.


text:
He that wanteth understanding thinketh vain things, and the foolish, and erring man, thinketh foolish things.


text:
Hearken to me, my son, and learn the discipline of understanding, and attend to my words in thy heart.


text:
And I will shew forth good doctrine in equity, and will seek to declare wisdom: and attend to my words in thy heart, whilst with equity of spirit I tell thee the virtues that God hath put upon his works from the beginning, and I shew forth in truth his knowledge.


text:
The works of God are done in judgment from the beginning, and from the making of them he distinguished their parts, and their beginnings in their generations.


text:
He beautified their works for ever, they have neither hungered, nor laboured, and they have not ceased from their works.


text:
The soul of every living thing hath shewn forth before the face thereof, and into it they return again.


text:
He gave him the number of his days and time, and gave him power over all things that are upon the earth.


text:
He created of him a helpmate like to himself, he gave them counsel, and a tongue, and eyes, and ears, and a heart to devise: and he filled them with the knowledge of understanding.


text:
He created in them the science of the spirit, he fired their heart with wisdom, and shewed them both good and evil.


text:
That they might praise the name which he hath sanctified: and glory in his wondrous act that they might declare the glorious things of his works.


text:
And their eye saw the majesty of his glory, and their ears heard his glorious voice, and he said to them: Beware of all iniquity.


text:
And all their works are as the sun in the sight of God: and his eyes are continually upon their ways.


text:
The alms of a man is as a signet with him, and shall preserve the grace of a man as the apple of the eye:


text:
And afterward he shall rise up, and shall render them their reward, to every one upon their own head, and shall turn them down into the bowels of the earth.


text:
But to the penitent he hath given the way of justice, and he hath strengthened them that were fainting in patience, and hath appointed to them the lot of truth.


text:
And know the justices and judgments of God, and stand firm in the lot set before thee, and in prayer to the most high God.


text:
Tarry not in the error of the ungodly, give glory before death. Praise perisheth from the dead as nothing.


text:
Give thanks whilst thou art living, whilst thou art alive and in health thou shalt give thanks, and shalt praise God, and shalt glory in his mercies.


text:
For all things cannot be in men, because the son of man is not immortal, and they are delighted with the vanity of evil.


text:
What is brighter than the sun; yet it shall be eclipsed. Or what is more wicked than that which flesh and blood hath invented? and this shall be reproved.


text:
He that liveth for ever created all things together. God only shall be justified, and he remaineth an invincible king for ever.


text:
The number of the days of men at the most are a hundred years, as a drop of water of the sea are they esteemed: and as a pebble of the sand, so are a few years compared to eternity.


text:
He hath seen the presumption of their heart that it is wicked, and hath known their end that it is evil.


text:
He hath mercy on him that receiveth the discipline of mercy, and that maketh haste in his judgments.


text:
My son, in thy good deeds, make no complaint, and when thou givest any thing, add not grief by an evil word.


text:
Before sickness take a medicine, and before judgment examine thyself, and thou shalt find mercy in the sight of God.


text:
Let nothing hinder thee from praying always, and be not afraid to be justified even to death: for the reward of God continueth for ever.


text:
Remember the wrath that shall be at the last day, and the time of repaying when he shall turn away his face.


text:
From the morning until the evening the time shall be changed, and all these are swift in the eyes of God.


text:
They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth proverbs and judgments.


text:
Make not thyself poor by borrowing to contribute to feasts when thou hast nothing in thy purse: for thou shalt be an enemy to thy own life.


text:
A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.


text:
And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked. Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number.


text:
He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised.


text:
He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling, extinguisheth evil.


text:
He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned.


text:
For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee always.


text:
Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.


text:
Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.


text:
Reprove thy neighbour, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.


text:
For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbour before thou threaten him.


text:
And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.


text:
There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.


text:
Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.


text:
And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit:


text:
And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:


text:
And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.


text:
There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.


text:
How much better is it to reprove, than to be angry, and not to hinder him that confesseth in prayer.


text:
There is one that holdeth his peace, that is found wise: and there is another that is hateful, that is bold in speech.


text:
There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.


text:
A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.


text:
He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.


text:
There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss.


text:
There is an abasement because of glory: and there is one that shall lift up his head from a low estate.


text:
He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.


text:
For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. How often, and how many will laugh him to scorn!


text:
For he doth not distribute with right understanding that which was to be had: in like manner also that which was not to be had.


text:
The slipping of a false tongue is as one that falleth on the pavement: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.


text:
There is that will destroy his own soul through shamefacedness, and by occasion of an unwise person he will destroy it: and by respect of person he will destroy himself.


text:
A lie is a foul blot in a man, and yet it will be continually in the mouth of men without discipline.


text:
He that tilleth his land shall make a high heap of corn: and he that worketh justice shall be exalted: and he that pleaseth great men shall escape iniquity.


text:
Presents and gifts blind the eyes of judges, and make them dumb in the mouth, so that they cannot correct.


text:
My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more: but for thy former sins also pray that they may be forgiven thee.


text:
Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest near them, they will take hold of thee.


text:
Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out.


text:
The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.


text:
He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.


text:
He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.


text:
But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.


text:
The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.


text:
A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back.


text:
The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way: but in the lips of the wise, grace shall be found.


text:
The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts.


text:
As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.


