# verses

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Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold.


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Suretiship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations.


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A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretiship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men's business for gain shall fall into suits.


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For it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth.


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Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house.


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These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.


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Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.


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He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.


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He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.


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Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.


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Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.


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Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body.


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What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord.


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Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein.


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The rich hath great labour in gathering riches together; and when he resteth, he is filled with his delicates.


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He that loveth gold shall not be justified, and he that followeth corruption shall have enough thereof.


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Who hath been tried thereby, and found perfect? then let him glory. Who might offend, and hath not offended? or done evil, and hath not done it?


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Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.


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Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour note, lest thou be hated.


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A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.


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Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.


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My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness come unto thee.


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Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.


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But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.


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Wine is as good as life to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is without wine? for it was made to make men glad.


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Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.


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Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth: give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him [to drink.]


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If thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care for them, and so sit down.


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And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown for thy well ordering of the feast.


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Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound judgment; and hinder not musick.


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Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.


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If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; and when ancient men are in place, use not many words.


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A man of counsel will be considerate; but a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, even when of himself he hath done without counsel.


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He that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment; and he that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.


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There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.


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Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.


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Some of them hath he blessed and exalted and some of them he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.


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As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.


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Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.


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I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and tred my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.


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Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.


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For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.


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If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.


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If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?


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The vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the likeness of a face to a face.


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Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail.


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A man that hath travelled knoweth many things; and he that hath much experience will declare wisdom.


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For the eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him, he is their mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and a cover from the sun at noon, a preservation from stumbling, and an help from falling.


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He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted.


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The most High is not pleased with the offerings of the wicked; neither is he pacified for sin by the multitude of sacrifices.


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Whoso bringeth an offering of the goods of the poor doeth as one that killeth the son before his father's eyes.


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He that taketh away his neighbour's living slayeth him; and he that defraudeth the labourer of his hire is a bloodshedder.


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He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing?


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So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again, and doeth the same: who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humbling profit him?


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He that keepeth the law bringeth offerings enough: he that taketh heed to the commandment offereth a peace offering.


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To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; and to forsake unrighteousness is a propitiation.


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The offering of the righteous maketh the altar fat, and the sweet savour thereof is before the most High.


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Give unto the most High according as he hath enriched thee; and as thou hast gotten, give with a cheerful eye.


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Do not think to corrupt with gifts; for such he will not receive: and trust not to unrighteous sacrifices; for the Lord is judge, and with him is no respect of persons.


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He will not despise the supplication of the fatherless; nor the widow, when she poureth out her complaint.


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Do not the tears run down the widow's cheeks? and is not her cry against him that causeth them to fall?


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The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds: and till it come nigh, he will not be comforted; and will not depart, till the most High shall behold to judge righteously, and execute judgment.


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For the Lord will not be slack, neither will the Mighty be patient toward them, till he have smitten in sunder the loins of the unmerciful, and repayed vengeance to the heathen; till he have taken away the multitude of the proud, and broken the sceptre of the unrighteous;


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Till he have rendered to every man according to his deeds, and to the works of men according to their devices; till he have judged the cause of his people, and made them to rejoice in his mercy.


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Shew new signs, and make other strange wonders: glorify thy hand and thy right arm, that they may set forth thy wondrous works.


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Let him that escapeth be consumed by the rage of the fire; and let them perish that oppress the people.


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O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by thy name, and upon Israel, whom thou hast named thy firstborn.


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Give testimony unto those that thou hast possessed from the beginning, and raise up prophets that have been in thy name.


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O Lord, hear the prayer of thy servants, according to the blessing of Aaron over thy people, that all they which dwell upon the earth may know that thou art the Lord, the eternal God.


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Where no hedge is, there the possession is spoiled: and he that hath no wife will wander up and down mourning.


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Who will trust a thief well appointed, that skippeth from city to city? so [who will believe] a man that hath no house, and lodgeth wheresoever the night taketh him?


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There is a companion, which rejoiceth in the prosperity of a friend, but in the time of trouble will be against him.


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There is a companion, which helpeth his friend for the belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.


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Beware of a counsellor, and know before what need he hath; for he will counsel for himself; lest he cast the lot upon thee,


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And say unto thee, Thy way is good: and afterward he stand on the other side, to see what shall befall thee.


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Neither consult with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous; neither with a coward in matters of war; nor with a merchant concerning exchange; nor with a buyer of selling; nor with an envious man of thankfulness; nor with an unmerciful man touching kindness; nor with the slothful for any work; nor with an hireling for a year of finishing work; nor with an idle servant of much business: hearken not unto these in any matter of counsel.


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But be continually with a godly man, whom thou knowest to keep the commandments of the Lord, whose, mind is according to thy mind, and will sorrow with thee, if thou shalt miscarry.


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For a man's mind is sometime wont to tell him more than seven watchmen, that sit above in an high tower.


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Four manner of things appear: good and evil, life and death: but the tongue ruleth over them continually.


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Honour a physician with the honour due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: for the Lord hath created him.


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The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.


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Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,


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Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.


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For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper that, which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.


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My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.


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Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.


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When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.


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The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.


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How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad, that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks?


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So every carpenter and workmaster, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work:


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The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly:


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So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number;


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He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace:


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Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:


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They shall not be sought for in publick counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges' seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment; and they shall not be found where parables are spoken.


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But they will maintain the state of the world, and [all] their desire is in the work of their craft.


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But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.


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He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes: he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the good and the evil among men.


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He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.


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When the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord in his prayer.


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He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord.


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Many shall commend his understanding; and so long as the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out; his memorial shall not depart away, and his name shall live from generation to generation.


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And give ye a sweet savour as frankincense, and flourish as a lily, send forth a smell, and sing a song of praise, bless the Lord in all his works.


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Magnify his name, and shew forth his praise with the songs of your lips, and with harps, and in praising him ye shall say after this manner:


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All the works of the Lord are exceeding good, and whatsoever he commandeth shall be accomplished in due season.


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And none may say, What is this? wherefore is that? for at time convenient they shall all be sought out: at his commandment the waters stood as an heap, and at the words of his mouth the receptacles of waters.


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The principal things for the whole use of man's life are water, fire, iron, and salt, flour of wheat, honey, milk, and the blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing.


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There be spirits that are created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them.


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They shall rejoice in his commandment, and they shall be ready upon earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they shall not transgress his word.


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Therefore from the beginning I was resolved, and thought upon these things, and have left them in writing.


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Great travail is created for every man, and an heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day that they go out of their mother's womb, till the day that they return to the mother of all things.


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Their imagination of things to come, and the day of death, [trouble] their thoughts, and [cause] fear of heart;


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Wrath, and envy, trouble, and unquietness, fear of death, and anger, and strife, and in the time of rest upon his bed his night sleep, do change his knowledge.


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A little or nothing is his rest, and afterward he is in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he were escaped out of a battle.


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All things that are of the earth shall turn to the earth again: and that which is of the waters doth return into the sea.


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The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall vanish with noise, like a great thunder in rain.


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The children of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches: but are as unclean roots upon a hard rock.


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To labour, and to be content with that a man hath, is a sweet life: but he that findeth a treasure is above them both.


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Children and the building of a city continue a man's name: but a blameless wife is counted above them both.


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Riches and strength lift up the heart: but the fear of the Lord is above them both: there is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek help.


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The life of him that dependeth on another man's table is not to be counted for a life; for he polluteth himself with other men's meat: but a wise man well nurtured will beware thereof.


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O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!


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O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!


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Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.


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And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.


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The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.


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The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.


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Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:


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All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.


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Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.


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My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?


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Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.


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Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;


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And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;


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And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife.


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Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;


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And of merchants' indifferent selling; of much correction of children; and to make the side of an evil servant to bleed.


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Deliver all things in number and weight; and put all in writing that thou givest out, or receivest in.


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Be not ashamed to inform the unwise and foolish, and the extreme aged that contendeth with those that are young: thus shalt thou be truly learned, and approved of all men living.


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The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:


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In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.


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Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.


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Better is the churlishness of a man than a courteous woman, a woman, I say, which bringeth shame and reproach.


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I will now remember the works of the Lord, and declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.


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The sun that giveth light looketh upon all things, and the work thereof is full of the glory of the Lord.


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The Lord hath not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that whatsoever is might be established for his glory.


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He seeketh out the deep, and the heart, and considereth their crafty devices: for the Lord knoweth all that may be known, and he beholdeth the signs of the world.


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He hath garnished the excellent works of his wisdom, and he is from everlasting to everlasting: unto him may nothing be added, neither can he be diminished, and he hath no need of any counsellor.


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The sun when it appeareth, declaring at his rising a marvellous instrument, the work of the most High:


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A man blowing a furnace is in works of heat, but the sun burneth the mountains three times more; breathing out fiery vapours, and sending forth bright beams, it dimmeth the eyes.


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The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven;


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The beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord.


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At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches.


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It compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High have bended it.


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By his commandment he maketh the snow to fall aplace, and sendeth swiftly the lightnings of his judgment.


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The noise of the thunder maketh the earth to tremble: so doth the northern storm and the whirlwind: as birds flying he scattereth the snow, and the falling down thereof is as the lighting of grasshoppers:


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The eye marvelleth at the beauty of the whiteness thereof, and the heart is astonished at the raining of it.


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The hoarfrost also as salt he poureth on the earth, and being congealed, it lieth on the top of sharp stakes.


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When the cold north wind bloweth, and the water is congealed into ice, it abideth upon every gathering together of water, and clotheth the water as with a breastplate.


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They that sail on the sea tell of the danger thereof; and when we hear it with our ears, we marvel thereat.


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When ye glorify the Lord, exalt him as much as ye can; for even yet will he far exceed: and when ye exalt him, put forth all your strength, and be not weary; for ye can never go far enough.


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Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:


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Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions:


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And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them.


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With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.


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Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange [for the world;] therefore was he left as a remnant unto the earth, when the flood came.


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Who kept the law of the most High, and was in covenant with him: he established the covenant in his flesh; and when he was proved, he was found faithful.


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Therefore he assured him by an oath, that he would bless the nations in his seed, and that he would multiply him as the dust of the earth, and exalt his seed as the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the river unto the utmost part of the land.


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With Isaac did he establish likewise [for Abraham his father's sake] the blessing of all men, and the covenant, And made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessing, and gave him an heritage, and divided his portions; among the twelve tribes did he part them.


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And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed.


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He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.


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By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory.


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He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments.


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An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.


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He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.


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And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people;


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With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroidere, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim;


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With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.


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He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.


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Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children's children perpetually.


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Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.


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He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people.


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He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.


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Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan's and Abiron's side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.


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This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame.


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But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance:


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Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.


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The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel.


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Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:


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According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed.


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God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.


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Jesus the son a Nave was valiant in the wars, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great for the saving of the elect of God, and taking vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their inheritance.


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How great glory gat he, when he did lift up his hands, and stretched out his sword against the cities!


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He called upon the most high Lord, when the enemies pressed upon him on every side; and the great Lord heard him.


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And with hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall violently upon the nations, and in the descent [of Beth-horon] he destroyed them that resisted, that the nations might know all their strength, because he fought in the sight of the Lord, and he followed the Mighty One.


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In the time of Moses also he did a work of mercy, he and Caleb the son of Jephunne, in that they withstood the congregation, and withheld the people from sin, and appeased the wicked murmuring.


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And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two were preserved to bring them in to the heritage, even unto the land that floweth with milk and honey.


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The Lord gave strength also unto Caleb, which remained with him unto his old age: so that he entered upon the high places of the land, and his seed obtained it for an heritage:


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And concerning the judges, every one by name, whose heart went not a whoring, nor departed from the Lord, let their memory be blessed.


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Let their bones flourish out of their place, and let the name of them that were honoured be continued upon their children.


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Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.


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By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his word he was known to be faithful in vision.


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He called upon the mighty Lord, when his enemies pressed upon him on every side, when he offered the sucking lamb.


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And before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight of the Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man's goods, so much as a shoe: and no man did accuse him.


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And after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.


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As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel.


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Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath?


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For he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people.


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So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of glory.


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For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this day.


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In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him.


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He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.


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He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple might sound from morning.


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The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.


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Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.


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By the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead.


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Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.


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But the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall any of his works perish, neither will he abolish the posterity of his elect, and the seed of him that loveth him he will not take away: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.


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Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had no understanding, who turned away the people through his counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin:


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Who didst raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the word of the most High:


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Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.


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Elias it was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit: whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither could any bring him into subjection.


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For all this the people repented not, neither departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small people, and a ruler in the house of David:


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Ezekias fortified his city, and brought in water into the midst thereof: he digged the hard rock with iron, and made wells for waters.


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In his time Sennacherib came up, and sent Rabsaces, and lifted up his hand against Sion, and boasted proudly.


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But they called upon the Lord which is merciful, and stretched out their hands toward him: and immediately the Holy One heard them out of heaven, and delivered them by the ministry of Esay.


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For Ezekias had done the thing that pleased the Lord, and was strong in the ways of David his father, as Esay the prophet, who was great and faithful in his vision, had commanded him.


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He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.


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The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.


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He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.


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He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the ungodly he established the worship of God.


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All, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.


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They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.


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For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet, sanctified in his mother's womb, that he might root out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.


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And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Jacob, and delivered them by assured hope.


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So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory.


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And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.


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Neither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.


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Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:


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And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:


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In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:


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As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:


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And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer:


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As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:


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When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the garment of holiness honourable.


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When he took the portions out of the priests' hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.


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So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.


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He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all.


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Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.


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Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.


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The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.


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And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his service.


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Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.


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And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.


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Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.


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They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.


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Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem hath written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.


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Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.


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For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.


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I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:


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For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries:


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And hast delivered me, according to the multitude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;


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By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.


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They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.


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Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.


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I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.


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I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:


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For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord.


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Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her.


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For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.


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My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.


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I directed my soul unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be foresaken.


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And these are the words of the book, which Baruch the son of Nerias, the son of Maasias, the son of Sedecias, the son of Asadias, the son of Chelcias, wrote in Babylon,


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In the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, what time as the Chaldeans took Jerusalem, and burnt it with fire.


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And Baruch did read the words of this book in the hearing of Jechonias the son of Joachim king of Juda, and in the ears of all the people that came to hear the book,


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And in the hearing of the nobles, and of the king's sons, and in the hearing of the elders, and of all the people, from the lowest unto the highest, even of all them that dwelt at Babylon by the river Sud.


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And they sent it to Jerusalem unto Joachim the high priest, the son of Chelcias, son of Salom, and to the priests, and to all the people which were found with him at Jerusalem,


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At the same time when he received the vessels of the house of the Lord, that were carried out of the temple, to return them into the land of Juda, the tenth day of the month Sivan, namely, silver vessels, which Sedecias the son of Josias king of Jada had made,


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After that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon had carried away Jechonias, and the princes, and the captives, and the mighty men, and the people of the land, from Jerusalem, and brought them unto Babylon.


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And they said, Behold, we have sent you money to buy you burnt offerings, and sin offerings, and incense, and prepare ye manna, and offer upon the altar of the Lord our God;


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And pray for the life of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and for the life of Balthasar his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven:


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And the Lord will give us strength, and lighten our eyes, and we shall live under the shadow of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon, and under the shadow of Balthasar his son, and we shall serve them many days, and find favour in their sight.


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Pray for us also unto the Lord our God, for we have sinned against the Lord our God; and unto this day the fury of the Lord and his wrath is not turned from us.


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And ye shall read this book which we have sent unto you, to make confession in the house of the Lord, upon the feasts and solemn days.


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And ye shall say, To the Lord our God belongeth righteousness, but unto us the confusion of faces, as it is come to pass this day, unto them of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,


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And disobeyed him, and have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the commandments that he gave us openly:


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Since the day that the Lord brought our forefathers out of the land of Egypt, unto this present day, we have been disobedient unto the Lord our God, and we have been negligent in not hearing his voice.


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Wherefore the evils cleaved unto us, and the curse, which the Lord appointed by Moses his servant at the time that he brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt, to give us a land that floweth with milk and honey, like as it is to see this day.


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Nevertheless we have not hearkened unto the voice of the Lord our God, according unto all the words of the prophets, whom he sent unto us:


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But every man followed the imagination of his own wicked heart, to serve strange gods, and to do evil in the sight of the Lord our God.


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Therefore the Lord hath made good his word, which he pronounced against us, and against our judges that judged Israel, and against our kings, and against our princes, and against the men of Israel and Juda,


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To bring upon us great plagues, such as never happened under the whole heaven, as it came to pass in Jerusalem, according to the things that were written in the law of Moses;


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Moreover he hath delivered them to be in subjection to all the kingdoms that are round about us, to be as a reproach and desolation among all the people round about, where the Lord hath scattered them.


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Thus we were cast down, and not exalted, because we have sinned against the Lord our God, and have not been obedient unto his voice.


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To the Lord our God appertaineth righteousness: but unto us and to our fathers open shame, as appeareth this day.


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Yet have we not prayed before the Lord, that we might turn every one from the imaginations of his wicked heart.


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Wherefore the Lord watched over us for evil, and the Lord hath brought it upon us: for the Lord is righteous in all his works which he hath commanded us.


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Yet we have not hearkened unto his voice, to walk in the commandments of the Lord, that he hath set before us.


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And now, O Lord God of Israel, that hast brought thy people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and high arm, and with signs, and with wonders, and with great power, and hast gotten thyself a name, as appeareth this day:


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O Lord our God, we have sinned, we have done ungodly, we have dealt unrighteously in all thine ordinances.


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Let thy wrath turn from us: for we are but a few left among the heathen, where thou hast scattered us.


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Hear our prayers, O Lord, and our petitions, and deliver us for thine own sake, and give us favour in the sight of them which have led us away:


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That all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our God, because Israel and his posterity is called by thy name.


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Open thine eyes, and behold; for the dead that are in the graves, whose souls are taken from their bodies, will give unto the Lord neither praise nor righteousness:


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But the soul that is greatly vexed, which goeth stooping and feeble, and the eyes that fail, and the hungry soul, will give thee praise and righteousness, O Lord.


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Therefore we do not make our humble supplication before thee, O Lord our God, for the righteousness of our fathers, and of our kings.


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For thou hast sent out thy wrath and indignation upon us, as thou hast spoken by thy servants the prophets, saying,


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Thus saith the Lord, Bow down your shoulders to serve the king of Babylon: so shall ye remain in the land that I gave unto your fathers.


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I will cause to cease out of the cites of Judah, and from without Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: and the whole land shall be desolate of inhabitants.


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But we would not hearken unto thy voice, to serve the king of Babylon: therefore hast thou made good the words that thou spakest by thy servants the prophets, namely, that the bones of our kings, and the bones of our fathers, should be taken out of their place.


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And, lo, they are cast out to the heat of the day, and to the frost of the night, and they died in great miseries by famine, by sword, and by pestilence.


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And the house which is called by thy name hast thou laid waste, as it is to be seen this day, for the wickedness of the house of Israel and the house of Juda.


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O Lord our God, thou hast dealt with us after all thy goodness, and according to all that great mercy of thine,


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As thou spakest by thy servant Moses in the day when thou didst command him to write the law before the children of Israel, saying,


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If ye will not hear my voice, surely this very great multitude shall be turned into a small number among the nations, where I will scatter them.


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For I knew that they would not hear me, because it is a stiffnecked people: but in the land of their captivities they shall remember themselves.


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And return from their stiff neck, and from their wicked deeds: for they shall remember the way of their fathers, which sinned before the Lord.


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And I will bring them again into the land which I promised with an oath unto their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they shall be lords of it: and I will increase them, and they shall not be diminished.


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And I will make an everlasting covenant with them to be their God, and they shall be my people: and I will no more drive my people of Israel out of the land that I have given them.


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Hear, O Lord, and have mercy; ar thou art merciful: and have pity upon us, because we have sinned before thee.


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O Lord Almighty, thou God of Israel, hear now the prayers of the dead Israelites, and of their children, which have sinned before thee, and not hearkened unto the voice of thee their God: for the which cause these plagues cleave unto us.


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Remember not the iniquities of our forefathers: but think upon thy power and thy name now at this time.


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And for this cause thou hast put thy fear in our hearts, to the intent that we should call upon thy name, and praise thee in our captivity: for we have called to mind all the iniquity of our forefathers, that sinned before thee.


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Behold, we are yet this day in our captivity, where thou hast scattered us, for a reproach and a curse, and to be subject to payments, according to all the iniquities of our fathers, which departed from the Lord our God.


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How happeneth it Israel, that thou art in thine enemies' land, that thou art waxen old in a strange country, that thou art defiled with the dead,


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Learn where is wisdom, where is strength, where is understanding; that thou mayest know also where is length of days, and life, where is the light of the eyes, and peace.


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They that had their pastime with the fowls of the air, and they that hoarded up silver and gold, wherein men trust, and made no end of their getting?


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The Agarenes that seek wisdom upon earth, the merchants of Meran and of Theman, the authors of fables, and searchers out of understanding; none of these have known the way of wisdom, or remember her paths.


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There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so great stature, and so expert in war.


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But he that knoweth all things knoweth her, and hath found her out with his understanding: he that prepared the earth for evermore hath filled it with fourfooted beasts:


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The stars shined in their watches, and rejoiced: when he calleth them, they say, Here we be; and so with cheerfulness they shewed light unto him that made them.


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He hath found out all the way of knowledge, and hath given it unto Jacob his servant, and to Israel his beloved.


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This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endureth for ever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die.


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Turn thee, O Jacob, and take hold of it: walk in the presence of the light thereof, that thou mayest be illuminated.


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Ye were sold to the nations, not for [your] destruction: but because ye moved God to wrath, ye were delivered unto the enemies.


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Ye have forgotten the everlasting God, that brought you up; and ye have grieved Jerusalem, that nursed you.


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For when she saw the wrath of God coming upon you, she said, Hearken, O ye that dwell about Sion: God hath brought upon me great mourning;


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Let no man rejoice over me, a widow, and forsaken of many, who for the sins of my children am left desolate; because they departed from the law of God.


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They knew not his statutes, nor walked in the ways of his commandments, nor trod in the paths of discipline in his righteousness.


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Let them that dwell about Sion come, and remember ye the captivity of my sons and daughters, which the Everlasting hath brought upon them.


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For he hath brought a nation upon them from far, a shameless nation, and of a strange language, who neither reverenced old man, nor pitied child.


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These have carried away the dear beloved children of the widow, and left her that was alone desolate without daughters.


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I have put off the clothing of peace, and put upon me the sackcloth of my prayer: I will cry unto the Everlasting in my days.


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Be of good cheer, O my children, cry unto the Lord, and he will deliver you from the power and hand of the enemies.


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For my hope is in the Everlasting, that he will save you; and joy is come unto me from the Holy One, because of the mercy which shall soon come unto you from the Everlasting our Saviour.


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For I sent you out with mourning and weeping: but God will give you to me again with joy and gladness for ever.


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Like as now the neighbours of Sion have seen your captivity: so shall they see shortly your salvation from our God which shall come upon you with great glory, and brightness of the Everlasting.


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My children, suffer patiently the wrath that is come upon you from God: for thine enemy hath persecuted thee; but shortly thou shalt see his destruction, and shalt tread upon his neck.


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Be of good comfort, O my children, and cry unto God: for ye shall be remembered of him that brought these things upon you.


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For he that hath brought these plagues upon you shall bring you everlasting joy with your salvation.


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For as she rejoiced at thy ruin, and was glad of thy fall: so shall she be grieved for her own desolation.


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For I will take away the rejoicing of her great multitude, and her pride shall be turned into mourning.


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For fire shall come upon her from the Everlasting, long to endure; and she shall be inhabited of devils for a great time.


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Lo, thy sons come, whom thou sentest away, they come gathered together from the east to the west by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the glory of God.


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Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, and put on the comeliness of the glory that cometh from God for ever.


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Cast about thee a double garment of the righteousness which cometh from God; and set a diadem on thine head of the glory of the Everlasting.


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For thy name shall be called of God for ever The peace of righteousness, and The glory of God's worship.


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Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and look about toward the east, and behold thy children gathered from the west unto the east by the word of the Holy One, rejoicing in the remembrance of God.


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For they departed from thee on foot, and were led away of their enemies: but God bringeth them unto thee exalted with glory, as children of the kingdom.


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For God hath appointed that every high hill, and banks of long continuance, should be cast down, and valleys filled up, to make even the ground, that Israel may go safely in the glory of God,


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Moreover even the woods and every sweetsmelling tree shall overshadow Israel by the commandment of God.


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For God shall lead Israel with joy in the light of his glory with the mercy and righteousness that cometh from him.


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O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornament thereof; who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name; whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power; for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable: but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable; for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner: for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of mine iniquities. I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot life up mine head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offences. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge mine iniquities: wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquites. Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent; and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy. Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.


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Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.


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So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.


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Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.


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Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye and of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.


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As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak.


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And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.


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Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, [being] gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood.


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Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment.


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And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country.


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For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in.


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And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers.


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They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.


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Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.


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They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth.


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They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men.


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As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.


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Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.


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And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.


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Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.


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In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.


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Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.


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How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?


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Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.


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The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.


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They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.


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And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?


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For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.


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How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?


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For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:


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And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.


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Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.


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Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.


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Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?


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Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.


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Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.


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Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a a palace, than such false gods.


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In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.


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And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.


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Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.


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Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.


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For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.


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And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.


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And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon then1: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.


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Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,


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Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:


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For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth.


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In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins.


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In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us.


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Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment.


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And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world.


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And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee.


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And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Issac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake;


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To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore.


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For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins.


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Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy.


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Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee.


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Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies.


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Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed;


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And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;


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But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven;


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And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.


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Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.


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Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.


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Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.


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O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.


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O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.


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O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.


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O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: far he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us.


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O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.


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And he took a wife, whose name was Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, a very fair woman, and one that feared the Lord.


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Now Joacim was a great rich man, and had a fair garden joining unto his house: and to him resorted the Jews; because he was more honourable than all others.


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The same year were appointed two of the ancients of the people to be judges, such as the Lord spake of, that wickedness came from Babylon from ancient judges, who seemed to govern the people.


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And the two elders saw her going in every day, and walking; so that their lust was inflamed toward her.


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And they perverted their own mind, and turned away their eyes, that they might not look unto heaven, nor remember just judgments.


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So when they were gone out, they parted the one from the other, and turning back again they came to the same place; and after that they had asked one another the cause, they acknowledged their lust: then appointed they a time both together, when they might find her alone.


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And it fell out, as they watched a fit time, she went in as before with two maids only, and she was desirous to wash herself in the garden: for it was hot.


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Then she said to her maids, Bring me oil and washing balls, and shut the garden doors, that I may wash me.


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And they did as she bade them, and shut the garden doors, and went out themselves at privy doors to fetch the things that she had commanded them: but they saw not the elders, because they were hid.


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Behold, the garden doors are shut, that no man can see us, and we are in love with thee; therefore consent unto us, and lie with us.


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If thou wilt not, we will bear witness against thee, that a young man was with thee: and therefore thou didst send away thy maids from thee.


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Then Susanna sighed, and said, I am straitened on every side: for if I do this thing, it is death unto me: and if I do it not I cannot escape your hands.


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So when the servants of the house heard the cry in the garden, they rushed in at the privy door, to see what was done unto her.


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But when the elders had declared their matter, the servants were greatly ashamed: for there was never such a report made of Susanna.


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And it came to pass the next day, when the people were assembled to her husband Joacim, the two elders came also full of mischievous imagination against Susanna to put her to death;


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And said before the people, Send for Susanna, the daughter of Chelcias, Joacim's wife. And so they sent.


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And these wicked men commanded to uncover her face, (for she was covered) that they might be filled with her beauty.


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And the elders said, As we walked in the garden alone, this woman came in with two maids, and shut the garden doors, and sent the maids away.


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And when we saw them together, the man we could not hold: for he was stronger than we, and opened the door, and leaped out.


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But having taken this woman, we asked who the young man was, but she would not tell us: these things do we testify.


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Then the assembly believed them as those that were the elders and judges of the people: so they condemned her to death.


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Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said, O everlasting God, that knowest the secrets, and knowest all things before they be:


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Thou knowest that they have borne false witness against me, and, behold, I must die; whereas I never did such things as these men have maliciously invented against me.


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Therefore when she was led to be put to death, the Lord raised up the holy spirit of a young youth whose name was Daniel:


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So he standing in the midst of them said, Are ye such fools, ye sons of Israel, that without examination or knowledge of the truth ye have condemned a daughter of Israel?


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Wherefore all the people turned again in haste, and the elders said unto him, Come, sit down among us, and shew it us, seeing God hath given thee the honour of an elder.


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So when they were put asunder one from another, he called one of them, and said unto him, O thou that art waxen old in wickedness, now thy sins which thou hast committed aforetime are come to light.


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For thou hast pronounced false judgment and hast condemned the innocent and hast let the guilty go free; albeit the Lord saith, The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay.


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Now then, if thou hast seen her, tell me, Under what tree sawest thou them companying together? Who answered, Under a mastick tree.


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And Daniel said, Very well; thou hast lied against thine own head; for even now the angel of God hath received the sentence of God to cut thee in two.


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So he put him aside, and commanded to bring the other, and said unto him, O thou seed of Chanaan, and not of Juda, beauty hath deceived thee, and lust hath perverted thine heart.


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Thus have ye dealt with the daughters of Israel, and they for fear companied with you: but the daughter of Juda would not abide your wickedness.


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Now therefore tell me, Under what tree didst thou take them companying together? Who answered, Under an holm tree.


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Then said Daniel unto him, Well; thou hast also lied against thine own head: for the angel of God waiteth with the sword to cut thee in two, that he may destroy you.


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With that all the assembly cried out with a loud voice, and praised God, who saveth them that trust in him.


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And they arose against the two elders, for Daniel had convicted them of false witness by their own mouth:


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And according to the law of Moses they did unto them in such sort as they maliciously intended to do to their neighbour: and they put them to death. Thus the innocent blood was saved the same day.


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Therefore Chelcias and his wife praised God for their daughter Susanna, with Joacim her husband, and all the kindred, because there was no dishonesty found in her.


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Now the Babylons had an idol, called Bel, and there were spent upon him every day twelve great measures of fine flour, and forty sheep, and six vessels of wine.


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And the king worshipped it and went daily to adore it: but Daniel worshipped his own God. And the king said unto him, Why dost not thou worship Bel?


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Who answered and said, Because I may not worship idols made with hands, but the living God, who hath created the heaven and the earth, and hath sovereignty over all flesh.


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Then said the king unto him, Thinkest thou not that Bel is a living God? seest thou not how much he eateth and drinketh every day?


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Then Daniel smiled, and said, O king, be not deceived: for this is but clay within, and brass without, and did never eat or drink any thing.


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So the king was wroth, and called for his priests, and said unto them, If ye tell me not who this is that devoureth these expences, ye shall die.


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But if ye can certify me that Bel devoureth them, then Daniel shall die: for he hath spoken blasphemy against Bel. And Daniel said unto the king, Let it be according to thy word.


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Now the priests of Bel were threescore and ten, beside their wives and children. And the king went with Daniel into the temple of Bel.


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So Bel's priests said, Lo, we go out: but thou, O king, set on the meat, and make ready the wine, and shut the door fast and seal it with thine own signet;


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And they little regarded it: for under the table they had made a privy entrance, whereby they entered in continually, and consumed those things.


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So when they were gone forth, the king set meats before Bel. Now Daniel had commanded his servants to bring ashes, and those they strewed throughout all the temple in the presence of the king alone: then went they out, and shut the door, and sealed it with the king's signet, and so departed.


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Now in the night came the priests with their wives and children, as they were wont to do, and did eat and drinck up all.


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And as soon as he had opened the dour, the king looked upon the table, and cried with a loud voice, Great art thou, O Bel, and with thee is no deceit at all.


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Then laughed Daniel, and held the king that he should not go in, and said, Behold now the pavement, and mark well whose footsteps are these.


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And took the priests with their wives and children, who shewed him the privy doors, where they came in, and consumed such things as were upon the table.


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Therefore the king slew them, and delivered Bel into Daniel's power, who destroyed him and his temple.


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And the king said unto Daniel, Wilt thou also say that this is of brass? lo, he liveth, he eateth and drinketh; thou canst not say that he is no living god: therefore worship him.


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But give me leave, O king, and I shall slay this dragon without sword or staff. The king said, I give thee leave.


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Then Daniel took pitch, and fat, and hair, and did seethe them together, and made lumps thereof: this he put in the dragon's mouth, and so the dragon burst in sunder : and Daniel said, Lo, these are the gods ye worship.


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When they of Babylon heard that, they took great indignation, and conspired against the king, saying, The king is become a Jew, and he hath destroyed Bel, he hath slain the dragon, and put the priests to death.


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So they came to the king, and said, Deliver us Daniel, or else we will destroy thee and thine house.


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And in the den there were seven lions, and they had given them every day two carcases, and two sheep: which then were not given to them, to the intent they might devour Daniel.


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Now there was in Jewry a prophet, called Habbacuc, who had made pottage, and had broken bread in a bowl, and was going into the field, for to bring it to the reapers.


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But the angel of the Lord said unto Habbacuc, Go, carry the dinner that thou hast into Babylon unto Daniel, who is in the lions' den.


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Then the angel of the Lord took him by the crown, and bare him by the hair of his head, and through the vehemency of his spirit set him in Babylon over the den.


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And Daniel said, Thou hast remembered me, O God: neither hast thou forsaken them that seek thee and love thee.


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So Daniel arose, and did eat: and the angel of the Lord set Habbacuc in his own place again immediately.


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Upon the seventh day the king went to bewail Daniel: and when he came to the den, he looked in, and behold, Daniel was sitting.


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Then cried the king with a loud voice, saying, Great art Lord God of Daniel, and there is none other beside thee.


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And he drew him out, and cast those that were the cause of his destruction into the den: and they were devoured


